E. Rachael Hardcastle's Blog, page 27
October 15, 2016
The White Room: Ep.1 - Katie Masters
Episode One ofThe White Room Indie Writer's Podcast- putting indies in the spotlight of success.Katie Mastersstopped by to tell us all about her digitally published book, Brenna Morgan and the Iron Key.Click here to read her written interview from Round Two.
October 14, 2016
The Author Interviews, Round 3: #3: S. A. Hoag
It was a pleasure to interview authorS. A. Hoagtoday, author of Renegades: Book 2 of The Wildblood as part of my Author Interviews series.Where do you get your ideas from?A stray idea, a bit from a song, something I remember from childhood – any of these can grow into a story.Why do you write?I enjoy sharing the worlds I create. I write because it’s part of me. I have to put those ideas down on paper.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?Anything goes. Zombies, aliens, an unseen force. The possibilities are endless.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I realize not everyone has the same tastes and likes.What do you find difficult about writing?Finding the time I need to write is difficult.Do you ever outsource your work?No.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?Traditional publishing was a stagnating mess when I first started marketing. I don’t know how things are now. Indie publishing gives anyone the freedom to try.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.I jot down ideas all the time, dozen of them. When I have the opportunity to start a new project, I read through them until one pops. From there, I add a (really) rough outline of what the story is about. I make bios for the main characters. Then I do preliminary research on anything I need to know immediately. From there, I just plop my characters down in a situation and let them go. That’s the fun part. If I get stuck, I start another one. Once a draft is finished, I let it set briefly before I get to the re-writes. There can be 3 of these, or more. Editing, of course. The final draft I get to and pick over every word, every scene to see if I approve.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Keep writing, even if it’s half an hour in the middle of the night. Don’t let Real Life stop you.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?12 months ago was a really bad time. I’d reather not do that again. 12 years ago, I’d say the same thing as I said in the previous question – keep writing. Don’t give up.I was also able to gain some insight into this author's reading habits.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?An interesting plot, and characters I can sypathize or relate to.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any of the below more important to you than others?Cover/Title/ Author / Price /Description/ Publisher / Sample Chapter / ReviewsWho is your favourite author and why?I don’t have just one favorite, and I find new authors all the time.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?Yes, every week.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?If I enjoy a book, I usually leave a review.After downloading book one for free/ 99p or 99c on Amazon, do you ever return and pay more for book two? If not, why?Yes I do! For less than the price of a cup of coffee, I can be entertained by a good book for several days. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me.Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?Yes, to see other books they might have.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?Ask me. Or if I’m already a fan.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?Certainly.What would it take for you to recommend a book to a friend?If it entertains me, I’ll recommend it. If I finish a book, it’s one I’ll recommend. I’m good at picking out ones I’ll like. I try to expand my horizons, but I seem to be firmly stuck in science fictionThanks to S. A. Hoag for this interview. We wish you all the best with your work. To support this author, please visit their website, social media or purchase a copy of their book/s.
October 13, 2016
Guestbook Fail
Due to technical issues with my lovely guestbook, I have had to remove it from my website for the time being, but I didn't want to lose all the nice comments you had taken the time to leave me! Here are ten of those amazing messages:Thanks again for your kind words!
October 12, 2016
Bookmarks!
I've just received my custom printed bookmarks from Stress Free Print.I managed to get 250 of them for a really reasonable price, delivered to the UK with free standard delivery. Having expected to be waiting weeks, I received them in just four days. I can't believe how awesome they are!I am really impressed with the quality; the colours are bright and the text is really clear. I was worried about them being one-sided, but that leaves me room to sign the back of them for any collectors out there!I am now looking forward to handing these out as freebies and giveaways, and I hope you love them as much as I do!
