Author Interview Lucy Fenton, author of The Ragged People

Hey guys, 

Thanks for joining me again for another interview with another fabulous author.

Lucy Fenton lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and two children. In addition to her cake- making business, she works as a freelance copywriter and pens occasional articles for various online magazines.

Not being one of those people who had a burning desire to be anything in particular, Lucy. worked her way alphabetically backwards through the available degrees at Sydney University. Surprisingly, given the amount of fun she had at school, Lucy finally managed to graduate with a completely unemployable degree in Philosophy. A Law degree soon followed, however, simply to make it possible for some organization to hire her.

After ten soul-destroying years wandering aimlessly in the corporate wilderness, she threw it all in and reassessed. Deciding to bring the “one day I will write a book” idea to the present, she started and hasn’t stopped. As a huge fan of the romance genre, she writes the kinds of books that she enjoys to read.

In her spare time, Lucy…actually she has no spare time. She sleeps or reads copious amounts of romance novels instead of sleeping.

Thanks for dropping by today Lucy, can you tell us a bit about you as an author? 

In a nutshell, my writing is a bit dark and twisty. I’ve tried to write straight forward novels but they always end up more than slightly odd. People who know me are often surprised by my writing, thinking I would write “nice” novels in the style of Alexander McCall Smith.

What do you find to be the hardest part of being an author?

Elderly relatives wanting to discuss sex scenes you’ve written (shudder…)

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

Making things up. I spent my corporate days meticulously researching and citing references so I really love the freedom of writing whatever I want and no one can tell me that it’s wrong. Except my editor, who frequently does.

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

I read almost anything but I have a passion for the conflicting genres of traditional gothic novels and modern surrealist literature. I also love a good space opera or steamy romance. I think reading widely, no matter what, helps expand the mind whether or not it’s directly relevant to my own writing. So in no particular order: Anne Radcliffe, Jane Austen, Douglas Adams, Stephen King, Will Self (Great Apes is one of my all-time favourite books, though my book club hated it with a passion and banned me from picking any more books), Robert Jordan, Anne Rice, J K Rowling and Colleen McCulloch.


Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?

I believe it exists but I don’t generally suffer from it. What I do suffer from is being easily distracted either by people or ideas for new books. When wrapping up a book, I’ll get the uncontrollable urge to just start working on something else because in my head it’s finished, even if not in reality.

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

I like to write in cafes where they bring me things to eat and drink though I’m most productive at my desk. Also less likely to gain weight as I have a weakness for blueberry muffins.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

In the morning straight after school drop off as I tend to lag in the afternoons.

How do you like to reach your readers? (Social media? Book signings? Blogs etc)

I’m doing a couple of book signings next year but mostly social media. To be honest, I’m still surprised when people contact me, though it does make my day!

Can you tell us about your latest book? (is it part of a series, genre)

“The Ragged People” follows on from “Superstition”, starting at the beginning of Arden’s last year at school. Everything is going fine until she is terrified by something lurking in the shadows. Everyone tells her it’s nothing, but not convinced, she looks into it some more and finds that something horrifying is going on.

How long did it take you to write the book?

Every book I’ve done takes me a year, give or take a month depending on how much editing I need to do.

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

Good versus evil and how it is mostly a matter of perspective. Can “bad” people do good things and vice versa? Does intention matter and how much? Who decides what is good and what is bad and how well can that be done without the benefit of hindsight, knowing the outcome?

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

I have an idea and run with it, then cut and paste madly. Rewrite it a lot then hire a really good editor! I’ve tried to be logical and methodical about it, but it doesn’t read as well. I lose something by being too planned, possibly because I get bored and it shows.

Do you have plans for further instalments?

Yes – possibly up to five.

Do you have a plan for your next book?

I have an idea… Golems…

Some general writing questions

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

Definitely ebooks – I love being able to flick between my favourites or get a new book in seconds. I also read a book a day and don’t think I could afford that many paperbacks!

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

I’ve done both and each have advantages and disadvantages. For me, I like the flexibility and control of self-publishing, but traditional publishing still opens many doors that are closed to self-published authors in terms of marketing and distribution. The thing I find hardest is marketing, and regardless of which way you go, you still have to do most of it yourself, though publishers do give you some guidance as well as a boost your credibility. Is it worth giving up control of your book and the bulk of the profits for it though? I still run each book via my agent, but the big ones are taking so few risks that they’re not interested unless it’s absolutely brilliant, rather than merely entertaining. I think the industry is changing, but it’s hard at the moment because the traditional publishers are shrinking but at the same time, there is so much out there of variable quality in the self-published market that it’s hard to get attention. Sometimes it feels like I’m jumping up and down in a dark and empty room. It’s frustrating, but knowing that I’d write even if no one was reading means I’m not disheartened by it.

