Ask the Author: Alison Stuart
Answered Questions (11)
Alison Stuart
Thank you for bringing this up.
Alison Stuart
Thank you for alerting me to this problem
Alison Stuart
My pleasure, Carol.
Thank you for being a keen reader!!!
Regards
Alison
Thank you for being a keen reader!!!
Regards
Alison
Alison Stuart
This is a highly vexed question for an author. I am an Australian so my natural inclination is UK/AUS spelling but I write books in an American market and American publishers and readers prefer American spelling so honour becomes honor etc! We like to think our readers are discerning enough to understand this. The same applies to “ vs ‘... that is a publishing house preference... my Australian publisher prefers ‘, my US “! And yes , it sends me cross eyed!
Alison Stuart
I do not write erotica or highly sensual books, but my my books are rated M (in movie terms). There are love scenes in all my books to date but these are contextual and a reflection of the relationship between the characters and the plot. They are NEVER gratuitous.
However if you prefer your books 'sweet' or 'clean' then my books are NOT for you.
However if you prefer your books 'sweet' or 'clean' then my books are NOT for you.
Alison Stuart
My most recent book is a Regency romantic suspense/murder mystery... LORD SOMERTON'S HEIR. I wanted to write a story with a twist on the cinderella theme - a male nobody who becomes an aristocrat. A visit to the battlefield of Waterloo gave me the character of Sebastian Alder and the rest flowed from there.
Alison Stuart
I can't remember a time when I didn't write. There was a large pause for university, careers, children etc., but what kicked me off properly was a skiing accident which left me alone in a ski resort with only a notebook computer for company. I haven't stopped writing since.
Alison Stuart
Kind of a secret at the moment... its a 3 part series with the English Civil War setting I so love writing about. Watch this space.
When I'm not working on that, I am working on a "cosy" crime series set in Singapore in 1910 with a wonderful protagonist called Harriet Gordon, typist and stenographer and failed suffragette. I lived in Singapore for a number of years and I am loving recreating Harriet World.
When I'm not working on that, I am working on a "cosy" crime series set in Singapore in 1910 with a wonderful protagonist called Harriet Gordon, typist and stenographer and failed suffragette. I lived in Singapore for a number of years and I am loving recreating Harriet World.
Alison Stuart
Finish the book. You can talk about writing, you can rewrite that first 3 chapters until they shine like diamonds but until you actually FINISH a book you are not a writer. It doesn't have to be perfect and indeed no first draft should be submissable but if you are holding something that has a beginning, a middle and an end then give yourself a huge pat on the back.
Secondary advice, join a writers organisation and learn about the craft, enter contests get feedback... you never ever stop learning.
Secondary advice, join a writers organisation and learn about the craft, enter contests get feedback... you never ever stop learning.
Alison Stuart
Readers... knowing that your book has touched their lives and just for a few hours the world you have created has become their world. The best reader feedback is that which castigates me for keeping them up until 2.00am because they couldn't put the book down. My work here is done! So readers don't be shy about contact a writer - you may well just make their day.
Alison Stuart
I suspect Writer's block is more a case of "Writer's laziness"... sometimes its best to just write through it. However I have found that by doing some other hand, brain connected activity (gardening, needlework, jigsaws etc.)... it often allows the brain to just drift and amazing ideas pop up.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more