The Author Interviews, Round 3: #2: Ryan Witt
Round Three of the Author Interviews continues with Ryan Witt, author of Article X Control Alt Delete. Please visit the Everyman Productions Facebook page for more info.Where do you get your ideas from?I honestly wish I knew so I could go there all the time. The clearest answer I can give is I don't know. I tend to think a lot about things, people and situations. Once I dwell on something long enough I see it in my head in a fictional way, as long as it's something I'm passionate about.Why do you write?When I was a kid I was told I was bad at every subject in school. I was around twelve or thirteen and just beginning to accept I wouldn't be good at anything when the teacher told me a short story project I did the week before was very good. That positive encouragement really helped me. By the next summer I wrote my first book. I was just a kid so I really didn't think of it in terms of someone reading it. I more saw myself in a new way, realizing I had a talent in something and explored it.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?For the time being, I do not see myself choosing a specific genre to stay in. If you came up to me three years ago and said I would write a science fiction political thriller set in the future, I would have laughed at how improbable that would be. I love Sci-Fi, but never felt I would set a story in that genre. I'm excited and happy that my first novel, Article X Control Alt Delete, is out and fans of science fiction may like it, but I already have the beginnings of another book in my head and it is very different. More like a romance novel than a tense political thriller about the possible end of the world.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I try and welcome it as best as I can and take it as a chance to improve myself. As a writer, you can always seek ways that help your story or character. Rejection was harder when I was young. I tried submitting many things throughout the years and after awhile I started to feel I was wasting my time. Not writing, I ALWAYS enjoy that, but simply sending it to people. I just stopped doing that.What do you find difficult about writing?Many people struggle with writer's block and I'm no different. Many times I seem to need to create the right balance in my environment and mood and that can't happen every day. At the same time, there are moments when I cannot rest until I at least jot a few lines down, to save them for another time. The hardest part I find is knowing exactly what you want to say and not having it come out sounding the way it is in your head. I constantly work on that.Do you ever outsource your work?No. I can't say I never will in the future, but for now I'm really in a book writing sort of mode that is perhaps overwhelmingly my own monster.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?Having just self-published via CreateSpace.com, I have to say I am rather pro-indie or DIY publishing. I would never turn down an offer from a company and would welcome the chance to have an agent someday, but I also feel strongly that artists can maintain their own work and put it out how they want. The market may be flooded with thousands of self-published books and stories and from a business perspective I can see why one would think that's a hurdle. I personally think it's brilliant! There seemed to be a notion fifteen or twenty years ago that you weren't a writer until you were published and your books were out there on the shelf. I always thought that anyone that has the passion, dedication, and willingness to write 400 pages about anything already IS a writer. The fact that no one has read it doesn't discount what they are.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.It changes slightly. For the novel I just released, it was based on the idea and nothing else. All I had in my head was the scenario what if America outlawed sex and only allowed it for one day. What would that look like? How would it affect people? I started from that and began discovering characters, darkness, violence and many other themes that I admit are not for everyone. Once I got about fifty pages in or so, I outlined and re-outlined a lot, because I realized the story was growing a little bit in size. I am sure I was tempted to draw the entire arc out in three or four books. It is popular and economical right now for good reasons. I felt like I shouldn't leave anything on a cliffhanger, though, especially if I didn't write another book for awhile. I wanted to get to the end. I know this sounds a bit crazy, but the process of writing Article X Control Alt Delete felt very much like going through something traumatic in a way, and I needed resolution as a person shaping the story. I wanted as a reader to know the whys and hows and it drove me to work to create them all.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?It may sound simple but just do it. Write and do not apologize for it. Every writer is different and should be. I have gone years without even showing my work to anyone, mostly because it was stuff just for myself. In today's world, I think we may be getting a bit more comfortable with promoting ourselves. Facebook status alone can give people confidence. Basically, my overall advice is whatever you, the artist, feels has merit. If you go through some months of working by yourself and perfecting your craft, that's great. If you want to show anyone everything you have done and will do, that is also great! Trust yourself. Your intuition tends to be correct for you.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?Use Google Docs more!Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?Not always. There are books that I enjoy reading more than once, but there are others I never return to. A good example is the book “Johnny Got His Gun” by Dalton Trumbo. I read that book when I was a freshman in high school and was profoundly affected by it. I think it was the moment I realized I wanted to write novels, actually. For a single book to cause such powerful reactions? I hadn't came across anything like it, before or since, but I don't think I would need to re-read it.