Author interview - Speculative Fiction author Avril Sabine

Please welcome Avril Sabine to the blog. 

Avril Sabine is an Australian author who lives on acreage in South East Queensland. She writes mostly young adult and children’s speculative fiction, but has been known to dabble in other genres. She has been writing since she was a young child and wanted to be an author the moment she realised someone wrote the books she loved to read.

Can you tell us a bit about you as an author?
I've been writing nearly all my life and wanted to be an author the moment I realised someone wrote the words I loved to read. I wasn't old enough to attend school and didn't know the person who wrote books was called an author, but I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life.

What are the hardest parts of being an author?
The most difficult thing for me about being an author is finding the time to write the stories for all the ideas I have. There's no way I can write all of them in one lifetime. This makes it very difficult sometimes when it comes to choosing which idea to write next as I want to write them all.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?
I love finding out what is going to happen in my stories. I don't plot or plan. I'm discovering the story the same way a reader does the first time they read one of my books. As a reader and a writer that is one of the aspects I most love about being an author.

What authors/books have had an influence on your writing?
Fairytales have had the most influence on me as a writer as I was reading a book of fairytales when I realised I wanted to be an author.

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?
I never get writer's block. There are times my characters don't want to cooperate and then I realise I'm trying to make them act out of character. I tend to go back to the start of each story when I reach about halfway and read it through, keeping myself immersed in that world and the story I'm telling.

Do you have a particular place that you like to write?
I write anywhere and at any time. I even write while doing housework, using a voice to text program. There have been times when I've been so drawn into a story that I'll miss out on sleep because I need to find out what happens next.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?
Time of day or night isn't important to me when it comes to writing. Nor are my surrounding or noise level. If there is a story I need to write, all else is irrelevant.

How do you like to reach your readers? 

I connect with my readers online and at events. I have a mailing list readers can sign up to so they can regularly receive exclusive news about new covers and what is coming out next. I think it's important to share that sort of information with my loyal readers first.

Can you tell us about your latest book? (is it part of a series, genre)
Since my latest book is constantly changing due to putting out a title every month, I'll talk instead about my writing in general. I have several ongoing series that I put out a book a year in. These are stand alone series. When I put out a continuing series I like to release it in a short time frame. Mainly because I hate waiting years to find out what happens so I don't think it's fair to make my readers suffer something I myself dislike.

How long did it take you to write the book?
When it comes to writing, I tend to write the first draft fairly quickly. Two to six weeks on average for a 50-60,000 word novel. It's the editing that takes time. Or research if it's a book I need to do some research for. On average, a book can take me anywhere from six months to three years to write, taking into account research, first draft and edits. I don't work on only one book during that time. I often have thirty or more books on the go at various stages of the process, but I only focus on one book at a time. When I finish a stage, I set it aside and work on something else to gain some perspective before returning to it. Or while I wait for it to return from my editors.

Do you have a favourite character/topic in your work?
In every single book I have characters I love. Quite often several and even at times the ones that aren't in the least bit loveable. There are of course the characters I love to hate as well. A great villain can often be extremely important, depending of course on the type of story being written.

What was your process? Did you plot out the entire book, or just let the storyline flow? Do you write in chronological order?I never plot. Frequently I don't know how the book is going to end. I start with an idea or character and go from there. I also write out of order sometimes. If a scene is extremely vivid in my mind I will write it, even if I haven't reached that scene in the book yet. That tends to make me want to get the scenes before it written quickly as I want to see how the events unfold that led up to that scene.


Do you have plans for further instalments?
I have my series that I've been releasing something in each year. Realms Of The Fae, Demon Hunters, Rosie's Rangers, Fairytales Retold, Myths And Legends Retold and Plea Of The Damned. I plan to continue releasing books in these series as well as a mixture of other books each year.

Do you have a plan for your next book?
I have a document full of ideas and I know I'll never have the chance to write all of them. Even if I wrote twenty books a year and lived to be one hundred and twenty I still wouldn't be able to write every idea. Other than my series, I choose the ideas that won't leave me alone. The ones that wake me at night and insist I write the story. The characters who remain in my thoughts and the stories that are the most vivid to me. Sometimes this is a difficult choice to make, as it can be more than one idea that insists on being written.

Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when reading?
I like both ebooks and physical books. Ebooks are great for carrying around with you. How else can you take a library with you everywhere you go and not break your back? My house seems to be full of books, everywhere you look. I've had visitors tell me they feel like they're visiting a library.

Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing?There are pros and cons to both and it really depends on what an author is looking for as to which option is best for them. After knocking back several publishing contracts that weren't suitable for me I decided to publish independently. There are so many aspects of it that I enjoy including having final say in covers, editors and my publishing timeline.

And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Aspiring authors should read well-written stories and write regularly. It might seem simple, but it's good to start with the basics. In life it's just as important to learn how to crawl, as it is to learn how to run.

How can readers find out more about you: 

Website: http://www.avrilsabine.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avril.sabine

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AvrilSabine

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/avrilsabine

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7432722.Avril_Sabine

Thank you so much for dropping by Avril. 

If you'd you like to be interviewed for this blog, please email me at amanda@amandahoward.com.au

Until next time,

Cheers, 

Amanda

The Author's Journey: Part 2 Where to Begin

Welcome again to another 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.

So here I am, literally. I have an idea - and I often have a thousand ideas, but where do I begin? How do you turn that light bulb above your head into your next dynamo book? Well I thought I'd ask a few experts. I dragged a few friends in this week to help answer this question of 'where do I begin?"

I will share with you some of their processes for that very first step.

Mike Covell, a fellow Ripperologist and historian shares this with us:

Depends where I am. I always have a tablet with me, so sometimes it goes into a memo, If I don't have a tablet, I use my mobile, if I am at the laptop, I use that. We have a cloud, so it all goes into the home pc for further use.  A lot of my newspaper story ideas come at night when I am in bed, so I usually wake up, jot them down, then check the pc in morning.  Before that I used a pen and pad, and I still keep one in my bag or on my desk at all times. I also keep all my old notes in box files.

Musician and author Peter Altieri explains:

I like to let the idea percolate in my head for a while. It is so raw in the early stages, that for me at least, it takes time to form. Once that starts, then I like to do at least a rough outline. Depending on what I'm doing at the time, I would most likely keep it warm until I am ready to start working on it. Like most of you, I usually have several projects going on at the same time.

Philip Bradbury, author of 53 Smiles went into a fair bit of detail that goes beyond that first step of idea from head, but brings with him some valuable advice;, 

I jot down the idea - usually at around 3.00 am they come - and leave it beside my bed for 3 days, the time a Lakota elder told me that spirit needs to grow it. After the 3 days, I take myself off to a cafe or somewhere else quiet and I WRITE ... I just let it all out, whatever comes to mind, vomit on paper. Sometimes it's that exact idea, fleshed out, and sometimes it's a totally different idea. By the end of that I will have around 3,000 words and the inspiration to carry on ...

Amy Wright is a dear friend (that photo at Belanglo is of us) and also the author of the Murder Library and Serial Killer GPS app. She posts biographies and articles on serial killers every single day (and I highly recommend you clicking her name and joining the group). Though she doubted her status as author, I think she is one of the prolific writers in our genre. 

Her advice is:

I always have my iphone and/or my iPad with me. I immediately go to 'Notes' and jot down bits and pieces. If it's a link that's given me the inspiration I'll jot that down too. I put all the pieces together when I have time.

Kam Newton recently released her debut book, His Beautiful Nightmare. I am pleased to have been a part of its launch and happy to have her here sharing her advice as an emerging author, 

I have my notebook j write down new ideas with but if it's a story in in the middle of writing already I have a document just for random paragraphs or ideas I've written. I have a truly TERRIBLE memory, people's names, days of the week etc but my story plots I never forget. Though I have forgotten timelines pretty easy

Gone are the days of little handheld recording devices, or so I thought. Author John Foxjohn, is keen to share that 

"I carry a small digital recorder with me. I record my thoughts."  

I think this is often a better idea that writing things down. Sometimes ideas can be so fleeting and typing/writing can be so laborious that it is good to just talk to the little machine. I have done this on many occasions often when driving. I press record and start talking and recording the ideas that come to me.   

