Pam Lecky's Blog, page 34

The 1880s in Fashionable Gowns: A Visual Guide to the Decade

Mimi Matthews

(Individual Images via Met Museum and MFA Boston)

The 1880s ushered in an era of tailored, close-fitting gowns, some of which were almost masculine in appearance.  These gowns exemplified women’s changing roles in society.  No longer content to be flounced, ruffled, and beribboned drawing room ornaments, 1880s ladies were engaged in outdoor pursuits.  Some had jobs, some participated in sports, and many were involved in the ongoing fight for women’s suffrage.  This was the decade of Sherlock Holmes, Jack the Ripper, the Rational Dress Reform Movement, and the ready-made gown.  This was also the decade when black evening dresses became fashionable–and not just for those in mourning.

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A Conversation with Author Ruth Frances Long

Today in the Library I am delighted to have ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­award winning Irish author Ruth Frances Long, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as a busy author.

You are very welcome Ruth, would you like to tell us a little about yourself?

  

I write dark young adult fantasy, often about scary fairies, such as The Treachery of Beautiful Things, A Crack in Everything, A Hollow in the Hills and the forthcoming A Darkness at the End. (O’Brien Press, 2016). I also write fantasy and paranormal romance.

I live in Wicklow and work in a specialized library of rare, unusual & occasionally crazy books. But they don’t talk to me that often.

In 2015, I won the European Science Fiction Society Spirit of Dedication Award for Best Author of Children’s Science Fiction and Fantasy.

Did you read much as a child? Are you an avid reader now? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

Absolutely. I devoured books as a child, spending hours in my local libraries. I got an adult ticket quite early on because I had read just about everything in the junior library. I was also lucky enough to have a superb second hand bookshop in my town where I picked up all sorts of unusual and interesting things. I’m still an avid reader but lack the time to read these days. I always feel I should be writing. I read quite widely, not just YA or fantasy. I’m very fond of crime and thrillers, and also of historical fiction. So long as the book is gripping I will read it. I love a page turner.

Are you self-published or traditionally published?

Currently I am traditionally published but I have self published in the past. I was originally published with an ebook first publisher, with the print following some months later. It was a great adventure and a super way to learn the ropes.

Which genre do you write in and why?

I primarily write Young Adult these days, although I’ve written romance and fantasy as well. I love the voice of Young Adult books. Most of the characters that pop into my head seem to belong there. The themes are so interesting and of universal interest. If we aren’t teens now, we were once. There’s hope and engagement in these characters, a desire to fight and change things. It’s exhilarating. The characters are larger than life, but very real. They leap off the page.

Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?

This is a very tough question because it hasn’t just been one person but a range of authors. Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising Sequence, and Alan Garner’s books have been really important to me. Add to that Tolkien, Stephen King, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. But probably the biggest influence of all was discovering the world of folklore and the way it interweaves itself into our lives. So it’s a concept rather than a person. It’s also something that all of these authors do so well. They are storytellers, and storytelling lies at the heart of a culture. It shapes how people think and act, highlights what is important to them and what they fear. That thought fascinates me and all my stories grow from some sort of folklorish element. 

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

Very much so. I love Irish legends and folk tales and they have burrowed themselves deep in between the words I write. A Crack in Everything, A Hollow in the Hills and A Darkness at the End are intricately woven with Irish myths and legends. But I didn’t go with the great mythological sagas. I wanted to explore the idea of the everyday supernatural that exists in so much of Irish folklore. The Sídhe live beside us, under those hills just there. They’re very much a part of daily life and their stories are rooted in a specific landscape. I was interested in looking at that in a modern setting. I also loved the story of how Ireland was divided between the Sídhe and human beings. It was agreed that the island should be split in half but the humans cheated and used magic to divide it so the Sídhe were forced to live “underground”. And the wonderful Irish legend about the Sídhe being former angels who didn’t take a side in the war in heaven and were exiled rather than damned. There is so much in these stories and I still think I have only scratched the surface. 

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

For me the hardest part is the initial writing. It’s that process of taking something that is a beautiful shining image in your mind and getting it down on the page/screen. You lose so much doing that, and the thing that ends up there isn’t as good. It has to be edited to make it shiny again. Keeping going is the hardest part. I make myself write a little every day in order to get there, promising myself I can fix it later. I have to turn off my internal editor or I would never get anything written. Finding the time to write can be a challenge. I have a job and a family, but it’s worth it in the end.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

I usually write in the evenings, not because it’s my favourite time but it’s the time when I have time. I curl up on the sofa and type/edit or take a notebook up to bed with me and write in bed. I also carry a notebook with me all the time and write whenever I get a moment.

What is the best thing about being an author? And the flipside – what is the worst?

The best is when someone gets your work – the moment of communication between writer and reader. It’s really magical. I adore it when someone tells me how much they love something I wrote, because I’ve done my job and done it well enough that that person loves my imaginary people.

The worst… paranoia, the fear, inability to write… actually none of these things are actually unique to being a writer, just to being a human being. But I believe writers and artists in general have a highly developed sense of empathy and sometimes that makes us all a bit prone to overthinking and worrying.

