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

Author Interview Jennifer Burge, author of The Devil Wears Clogs

Happy New year Everyone. I really hope you have had a great time away from the hustle and bustle. Had time to rejuvenate and get started on those new plans for 2017.

I am continuing with the hugely popular interviews of authors across the globe and this week I invited Jennifer Burge for an interview on Killing Time Blog.

Jennifer Burge understands the challenges of life abroad. Having documented the pitfalls of taking her career from the United States to Europe in her first memoir, The Devil Wears Clogs, it’s hard to imagine she would be confounded by the complexity of another foreign culture—yet that is exactly the case. Her understanding of Asian tradition is a mirage appearing and disappearing with each new interaction.

Moving to Singapore when the rigidity of European life began to wear on her seemed to be the perfect solution. A sophisticated modern condo in the heart of a developing nation was the answer to her prayers—or so she thought. The entrance of the Global Financial Crisis compounded the already-challenging international job search to an unprecedented level. Living in her fourth country without her professional status or a peer network leaves Jennifer to question her identity. Solo travel across Asia allows her to create an authentic one.

Can you tell us a bit about you as an author?
I’ve always had an interest in writing, but for years that took second place to my number one addiction which is traveling. In order to finance my aspirations of world travel, I worked as an IT project manager and consultant for nearly 20 years. Assignments during that time took me to ten different countries with me taking up residence in five of them.

In 2012, I made the leap from corporate rat-racer to full-time author because I wanted to write about what it truly means to have an overseas career. It is rarely as glamorous as it sounds and it is NOT for the faint of hearts.

During the past few years, I have become an active member of the Queensland Writer’s Centre and the Australian Society of Authors which helped enormously in understanding an industry in which I was a complete foreigner. The Devil Wears Clogs, about life in Europe, was first published in 2014 and Singapore Salvation, on life in Asia, entered the world in late 2015.

What are the hardest part of being an author?
Sitting down and doing the work! As I mentioned, I am travel-obsessed, which means I have an aversion to sitting still. A quick look at my blog is proof positive. Other than that, I think writing memoir is a very tricky business. You have to be careful writing about the people and events in your life while being honest—sometimes brutally honest—and that is far from easy.

What do you enjoy most about being an author
When I sit down to write about a particular event, the telling of it rarely goes as I expect. The story takes me where it wants me to go and I am honestly just the channel. It might sound odd, but there is a certain sort of magic that shows up when I am in the flow. It is a feeling that cannot be duplicated.

What authors/books have had an influence on your writing?
Joan Didion, Mary Karr, Jeanette Walls, Caitlin Moran—all excellent female memoirists & non-fiction authors.

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?Only when writing about something that bores me. If I’m excited by the story, it doesn’t happen to me.

Do you have a particular place that you like to write? My home office in a bushy suburb north of Brisbane is perfect. I watch the birds and my own personal rain forest. It’s the first place I’ve ever had where I can truly sit and think with zero distraction and for me, I require silence. Others can write with music blaring, but I’m not one of those people.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?Afternoons. In the mornings, my mind is simmering on something and by the afternoon, it’s ready to be served.

How do you like to reach your readers?
Social media, author talks, blogs, book tours---you name it, I do it. I think it’s the only way to truly discover what works for you. There is so much “advice” out there that you have to find your method in the madness.

Can you tell us about your latest book? 
Singapore Salvation is the second in a set of three books about work and life abroad. It is the sequel to The Devil Wears Clogs. In 2017, the final installment about life in Australia will be published.

How long did it take you to write the book?Singapore Salvation took two years to write. The Devil Wears Clogs, my first book, took six. On average, I am only ready to write about what has happened about seven years after it happens. That’s how long it takes me to gain enough perspective on these situations to make sense of my part of the equation.

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

I call these books my ‘How NOT to Live Abroad’ guides as I basically share all the mistakes I’ve made in not understanding other cultures. When I left the United States for work in Germany in 2001, we didn’t have all this information about other nations and cultures at our fingertips as we do today. We still had analog internet! When I was looking for any sort of book that would tell me what my life and career would look like in another country, I was unable to find it. That’s why I’m writing these now.