And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Ignore the doubts and keep on going. Also have a few friends who aren’t authors who will tell you that you are brilliant, even when you’re not because no one starts out amazing and you have to keep going if you’re going to get there. Author friends will try to manage your expectations, which is the last thing you need when you’re starting out. Live the dream and enjoy it! There is more than enough reality waiting for you later.

Thank you so much for sharing your story, your book and your advice with us this week. It was a great journey and as a fellow writer who doesn't know what sleep is, it is good to know there are others out there like us. 

If you'd like to know more about Lucy, you can reach her here:

Website: www.lcfenton.com

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

Twitter: @lfen

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/L-C-Fenton/e/B009JVUI2G/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1469183204&sr=1-2-ent

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14086871.Lucy_Fenton

The Author's Journey - Part 1 The Seed of Inspiration

Welcome back to the very first part of my blog series, The Author's Journey. I am writing this as part of my Master of Arts (Writing) under the subject PWR70002 - Online Writing.

Each week, I will post a new blog topic, covering a small part of the author's journey, using my own experiences, my own mistakes, learned skills, and creative processes to help emerging writers find their writerly self and create their own masterpieces. I will also suggest a writing exercise to get those creative juices flowing.

This week, I will look at the seed of inspiration. That moment when you come up with an idea and what you need to do with that to nurture it and help it sprout. Of course it would be easy just to give you some points, some tips and then just assume it will work for you, but that is not how I work.  I want you to come along a journey with me. I want to inspire you to create your own journey.

As an author, I love to listen to people, I love to hear their ideas. So many of my story ideas come from something someone has said, or perhaps a news article, even a story I read that I thought could have gone in another direction. Inspiration is all around us, it is about finding it.

So how do we find it?

THE SEED OF INSPIRATION
In its simplest form, inspiration is everywhere. The seed of an idea could come from anywhere at any time and this is why you need to always have a notepad and pen, or some other form of implement that will allow you to write down or record your ideas.

Personally I carry a small A6 size note book and pen in my bag, I prefer to jot down ideas but don't forget you can also send yourself messages on your phone, via email or even in a recorded message, however my advice is always to ensure that you keep all of your ideas in the one place. Keeping those pieces of inspiration together means that if you do get stuck, you can flick through a notebook or folder with ease - rather than scrolling through emails/recorded messages etc. Being unorganised with your ideas is just as bad as not writing them down!

So where to find inspiration if you're not sure you have anything to write?

Always remember that EVERYTHING around you is fodder for writing. Yes EVERYTHING.

Sitting in a coffee shop, listening to the conversations going on around you could be the opening scene of your next book.

The two toddlers squabbling over a favourite toy at the park? Perhaps those two little girls later squabble over the running of a multinational corporation in your book.

I was once sitting at my daughter's swimming carnival watching the kids race laps in the pool when an idea came to me. A story questioning how well we know our neighbours. What inspired that? It was my daughter's friends sharing their stories, of the mum who gets up at 3am each day to cook lunches for her children, the other child who was excited to be meeting her father on the weekend. It made me think, how well do we know people and how many secrets do people really have?

Luckily, though I was prepared for a day of water and chlorine, I had also packed a notebook and pen. By the end of the carnival, between cheering for my daughter's sporting house I had jotted out the entire book's premise.

Another moment of inspiration came for me under somewhat tragic circumstances. I was in Sydney, doing the touristy things that people are wont to do, when we came upon a man who was suffering from some mental health issues. I was completely fascinated by his thought processes and his speech patterns. He half sang-half ranted about God and about an imaginary friend beside him. What he said stuck with me, and later became part of one of my storylines. Using examples from life gives realness to stories. People are fascinating and I never miss an opportunity to learn about different types of personalities - especially if they are fractured or flawed.

So, now, I recommend to have a go at an exercise, to find your own inspiration.

WRITING EXERCISE
Forget about any project that you are procrastinating on. Forget those other ideas and scribbled notes. I want you to go somewhere different to your usual places of comfort. Head to a sporting event, take a walk along the beach, find a high spot on a large grassy hill and write what you see, write what you hear, write what you feel.

