Amanda Howard's Blog, page 2

Author Interview: Philip J Bradbury author of 53 Smiles

Welcome once again readers, it is time to interview another fantastic author.  This week, I have Philip J Bradbury here to answer me questions.

 Philip is a recovering accountant, banker, corporate trainer and lecturer who turned to writing. and somehow found himself involved in (or informed about) international intrigues, dishonesty and fraud, involving banks, governments and police forces. He thought it was time to turn them into stories so everyone can experience the "other side" of life.

Having run personal development courses in several countries (and being a student of A Course in Miracles) he couldn't help but bring in the spiritual element to his stories, giving characters (and readers) ways of dealing with stressful situations.

Life is far too interesting to be fluffing about on the sidelines and he (and his characters) are determined to live it to the fullest, even if it means a little danger, stress and uncertainty at times!

Thanks for joining me this week, can you tell us a bit about you as an author?
I write in every genre but there is one theme – to help you find peace, your place in the world and to rediscover the you that you lost. I share your hope that my words will help you unlock the prison you’re in, the current drama you can’t find your way out of. I share your hope and willingness to find your passion, your wings and take on the life you’re born to experience. It's my hope for me as well.

I spent twenty years in the wrong occupation. One year of accounting and I knew we didn’t fit each other. Why did I stay? Years later, I found I’d stayed bored and desperate to please my father and my wife. I couldn't please them. I can only please me.

Once I’d realised I was in a rut – a grave with the ends kicked out – I was stuck. I didn’t know what else to do. Also, the accounting income provided for my family. I had responsibilities and had to go on. I couldn’t let them down. But I let me down.

I’d followed my father's example – sticking in a job that sucked me dry – and became more angry and depressed.

The divorce was traumatic, sad and releasing but, work-wise, I quietly slipped sideways into teaching and writing and then, because of my 20 wasted years, facilitated personal development courses and men’s groups ... and wrote books on that. I quickly realised I was a lousy accountant and slowly realised I was a good teacher and writer. I loved them both and, 20 years later, still do.

If you’re misaligned you can't give (or receive) your best till you get wise about the choices you’re making in your actions, words and thoughts. I hope my words can help bring you back to wisdom, home and to the peace you know is there.

The dream I’ve realised for myself is the dream I have for you. I write for both of us.

What are the hardest part of being an author?

Finding a publisher or writers agent. Writers are good at writing and most of us are terrible at marketing/promotions. We need someone else to do that part but there’s so many more books and writers than publishers and agents. So, in the meantime, we try to do the marketing by self-publishing.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

Writing! Just being in the space of writing, with the words flowing through. Impossible to describe though nothing should be impossible for an author to describe!

The other real buzz is hearing back from happy readers. Some have told me they were going to commit suicide, found my blog and my words saved them and set their lives on a more positive track. That kind of feedback – and other, less dramatic, reactions – are what give me the juice to carry on.

What authors/books have had an influence on your writing?

Paulo Coelho,

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?

I used to get writers block and finally realised I was getting in the way. Actually, the first book I wrote was about me and I didn’t know it. I learned to meditate and, while meditating, I’d get these words in my head. They’d stay there, nagging me for days till I wrote them down. Then more words would turn up. So I’d write the sods down. A few months later, I decided to read the drivel I’d written and discovered it was my own life, beautifully told as a novel.

The lesson I learned from this is that I don’t write – I allow my pen to move to the music that flows through. When I get writers block, it’s when I’m trying to control the process. I’ll get frustrated for a while, trying harder to think of what to write and then realise I’m getting in the way. Then I let go, start writing drivel, anything nonsensical, and, soon, the better words start coming through again.

Do you have a particular place that you like to write?

Cafés. Don’t ask me why but there’s something magical about being surrounded by happily chatting people, the orgasmic aroma of coffee, pen and paper and my muses … the writing always flows in those exquisite places.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

I’m often up at 4.00 or 5.00 am with words swirling in my head and I’ve learned that, if I write them down straight away, they fall more beautifully, more naturally, than if I leave them for hours or days. Sadly, cafés aren’t open at those times but I do make a point of going to a café at least twice a week with pen, paper and an empty mind, just to see what turns up. Something always does.

How do you like to reach your readers? (Social media? Book signings? Blogs etc)

Right now, without a publisher, I reach readers via social media, blogs and through the various writing classes that I run. I would, however, love to travel around the globe, doing seminars and book signings.

Can you tell us about your latest book?

From the back cover:
53 SMILES is about life – your life, my life, our lives – and its tiny stories address the big questions of the human condition and tell of our simple greatness, our foibles and how to let go of the need to be something for somebody else. This book, then, has many uses ...
• An exquisitely simple gift,
• A coffee table book,
• A Conversation starter,
• For daily meditations,
• For personal/spiritual development workshops,
• For Life Coaching,
• Teaching children (of any age) life lessons,
• To remind you of who you are each day – simply exquisite!53 SMILES – 53 Special Moments In Life’s Exquisite Simplicity – is 53 53-word stories, along with illustrations and photos. I hadn’t heard of flash fiction till October 2015 when I stumbled on a flash fiction competition run by a Brisbane book store – the best 100-word (or less) story. I didn’t win but, realising nothing is for nothing and everything counts, decided not to waste my words. Three days later the idea popped in that I could write a book of 53 stories … 53 of them. I just liked the number 53 and the challenge of writing tiny stories – quite different from the 100,000-word books I’d previously written – appealed. I determined to write one a day and so it took 53 days! All were about personal or spiritual development and how to live a bigger life (or how not to live a smaller life) and, as a non-artist, relished the challenge of adding illustrations for the first time.

I’ve since written 97 SMILES, a 97 97-word book and who know what will come out next! 97 SMILES should be published in September.

How long did it take you to write the book?
53 days … and then a little longer to do the illustrations and assemble the photographs I’d taken over many years.

Do you have a favourite character/topic in your work?
My favourite (only?) topic is about being at the cross-roads of life – be that divorce, redundancy, financial struggle, health problems and so on – and about making wise choices when life turns to mush and turning it into fertilizer.

What was your process? Did you plot out the entire book, or just let the storyline flow? Do you write in chronological order?