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any of the below more important to you than others?Cover / Title / Author / Price / Description / Publisher / Sample Chapter / Reviews - Almost all of these would be something I check before buying a book except a publisher. I tend not to focus too much on that. Sometimes the cover turns me off, so I do look at a sample chapter or review if I can.Who is your favourite author and why?This is akin to me saying who my favorite band is or song because it depends on where I am at. Right now it has to be Jennifer DuBois because I just finished reading her first novel “A Partial History Of Lost Causes” and it was beyond rewarding. She has sentences, just sentences, that knocked me out! After finishing my own book I was starved for good reading and that book fed me and then some.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?Not yet, but only because time and money have been factors. Since I now have my first book available online, I plan to do a lot of shopping and reading of online books.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?I like giving reviews, but the passion would have to be so overwhelming that I would literally not be able to sleep before writing one and then telling everyone I know to stop their life and read whatever it was. I also am a little hesitant to over compliment, only because I am afraid of it sounding disingenuous.After downloading book one for free/ 99p or 99c on Amazon, do you ever return and pay more for book two? If not, why?I'm sure I sound old fashioned, but I haven't done any of this as of yet. I bet that will change soon.Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?Rarely. Sometimes I think I would rather read the work first and then learn about the author, not the other way around. That's just how I tend to be though.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?Probably just ask me, as long as one knows I check my emails rarely. Even my snail mail tends to pile up.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?I haven't really, but would if I found the right one.What would it take for you to recommend a book to a friend?Not much. I try and tell a lot of people about what I am reading. To be fair I also tell them to read my own novel too.Many thanks to Ryan Witt for the interview - please show your support by visiting him online and purchasing a copy of the book.
October 8, 2016
Testimonial for E. Rachael Hardcastle
"Emma is attentive, responsive and considerate. She has a passion for indie authors and her service isn't only good but it is important."Sandy Masia ofsandyauthor.wordpress.com
October 6, 2016
Reader Research #6: What can we learn from our readers? (female, age unkn).
I asked 6 readers what they shop for on Amazon.com when looking for e-books for their Kindle.Here's what reader number six had to say:BIO: female, age unknown, writer.The first thing I ased this reader is what draws her to a book on Amazon and she said cover design, book description and price. The reason being, 'the first thing I look at when browsing is the cover. If the cover catches my eye then I'm more likely to check out the description. If that draws me in then I will look at the price. I'm not above paying for a book I really want to read but I'd be lying if I said free and cheap e-books didn't find their way onto my Kindle a lot.'She advised me she has no preference for traditional or indie published book, explaining 'I read a lot of famous/ traditionally published authors but since joining the fray I find myself just as drawn to more indie authors. Knowing how important it is to have our books read I love that I can do that for others. And I've read some really good books this way that I would have completely missed otherwise.'We discussed the preference some readers have for genre and she advised that she will read almost anything set in front of her. She loves fantasy/ paranormal and urban... the magic and fantastic creatures that stretch my imagination to its farthest points and i love a good who-done-it.' She steers clear of horror, recovering from a Stephen King book. She also advised me that she sometimes likes to read humorous and pithy drivel that doesn't require much thought.When asked about verified reviews on Amazon sha said she doesn't really care because people acquire books in different ways. 'Low star ratings give me pause, if there are a lot of them... unless there are comments that say the book is so horribly edited that it couldn't be read'.When asked if she recommends books she says she rates almost all the books she reads on Goodreads. 'If there's something about it that I really feel I need to comment on, I'll leave a review... it just needs to make me feel something...if I'm still thinking about it days later, then I will definitely share it.'Prior to this, this reader advises that if the author of a book she wants to review is indie and she has negative feedback, 'I want to be helpful but don't want to be publicly negative or drive down raitings. I will contact the author'.There were too many authors on her favourites list to state, but she said that she reads for entertainment value. 'I want to be whisked away to another reality where I can forget everyday stuff for a little while'.With the exception of price, she highlighted that indie books are obvious when they have poor formatting, cover design, editing or if it's perma-free. She says this doesn't always put her off though because she understands some indies are working to a budget, but she has read some good stories with poor endings, and she felt that was a waste.She'd advise to fix this, authors should know their strengths. 'Do some research, go on line and Google what exactly a copy editor does and do your best to emulate that. Read your book over and over and have others you trust read it to help you at least find the spelling and punctuation errors. Try to be consistent in your formatting. It doesn't have to be fancy. If you put money into anything, I would suggest the cover.'Finally, she said bad language doesn't put her off a book, and she would leave an honest review in exchange for a free copy.