Is social media an essential chore or something you enjoy? Which forum do you prefer?

I quite enjoy social media. I have made a lot of friends through it. I work alone a lot of the time in both my day job and while writing so it’s a great source of company. The main thing to remember is that it’s a conversation, not a way of selling something. I really enjoy a number of forums, all for different things. I love Facebook for longer discussions, and Instagram for pictures. Pinterest is great for image boards and I make one for each WIP. But I think Twitter is still my favourite.  It’s just busy all the time. And it’s amazing for big events (like the Eurovision, slightly obsessed). 

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

By day, I am a specialist librarian. So I would be that, only for more time.

It’s the last day and the earth is facing oblivion – what book would you read?

Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Although I’d try to speed read so I could read some more books as well. Only one?! That’s not fair.

A Conversation with Author Susan Appleyard

Today in the library we have author Susan Appleyard who has dropped by to share some insights into her life as an author. Susan is the author of : Queen of Trial and Sorrow, This Sun of York,  The Relentless Queen and The First Plantagenet.

 

Hello Pam and everyone. Thanks for the opportunity to introduce myself and talk about my work.

I was born in England, which is where I learned my love of English history, and emigrated to Canada in the mid-seventies, so I am very much a Canadian but with a Yorkshire accent. I’m fortunate to be able to spend six months in Canada, with my 3 children and 6 grand-children, and six months in Mexico with the sun and sea and margaritas on the beach. (No prizes for guessing which months are spent where.)

I had two books traditionally published, before my burgeoning career went into the toilet when my publisher sold out to another company and my agent went into furniture sales. For a time, I gave up trying to get published but I never stopped writing. It was little over a year ago that a friend suggested I try self-publishing, which I did, and I now have four books available on Amazon. As already stated, I adore English history and read any era, fiction and non-fiction, although my favourite period remains the fifteenth century. Three of my books are set in the period of the War of the Roses, and the fourth is about Henry II, a very interesting king.

For me one of the most difficult things about writing is maintaining my confidence. Most of us do our own editing more than once, trying to achieve perfection and make sure no little error slips through, even if we go on to have the work professionally edited. By the time I finish this process I begin to think words that once seemed like little gems of wit or wisdom now sound trite. I think it was the English painter Turner who said: I imagine mountains and paint molehills. That’s the way I feel when my book is finished.

I always write in the mornings when the brain is freshest – so I’ve heard. The best thing about being an author is putting myself in the life of another person, trying to imagine what they are sensing at a given time. This is particularly challenging and rewarding in historical fiction because the experiences are so far from my own. For example, I once wrote about a man who was crushed when an elephant fell on him. I’ve killed and been killed in many varied ways, and had so many love affairs… All without a twinge to my conscience. The worst thing about being an author is the feeling in my bottom when I get up after several hours of work!

If I was not an author, I would indulge my love of history by being an archaeologist.

My work in progress is a departure for me as it is about the nineteenth century Empress Elisabeth of Austria, nicknamed Sisi. It’s in the editing stage and I’m excited about it. Titled In a Gilded Cage, I hope to publish this summer.

If you would like to know more about Susan and her work, please check out the links below:

Amazon Author Page   

Blog   Facebook

                                    

 

 

 

 

A Conversation with Author Paul Kestell

Today in the Library we have ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Paul Kestell, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into his life as an author.

You are very welcome, Paul, please introduce yourself:

 Hi, I started writing when I was very young …  but I was shy and I didn’t really come out till my final years in secondary school, when I made the school magazine with a few stories in the flash fiction genre before it was ever invented. I started writing novels when I was forty-six after a sudden illness forced me to change almost everything in my life. I went to live in a small fishing village in West Cork …. where I wrote Viareggio, and Wood Point, both novels, and then two collections of novelettes called The Mad Marys of Dunworley and The West Cork Railway and Other Stories. My reviews have been very good but not good enough to tempt a mainstream publisher to take me on. So I continue to publish under my own imprint Black Cormorant Books, and my new title is ‘Nogginers,’ a series of twelve short stories set where I grew up in Sallynoggin.

Did you read much as a child? Are you an avid reader now? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

I love novels. A favourite is ‘The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne,’ it was a good movie too. I tend to read when I am not writing which is never so I am lucky to read one or two novels a year.

Are you self-published or traditionally published?

I publish all through my own imprint Black Cormorant Books.

Which genre do you write in and why?

I didn’t know I was confined to a genre but my books are adult fiction not because of too much sex or violence, but my themes are very adult I hope. 

Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?

James Joyce not because I have read all of his work or pretend to understand him but he taught me to inject passion into words.

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

Yes, very much. The wind blowing in neoliberalism has made me very angry. I fear greatly for my country.

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

Editing and I don’t like it as it fries my brain. Why do people seek such order?

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

No. I write at different times of the day but I love writing at night when all else is asleep. 

What is the best thing about being an author? And the flipside – what is the worst?

