Author Spotlight: Matt Leyshon

It has been a few weeks since I have done one of my author spotlights and this week I am pleased to introduce you all to ex-pat Matt Leyshon. Matt recently wrote an amazing book Jack the Ripper: Live and Uncut that he will tell us a little about in a moment, but first I must let you all know that the book is currently unavailable as he has some HUUUUUUUGE news coming soon about an update and a wider audience reach. So WATCH THIS SPACE! 

Tell us about yourself and your books!

I was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, in a suburb called Liverpool. I had always enjoyed writing from an early age but had never extended that passion to the level of a completed novel. 

I moved to the USA in 2004 and have been here since. I have lived in Florida the whole time, (Tampa now), and have a lovely wife and two gorgeous children. I often refer to them as “the greatest story I have”.

My one book at this point, Jack the Ripper: Live and UnCut, is a thriller. My books, (yes a series is being developed), tell of a concept of using time travel to solve cold cases. The book was written with both sides of the fence in mind. Jack the Ripper fans, even the hard core ones, will enjoy the level of historical detail and its accuracy, but it will also entertain readers that are new to the case. I basically wanted to write a decent Jack the Ripper tale but at its core is a fast paced thriller. A whole lot going on, both inside and outside of Whitechapel.

How long have you been writing, and how did you become involved in writing?

I guess the first time I wrote a story and received encouragement to tell stories was when I was six years old. My first grade teacher liked a story I wrote about someone who eats chicken sandwiches with ghosts in a haunted house. Writing has always been a passion I have harboured but never fully embraced. My efforts on this novel, and to become a proper author, are approaching the two and a half year mark, so I would say that is how long I have been writing.

The catalyst for committing to writing was an online tutorial I did called “Masterclass”, a website that has celebrities teach in their given specialty. Mine was conducted by James Patterson and the topic was thriller writing. It was very educational and it was also the kick up the ass that I needed. Another huge incentive was that Patterson was running a competition for his class members; submit a hook, synopsis and sample chapter for a potential novel. The winner got to write their book with James Patterson. I came up with three submissions, one of which was the book I wrote. So that was the original source of inspiration. I didn’t submit it however as it was something I really wanted for myself. The day I heard I did not win his competition was one of the happiest days of my life. I immediately began working on my book, “Jack the Ripper: Live and UnCut”.

What are you working on at the moment?

I am currently one hundred pages deep into the next Carl Axford adventure. It’s working title is “Cult Following: A Carl Axford Mystery”. I have 90% of the story outlined and am finalizing the plot and continuing my research. This book will suggest that several deaths of famous musicians, that were deemed accidental or unsolved, will be linked to a common cause. There is also a present day target. This will also see a lot of expansion on the original concepts in the first book and I am already taking them to new potential, which is always exciting as an author. There are also some sub plots that more or less play out over an arc in the series, so some subplots that were begun in the first instalment will see progress in the next.

I can also say I already broke my promise to write the book in proper sequence, and have written the last chapter of the book. I couldn’t help it. The inspiration came and I had to put it into words while the moment was there. What I can say is that anyone who reads Jack the Ripper: Live and UnCut is going to be grinning from ear to ear when they finish Cult Following.

I have also been thinking about writing a book that is autobiographical. My son was diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum at two and a half , and I wanted to document our journey from birth, to diagnosis, through to where we are today. The working title is Spectrumhood and I really want to tell our story, especially from a father’s perspective. The most valuable information we have been given is from people who walk in our shoes. I wanted to pay that forward. Mrs Leyshon wants me to continue with the Axford series though, so I’m working on that primarily, but Spectrumhood will see publication one day.

Did you have any goals with writing, and if so, how well do you feel you’ve achieved them?  What do you hope to achieve in the future?

As a first time author I think my goals would be consistent with others like me. Some of it is a balance of low expectations, combined with the pipedreams of being a NYT Best Seller.
When I wrote it I simply wanted a book that people would enjoy to read. I hadn’t expected any traction within the Ripper Community as I know how much they like to discuss books with facts and that Ripper fiction has not always represented the case, or Jack, well. As a first time author I had some doubts that my book would be liked but I was proud of what I had written.

