Today I'm interviewing a beloved AD poet, author, Amber V Moonstone.

Thank you so much for this interview, Amber. You are a mystic soul most of us would like to know better.


I see in your bio that you were born in CT. Have you always lived there? Did you grow up in a city or in the country?

I grew up in a suburb of a major city.
It was more country than city for sure. There were a lot of farms and not a lot of developments. Eventually when I moved away after high school the farms were slowly dwindling and housing developments were being built.


How do you think your childhood and the locality where you were raised impacted your writing?

Growing up in a small town, gave me the freedom to be outside most of my childhood. We had a skating pond in our back yard and I became an avid ice skater. Nature was very important to me even as a small child. I also enjoyed roller skating all over the town visiting friends and being social to people that lived there.


What environmental influence do you think did most to shape you as a woman and a writer?

Having the freedom to be outside and express myself through play and friendships. Two poems that I have written come to mind to explain just how I was environmentally influenced.
“Willow Trees” and “Waves of Inspiration”


I know that you have had spiritual experiences that have changed your life. Can you tell us a little about the most significant experiences?

The most significant spiritual experience was the day my grandfather passed away. I was about 4 months pregnant with my daughter and he had just told me that he knew it was a girl. He was in the hospital and me and my Nana were at home sitting on the sofa talking. She stopped and stood up saying “I’m coming Paul, wait for me.” And the very next second the phone rang to tell us he had just passed away. We felt him so much and it was mind blowing to have experienced that with my grandmother.
The other time was when I had gotten a call that my grandmother had passed and her wedding picture fell off my wall as I was hearing the news on the phone. Now that was definitely her saying goodbye.


What person in your life had the greatest influence on you and why?

My grandmother who I called “Nana” she was my soul mate and role model.
She pretty much raised me and gave me my morals and security growing up.


Amber what influenced you to embrace pagan beliefs?

Every summer we would stay at my grandparents cottage at the beach.
We had the freedom to come and go as we pleased and spent the days on the shore, and every evening having dinner at another Italian family’s cottage. Our meals were always outside under the moonlight. To dine like that as a child, really gaveme a sense of tranquility and communing with nature. I was so happy when I spent my summers at the beach!


Pagan beliefs involve the appreciation and worship of nature, what in nature inspires you and means the most to you?

Mother Ocean is one of my inspirations. I feel that she gives the earth sustenance and life. Also as you know the Moon is a huge inspiration to me.


What positive steps do you think could be taken as individuals to heal the wounds of humanity?

I have always believed in this simple truth: Treat others as you would like to be treated. So if you love yourself and care about your well- being, you will treat others in a kind and respectful manner.


Amber V Moonstone is your pen name why did you choose it and what meaning does it have for you personally?

When I was studying the Wiccan religion,(which I no longer follow, however, I do practice many of their beliefs) I was instructed to come up with a pagan name for yourself. I have always worn amber and moonstone jewelry. One day while I was putting on some amber earrings and my moonstone necklace, my name just came to me. I felt like I was Amber Moonstone. The V in the middle stands for my “real” name Vivianna.


If you could change any one thing about yourself what would it be and what do you feel is your most valuable trait?

I would be more cautious, because I trust everyone and sometimes I do get disappointed. My most valuable trait, I feel, is the fact that I am very trusting and caring.


I and many others have followed and enjoyed your Karena saga. What inspired you to write it? Are you of Native American heritage and if so from what nation or tribe?

This is a very wonderful question. As a child growing up, I devoured any literature on the Native American culture. I would spend hours in the library just reading anything that had to do with Native Americans. I am not sure why I had this obsession, but I was really into that culture. I am not of Native American heritage…although sometimes I really feel like I was living during the time that Karena takes place.


In your research for Karena what most impressed you about the Native Americans you met and spoke to during your research?

