E. Rachael Hardcastle's Blog, page 25

The Author Interviews: Round 4: #3: E. Rachael Hardcastle

If this interview were an episode of Friends, it would be 'the one where I interview myself'. It occurred to me earlier today that after three rounds of interviews, I haven't yet answered these questions myself! So, here goes...- download my free book here.Who is your favourite author? Why?My favourite author is Mitch Albom. His books are beautiful and meaningful and magical. I always feel like I want to be a better human being after finishing one. I want to share the messages and lessons within them.Where do you get your ideas?My ideas come from our future. This is based upon the actions humanity takes today. I read the signs and possibilities and interpret an outcome. I look at a timeline and expand alternate realities, asking 'what if?' then write a story. That's why my work always explores a possible 'end of the world' scenario (Aeon Infinitum) or a spiritual resolution to our planet's problems (Finding Pandora).Why do you write?Let's get real. I write because it's what I'm good at but I write to prove my worth, too. It's self-therapy and always will be, but not in the way a journal entry is. I'm an introvert, so in school I wasn't 'popular' or overly present in social groups. I was fairly quiet and kept to myself. I didn't date often, and I lived in books, in studying and in a small group of friends.It was obvious I wouldn't be famous through acting, singing or anything that involved being the centre of attention, so I chose to write. I figured I'd get popular in a sense that way. and I could live an extrovert's life through my protagonist whilst at the same time feeling like a 'somebody' every time I saw my book in another's hands.It's a sad explanation, but I also write because I enjoy the creative process and telling stories. I like entertaining people the way I have always been entertained, and it's my way to live forever. I get to pass messages and lessons on to others even after I no longer exist - how cool is that? Not bad for an introvert, huh?How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?Like most others I expect. Not well, at least not at first. I'm upset when I see a negative review or a criticism. I've had my fair share of rejections and unfair comments.I once had my 50,000 word fantasy book rejected by a publisher because they 'didn't read poetry'. I laughed and threw it in the bin, so obviously if the publisher had paid no attention, I wasn't going to either.Shortly after being told I was incapable of perfecting my own manuscript, I decided the traditional route (at that time in my life) just wasn't ideal. I had a lot to learn and a lot to prove. I wanted to get as near as damn it to perfection alone. When an error is pointed out even now, I go back and fix it. I am always striving to improve and I think the fair and honest reviews, delivered in the correct way, mean the most and can make the biggest difference.What do you find difficult about writing?Getting my readers to click 'buy' or 'download'. In other words, marketing. When you're an unknown author or a new author, it's difficult to get readers to trust you and your work. That's why I offer a free book first - I want to invite people to meet me and my books with no risk. If you don't like what you see, nobody loses on either side. My book is out there and the reader got a free book. Win win! If they enjoy it then it's proof I've done my job. They were kind enough to take the chance and trust me, I delivered, and the relationship begins strong.Do you ever outsource (editing and cover design) your work?At the moment, no. I take pride in each of my books being mine alone. It's my responsibility to write, edit, design etc and improve with each novel. I respect other authors who outsource - they accept their weaknesses are other peoples' strengths and working together produces a better product. I am sure there will be instances in future when this route makes sense for me, too. At the moment, I'd like to learn as much of everything as I can and to do that, I have to put it into practice.What is your opinion on the indie vs traditional publishing argument?A touchy subject, I'm sure. Both sides have benefits, but both can be stressful, too. I've been offered contracts and had an agent and I enjoyed the thrill but I hated the wait and the constant feeling of being in a job interview. Am I good enough? Do I have what they want? How do I compare to others? Will they ever reply? I didn't like the sense of being measured all the time. It made me feel small and insignificant. Small fish, big pond... that kind of insignificant. I existed, but as a ghost.Indie publishing is different. It's just as stressful and just as much work (if not more as I'm in charge of things I wouldn't normally be involved in). There is still a feeling of being invisible because that spotlight is still searching for me, but I feel like I hold more control over it. I can choose to stand on a podium and wave my arms - social media, promotions, freebies, appearances, blogging, vlogging... all of this is within reach and can happen now. I'm in the driver's seat. I hold the road map. I love the responsibility and being able to track my progress because i'm a control freak!That doesn't mean to say that if I got offered a traditional publishing contract in future that I'd turn it down. I think it depends on the book and what I think would be best for it. I'd like to call myself a hybrid at some point, but I'm in no rush.I know some feel indie is the 'get out of jail free' for people who can't get published. I would argue it's another means for them to be seen and recognised. It's a difficult job and yes, there are no gatekeepers to filter poor quality (so I agree to some extent there are self-published books out there that let the side down), but at the same time, there are some amazing books and very successful ones, often who are picked up later down the line by traditional publishers because of their hard work. At the end of the day, our readers decide if the book is any good, not the way the book came to exist in the first place.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.The idea and development of the idea. The initial draft. A full and in-depth edit. Second pair of eyes. Second and third edit. Beta readers. A final edit. Beta readers. Any last minute changes. Cover design and formatting. Proof copy. Read through and make any changes. Publish.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Believe you can make it. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You can go from being an introvert, a dreamer, feeling invisible and unheard, to exploding with excitement and purpose. You can leave your signature on the world. Being a small fish in a big pond just isn't so scary anymore.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?Sometimes. I have read Mitch Albom's books repeatedly - I read two in particular every year (or I try to). I learn something new every time.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Are any of them more important to you than others?I look at: Cover / Title / Author / Price / Description/ Reviews. Description and cover mostly as this is what grabs me, then price. If I am stuck between books to buy, I'll see which has the most reviews if any. I do this because it's what I'd do in a Waterstones or a WHS. I'd pick up what looked and sounded good, then see if it's in my price range. If so, but there are lots I'd like to buy, I'll go for the one with the best reviews or recommendations first, but I may return later for the others.Do you have a favourite genre? Tell us more!Fantasy, post-apocalyptic and science fiction. I like the endless possibilities and creativity. Still, with a favourite author like Mitch Albom, it's obvious I read and enjoy other genres too.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?I try to leave a review for indie books because I know how important they are, but recently I will leave one for anything I enjoy, or books I think are helpful (even if they have some mistakes in). I feel reviews should be fair and honest but not harsh/ cruel. If there are negatives, they are always amongst positives, too.After downloading book one of a series for free or discounted on Amazon, do you ever go back and pay more for book two? If not, why?Yes I would. My problem is I have so much on my TBR pile that I want to explore them all, so very rarely finish a series unless it's really gripping. I like to jump from story to story and world to world, but I do often go back and read the book twos later.Do you ever visit an author's website? If so, what do you look at?Yes, sometimes. I like to see who the author is, what's due for release and to see how their website reflects my own and what we could learn from each other.If an author offered you a free book, would you sign up to their mailing list?Yes if it didn't come with an email every day too! I don't mind monthly updates, but I always unsubscribe quickly when I get more than one email a week. I don't see how anyone can have so much to tell you in such a short space of time. With a monthly newsletter, it's something for both sides to look forward to. I send my subscribers no more than three emails a month. One is usually a newsletter of some kind, the other a freebie and the third maybe something extra special that happens, an event or something.That's it for my Q & A today. Thanks for checking this out and I'll have more author interviews coming soon!