Whether it’s a novel, non-fiction book or something else, I don’t seem to be able to plan anything – just not how I’m built. I just let it flow the way it wants to. It’s only after it’s finished that I release my logical brain and do the editing, that I start deleting, adding and rearranging words, phrases and chapters.

Do you have plans for further instalments?
I suspect I’ll write a few more flash fiction books but, right now, I’m focussing on the series of short story books.

Do you have a plan for your next book?
My current project is five books of short stories. I recently found 290 stories (fiction and non-fiction) all over the place in my computer and so I’m collating and sorting them to create five books on different topics - 40 Moments With Writing, 42 Moments With Men, 50 Moments With Fables, 55 Moments With God, 65 Moments With Self. That’s the plan, anyway …

Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when reading?
I only read paper-back books. I suspect I’ll get an electronic reader someday but, till then, there’s something tactile about a “real” book – the smell, feel, sight …

Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing?
There’s no doubt that there’s change but the direction is debatable. Internet sales and self-publishing took over the traditional model but there’s evidence of the regrowth of bricks-and-mortar book stores again with, for example, Amazon’s plans to open 400 new book stores in USA. I self-publish and make a living out of that but would prefer to hand over the marketing to someone else so I’m looking back to the more traditional model … and I have no idea where we’re headed next.

And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Keep writing, listen to everyone and all the rules and then decide for yourself what’s best for you. All the rules are begging for you to break them. The internet is rife with “experts” who’ll guarantee you unlimited success but it’s impossible to know how successful they really are. Listen to it all and then tur to your gut, your intuition, and walk the path that brings your greatest peace … and don’t hesitate to call out for help as the community of authors is one of the most supportive I’ve ever known – we’re all here to help but can’t if you don’t ask! (I totally agree - A)

Thanks so much for dropping by Philip, where can readers find you?
Website: www.philipjbradbury.com
Linked In - Philip J Bradbury … https://au.linkedin.com/in/philip-j-b...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPhilip...
Wordpress blogs:  https://flashfictionfanatic.wordpress...  https://pjbradbury.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhilipJBradbury

Thank you Philip for joining me this week, and again thank you to my readers for dropping by. 
If you'd like to be interviewed for this blog, please drop me a line. 
Until my next blogging moments, 
Cheers!
Amanda
Thank you for visiting Amanda Howard
Check out my site at http://www.amandahoward.com.au
and
My Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Howard/e...

Author Interview: A Hell of a Ride with author Emma James

Welcome again readers, 
I love an interview that starts with a warning: 
Emma's writing contains adult situations which may offend and graphic violence, but it is one hell of a fictional ride. Strap yourself in. For mature aged readers 18 +. 
Now that we've got your attention, let me introduce Emma to you all,
Writing has been a part of Emma James' life for many years until she decided to take a leap into the self publishing world and see where that journey takes her.

Writing words on paper is as important as the air she breathes. There's nothing more satisfying to her than writing all day to bring to life amazing characters who will stay in your heart.

Emma writes in both adult contemporary romance with her Men Of Ocean Beach series and dark suspense romance ( with MC influence ) , with her Hell's Bastard series. She is very passionate about writing and enjoys the discipline needed to line all those ducks up in a row to get a book over the finish line and published.

Life is about finding that one thing that you know you can do well and living it.

It's never too late to find it.
Thanks Emma for dropping in this week, can you tell us a bit about you as an author?
Writing has been a part of my life for many years until I decided to take a leap into the self publishing world and play for real and see where that journey took me. In my early twenties I started typing away on a spanky new electronic typewriter, ( as I said many years) and thought up beachside romance stories. Nothing I would release now. All was very raw and probably naive. I do have a paranormal series I have plotted out into a seven book series and actually stole one of the characters names. I’ll tell you it was Text. I’ve been wanting to be brave for a very long time.

Writing words is as important as the air I breathe. There's nothing more satisfying to me than bringing a story to life and letting the characters work their way into the reader’s heart.

What are the hardest part of being an author?

Back in 2014 when I was self publishing my very first book, A Little Faith, there was a steep learning curve with anything to do with the whole process. It was like climbing a writer’s equivalent to Mt Everest. Being a housewife and mum to three kids at the time and all of a sudden having to learn the ins and outs of releasing a book was pretty intimidating. I am still learning and fine tuning parts of the writing and marketing process as we all are.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

Putting words on paper and then rereading those words and reworking them until eventually I have something I am proud to release into the book world. I enjoy bringing characters to life and letting them talk to me. There’s something very satisfying about being able to tell a story that readers love as much as you do. I love it when they fall heavily for certain characters. That means I’ve done a good job. I particularly enjoy seeing who they cast in their mind for the main characters and sub characters.

What authors/books have had an influence on your writing?

I try to write as original a story as I can. I try to make my own mark. Every author I have ever read has given me a little push to break through my invisible barriers I had constructed and to give it a go for real. I am inspired by Colleen Hoover and J.K Rowling every day and in particular the many talented Australian authors who have blossomed and gone onto publishing contracts as well as holding their own ground in the self publishing world. These authors are smart. They learn to work the system to their benefit. They are in control of their books by setting up deals that will work for them. They aren’t letting the publishing world control them as much as it used to.

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?

I certainly believe there is such a thing as writer’s block. Touchwood I currently have so many ideas for stories filling my notebooks that I have the beats down to get me started. Nothing is easy about writing. Words don’t always flow naturally, but when I am having trouble expressing myself, I will go lay down on my bed, shut my eyes and just think. Let my thoughts get calmed and I play about inside my head with some scenarios and see where that takes me. It’s not writer’s block, it’s more getting my head around a scene that I need to get right. Then I grab for the notebook and get my thoughts noted down. Then I hit the keyboard again. For me personally, I need down time. I can’t write for ten hours straight. What works for me is about five hours at the keyboard, Monday to Friday. I give myself a weekend off to do other things related to releasing a book and that helps me.

Do you have a particular place that you like to write?

I wouldn’t say I like to write here, but it is my only choice at the moment. I don’t have a laptop, I have a desktop and it is in my middle man child’s room. I write while he is at school. I have been promising him for 5 books now that I will make it out of his room. He is very patient, most of the time.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

10.00am to 3.00pm mostly. Sometimes I may start earlier and finish earlier. It gives me time to get the housework done before I start.

