Ruth Watson is the author of An Elderberry Fall, the sequel to bestselling Blackberry Days of Summer.
“My inspiration came from listening to stories told by my elders who lived in rural Virginia. The inspiration for Elderberry came from the many requests I received from my readers asking me, ‘Who murdered Herman Camm?’ You see, I wanted to know who killed him also. Writing Elderberry was a joy, yet disturbing when I found out there is still a Camm around,” she tells.
Read what else she has to say.
Name three books, works, performances or exhibits that changed how you view life and/or yourself.
The Color Purple was a novel that left me thinking about realities of incest in single family homes, and how secrets of that magnitude could destroy the family and community structure. East of Eden, because of the conflict in families. The struggle with good and evil.
Those are the only two I can name at this time other than The Bible. I like to think both of the stories leave you with something to think about. And for me, it helped me to analyze the family dynamics and the effects of inner conflict.
Why do you consider continued learning important?
Continuous reading is essential to any type of growth. Being able to research things for yourself is very important in everyday life. Just knowing the truth based on one’s own interpretation is essential, since social media and other communications can be an influence even if it is a made up story. So, it is good to be curious.
What affirmations do you repeat to yourself that contribute to your success?
One of my affirmations is to always give my God thanks for my being here on earth. It is important to know there is a higher power which directs my life.
If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
The one thing I would change about the world is racism, and the relativeness of capitalism. The lack of money should not keep anyone from enjoying life. And, the amount of money someone has should not be the focus of a good relationship. I am just saying…
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
If I could change something about myself, I’d stop worrying about things that don’t matter. I’m working on it now.
What does it take to be iconic? In your estimation, who has achieved that status?
To be iconic, I think it takes passion and focus. You must really enjoy what you are doing so that your talents will flourish and shine. And, when you love what you do, there is a sense of peace and elevation. At some point you will exceed your own expectations. There are many people who are icons. I think Oprah Winfrey may be the most notable today, however being iconic can be subjective.