Treasure Hunt!

This weekend in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire, I've been hiding free bookmarks in various arcades and cafes for you to find! If you were lucky enough to find one, drop me a message and tell me where and when you grabbed yours! Oh, and don't forget to download your free e-book at www.erachaelhardcastle.com/free.Here are some pictures from the bookmark hunt today.Good Luck!Join me on social media:.

The Author Interviews, Round 4: #2: Jeff Lyons

A new round of author interviews needs new questions! AuthorJeff Lyonsstopped by.You are living in the world from your latest novel. Where are you? What is it like?Ninth century Europe. Life is hard, brutish, and short, especially if you are a woman. It is a world of opulence, excess, gluttony, starvation, disease, stink, and grinding poverty. If you can get into the clergy you have a chance for a reasonably safe life, but no guarantees.You are your most recent protagonist. Who are you? What is the first thing you do?I am Mae, a special ops operative who finds herself trapped in a room with four strangers and no way out. Every 13 minutes we’re being killed one by one and the first thing I do is avoid telling the group the truth about why I’m there. Things will not go well.Who is your favourite author? Why?My favourite author is actually a screenwriter: Billy Wilder. He does comedy or drama equally well, and is as deep and human and spiritual as any great novelist. He proves that screenwriting can be as rich and fulfilling as any novel and that screenwriting is not some “second cousin” to long-form prose.Where do you get your ideas?The same place Billy Wider got his ideas. I leave an empty milk bottle out on the stoop at night, and when I wake up in the morning an idea is sticking out of it. I don’t really get ideas—they get me. They just slap me upside the head when I least expect it. Some are crazy, hit me and then run off. Some just push me hard and stick around and have a conversation. A few become friends.Why do you write?Well, the romantic answer is, “Because, I have no choice; I must express myself or die.” But, the real reason is I have a talent for it and once you discover your talent you are morally obligated to exercise it. It’s a moral question for me; a question of personal character.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?HA! I’ve been working in Hollywood for thirty years as a screenwriter/ story consultant. Rejection is something you put in your coffee every day. I say, “Take it like a writer,” meaning get over it. Rejection is meaningless, for the most part. What I mean by that is that people say “no” for myriad reasons, seldom are any of those reason due to the actual writing. They have business agendas, and if your work doesn’t meet that agenda you get a “no.” It’s not personal, it business—kind of like with the mafia. Rarely, someone will reject my work and have a good note, in which case I can take it or not and then move on. People who say “no” and give me reasons why they said “no” are valuable because they help me fix unseen problems or improve a story that was not really ready for primetime. Bottom line for me, rejection is just a part of life and you can’t dwell. Reviews (especially Amazon reviews) are usually useless to read and carry no weight, other than the stars they give you, which are all people really look at anyway. I don’t read reviews, really. But, I do listen to criticism, as it can help me as a writer. So, I laugh at most reviews and rejection, but take real criticism seriously.What do you find difficult about writing?All of it. It’s all hard. It’s all like torture. Anyone who says it’s easy, they love it, it all comes so elegantly and naturally that there is no struggle or pain are liars. Writing is the literary equivalent of water boarding. Welcome to my world.Do you ever outsource (editing and cover design) your work?I outsource all line editing work, as I can’t spell or use punctuation. Developmental editing I do myself, as I’m a developmental editor. I also do the interior designs and typesetting (Indesign) of my books. But, I hire a designer for my covers. I do all the computer-related setup for marketing myself (Createspace, KDP Direct, Draft2Digital, etc.). I never outsource the actual writing. But, now that I think about it ... given my previous answer ... hmmmm.What is your opinion on the indie vs traditional publishing argument?I think the argument is over. As someone has already said, “The publishing problem has been solved.” There is no question in my mind that self-publishing is the way for all authors to go. For the first time in literary history a writer can find an audience, make some money, find satisfaction as an artist, and make their dream of being a published writer come true. This was not possible even five years ago, but it is not. The tools are there, the platforms are there for sales and marketing, and the audience is HUGE. But, I think writers have to be in both spaces: traditional and non-traditional. I am traditionally published with a major publishing company, and I self-publish. My traditional deals suck, but they give me certain advantages self-publishing doesn’t. Self-publishing gives me total control and 70% of the profits, but is a huge amount of work and responsibility. If you are not entrepreneurially inclined, then self-publishing is not the way to go. Go find an agent, write your books, and let other people do the work. You will get pennies on the dollar for your efforts writing, but you might get some books into the traditional pipeline—over time. But, if you want to really have a career, then self-publishing is a solid choice. Become an authorprenure, and don’t look back. You won’t become a millionaire like Hugh Howey or Amanda Hocking, but you can actually make a living, or pay the bills. I am, and I’ve only got a couple self-published novellas done (more on the way). There is no argument anymore; you have to do both: traditional and self-publish. And the great news is that you can actually make money doing what you love.