How do you like to reach your readers?

Book signings are fabulous and they have really worked for me. Social media I chat on and answer PMs at all hours of the day/night.

Can you tell us about your latest book? (is it part of a series, genre)  Warped is part of the Hell’s Bastard series and book # 2. It will be a five book series, at this stage. Wrenched, book # 1, put me on the reader map and I am ever grateful I took a chance on the dark romance genre. I really enjoy delving into this side of my writing. It really is a wonderful challenge walking that fine line between going too dark and giving the reader a ride they want another ticket for. I get the most excited PMs about my characters in this series. I like to bring some light among the dark and I do that with Miss Catherine. She is Cajun and she has her own way of talking. I find it such fun to write and gave her a much bigger role in Warped.

Warped is as the title says, very warped. The hunt is on for Whisper and Edge isn’t letting anything or anybody stand in his way. He has his own hurdles to get over and he does. He teams up with Miss Catherine and together they make the most unlikely duo, but it works. It gave me a chance to show another side to Edge and to really cement in the readers mind how awesome Miss Catherine is. Whisper has her own problems and she is such a strong female lead. I adore writing her. I put her through a lot and she just rolls with the punches. She’s a survivor. Contorted is the book I am most excited to write in this series as I know what is gonna happen and it is going to be very contorted and action filled with a healthy side order of alpha men. HB series is very intense and I love the reviews coming in where the reader writes down all their emotions whilst reading the books. I want readers to feel and take a ride with me.

I also write in adult contemporary romance with the, Men Of Ocean Beach series. Both series are very different to each other. Men Of Ocean Beach has the ‘feels’ and the laughs. My reader audience has thankfully taken to both series. The ladies in my closed group who hadn’t yet delved into dark romance, gave Wrenched a shot and found they really do like this side to my writing and since branched out into the dark romance genre.

How long did it take you to write the book?

Warped had a bit of a delay as my eldest son passed away unexpectedly, he was nearly nineteen. I stopped writing for three months. It should have taken around 4 months to write and be released.

Do you have a favourite character/topic in your work?

I adore all the men of Ocean Beach. I simply can’t choose a fave. Miss Catherine from the HB series is so much fun to write. Edge is complicated and alpha and Whisper is smart and strong. Simply too hard to choose a fave character. I will tell you, Keanu from Men Of Ocean Beach series ( MOOB ) has a great deal of me in him.

What was your process? Did you plot out the entire book, or just let the storyline flow? Do you write in chronological order?

I am a PLOTTER. Man, do I plot. I plot six months in advance for a book I have scheduled to release in the near future. I can be plotting in notebooks three or more books at a time. I choose music early and have spotify playlists. HB series has a deep plot over the course of the series. I have to plan it out or I could potentially box myself in. I need to know what is roughly going to happen in all the books. I choose titles in advance for all books in a series. I am a little OCD with my writing process. Only with my writing. Put me down for a heavy plotter. I am flexible as I am writing if I think the story is starting to talk to me in a different way and I will go with that, but the outline is definitely in place for a whole series, if not more. I do write in chronological order.

Do you have plans for further instalments?

I have so many plans. I have spin offs, of course already outlined. I have stand alones for certain characters. Some novellas planned.

Do you have a plan for your next book?

Contorted, Hell’s Bastard # 3 had to be planned so I knew to drop what seeds in Warped. Suspense romance I simply can’t wing it. It has to be planned out so I get everything right for the finale.

Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when reading?

I have a house full of paperbacks and I have a Kindle full to the brim of Ebooks. I mix it up on a weekly basis. I prefer a paperback as the battery doesn’t run out, but my shelf space in my house is no longer available. I am waiting for my dream of my own office space and three walls of floor to ceiling shelves where everything can be neat and orderly. I love paperbacks for their smell. Yes, I am a new book sniffer and I am proud of it. My daughter taught me to appreciate a cover. I run my hand over it, feeling the work that has gone into it. Can’t do that with an Ebook. They both have good things going for them especially for a self published author who can’t get a book in a bookstore but we can get it onto an ereader in the tap of a finger.

Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing?

The industry has been changing for a long time. Many self published authors are really shaking up the system by selling beyond their wildest dreams and making it onto the bestseller lists. I think there is a happy medium in there somewhere. More and more self published authors are getting traditional publishing deals and also still writing and releasing self published books under the rules of their contract. We all want to be able to say we are traditionally published as it takes a lot of the work away, but it can take a certain amount of control to. I would love to be traditionally published and also have the freedom to self publish. I like to be in control of my work and release dates. Some authors get to have the best of both worlds. Self published is all hard work and learning how to market and promote yourself. Everything about self published is all on you the author and making all your hard work float in the ocean of new releases and hopefully sell. You might get a traditional publishing contract, doesn’t mean your book will have great sales. You hope it will but it doesn’t guarantee anything.

And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Be your own worst critic. Use beta readers. Don’t take short cuts with plot. Give your characters a real voice. Make your work something you are proud of. This author gig is hard work. Plain and simple. You want to be able to make back all your professional costs and the rest is icing. You may not be able to support yourself for a couple years as a self published author, you might be an overnight success and you might unfortunately have trouble finding your feet, either way we are all working towards that goal, that dream of having our work read. We work for months maybe years for nothing, until we release that book. Don’t give up, but learn to listen to constructive criticism. Learn to be a better writer. Soak up any advice authors are putting up on their web sites. I read J.A. Huss’s author postings all the time and I listen to what she has to say. Be professional on social media. Stay away from drama. Don’t be a drama-lama. The way you present yourself is the way people will perceive you. You sometimes have to earn the right to get onto readers author lists because there is only so much time in their reading day. So much money each month allotted to purchasing books for their enjoyment. Make yours count and be one they want to throw onto their monthly purchases. You may want to follow the ever changing reading trends. Be observant and stay current with what is going on around you. Be brave and be different. There is so much advice authors can give aspiring authors but it all comes down to hard work and determination to succeed. You have to have passion. Don’t be writing to make a buck, write because you are passionate about your story and then work hard to be heard.