Author of the Dead Girl Series, Kirsty Ferguson explains her process: 

When I have an idea, I start by writing it in my notes on my phone, I'm usually on my walk when I come up with ideas. Then I start to write. I don't plan, I don't use a mind map, I just start typing and let the story take me away. Most of the time, I am surprised by the ending. I wouldn't write any other way. Have tried drafting chapter out by it stifled the storyline and was no good for me.

Best selling true crime author Paul Aitch, gave his advice: 

I like to get as much of the idea down as quickly as possible. I also ask myself questions and add potential solutions to these....  he gave a lot more advice, but I think I will save that for another post.   

Belinda Missen is another emerging author and is finding her process is changing as she writes more and more books.  

Up until recently, I had an idea and started writing. Lately, though, I've started getting a two paragraph synopsis/blurb onto paper and working the story around that.

Megan Badger, worrying that she had done too many steps (but I don't think she has), has a very novel approach before she commences her story writing:

I take notes first (this usually happens when I'm just falling asleep), then mind map followed closely by plot points (with a list of things I need to research), then a call to one of my two brainstorm buddies and coffee date made to trial the idea and refine it through conversation and good company. Then the research begins, the plot refined and fingers to keyboard. 

Chrissy Johnstone shares one of the most important points...

Scribble it down on the nearest scrap of paper!

If you don't write it down, no matter what the paper you need to use, it is much better on a napkin than later forgotten. I could not count the amount of ideas I have forgotten, thinking that they were so fantastic that there is no way that you will forget it. You are lying to yourself if you think you will remember it. One bad storyline written down is worth 100 good storylines forgotten!

A dear friend of mine, Debra Betts is an incredible artist and also an aspiring poet. She explains her process,

Occasionally I write some poetry that never sees the light of day..usually they just appear in my head, and if I don't write it down, it's gone

Lynne Lumsden Green describes, quite well, the anguish of the writer's mind and how we often have a lot of stories floating around our heads. As someone who has 54 current works in progress, I feel her pain and joy of the creative process. 

 I write the idea down and spend a few minutes jotting down related ideas that could be worked into a proper story. Then, a day or so later, I will do a mind map (I call it chunking, because I get 'chunks' of scenes and characters).

At this point, the idea might die. If not, I may set it away to write another day, as I have a lot of projects on the go and who really need another one? But, if the idea is really enticing, I may sit down and write it out. To hell with the other projects, for a couple of days at least.

Friend and travelling companion Charlotte Frisby gave a great insight into her process as an emerging writer, 

I jot it down anywhere, envelopes, notepad, post it note, even the back of my hand. I bought myself a really nice notebook in Rome and it's got loads of ideas for stories, but they have yet to make it into a fully formed, start to finish, story. I'm still a one book wonder.

She raises a great point here. Nice notebooks can, in themselves, be incredible inspiration. Every single book I have written (and I am at 18 published books as at October 2016) has an accompanying notebook. Some look well loved, they are tatty and torn from being carried around, others have pieces of napkins stuck in them from when inspiration struck and it was all I  had to write on. Others have additional storylines that are then torn out and glued into another book so that they can live on in a different story. Notebooks are a must, but you have to feel it too. I have a Sherlock notebook and a matching tiny note pad. They were gifts from a close friend, who calls me Sherlock, and they inspire me. They are both being used frequently. Then on the other side of things I have purchased other notebooks that remain blank. They have not assisted in any inspiring thoughts so for now they remain on the bookshelf in my home library awaiting their turn for greatness. 

Brian Kavanagh, an absolute legend in the Australian (and international) film industry and an incredible author who writes the Belinda Lawrence mystery books, gives a fantastic rundown on that very first part of pen to paper. 

I think it's a form of osmosis. The original idea percolates into the beginning and end (?) of a story; characters developed and re-developed. Then free flow ideas as they come. I end up discovering a desk covered with scraps of notepaper with a thought, an expression, a new character, some relevant dialogue, some bitchy dialogue, some funny dialogue, a new plot angle. Accompanying these is a parallel list lodged in my mind, forever playing as a visual photostream. Eventually, all gets loaded into my mental blender, switch it on, and heigh-ho - a book. One hopes

Author Suzi Jay works the way many of us do. Flying by the seat of our pants. Inspiration is there, so you may as well get stuck straight into it!

I start writing the story straight away. If I'm at my computer I start typing if I'm not, I get out pen and paper and write. If for some reason I can't start there and then, like if I'm in the middle of another story with a deadline, I will think of a title and make a mock up of a cover. This is enough to remind me of what it was and keeps me motivated to get it done.