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.Well, that would take a lot of pages. I refer you to my creative process, as I wrote it down in my book Anatomy of a Premise Line: How to Master Premise and Story Development for Writing Success (Focal Press). I’m serious, not just plugging my work. Premise development is where is all starts—and where it all fails. Almost all writers will fail at the premise level, way before they even begin to write pages. This is a huge problem, and one that I try to address in all my teaching at Stanford, UCLA, and at other schools where I teach story development classes, because development is not something that is taught in MFA programs, or even in film school for screenwriters. Now, I and one or two other people I know, are teaching these ideas in some major university extension programs, but “story development” is still not something most writers “get.” Most people just dive in and start writing their books. “Just do it,” because we’re taught that stories write themselves, characters write themselves, etc. These are lies, and writing memes that derail almost all writers in their writing process. Like I said, this is a huge problem and one that leads 90% of writers into the story woods, where they get lost, frustrated, and despairing. I teach people to separate the development function from the writing function. Storytelling and writing are two different things—they have nothing to do with one another. You don’t need a pencil or a pen, or a piece of paper any where hear a story to tell it. Stories can be mimed, painted, danced, spoken, etc., stories don’t need writers, but they do need storytellers. I’m all about the story function, not the writing function. I am a good writer, but I’m a great story guy. Story is the part most writers are weak with; that’s why I wrote Anatomy of a Premise Line. So, to answer your question, my writing process begins and ends with the development of my story premise BEFORE I write a single word of actual text. This is the alpha and the omega of any writing process, IMO.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Read my previous answer! Learn story structure. Learn story development. Maybe you are a good writer, but writing is not storytelling. Learn the basics of narrative design and classic story structure principles. If you don’t know what I’m talking about and you don’t know story structure from a steak sandwich, then get educated. There are lots of wise, experienced, and thoughtful teachers out there—there is also a lot of snake oil. My mantra: Listen to everyone, try everything, follow no one. You are your own guru. But, don’t give your power away to any writing gurus (even me, especially me!). But, learn your craft skills for story development, this will serve you better than “just going for it.”Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?No necessarily. I’ve read many books more than once, and some only once. The one-off reads have stayed with me just as strongly as the multiple-reads. I don’t think this is the measure of a good book.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Are any of them more important to you than others?Cover / Title / Author / Price / Description / Publisher / Sample Chapter / ReviewsI’m a consumer, so I get suckered into a good cover like anyone else. Covers are so critical, that’s why I spend so much money on my book covers. I look are the number of stars for reviews (never read reviews) and then I check out the sales standings in the categories list for the book. I’m drawn to books that have a higher position in category standings, as this usually means more people are reading them, but not necessarily. The algorithms are so complicated now you have no real measure for how well a book is really doing.Do you have a favourite genre? Tell us more!Favourite genres are fantasy, sci-fi. I grew up with monster magazines, Isaac Asimov, and comic books, so these genres are in my blood.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?Great question. Getting reviews is like pulling teeth—even from friends! So, if I see something I like I always leave a review. I go out of my way to leave reviews. So, it doesn’t take much to get me to leave a review, but writing a good book is a sure bet.After downloading book one of a series for free or discounted on Amazon, do you ever go back and pay more for book two? If not, why?Yes. I did that with Hugh Howe’s Wool series. I read the first book for free then went back for more and paid. It’s a good sales strategy.Do you ever visit an author's website? If so, what do you look at?Always. I’m always looking for better ways to design my own site. I look mostly for design and ease of navigation. Sites are getting very sophisticated now, so it’s hard to stand out.If an author offered you a free book, would you sign up to their mailing list?Not necessarily. I’m on so many lists now that I almost never give my name out. I’m just not that in love with any author to the point where I want to get their newsletters, etc. Sorry, but I just hate that stuff. I’m a big boy and I’ll keep track of your career and what you’re writing on my own. The only one I really follow that way is Hugh Howey, because he has such great insights into the publishing world and gives a lot of value-added. Most authors just fill your inbox with fluff and promotions.Many thanks to Jeff Lyons for this wonderful interview and we wish him all the best with his upcoming releases. To support the author, please consider downloading a copy of the book.

