As promised, I have decided to turn my neglected blog into a place where
authors and readers can meet. Each week I will highlight an author and discuss
with them their books and their experience.
My very first guest it Kirsty Ferguson.
Kirsty
Ferguson is a crime, mystery and horror writer who lives in Melbourne,
Australia. She has been writing stories ever since a life-changing brush with
Stephen King’s Cujo. When she’s not writing about unspeakable things, reading
or cooking, she can be found spending time with her son, teaching him about the
joys of reading and writing.
As you can see, Kirsty is a woman after my own
heart, we both share a love of Stephen King and spend a lot of our time writing
about the horrors that humans can do.
So on to the questions:
Welcome Kirsty,
Can you tell us a bit about you as an
author?
I write crime and mystery novels that are set in rural Australia. My
books always have a few twists and turns woven throughout them which will keep
you guessing until the end.
What are the hardest part of being an
author?
Finding time is definitely the hardest part of being an author. You are
always pulled in so many different ways with family, work or study.
What do you enjoy most about being an
author?
Creating a book from just a spark of an idea. I also love when people
tell me they’ve read my books and enjoyed them.
What authors/books have had an
influence on your writing?
Stephen King’ Cujo will always hold a special place in my heart as will
Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With The Wind for helping me fall in love with books
and the art of writing. I love reading Australian authors as well such as Helen
Garner and Carly Lane.
Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so,
how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?
Yes, there is such a thing as writer’s block, I’ve felt it before. I
found that writing something completely different helps clear the block away. I
also find that reading the news is helpful. That’s how I got the idea for one
of my books, by googling an old crime. The book took a very different turn but
it helped me write again.
Do you have a particular place that you
like to write?
I made an office for myself and hung inspirational quotes on the wall.
It’s my favourite place to write. I also find inspiration while walking so I
use my phone to write down plot ideas.
Do you have a favourite time of day to
write?
I find that I am quite motivated after school drop off or late at night.
How do you like to reach your readers?
I use social media such as Facebook and Twitter to reach readers. I am
also in the local Collins Booksellers store and in three libraries.
Please
tell us about your latest book:
My latest book is called Little Girl
Revenge and is the second book in the Little Girl Dead series (Little Girl Dead
is the first book). It is a crime and mystery series that focuses around the
events immediately after the death of a sixteen-year-old girl named Cassie
Grace. The reader follows her mother Lila Grace as she unravels the mystery
behind Cassie’s death.
How long did it take you to write the book?
It took me a month or so to write
Little Girl Revenge.
Do you have a favourite character/topic in your work?
Lila, the main character is my
favourite, mainly because after a horrific incident, she takes her life in her
own hands and does what needs to be done.
What was your writing process like?
I had an idea of where I wanted the
book to go and I just meandered my way there. I don’t write with a plan, I just
go where the story takes me. I let the characters decide what they want to say
and when.
Do you have plans for further instalments?
Yes. The next book in the series is
called Little Girl Silent and will be out early 2017. The final instalment is
called Little Girl Lonely and is a prequel.
Do you have a plan for your next book?
My next book is called Severed
Heart. It is a cozy mystery which is set on a rural farm and focuses on events
surrounding a decade old death. It will be released on the 3rd
November 2016.
Just
a few final questions about writing and the industry…
Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when
reading?
I see the benefits of ebooks and I
do read on my phone, but I am a lover of real books that I can hold and smell.
(A woman after my own heart…. Amanda)
Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your
thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing?
I have self-published my books and
will probably continue to do so as it is easier and more flexible and I can do
it to my timeline. I feel that self-publishing is becoming more widely
accepted. Once, it was seen as only for people that couldn’t get a traditional
publishing deal but that’s not the case anymore. Anyone with a passion for
writing can release books now.
And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Just write. You will never finish a
book if you don’t start it.
So where can readers find you?
Thank you Kirsty for being my first
visiting author. I wish you the very best of luck and I hope to
see you back here in November when you release Severed Heart.
Thank
again readers for visiting, please check out Kirsty’s books!
Until
next time, happy reading!
Amanda
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