The response has been truly overwhelming so far. While sales are nowhere near the “best seller” range, the critical reception has been off the charts. Across the Amazon sites I have nearly 30 reviews to date and only one of them was not a 5 star review. That reader still enjoyed the book. What was even more encouraging is that Ripper publication were unanimous with their praise. They didn’t just like it, they loved it! Naturally I was happy to update my cover and include some quotes from them on the back. I was also invited to appear on Rippercast as one of five authors to discuss Jack the Ripper fiction. My book had been out for less than a month when that invitation came. I have also appeared at Rippercon as a panellist to discuss Jack the Ripper in Fiction. The fact my book received such a warm welcome, to the point of embrace, is incredibly satisfying. For me, this is the demographic that is the most likely to criticize my work so I feel confident all readers will enjoy it.

Finding representation from a literary agent has been difficult as my decision to self-publish in order to solicit feedback has cost the book dearly. But, I am proud to say that I beat the self-published hex and have secured a literary agent. I am extremely happy and excited about moving forward with an agent on the next level. In order to do this I now have to remove the book from publication. A shame, as it had gained terrific traction, but this is what I wanted for the book so an action I have no problem following through with. I have appreciated all of the support and great feedback the book has received. It was a big part in peeking my agent’s interest.

How long does it take you to write a book?

From commencing first chapter, to completion of first draft, Live and UnCut took me sixteen months to write, but that did include a three month break. Being immersed in my research and story was something I would often describe as “going down a dark rabbit hole”. Some people love that rabbit hole, many live in it. I didn’t want that for myself nor may family. My wife and children went on a road trip in which I wrote 180 pages in 10 days. I love them dearly, but man…..I get so much done when I’m on my own!

What are the hardest parts of being an author for you?

Finding the time to do it for sure. My books involve a lot of research so getting the time to do it all is tough. I am a stickler for detail though and want therefore shoulder the burden of research with the realistic approach that its for a good cause. This also has to fit in with a life of being a software techie, father and husband.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

When you complete the plot for a book and it all fits nicely. I outline my books so I know some chapters I will be looking forward to a lot as well, and obviously with Jack the Ripper you kind of know some things that are coming but I love the challenge of making it fresh and making the reader feel like they have been put right there. My book turns the creep factor up to eleven, the intention is to freak the reader out, not gross them out. On balance I don’t sugar coat what he did either.

One evening I wrote a chapter I had been eager to write for 6 months. I wrote through till 1:30am, but could not fall asleep until 5:00am due to being full of so much adrenaline. I thought, if my readers could feel a tenth of how I did, reading this material, then I would be happy. Subsequently I have heard that people who have read the book have had it keep them up some nights. I actually like that. I didn’t want the premise to set a scene that was gory, I wanted it to be eerie. Gory is disposable, creepy remains with you.

Do you have a spot where you like to write?

I write at a desk in my living room. Typically I just like to write where it is quiet and where I have a decent sized monitor. I finished the book while staying, alone, at a beach condo on the water. I could get used to that.

Besides writing, what do you love doing?

I love my kids and try to be a good dad for them as well as try to be a good husband. As for me I am a huge movie buff as well as a sports fanatic….at least for some sports. I miss the accessibility of some Australia sports as American tv doesn’t cover them with the same enthusiasm. I try to watch my beloved Wests Tigers whenever I can though.

What books or authors have had the most influence on you as an author?

I have several, and all for different reasons”

Martin Cruz Smith – Writes so beautifully and with great philosophy. His Arkady Renko novels are all masterpieces and he is so quotable with his description of places or people. Also the way he shows his main character evolves through his various stories but also how Russia changes along with him. He is literary God to me. I can easily pick up a Renko and read it.

James Patterson – James is the ultimate page turner. Usually when you read a Patterson you make short work of it, mostly because you don’t want to put his book down. One thing he said that I loved was when he tells a story he doesn’t want to hear somebody say “that’s great” he would rather hear somebody say “I’d like to read more”. That is Patterson in a nutshell and he is the master of stories that propel forward and at a quick pace.

Ben Elton – I love Elton as I have been a fan of his humour for decades. When he branched out from television and wrote novels I have enjoyed not only every story he writes but also his variety. He has written satires, murder-who dunnits, thrillers and always has great social commentary in every novel. He also has great humour in his books which is expected given what he gave to tv viewers.

Dan Brown – I love the Langdon series. What impresses me so much about Dan Brown, when I first read Angels and Demons, was that this book would make a terrific movie. I have felt that way about all of the Langdons. Needless to say I was very happy to hear that they were doing exactly that, and have done with three of them. When reading Brown you truly picture a scene playing out in your head. What I also like is Brown doesn’t dwell on getting to know the hero. Robert Langdon is a likeable hero but we don’t connect with him necessarily. We do become invested in his adventure though and want to see him succeed and it is through the journey that we learn little bits about Landon. I also appreciate that in those books it is Langdon’s talent that ultimately helps him progress through a mystery. The story is moved forward by what he knows and what he is good at. I like that a lot. I also like that Brown is not afraid of tackling a topic that knows will court controversy. He researches his books well, weaves history into a great story, but one that is ultimately fiction. Brown on his own admission concedes that these are stories……..not preachings to base a belief structure on.