What did I learn from this interview? What can indie writers take from this reader's feedback?This interview interested me as her hooks for online Amazon shopping are the same as mine, and her reasoning is, too. I look at cover first because that's how I'd shop in a bookstore. I'd go by what attracted me, then read a bit more about it, then look at how much it cost. Like me, she has no problems paying for a book, but she likes freebies too. As I agree with this shopping method, I'd stress indies to ensure their cover is traditional-looking and spruce up their description using Amazon's accepted tags, which I'll share on this blog over the weekend for you.Again, she shares my shopping habits, so I completely agree that traditional books are easier to buy and therefore I tend to buy more of them. However, since becoming indie myself I have realised the need for sales and reviews, so have consciously made more of an effort to support my fellow authors.This is a great thought, because it reminds us to help one another.Can you exchange helpful services for one another? BETA reading, a cover for a full critique? Can we consider payment in other forms such as talent and skill and experience, rather than cash? Personally, I offer free written author interviews which I post and share from this online journal. In exchange, all I ask for is a mention to help drive traffic to my site, and/or for them to consider applying for some other cool opportunities. None of this makes me money, but it helps to get my name out there.Authors helping authors.It's comforting to hear she reads a wide variety of genres. I think most of us do, though we steer toward a favourite. This could be an indication to genre hop gently and where appropriate, so your books can be enjoyed by your current readers as well as attracting new ones, though some may disagree. Personally (as you can tell by my releases) I like to write in different genres.Lots of low star ratings and poor editing (unreadable) will put this reader off, but she'll leave reviews when something strikes a nerve. I'm the same. I can read through some errors and ignore them because I've found worse in some traditionally published books, but if there are lots of negative reviews, it puts me off giving it a go.Most of this is personal taste, but it might be wise if you're in this position to maybe approach some of those reviewers and ask if they can give you more constructive criticism to help you improve it, then give it another go. Thankfully this reader would rather contact the author direct which is always a nice thought - she doesn't want to drive down the rating or put others off. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and some may not give it a chance because of negative reviews. Personally I think 3+ stars is a review worthy book. Any less and I wouldn't review either.Also, for those still writing, give the reader a memorable experience. How can you wow them? What makes your reader/s tick and how can you hit that target? If you're writing about a real life event (death, marriage, birth etc) then how can you speak to the reader on an emotional level?This reader also says she isn't always put off buying a book that is obviously indie due to the above factors she highlighted in the interview, but when the book has a poor ending, this disappoints her. It's nice to think readers will give us the same chance they give their favourite authors and it's our job not to disappoint and to show we're up there with the bestsellers, right?She gives some fantastic advice that I don't need to repeat here about how to avoid being 'obviously indie'. Go back and have another read if you can.Finally, again another reader who is not put off by bad language and violence. She would also leave a review if the book was given to her for free.So that's it for the reader research interviews. I hope they were helpful and if you need further help or advice, feel welcome to contact me.E. Rachael Hardcastle
October 5, 2016
Testimonial for E. Rachael Hardcastle
Testimonial about my experience:"I am thankful to Rachael for allowing me to take part by being interviewed on her site. The exposure will help me get my name out there. so I appreciate how swift my interview was posted after the launch of my third book Ordinary Princess. Her website is very functional and beautiful.'P. M. Mathis
October 4, 2016
Thank You!!!
