Levada Pendry Interview first published online in Sporkette Gazette – August 24, 2009 – Volume 4, Issue 10.

Levada Pendry Interview Excerpts:

I met Levada Pendry…in fall of 1990. To make a long story short, we wound up becoming roommates for a short time and have been friends ever since. We often talk by phone or video chat, constantly brainstorming together and tutoring each other about various skills learned. That’s because we’re mega-thinkers, with jillions of ideas, and self-motivators when it comes to learning something new

Levada is a bookkeeper, who, in her spare time,  earns extra income by writing and designing Web sites. She is an expert quilter.

More Levada Pendry Interview Excerpts:

SPORKETTE: How have you implemented your sewing and quilting knowledge into written works?

LEVADA PENDRY: Well, it is fun to combine interests. Plus, when I write an ebook on a quilting subject, I know that there is a HUGE base of quilters out there interested in this subject. They are what is referred to in marketing terms as a ‘hungry’ market.

SPORKETTE: How has writing skills helped you as a Web site designer for clients?

LEVADA PENDRY: Frequently, I find myself recommending to them that they produce an ebook and offer it as an inducement to get folks to sign up for their newsletter, thus building a list that can be marketed to.

SPORKETTE: How have you used your creative skills to barter for things you wanted, such as for a tattoo and navel piercing?

LEVADA PENDRY: LOL! That’s not fair to tell the world about my barter habits, not to mention my body decorating spree that I have been on lately. So I refuse to answer this question.

SPORKETTE: Why do you believe that writers do not always need to seek publication?

LEVADA PENDRY: I recently started to write what I call my ‘God Notes’. I am a Christian, and I was experiencing that the Lord was really doing some things in my life, especially on Sundays during worship. I get sort of double the benefit because now I go home on Sunday afternoons and write about what has happened that day. Sometimes…well, actually, many times, it is an intensely personal experience that I don’t care to share with others. Sometimes our writing can just be for US!

SPORKETTE: Give me three reasons why potential writers should consider another career?

LEVADA PENDRY: Oh, sure! My best advice is that if you can live without it, then do so.

But if you can’t stand to live without writing, then with hard work you can overcome these bad aspects to the writing business:

1. It is hard to make enough money, especially if you opt into the old school business model of trying to get your work published by the established publishing companies. I personally decided to self-publish and it has been a good decision.
2. It is lonely work. I would suggest to you that you cultivate real life relationships with real life people, especially with other writers.
3. Unless you plan on writing on a yellow pad with a dull pencil, you will have to become expert at technology…simple necessary things, such as computers, writing programs, graphics programs, PDF programs, CD burning software & hardware, digital delivery of electronic products, payment gateway usage, blogging, social media…etc., etc., etc.

And, oh yes, creating your own website – another part of self-promotion, which is a necessity for any writer.

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Levada Pendry is a freelance writer, web designer and quilter living on the Upper West Coast of the United States. ‘Follow’ Levada.

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