The best thing is when people say something kind about your work. The worst is when you realise that very few people have actually read what you painstakingly put together. Using my own imprint I find it almost impossible to get reviews. Books are like any other product – they need media support to become popular. The literary world is narrow, very middle-class and full of nepotism but hey, I am not bitter – not much.

Is social media an essential chore or something you enjoy? Which forum do you prefer?

I do Twitter and Facebook, but I use them to air my political views as much as to promote my books. 

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

I think I would be dead. 

It’s the last day and the earth is facing oblivion – what book would you read?

Dubliners by James Joyce what a way to finish … reading The Dead.

Please tell us about your latest published work:

Nogginers, a book of twelve short stories will be launched in the Irish Writers Centre, this Thursday.

The book brings us on a fictional journey through the writer’s early years and into adolescence, the spectre of manhood and responsibility though inevitable, is feared almost like death, thus we arrive at disaffected adulthood in stories like ‘Blood’.

The stories are full of humour but are tainted by the biting reality of growing up in a working class Corporation estate.

This barren world is brought to life in stories like ‘The Messenger Boy’ and ‘Workers’, intertwined with an innocence, and the power of childhood imagery and imagination.

There are some stark stories to tell as in ‘Hate Lessons,’ and ‘Corpus Christi,’ the writer enters our souls percutaneously but he also entertains us with the funny ‘The Posh Party,’ and ‘Weekly with Mrs Tims.’

It is no doubt that he has scrubbed his own soul clean when you read ‘Visits,’ and ‘Davids Room,’ but for sheer angst ‘Betty Drew,’ will be hard to beat but perhaps the earlier innocence of ‘Frogs,’ may compete with the final story ‘Leaving,’ to leave us with a true reflection on working class life during this period.

Paul’s book is available now on Amazon.

If you would like to know more about Paul and his work, you can follow his writing adventures on Facebook or Twitter.

A Conversation with Author Virginia Heath

 

Today in the Library we have ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Virginia Heath, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into their life as an author.

You are very welcome, Virginia, please introduce yourself:

I was born just outside of London and still live on the outskirts of the city. I am married to a wonderful man and have a daughter and a son, both in their late teens. For the last decade I have been teaching history to teenagers in a British secondary school. I loved teaching, but in the back of my mind I had always wanted to be a writer. When I hit the age of 46, I realised that if I didn’t do it soon then I probably would never do it at all. So I quit full-time teaching at the start of 2014 and worked part-time. On my days off I wrote. Then finally, last summer I gave up teaching for good and now only write.

Did you read much as a child? Are you an avid reader now? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

I have always been an avid reader. There is just something about reading a book that is so immersive and I they are the perfect way to de-stress. I read all manner of books, from serious non-fiction to crime, but romance has always been my favourite genre. I have only discovered the joy of historical romances in the last five years, which is ironic considering I now write them.

Are you self-published or traditionally published?

I am thrilled to be published by Harlequin Mills & Boon. I have read hundreds of their books over the years and never imagined that I would become one of their authors.

Which genre do you write in and why?

My background as a historian lends itself perfectly to historical romances. At the moment I am writing Regencies. It is such a fascinating time period and a time of great technological and scientific change. However, the great divide that existed between the rich and the poor created huge political tensions which are rarely mentioned in Regency romances. Of course, there is also the turbulent wars between England and Napoleon as well as the continued animosity between the British and the former American colonies. It provides such a wealth of things to write about that I am spoiled for choice. However, I am not ready to pigeon-hole myself as solely a Regency author. I want to write in other time periods too and have a few ideas for something contemporary, perhaps involving a teacher…

Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?

It’s hard to narrow it down to one particular person, but I suppose the legendary Nora Roberts has to be up there. I love her romantic suspense stories in particular but almost everything she writes is brilliant. Having said that, I also love Dickens. He has a really funny way with words once you get into the language. And, of course, I love Jane Austen. Mr Darcy is the perfect hero. Flawed but honourable. I also adore Julia Quinn, Julie Anne long, Sarah Maclean and Tessa Dare. I like the modern, witty twist they put on regency romances and their books have definitely influenced my own writing.

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

I have always lived such a short distance away from London, therefore I feel comfortable writing about it. I love to travel though, and would really like to write some books set in America or the Caribbean during the early 19th century.

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

For me, it is the isolation. I am used to spending my days with a thousand kids in a school and all of the hullaballoo that goes along with it. Don’t get me wrong- I love the quiet and the lack of stress now but there are times when I just want to be around other humans! Fortunately, I have some good friends who I can lunch with or I visit my daughter at university. Weekends, I rarely write. I go off and have adventures with other human beings instead.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

Definitely the mornings. I am at my most productive between the hours of eight and noon. After that, the words do not flow quite as quickly. Writing after seven is forbidden- if I do, my brain will not shut down and I spend the night awake thinking about what to write next.

What is the best thing about being an author? And the flipside – what is the worst?