Testimonial for E. Rachael Hardcastle

Many thanks to Raghav Sharma, interviewed on my journal on 08/11/2016 for this kind testimonial."This was really fun! Giving this interview helped me in knowing myself as a reader and a writer better. Oh, the website is really nice. Good job with it . Thanks a lot for this opportunity!"

The Author Interviews: Round 4: #1: Raghav Sharma

Round Four of the Author Interviews kicks off with writer Raghav Sharma. Raghav has published a verse in Cactus Flower, BITS Pilani’s literary journal and can be contacted on Instagram @saysraghav.You can take only three items to your secret island. What would you take? Why?My laptop (for writing and music), the ASOIAF series, and my diaryYou are living in the world from your latest novel. Where are you? What is it like?It is just like any metropolitan city, except reality has been constructed. And lately, the grand design is crumbling and things are starting to get chaotic.You are your most recent protagonist. Who are you? What is the first thing you do?I am Arthur Glint, a detective. I have been fired for having possession of files I was never meant to see. I carry on with my search for truth even after being fired.Who is your favourite author? Why?George RR Martin for the world he has built, the diverse characters and character arcs he writes and the subtle thematic overlay in his entire manuscripts; Also, Marry Shelly for the way she weaved words together in Frankenstein.Where do you get your ideas?I just get an idea in the most unusual of places (usually places I can’t jot them down- like while I’m bathing or about to go to sleep; the brain is evil), and when I obsess over it, the entire world surrounding the idea unravels.Why do you write?There’s a story inside of me that wants to get out, that wants to appeal to people the way it does to me!How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I look for constructive bad reviews and criticism from my beta readers, friends and other people I look up to, and have learnt to take them well (and with a grain of salt, occasionally). Rejections sting and I still have to learn to deal with them. For now, I stuff myself every time I’m rejected.What do you find difficult about writing?There’s a perfect balance of conflict, detailing and progression that can make a story gripping and extremely hard to put down. I have read many such works, but feel I am yet to achieve something similar.Do you ever outsource (editing and cover design) your work?I haven’t been published yet, but once the novel I am working on is complete, I plan to self-edit it. I would outsource my cover design though.What is your opinion on the indie vs traditional publishing argument?I think indie publishing can be extremely exhaustive, but when the efforts are in the right direction, the fruits it bears are fresh as spring. For those who can deal with two dozen rejections without losing faith in themselves, traditional publishing can definitely work.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Never lose confidence, for that is the fuel you need. Nothing else – rejection, criticism, ridicule – can match the harm that self-doubt does to you. Always believe in yourself. Wear a t-shirt with that written on it.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?Absolutely! A book is essentially a world, an alternate reality you can submerge yourself in. I would want to dive into a good world more than once, I believe.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Are any of them more important to you than others?Priority order: Description, Reviews, Author, Price.Do you have a favourite genre? Tell us more!Fantasy is my favourite. It happens to be the best way to escape from the trivialities of day-today life.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?I generally review books on Facebook, since I am not very active on Goodreads. I review every book I buy off Amazon. Leaving reviews really help authors in growing their reach, and I insist everyone to do so!Do you ever visit an author's website? If so, what do you look at?I look at their FAQs for fellow writers, I look for lists of their publications, and for any news of their upcoming works.Thanks to Ragvan for this interview and all the best with your work.