Tegan Barber, another of my friends who may not be an author in the traditional sense but she publishes work on a daily basis that is of an incredible standard,

Depends, sometimes I just write it down other times I wait to see where I can take that idea and if it will work and won't result in becoming dry and mundane. I also don't let people read ideas in the simple stages, people trying to give input on what is simply an idea can sometimes be off putting for me

Steampunk author Karen Carlisle, who has recently released her latest Violet Stewart Adventures, shares her advice:

I grab a notebook and write down notes. Sometimes a full scene, or part of one, will emerge. I often handwrite at this stage as it seems to unlock the ideas more efficiently than typing. I have a notebook by the bed, in my bag ...

Prize winning author Rosanne Dingli, is a woman after my own heart. So many times I've had this happen to me. She explains,

I open a word doc and write a note to myself, addressing myself as if I were another person. "Write a dark novella with the title This Title and a MC whose hobby is weaving." Many months later I open the doc and have NO IDEA what the idea was!!! So I write one anyway, using the prompts I typed in at the time ... and I'm always pleased with the result.

Belle Brooks shows how technology changes and as one of the younger authors interviewed for this blog, she shows how technology is a good friend to the author:

I type everything in my phone when it comes. At 2 a.m. in the morning I will roll over, grab my phone from the nightstand and message myself. If I don't have time to write it, I voice record and play it back later. Some of my best work comes from doozy voice recordings haha. If a story is screaming at me I will write what needs to make it quiet again so I meet deadlines on projects. It is normally about 10,000 words which means I have always got a good start on my next project.

Penelope Romanov (doesn't she have the best name ever?), is a singer and author. She shares her advice with us:

No matter where I am or what I'm doing, I immediately type the beginning...a paragraph at least... then, I can't stop.

Dene Menzel, singer, performer and author of the Voice Factor - and a fantastic coach too who I am
forever indebted for her tips on overcoming stage fright-  shares her tips:

Voice memo on my phone because I might not have a pen and paper handy

Adult contemporary romance author Emma James shares her advice on what she does when inspiration strikes,

When a nugget appears in my mind , a notebook is always handy and a pen. I scribble away until it's all out. I carry notebook in handbag, beside bed, kitchen. All ready in case something hits my mind. Then I try to decipher that scribble later

David Russell, whom I shall call an emerging writer, purely because he has written some incredible epic stories but refuses to publish them though I have had the luxury of reading a lot of his work (yes David, I am saying put them out there!) shares his advice,

I go straight to the keyboard if possible and start getting it down, no matter how sloppily. a friend told me many years ago that bad writing can be fixed but no writing can't.

This is one of the most important pieces of advice I like to share. Many new authors get bogged down, correcting typos fixing grammar as they write their first draft. Hemingway said it best,

"the first draft of anything is shit"

This should be above every writer's desk. Don't worry about that first draft. It is about getting it down on paper/computer. No-one will ever read your first draft. Really, you should never ever share your first draft. This is you telling yourself the story, then you have to make it better. But first and foremost you have to get it out of your head!

I want to thank all of the authors above who took the time to answer my interview questions. This is really a labour of love and I appreciate them sharing their own advice with the blog. There are many more posts to come and I hope that you find inspiration here, and maybe even that tool that you have been missing from your writer's toolkit. Please show them some love by clicking on their name links and checking out their fantastic books. There is something here for everyone no matter your genre preference.

Until next time,

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/

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/

A Change of Pace - An Interview with Amy Wright - Co-designer of Killer GPS App

I thought now that we have some incredible author interviews in the works and a very interesting line up to fill in your weekends, I thought I'd also get some of the other interesting people I know to be interviewed and share a little piece of their life with us.

My first victim subject is Amy Wright. I'll let her explain her interesting life to us...

Can you tell us about you. Who you are, and what you do?
I'm a wife and mother with a regular day job. At night and on weekends I like to read about, research, and visit locations of murders. In 2012-13 a friend and I developed three apps for iOS - Serial Killer Murder Library, Killer GPS, and Killer Quiz. The library is what you'd expect, a collection of serial killers from around the world. Killer GPS is an app that will lead you to locations of murders, be it the home of Sharon Tate (the Manson family) or a little known murder that occurred down the street from you. The Killer Quiz is obviously a quiz. The questions are easy at first, but they get difficult pretty quickly!