The best thing about being an author is being paid to be creative. I sit and think, plot and write about whatever I want to. How cool is that? The worst thing is the self-doubt that walks alongside all creativity. I will have a minor crisis of confidence every week and one major one about one third into every book! During that time, I convince myself that I cannot write, my words are rubbish and I will have to give it all up and get a proper job again.

Is social media an essential chore or something you enjoy? Which forum do you prefer?

Perhaps it will change, but it is definitely a chore and becomes a bigger one every day. I prefer Facebook to Twitter because it is less advertising, yet I believe that Twitter is probably the more useful of the two. I have just made my own website www.virginiaheathromance.com and I really love that because it is more me than the other platforms. I have made sure that people can contact me via a link, which is far more personal than the public forums and I can respond in kind.

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

Probably still teaching and dreaming about writing a book someday during the never-ending round of afterschool meetings.

It’s the last day and the earth is facing oblivion – what book would you read?

If oblivion is nigh, then I think I would want to spend my final hours laughing, so I would choose The Moon’s a Balloon by David Niven. It is a hugely entertaining and hilarious autobiography which follows him from childhood to Hollywood.

Please tell us about your latest published work. 

My debut novel, That Despicable Rogue, was released this month. It is about Lady Hannah Steers’ mission of revenge against a handsome, charming scoundrel, who has taken everything from her, including her beloved childhood home Barchester Hall. The loss of that house caused her brother to shoot himself and doomed Hannah to be exiled in the north, away from society.

In order to expose him, Hannah dons a disguise and applies for the position of Ross Jameson’s housekeeper and goes to live with him back in the house that she loves. Except, once she is working for him, all of her well-laid plans go pear-shaped.

That Despicable Rogue is available in paperback or kindle, and is available on Amazon and other booksellers, or directly from the Harlequin Mills & Boon website.

There is a taster chapter on my website www.virginiaheathromance.com so that you can try before your buy. There you will also find details of my second book, Her Enemy at the Altar, which follows in August and is also available for pre-order Amazon

If you would like to know more about Virginia and her work please check out the links below:

Twitter     Facebook

 

A Conversation with Author Frances Macken

This evening in the Library we have Frances Macken, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author.

You are very welcome, Frances, please introduce yourself:

I grew up in Claremorris, Co. Mayo. I completed a BA in Film and Television Production at the National Film School, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology in the mid-noughties. I have since worked in the advertising, PR and non-profit sectors and I’m working in a marketing role at a non-fiction publishing company at the moment. I’ve written several short stories and been shortlisted in national short story competitions run by RTÉ and Penguin Ireland. My ambition is to write eight fiction novels and I am reading for a Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford at the current time. I have published a novella, a paranormal thriller entitled The Diary of Natalya Zlota, available on Amazon. My writing is creepy, humorous and experimental and can be likened to the ‘magical realism’ genre.

Did you read much as a child? Are you an avid reader now? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

It was evident from very early on that I was going to be a book person. Once I’d “unlocked the code” I read anything I could get my hands on. I enjoyed Roald Dahl, Enid Blyton, and all of those other delightful authors. Their books were very imaginative and adventure-fuelled. I was reading Stephen King from a very early age, too. I read Salem’s Lot when I was 12. I read lots of Arthur C. Clarke books and got hooked on the unexplained. I discovered Adrian Mole around that time and that was another milestone in my reading life.

I would say that I am a very avid reader now. I probably read a book per week, and that does not include my reading list for my Masters course. My reading has increased considerably since commencing a Masters in Creative Writing at Oxford University. There are about 140 books on the reading list and the course is over 2 years. I’ve been forced to leave my comfort zone and read much more difficult works, by authors who set out to do something that contrasts forcefully with what their contemporaries were/are doing. There is also reading to be done to prepare for critical assignments on fiction, non-narrative fiction, poetry, drama, and so on.

I really don’t think I have gone a day without reading anything in my adult life. I read to escape, to feel excitement and exhilaration. I love a good mystery, whether real or factual. I will read mostly anything as long as it is not too upsetting or gruesome. I don’t like to read about cruelty and violence, though a good murder mystery is most enjoyable. Stories must be juicy page-turners, but not your typical airport novel. I also listen to audiobooks on my commute.

In recent years, I have started reading Patricia Highsmith’s books and I would say that her novels are most satisfying in terms of their plotting and characterisation, e.g., The Talented Mr. Ripley. I am a big fan of Donna Tartt and I thought The Secret History was truly breathtaking. Lionel Shriver is another author who I really consider to be magnificent. I don’t seek out female authors specifically but Highsmith, Tartt and Shriver are really the types of writer that I would love to be categorised alongside. Now there’s ambition. Other writers I like include Jeanette Winterson, Augusten Burroughs, Wally Lamb, Graeme Simsion, Paul Murray, Dave Eggers, Jeffrey Eugenides, John Steinbeck, Daphne du Maurier, Hilary Mantel, Martin Amis, John Fowles, and Aleksander Hemon.

Which genre do you write in and why?