The Hunt Is On.
WHISPER

I was never meant to be free.
Evil has taken from me again.
I’ve lost the two people I’ve grown to love because another of Hell’s bastards has staked his claim on me and stolen me away.
What gives another human being the right to take another’s innocence and try to destroy their soul?

EDGE

We were never meant to meet.
Our lives collided and spun out in different directions.
Now it’s a race against time.
Time she doesn’t have.
This is on my head.
I f*cked up.

What happens when a Soulless Bastards MC enforcer is on the hunt for the f*ckers involved in taking the sweet and wild girl?

No Mercy happens.

You can connect with Emma here:
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/emmajamesauthor?ref=hl

TWITTER: @emmajamesbooks

GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8415027.Emma_James

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/Emma-James/e/B00NH7AVGG/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION (FREE) : http://facebook.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=bdbd5d58f4f50eecc6a604947&id=e88c9e2a77

CLOSED GROUP – EMMA JAMES’ SISTERHOOD : https://www.facebook.com/groups/763744350386831/
and you can find her books here:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/29HNTkq Amazon UK : http://amzn.to/29T82rc Amazon AUS : http://amzn.to/29GvSUx Amazon CAD : http://amzn.to/29ZS66K iBooks : http://apple.co/29Orpih B & N : http://bit.ly/29J8kOS KOBO : http://bit.ly/29TIE4k
Ok, time to take a breath! A great interview again this week and I thank you all for strapping in and coming for the ride 
If you'd like to be interviewed for this blog, or have a great story to tell, please drop me a line. 
Until next week guys!
Cheers
Amanda

Thank you for visiting Amanda Howard
Check out my site at http://www.amandahoward.com.au
and
My Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Howard/e...

Author Interview Lucy Fenton, author of The Ragged People

Hey guys, 
Thanks for joining me again for another interview with another fabulous author.

Lucy Fenton lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and two children. In addition to her cake- making business, she works as a freelance copywriter and pens occasional articles for various online magazines.
Not being one of those people who had a burning desire to be anything in particular, Lucy. worked her way alphabetically backwards through the available degrees at Sydney University. Surprisingly, given the amount of fun she had at school, Lucy finally managed to graduate with a completely unemployable degree in Philosophy. A Law degree soon followed, however, simply to make it possible for some organization to hire her.
After ten soul-destroying years wandering aimlessly in the corporate wilderness, she threw it all in and reassessed. Deciding to bring the “one day I will write a book” idea to the present, she started and hasn’t stopped. As a huge fan of the romance genre, she writes the kinds of books that she enjoys to read.
In her spare time, Lucy…actually she has no spare time. She sleeps or reads copious amounts of romance novels instead of sleeping.

Thanks for dropping by today Lucy, can you tell us a bit about you as an author? 
In a nutshell, my writing is a bit dark and twisty. I’ve tried to write straight forward novels but they always end up more than slightly odd. People who know me are often surprised by my writing, thinking I would write “nice” novels in the style of Alexander McCall Smith.

What do you find to be the hardest part of being an author?

Elderly relatives wanting to discuss sex scenes you’ve written (shudder…)

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

Making things up. I spent my corporate days meticulously researching and citing references so I really love the freedom of writing whatever I want and no one can tell me that it’s wrong. Except my editor, who frequently does.

What authors/books have had an influence on your writing?

I read almost anything but I have a passion for the conflicting genres of traditional gothic novels and modern surrealist literature. I also love a good space opera or steamy romance. I think reading widely, no matter what, helps expand the mind whether or not it’s directly relevant to my own writing. So in no particular order: Anne Radcliffe, Jane Austen, Douglas Adams, Stephen King, Will Self (Great Apes is one of my all-time favourite books, though my book club hated it with a passion and banned me from picking any more books), Robert Jordan, Anne Rice, J K Rowling and Colleen McCulloch.


Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?

I believe it exists but I don’t generally suffer from it. What I do suffer from is being easily distracted either by people or ideas for new books. When wrapping up a book, I’ll get the uncontrollable urge to just start working on something else because in my head it’s finished, even if not in reality.

Do you have a particular place that you like to write?

I like to write in cafes where they bring me things to eat and drink though I’m most productive at my desk. Also less likely to gain weight as I have a weakness for blueberry muffins.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

In the morning straight after school drop off as I tend to lag in the afternoons.

How do you like to reach your readers? (Social media? Book signings? Blogs etc)

I’m doing a couple of book signings next year but mostly social media. To be honest, I’m still surprised when people contact me, though it does make my day!

Can you tell us about your latest book? (is it part of a series, genre)

“The Ragged People” follows on from “Superstition”, starting at the beginning of Arden’s last year at school. Everything is going fine until she is terrified by something lurking in the shadows. Everyone tells her it’s nothing, but not convinced, she looks into it some more and finds that something horrifying is going on.

How long did it take you to write the book?

Every book I’ve done takes me a year, give or take a month depending on how much editing I need to do.

Do you have a favourite character/topic in your work?

Good versus evil and how it is mostly a matter of perspective. Can “bad” people do good things and vice versa? Does intention matter and how much? Who decides what is good and what is bad and how well can that be done without the benefit of hindsight, knowing the outcome?

What was your process? Did you plot out the entire book, or just let the storyline flow? Do you write in chronological order?

I have an idea and run with it, then cut and paste madly. Rewrite it a lot then hire a really good editor! I’ve tried to be logical and methodical about it, but it doesn’t read as well. I lose something by being too planned, possibly because I get bored and it shows.

Do you have plans for further instalments?

Yes – possibly up to five.

Do you have a plan for your next book?

I have an idea… Golems…

Some general writing questions

Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when reading?

Definitely ebooks – I love being able to flick between my favourites or get a new book in seconds. I also read a book a day and don’t think I could afford that many paperbacks!

Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing?

I’ve done both and each have advantages and disadvantages. For me, I like the flexibility and control of self-publishing, but traditional publishing still opens many doors that are closed to self-published authors in terms of marketing and distribution. The thing I find hardest is marketing, and regardless of which way you go, you still have to do most of it yourself, though publishers do give you some guidance as well as a boost your credibility. Is it worth giving up control of your book and the bulk of the profits for it though? I still run each book via my agent, but the big ones are taking so few risks that they’re not interested unless it’s absolutely brilliant, rather than merely entertaining. I think the industry is changing, but it’s hard at the moment because the traditional publishers are shrinking but at the same time, there is so much out there of variable quality in the self-published market that it’s hard to get attention. Sometimes it feels like I’m jumping up and down in a dark and empty room. It’s frustrating, but knowing that I’d write even if no one was reading means I’m not disheartened by it.