What was your process? Did you plot out the entire book, or just let the storyline flow? Do you write in chronological order?
Luckily, digital cameras DID come into the world not long after I began my global misadventures, so I have an incredible archive of photos. As they are arranged by date, this helps provide the outline for the story as well as the basis for a lot of my setting description.

Once I have outlined, including the story arc, then I fill in the content.

Do you have plans for further instalments? The Python in My Driveway is my working title for the book about Australia that I am currently working on. For an American, a five foot snake in the driveway on a trip to the mailbox is far from a “normal” occurrence!

Do you have a plan for your next book? Too many to count!

Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when reading?
I read both. When traveling I tend to read ebooks and at home I often read physical books.

Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing?I started with a publisher and switched to self-publishing. I have never worked harder, but I have never had more fun at work. I think you have to truly evaluate how much time you are willing to put into activities that aren’t writing/editing. If you don’t have an entrepreneurial spirit—do not self- publish.

And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Don’t give up. If you love it, stick with it no matter what. If you don’t love it, this game probably isn’t for you.

If you'd like to know more about Jennifer's work, you can find her here:

Website: http://www.worldwisepublications.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/worldwiseJen/ (author Page)

               https://www.facebook.com/SingaporeSalvation/ (book page)

               https://www.facebook.com/devilwearsclogs/ (book page)

Twitter: @jenniferburge

Instagram: @jen_burge 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Burge/e/B00NHDVL6E

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8456235.Jennifer_Burge

Author Interview: A Hell of a Ride with author Emma James

Welcome again readers, 

I love an interview that starts with a warning: 

Emma's writing contains adult situations which may offend and graphic violence, but it is one hell of a fictional ride. Strap yourself in. For mature aged readers 18 +. 

Now that we've got your attention, let me introduce Emma to you all,

Writing has been a part of Emma James' life for many years until she decided to take a leap into the self publishing world and see where that journey takes her.

Writing words on paper is as important as the air she breathes. There's nothing more satisfying to her than writing all day to bring to life amazing characters who will stay in your heart.

Emma writes in both adult contemporary romance with her Men Of Ocean Beach series and dark suspense romance ( with MC influence ) , with her Hell's Bastard series. She is very passionate about writing and enjoys the discipline needed to line all those ducks up in a row to get a book over the finish line and published.

Life is about finding that one thing that you know you can do well and living it.

It's never too late to find it.

Thanks Emma for dropping in this week, can you tell us a bit about you as an author?

Writing has been a part of my life for many years until I decided to take a leap into the self publishing world and play for real and see where that journey took me. In my early twenties I started typing away on a spanky new electronic typewriter, ( as I said many years) and thought up beachside romance stories. Nothing I would release now. All was very raw and probably naive. I do have a paranormal series I have plotted out into a seven book series and actually stole one of the characters names. I’ll tell you it was Text. I’ve been wanting to be brave for a very long time.

Writing words is as important as the air I breathe. There's nothing more satisfying to me than bringing a story to life and letting the characters work their way into the reader’s heart.

What are the hardest part of being an author?

Back in 2014 when I was self publishing my very first book, A Little Faith, there was a steep learning curve with anything to do with the whole process. It was like climbing a writer’s equivalent to Mt Everest. Being a housewife and mum to three kids at the time and all of a sudden having to learn the ins and outs of releasing a book was pretty intimidating. I am still learning and fine tuning parts of the writing and marketing process as we all are.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

Putting words on paper and then rereading those words and reworking them until eventually I have something I am proud to release into the book world. I enjoy bringing characters to life and letting them talk to me. There’s something very satisfying about being able to tell a story that readers love as much as you do. I love it when they fall heavily for certain characters. That means I’ve done a good job. I particularly enjoy seeing who they cast in their mind for the main characters and sub characters.