When did you get started in your field?
I've been interested in true crime since I was nine years old, but I only really started doing something with my knowledge about four years ago. That's when I met my friend Chris. He's an app developer, and we used his IT knowledge and my serial killer knowledge to create our apps.

How is it all going?
It's going well. Our app sales keep rising, our Facebook page gains new followers every day. The

engagement is great. I can't imagine my life without all of our Facebook followers now. We've become a real community.

So, I know I want to hear more about your your current project, what is the most interesting thing you’ve come across lately?
I recently stumbled across a murder that occurred in Brisbane, where I grew up. It happened around 40 years ago, but I'd never heard of the case. A woman was raped and murdered in her home whilst her fiancé was at work. I realised there's so much I don't know about my own city, so I'm concentrating on cases in the Brisbane/Gold Coast area at the moment.


Do you have nightmares working in the criminology field? You know, I've never had a nightmare. The closest thing would have to be a dream I had a year or so ago. I was on the phone to Ted Bundy, and he was begging me to visit him. I told him that I couldn't, because he was dead (Bundy was executed in 1989) but he wouldn't believe me!

Have you come across anyone/thing that has scared you or made you a little worried?I've had a few situations that have made me feel uncomfortable. There was a woman who was quite an active follower of our Facebook page. She ended up murdering her boyfriend, which was horrible. There was a guy who would write to me and tell me how he wanted to become a serial killer, what he'd do, how he'd do it. I had to report him to the authorities. I've even had someone contact me looking for someone to kill them! Crazy.

What’s the next stage? Where are you heading? What’s the future hold?
More locations, more research. I can't get enough of it. People are walking down an alley, past a house, through a park where a murder occurred and they'll never know. It fascinates me.

So now, on to some crime related questions...
Serial killers/mass murderers – do you prefer to research one over the other?
I go through phases. At the moment I'm quite interested in assassinations. I don't really have a preference. Maybe serial killers, because there's always an interesting back story.

Do you have a case that you research more than any other? Why?
Serial killer wise, I'd say Ted Bundy. I guess because he was exactly what you wouldn't expect a serial killer to be. I never get tired of reading and learning new facts about him and his victims. If you're talking about mass murder, it would have to be Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. I remember that day so clearly, I remember watching the news for hours. They were only a couple of years younger than me. The idea that two kids could do something so horrible...

Do you have a ‘favourite’ unsolved case?
Betty Shanks. It's always Betty. She was murdered in 1952 when she was walking home after getting off a tram. Her body was found in a policeman's front yard. She'd been beaten to death. She had no known enemies, it appeared to be a random attack. It was such a shocking crime for 1950s Brisbane. I wish I knew who did it!

Now some totally random questions
Would you like to share a strange habit/talent you have?
Habit? I guess rock collecting. I'm not kidding. I collect rocks from places like Belanglo Forest, where the Backpacker murders occurred, Dealy Plaza, where JFK was shot... I also collect them from famous places like Buckingham Palace.

If you were to eat one food for the rest of life, what would it be?
Probably Chinese.

Do you prefer ebooks or physical books? Physical books, or REAL books as I call them. Half the joy of reading is smelling those pages and turning them.

Ultimate holiday/relaxation? Anywhere that's freezing cold, where I can curl up in front of a fire with a glass of wine and a good book. I'm living in the wrong country for that, though!
Thank you so much Amy for dropping by for this super cool interview.

Amy and I went for a trip to Belanglo together in April this year. It was sooooo cold - not sure because of the temperature of the forest or the scary feelings of the forest.

You can find more information on the Apps at: http://www.rocketsplashgames.com

And join us all over at the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/serialkillapp/?ref=ts&fref=ts

Author Interview: Isobel Blackthorn, author of A Perfect Square

Today I have with me Isobel Blackthorn, the author of A Perfect Square.

Isobel Blackthorn was born in London in 1962 and has spent much of her life in Australia. She's also lived in Spain and Lanzarote (Canary Islands). She's been a teacher, market trader, project manager and PA to a literary agent. She received her PhD in Social Ecology in 2006. She now lives on the far south coast of New South Wales, Australia, where she follows her passions for social justice, philosophy, current affairs, books and art.