Flights of fantasy have always been important to me and so I lean towards magical realism, where extraordinary, unlikely things happen in very ordinary settings. I like to think that people can be surprised by serendipitous or baffling events just when they least expect it. I also like to introduce ethereal, metaphysical matters into my writing wherever I can. Life is very dull without mystery and curiosity.

Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?

I would say that my parents have been a huge influence on my writing. They didn’t censor my reading whatsoever and I think that has been a huge help.

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

I don’t believe that I have ever written in an attempt to capture the culture, people or events of Ireland. In a way, I write to escape Ireland! My stories are not specific to Ireland or Irish people. My characters are without nationality for the most part. And the events that take place are not connected to Ireland. Perhaps that will all change in time. For now I just want to relish in the new, and to innovate, because I think that’s important.

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

I find that I am sometimes guilty of writing a plot that turns into a knot. It is troublesome in the editing phase. This occurs because I don’t like to start with a plan for the narrative arc. I start with an image or a concept, or a persona, or a “What if?” situation. I also prefer to write in scenes and that’s why short stories bubble out of me so quickly and just slap themselves onto the page. Plot takes patience, and I don’t have a great deal of that.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

For some reason, I am not really an afternoon writer. I am not very imaginative during this time. Mornings or evenings are very good. There is an excitement and clarity in the morning time. Every new day brings a new version of myself and a new train of thought. This means I can’t always pick up where I left off the day before but I don’t think this is a problem per se. I am more reflective and nostalgic in the evening time. The ideas are simpler and softer.

What is the best thing about being an author? And the flipside – what is the worst?

The best thing about being an author is the exhilaration you feel as a good story flows through you, and you can barely keep up with it as you attempt to get it on paper. I always try to write something new – a story that has never been written – by anyone. That is totally left of field, free of tropes. When I feel I have achieved that, it’s an exceptional experience.

I have always found writing to be great, free fun. I wrote my memoirs when I was 12, the year I got a typewriter for Christmas. Just one copy of “The Life & Times of Frances Macken” remains in the present day. I also founded a magazine in primary school, which involved lengthy Baywatch episode reviews. I somehow recruited my friends to redraw/rewrite the magazine so that we could increase our circulation throughout the class.

The worst thing about being an author is the constant self-badgering: Why haven’t I written in two days? What do I expect, that it’s just going to write itself? I would also mention that I am an under-writer. I think it’s because I have done some journalism courses and you are very much persuaded to Cut. Out. All. Unnecessary. Words. And so I have gotten into the habit of writing sparingly, which is a bit of a pain when you are trying to write a book.

Is social media an essential chore or something you enjoy? Which forum do you prefer?

I do feel it is a bit of a chore but I also want to share my work. I don’t overdo it though, there’s only so much that people can handle. Sometimes it’s fun, but you have to offer something in return. You can’t just keep bleating at people all the live long day. It also works more effectively if it is reciprocal. I make a point of letting people know that I like what they are writing. That person could be just about to stop writing altogether, or could be feeling deflated and unmotivated. It is important to give credit where it is due.

I think Facebook has the best potential for writers but you must have an engaging technique. It’s easy to become insufferable.

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

I can’t help but give people advice, whether they want it or not.

“Do you know what you’ll do now…”  I could probably turn that into a career!

It’s the last day and the earth is facing oblivion – what book would you read?

I would read my memoirs, “The Life and Times of Frances Macken” that I wrote when I was 12, for one last chuckle.

Please tell us about your latest published work.

I have published a very scary novella called The Diary of Natalya Zlota, now available on Amazon. It’s a paranormal, psychological thriller about a missing person who leaves their diary behind. It costs £1.99 or $2.95, so pick it up now for less than the price of a semi-fancy soap.

 

 

If you would like to know more about Frances please check out her links below:

Facebook      Website 

The Brand of ‘ME’

I have been thinking about branding a lot lately. This whole marketing palaver is getting to me, I guess. It’s a weird concept that you have to get your head around if you are an artist or a writer, I suppose. I haven’t taken it that seriously up to now and I think I should.

What do people think/say/do when they come into contact with my brand, Pam Lecky? And that is hard to answer. Harder still – how do I manage their perceptions?

Like me, most authors just want to write. It’s a 3 am compulsion that you can’t escape and don’t want to. But as soon as you hit publish in KDP or CreateSpace if you’re an indie like me,  or sign that lovely first book deal, your brand is up and running and you need to take control of it.

Us writers tend to be an introverted lot; some are shy, some are talkers (envy those ones!) and some don’t want to engage at all. But here is the reality – your brand and how you market it, is the difference between subsidised writing and writing full time. My dream is to be a full time writer so I need to get my act together.

So what does that mean for you and me (that’s assuming you’re still reading this and haven’t wondered off to watch dogs rollerskating on YouTube)?

Here’s my penny’s worth:

What is your Brand Interface:

Book cover
Author profiles on Amazon, Goodreads, etc.
Social Media Interactions (the whole shebang)
Interaction with the publishing world and your peer writers in your genre
The advertising you use

All of the above influences how the ‘public’ perceive you.

How do I manage all of this while staying sane?

