Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Pamela Turner. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Pamela, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I knew I wanted to be a writer since middle school. Classmates enjoyed my short suspense stories and gave me positive feedback. In high school, my creative writing assignments earned A’s, which further encouraged me. Later, I got my Bachelors in English with a minor in creative writing. Post-college, I worked for a few years as a freelance writer for a local magazine, Today’s Woman, before returning to writing genre fiction.

Pamela, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a paranormal suspense author, screenwriter, and occasional artist. I’ve written 20 novels and novellas and have currently self-published five. I’m working on three series that I hope to release in 2025 and 2026.

After twenty-three years living in Wisconsin, I moved to Louisville, Kentucky. Before writing full-time, I worked various jobs, including substitute teacher, security guard, administrative assistant, telemarketer, and fast food worker. I believe being around people from all walks of life helps me create (hopefully) well-rounded, interesting characters and situations.

I got into indie publishing via small press digital publishers. In 2011, I published my first paranormal romance, Death Sword, with Lyrical Press. The publisher released the novella as an eBook. (I would later get the rights back. Death Sword is currently being reworked as part of a series.) A few years later, in 2014, I published The Ripper’s Daughter, a historical paranormal suspense novella with Blackwyrm, a Louisville-based small press. (The publisher closed its doors and I got the rights back to this novella.)

My decision to indie publish came in 2016. By this time, the stigma surrounding self-published authors and eBooks had lessened. And, like many indie authors, I wanted control over my covers, prices, and release dates.

My fiction writing consists of short stories, novels, and novellas. These are available on Amazon and other online retailers, including Kobo and Barnes and Noble.

What I think sets me apart from others is I seem to have a knack for timing. For example, I’ll want to publish a novella, but for whatever reason it doesn’t happen in the timeframe I intend. That’s when I notice the final draft may need another revision to make it stronger, even after beta readers and my editor have gone over it. While it’s exciting to release a new story, it’s good to know when to wait.

I’m proud that my screenplays have been recognized at regional film festivals with awards ranging from honorable mention to first place. It’s nice to know they merited these accolades.

And the main thing I want potential readers to know is that my stories are my own. I don’t use generative AI.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn listening to my inner critic while writing the first draft of a story. Too often I didn’t complete it because I’d convinced myself it wasn’t any good. More likely, I feared rejection, although I understand it’s part of the creative process. That and dealing with imposter syndrome.

I overcame this by changing my writing process. I decided to write a 50,000-word novel (before I’d heard of NaNoWriMo) and complete the first draft without editing as I went along. This kept my inner critic at bay. It’s also why I’ve been able to complete the 20 books I’ve written.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being able to take an idea and make it real, whether for a story or a piece of art. It’s also exciting (and humbling) when people enjoy my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pamela-turner.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamturner97
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamelaTurnerAuthor/
• Twitter: https://x.com/PamelaTurner
• Other: https://www.amazon.com/author/pamturner