Author interview with Crime Author T.J. Spade

Welcome my lovely visitors, readers and authors, this week I am interviewing fellow crime author, T.J. Spade.

T.J. Spade has two fascinations: Indiana Jones and the macabre. After trying to be Indy for a while and earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Archaeological Practice, T.J is now satisfying interest number two by plotting murder … on paper only of course.

Can you tell us a bit about you as an author? Well, I’m actually fairly new to this whole ‘being an author’ schtick. My debut novel, ‘The Everett Files Book 1: Take You Apart’ was published 30 November, 2015. Since then I’ve released Book 2 in the series and began work on Book 3. It’s been an amazing (and very busy) journey, and really, the best I’ve ever embarked upon.

What are the hardest parts of being an author?
Getting noticed and not becoming discouraged. A good friend of mine recently reminded me that it’s a marathon not a sprint – wise words.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?
No question, it’s the people I’ve met! Bloggers (you’re all amazing!), fellow indies, and of course my street team (shout out to Team Spade). I really feel as though I’m a part of something wonderful and the support is just incredible.

What authors/books have had an influence on your writing?
I write crime fiction, and I’d probably trace that influence back to when I was a teenager and frugally saving my babysitting money to buy the latest James Patterson novel. I fell head-over-heels for his fast-paced style and all the action! It was seriously such a thrill when my debut novel released and it got that initial big jump in sales (due to all of my family and friends who were obligated to buy it), and I found my title beside one of Patterson’s on the Amazon charts. I took a screenshot on my phone of posterity!

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?I don’t really believe in it (novice claim alert!). Some scenes are certainly easier to write than others but I believe you can always write ‘something’. ($10 says I’ve now jinxed myself!)

Do you have a particular place that you like to write? Either in bed (computer in my lap and cat at my feet), or at the dining table. The table is conveniently situated near the air-conditioner and the heater, so it works well all year round.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write? The earlier the better. If it don’t get the ball rolling in the morning I start to panic.

How do you like to reach your readers? 

Mostly via Facebook but face-to-face is great too. I’ve done a talk at my local library and I’m on the author panel with fellow Indie, Montana Ash and the amazing Frederick Forsyth, for SpyFest (September 2016) – I’m super excited about that. I also have Books by the Bridge and Riveting Reads coming up in 2017.

and here are the links:

              Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TJSpade/

               Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/tjspade

               Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14661559.T_J_Spade

Can you tell us about your latest book? (is it part of a series, genre)
My latest release is ‘The Everett Files Book 2: Take You to Hell’. It picks up directly from where

Book 1 finishes and continues to follow the various cases of psychic police consultant, Caleb Everett. Caleb has worked alongside Homicide Detective Jack Rafferty for many years and he basically helps to hunt murderers and sometimes catch killers even before they strike. There’s a bit of a love interest (of course), and lots of fast-paced adventure.

How long did it take you to write the book? Approximately three months because I also work full-time. The first three Everett Files books will all have been published within a one-year period.

Do you have a favourite character/topic in your work?
I love my lead character, Caleb, but Jack Rafferty is pretty popular – I’m under strict instructions not to kill Jack off! I also thoroughly enjoy writing my villains – they’re pretty fun.

What was your process? Did you plot out the entire book, or just let the storyline flow? Do you write in chronological order?

I definitely work in chronological order and I have a lot mapped out … however, things change. Sometimes the characters will do something unexpected, or the plot will twist in a direction even I didn’t anticipate. I just roll with it.

Do you have plans for further instalments?
Yes. ‘Book 3: Take You Home’ is a work in progress (due out in December 2016). I also have plans for at least two more books in this series – and another series is busily plotting itself out within my grey matter.

Do you have a plan for your next book?
Yep, and my lips are sealed.

Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when reading? Give me the hardcopy every time; I want to touch it, smell it, doggie-ear the pages and basically ogle it on my bookshelf.

Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing? It’s a tough one. If I was traditionally published I wouldn’t have my Street Team and all the amazing connections that go along with it. The flipside, is that I would have a publicist with connections and more experience than I could ever dream of having. I get the sense that the industry is moving in the direction of self-publishing and I think we see more amazingly talented, self-published authors cropping up every year. Actually, this seems like a good time to give IndieMosh (my publishing partners) a decent plug – Jenny and Ally are amazing, talented, knowledgeable and beyond helpful – if you need assistance getting your book out in the big, bad world I suggest you look them up.

And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?
To quote a wise fish named Dory, “Just keep swimming.” If you’re not as successful as J.K. Rowling after your first novel … or your tenth novel … that doesn’t mean you throw in the towel. I see a lot of authors on social media getting upset by sales and reviews (or the lack thereof), and threatening to pull their books because “no-one” is reading them. In my opinion, you only fail when you give up, and the time you spend sulking about your so-called ill-fortune would be better spent on writing or promotion.

Just, “Swim, swim, swim.”

Thank you again for dropping by to chat TJ.

Thanks agian everyone for dropping by. If you'd like to be itnerveiwed for this blog, please drop me a line. 

Until next time, Happy reading!!!!

Cheers

Amanda

The Author's Journey: Part 3: The Creative Process - The Trials and Tribulations

Welcome again to the third edition of The Author's Journey.

I am writing this as part of my Master of Arts (Writing) under the subject PWR70002 - Online Writing and I want to share with emerging writers as well as those who are keen to further their own writing.

I have already put out the request to my fellow authors for help once again creating some helpful advice, honest insights and tips and tricks for those who are on their own journey of writing. The comments and emails are coming through and I am finding that some of my peers have some incredible ideas that help them in their creative endeavours.

This week's topic was actually a suggestion by my lecturer who prompted me by saying, I needed to further examine the "complexity of creativity as part of the human condition." (Clover, 2016) And so that is where today's post goes. We have already looked at what inspires the writer, but now we must further investigate the trials and tribulations of the creative process. How we create, how we design and how we research the idea that inspired us.

We all have our own complex processes. Those things that help us work through a problem, or perhaps it is a point of reference that will always be a guiding light for our creative processes.  We can decide to travel to different countries or even different worlds, we can create new places, new processes, new ideas and even some authors have gone on to be the inspiration for inventors. Our creative process allows us to fly, to be free of constraint, we push boundaries and we make our characters suffer, in the name of our creative process.

Amy Wright, owner and author over at Murder Library and Serial Killer GPS app and the associated Facebook page which is incredibly informative explains her creative process...

Once I have an idea and start to put it on paper, I like to look at photos of the subject. I usually print them out or save them to a document, and start writing down words or phrases that come to mind when I'm looking at them. I often put the photos into a timeline, and write underneath. Eventually I can mix it all together to form my piece.

Musician and author Peter Altieri has a different approach to his creative process

For me, silence is golden. I get creative most times when I'm ready to write and the house is quiet. The next best thing is putting on headphones and listen to thunderstorm noise. With kids and grandkids, I've had to get creative over the years in many ways.

Charlotte Frisby  shares a similar approach to Peter, in preferring silence to create, both in mind and body.

Creativity comes often after the initial idea has formed in my mind, when I listen to a particular piece of music that 'fits' the story - always classical. Then sections of the story will flow in my mind. The house has to be empty and tidy - not sure why but if I have other things to do, that intrudes on the process and instead of figuring out how the character could be killed, the character drifts off to do housework or something equally odd. 

Authors are well known procrastinators. I cannot tell you how many times I have paired all the socks in the odd-sock basket, purely to avoid having to face the dreaded realisation that I have a void of ideas and I know that I should be writing.  I find the cleaning bug often strikes too when I have spare time and the opportunity to get in some extra writing time. We can find some extremely creative ways to avoid the fear of writing.  Of course these days we also have social media, for most of us it's a new way to avoid writing, and it can be extremely detrimental to the writing process, but sometimes the creative process can be so extremely enjoyable that nothing can get in our way when we are writing. It is those moments that makes it all truly worth it. Even looking through older status on my facebook I find some amazing comments that make me love the creative process of pulling ideas together.