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

I try to write as original a story as I can. I try to make my own mark. Every author I have ever read has given me a little push to break through my invisible barriers I had constructed and to give it a go for real. I am inspired by Colleen Hoover and J.K Rowling every day and in particular the many talented Australian authors who have blossomed and gone onto publishing contracts as well as holding their own ground in the self publishing world. These authors are smart. They learn to work the system to their benefit. They are in control of their books by setting up deals that will work for them. They aren’t letting the publishing world control them as much as it used to.

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

I certainly believe there is such a thing as writer’s block. Touchwood I currently have so many ideas for stories filling my notebooks that I have the beats down to get me started. Nothing is easy about writing. Words don’t always flow naturally, but when I am having trouble expressing myself, I will go lay down on my bed, shut my eyes and just think. Let my thoughts get calmed and I play about inside my head with some scenarios and see where that takes me. It’s not writer’s block, it’s more getting my head around a scene that I need to get right. Then I grab for the notebook and get my thoughts noted down. Then I hit the keyboard again. For me personally, I need down time. I can’t write for ten hours straight. What works for me is about five hours at the keyboard, Monday to Friday. I give myself a weekend off to do other things related to releasing a book and that helps me.

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

I wouldn’t say I like to write here, but it is my only choice at the moment. I don’t have a laptop, I have a desktop and it is in my middle man child’s room. I write while he is at school. I have been promising him for 5 books now that I will make it out of his room. He is very patient, most of the time.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

10.00am to 3.00pm mostly. Sometimes I may start earlier and finish earlier. It gives me time to get the housework done before I start.

How do you like to reach your readers?

Book signings are fabulous and they have really worked for me. Social media I chat on and answer PMs at all hours of the day/night.

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

Warped is part of the Hell’s Bastard series and book # 2. It will be a five book series, at this stage. Wrenched, book # 1, put me on the reader map and I am ever grateful I took a chance on the dark romance genre. I really enjoy delving into this side of my writing. It really is a wonderful challenge walking that fine line between going too dark and giving the reader a ride they want another ticket for. I get the most excited PMs about my characters in this series. I like to bring some light among the dark and I do that with Miss Catherine. She is Cajun and she has her own way of talking. I find it such fun to write and gave her a much bigger role in Warped.

Warped is as the title says, very warped. The hunt is on for Whisper and Edge isn’t letting anything or anybody stand in his way. He has his own hurdles to get over and he does. He teams up with Miss Catherine and together they make the most unlikely duo, but it works. It gave me a chance to show another side to Edge and to really cement in the readers mind how awesome Miss Catherine is. Whisper has her own problems and she is such a strong female lead. I adore writing her. I put her through a lot and she just rolls with the punches. She’s a survivor. Contorted is the book I am most excited to write in this series as I know what is gonna happen and it is going to be very contorted and action filled with a healthy side order of alpha men. HB series is very intense and I love the reviews coming in where the reader writes down all their emotions whilst reading the books. I want readers to feel and take a ride with me.

I also write in adult contemporary romance with the, Men Of Ocean Beach series. Both series are very different to each other. Men Of Ocean Beach has the ‘feels’ and the laughs. My reader audience has thankfully taken to both series. The ladies in my closed group who hadn’t yet delved into dark romance, gave Wrenched a shot and found they really do like this side to my writing and since branched out into the dark romance genre.

How long did it take you to write the book?

Warped had a bit of a delay as my eldest son passed away unexpectedly, he was nearly nineteen. I stopped writing for three months. It should have taken around 4 months to write and be released.

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

I adore all the men of Ocean Beach. I simply can’t choose a fave. Miss Catherine from the HB series is so much fun to write. Edge is complicated and alpha and Whisper is smart and strong. Simply too hard to choose a fave character. I will tell you, Keanu from Men Of Ocean Beach series ( MOOB ) has a great deal of me in him.