I'd love to see how you go with a fresh piece of a paper and an new place of inspiration.

To end this week's blog post, I will use one of my favourite quotes: "Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing" Benjamin Franklin.

Thanks again for dropping by, I hope to put these topics up frequently, so I can share my journey with you and hopefully inspire in you an incredible manuscript.

Until next time,


Cheers


Amanda Howard


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 Blog: Faye Hall, author of Shrouded Passions

This week’s author is Faye Hall.

Faye Hall is a published author of Historical Erotic Romance novels & e-books. Faye's passion driven, mystery filled books are set in small townships of North Queensland, Australia during the late 1800's.

Each of her novels bring something symbolically Australian to her readers, from Aboriginal herbal remedies, to certain gemstones naturally only found in this part of the world.

Each of her books tell of a passionate connection between the hero and heroine, surrounded and threatened by deceit, scandal, theft and sometimes even murder.

These romances swerve from the traditional

romances as Faye aims to give her readers so much more intrigue, whilst also revealing the hidden histories of rural townships of North Queensland.

Faye finds her inspiration from the histories of not only the township she grew up in, but the many surrounding it. She also bases most of her characters on people she has met in her life.

Faye was able to live her own passion driven romance, marrying the love of her life after a whirlwind romance in 2013. Together they are raising their nine children in a remote country town in northern Queensland, Australia.

So thank you Faye for blogging with me today.

Can you tell us a bit about you as an author? 

I write about murder, lies, deception, and love set in the outback under the Australian sun.  My passion driven, mystery filled books are set in North Queensland, Australia during the development of the townships at the end of the 19th century.

What are the hardest parts of being an author? 

Trying to keep constant original ideas that will draw the readers to my books.  That and finding time to write.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

Being able to create people and being able to manipulate their lives knowing they will always have a happy ending.

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

Amanda Quick novels have to have been my biggest influence, though I find inspiration in most published authors.

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?

I’m not sure about writers block, but I get frustrated with so many aspects of writing at one time or another.  Usually talking through whatever I’m currently working on with my husband is enough to get me through my frustrations and back on track.

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

I do most of my writing on my computer which is in my bedroom, however I do also write on my phone whilst waiting for my children at school.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

I have many family commitments so I write where and when I can. Finding time to focus on writing is a luxury for sure, so I try to make good use of night time after my children have gone to bed.

How do you like to reach your readers?

Social media is my most used way to reach readers.  I’ve also done several interviews for the local paper in my town, as well as quite a few appearances on various blogs.  I even had the chance to do an appearance with several other local authors in the local library.

Your latest book is Shrouded Passions. It was released in May 2016. Can you tell us about your book?

It is a historical romantic suspense set in 19^th century Australia.  The hero, Devon, is distraught when he is made to believe the woman he loves is killed.  When Lotte returns to him though, their second chance is marred by the vengefulness and ruthlessness of Devon’s wife.

How long did it take you to write the book?

A couple of months. I aim for 3 – 4 months to complete a book, but as I don’t have the luxury of non-stop writing, sometimes things don’t go to plan.  This particular book had very few interruptions though so it was completed rather quickly.

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

It’s hard to pick a favourite character in this particular book.  I loved writing them all. I enjoyed Devon’s broodiness and desperation to have the woman he’d lost returned to him.  Lotte was also an enjoyable character as she enabled me to share some old native Australian myths and traditions with the readers.  Then there was Elizabeth, a character driven by her own greed so much so that she would stop at nothing to get what she wanted.  All three characters were just so enjoyable to create.

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

As with most of my work, I wrote a rough plan around pieces of dialogue and possible ideas.  The rest just changed and flowed then as I wrote.

Do you have plans for further instalments?

Not for this particular book, at least not at this stage.

Do you have a plan for your next book?

I do.  It is titled Heart of Stone, and is a tale of unusual love story tangled together through the scandal of the Australian slave trade.

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

Though my works are all ebooks at this stage, I still prefer to read physical books.  I like the feel of the pages beneath my fingers.

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

Yes I feel the industry is changing, both for the good and bad.  I admire anyone who has the strength to self-publish in an already flooded market.

And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?

If you love to write, then write and try not to get too disheartened along the very bumpy road to publication.

Thanks for visiting today Faye.  How can readers find out more about your books:

Website: www.faye-hall.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/fayehallromanceauthor/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/FayeHall79

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/-/e/B00DPIMSMW

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/6882637.Faye_Hall