 Tegan Barber another of my "serial killer" friends (in that she writes about serial killers, not that she is one)

My creativity comes to me from the real world and real people. I commonly find myself sitting in a public place like a cafe and writing down random bits of conversations I overhear or things I see that I like such as hair colour, tattoo ideas or building design.

Author David Russell goes a little deeper in his thought process on how he works through is early creative process,

Creativity is imagination, and the imagination is the creativity. The two go hand in hand.
For me, creativity isn't the process of putting the words down, it is what happens in the mind. After that comes the transition from mind to paper, the hard work. I visualise the things I want others to see, and describe those things as best I can. I'd like to think that more often not it works out okay.

Award winning author Rosanne Dingli explains

Inspiration means as little to me as "idea". Until either has been solidified into a good concept, with a solid premise, some tangible leads forward, and a proper understanding of what their whole might become, I trust neither ideas nor inspiration.

My life has shown me that idea-driven projects fail unless that ethereal inspired fragment has been taken and made real. Inspiration must be acted upon, and not only by putting the thought in writing. One must tackle the topic, see what others have done before, work on what emerges using analytical principles, and THEN one might have something worth developing.

A dear friend, author Karen Carlise has gone all out when responding to the question I posed. I think
it really highlights the pure joy of the creative process of an author and why we come back book after book, spending hour after lonely hour pulling together incredible ideas and amazing storylines.

Ah, research. Now you’re talking! This is the fun bit.

Once I have the seed of an idea, I need to let it grow. I try to immerse myself in the atmosphere, the mindset and the mechanics of the story. For me that is often nineteenth century, with a twist. But to know where to twist reality, and still keep the reader’s suspension of belief, requires a lot of background information.

First I gather up as many visuals as I can find (I’m a visual person: possibly the artist in me?): photos, maps and books written on my chosen theme/subject for a story. Fortunately, there are many virtual tours of historical buildings and ‘Victorian lifestyle’ documentaries available either online or on DVD. I sometimes make drawings of specific contraptions or characters...

For Doctor Jack, I read books and articles, and watched a slew of Jack the Ripper documentaries (including one with you, Amanda - you can watch it here). Currently I am reading Magic: stage illusions and scientific diversions, including trick photography (published in 1897) for the third book in my current series.

For the ‘smells and bells’, I do as many road trips as I can afford. I’ve done photoshoots in historic areas of Adelaide and, earlier this year, our local library did a bus tour of early historic buildings in the area; we were permitted to walk through some privately-owned buildings and discuss their history with the owners and local historian. I’ve even had a guided tour of ‘behind the walls’ at one of the Medici palaces in Florence. That will likely feature in another story that’s been bubbling away...

When I can’t physically experience something, I return to my default: do research... I’ve been fortunate to have experienced many things in my lifetime. I have friends who have done research or lecture in the most amazing (or obscure) subjects and are willing to share their experiences. This helps to germinate the seeds of my ideas. Then I just need to feed them with research and hope they grow.

So pushing further into this process, I want to share my own, explaining that first concept when inspiration has already struck and now the creative process begins, using my most recent true crime book, Rope: A History of the Hanged.  The concept and inspiration was the easy part, write a book on hangings, but then I needed to get creative, writing about a dozen or so people being hanged would be very very dull. So where did I take that?

WRITING NON-FICTION
Though I will go into research in a lot more depth later in the Author's journey, I will touch on it slightly here also. Having written many true crime books, I have some incredible resources to fall back on, working through piles of historical reading material I let the stories become part of my creative process. Finding themes, such as people that had been hanged wrongly, and wrongly hanged. Stories of escape. There was no writing just yet, just getting the ideas flowing, using some records as a basis of the book, and then searching through my own assumed knowledge that floats around my brain I was able to start bringing together some great ideas. I began with some very rough chapter headings, murders by hanging, suicides, escapes, the creative juices quickly began to flow as I recalled cases that would fit perfectly into the various chapter headings I had penciled in.