And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Ignore the doubts and keep on going. Also have a few friends who aren’t authors who will tell you that you are brilliant, even when you’re not because no one starts out amazing and you have to keep going if you’re going to get there. Author friends will try to manage your expectations, which is the last thing you need when you’re starting out. Live the dream and enjoy it! There is more than enough reality waiting for you later.
Thank you so much for sharing your story, your book and your advice with us this week. It was a great journey and as a fellow writer who doesn't know what sleep is, it is good to know there are others out there like us. 
If you'd like to know more about Lucy, you can reach her here:Website: www.lcfenton.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/lcfentonauth... @lfenAmazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/L-C-Fenton/e/B0... https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Thank you for visiting Amanda Howard
Check out my site at http://www.amandahoward.com.au
and
My Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Howard/e...

Author Interview: Filmaker and Author Brian Kavanagh

Welcome back readers,

This week I am interviewing filmmaker and author, Brian Kavanagh. I have to admit I am having a bit of a fangirl moment here!  How is this for a resume?

Brian is a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Film Editors Guild and an Australian Film Institute award for Best Editing for the children's film, Frog Dreaming. He has also produced and directed, AFI award winning A City's Child. His films have been screened at the London Film Festival as well as Edinburgh, Montreal, Chicago and Adelaide, where A City's Child won the Gold Southern Cross Advertiser Award for Best Australian Film. Brian is also a member of the Australian Society of Authors.

Can you tell us a bit about you as an author?

For all my life I was a filmmaker, working on feature films, documentaries and TV dramas, so effectively I was always a story teller. My main area of production was as an editor which entailed shaping the final product. An editor should have knowledge or appreciation of the arts, as they all come together in the cutting room, and knowing how to utilise them to the best effect in creating and telling a story. This also included writing film scripts, so it was a natural progression to branch out into writing novels. So far I have limited my writing to mysteries, light entertainment, but with (hopefully) characters that come alive for the reader. I enjoy writing my mysteries, as the central characters, Belinda Lawrence and Hazel Whitby, have become close friends and we collaborate as each new adventure presents itself, and I discover more and more about their personalities and emotions. Each mystery is character driven and centred on some historical event or object which is at the core of each contemporary story. I have another novel I’m working on which is not a mystery, but an exploration of sibling differences and the possibility of reincarnation.

What are the hardest part of being an author?

I wouldn’t say there is any part of writing that is hard. There can be frustration if a character refuses to be open with you and allow you to know them. Searching for the right word which remains elusive. Ensuring the pace is right for each scene and how it fits on the overall rhythm of the story. Irritations rather than ‘hard’.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

Satisfaction if I think the story works, meeting new characters as they appear, plotting the action, creating a mood or atmosphere, finding humour in a situation and building on it, editing and improving. All of that, plus positive reviews from readers who are on the same wave-length the stories are pitched at.

What authors/books have had an influence on your writing?

How to answer that? I imagine every book I’ve read has had some influence on me, some lasting, and some ephemeral. But authors who I admire and return to are Evelyn Waugh, Iris Murdoch, and E.F.Benson. When younger I read the classics when I could as well as contemporary authors of the time, John Steinbeck, Gore Vidal, Hal Porter, Truman Capote et al. Agatha Christie of course and I recalled only recently that at an even younger age I read Sexton Blake mysteries, so I guess I’ve always been attracted to mystery novels as a genre and now with the i/net I’m discovering more and more early mystery writers and their works. I have a fascination with the works of Fergus Hume, whose novel Mystery of a Hansom Cab was a huge international success at the beginning of the 20th century, and I have collected many of his works over the years. So I have to say all of these great talents have influenced me in one way or another.

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?

Writer’s Block. It can happen, if you believe it stops an author from writing at all. Otherwise, there can be a point when inspiration fails or a plot twist creates a problem for which there is no swift resolution. When and if that happens, I walk away; wait for the answer to emerge, which it will. The point is not to dwell on it and eventually things will clarify and you can see the resolution. One of the characters in the story may tell you. I know I go on about listening to the characters, but they have to be real for me because if they not, they will not be to the reader.

Do you have a particular place that you like to write?

I write in what I call ‘the study’; but it is just a spare room full of bit and bobs and me at the computer. But writing is not confined to the computer or the room. The mind is always writing and hopeful those words will be incorporated in the story.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

Morning, night, either.

How do you like to reach your readers? 

Most of my contact with readers comes via FaceBook. I use Twitter but that seems unsatisfactory to me. I like the response and contact I have with readers via FaceBook, not only about the books but information we exchange about our lives and friends. It brings a closeness that I appreciate and an understanding of my readers with their likes and dislikes.

Can you tell us about your latest book?    
My most recent book is MURDER ON THE ISLAND, which is the sixth book in my Belinda Lawrence amateur sleuth series.

How long did it take you to write the book?

Difficult to tell as I don’t work to a deadline, unless I set one for myself. On average it takes about six months from inception to final draft and publication.

Do you have a favourite character/topic in your work?

I would have to say Belinda’s cohort, girl Friday, ADC, Hazel Whitby. As much as I like Belinda, Hazel is worldlier (maybe even world-weary) inclined to be outrageous yet attuned to contemporary fashions and ‘having a good time’. It is interesting that Hazel appears in the first book, CAPABLE OF MURDER more or less as a supernumerary but when writing the second book, THE EMBROIDERED CORPSE she was at my elbow nudging me, flirting, seductive, and eventually won me over. Hazel is a good foil for Belinda and the two women bounce off each other with opposite personalities and tastes. Belinda developing and unsure: Hazel who has seen it all, but still has her radar well-tuned for the right man to come into her life. Plus, she’s a lot of fun.

What was your process? Did you plot out the entire book, or just let the storyline flow? Do you write in chronological order?