The Author Interviews, Round 3, #15: R. A. Whitworth

The final interview in round 3 of my Author Interviews series is a great one.R. A. Whitworthstopped by to give an interesting insight into her writing life.Where do your ideas come from?From personal experience and how I feel about a place or subject. Sometimes going to a place and feeling its energy can be so inspirational. I love the arts, nature and history, it seeps into every crevice of my work, people living on the land, working together as a tribe, the colour and feel of fabric, the first brush of spring… (Here I go again!)Why do you write?To venture to places that can only be explored on the page. I’ve fallen in love with the Eárie and its characters, I feel the need to tell their story and to let my characters come to life and give them justice in telling the story of their journey. Writing to me is also an extension to my art and mostly they support each other I can paint scenes which could later become the Eárie and write with a visual que and mostly the reverse.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?The adventure and possibilities that fantasy offers! I can explore culture and creatures that other genres don’t generally allow, and integrate them into the world. It also presents different challenges, such as world building and the need to understand the character’s environment in more depth. It really is a more immersive genre.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?It’s hard, especially when you put your heart and soul into something you believe in to receive criticism and rejection. Criticism doesn’t always mean that what you’ve created is wrong or bad. I’ve found that it can mean you’ve created something great and getting criticism anyway puts you up there with other authors, everyone gets it! You write for yourself, if others love it as much as you do, that’s a bonus! I keep in mind that as long as you enjoy what you’re writing and believe in it enough then you’re already winning.What do you find difficult about writing?Day to day life! Fitting in the hours writing and carrying on with the everyday responsibilities of life whilst your characters still talk amongst themselves inside is difficult. I’ve had big book ideas whilst cleaning out a hippo pool (seriously!) Then there are times when they refuse to talk to you at all!Do you ever outsource your work?NoWhat is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?It’s a competitive industry either way! Indie publishing gives you more freedom with your work, you can truly write from the heart without pressure from an agent/publisher about what you should and shouldn’t write, but it can also be a costly business. Promotion is completely up to you and you have to organise it yourself, getting the book out there for readers to see is tough, especially as a debut author. But it is tough through traditional publishing as well; even though you have some support from those in the business but pressure as well it is also just as unpredictable.Talk us through the creative process from start to finish.It doesn’t always start with the idea, sometimes it can even start with an expression or feeling on something which matures when you bleed onto the page. After this, the idea starts to take form and you begin to discover more about what you’re writing about, either through your own research (which must be done thoroughly!) or through the depth in which you delve into the subject through your own philosophy. As you develop your ideas and sense of the writing topic drawings, notes and sometimes, (I’m guilty of this!) bits of twig, stone or shell which remind you of or hark back to the idea. You’ll become a hoarder of all things to do with your writing; it will spill out from your writing space and leak out onto the floor like water from the sink. It is then you truly begin to write.If you’re writing fiction, by the time you begin to write your novel, you will already feel immersed into its world and characters, and it/they should guide you as you are writing. Your notes will swell, old discarded drafts, throwaway doodles forgotten and seemingly meaningless stray jottings will appear. You may even find yourself beginning to live the story away from your writing. Then you begin to doubt, as it grows and develops you’ll read other’s work (which you should do anyway) and become critical of yourself. The trick here is not to learn to hate your work, you spend weeks, months, even years working on it, so it will, to you at least seem predictable, but you must remind yourself at this stage, that the reader will not see the book the same way, to them it will be fresh.After this stage, you will drive yourself to keep writing, and with the right belief in yourself and your work. You will enter the final stages and head to finish the writing. This can be the most eventful time of your writing, the pace speeds up as the novel heads towards its climax and close, and you yourself may develop the turmoil. You might want it to end, but yet fear it coming, but the need to keep writing, as strong as the need to breathe will drive you onwards. Then the homestretch comes, the climax is over and the end is nigh. As you write those final words the next stage looms. It is a happy time, and maybe the mood at the end will affect how you feel. But the satisfaction at completing it will be strong, then the hard part comes and you must then return to the beginning and read it as though with fresh eyes, pulling out mistakes and marking out plot holes, but it’ll be worth it as you see the novel together as one piece for the first time.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Read, live, write, learn and repeat. Before you sit to write, go for a walk, do something to get the blood pumping that’s always a great cure for writer’s block.Also never give up! Even in those darkest of times when all seems fruitless, keep going. You have the duty to yourself to finish what you’ve started. It’s all part of the adventure, your characters go through it hard in what you’ve written, that’s what makes it interesting and whatever you go through whilst writing and whilst getting it out there is all part of the big game of life. It’s all experience, and material for future writing. You have the story you want to tell and it’s up to you to make time to write it. Turn off the phone, lock yourself away if it helps or even go out and get into the environment of your writing and bleed away.If you could go back 12 months what advice would you give yourself?Don’t take negative feedback to heart. Use it as a positive and keep going. Keep believing in yourself, you never know what’s around the corner.Thanks again to R. A. Whitworth, and don't forget to offer your support by purchasing a copy of her book!