WRITING FICTION

Now I hear you now... "But Amanda, I am not writing a book on hangings, I am not even writing a non-fiction, so how does this help me?"  Recently someone asked how different is it writing in both fiction and non-fiction, and my response was that they are both challenging in their own ways. Non-fiction requires that massive amount of research and references and various amounts of checking and cross checking, with fiction you are free to write whatever you want and then get stuck when your muse is not talking to you. So whilst in non-fiction the 'story' is already there, it is restrictive, and in fiction it is non-restrictive, but you need to ramp up the imagination and creativity. This can be tricky. I often collate a pile of ideas and notes (see previous posts about inspiration and where to be begin) and then it's time to get creative.

Even when I am working in fiction, I put together a chapter list, a list of ideas, a brief explanation of what I want to happen and when, including the ending if I have it. Now it may begin as a list of 15-20 linked ideas, for instance various victims (I write thrillers so there is always a body count), a couple of red herrings, some personal events for the main characters, a few diverging issues that keep the story interesting. Often these little tantalizing ideas will get the creative process bubbling along. I work out how the killer become entwined with the story line, how they are caught. Of course it sounds a lot easier than it is in process. Often I will find massive gaps and need to work on that process. I talk to family, friends and readers about ideas, seeing how far I can push the boundaries. Still no story line detail is written, just working out that first creative journey.  If I am stuck or frustrated, I will often go for a run, often with my phone to my ear, talking through ideas with those who understand my process, bouncing ideas, asking advice. I need to find the skeleton (pardon the pun) of the story line before I can start.

Though I have mentioned earlier that writing in fiction is much freer than non-fiction, there is still plenty of research that can go into a story. I've freaked out my neighbours by conducting blood splatter experiments in my back yard. I've spent countless hours talking to serial killers, getting into their minds, learning the way they speak, it is those kinds of creative details that can make the stories more believable and in my case, (hopefully) far more chilling.

This is the joy of a writer when the process is working and working well. It can be just as exciting as the actual writing. I have marvelled at artifacts from history as I have travelled to different countries in search of research material, I have stood where many a criminal was hanged and felt the chills wash over me. A moment in time can inspire a hundred story lines if you get creative with your processes.

I know many of you are extremely keen to talk through what happens when the muse is mute and writer's block strikes. That will be another topic coming soon, so be sure to keep visiting for more.

WRITING TASK
Until next time, I leave you with a little writing task, something to get those creative juices flowing.  This was something I did earlier in my Master's degree and found the responses quite amazing. Write about a first in your life. First kiss, first tragedy, first fear, first bike, first friend, first book, first loss... Make it something that is outside of your comfort zone and also write outside your genre... if you write humour, write something tragic, if you write romance, write something horror. Go to the opposite end of your scale and see what you can create!

HAPPY WRITING





Cheers,

Amanda Howard

If you'd like to be involved in this blog, be interviewed about your latest book or if you have a story to tell. Please contact me via the links below.

Links:
Amanda Howard Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandahowardauthor/
Amanda Howard Twitter: https://twitter.com/amandahoward73
Amanda Howard's books (Amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Howard/e/B001JP7X7I/

Author Interview - Kam Newton and her debut book His Beautiful Nightmare

This week, I welcome Kam Newton, author of  His Beautiful Nightmare, as my victim interviewee . It is lovely to have you here to chat about your new book.

To begin, can you tell us a bit about you as an author? 

Since I was 12 I have wanted to write my own stories but that’s all it was really, a dream in the back of my mind. It was only last year though when I was introduced to the world of ebooks and Indi authors that I finally felt like I had the opportunity to take that first step. I was so excited to finally put this series of characters onto paper and hope people like them as much as I enjoyed writing them. 

