By Cal Orey
Today we're talking to Cal Orey, the author of the Healing Powers series, including The Healing Powers of Tea and The Healing Powers of Honey (now available in mass market gift size format).
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in San Jose, California. It's changed due to gentrification aka (King Kong stomped on Mother Nature and now it's a metropolis). I moved to Lake Tahoe to get back to nature. Ironically, history repeats itself. More changes, including killing healthy trees (I'm a granola girl/tree hugger) and vacation homeowner invasion like Stephen King's Langoliers, especially in the summertime. I am a journalist-author. That's what they (my editors) call me.
How and when did you become a writer?
I got my first poem "School Days" published when I was in third grade. My teachers told me I had a "gift" when I wrote papers. So, I ended up majoring in English (Creative Writing) in college. I hold a bachelor's and masters in these topics. But I flunked math.
What genre do you write?
I'm known as a health author. I have had thousands of articles published on different subjects, including relationships (I flunked this topic, too, in real life), pets, Earth changes, and just about anything (even sex).
How would you describe your writing style?
Lately, I like to write in the morning (thanks to my cup of Joe), research after swimming in the afternoon. Late at night I brainstorm and write notes. When working on a book like now it's similar to having renters in your brain. I'm trying to go with them, this time. Overall, it's cool. Think visitors that can be amusing, thought-provoking, and inspiring but pesky at times. They don't sleep!
What makes you different from other writers?
I like to put my personal paw print on each piece of work. In other words, I prefer to write in a chatty, down-to-earth first person narrative. Love to say things people are afraid to say, kind of like baring your soul or disrobing in front of the world. I lose the inhibitions for my best stuff.
Who inspires you?
My dog is my mentor. Nah. I adore Stephen King. In grad school for my oral exams I chose my three authors: George Eliot, John Steinbeck, and Edward Albee. And people in real life also make my works come alive.
How did you come up with the title of (your book you want to talk about)?
I fell into the Healing Powers series. It was the title of the first book back in 1999. The Healing Powers of Vinegar paved the way for books that followed into a sequel, then a trilogy but my editor corrected me and called it a "series."
Who is your favorite character in (your book you want to talk about) and why?
A returning character is an elderly woman who is someone who helped me a lot when I was a struggling magazine journalist. Read: I scrubbed toilets for the well-to-do to make ends meet. She traveled abroad many times. Now I travel to Canada. A lot. It gives me my fix of culture, diversity, England and France. I have a sense of belonging in Quebec to British Columbia. Psst! I am wearing a maple leaf necklace I got back in July when I paid a visit to Victoria. So calming that trip was for me.
We live in divisive times. Should your religion/politics influence your writing?
As a Catholic I admit in my books this fact does come out a bit...but I shy away from politics. Too heated these days. But between you and me? I am an Independent, former Democrat, and closet Republican. This is probably because I'm a middle child; dad a Republican, mom a Democrat. And I was the rebellious hippie chick growing up in the seventies.
What are you working on now?
Ah. Number seven of the Healing Powers series--SUPERFOODS (January 2019). It's awesome. I'm time traveling back in time and share my stories on the road. Not to forget it is a health-cookbook, of sorts. Surprise topic. I will share a bit later.
Anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
Good news! My number eight Healing Powers book, ESSENTIAL OILS is in progress. I feel like the Misery author, sort of. But I vow not to kill the characters or series. It is home.
Advice for young writers?
Live life! Your experiences will take you where you are supposed to be in the writing world.
For more information about this author check out the following links: www.calorey.com, ;https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8065-3826-6
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