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 PLOTTER. Man, do I plot. I plot six months in advance for a book I have scheduled to release in the near future. I can be plotting in notebooks three or more books at a time. I choose music early and have spotify playlists. HB series has a deep plot over the course of the series. I have to plan it out or I could potentially box myself in. I need to know what is roughly going to happen in all the books. I choose titles in advance for all books in a series. I am a little OCD with my writing process. Only with my writing. Put me down for a heavy plotter. I am flexible as I am writing if I think the story is starting to talk to me in a different way and I will go with that, but the outline is definitely in place for a whole series, if not more. I do write in chronological order.

Do you have plans for further instalments?

I have so many plans. I have spin offs, of course already outlined. I have stand alones for certain characters. Some novellas planned.

Do you have a plan for your next book?

Contorted, Hell’s Bastard # 3 had to be planned so I knew to drop what seeds in Warped. Suspense romance I simply can’t wing it. It has to be planned out so I get everything right for the finale.

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

I have a house full of paperbacks and I have a Kindle full to the brim of Ebooks. I mix it up on a weekly basis. I prefer a paperback as the battery doesn’t run out, but my shelf space in my house is no longer available. I am waiting for my dream of my own office space and three walls of floor to ceiling shelves where everything can be neat and orderly. I love paperbacks for their smell. Yes, I am a new book sniffer and I am proud of it. My daughter taught me to appreciate a cover. I run my hand over it, feeling the work that has gone into it. Can’t do that with an Ebook. They both have good things going for them especially for a self published author who can’t get a book in a bookstore but we can get it onto an ereader in the tap of a finger.

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

The industry has been changing for a long time. Many self published authors are really shaking up the system by selling beyond their wildest dreams and making it onto the bestseller lists. I think there is a happy medium in there somewhere. More and more self published authors are getting traditional publishing deals and also still writing and releasing self published books under the rules of their contract. We all want to be able to say we are traditionally published as it takes a lot of the work away, but it can take a certain amount of control to. I would love to be traditionally published and also have the freedom to self publish. I like to be in control of my work and release dates. Some authors get to have the best of both worlds. Self published is all hard work and learning how to market and promote yourself. Everything about self published is all on you the author and making all your hard work float in the ocean of new releases and hopefully sell. You might get a traditional publishing contract, doesn’t mean your book will have great sales. You hope it will but it doesn’t guarantee anything.

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

Be your own worst critic. Use beta readers. Don’t take short cuts with plot. Give your characters a real voice. Make your work something you are proud of. This author gig is hard work. Plain and simple. You want to be able to make back all your professional costs and the rest is icing. You may not be able to support yourself for a couple years as a self published author, you might be an overnight success and you might unfortunately have trouble finding your feet, either way we are all working towards that goal, that dream of having our work read. We work for months maybe years for nothing, until we release that book. Don’t give up, but learn to listen to constructive criticism. Learn to be a better writer. Soak up any advice authors are putting up on their web sites. I read J.A. Huss’s author postings all the time and I listen to what she has to say. Be professional on social media. Stay away from drama. Don’t be a drama-lama. The way you present yourself is the way people will perceive you. You sometimes have to earn the right to get onto readers author lists because there is only so much time in their reading day. So much money each month allotted to purchasing books for their enjoyment. Make yours count and be one they want to throw onto their monthly purchases. You may want to follow the ever changing reading trends. Be observant and stay current with what is going on around you. Be brave and be different. There is so much advice authors can give aspiring authors but it all comes down to hard work and determination to succeed. You have to have passion. Don’t be writing to make a buck, write because you are passionate about your story and then work hard to be heard.

The Hunt Is On.

WHISPER

I was never meant to be free.
Evil has taken from me again.
I’ve lost the two people I’ve grown to love because another of Hell’s bastards has staked his claim on me and stolen me away.
What gives another human being the right to take another’s innocence and try to destroy their soul?

EDGE

We were never meant to meet.
Our lives collided and spun out in different directions.
Now it’s a race against time.
Time she doesn’t have.
This is on my head.
I f*cked up.

What happens when a Soulless Bastards MC enforcer is on the hunt for the f*ckers involved in taking the sweet and wild girl?

No Mercy happens.