Very honorable mentions are Edgar Allen Poe and William Shakespeare. Both capture the drama of horror or tragedy so profoundly. Their work has been the template for everybody that followed them.

What did you find most useful when you were learning to write and expanding your skills? 

Definitely the importance of having an outline, for me it was massive. There were some chapters that I didn’t get to write for months and I was relieved that I had placed a lot of relevant information in there and not have to research it again.

While writing the story I did develop other characters and device plots that were not in my outline, so I went back and added them in. An outline is a great tool, sometimes your best friend, but its completion should never signify the end of creativity for your story. It should be a balance of structure and spontaneity.

What are your thoughts about ebooks vs. print books?

Always preferred print books myself, but I can definitely relate to why people prefer eBooks. For personal reading I prefer paperback or hard covers, if I’m purchasing books for research I will predominantly go with eBooks mostly on the convenience of the delivery but also I usually buy a lot of books and it’s tough keeping them all on my desk.

What are your thoughts about self-publishing vs traditional publishing?

It’s down to the author. My preference is the traditional route, but the market is so saturated now it’s very hard to break through. As a first timer I wasn’t sure I had a decent book, so I opted to self-publish, in order to seek feedback (validation). Once I saw the reaction was great, especially from professionals in the industry, I sought to query agents. Sadly the phrase “self-published” pretty much condemns your book to instant rejection, at least in the US it does. Thankfully I found an agent that saw past that.

I see benefits of both. Self-publishing does offer you more freedom to promote it, it gives you creative license over the story, but it is all truly down to you. In spite of it all I do prefer the traditional route as I believe it is the route more likely to lead to being an author full time.

How often do you write, and how do you find or make time to write?

I try to put something in every day, whether it’s writing, research or outlining. How much time is subject to different factors, mostly when my kids are asleep. The majority of my book was written between 10:00pm and 2:00am.

Do you plan your whole book out in advance, or just let it flow? What does your writing process look like?

I outline most of it, especially if I have to include research notes, or develop plot lines or twists. Coming back to those months later is very handy. I normally establish “plot beads” which are chunks of the narrative or twists in plot, the major things. I then work on a way of threading them together. Cult Following will have a thread that involves multiple ciphers. I’m glad I locked the details of that away prior to writing it. When it comes to completing those chapters I’ll be golden.

What's a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write?

9:00 - 6:00 Work as a Solutions Architect

6:00 – 8:00 Have dinner, hang with the kids

10:00 – After insomniac daughter finally goes to sleep begin writing.

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it?

I did, once during Live and UnCut. I had hit one of the most critical parts of the book but realised I had a lot of research to do if I wanted to portray the next few chapters how I wold have wanted. The first chapter I had written in the book was chapter 37, which covered the Eddowes murder. So I picked up from there and wrote through to the end. I then had a 15 chapter gap to fill. Strangely, I didn’t fill the gap from chapter 22 through to 37, but went from 34-37, 31-34 and so on. Writing in the gap was like the movie Memento in a way.

Do you read your own reviews? If so, how do you deal with bad reviews?

Yes I do, because feedback is very important. If it’s positive feedback, you not only learn what you’ve done right but you also feel validated in the effort, research and risk you put into to producing the book. If it’s negative, you learn from that also in order to improve and put out a better product. You’re not going to make everybody happy but sometimes praise or criticism should definitely be noted. You have your own instincts but your readers voices should guide you a little as well.

Fortunately for me the story has received no bad reviews. I have received 5 stars, across the board, with the exception of one 3 star review from a reader, which was still complimentary. I did however receive criticism for the original cover. It seemed like a good idea at the time as I wanted something that got a reader’s attention but it was too confrontational and did not represent the story inside. The cover was doing the book a disservice and there was no lack of people willing to let me now. I owned all of it though and sought out a new cover that represented a mainstream thriller, still included Jack to a minor extent and show my main character’s purpose. I think the new cover got it right this time. 

The feedback is a lot more positive.

It was not my artist’s fault, he delivered what I had asked and in hindsight I did not make the best call there.