Dear Readers,No, wait... let's do this right!Dear friends, family, BETAs and critique partners, Facebook, Youtube and Twitter followers, Google+ peeps, Pinterest interests, commenters, likers, haters and viewers, readers, email subscribers, fellow bloggers, vloggers and writing group buddies, featured indie authors, testimonial writers, supporters and cheerer-on-ers, recommenders, reviewers, advisers and others!Phew... *takes deep breath*...I'd like to offer ahugethank you for your constant support, encouragement and positivity over the past four months.To those of you new to my world and my writing, welcome - lower your expectations (XD). I've been tracking my progress as an author since July 20th 2016. That's less than four months ago. In that time, I have comeso far, I'm honestly waiting for the moment when I wake up in my bed, p**sed off that it wasn't real.Without your purchases, shares, likes and goodness knows what else, I wouldn't have managed to achieve the following. I am absolutely thrilled and stunned!Two more books published - Finding Pandora: Book Three & Forgotten Faith1080 Twitter followers (increase from 661) - Ismashedmy 1000 goal on 31/08/2016 1 month early.Started a Youtube channel - a big deal for an introvert!Gained a whole bunch of e-mail subscribers (thanks guys and gals, you're my first!)Designed and released brand new covers for all my booksOutlined and cross-referenced all my paperback booksDiscovered Google Analytics (and got very confused)BECAME AN AMAZON BESTSELLING AUTHOR!Gained 2 BETA readers & a critique partnerRe-designed my website www.erachaelhardcastle.com and now I absolutely love it!Calculated over 700 downloads since May 2016 (not including paperbacks or those after 23/09/2016) - THANK YOU! *begs for reviews*Met some amazing writers through my mini-series The Author InterviewsDID MY FIRST EVER RADIO INTERVIEW LIVE ON AIR... IN AMERICA! (the picture of me freaking out was taken 5 minutes before!)GOT MY FIRST EVER TEACHING OPPORTUNITY IN CREATIVE WRITING!Perparations are beginning for my podcast, 'The Write Room'.and probably so much more...
My Kindle book Finding Pandora: Book One landed at #9 in the UK Epic Fantasy category back on May 25th 2016, so imagine my surprise when Finding Pandora: Book Two made it into the top 30 just 6 days later. I wasnotprepared to see Aeon Infinitum: Run For Your Life climb up the chart to a comfortable #5 in the US Alien Invasion category, the closest to #1 I haveeverbeen. Not only that, but in the UK Alien Invasion category, I also landed a place at #7 and #16 in the Dystopian fiction list.I feel blessed to have had such success in such a small space of time, and grateful to each and every one of you. Thank you for your support! Let's see what the next few months will bring...
xxxE. Rachael Hardcastle
The Author Interviews, Round 3: #1: Sandy Masia
Round Three of the Author Interviews kicks off withSandy Masia, author of Before the Cult (Scarleton Series Book I).
*image from author*Where do you get your ideas from?I get my ideas mainly from things I see happen around me and my own philosophical convictions. It is difficult to pinpoint which influences which but it is always a synthesis of things. For an example, I can trace the influences of my novel Before the Cult from three different sources, personal experiences, philosophy and an English Literature lecture. But it’s driven by a mission to write something that would simulate having delusional depression to the reader. I felt there was a need for people to know how it felt. In that way I'm very weird for spending four years writing something that gives an unpleasant experience.Why do you write?I mainly write because I am propelled to write. It is the one thing I cannot not do. No matter how much or how hard I try. It gives meaning to my life. I am madly in love with the craft so it is nothing like hell when I feel I can’t escape the urge to write. Although, it can be pretty inconvenient at times. Writing became a gateway for me, at first, because I found I could express myself fully that way and no one was making fun of me or interrupting me. That is because I had a terrible stutter, robbed me of friendships and made me a subject of bullying and ridicule. This way my childhood was very lonely. I'm thankful for that because I became very imaginative because of the amount of time I had to spend alone. When around people and unable to speak, I had time to spend thinking. So, writing was the way people could hear and see those thoughts and worlds trapped inside me.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?I haven't settled on a genre unfortunately. When I first started I wrote a lot of fantasy but I never published it. Now, the first thing I decided to publish and what I’m writing now is general fiction that is laced with mystery and thriller type of genres. I do see myself writing fantasy again in the future, I am developing a world already. I just don’t feel ready yet to take that on. What I love mostly about the type of work I’m doing now is how conscious it is about the issues facing the modern world.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I love it. Most people don't but I love it. Perhaps this is because I intended to make my book unpleasant, repulsive and difficult. So when people told me they hated it, could not get through it or it made them feel horrible I was happy. I guess I am a bit sadistic in that way(laughs). But that was the point of the book to make people experience all the negatives of depression and mental illness. So if a person couldn't finish it, they were proving my point that depression is hard to go through. If they said it is dark, I loved that because death is a morbid theme. When they said it made them confused and fuzzy, well depression has that effect. So the criticism was triumph of my experiment, it validated that I had accomplished what I had set out to do. It surprises me though; I got a stunning editorial review and a few raving customer reviews. Which was surprising, not that I don't think it is great book, I just wasn’t expecting that. I consider it the best thing I wrote. Criticism is great because it also makes you see how in tune you are with how other peole will receive your work. It is valuable because you can go back