What are the hardest part of being an author? For me it’s trying to work around my disability. When I was four I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis which affects all my joints including my hands. Just recently I had to postpone my release because I had a flare that has lasted nearly 3 months now. I have really only been able to start writing again the last few weeks. It’s not something I can predict only maintain. So I just have to go with the flow and work as I can. My friends, other authors and those waiting to read HBN have been incredibly understanding when I had to explain why my book was delayed yet again. We have a very lovely little community in the Indi world and I’m so proud to be a part of it.

What do you enjoy most about being an author? 

I love that I can let my imagination go wild, there are no restrictions on who your characters are or who they can become.

What authors/books have had an influence on your writing? 

I love T.M Frazier, Tillie Cole, Harper Sloan and Lane Hart. It’s hard to choose who really influenced me the most, I think it was a bit of all of them.

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?
Absolutely, I was told once that your characters are like your imaginary friends in your head and writers block is just when they stop talking to you. I believe that most days, sometimes I can sit there for an hour trying to find the words my character would have said and it’s like they won’t tell me what they are thinking and nothing I write for them is good enough. I spend that time rereading through my work instead until they decide to cooperate with me haha.

Do you have a particular place that you like to write? 

When I first started writing it was just me and my laptop on my lounge or in bed with my children climbing all over me, which was quite a challenge. Now I have taken over my son’s old room for my very own writing cave. It’s all set up where I can lock myself away and pound the keys to all hours of the morning which has helped with my focus.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write? 

Honestly. I usually have to wait till my kids are in bed to really get in the zone of writing so I can get that momentum going. I love hiding away in my writing cave with a bit of music going and just see what comes out.

How do you like to reach your readers? 

I’m only a new author, His Beautiful Nightmare is my debut so I am still new to all this. Primarily I use social media, facebook to be specific, I practically live there haha. I am looking forward to 2017 though because I have the fantastic opportunity to attend two book signings. My first thanks to Kat T Masen who is hosting Books By The Bridge in Sydney next February and then Riveting Reads in Brisbane in October. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone there and do a little fan girling of my own with most of my own favourite Indi authors attending. 

I practically live on Facebook so that’s the best place to find out everything that is going on with my releases, events and my random ramblings. Though I am new to Twitter also so please bear with me while I try at learn to be a twit haha.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkamnewton/

Twitter: @authorkamnewton

Can you tell us about your latest book? 

His Beautiful Nightmare is the first book in The Suffer Ring Series. It’s about this gorgeous and

curvy rockabilly chick named Ruby Lee and the bad boy Cobolt Wolfe who comes into town to shake up her world. It has a little bit of everything in there I think, bad boys, sassy girls, tattoos, classic cars and a little darkness mixed in. I guess all the things I like to read about myself.

How long did it take you to write the book?

I am a very slow writer, I have been writing HBN on and off since September last year, though I have had some health issues over that time, so I would say more like 6 months of solid writing time to get it to publication.

Do you have a favourite character/topic in your work? 

I love Ellie (Eloise), she is the ultimate best friend and is a combination of a few of my own friends in one. She is bright, sassy and funny. She will be getting her own book in The Suffer Ring series because I feel her story really needs to be told, she is more than just a character to me.

What was your process? Did you plot out the entire book, or just let the storyline flow? Do you write in chronological order? 

I’m a flow writer, I have a rough idea of where everything fits but really I let the characters determine the story. I had a dream about the ending of HBN last year and decided to write it out thinking that’s where it was heading. I looked back at it just a few days ago and realised how much the characters had changed the direction of this story since then. I love how sometimes I don’t even know what’s going to happen next, I excite myself haha.

Do you have plans for further instalments? 

Yes I also have plans to release a spin off series to The Suffer Ring Series later down the track.

Do you have a plan for your next book? 

My next book will be the second book in The Suffer Ring Series called Our Stolen Illusion, which is the story of Xander and Ivy. I do have a standalone that is itching at me to be written so I’m still unsure if to take some time after OSI to write that or to wait till the series is complete. I think I will just have to see what feels right at the time.

Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when reading? 