Isobel is the author of a collection of short stories, All Because of You (Ginninderra Press), and the acclaimed novel, Asylum, and her latest release, The Drago Tree. Her writing has appeared in e-journals in Australia and the US.

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

I harboured a wish to be an author when I was just eleven years old. But I had no self-confidence and no support. So I went off and got a degree, had kids, became a high school teacher, then went on to do a PhD. After all that, in 2007 I got a job as PA to a literary agent. It was she who urged me to write creatively. By then I was 45. After a shaky start and a lot of personal upheaval I am now a dedicated author, brimming with stories.

What are the hardest part of being an author? 

Fiction writing puts you in a shadow world, one in which the characters inhabiting you are more real than ordinary reality. At first that’s the hardest part of being a writer—making that happen, sustaining that reality. But as soon as the publishing side of things starts to happen, things shift, and suddenly the life of an author is all about marketing and public appearances and relentless self-promotion. The co-existence of these two realities within one individual is challenging.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

I enjoy living with my characters, inhabiting the worlds conjured out of a few little ideas. It’s a very private joy and one filled with uncertainty because I have no idea if anyone else will like what I’ve written. When a reader comes along and tells me how much they have enjoyed my writing, that private joy is suddenly shared, and with it comes both relief and a sense that all that slaving away really is worthwhile. That me, along with all the other authors out there, really can tell a story. I think all the creative arts are like this. There’s such a sense of doubt that pervades it all.

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

Iain Banks has had the biggest influence on my writing. I began with The Wasp Factory back in the 1980s. What an imagination! Most of all, I appreciate the way he doesn’t shy away from topics that are repellent. He creates really interesting characters and carefully woven and twisted plot lines. His Sci Fi aside, he hovered on the fringes of the genres, playing with them but never bending the will of his muse to their strictures.

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

No, I don’t. I have waited far too long for this chance to devote myself to writing. Life’s too short. I don’t waste a day. If I’m stuck on one thing, I turn to something else.

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

I compose my handwritten drafts on the living room couch. I’m either there, on here at my desk. I cannot write anywhere else. Consequently, I don’t like going out.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

I find the mornings are best. And late afternoon. I’m too tired in the evenings and just want to switch off.

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

I am always on social media. I’m a blogger and big on Facebook. When I have a new release I like to go out and reach as many of my existing readers as I can. And new ones! Because I’m currently living in Australia, this can mean travelling big distances too.

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

A Perfect Square is a literary mystery/thriller. It’s written from three points of view but the protagonist is pianist, Ginny Smith. She’s just returned to live with her mother in the Dandenong Ranges east of Melbourne. Having just left her boyfriend, she’s not in a good space, and her mother, eccentric artist, Harriet, is desperate to cheer her up. So she suggests they collaborate on an exhibition of paintings and music. Ginny is plagued with questions as to the whereabouts of her father, whom she hasn’t seen since she was seven. There’s a parallel narrative, set in Exeter, in which another mother is wracked with concern for her daughter.

The story behind A Perfect Square is special for me personally, since it is based on ideas contained in my PhD and on my daughter’s Honours thesis in Music. Elizabeth Blackthorn has composed the music to go with the book, and there’s a link to that music included in the front pages. That said, the story is not highbrow or pretentious. But there’s a message in there, one I think needs to be told and told and told.

How long did it take you to write the book?

This book took me a little over a year to complete. For me, this is fast. The story poured out of me. And there were parts of it that were already written from a previous work.

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

My favourite character is Harriet Brassington-Smythe. She’s straight out of Absolutely Fabulous. That’s how she appears to me. I had so much fun working with her.

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

I began with a few scraps of ideas. I knew what the themes would be and I had the characters and a very basic idea of the plot. After that I let the story flow. Before long the story took over and I was no longer in the lead. The story jumps around in time. Some readers don’t like that, but I found it necessary. It was the way the story needed to be told.

Do you have plans for further instalments?

This story is a one off. I cannot imagine I’d take it further. Although I suspect there is another story that could evolve. But I’m not sure I’m ready to go there just yet. Maybe ten years from now.

Do you have a plan for your next book?