The Author Interviews, Round 3: #14: Tess Makovesky

Another round 3 interview welcomesTess Makovesky, author of Raise the Blade.Where do you get your ideas from?Quick answer - almost anywhere! Of course, it’s not as easy as that sounds, but the sources are almost endless. Conversations I overhear, newspaper reports (especially of quirky or unusual crimes), TV shows, song lyrics, all kinds of things that mingle and mesh inside the tangled mess of my brain and lead to sudden questions popping up. ‟Why would someone do that?” ‟What if this had happened instead?” ‟What consequences could that lead to?” And off my mind scurries, and suddenly I have an idea for a story.Why do you write?I once said that being a writer isn’t what I do, it’s what I am. However difficult and demoralising writing can be at times (and it can!) I don’t honestly think I could stop, or do something else entirely different instead. I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was five years old, so in many ways it’s my dream job. And in the end, I just love exploring ideas, creating characters and telling stories too much.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?My genre is quite unusual - a mixture of crime, noir, and psychological thriller, but with strong elements of dark humour thrown in. I’ve always been drawn to the dark and gritty side of life (at least in theory, rather less in practice!) - I enjoyed British TV crime shows like The Sweeney and The Professionals when I was growing up, and still love good quality crime dramas and movies. What I particularly like about writing in the genre is the space it gives me to work out peoples’ motives - why they choose to do what they do, what drives them. In my debut novella ‘Raise the Blade’, for instance, I examine whether people can contribute to their own downfall by the choices they make. Nobody deserves to be a serial killer’s victim, but are some people predisposed by their nature to make bad choices in life? It’s a subject I find endlessly fascinating.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?Better than I used to, but it’s still incredibly hard, for all authors, not just me. You put in days, weeks, months of hard work. You never really switch off. Your pour your very soul into your work. And then someone says something negative about it, and that can really hurt. Of course, if it’s constructive feedback then that can be useful - once I’ve picked myself up off the floor I start thinking how I can use it to improve my writing, and I’ve gained some extremely valuable insights that way. But it can still be hard to listen to, especially the first time round.What do you find difficult about writing?Sometimes it can be frustrating having an idea but not being able to choose the right words to get it down on paper. I’ll sit and gaze at the computer screen for hours, writing two words and deleting three, until something eventually clicks and I can get going properly.On a more practical level, I find it hard to write in noisy environments, or when there’s something unpleasant happening in my personal life - family illness, for example. I do need to be able to concentrate one hundred per cent, because when I’m writing a scene, I have to be there, with the people, in the same place, so I can recreate exactly what’s happening to them. That’s quite hard if someone’s drilling something or there’s a baby screaming down my ear!Do you ever outsource your work?As in ghost writing, you mean? No, I’ve never tried that. I have nothing against it, but I think I’m too much of a control freak. They’re my characters, dammit, and I want the final say on what happens to them.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?My own opinion is that all kinds of publishing are paths up the same mountain. Some have different benefits or challenges, and speaking personally I would never pay a company to publish my work, but what works for one writer doesn’t work for another so it’s good to have as wide a choice as possible.On a personal level I’m very happy with my publisher, Caffeine Nights, a small independent outfit based in the UK who specialise in crime and horror. They’ll take a punt on new authors and different styles (novellas like ‘Raise the Blade’, for example), they’re switched on when it comes to marketing, and they come up with a thoroughly professional product for their authors.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.I’m a bit of a ‘seat of the pants’ writer. I get an idea and start chewing on it, mentally, which can take hours, days, or even weeks. That leads to a more specific story arc, followed by a title, setting, the first few characters, a reasonable idea of the ending, and hopefully, a first line. Once I have those in place, I start writing. And then I go on writing until I’ve finished the book. Sounds easy? Well, er, no. In actual fact I quite often end up in a complete muddle and have to go back and add bits and sort other bits out. Sometimes it never does come together. When it does, it seems to work surprisingly well.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?All the usual stuff: go for it, believe in yourself, be realistic, don’t expect to be J K Rowling. But the most important, for me, is to know what you write, and understand who you’re writing it for. In other words, know your market. Who is going to read your work? Who is going to most want to buy it? Once you understand that, you can target your work so much better - at writers, markets, and the right publishers for your genre and style.If you could go back in time 12 months, what advice would you give yourself?Hmm, that’s a hard one! I think, for me, it would have to be to have more faith in myself, and in the fact that it will all come together and turn out for the best, even when things don’t seem to be going well. I’m a terrible worrier, and spend far too long scaring myself half to death with the thought that it will all have been for nothing. And then something nice happens, like getting my book published, and I’m surprised. But maybe I shouldn’t be!Thanks to Tess for this interesting interview. Please show your support by purchasing an ebook today.

The Author Interviews, Round 3, #13: Tim Heath pt.2

As promised here are the reading questions answered by authorTim Heath.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?Yes, I think that’s certainly true. I even wrote my first novel with that in mind––maybe a bit ambitious, I know––but Cherry Picking is meant to be totally different second time through. Is that really the case, I guess only readers can say?What do you look for when shopping for a Kindle Book? Your options are cover, title, author, price, description, publisher, sample chapter and reviews.I’ve usually landed there from something else––mainly a recommendation. Then, reviews help, and cover as well as the description. I’d say these three over even the price (within reason) because if all the first things have happened, I’m already interested enough to buy.Who is your favourite author and why?Growing up it was Jack Higgins––he wrote either WWII material, or now mainly British Security Service stuff, either facing local threats (the IRA as was) or more modern terrorist threats. I think the writing was suitable for my young mind. As an adult, I do enjoy John Grisham––you’ve got to recognise quality.Do you have a favourite genre? If so, tell us more.Thriller, mystery––surprisingly (not really, actually) it’s what I also write! I love things with depth. What I call 3D writing, in that you know there is something deeper going on, more than you are being shown so far.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?I shop for books––on the same lines as mentioned above. How they are published doesn’t really come into it. I wouldn’t not buy a book because it was indie.What would it take for you to leave a review or recommend a book to a friend?I always review––that’s because as an author, I know how hard it is to get reviews. Sadly, such a small percentage of people ever do review, even when they liked it. Nearly all people that don’t like something let the world know, which is why positive reviews are so important. I think it’s only my duty as a reader to leave a review––it’s kind of like a tip at a restaurant. I think in the same way tips are automatic, reviews should be for readers––and they don’t even cost you anything!After downloading book one of a series for free or cheap, do you ever return to paymore for the other book/s?Yes.Do you ever visit an author's website? If not why?If I have a link, I might well do so. I usually find a way to encourage or comment, be it their Goodreads or Facebook pages, or some other way.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?Some form of connection. I’m on a few mailing lists, actually.Do you enter giveaways or order signed copies?I haven’t ever done so, yet.Many thanks to Tim Heath for these additional interview questions! We wish him all the best with his work.