I guess this all leads to an answer of I do listen to both criticism and praise.

Other than reviews, do you hear from your readers? What kinds of things do they say?

Yes! I LOVE talking to my readers. A: I love hearing their feedback and discussing what they loved about the story. What plot twists they enjoyed the most. I also like to impart some stories behind the book. There are some cool research stories to be told along with some others that may give up spoilers.

I make myself completely available to readers and encourage them to reach out. Whether that is somebody who knew me before reading it and was surprised by what they read, or a sceptic who doesn’t like Ripper Fiction or time travel fiction but loved the book. A convert is my favourite reader as I know they did not approach the book with enthusiasm but came out on the other side a fan is terrific. I recently had somebody, I had never met, post on Facebook “Better be good, just purchased.” Later that first day they had added to their post that they had done nothing all morning except read my book. She is now a FB Friend, we talk regularly, and she recently described the book as her “favourite read of 2018”. As an author you have to love hearing that your work won somebody over like that.

The big thing for me is I want to hear why people came across the book and where that has progressed to. Some readers knew me personally, some love reading Jack the Ripper books. What I enjoy hearing after the book has been read is that they love the characters, the ideas, and that they will be back for more. They are saying they enjoyed your story and want to hear more. The sense of obligation is gone. I need to get Cult Following completed as there are a many readers wanting to see what happens next. Unfortunately, now that I am beginning along the traditional route, it will be difficult to gain any new readers/fans, but readers are now encouraged to lend their copy out to their family and friends.

What are some ways in which you promote your books?  What have you found most or least effective?

Various ways. I have done a couple of book signings in stores and intend to get that going again. I use Social Media but I am yet to see the influence it can be. It can translate to presence but not necessarily sales. Maybe that does come later, we’ll see. A good example is I ran a Facebook Promo and accidentally selected it to run on Instagram instead. I received nearly 2,000 likes for my picture but If there were sales from it I don’t think it would have been more than 2-3 books. I have a lot to learn in this area though and am trying to educate myself better.

I was invited on Rippercast, the main Jack the Ripper related podcast as a guest panellist to discuss Jack the Ripper Fiction. I was also invited to Rippercon, the Jack the Ripper Conference in the US. Again, I appeared as a panellist to discuss Jack the Ripper in fiction. I will also be appearing at a few more conventions, speaking on panels and trying to promote the book and myself further. My book has been nominated for several awards. Fingers crossed I do well in one or two of those as being an “award winner” suggests distinction from the pack.

I have created a website and am starting to channel everything through there. At first I didn’t have enough happening to create a decent amount of content. Now I think I do and with the website will also come a newsletter. The website also played a critical part in escalating intrigue from my agent.

How easy or hard do you think it is it to make a living as an author?
Speaking for myself, it’s hard. I think that would apply to any Indie Author. Attracting a reader base is one thing but another issue is that promoting your book comes at a cost most of the time. People charge ridiculous fees to simply review your book. A review should never cost more than the price of the book and the expense to ship it to them. Others charge money to promote it, critique it, proof-read it. If you want to enter your book into an awards contest, there is typically a fee, if you want it to progress through various channels you pay membership fees. For an Indie Author there are a lot of overheads. We’ll see what the future holds now that all of that is about to change.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to be an author?

Do it! Being an author is all about wanting to tell the stories you have inside you and if you feel you have a story to share then get typing. The most important thing is if you believe in your story then believe in yourself.

What I will say as well is it’s a long road, with hard work. Very few authors strike jackpot with their first book and seeking representation is a battle you need to prepare for. If you want this, there are thousands, millions even, that feel it as well. You have to think about what makes you different, what makes your story better, and fight the good fight using that arsenal. If you wish to find an agent I have had many people tell me it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and that’s true. I ran the sprint and wished I had taken the path with greater resistance. Finding an agent takes time. Authors who find an agent in less than 30 rejections are the exception, not the rule. Many of the great authors were rejected many times. Even when you find an agent, they take the same fight you fought to publishers, so finding an agent is getting to first base, it’s not running into home plate.

For all the work and frustrations there is so much good stuff. Hearing from somebody that they loved your book is a beautiful thing. Being an author is like golf basically….there are a lot of times the shots don’t go your way and you become frustrated to the pointed you want to break a club in half. Then you have a couple of moments that make up for all of that. In the end you say to yourself, “maybe I’ll come back for another round”.