You can connect with Emma here:

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/emmajamesauthor?ref=hl

TWITTER: @emmajamesbooks

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8415027.Emma_James

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/Emma-James/e/B00NH7AVGG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION (FREE) : http://facebook.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=bdbd5d58f4f50eecc6a604947&id=e88c9e2a77

CLOSED GROUP – EMMA JAMES’ SISTERHOOD : https://www.facebook.com/groups/763744350386831/

and you can find her books here:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/29HNTkq

Amazon UK : http://amzn.to/29T82rc

Amazon AUS : http://amzn.to/29GvSUx

Amazon CAD : http://amzn.to/29ZS66K

iBooks : http://apple.co/29Orpih

B & N : http://bit.ly/29J8kOS

KOBO : http://bit.ly/29TIE4k

Ok, time to take a breath! A great interview again this week and I thank you all for strapping in and coming for the ride 

If you'd like to be interviewed for this blog, or have a great story to tell, please drop me a line. 

Until next week guys!

Cheers

Amanda

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

Author Interview: Filmaker and Author Brian Kavanagh

Welcome back readers,

This week I am interviewing filmmaker and author, Brian Kavanagh. I have to admit I am having a bit of a fangirl moment here!  How is this for a resume?

Brian is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Film Editors Guild and an Australian Film Institute award for Best Editing for the children's film, Frog Dreaming. He has also produced and directed, AFI award winning A City's Child. His films have been screened at the London Film Festival as well as Edinburgh, Montreal, Chicago and Adelaide, where A City's Child won the Gold Southern Cross Advertiser Award for Best Australian Film. Brian is also a member of the Australian Society of Authors.

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

For all my life I was a filmmaker, working on feature films, documentaries and TV dramas, so effectively I was always a story teller. My main area of production was as an editor which entailed shaping the final product. An editor should have knowledge or appreciation of the arts, as they all come together in the cutting room, and knowing how to utilise them to the best effect in creating and telling a story. This also included writing film scripts, so it was a natural progression to branch out into writing novels. So far I have limited my writing to mysteries, light entertainment, but with (hopefully) characters that come alive for the reader. I enjoy writing my mysteries, as the central characters, Belinda Lawrence and Hazel Whitby, have become close friends and we collaborate as each new adventure presents itself, and I discover more and more about their personalities and emotions. Each mystery is character driven and centred on some historical event or object which is at the core of each contemporary story. I have another novel I’m working on which is not a mystery, but an exploration of sibling differences and the possibility of reincarnation.

What are the hardest part of being an author?

I wouldn’t say there is any part of writing that is hard. There can be frustration if a character refuses to be open with you and allow you to know them. Searching for the right word which remains elusive. Ensuring the pace is right for each scene and how it fits on the overall rhythm of the story. Irritations rather than ‘hard’.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

Satisfaction if I think the story works, meeting new characters as they appear, plotting the action, creating a mood or atmosphere, finding humour in a situation and building on it, editing and improving. All of that, plus positive reviews from readers who are on the same wave-length the stories are pitched at.

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

How to answer that? I imagine every book I’ve read has had some influence on me, some lasting, and some ephemeral. But authors who I admire and return to are Evelyn Waugh, Iris Murdoch, and E.F.Benson. When younger I read the classics when I could as well as contemporary authors of the time, John Steinbeck, Gore Vidal, Hal Porter, Truman Capote et al. Agatha Christie of course and I recalled only recently that at an even younger age I read Sexton Blake mysteries, so I guess I’ve always been attracted to mystery novels as a genre and now with the i/net I’m discovering more and more early mystery writers and their works. I have a fascination with the works of Fergus Hume, whose novel Mystery of a Hansom Cab was a huge international success at the beginning of the 20th century, and I have collected many of his works over the years. So I have to say all of these great talents have influenced me in one way or another.