I’m currently at work on a cosy crime series set on Lanzarote. The series is based on characters whom first appeared in an earlier work, The Drago Tree, which was released last year.

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

I used to be a stickler for paperbacks. Now, I don’t mind.

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

The most exciting thing happening in publishing today is the rise of small presses. I think traditional publishing has become too big, too corporate, too profit driven. They are interested in what is marketable, what sells. Small presses will take a chance on originality, on literary works that may not be so profitable, on emerging authors rather than big names. Print on Demand services are now opening up big possibilities for small presses, who no longer need the capital for print runs. I think PoD challengers the distributors and booksellers who between them currently take the lion’s share of the price of a book. I predict that Print on Demand is going to revolutionise the book industry.

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

My advice to aspiring authors is simple: write. Write every single day. Don’t just surround yourself with your favourite authors, seek out writers whose works are challenging, who write in different styles and voices. Study the works of others, for structure, syntax, voice, and techniques for writing dialogue, description, action and reflection. It takes between 5 to 10 years to get good at writing. So don’t give up.

Thank you so much for dropping by. Good luck with your new release, A Perfect Square.

Where can readers visit your work?

Website:  https://isobelblackthorn.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lovesick.Isobel.Blackthorn/

Twitter: @IBlackthorn

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Isobel-Blackthorn/e/B005JGLS74

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5768657.Isobel_Blackthorn

Thanks again to Isobel for today's interview, 

If you'd like to be a featured writer, filmmaker or the like, please drop me a line. Please don't forget to also subscribe to keep in touch with the series. 

Cheers, 

Amanda

Author Interview Karen Hendriks Aspiring Children’s Author

Welcome back readers and bloggers. This week I am interviewing aspiring Children's Author Karen Hendricks.

Thank you Karen for agreeing to be interviewed today.

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

I have always wanted to write for children and often as a teacher I would write little stories or be inspired by the stories that I read  to the students.  I am very passionate about literacy and children being literate.  The most important thing to teach a child is to read and then you open a world of possibilities.

What are the hardest part of being an author? 

Self Doubt, I know I can write but will It be enough?  Perfecting and learning my craft is ongoing and challenging.

What do you enjoy most about being an author? 

I love the creativity and the magic of writing and the world’s I can explore and share.  The social side of writing warms my heart.

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

From a children’s perspective Enid Blyton Little Golden Books,Doctor Seuss, Ann Frank, May Gibbs, Beatrix Potter and so many today Authors it is impossible to list but I do adore Peter Carnavas and Joy Cowley and Mem Fox and Margaret Wild and Libby Gleeson and there is more.

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

I do get writer’s block and then I question why I am doing what I do.  I know it will pass so I have a break or still try and think creatively.

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

By the sea, on my lounge, in bed, at our awesome local coffee shops.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write? 

Just some time in the day. 

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

Via my facebook page, school visitis and networking.  I still have much to learn in this area.

Can you tell us about your latest book?

I do not have a latest book as I regularly write new picture book stories and then hope to revisit them to edit and edit and edit.

How long did it take you to write the book?

Some can take a day others are not right even months later,  I tend to live in hope that each one will be better than the last.

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

I love animal stories, humour,  friendship, adventure and self education messages .  Perhaps I feel strongest about environmental issues and the strong belief that children need to know what is happening in their world, not to be afraid but empowered.

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

I am a person that works an idea in my head and it sorts itself out as I mull over it.  Then just flows or other times I start it and leave it and go back to it.

Do you have a plan for your next book?   

I am always working on a next book hoping it will be the one to crack it for me. I live in hope.

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

Physical books.

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

Both as the market is so tight and competitive that you need to do what you can to get your story out there.  The industry is constantly changing but so is everything else too.

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

 As I am an aspiring author keep chugging on and trying and growing and writing.  

Thanks again for dropping by Karen. 

You can contact Karen via her various social media pages:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Karen-Hendriks-Childrens-Author-1162431593808375/

Just Write for Kids: http://www.justkidslit.com/directory/4184/karen-hendriks-childrens-author/ch

Creative Kids Tales http://www.creativekidstales.com.au/authors-illustrators/ckts-emerging-authors/1819-karen-hendriks

If you'd like to be interviewed for this Blog, please drop me a line. Thanks again for dropping by. 

Amanda

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