Get ready to learn more about the book Through The Storms in this discussion with sapphic author Rita Potter.
Join us for an exclusive peek behind the scenes as we quiz Rita Potter about Through The Storms, writing, reading, and more.
This book is part of the Summer / Vacation Fling category in the 2024 IHS Reading Challenge.
Why did you write Through The Storms?
I’m a huge fan of disaster movies and books. It had been over a year since I wrote Out of the Ashes, which is about the eruption of Mount St. Helens, so I needed a disaster fix. I absolutely loved researching this one.
Who is your favorite character in the book?
This is always a hard question, but with four POV characters it’s even harder. Normally, I do have a favorite character, but in Through the Storms I love all of the characters for different reasons. If I were to pick the character most like me, I’d have to say I would be a combination between Oakley and Riley. Oakley has my enthusiastic spirit, but under pressure I have Riley’s ability to calmly take charge and push my own feelings aside.
What inspired the idea for Through The Storms?
One of my favorite movies is Twister, so I have always been fascinated by storm chasers. I love writing books that deal with a crisis or disaster because it allows me to explore how the characters react under extreme stress.
What was the biggest challenge writing this book?
Not overloading the manuscript with too many tornado facts, so it wouldn’t read like a meteorological text book. It was so hard not to because I learned so much and wanted to share everything. My beta readers helped keep me in check, so I didn’t go overboard.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
I have to credit my wife with this one. Usually my title comes from a line in the book, and it jumps out at me when I’m writing. I really loved the title Into the Storm, but I couldn’t use it since it was the title of a book and movie about storm chasing.
Once I settled on the title, I had to write it into the book. At first I wasn’t going to, but the book felt incomplete until I did it.
How much research did you need to do for Through The Storms?
A TON! I can’t begin to tell you how much I learned about tornadoes. Don’t worry, I won’t tell you here, but if you see me in person, I can’t guarantee I won’t. I read three books by or about storm chasers, and Reed Timmer’s book Into the Storm was my favorite of the three. I also read books about storms. If you are looking for an amazing nonfiction book that reads like fiction, I highly recommend What Stands in the Storm by Kim Cross. The book inspired my story.
What is your writing process like?
I’m a pantser with a road map. My road map is the Save the Cat Beats, which encompasses fifteen story beats that keep me on track. Other than having more time, if I didn’t work full time, there isn’t much I would change about my routine.
Where do you usually write, and what do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
I move around when I write, but my favorite spot is in my kitchen looking out over our garden. I know many authors listen to music when they write, but I can’t or I’ll get distracted by the song. I listen to Extreme Thunderstorms instead.
How do you celebrate when you finish your book?
I am horrible about celebrating. My wife says I am driven, so normally I skip the celebration to dive into my next project. Sometimes my wife will lure me out with ice cream.
What has helped or hindered you most when writing a book?
Me! Seriously, as a writer we tend to get in our own way. I’ve been on this journey for a little over three years and it’s been wild. I finally came to a crossroads where I either needed to give it up or figure it out. I’m not sure if I’ve gotten it all figured out, but I’ve made peace with myself and know I want to continue writing.
What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
It comes natural to me. I’m always climbing around inside people’s heads trying to figure out what makes them tick, but now I do it with fictional characters. My friends and family are thankful for that. One thing that my readers comment on is the depth of my characters, which is something I take the most pride in.
What books have you read more than once in your life?
I rarely reread a book because there are so many new shiny ones to read. Once I retire, I plan on rereading some of my favorites. We’ll see if that happens. A couple of books on the top of my reread pile are; Hunter’s Way by Gerri Hill, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, and the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. I know I have an urban fantasy series in me, so that one would be for research.
What book do you wish you had written?
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. As someone that likes to crawl around in people’s head, her characters fascinated me. I’d never thought of doing a retelling, but I would love to tackle a character that is an unreliable narrator.