Don’t skimp on the stuff you can’t do, i.e., professional editing, book cover design, website design if wordpress defeats you, and if you don’t know one end of MS Word (or whatever you use) from the other – get someone to format your books for upload. Dodgy formatting and books riddled with typos are extremely irritating to read and fatal for your ‘brand’.
Be courteous and do I really have to say it – be nice!
Engage with people about the things that interest you and don’t just promote your writing all the time
Be professional in all your interactions
Have a coherent marketing plan – use identifiable themes in all your work. Simple things like images are very powerful. Even down to using the same photo of yourself across all of you social media platforms.
I could go on and say use professional marketing/pr companies, but my own experience of these so far hasn’t impressed me very much. The jury is out on this one.

These are just my musings and in no way constitute a complete list. Like most of you, I’m learning as I go along. If this blog post makes you stop and think about the concept of you as a brand, I’ve achieved something today.

Would love to know your thoughts, folks – don’t be shy

If some or all of the above isn’t for you then start hoping the marketing fairies will visit you soon. Now get back to the rollerskating dogs!

 

A Conversation with Author Debbie Rix

Today in the Library we have ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Debbie Rix, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author.

You are very welcome to the library, Debbie, please introduce yourself:

I’m a writer of historical fiction. My first book – ‘The Girl with Emerald Eyes’ – was published in March 2015. My second novel, set in fifteenth century Venice and the Low Countries, is called ‘Daughters of the Silk Road’ and came out this April. I’m married and have two kids, and we live in the country with cats and lots of chickens. I began my career at the BBC where I worked as a researcher before becoming the newsreader on BBC’s Breakfast Time. I then presented a variety of programmes including ‘Game for a Laugh’ and ‘FAX’ as well as numerous series on interior design. After my children were born, I worked behind the scenes producing big events for companies around the world. I also wrote a gardening column for a few years and was an Agony Aunt, which I loved. For the last thirteen years I have concentrated on producing events that raise money and the profile of UK charities, alongside writing fiction.

Did you read much as a child? Are you an avid reader now? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

I really got into reading with ‘The Lion, The Witch and Wardrobe’ by C.S.Lewis. I quickly devoured the rest of the series. I adored the fantastic, otherworldy nature of the stories that was so at odds from my otherwise safe and secure suburban childhood. At eleven or twelve, I discovered ‘My family and Other animals’ by Gerald Durrell. I adored that book and re- read it constantly. I found their exotic existence living in a variety of beautiful villas in Corfu so seductive. The ‘children’ were all remarkable in their own way too – anarchic and complex. But oddly, the character that I most admired was the mother, who appeared completely unflappable in the face of all the adversity life, and her children, could throw at her.  She coped with their friends and relations, their broken hearts and bizarre habits in the most extraordinarily stoical way, all the while cooking up vast banquets for the seeminlgy endless series of guests who came to stay in their houses. I hoped fervently that I would be as good a mother as her.  As a teenager, I loved science fiction, but was pretty ominivorous in my tastes. I read the classics of course, and then quickly moved onto the contemporary classics – Edna O’Brien, Collette, Iris Murdoch, Graham Green. Oddly enough I am not an especial fan of historical fiction, even thought that is my current genre. I just like a really good story, well told. I enjoyed Robert Harris’s ‘An Officer and a Spy’ – a thrilling tale, exploring the facts around the Dreyfus Affair. I read a great deal for research purposes, but usually have a ‘relaxation’ book on the go. I read most voraciously on holiday. My idea of heaven is to be left alone to read and can usually get through a book in a day or two. I am pretty egalitarian in my tastes – I like funny books, thrillers, contemporary fiction.

Are you self-published or traditionally published?

I am published by Bookouture, who are relatively new on the scene and publish in ebook format or print on demand. They have grown rapidly in the last three years and now have over 30 authors in their stable, writing across a range of genres.

Which genre do you write in and why?

I write in the historical genre. I didn’t deliberately set out to be a writer of historical fiction, but I became fascinated by the untold story of a woman who had been overlooked by history. Her name was Berta di  Bernardo, and she left the money for the Tower of Pisa to be built.  She lived in the 12th century, so I spent a lot of time researching the period, uncovering what I could of her life, meeting the Professor of Medieval History at Pisa University and so on.  I discovered that I loved writing about the past – especially if it involves real people; I think it’s the journalist in me. I enjoy the discipline of setting a fictional tale within the bounds of reality and historical accuracy. It gives you a structure and often provides far more fascinating characters than you could ever make up. It’s a cliché I know but fact is so often more interesting that fiction!

Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?