Tell us a random fact about yourself

Random eh…….ok. I eat price tags. I love eating price tags, and I love how they taste. A lot of new ones have holograms and other shit, but the old fashion peel away ones! Yeah….I love those. It’s a habit I never grew out of :)

 How can readers find out more about you: (Fb, Goodreads, website links and such)

Website:  https://matt-leyshon.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100018687133566   (Author)

https://www.facebook.com/JTRLiveAndUnCut/   (Book)

Twitter:  @mleyshonauth

YouTube (Promotions Clips)
Trailer Clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKtKNMu_J-U&t
Critical Reception Promo Clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaW9jEtdqIM&t

Author Spotlight: Karen Carlisle

Karen J Carlisle is an imagineer and writer of steampunk,

Victorian mysteries and fantasy.


She was short-listed in Australian Literature Review’s 2013 Murder/Mystery Short Story Competition and published her first novella, Doctor Jack & Other Tales, in 2015. Her short story, Hunted, featured in the Adelaide Fringe exhibition, ‘A Trail of Tales’.

Karen lives in Adelaide with her family and the ghost of her ancient Devon Rex cat.

She’s always loved dark chocolate and rarely refuses a cup of tea.

Welcome Karen once again to Killing Time Blog. This is your second visit here and I was so happy to have you back again.

How long have you been writing, and how did you become involved in writing?
I used to write Doctor Who stories as a child. I wanted to be part of the adventure.

I won a school poetry prize when I was nine, wrote some angsty teen poetry in the 70s and my first SF/comedy novel in grade 12 (on a typewriter with carbon paper) - because I didn’t like the ending of some of the books I read.

I wrote again in the mid 90s (mainly D&D articles for an Australian roleplaying magazine). I started again in 2012 - as therapy following workplace anxiety (and now diagnosed as PTSD). Finally I had returned to my bliss (except I don’t call it that when elbow-deep in rewrites with a deadline looming).

What are you working on at the moment?

‘Aunt Enid: Protector Extraordinaire’ is the first of ‘The Aunt Enid Mysteries’, set in modern Adelaide. The rest is… spoilers.

Did you have any goals with writing, and if so, how well do you feel you’ve achieved them?
Keep writing. I can’t go back to my old career. It’s not good for my health. I need to get all these stories out of my head and share them with others.

I’m still working on it.

What do you hope to achieve in the future?
I’m trying to find the balance between my health and writing. That is my current goal - and see if I can pull off two books a year…

How long does it take you to write a book?
Up to a year currently. Aunt Enid will end up about the six month mark.

What are the hardest parts of being an author for you?
Staring at a blank page and the fear of failing.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?
I love using words. I love creating worlds (I’ve been doing world building since DMing Dungeons and Dragons, back in the 70s.) I also love making book trailers (I also wanted to be a director or cinematographer when I was a kid).

Do you have a spot where you like to write?
I have several spots I like to write. I often sit at my ‘sewing table’ in the front sun room, with a view of the garden. I have a standing desk (for back health). Sometimes I pop to the local library, or write in the back garden, or even in the car at school pick up.

Besides writing, what do you love doing?
Photography, video work, playing D&D with friends, drawing, costuming, steampunk, and much more.

What books or authors have had the most influence on you as an author?
Agatha Christie, JRR Tolkein, Arthur Conan Doyle, HG Wells, Gail Carriger, Jim Butcher… shall I go on?

What did you find most useful when you were learning to write and expanding your skills?
I’ve done some local WEA courses on writing. We’re fortunate to have a good local teacher who has worked with publishing houses as an editor, is a writer and a professional teacher.

Jim Butcher and other authors also several talks on youTube, from various conventions he has spoken at.

I also find it valuable being a member of a critiquing writing group, with some lovely (and honest) people.

What are your thoughts about ebooks vs. print books?
Personally, I prefer print. They don’t need power, they are more comfortable for me to hold. I love the smell, the covers, and I find I can concentrate on the story more. I do own some myself.
I have a love/hate/hate relationship with technology. I use it because I have to. It’s great when it works, but…

However, many people love eBooks. I always publish my books in both print and digital formats so people can choose their own preference.

What are your thoughts about self-publishing vs traditional publishing?
I self publish because I can control the end product. I love doing the cover art (I also wanted to be an artist when I left school… and an astronaut… and…) and making booktrailers. I get to do all things! I can also control deadlines, which is important to me; it helps with my anxiety. I don’t have to work to someone else’s deadline. At the moment this is a mental health priority.

