Regina Doman is a Catholic Artist who wears many different hats. She is an author, editor, producer, wife, mother and more. She took some time from her very busy schedule to answer a few questions for Book Reviews and More. She grew up attending various Catholic, public and private schools. She also graduated from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio with a BA in Communications. She was an editor for Lay Witness magazine, and a contributor to various other publications. Today she still wears many hats and titles, as an editor for Sophia Institute Press and is a public speaker at conferences and school.1. In Shadow of the Bear you write: "Every once in a while you just have to decide to do something very crazy and very right--just to dare yourself to live. I don't mean doing something stupid and destructive--just something fun and good and beautiful." What are some things you have done along this line?
Dressing up as a gypsy and going on a picnic with a bunch of crazy college students - on that picnic I met Anna, who's one of my best friends, and Ben, who married her and who became my illustrator for Angel in the Waters.
2. Who were some of your biggest supporters and contributors to your early success?
Lots and lots of people, beginning with my parents, the folks at YOU magazine, Catholics United for the Faith, and Our Sunday Visitor who gave me my first jobs in writing and editing. But Bethelehem Books did me a huge favor when they consented to read my recently-finished MS of what became The Shadow of the Bear.
3. What of your books was the hardest to write and why?
Black as Night. See the website for why.
4. Completely off topic but what TV shows or movies do you enjoy?
Don't have TV. The Scarlet Pimpernel (with Jane Seymour) is perhaps my favorite movie. I also enjoy the writing and cleverness of the TV series Monk.
5. If you could only recommend 10 books to a reader looking to be a well rounded and whole person what books would you suggest?
Hard one! Well, the top ten books that have influenced me outside of the Bible --
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
The Immaculate Conception and the Holy Spirit: the Marian Teachings of Maximilian Kolbe
The Rise and Fall of the Communist Revolution by Warren Carroll
The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri
How to Really Love Your Child by Ross Campbell
Jewish Identity by Elias Friedman
Fiction:
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton
That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis
That's only a sampling. :)
6. As both an author and editor you wear a few different hats in the publishing industry. Is it hard splitting your time down these two lines?
Yes, and I'm finding it harder and harder to write my own books as my editing work increases.
7. What advice do you wish an artist had passed on to you early in your career, which you only learned through experience?
What publisher's submission guidelines actually mean (it's not always what they say). And what makes a story work. It was Jan Batchler which led me to understand that process.
9. What fiction books or authors do you enjoy or recommend?
In addition to the above, the Harry Potter books and JRR Tolkien's Silmarillion. I love mythology and like reading works in that style, such as Padraic Colum's books.
10. What current projects are you working on or are in the back burner in some stage of development as an author?
A new fiction for adults, and another fairy tale novel.
11. What current projects are you working on or are in the back burner in some stage of development as an editor?
Continuing to develop Sophia's fiction line. The Spanish Match by Brian Pursell and the sequel to Bleeder, VIPER by John Desjarlais are two books I'm trying to get out the door.
12. Your books are not currently available in electronic formats but many publishers are now starting to almost make this standard practice. What are your impressions of ebooks?
I'd love to get all my books in that format. Amazon is taking forever to do conversions, so we're trying to work though a smaller vendor for that.
13. With eBooks come the distribution of them through torrents and other illegal means, is this a concern for you, both as an author and editor?
Nope.
14. If you were stuck on a desert island and could only have 10 books to read again and again, what books would you want with you?
See the above list. #5 :)
15. What advice would you give to young aspiring authors and artists particularly those looking to have their art reflect their faith?
Dedicate your talent to God, and trust where He is taking you with it.
Thanks you again Regina for taking the time to interact with the readers at Book Reviews and More and Catholic Dad's Online. I can personally recommend your books as excellent reads.
Book by Regina Doman:
Fairy Tales Retold:
Snow White and Rose Red (1997)
Shadow Of The Bear (2002)
Black As Night (2004)
Waking Rose (2007)
Midnight Dancers (2008)
Alex O'Donnell and the 40 Cyber Thieves (2010)
Rapunzel Let Down (2013)
Fairy Tales Retold:
Snow White and Rose Red (1997)
Shadow Of The Bear (2002)
Black As Night (2004)
Waking Rose (2007)
Midnight Dancers (2008)
Alex O'Donnell and the 40 Cyber Thieves (2010)
Rapunzel Let Down (2013)
...
Contributed to:
Catholic Philosopher Chick Makes Her Debut
Catholic Philosopher Chick Comes on Strong
The Mystery of Harry Potter: A Catholic Family Guide
The Chestertons and the Golden Key
Contributed to:
Catholic Philosopher Chick Makes Her Debut
Catholic Philosopher Chick Comes on Strong
The Mystery of Harry Potter: A Catholic Family Guide
The Chestertons and the Golden Key
...
NonFiction:
Our Fairy Tale Romance - Andrew Schmiedicke (2009)
NonFiction:
Our Fairy Tale Romance - Andrew Schmiedicke (2009)
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