In terms of other authors, I would have to say Olivia Manning. I read her wonderful Balkan Trilogy and Levant Trilogy (known collectively as The Fortunes Of War) many years before I began to write professionally; but I loved the way she was able to juxtapose an evocative and emotional human story with a grand sweeping narrative that took the reader on a journey through a fascinating period in the history. The other major influence is my own journalistic background, which has given me the desire and training to research a subject thoroughly. I also now realise that I have an interest in writing about  real people that have been previously overlooked. My first novel was about a woman who history overlooked. My new novel also features a family who no one has ever heard of, in spite of the fact that the father was one of the first people to travel to China, and who wrote a fascinating diary about his experiences

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

I was brought up on the outskirts of Kent and London, near to David Bowie! I went to school in Dulwich, in south London and worked at the BBC as a young woman. As such my upbringing was pretty unremarkable.  The only slightly unusual thing – at least in those days – was that my mother was an architect, alongside my father. Having two professional parents certainly gave me a perspective that was different from many of my friends and contemporaries.

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

The most challenging part is getting the story clear in my mind before I actually start to write. The initial idea comes quite quickly sometimes, but then, especially with historical fiction, you need to ensure that the story stacks up, is accurate, makes sense and so on. There is always the fear that you will uncover a piece of evidence that makes the story fall apart. I suppose that comes from my journalistic background. The only way to overcome it, is to do it… to research and read and make notes.  Then to start to write and hope the story begins to unfold in the framework of reality that you have created.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

I work best between 9 and 1 pm. I have a bit of a dip after lunch but can usually work through it. I pick up again between 3 and 6. If I am really under pressure, I can work early in the morning, a habit I learnt when I had to get up at 3.30 to read the early morning news!

What is the best thing about being an author? And the flipside – what is the worst?

The best thing for me is simply knowing that I am finally published. I have wanted to write for so long, and have one or two unpublished novels in the backs of cupboards! But to finally find a publisher and see your book printed; to read the reviews of people who seem to have enjoyed it is a huge pleasure. Conversely the worse part is the dread that you will never again find a good story to tell!

Is social media an essential chore or something you enjoy? Which forum do you prefer?

I have to confess that I am not a huge social media fan. It does not come naturally to me – I suspect because I was not brought up with it. But I am learning. I was initially completely baffled by twitter, but I am beginning to see that it can be a useful marketing tool. I find Facebook tricky too. I think there is a problematic disconnect between your own facebook page – where you might display pictures of your children and holidays – with your professional profile. This is something that is not easily resolved, except to keep Facebook purely as a professional tool to connect with other writers, bloggers and readers. As such I think it can be very valuable. But I’ve got a lot to learn. I’m on instagram too, but have to confess that I never use it; I’m doubtful as to its value for a writer… but that might change.

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

I still work as a producer of events for charities. I love doing it and am pleased that my work helps to raise much needed funds. As a young woman, just arrived at the BBC, I remember thinking that it was a shame that I could only have one career! I was under the impression that having got a proper job, I would be at that organisation for life. Of course it didn’t work out like that and I have so far managed five careers, six if you include being a mother. Who knows, maybe there will be time for a seventh! But ultimately, I would love just to be able to spend each day writing.

It’s the last day and the earth is facing oblivion – what book would you read?

What a difficult question.  I think I would need to read something that gave me a sense of joy, so I’d choose something funny. I read David Lodge’s book ‘Therapy’ this summer and it made me scream with laughter. If not that then perhaps Evelyn Waugh’s ‘Scoop’, or Nancy Mitford’s ‘Don’t’ Tell Alfred’ – that’s very funny too. Maybe I’d just read ‘My Family and Other Animals’ again..

Debbie, please tell us about your latest published work. 

My latest novel, Daughters of the Silk Road, was published in April 2016 by Bookouture.  It is a time slip novel – set in the present day and the past.  The modern story begins with Miranda, a young mother who is struggling financially after her divorce. She inherits an old ‘dragon’ vase from an aunt, which sits unloved on her hall table. Not understanding its true value, it becomes a receptacle for unpaid bills and the house keys. The historical element begins with the real life explorer and traveller Niccolo dei Conti who returned to Venice in 1444 after twenty five-years travelling in the Middle and Far East, bringing with him his daughter and son – Maria and Daniele. His experiences were recorded on his return to Italy in a remarkable diary, a copy of which I was privileged to read in the British Library. In my story, Niccolo brings with him a Ming vase – a gift for the Doge of Venice from the Emperor of China. The vase, decorated with a dragon, is imbued with mysterious powers to protect its owner. The novel follows the fictional fortunes of his two children Maria and Daniele and their descendants and spans over two hundred years of history as the family move from Venice to Bruges, then on to Antwerp and Amsterdam.  The thread that brings the two stories together is the vase – which is passed down through the generations. There are various themes in the book: I am interested in how much of an influence Chinese porcelain had on the European porcelain and pottery industry.  I also describe, briefly, the extraordinary process in the making of a piece of porcelain – an exhaustive process. Family ancestry is another important theme; in particular what we inherit from our ancestors. Not all of us are lucky enough to inherit a valuable vase, but we do inherit characteristics of resilience and strength.   Ultimately the novel is about luck and good fortune. Will Miranda ever discover the vase’s true value, or will her new boyfriend Charlie steal it before she has a chance?

Available on Amazon: Daughters of the Silk Road     The Girl with Emerald Eyes

If you would like to know more about Debbie and her work please check out the links below: 

Twitter     Facebook    Website

 

 

A Conversation with Author Ellie Grey

Today in the Library we have ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Ellie Gray, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into their life as an author.