Once I settle on the core of the story, I like to have a beginning and where I think it will end. But generally I let it flow, as various characters get involved and I discover more about them and their place in the scheme of things. Also, Belinda and Hazel are developing so I like to be fluid when writing to enable them to tell me more about themselves. As each story has an historical item or event as its core, I do a lot of research, and often ideas that are new to me, come out of that research.

Do you have plans for further instalments?

Further books are planned as Belinda’s life unfolds.

Do you have a plan for your next book?

I have started on Book Seven, ILLUSION OF DEATH which is set on Belinda’s hometown of Melbourne, Australia as was Book Five, A WICKED DESIGN. This time, Belinda is recovering from a broken romance and she and Hazel holiday in the city. The plot concerns evidence of an early film made in Melbourne last century and the two women get caught up in the intrigue and machinations created by opposing parties who have a vested interest in the old film and its restoration.

Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when reading?

I prefer Physical but admit eBooks are convenient and that suits my needs at the moment, certainly for light entertainment and biographies. For more serious works, I find it uncomfortable to read electronically.

Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing?

The industry has changed, and I believe traditional publishers have lost the plot. They don’t seem to know how to deal with eBooks and the number of authors who are self-publishing. There are distinct advantages for an author to self-publish, in essence, cutting out the middle man. Agents and publishers don’t seem to have their fingers on the pulse of what readers want, and so let potential money-makers for them slip through those fingers.

And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Do it. Just that, do it. Self-publish if you wish. If your writing strikes a chord with readers, then it will be worth it. Nothing is easy but there is no point in giving up. They say ‘write what you know about’. I say, write what you want to write about. They also say ‘you’ve either got it, or you ain’t’. There’s only one way for a writer to find out. Publish and be damned! And have fun!

Thank you so much Brian, there is so much valuable information in your interview. I have really enjoyed listening to you. 
Those who'd like to know more, please check out Brian here:
Website: http://beekayvic.tripod.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.kavanagh.71

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bkauthor

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Brian-Kavanagh/...

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dash...

CV: filmmaker2.webs.com
Thanks again readers for dropping in. If you'd like to be interviewed for this blog or have an interesting story to tell please drop me a line. 
Until next week!
Cheers
Amanda
Thank you for visiting Amanda Howard
Check out my site at http://www.amandahoward.com.au
and
My Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Howard/e...

The Author's Journey: Part 3: The Creative Process - The Trials and Tribulations

Welcome again to the third edition of The Author's Journey.

I am writing this as part of my Master of Arts (Writing) under the subject PWR70002 - Online Writing and I want to share with emerging writers as well as those who are keen to further their own writing. I have already put out the request to my fellow authors for help once again creating some helpful advice, honest insights and tips and tricks for those who are on their own journey of writing. The comments and emails are coming through and I am finding that some of my peers have some incredible ideas that help them in their creative endeavours.

This week's topic was actually a suggestion by my lecturer who prompted me by saying, I needed to further examine the "complexity of creativity as part of the human condition." (Clover, 2016) And so that is where today's post goes. We have already looked at what inspires the writer, but now we must further investigate the trials and tribulations of the creative process. How we create, how we design and how we research the idea that inspired us.

We all have our own complex processes. Those things that help us work through a problem, or perhaps it is a point of reference that will always be a guiding light for our creative processes.  We can decide to travel to different countries or even different worlds, we can create new places, new processes, new ideas and even some authors have gone on to be the inspiration for inventors. Our creative process allows us to fly, to be free of constraint, we push boundaries and we make our characters suffer, in the name of our creative process.

Amy Wright, owner and author over at Murder Library and Serial Killer GPS app and the associated Facebook page which is incredibly informative explains her creative process...

Once I have an idea and start to put it on paper, I like to look at photos of the subject. I usually print them out or save them to a document, and start writing down words or phrases that come to mind when I'm looking at them. I often put the photos into a timeline, and write underneath. Eventually I can mix it all together to form my piece.

Musician and author Peter Altieri has a different approach to his creative process

For me, silence is golden. I get creative most times when I'm ready to write and the house is quiet. The next best thing is putting on headphones and listen to thunderstorm noise. With kids and grandkids, I've had to get creative over the years in many ways.

Charlotte Frisby  shares a similar approach to Peter, in preferring silence to create, both in mind and body.

Creativity comes often after the initial idea has formed in my mind, when I listen to a particular piece of music that 'fits' the story - always classical. Then sections of the story will flow in my mind. The house has to be empty and tidy - not sure why but if I have other things to do, that intrudes on the process and instead of figuring out how the character could be killed, the character drifts off to do housework or something equally odd. 

Authors are well known procrastinators. I cannot tell you how many times I have paired all the socks in the odd-sock basket, purely to avoid having to face the dreaded realisation that I have a void of ideas and I know that I should be writing.  I find the cleaning bug often strikes too when I have spare time and the opportunity to get in some extra writing time. We can find some extremely creative ways to avoid the fear of writing.  Of course these days we also have social media, for most of us it's a new way to avoid writing, and it can be extremely detrimental to the writing process, but sometimes the creative process can be so extremely enjoyable that nothing can get in our way when we are writing. It is those moments that makes it all truly worth it. Even looking through older status on my facebook I find some amazing comments that make me love the creative process of pulling ideas together.

 Tegan Barber another of my "serial killer" friends (in that she writes about serial killers, not that she is one)

My creativity comes to me from the real world and real people. I commonly find myself sitting in a public place like a cafe and writing down random bits of conversations I overhear or things I see that I like such as hair colour, tattoo ideas or building design.

Author David Russell goes a little deeper in his thought process on how he works through is early creative process,

Creativity is imagination, and the imagination is the creativity. The two go hand in hand.
For me, creativity isn't the process of putting the words down, it is what happens in the mind. After that comes the transition from mind to paper, the hard work. I visualise the things I want others to see, and describe those things as best I can. I'd like to think that more often not it works out okay.

Award winning author Rosanne Dingli explains

Inspiration means as little to me as "idea". Until either has been solidified into a good concept, with a solid premise, some tangible leads forward, and a proper understanding of what their whole might become, I trust neither ideas nor inspiration.