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

Writer’s Block. It can happen, if you believe it stops an author from writing at all. Otherwise, there can be a point when inspiration fails or a plot twist creates a problem for which there is no swift resolution. When and if that happens, I walk away; wait for the answer to emerge, which it will. The point is not to dwell on it and eventually things will clarify and you can see the resolution. One of the characters in the story may tell you. I know I go on about listening to the characters, but they have to be real for me because if they not, they will not be to the reader.

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

I write in what I call ‘the study’; but it is just a spare room full of bit and bobs and me at the computer. But writing is not confined to the computer or the room. The mind is always writing and hopeful those words will be incorporated in the story.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

Morning, night, either.

How do you like to reach your readers? 

Most of my contact with readers comes via FaceBook. I use Twitter but that seems unsatisfactory to me. I like the response and contact I have with readers via FaceBook, not only about the books but information we exchange about our lives and friends. It brings a closeness that I appreciate and an understanding of my readers with their likes and dislikes.

Can you tell us about your latest book?    

My most recent book is MURDER ON THE ISLAND, which is the sixth book in my Belinda Lawrence amateur sleuth series.

How long did it take you to write the book?

Difficult to tell as I don’t work to a deadline, unless I set one for myself. On average it takes about six months from inception to final draft and publication.

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

I would have to say Belinda’s cohort, girl Friday, ADC, Hazel Whitby. As much as I like Belinda, Hazel is worldlier (maybe even world-weary) inclined to be outrageous yet attuned to contemporary fashions and ‘having a good time’. It is interesting that Hazel appears in the first book, CAPABLE OF MURDER more or less as a supernumerary but when writing the second book, THE EMBROIDERED CORPSE she was at my elbow nudging me, flirting, seductive, and eventually won me over. Hazel is a good foil for Belinda and the two women bounce off each other with opposite personalities and tastes. Belinda developing and unsure: Hazel who has seen it all, but still has her radar well-tuned for the right man to come into her life. Plus, she’s a lot of fun.

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

Once I settle on the core of the story, I like to have a beginning and where I think it will end. But generally I let it flow, as various characters get involved and I discover more about them and their place in the scheme of things. Also, Belinda and Hazel are developing so I like to be fluid when writing to enable them to tell me more about themselves. As each story has an historical item or event as its core, I do a lot of research, and often ideas that are new to me, come out of that research.

Do you have plans for further instalments?

Further books are planned as Belinda’s life unfolds.

Do you have a plan for your next book?

I have started on Book Seven, ILLUSION OF DEATH which is set on Belinda’s hometown of Melbourne, Australia as was Book Five, A WICKED DESIGN. This time, Belinda is recovering from a broken romance and she and Hazel holiday in the city. The plot concerns evidence of an early film made in Melbourne last century and the two women get caught up in the intrigue and machinations created by opposing parties who have a vested interest in the old film and its restoration.

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

I prefer Physical but admit eBooks are convenient and that suits my needs at the moment, certainly for light entertainment and biographies. For more serious works, I find it uncomfortable to read electronically.

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

The industry has changed, and I believe traditional publishers have lost the plot. They don’t seem to know how to deal with eBooks and the number of authors who are self-publishing. There are distinct advantages for an author to self-publish, in essence, cutting out the middle man. Agents and publishers don’t seem to have their fingers on the pulse of what readers want, and so let potential money-makers for them slip through those fingers.

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

Do it. Just that, do it. Self-publish if you wish. If your writing strikes a chord with readers, then it will be worth it. Nothing is easy but there is no point in giving up. They say ‘write what you know about’. I say, write what you want to write about. They also say ‘you’ve either got it, or you ain’t’. There’s only one way for a writer to find out. Publish and be damned! And have fun!

Thank you so much Brian, there is so much valuable information in your interview. I have really enjoyed listening to you. 

Those who'd like to know more, please check out Brian here:

Website: http://beekayvic.tripod.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.kavanagh.71

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bkauthor

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Brian-Kavanagh/e/B002BMB79S/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard

CV: filmmaker2.webs.com

Thanks again readers for dropping in. If you'd like to be interviewed for this blog or have an interesting story to tell please drop me a line. 

Until next week!

Cheers

Amanda

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