Ask the Author: Andrew Cairns
Answered Questions (5)
Andrew Cairns
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Andrew Cairns
Writing allows you to take your experiences, your ideas, your thoughts, your dreams, your nightmares... and go exploring onto the page with them. You will make exciting, strange, emotional discoveries about yourself, the world you have created on the page and the world around you. Take up your pen, your computer, your mobile phone... and the creative possibilities are limitless!
Andrew Cairns
I'm currently working on the second book in "The Witch's List" trilogy. Yes that's right, I'm planning to do a trilogy! The second part will be more on a north-african / arabic culture theme. I've already written about 5000 words.
John Hunt Publishing are also bringing out a short story taster ebook, with short stories related to authors' novels. I plan to do one related to my first novel, "The Witch's List".
John Hunt Publishing are also bringing out a short story taster ebook, with short stories related to authors' novels. I plan to do one related to my first novel, "The Witch's List".
Andrew Cairns
Writer's block. The dreaded blank page! My mind is actually churning with ideas and stories. For me it's more about motivating myself to get going on the keyboard or sometimes using an app on my mobile phone. I use a keyboard app call SwiftKey (there are also a few other similar ones around). It allows you to write words without lifting your finger from the screen, dragging it between the letters... After a while it can predict the word you're typing and even the next word based on what you've entered previously. It can become more like drawing than typing.
I also usually set aside time (an hour, two hours...) where I can do just writing, ideally with no interruptions or distractions. Once I get stuck in, old memories come back, new ideas flood into my mind and the story begins to flow. I try not to worry too much about grammar or fancy language so start with. I concentrate initially on the story, the characters and my feelings. I especially like writing in the first person - based on my own experiences or trying to get inside someone else's head.
I also usually set aside time (an hour, two hours...) where I can do just writing, ideally with no interruptions or distractions. Once I get stuck in, old memories come back, new ideas flood into my mind and the story begins to flow. I try not to worry too much about grammar or fancy language so start with. I concentrate initially on the story, the characters and my feelings. I especially like writing in the first person - based on my own experiences or trying to get inside someone else's head.
Andrew Cairns
I got the idea for this book from real events which took place on my travels in the Ivory Coast. As stated at the start of the book, the existence of a witch's list is a commonly held belief in the Ivory Coast, and elsewhere in Africa where witchcraft is still practised. Once your name is on this mysterious list, it means you're going to die. I wanted to explore such supernatural beliefs from the point of view of a European sceptic, and also look at other themes such as culture clash, a young adult's first lusts or loves, and coming of age.
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