Up Close With: Peppur Chambers
Meet the wonderful writers and patrons behind LWS.
This bright spark can be found beaming through the internet at many a Pacific writers hour, sharing her excitement about her craft and encouraging all others in the room. Whether she’s been working on a radio play, the follow-up to her debut novel, or pouring her heart and soul into her blog — the brilliantly-named Pen & Peppur — Peppur Chambers is the West Coast champion we all need in our lives. We’re so excited to celebrate her with this week’s patron profile, so please join us as we enter the world of “The Hot One”.
Peppur Chambers (The Hot One), 51
- Based in Chandler, Arizona, US by way of Los Angeles
- Writes to use words as a “lyrical weapon”
What do you write, in general?
Fiction, non-fiction, plays…My bio tagline is: “She uses her voice to amplify women’s issues, social justice and love.”
I really try to write about things that affect me positively or negatively, but usually things that scare me or make me mad — and I try to get back at the thing with my words as a lyrical weapon.
What are you working on right now?
Part 2 to my novel, Harlem’s Awakening (1940s fiction), as well as a non-fiction guide book, Knowing Your NO, and a few radio plays.
I have been working on Part 2 to Harlem’s Awakening since 2013! I go through periods of feeling like a failure to then reclaiming the fact that sh*t takes time! I have been sharing this part of my journey more and more so that others don’t feel alone. Knowing Your NO has taken almost three years. I just continue to persevere. LWS has helped exponentially.
Where and when do you write?
Morning with LWS at 8am Pacific Time, and then any other time I can grab. I love to write at my desk while the sunlight streams in! I also love to write at coffee shops that have outlets, internet, good coffee, not a lot of AC and, if I’m lucky, sunlight.
How do you write?
I write by computer. I will often take hand notes while I’m getting started and in the idea phase. This is fun, but also gets frustrating because I can’t remember where I’ve written all my notes. Pfft.
Once I get going, I’m at my computer and I write by character — they speak and I write and then I go back and fill in the gaps. With Harlem’s Awakening, I was also writing by emotion. If I was feeling upset that day, I would give that to my character and find a moment where she was upset and we’d hug it out together. I do this with my blog as well. (I forgot, I also try to write my blog.)
Why do you write?
I write because I loooove words. I love to craft sentences and use words to paint a picture with emotion that people can see and feel. I also can’t not write. I might go crazy (mad).
I mentioned my blog above and writing when emotional: I write not so much as a therapy session, but as a way to release something and in a way that I truly hope will help others.
(Trigger warning >>)
I was so, so, so grieved after a miscarriage that I had to write about it and it is one of my most-read posts. I had family members that were like, “Uhh…should you share so much?” And that made me feel bad and made me second-guess myself for a bit. But I also heard from so many others who felt the same way and had never, ever shared their experience. It is such a blessing when our words touch others … and ourselves. The link to that post is here if anyone needs help.
What inspires your creativity?
Oooh, all kinds of things. People… mannerisms (love people watching); colors/art/sculpture/beauty/the ugly… Injustice and atrocities… love.
What’s your favourite book?
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.
What’s the best advice you’ve received about creativity?
I can’t remember. But, I have a book I made in 6th grade. The teacher had us use fabric to make a cover; we got to design it and stitch in the paper and we wrote a story. I still have it. I look at it sometimes and think, soooo creative. What a great project for children. When we allow ourselves to use our imagination within a framework, I think that is super compelling and a great way to foster creativity.
(…I realize now, in this moment, that this book “The Life of a Flower” is my first published work!! Yaaaah. I need to change my bio.)
What’s the one thing you would tell other/aspiring writers?
Don’t let the success of others stop you.
How can we discover more about you and your work?
- You can find Harlem’s Awakening on Amazon
- Please enjoy (and follow) my blog at www.penandpeppur.com
- And follow me on IG/Twitter at @peppurthehotone, if you like. I try to follow back those who follow me. It is the right thing to do :)