and refine your craft accordingly, learn what works and what doesn’t.What do you find difficult about writing?Lying and not pushing buttons, not being honest is hard. I like brave fiction, that is not only allegorical but has a certain significance to mankind. Books that help us gain insight into the human condition and say something about society and our existence and experience of those things. It can be fantasy, crime or literary fiction or science fiction it doesn't matter. As long as it fulfils that criteria in one way or the other I am happy. People look for answers in books, they might not know it but unconsciously they do so I try provide that and have that dialogue. So I find it hard writing fiction or any piece which lacks these qualities. As an editor and freelancer I sometimes get asked to be involved in projects that don't have that and I struggle quite a bit.Do you ever outsource your work?No. I never could. I think I would die if I did. My works are also too complex to be properly executed by someone else.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?I love indie. I don't think I would have much room to write the things I write with a traditional publisher. Indie is one of the highest examples of freedom of speech and expression. Art doesn't work well with limits and restrictions, art is, after all, the embodiment of the drive to escape limits. It is above nature and somehow connected to nature. It thrives on being free.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.I'm a thinker. So if I get an idea I think about it for weeks. Flesh it out, explore and prod it. I plot major events of my story modelled after the arguments I have made. The next months are then just me writing the first draft. After that is done I edit and refine the message and the content. I try to decide on style of writing, what to hold back on, what to emphasize, what to change, what to break and what to mend. I treat writing like it is making a song. You want to get all the instruments aligned in a specific way for a specific effect, you think of the tempo, the mood, the volume, the dissonance, counterpoint, moments of violent tranquillity and so forth. It takes time to get everything working right, and sounding right. When that is done there is mastering to be done, the last step. Where I edit for overall coherence and to fulfil the premise I first started out with. There is a lot of obsessive tweaking, rearranging, refinement and polishing in the end. It is more of a thinking exercise to me, a creative thinking process.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Write, just keep writing even when your fingers bleed. Because it is in doing that you begin to master your instrument. You will begin understanding the music of your words, developing your own signature and you will start learning to use that right. So spend a lot of time with it. Thinking about writing also helps, not just doing it. Reflecting on it is as important as the writing itself. When you can’t write think actively about writing, a lot.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?I would say to myself, "Spend more time with your mom, the novel will finish itself when it’s the right time". She passed early this year.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?Not necessarily there are plenty of books that I have read that I would never read again and they were amazing. Stephen King comes to mind.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any of the below more important to you than others?Cover / Title / Author / Price / Description / Publisher / Sample Chapter / ReviewsI think reviews and the description are the most important. But I don't like reviews because I think they affect and sway the experience of the book. They make me see the work through a certain filter. So what I do is read the description and think it over. It is more of a gut thing, I usually don’t read sample chapters, I don't believe in them, sometimes how the book ends is everything.Who is your favourite author and why?KJ Parker. There is something that his writing does to me. Its detail and how it draws you in. How real it feels. His prose has a certain music to it. He just does something to me, I’m still trying to study his work and figure out what exactly it is and perhaps I will learn from that.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?Yes. I have read far many indie books than traditional published books this year. They teach me a lot. There is a lot to learn from indie authors and each day I get surprised. Both about what to do and what not to do.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?If the book moved me. Especially if it made me cry or shook me to the bone. If a book made me think or puzzled me it is definitely getting a review. I usually think for over a week about a book before I actually review it. I'm like that, I like thinking things through.After downloading book one for free/ 99p or 99c on Amazon, do you ever return and pay more for book two? If not, why?If the book is good I do. Especially if the ending was satisfactory and also open ended. I think clear cliff-hangers at the end are rude. There is an art to endings and I think as part of respecting readers authors should do that, reward me for buying and spending hours with their book.Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?I do, mostly to get updates and find out what else he/she can offer. And I like getting to know them as people, what they are like. So blogs are my favourite.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?If I genuinely like an author I will. I hate being strong-armed into mailing lists, so I stay away from those.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?Yes. Signed copies are a gem. I would kill for those.What would it take for you to recommend a book to a friend?If I believed the book would add value to their life in some way or change how they see things. I would if it will help them experience something beautiful and special as well. I think the experience of the book is important. I don’t care if the book is about something really sinister or mundane.Many thanks for this interview, Sandy. Good luck with your writing.To show your support, please visit the author's website or blog.