I love the feel and dare I say smell of a good paperback (another confessed book sniffer - Amanda), there is nothing like it. I get all my favourite books on paperback and I hope to eventually get them all signed too. Though I love ebooks because I have discovered some amazing Indie authors this way and If I go anywhere I can take my kindle with me and have my entire library at my fingertips

Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing?

I think they both have their merits; you just have to find what format suits you personally. I’d love to publish with a company and be the next Nickolas Sparks, EL James or JL Perry but I am happy self-publishing and knowing that I am doing this for myself because I have always wanted to write my own books and this is a way I am able to achieve that.

And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Give it a go. If you think you can do it and want to give it a try, then why not. There is no one stopping you but yourself. I was surprised by how much support I got from my family and friends. I honestly thought they would call me a fool and think nothing more of it. Instead I got messages and phone calls encouraging me to go for it and take that chance. It’s the best decision I have made and with ebooks and Indi-publishing anyone can do it now. All you have to do is try.

Thank you so much Kam for dropping in with your debut book, I hope we can follow you on your writing journey and it would be a pleasure to have you back with each book as we follow the Suffer Ring series. 

Thank you readers for once again droppin by. If you'd like to be interviewed for this blog, please drop me a line at amanda@amandahoward.com.au or find me on facebook.

Cheers, 

Amanda

Author Interview: Award Winning Belinda Missen

Welcome to Belinda Missen, this week's feature author.

Belinda Missen began her writing career following a decade in retail and a further five years in the transport industry, Like most of us, she realised where her heart belonged and she decided to take a break and return to her first love, writing.

After her works were read by approximately fifty thousand online readers, she finally decided to put the figurative pen to paper and write her first novel. While she enjoys writing contemporary romance fiction, she can also be found freelancing for websites, and twisting dark, psychological thrillers together.

In April, 2016, Belinda won the Inspire 26+ Category in the Australia-wide JOLT Courthouse Youth Arts Awards for her short piece "Obsessions".

She's currently working on novels four, five and six. So, if you're looking for her, she's likely buried under a pile of paper somewhere. Belinda lives near Geelong, Australia, and is an active member of the arts community.

Thank you Belinda for stopping by today.

Can you tell us a bit about you as an author? 
Writing is always something I've done. It started as a young child writing Jurassic Park fanfic, before I even knew what fanfic was. I stopped writing for a few years, and did the whole 'busy being an adult' business. I worked in retail for ten years, and transport for a further five. After leaving transport, I kind of floated a bit for twelve months, and the writing bug got me again when a character turned up and introduced himself. It's been non-stop ever since. To this day, I still write fanfic (though I'd never tell anyone how to find it), because I love how much of an audience gauge it is. You can see what does and doesn't work simply by their reaction.

What are the hardest part of being an author? 
Hmmm there's a bit of a list there. There's being your own boss, which is awesome. But, at the same time, it means you're the one responsible for getting yourself into gear each morning. For the most part, I love this, just not when I'm lacking inspiration. What do you enjoy most about being an author? The freedom, the creativity, the friends and connections I've made, and getting to write my own story. What authors/books have had an influence on your writing? There are heaps of authors that I love, that have had an influence on me. As a child, I loved Roald Dahl. As an adult I still do, but I also enjoy Mhairi McFarlane, Lindsey Kelk, Cecilia Ahern and David Nicholls.

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing? I think there is a bit of a writer's block thing. 
When I went to London last year, I was there for six weeks. The entire time I didn't even want to write, though I forced myself to keep a blog. When I got back, though, the words poured out.

Do you have a particular place that you like to write? 
Depends on how I'm feeling. Most of my writing happens after ten p.m. I work into the wee hours of the morning, but I don't mind a rainy day, in the car, by the beach. Recently, I've become a fan of sitting down at the You Yangs and bashing out some words. Last time I was there, I wrote a short story that became a screenplay that weekend.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write? 
After ten p.m. when the world is quiet. How do you like to reach your readers? (Social media? Book signings? Blogs etc) Social media is good, but can be tricky. It's really hard to gauge an audience. I do giveaways, they vary in their effectiveness. I've done one book signing in a wine bar that ended with me converting profits into espresso martinis. That was an amazing night.