I hope to do the ‘hybrid’ publishing thing one day. It would be nice to have someone do some of the marketing and organising for me on occasion.

How often do you write, and how do you find or make time to write?
I had an unscheduled paid work cessation. I had planned to write part-time for at least five years and then transition to full-time writing. Well, that didn’t happen!

So, I now write full-time and am still trying to find a balance. Too many stories. Not enough time.
I try to write almost every day. Currently I take some ‘off days’ then write like mad for weeks on end, up to sixteen plus hours for five to seven days (especially when I have a deadline). Then, I crash and burn for a few weeks. One day I’ll actually do the ‘write five days and have a weekend off’ thing.
I actually work longer hours now than when I was in a paid job.

Do you plan your whole book out in advance, or just let it flow? What does your writing process look like? I used to be a full-on pantser! But I needed more stability. I’m now a plotter-pantser.

An idea will strike (often sparked by a picture, a song, a title, something someone said…) and I’ll scribble down bits. If I think there’s a longer story there, I assign it a box (literally) and put any related inspirations or writing in that box. I may have an instant idea of the main story points and ending or they may wheedle their way into my brain, or the story box, over time. Eventually I have the bones of a story.

I tried planning out every scene once. I stressed out, feeling I couldn’t deviate. I’ve modified the process now. I write specific points on sticky notes, pop them on the cupboard door in the sun room.

I dive into research until the settings, time or character headspace oozes from my pores, then I let it all sink in for a while. (this can take a week or a month. My fantasy work-in-progress has been in the ‘pop it in in the box and let it cogitate’ step for years now. )

I then work on the scenes or chapters related to each note. This gives me the flexibility to move them around (or scrap them) as the story changes and evolves. The most important thing is to know the ending, and ask ‘what would the character do?’/ ‘what are they thinking?’

I also use sticky notes along the way, if I remember an important point three chapters later, or something lurking in the back of my mind pops into the story. If I need to put a ‘gun in the room’, so to speak, then a sticky note goes into the earlier manuscript to remind me in final rewrites.

Every few chapters I do new ‘story line notes’ and more things get added to the bones for the final story (like a snowflake growing).

There’s a family joke: when I’m staring out the window, they say ‘leave mum alone, she’s writing’, which is absolutely true. Stories often mull in my head on the ‘procrastinating’ or ‘time off days’. My brain is always sifting through different story permeations and ‘what ifs’.

What's a typical working day like for you? When and where do you write?
Wake up. (do my PTSD therapy if I’m able, ten minutes on the stepper for endorphins). Cup of tea (perhaps some chocolate if I’ve had a bad night). I try to start writing or research at 9.30 to 10.00 am. I’m supposed to break for lunch, but often I get distracted until school pick up. I take a break, catch up on my favourite TV show (I’ve just finished re-watching all the Miss Marple in order) or watch a movie (so 60-90 minutes break) and then try to finish up the writing. If I’m having a bad health day, this goes out the window. I usually get a second wind about 11.00 pm and sometimes wake up in the middle of the night to scribble in the notebook by the bed.

In reality, I aim for minimum of four hours writing a day.

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it?
My writers’ block is more procrastination, usually at the start of a new story or chapter. The blank page is my bane. I often know what I want to write but the fear sets in…

I switch to either a different story or something artistic and concentrate on cover or poster design or scripting the next book trailer and working out stills and shots I will need. (at least it’s constructive procrastination) On bad days, I just chill, let my brain recover and catch up on reading or movies. I even have a divers’ notebook in the shower. Relaxing seems to jog things.

Do you read your own reviews? If so, how do you deal with bad reviews?
Unless someone emails me a review, I stumble over reviews. The worst review I had was someone emailed me about: I didn’t think it was that bad. The (male) reviewer just didn’t seem to understand the motivation of a (female) character and mansplained how she should have reacted in the situation in question and obviously hadn’t followed the character arc to its conclusion. Oh, well.

The way I look at it is, no one can please everyone. I’m just happy to get comparisons to Agatha Christie and Sherlock Holmes (mentioned a few times) in independent reviews… (and not get trolled). That makes up for most things.

Other than reviews, do you hear from your readers? What kinds of things do they say? I get readers contacting me on FB, twitter and chatting to me at conventions. I get fans emailing me to ask what costumes a character would wear so they can cosplay them (squee!) or ‘when’s the next book coming out?’ and (best of all) dragging their friends (literally) up to my table and saying ‘you have to buy this book!’ (Waves at Tilly- my first con fan!)