The Author Interviews, Round 3: #13: Tim Heath

If you missed myLIVE podcast with Tim Heath, you can check it out here, but I also managed to ask him some further questions about writing life. Here's what he had to say.Where do you get your ideas from?Ideas aren’t the problem! In the early days––certainly the game changer for me that took me from someone who liked to write, to becoming an author––it was an idea dropping fully formed into my head that changed everything. That was for Cherry Picking, my debut entry into the writing life. I got the title, premise, characters, start and finish. All there, in one go. The next few novels all came the same way as well, actually. I have plenty of workable ideas stored away as well, should I need them.It was only with my upcoming novels where I’ve maybe developed this a little. My fourth novel––The Shadow Man––came about as I was finishing the second novel, The Last Prophet. In those closing sections this character appeared, namely The Shadow Man, and I knew as I was writing it that this needed to be the title of the sequel. I went into that ‘place’ I go as a creative, and dragged out the storyline kicking and screaming. It much prefer it when they just drop out of the sky.My fifth, six and seventh books––all written in first draft form––came about through one idea (as described above) dropping in, but as I’ve delved into this ‘mine’ I’ve found a whole world to write from. So these have become a series––there’ll be plenty more to come before it’s done.Why do you write?Why does an athlete run? Why does an artist paint? I guess for me it’s the realisation that this is who I am, this is what my ‘talent’ is, and therefore I should use everything I have to make that talent grow, to put it to best use.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?I write––naturally, though I know some choose depending on saleability––what I love to read and watch. I love a plot that’s complex, but well thought out, that has depth and makes you guess and wonder. I love clever films. I want to write books that I’d love to enjoy reading or watching––and I do. I often marvel that these words even flowed through my fingers.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?Oh, that first one! I remember it well. It’d been from a free download (it still bothers me that someone getting something for FREE feels they have a responsibility to the world to let them all know they’ve found the worst ever book written) so that sucked. The man’s two other reviews were for historical train non-fiction books––a genuine comment on one had been something like “I loved this but wish there was more on the 07:30 Orient Express routes”––I’m not kidding! And here he was, reviewing a sci-fi/ thriller that he’d picked up for free, and surprise-surprise had not enjoyed.Now––I can’t say it doesn’t still bother me a little, I’m only human––do you know what I realised after that first bad review? I’d made it. I remember searching out my favourite books from the best selling authors. For me, one was The Runaway Jury by John Grisham. I loved it––it’s a brilliant book. And it had loads of one star reviews. If people could review a book I knew to be great that badly, it showed me a few things, one being that you’ll never please everyone, and another maybe being other factors are involved when someone reviews. I’m not saying they are true with mine––who am I?––but maybe jealousy or something else came into play with those Grisham haters.So now, I celebrate the fact my books have a wide range of reviews––far more five and four star reviews than bad––but it adds credibility to not only having top reviews.What do you find difficult about writing?It certainly used to be editing, especially before I’d started planning things better in relation to my yearly schedule and was therefore spending too much time editing than was healthy for me. Now I know editing is a part of the process, and I’ve developed a lot as a writer, that there are less things to change. Plus I have a great team that do a lot of that side of things. Having said that, I do have four books waiting to be edited––so maybe I’ll grow a new level of dread heading into these? I hope not.Do you ever out source your work?In terms of writing, no, never. It’s what I do. Why would any author really outsource that? It wouldn’t be your work.But I have a team of pro’s I use for other aspects––including my covers, as well as the grammar edits and structural, plus BETA readers, of course.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?I’ll just say this. When someone starts their own business they are often praised, especially over someone that just takes a job in a big multinational. The entrepreneur (see, they even get a special title) often gets exulted over the small cog in the big process.For some reason, that’s not the case in the writing world. Why, I don’t know. I think there is a bit of snobbery before––I know I entered it all with a fear of ‘vanity’ publishing. I think that now with the middle ground most indies operate in, that culture will soon be changed forever.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.Wow––that’s some question, but a great one at that. My writing year starts in December, in that I plan every day of the following year, in relation to my writing times. I have already then an idea as to what ideas I’m going to bring to print.First up is planning––I give two weeks, or about 4 or 5 days to do this. This involves me going to a cafe, with a bunch of paper and pens and literally mapping out my idea into something more. I’ll do any research that needs doing, have all character names listed, and finish with the first 30 to 40 scenes (I use Scrivener to write, so these get put on little index cards in that app when I’m done).Then it’s writing. The worst thing for a writer to face is having the time and space to write, and not know what they are needing to do. That’s what my planning phase cuts out.Because it’s planned, I know the day I have to be ready to start writing. I write in solid chunks––up until my last novel, where I grabbed an hour or so in the morning of days I wasn’t writing––I aim to focus on a month or so to write. This last year––way ahead of my schedule I set myself last December––I’ve actually finished 4 novels.Once a draft is finished, I print it off and leave it on the shelf to mellow––anything up to six months. I then move onto what I have next. In March, because I managed to finish my fifth novel in that month (I’d given myself two months to do it) I went straight onto the sequel.Summers I tend to take off––by mid June this year, for example, I’d done the first read through of a previously mellowed text, making corrections as I went. My writing process tends to get loads on paper, but there are many errors in the first draft (I do sometimes over 10,000 words a day in writing mode, so that is inevitable). Once I’ve read through, I make the changes on the computer to produce the second draft. Next I (this was new to my last book, having updated my computer) get my iMac to then read me the complete story––from which is formed the third draft (or 2a, depending on how you view it). Then it goes to my team.I move on to something else––or enjoy the summer with my family.The team will look at various aspects. In the past I’ve included relative experts in that team that have a certain speciality that has come up in my books. This has included a Cambridge Graduate chemists looking at the nuclear element of The Last Prophet, a tech savvy reader for The Tablet as well as someone involved in the security service of another nation who reads all my texts, helping with the spy/ espionage angles. These people all help me sound more accurate. Their input is priceless.My grammar editor has worked with me from the beginning, and we have a great understanding. I implement almost all of her recommendations, as well as learning loads (and hopefully making less mistakes in the next text). Some of her comments are hysterical, and she doesn’t even mean them to be.Then it comes back to me––after the summer, I might start a new project. This year, during September, I did the first read through from my March text, then straight onto the April text. I’ve not made those corrections on the computer because I wanted to write the third book in that series, which I finished last week, in fact. Therefore in November I’ll be working through the feedback for novel 4 (the one the team had over the summer and are now reporting back to me). I’ll produce one or two further drafts based on their input, and hopefully have the next one ready before Christmas.In September I also met with my cover designer––basically, when I’m about the get the feedback back from my team, I know the book is moving into its final stages. Knowing the cover design process could take a couple of months, I always like to start that process going as soon as is relevant.I’m a little behind schedule in relation to this upcoming edit. I’m way ahead in relation to writing first drafts. As I was about to throw myself into my writing life after a busy summer of travelling, my wife was diagnosed with second stage cancer. Needless to say, that has thrown a whole lot of extra stuff into this autumn. That’s the main reason for the delay, though I think amazingly I’ll still be able to get this next one out before Christmas.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?There is so much I could say. I do like encouraging others, and this is something I’ve keenly pursued over the years.It’s hard not to take it all so personally when you are just starting out. Don’t rush publication (I made that mistake first time around with my debut, which needed a bit more work before I should have initially released it) but also don’t wait for perfection. Certainly write the thing before you start marketing it, or looking for agents. Make it as good as it can be. Get expert help with this, don’t assume you can self edit––you’ll never spot all of your own mistakes, believe me.Putting your first work out there is hard––there’s no getting away from that. It’s exhilaratingin that you’ve done it, scary in that it’s now ‘out there’. Though that in itself, sadly, usually isn’t enough any more, but that’s a topic for another conversation. Just focus on writing your novel and marketing can be tackled at a later point.If you could go back in time 12 months, what advice would you give yourself?These last 12 months have been my most productive yet as a writer, in the mist of huge personal and family challenges. So I’m not sure what more I’d add––plus, if I had the ability to go back one year, I’d be a time traveller! That’d be awesome in itself!Many thanks to Tim for this in depth interview. There's more to come from this author, answering questions about his reading habits. Stick around!