Can you tell us about your latest book?
I write romance, which I'm always a bit remiss to announce. People seem to think romance = Fifty
Shades of Grey. I don't do that. It's not my thing. I really do just like good things happening to good people, so all of my books are light, fluffy romance. My latest one is a bit of a play on the old Captain von Trapp and Maria situation, a grieving widower meets young upstart, sparks fly, and things get crazy. It is third in a series of books that I called BookEnds. I think I chose that at the time because I was going to bookend the series with a book about a character I wrote called Red.

How long did it take you to write the book? 
This one has taken a while. I wrote the first draft about two years ago, and it's undergone numerous rewrites since. I've recently ordered a proof copy and, the next morning, decided I still wasn't happy with it. So, back to the drawing board again. This new rewrite is packing the punch it needs to.

Do you have a favourite character/topic in your work? 
Red seems to be a fan favourite. He was my first book, and he's resonated with a lot of people, which I love. What was your process? Did you plot out the entire book, or just let the storyline flow?

Do you write in chronological order?
No plots. Not even always chronological order, but it helps. I generally get an idea for two characters, they're what turn up first. Then their settings and situation, and I go to work from there.

Do you have plans for further instalments? 
I'm trying to get some more Red together, but I don't want to force it. So, there are plans. How soon they'll eventuate is anyone's guess.

Do you have a plan for your next book? 
I've just worked out the next four, despite the fact I've got another ten or so books in various stages on the computer. I had an idea for a set of four books during the week. I'll run with that for now.

Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when reading? 
I do prefer paperback, I don't think there's much better in this world than paperback books. However, if I think I may not like a book, or it's outside my regular genre, I'll get the eBook first. If I love it, I'll go out and get a paperback.

Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing?
Honestly, I'd love to be traditionally published. I think there's a bit of... pride (if that's the right word?) in being able to say you're tied to, say, Penguin, or Random House, etc. On the other hand, I love the freedom of creation that I get through self-publishing. I am my own boss, and everything happens how I want it to.

 And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Keep writing and keep reading. That's the only way you're going to get better. I went on a reading binge in early 2016, and stepped away from the books for a bit. I read about twenty novels in six weeks. When I came back, I could see the difference in my writing. Also, surround yourself with the right people. You need the right advice, the right support, and the right family and friends. If they're not into what you're doing, it'll just make life hard, really..  


Thank you so much for that Belinda. I found it really interesting and I hope our readers did too.

If you'd like to know more about Belinda and her writing, please look her up on the various social media platforms listed below:
Website: www.belindamissen.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BelindaMissen 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BelindaMissen
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/BelindaMissen/e/B00UWR51MS
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/bmissen

Again, thank you so much for stopping by. If you are interested in being interviewed for this blog, please drop me a comment. Also please don't forget to subscribe to ensure you see each week's interview.

Kirsty Ferguson, Author of The Little Dead Girl Series

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 3^rd 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?

Website: www.authorkirstyferguson.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorkirstyferguson

Twitter: www.twitter.com/danesha24

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/kirstyferguson

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/14343302.Kirsty_Ferguson

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

The Man Behind The Serial Killer

It was in 1989 that my life collided with the world of the serial killer.

At the time I was in high school, dreaming of performing on the world's stage as a dancer and singer. I was a lot smaller then compared to now but then my life was one of adrenalin and music. Every waking moment was spent dancing, singing, playing instruments, or anything that came under the umbrella of performing.

Dance, drama and performance would remain part of my life for another four years, but it was slowly consumed by a darker world, I guess you could call it the world behind the curtain.  I lived in Sydney. One of the most beautiful places on earth and a place that will always be home, but in 1989 it was also the home to a serial killer.