What are some ways in which you promote your books? What have you found most or least effective? I do interviews (like this one), guest blog posts, book trailers (on my youtube channel) and webpage. I’ve done talks for local heritage groups, SF and book groups and would love to do talks for schools. I do local steampunk and pop culture conventions. I also have a live chat, via Patreon, and a monthly newsletter for those who want to know more.

I find the most effective is talking and engaging with readers.

Least effective? Facebook ads. I tried it. I get more regular organic reach than when I paid for it.

How easy or hard do you think it is it to make a living as an author? Did you know the average author’s wage in Australia is only $12,500? And yet people still want free stuff.

What advice would you give to someone aspiring to be an author? 1. Keep your day job
2. You need to actually write stuff.
3. Beware vanity presses.
4. Never stop learning.
5. Write what you love because you’re going to be in this for the looooong haul.

Tell us a random fact about yourself My father was part native Canadian.
I’ve been a Doctor Who fan since I was 4 (1969) You do the maths. J

Thank you for dropping by Karen, this has been an amazing insight into your writing and your practices. How and where can readers find out more about you and your amazing stories:

• Website: www.karenjcarlisle.com 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenJCarlisle/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kjcarlisle 
• Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/KarenJCarlisle 
• Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/KarenJCarlisle

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Award winning author Rosanne Dingli explains

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WRITING FICTION

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

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

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

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

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

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

HAPPY WRITING





Cheers,

Amanda Howard

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

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

Author Interview: Amanda Kool, Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction Author

This week's feature author is Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction Author Amanda Kool.

Amanda Kool has been writing stories since she was eight years old, starting on her mother's old typewriter. While her day job as a Technical Writer keeps both her menagerie (two dogs, one cat, and eight chickens) and her mortgage fed, she spends her downtime writing Crime, Speculative, and post-apocalypse fiction.

Her first solo novel, "Tallwood", is available now, released by Satalyte Publishing. Her second two novels, "Wires", and "The Murderer's Cloth" are coming soon...

Amanda also co-authored 1000 Mettle Folds with Australian Horror writer Steve Gerlach and wrote the children's story, The Paper Fox (illustrated by her brother, Jeremy).


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

I write Science Fiction and Speculative Fiction (and one straight-out historical crime fiction!).

As a writer, I'm a bit scatty to be honest. I can't tell you where the ideas come from, but they usually start with some image or scene in my head that I build around. I write on a paper, initially. I find that much more creative – I can cross things out, draw lines from one thing to another, write in the margins. It becomes a melange of idea fragments and I find it helps my creativity.

I only start writing on the PC when I have a sure idea of where I am going with the story.

What are the hardest part of being an author? 

Writing. I'm only being a little facetious, here. When it's working, it's great. When it's not, it's like all the tension goes into my jaw and my teeth start to grind and my head aches and I doubt myself and really, what are words good for anyway?!

The actual hardest part – selling the book. For introverts like me, it's hell. And it's essential. I went the traditional publishing route to avoid the bulk of that – turns out you cannot evade hell no matter how hard you try :)   

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

When it works. When the world finally coalesces in your head and you start to think and feel like the people who inhabit it. When you're in that zone and you start dreaming about the next thing that happens, it's amazing. The downside is, I get distracted and neglect the people in 'real world'. We all do that though, right? Right?  

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

Michael Shaara, Shelby Foote, Stephen King, Ursula Le Guin, Cormac McCarthy, Umberto Eco, JRR Tolkien, James Ellroy, Banks (both M and sans M), Val McDermid, James Blish.… That's a list I have on stand-by to copy/paste. You can pretty much divide that list into the two main reasons I love them and they are totally different reasons:

1. Paucity of words, brevity, a sparse, poetic style.
2. Lush world-building, complex scenarios and long, descriptive passages.

I wish there were more women in that list, but these are the writers that have had the biggest influence on me when I was first starting out.

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

Not so much 'block', as 'paralysing fear'. I was cool writing four books in isolation, then I got published and suddenly people were reading my work. This book I'm writing now? I'm second-guessing every word, every action, every phrase. I really need to get over myself and just write the damn thing. I didn't write for a whole year because of that. I'm getting back to it now. Imposter Syndrome is real! (Check out the Writing Excuses podcast – they do a great episode on Imposter Syndrome.)