There was a museum on the reservation. I stopped in to see what I could learn about the Pamunkey Indian Tribe. This older woman was the curator and she took the time to talk to me and tell me stories about her ancestors. It was quite a remarkable day. She was the one that gave me directions to Chief Powhatan’s gravesite. That was the day that I connected with the spirit of that great chief! I heard his voice whisper to me, “You must tell our story”. From that moment on, I began to tell Karen’s story. It was as if I was in a trance. So many unbelievable things happened to me on that trip. I could write a book just about it.


You are a mystical and romantic writer, what do you find in everyday life that inspires you to write?

I live my life in the moment. Sometimes family and friends don’t understand my ability to change what or where I am going at a moment’s notice. I call this “lane changing”. It is problematic when you have responsibilities, but I manage it well. My profession affords me a flexible working schedule.


When can we expect some books from you?

I am working on my Karena series. It will be a trilogy. I don’t have an exact date, but hopefully not too much longer. I am really excited about the prospect of many people being able to read her story in a more structured fashion. Right now everyone can read each story/poem but without any way of knowing which one comes first and so on. I want to give the reader a more “real” experience. My costume design career is very important to me, and I am very busy designing shows. I probably design between 12 and 15 shows a year. It’s pretty intense. I will be retiring from design in two years.
So be prepared for a lot of Amber Moonstone!


Do you plan to use conventional or self publishing and why?

I really am hoping to go conventional. I have a few publishers that are interested in the Karena series.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed. I do not want to self publish. I am a very old fashion woman. I want the man to come to me…lol


Amber do you have any advice for serious poets and authors?

WRITE, WRITE, WRITE, Practice make perfect!


Who are your two favorite authors and why do they appeal to you?


1. Robert Frost, he was a New Englander and I can relate to his poetry. Especially fond of The Road Not Taken,
“Two Roads diverged in a wood, and I-I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference”.
2. A present writer that I just love and it’s because I am a romantic, is Nicolas Sparks. He writes some ridiculous romantic works!


What are your hobbies and interests, other than writing?

That’s another great question. I love to quilt and make children’s clothing. I also collect Tea Pots.


You are an award winning costume designer. How did you become a costume designer? What has been the favorite production you have worked on? Do you have one particular costume you created that sticks in your memory?

Believe it or not, my high school home economics department was like FIT in New York. I learned everything that I know about fashion, costume history and construction during my four years in high school. My design career started when I was a Junior in high school. My music director came to me and asked me to audition for Funny Girl because he thought I looked like Barbara Striesand. I freaked out and told him that I could never sing in front of an audience. So I offered to design the costumes and that the home ec department would build them, hence I was hooked on costume design! I have been designing costumes for theater for forty six years this year.
I have to say that the coat I created for an equity production of Joseph and The Amazing Dream coat, was by far my most favorite costume that I designed and build myself.


What person of present, or any other time period, would you most like to have a conversation with and what would you like to discuss with them?

This is an easy question. Chief Powhatan! I would love to know his side of our history. We do not have the correct facts about what happened back in the 1600’s when we took over the Powhatan Indian nation.


What is the favorite place you have traveled to and why is it your favorite?

I have two favorite places…The first my heritage, Italy.
The second of course is Virginia, where Karena Eagle Medicine Woman is set.


What projects are you working on now?
I am still working on the Karena books. I also have an autobiography started.


What would you like to accomplish in the new year in your life and in your writing?

I would love to receive word that one of the publishers that I am courting decides to publish Karena.
I would also like to actually launch the first book of this series.


What do you consider your greatest accomplishment in life?

My children, my grandchildren, my costume career and my writing ability.


Is there anything you would like to say to your readers?

Yes, Thank you for your support and love. I hope you will read my Karena series as soon as it is available and send me your feedback and let me know how she has touched your lives.
Also, if you have the desire to want to be a writer, just start writing. You will figure it out as you go along and you will only get better at it if you continue to write.


Tell us briefly about your philosophy of life.

As I said before, Treat others as you would want to be treated. Smile even though your heart might be breaking. Give peace a chance. Recycle, reuse, restore. Pay it forward (always) Love yourself and treat yourself with kindness and respect.


Thank you so much Amber for this honest and revealing interview. It has been my pleasure to get to know you better.