In early 1989 an elderly lady was found bludgeoned to death. Her murder was reported in the media, as most cases of murder in Sydney are, but she was the first of at least six women who fell prey to the killer known as The Granny Killer. At the time, criminal profiling in Australia was in its infancy and an attempt was made to profile the serial killer. The profile claimed that the killer would be a young man, probably a skateboarder. However when the killer, a 50 year old man, was captured, my whole world seemed to circle in around me.

The idea that the serial killer was a genial older gentleman was incredulous. I could not believe it, he looked like my own father. He actually was a father, to two teenage girls.  I was hooked at that very moment. No more did I believe that killers were the Freddy Kruegers of this world. They were the fathers, the brothers, the uncles and even the mothers that walked among us.

This was how my 'life of crime' commenced. Gone went the dancing costumes and performance ideas, and instead, in their place were criminology exams and interviews with serial killers.

Since my new career path started I have interviewed dozens of serial killers, but nothing I have done will ever compare to that done by the serial killer expert himself Robert Ressler.  Along with another hero of mine, John Douglas, Ressler has interviewed the most infamous serial killers in America. He has, as he put it, looked into the abyss.  His numerous books taught me more than my university degree ever could regarding the criminal mind and the way it worked.

I have had some pretty exhilarating experiences with serial killers over the years, including death threats and recipes where I was one of the ingredients, but had it not been for Ressler, Douglas and their co-horts, would I be looking into the abyss now? Would my life be the one it is  with eight books on true crime published and many more to come? Serial killers have always been a part of history, and always will, but it was the need and ability to understand the mind of a killer that has compelled many of us to peer over that edge and to see what stares back.

Ressler passed away earlier this year, but for those who walk in the shadow of serial killers, he will forever live on.

Photo credit: criminalminds.wikia.com

Books 9 and 10

I think that 2013 has seen me write more than I have in any other year. So far this year I have

• completed Ritual: The Elements of Murder,
• written A Killer in the Family,
• about complete Ritual: A Thousand Cuts,
• I have written a dozen short stories,
• started a new book on capital punishment,
• and revisited and commenced editing a book on serial killers. 

In all that writing, I think I've written about one million words.  No wonder my poor fingers hurt :) 

By Christmas you will be able to purchase A Killer in the Family and Ritual: The Elements of Murder, they are my ninth and tenth books respectively.  I never thought I would make it there. When I commenced writing my first book, I thought I might end up writing a second book one day. Yet, here I am, ten years later, book 9 and 10 are done and at the publishers, I am about to complete book 11, book 12 is ready for a dramatic edit, book 13 is already in the pipeline and I am planning a trip to London to help me with book 14. 

I guess with all that work still to do, I should really get off my blog and back into writing. 

Thanks for reading!

Amanda

The Light At the End of the Tunnel

The light at the end of the tunnel is not a train, but the completion of my very first novel. I just typed the last line of my book. Of course, until I am happy I will continue to tweak and twiddle away, but in essense it is done.

I am so happy. I sat here with my laptop beside me and cried. I have never felt that before. It was an amazing sense of achievement. Yes I know I have written six other books, but they were all true crime, the information was already there. I just had to interpret it and get it down on paper.

This time, it was from my own head, my own story, my own characters, my own novel. I did it.

Jayant Patel - A Man Freed or A Man Gone?

What is it with judges? Do they not have any idea about the real world?

It has taken authorities several years to bring suspected killer Jayant back to the Australia to prosecute him for crimes committed here against patients under his care. It has probably cost tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars to finance the search and capture of the now infamous fugitive, after he fled the country the first time.

Finally, we watch news footage of him arriving back in the country and what does the first judge do?

Release him back into society, and how long will it take him to flee the country this time? No doubt he has probably already fled, heading to some backwater country that has no extradition treaty with Australia.

I ask you, who in their right mind, would grant a suspected killer and proven flight risk bail?

I am flabbergasted by it all. The police and investigators do everything they can and then judges go and screw with everyone's plans. It is nonsense.

I shall continue to scratch my head over this one.