*image from author*Where do you get your ideas from?I get my ideas mainly from things I see happen around me and my own philosophical convictions. It is difficult to pinpoint which influences which but it is always a synthesis of things. For an example, I can trace the influences of my novel Before the Cult from three different sources, personal experiences, philosophy and an English Literature lecture. But it’s driven by a mission to write something that would simulate having delusional depression to the reader. I felt there was a need for people to know how it felt. In that way I'm very weird for spending four years writing something that gives an unpleasant experience.Why do you write?I mainly write because I am propelled to write. It is the one thing I cannot not do. No matter how much or how hard I try. It gives meaning to my life. I am madly in love with the craft so it is nothing like hell when I feel I can’t escape the urge to write. Although, it can be pretty inconvenient at times. Writing became a gateway for me, at first, because I found I could express myself fully that way and no one was making fun of me or interrupting me. That is because I had a terrible stutter, robbed me of friendships and made me a subject of bullying and ridicule. This way my childhood was very lonely. I'm thankful for that because I became very imaginative because of the amount of time I had to spend alone. When around people and unable to speak, I had time to spend thinking. So, writing was the way people could hear and see those thoughts and worlds trapped inside me.What do you find most appealing about your chosen genre?I haven't settled on a genre unfortunately. When I first started I wrote a lot of fantasy but I never published it. Now, the first thing I decided to publish and what I’m writing now is general fiction that is laced with mystery and thriller type of genres. I do see myself writing fantasy again in the future, I am developing a world already. I just don’t feel ready yet to take that on. What I love mostly about the type of work I’m doing now is how conscious it is about the issues facing the modern world.How do you deal with bad reviews, rejection and criticism?I love it. Most people don't but I love it. Perhaps this is because I intended to make my book unpleasant, repulsive and difficult. So when people told me they hated it, could not get through it or it made them feel horrible I was happy. I guess I am a bit sadistic in that way(laughs). But that was the point of the book to make people experience all the negatives of depression and mental illness. So if a person couldn't finish it, they were proving my point that depression is hard to go through. If they said it is dark, I loved that because death is a morbid theme. When they said it made them confused and fuzzy, well depression has that effect. So the criticism was triumph of my experiment, it validated that I had accomplished what I had set out to do. It surprises me though; I got a stunning editorial review and a few raving customer reviews. Which was surprising, not that I don't think it is great book, I just wasn’t expecting that. I consider it the best thing I wrote. Criticism is great because it also makes you see how in tune you are with how other peole will receive your work. It is valuable because you can go back and refine your craft accordingly, learn what works and what doesn’t.What do you find difficult about writing?Lying and not pushing buttons, not being honest is hard. I like brave fiction, that is not only allegorical but has a certain significance to mankind. Books that help us gain insight into the human condition and say something about society and our existence and experience of those things. It can be fantasy, crime or literary fiction or science fiction it doesn't matter. As long as it fulfils that criteria in one way or the other I am happy. People look for answers in books, they might not know it but unconsciously they do so I try provide that and have that dialogue. So I find it hard writing fiction or any piece which lacks these qualities. As an editor and freelancer I sometimes get asked to be involved in projects that don't have that and I struggle quite a bit.Do you ever outsource your work?No. I never could. I think I would die if I did. My works are also too complex to be properly executed by someone else.What is your opinion on indie vs traditional publishing?I love indie. I don't think I would have much room to write the things I write with a traditional publisher. Indie is one of the highest examples of freedom of speech and expression. Art doesn't work well with limits and restrictions, art is, after all, the embodiment of the drive to escape limits. It is above nature and somehow connected to nature. It thrives on being free.Talk us through your creative process from start to finish.I'm