The Author Interviews, Round 3: #12: Jason Hershey

I spoke withJason Hershey, author of To Live To Die about his writing habits. Here's what he had to say.*image from the author*Where do you get your ideas from?My ideas come from experiences in my life, either something that happened to me or to someone close to me.  I feel that by using experiences that are close to you, you can write in such a way that allows the reader to “feel” with you and make the book more meaningful. My experiences are not unusual, but I think there are a lot of lessons to be learned from the choices others made before you.Why do you write?I’ve always wrote.  I have no other artistic talents, so this is the one thing that allows me to express myself completely.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?Teenagers and young adults are really experiencing these emotions and situations for the first time so I think that the opportunity to explore their reactions and how they handle them makes for good drama. It allows me to replay parts of my life over, the opportunity to correct mistakes I might of made and to relive some important incidents in my life. Hopefully through me and my situations, the reader will find parts of themselves and come along on this journey with me.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I have no problem with rejection, negative criticism, or bad reviews.  I played football in college and am from the inner city.  I am used to being judged.  The difference is in what you do with those reviews.  You can either sulk and go into a shell, or you can use it as motivation to get better and prove others wrong.  I am secure enough in my abilities that if i put my mind to something, I can get it done.What do you find difficult about writing?Finding the amount of time needed to get some quality writing in.  Between work, kids and a family, it can be hard, but I”m working on making sure I have enough “me” time to handle all of my responsibilities.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.My style of writing seems to be different than others.  I don’t outline or anything.  I basically start with a premise.  I’m old school in that I write with paper and pen first.  I just start writing.  I tend to write in 1st person, so most of my stories have some kind of personal element.  I also let the story just go.  I don’t censor what I’m writing or where it’s going.  I make adjustments as I go, but it’s mostly just free writing. I also tend to talk the dialogue out as I'm writing. If it sounds phony to me, then I won't keep it on the paper, I think this lends some creativity and realistic dialogue to my characters, which in turn makes the book more impactful to the reader.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Write, write and write. Don't worry about how things are supposed to be. Create your own rules as you go. There is no one style that works for everyone. Figure out what works for you, whether it be outlines or story mapping of free writing, and go for it.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?To start working on this book earlier, to be truthful with how I was feeling and to make sure I take more time to stop and enjoy life, not just being a part of life.Thanks for the interview, Jason Hershey and all the best with your novel!