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

My study. I'm surrounded by the items of the story/genre I'm currently writing and glancing up will give me inspiration. I have a proper desk, a PC and reference material everywhere. I also have "Freedom", a program that blocks the internet for however long I specify. No distraction, no Facebook, no email, no looking up something. I put that on when I need to focus. It's like a slap on the wrist for me.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

Any time I can write is my favourite time of day. I have so many things in my life (friends, family, work, animals, chores, etc.) that if I can carve out any time at all to write, I consider that my favourite time.

If I had my druthers, I'd write at night, but as I need to get up at 5.20 am for work, it's not practical at all :)

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

Any way I can. I don’t 'like' it, as I'm really shy. But right now, Facebook is my main outlet for sharing my book information. I only just created a website (bare bones) but hopefully that will become the main port of call for folks who want to know about me. I'm heading up to the Sydney Expo in October to promote Tallwood and meet other authors and publishers. That's really exciting and TOTALLY out of my comfort zone! (I hope they have wine...) 

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

Tallwood is my latest published work. It is a Science Fiction story set well after the world as we know it now has ended. Scant humans live in pockets of underground safety and a roving menace on the surface keeps them down there; for the most part, anyway. It's a standalone book, and at least twice the size of anything else I've written.

How long did it take you to write the book?

A few years. I can't tell you exactly as I work full time and started somewhere in 2006 and finished somewhere in 2009.... I would love to write full time. To have the time and money to do that would be incredible.

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

I like ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Very few of my characters are cops, or specialists in a field, or superheroes. I like to fling chaos at ordinary folk and see how they react. In Tallwood, Llewellyn is the 'everyman' if you like. He's new to the world up top. He gets into serious trouble pretty quickly and my other, seasoned characters are the ones to help him out.

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

I tend to be a big old pantster. I tried to plot a book once and it killed the creativity for me; started to feel like homework, like I'd already written it in notes, so what remained was boring and held no surprises. I got 20k in and shelved it. I've thrown away the framework and will come back to it later when I can be fresh and just...let it happen.

I always know where I'm heading. I sometimes have a set-piece in mind for the ending, then write semi-chronologically as I go. (I sometimes jump ahead if an idea strikes me and the mood is there, then fill in the gap later.)

Do you have plans for further instalments?

More than a few people have asked for a sequel. I'm not sure I have another epic Tallwood SF in me, to be honest, but you never know...

Do you have a plan for your next book?

I have two at the moment; the one I have shelved for the time being, and one I am struggling with. Neither has really grabbed me by the throat yet, and that's what I need to finish these things. Hopefully, when I have time to really devote to it, I can get into the 'zone'.

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

If I love a book, I will buy it in paperback/hardback. My favourite authors are always a physical purchase, no question. Books like "S" have to be physical because of all the glorious "bits" that are included in the mystery. (Don't know what I'm talking about? Google "S" by J.J. Abrams, Doug Dorst – a mind-screw of the most enjoyable kind).

My e-book purchases tend to be anthologies (though some I will then buy in paperback), new authors, books that I don’t know if I'll like, omnibuses that are on sale or classic books I want to re-read. Clive Barker's works are among these. On only read e-books on my train into work, never at home.

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

Honestly, I don’t know enough about the industry and its machinations to comment on its changing ways. I do know that I went the traditional publishing route because my publisher would lead the charge when it came to garnering interviews, reviews, publicity etc.

I was totally willing to participate, but selling myself cold is not what I'm good at. I wrote four books before I even considered letting them out to see the light of day. I was quite happy to put each in a drawer and start the next one. It was my family/friends and beta readers who told me to get off my butt and get out there :)

My traditional publishing experience has been somewhat mixed in any case.

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

Write. Write all the time, when you can – and FINISH something. It's so easy to start many things and not finish and tell yourself that you're a writer (and you are, because writing), but starts are easy. 

Hell, endings and middles can be easy, too, but having all three and finishing a complete work is hard. Finish an entire work, then start another one as soon as possible.

Read. Read all the time. Good fiction, bad fiction, your genre and similar genres. See what other people are doing and feel good about your own work. 

How can readers find out more about you: (Fb, Goodreads, website links and such)

Website: www.amandakool.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.kool.3

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amandishk

 Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Kool/e/B01F4RAKGW/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4992624.Amanda_Kool

Thank you so much Amanda for dropping by, this has been a fantastic chat today. 

Killing Time Blog note: I always love having speculative fiction authors drop by, they have a way with words that I always love to read. 

Thank one once again for coming to read my author  interviews on Killing Time Blog. If you're interested in being interviewed, or have a really cool story to tell, please send me an email.  Don't forget to also subscribe for future interviews. 

Cheers,

Amanda Howard