You are very welcome, Ellie, please introduce yourself:

I’m 45 years old and live in East Yorkshire with my partner, David, two children and various pets. I currently work full time in local government but would love to be able to give up the day job and write full-time.

Did you read much as a child? Are you an avid reader now? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

I’ve always been an avid reader and my favourite Christmas and birthday presents as a child were books. I still enjoy reading and try to read as much as I can, but sometimes it’s a struggle to fit everything in. I have an eclectic taste in genres, reading everything from non-fiction books about Ancient Egypt (about which I have something of an obsession), biographies, horror, crime, fantasy, literary and, of course, contemporary romance.

Are you self-published or traditionally published?

I’m fortunate to be published by the rather fantastic Tirgearr Publishers.

Which genre do you write in and why?

I write contemporary romance, erring on the sweet side. I love writing about the emotional conflict between two characters, exploring what makes them tick but always with the certain knowledge that we’re going to get a happy ending.  We don’t always get that in real life so I think it is nice to escape into a world where the happy ever after is assured.

Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?

I’m not sure, really.  As I said, I read a lot when I was younger and, as I progressed into my teens I read a lot of romance novels, including Mills & Boon, Jilly Cooper, Barbara Taylor Bradford and Barbara Erskine.

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

Not particularly, I don’t think. Although I do tend to set my novels in Yorkshire, where I live.

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

When I get an idea for my next book, or the character suddenly appears in my head, and trying to build a full-length, interesting novel around that idea or character. Sometimes, it can take a while for the full story to appear and to make sure that everything that happens to the characters happens for a reason and works to drive the story forward.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

I’m not a morning person, in any sense of the word! And, as I work full-time, I try to keep weekday evenings free to spend time with my family which means I tend to write mostly on a weekend – usually late morning and into the afternoon.  When I’m pushed and working on edits, etc., I write in the early evenings as well.

What is the best thing about being an author? And the flipside – what is the worst?

The best thing about being an author is having someone read your work and really enjoy it, and having readers really connect with your characters – who are very real to authors. The worst thing, for me, is trying to fit in writing, which I love, around the normal everyday life and feeling guilty that I may not be spending enough time with my family. They are very understanding though!

Is social media an essential chore or something you enjoy? Which forum do you prefer?

I enjoy social media – both for personal and my professional writing use. It helps to keep me connected with friends who have moved away, re-connect with friends I haven’t spoken to for years because they’ve moved to another country, etc. I’ve also met some wonderful and supportive people who are also writers through social media – it’s such a wonderful community. I mostly use Facebook and Twitter but also enjoy building boards on Pinterest and have tried to get to grips with Instagram.

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

Well, the day job is in local government but if I could have any job I wanted, other than an author, I would love to be an archaeologist.

It’s the last day and the earth is facing oblivion – what book would you read?

Gosh, that’s a tough one.  I think I would read ‘Still Life with Crows’ by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child – my favourite of their Agent Pendergast series.

Please tell us about your latest published work.

My debut novel ‘Beauty and the Recluse’ was released on 12th February 2016 by Tirgearr Publishing. It’s a contemporary, feel-good romance and I really hope people enjoy the book.

Following the recent death of her father, and in need of both a job and somewhere to live, Kiya takes a housekeeping job on the spur of the moment. She soon finds herself living in a beautiful but neglected mansion, working for a strange and reclusive man.

St. John is a man scarred by the past, both physically and emotionally, and is determined to live out his life alone. They are two very different people, drawn to each other almost against their will, but can Kiya convince St. John that he is not the monster he believes himself to be?

If you would like to know more about Ellie and her work check out the links below:

http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Gray_Ellie

http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Gray_Ellie/beauty-and-the-recluse.htm

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

 

Kerry Book Adventure: The Final Day

I’m back in Dublin and feeling a wee bit glum because my Kerry book adventure had to end. I had anticipated that this venture would be fun (and informative – book-wise – of course!). And it was. Finer detail on some of my locations has now been sorted, photographic evidence in the bag and the sense of place, that you can only achieve by visiting a location, gained.

With only a few hours to spend on location this morning, we concentrated on two local beauty spots that my heroine, as a landscape artist, would probably visit.

The first was Kinnard beach with its famous sea stack (remember those from geography – or were you asleep?) Would be quite a sight on a stormy day.

We headed back towards Annascaul and followed a side road down to the sea to Minard Point. What remains of Minard Castle stands proud but sad. The elements and Oliver Cromwell have taken their toll and the ruin is in pretty bad shape. Mr. Cromwell laid explosives at the four corners but failed to bring it down. However, I understand that the inhabitants did not get away so lightly!

Then it was time to head for home but with some wonderful memories. With only 23,000 words of this book written I must get down to some serious work this week. Thanks for coming along on the journey and I hope I have ignited some interest in the Dingle Peninsula and you will visit yourself some day.

I will leave you with some more photos from the trip. Enjoy!

Click to view slideshow.