a thinker. So if I get an idea I think about it for weeks. Flesh it out, explore and prod it. I plot major events of my story modelled after the arguments I have made. The next months are then just me writing the first draft. After that is done I edit and refine the message and the content. I try to decide on style of writing, what to hold back on, what to emphasize, what to change, what to break and what to mend. I treat writing like it is making a song. You want to get all the instruments aligned in a specific way for a specific effect, you think of the tempo, the mood, the volume, the dissonance, counterpoint, moments of violent tranquillity and so forth. It takes time to get everything working right, and sounding right. When that is done there is mastering to be done, the last step. Where I edit for overall coherence and to fulfil the premise I first started out with. There is a lot of obsessive tweaking, rearranging, refinement and polishing in the end. It is more of a thinking exercise to me, a creative thinking process.What advice would you give to aspiring writers?Write, just keep writing even when your fingers bleed. Because it is in doing that you begin to master your instrument. You will begin understanding the music of your words, developing your own signature and you will start learning to use that right. So spend a lot of time with it. Thinking about writing also helps, not just doing it. Reflecting on it is as important as the writing itself. When you can’t write think actively about writing, a lot.If you could go back in time 12 months, what would you advise yourself?I would say to myself, "Spend more time with your mom, the novel will finish itself when it’s the right time". She passed early this year.Would you agree a good book must withstand more than one read?Not necessarily there are plenty of books that I have read that I would never read again and they were amazing. Stephen King comes to mind.What do you look for when shopping on Amazon for a Kindle book? Highlight those you would consider. Are any of the below more important to you than others?Cover / Title / Author / Price / Description / Publisher / Sample Chapter / ReviewsI think reviews and the description are the most important. But I don't like reviews because I think they affect and sway the experience of the book. They make me see the work through a certain filter. So what I do is read the description and think it over. It is more of a gut thing, I usually don’t read sample chapters, I don't believe in them, sometimes how the book ends is everything.Who is your favourite author and why?KJ Parker. There is something that his writing does to me. Its detail and how it draws you in. How real it feels. His prose has a certain music to it. He just does something to me, I’m still trying to study his work and figure out what exactly it is and perhaps I will learn from that.Do you shop for indie books online? If not, why?Yes. I have read far many indie books than traditional published books this year. They teach me a lot. There is a lot to learn from indie authors and each day I get surprised. Both about what to do and what not to do.What would it take for you to leave a review on Amazon/ Goodreads?If the book moved me. Especially if it made me cry or shook me to the bone. If a book made me think or puzzled me it is definitely getting a review. I usually think for over a week about a book before I actually review it. I'm like that, I like thinking things through.After downloading book one for free/ 99p or 99c on Amazon, do you ever return and pay more for book two? If not, why?If the book is good I do. Especially if the ending was satisfactory and also open ended. I think clear cliff-hangers at the end are rude. There is an art to endings and I think as part of respecting readers authors should do that, reward me for buying and spending hours with their book.Do you ever visit an author's website and if so, why?I do, mostly to get updates and find out what else he/she can offer. And I like getting to know them as people, what they are like. So blogs are my favourite.What would it take for you to sign up to a mailing list?If I genuinely like an author I will. I hate being strong-armed into mailing lists, so I stay away from those.Do you ever enter giveaways and/ or order signed copies?Yes. Signed copies are a gem. I would kill for those.What would it take for you to recommend a book to a friend?If I believed the book would add value to their life in some way or change how they see things. I would if it will help them experience something beautiful and special as well. I think the experience of the book is important. I don’t care if the book is about something really sinister or mundane.Many thanks for this interview, Sandy. Good luck with your writing.To show your support, please visit the author's website or blog.