My life has shown me that idea-driven projects fail unless that ethereal inspired fragment has been taken and made real. Inspiration must be acted upon, and not only by putting the thought in writing. One must tackle the topic, see what others have done before, work on what emerges using analytical principles, and THEN one might have something worth developing.

A dear friend, author Karen Carlise has gone all out when responding to the question I posed. I think
it really highlights the pure joy of the creative process of an author and why we come back book after book, spending hour after lonely hour pulling together incredible ideas and amazing storylines.

Ah, research. Now you’re talking! This is the fun bit.

Once I have the seed of an idea, I need to let it grow. I try to immerse myself in the atmosphere, the mindset and the mechanics of the story. For me that is often nineteenth century, with a twist. But to know where to twist reality, and still keep the reader’s suspension of belief, requires a lot of background information.

First I gather up as many visuals as I can find (I’m a visual person: possibly the artist in me?): photos, maps and books written on my chosen theme/subject for a story. Fortunately, there are many virtual tours of historical buildings and ‘Victorian lifestyle’ documentaries available either online or on DVD. I sometimes make drawings of specific contraptions or characters...

For Doctor Jack, I read books and articles, and watched a slew of Jack the Ripper documentaries (including one with you, Amanda - you can watch it here). Currently I am reading Magic: stage illusions and scientific diversions, including trick photography (published in 1897) for the third book in my current series.

For the ‘smells and bells’, I do as many road trips as I can afford. I’ve done photoshoots in historic areas of Adelaide and, earlier this year, our local library did a bus tour of early historic buildings in the area; we were permitted to walk through some privately-owned buildings and discuss their history with the owners and local historian. I’ve even had a guided tour of ‘behind the walls’ at one of the Medici palaces in Florence. That will likely feature in another story that’s been bubbling away...

When I can’t physically experience something, I return to my default: do research... I’ve been fortunate to have experienced many things in my lifetime. I have friends who have done research or lecture in the most amazing (or obscure) subjects and are willing to share their experiences. This helps to germinate the seeds of my ideas. Then I just need to feed them with research and hope they grow.

So pushing further into this process, I want to share my own, explaining that first concept when inspiration has already struck and now the creative process begins, using my most recent true crime book, Rope: A History of the Hanged.  The concept and inspiration was the easy part, write a book on hangings, but then I needed to get creative, writing about a dozen or so people being hanged would be very very dull. So where did I take that?

WRITING NON-FICTION
Though I will go into research in a lot more depth later in the Author's journey, I will touch on it slightly here also. Having written many true crime books, I have some incredible resources to fall back on, working through piles of historical reading material I let the stories become part of my creative process. Finding themes, such as people that had been hanged wrongly, and wrongly hanged. Stories of escape. There was no writing just yet, just getting the ideas flowing, using some records as a basis of the book, and then searching through my own assumed knowledge that floats around my brain I was able to start bringing together some great ideas. I began with some very rough chapter headings, murders by hanging, suicides, escapes, the creative juices quickly began to flow as I recalled cases that would fit perfectly into the various chapter headings I had penciled in.

WRITING FICTION
Now I hear you now... "But Amanda, I am not writing a book on hangings, I am not even writing a non-fiction, so how does this help me?"  Recently someone asked how different is it writing in both fiction and non-fiction, and my response was that they are both challenging in their own ways. Non-fiction requires that massive amount of research and references and various amounts of checking and cross checking, with fiction you are free to write whatever you want and then get stuck when your muse is not talking to you. So whilst in non-fiction the 'story' is already there, it is restrictive, and in fiction it is non-restrictive, but you need to ramp up the imagination and creativity. This can be tricky. I often collate a pile of ideas and notes (see previous posts about inspiration and where to be begin) and then it's time to get creative.

Even when I am working in fiction, I put together a chapter list, a list of ideas, a brief explanation of what I want to happen and when, including the ending if I have it. Now it may begin as a list of 15-20 linked ideas, for instance various victims (I write thrillers so there is always a body count), a couple of red herrings, some personal events for the main characters, a few diverging issues that keep the story interesting. Often these little tantalizing ideas will get the creative process bubbling along. I work out how the killer become entwined with the story line, how they are caught. Of course it sounds a lot easier than it is in process. Often I will find massive gaps and need to work on that process. I talk to family, friends and readers about ideas, seeing how far I can push the boundaries. Still no story line detail is written, just working out that first creative journey.  If I am stuck or frustrated, I will often go for a run, often with my phone to my ear, talking through ideas with those who understand my process, bouncing ideas, asking advice. I need to find the skeleton (pardon the pun) of the story line before I can start.


Though I have mentioned earlier that writing in fiction is much freer than non-fiction, there is still plenty of research that can go into a story. I've freaked out my neighbours by conducting blood splatter experiments in my back yard. I've spent countless hours talking to serial killers, getting into their minds, learning the way they speak, it is those kinds of creative details that can make the stories more believable and in my case, (hopefully) far more chilling.

This is the joy of a writer when the process is working and working well. It can be just as exciting as the actual writing. I have marvelled at artifacts from history as I have travelled to different countries in search of research material, I have stood where many a criminal was hanged and felt the chills wash over me. A moment in time can inspire a hundred story lines if you get creative with your processes.

I know many of you are extremely keen to talk through what happens when the muse is mute and writer's block strikes. That will be another topic coming soon, so be sure to keep visiting for more.

WRITING TASK
Until next time, I leave you with a little writing task, something to get those creative juices flowing.  This was something I did earlier in my Master's degree and found the responses quite amazing. Write about a first in your life. First kiss, first tragedy, first fear, first bike, first friend, first book, first loss... Make it something that is outside of your comfort zone and also write outside your genre... if you write humour, write something tragic, if you write romance, write something horror. Go to the opposite end of your scale and see what you can create!

HAPPY WRITING





Cheers,

Amanda Howard

If you'd like to be involved in this blog, be interviewed about your latest book or if you have a story to tell. Please contact me via the links below.

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Check out my site at http://www.amandahoward.com.au
and
My Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Howard/e...

Author Interview: Award winning author Leonie Rogers

Hey Everyone,
Thanks for joining us again this week.   

This week, I am interviewing Leonie Rogers.

Growing up in Western Australia, Leonie was an avid reader from an early age. Her mother vividly recalls her stating “I can read faster with my eyes than you can with your mouth, Mum…” at around the age of six. Her parents and great aunt encouraged her interest in literature, providing her with books of many different genres, and . She began writing during high school, placing in the Western Australian Young Writers Award in 1980, and she fondly remembers several of her English teachers, who encouraged her to write, both fiction and poetry.

Leonie trained at Curtin University as a physiotherapist and moved to the remote north west of Western Australia, as a new graduate, in late 1986. She continued to write poetry for herself and for friends. Living in the remote northwest, she had the opportunity to work with camels, fight fires as a volunteer fire fighter, and develop vertical rescue and cyclone operation skills with the State Emergency Service.

After relocating to NSW with her husband and two children, Leonie continued to work as a physiotherapist, while still dabbling with writing. Finally deciding to stop procrastinating, Leonie decided to write the novel she’d had sitting in the back of her head for the last twenty years. Her husband and two teenage children have been extremely tolerant of the amount of time she has devoted to writing in the last few years.

Can you tell us a bit about you as an author?

I’ve always written, however there was a bit of a hiatus when the kids came along. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I required a knee reconstruction after a skiing accident, and finally had enough time to write the book I’d been thinking about for twenty years. It’s now published, and called Frontier Incursion - Book 1 of the Frontier Trilogy.. It’s officially YA Sci-fi, but seems to read well with most ages and also cat lovers.

What are the hardest parts of being an author?

The hardest part for me, is simply having enough time to write as much as I’d like too!

What do you enjoy most about being an author?

I love it when the ideas flow, and the story unfolds itself. I also love people enjoying my work - I know how much joy other authors have brought into my own life, and to provide such enjoyment for others is a privilege.

What authors/books have had an influence on your writing?

C.S.Lewis said he wrote the books he wanted to read. I think that was excellent advice. I also suspect that pretty well every author I’ve ever read has had some kind of influence on the way I write in some way or other.

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?

I’m not sure it’s Writer’s Block as such, but more a moment in the story when I’m not quite certain which direction to take. Usually I either write something different, or just work my way slowly through dialogue and see what the characters think about what’s going on. Subsequent drafts are for fixing what doesn’t work.

Do you have a particular place that you like to write?

I usually write at home, but I really enjoy writing in cafes and on long car trips in the car. (I am not the one driving at the time!) Sometimes I park myself and my laptop in one of the local cafes and just write and drink coffee.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

Morning’s are good, and afternoons, and evenings :)

How do you like to reach your readers?

I like to reach my readers on social media, and also face to face where possible. I live in a rural area, so social media works well. I hang around on Facebook and Twitter, and love being on Goodreads. I also blog.

Can you tell us about your latest book?  
My latest book is called Frontier Defiant, and it’s the last instalment of the Frontier Trilogy. It’s officially YA sci-fi, and features, Shanna, her starcats, and invading aliens.

How long did it take you to write the book?

Definately probably took about six months in first draft form, but then there were the other drafts…

Do you have a favourite character/topic in your work?

The Frontier books are full of starcats - glow in the dark one hundred kilogram cats. I actually wish they were real, and apparently so do my readers. I love writing them, because they’re super cat-like, but even more special. They can vanish at will, travel rapidly, and protect their friends from the dangerous wildlife of Frontier. However, they do like to sleep on the bed, just like normal cats, so it might be problematic if they were real.

What was your process? Did you plot out the entire book, or just let the storyline flow? Do you write in chronological order?

I’m a combination panster/planner. I always know the beginning and the end, but what happens in the middle happens as I write it. I generally have a few things I know need to happen along the way, but for me it’s a bit like watching a movie unfold. I see the pictures inside my head and then I write them down. Sometimes I have to go back and delete a few.

Do you have plans for further instalments?

There are a few Frontier plots rumbling around inside my head, and I think I will be revisiting the characters sometime in the future, but for the moment I’m working on a completely different project.

Do you have a plan for your next book?

My next book is already written, and I’m part way through the second one in that series. It’s a fantasy this time, and will also (at this point) be a trilogy. I’m also part way through writing a space based sci-fi.

None of these have a publisher at this time, but I’m hopeful. My test readers have enjoyed them, and have been helpful in refining them.

Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when reading?

I love both. I’m mostly reading eBooks at the moment, because they’re so easy to cart around - I can carry hundreds of books in my handbag! Having said that, I love to purchase favourites in physical form so I can enjoy both the lovely cover art and the smell and feel of the paper. On the other hand, when you fall asleep reading a massive book electronically, it doesn’t usually concuss you when you drop it on your head.

Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing?

I’m traditionally published by small press (My Frontier Series) and also have a couple of short stories in two self published anthologies. I think the industry is changing quite rapidly, and that we don’t really know where it’s going yet.

I’ve read some absolutely excellent self published authors, and some absolutely excellent traditionally published authors. I’ve also read some not so great books in both formats.

I suspect that there will be room for all formats in the future, and I think that many self published authors are taking a much more professional approach to their work, which is a credit to them.

And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?

I’d suggest that aspiring authors work on the basics - spelling, grammar, showing vs telling. Think about plots, engage with your characters, and have a circle of helpful, honest readers who aren’t afraid to tell you what they really think. And when those same readers tell you what they really think, take it on board, and listen - don’t be offended. As writers, it’s what we all need.
Thank you so much for joining me this week Leonie. 
If you'd like to connect with Leonie, you can find her here:
Website: www.leonierogers.me
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/leonierogersauthor/?fref=nf
Twitter: @RaeYesac
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Leonie-Rogers/...
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6542929.Leonie_Rogers?from_search=true
If you'd like to be interviewed for this blog, or have an interesting story to tell, please drop me a line.
Until next week! See ya
Cheers
Amanda 




Thank you for visiting Amanda Howard
Check out my site at http://www.amandahoward.com.au
and
My Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Howard/e...

Author Interview - Kam Newton and her debut book His Beautiful Nightmare

This week, I welcome Kam Newton, author of  His Beautiful Nightmare, as my victim interviewee . It is lovely to have you here to chat about your new book.

To begin, can you tell us a bit about you as an author? 
Since I was 12 I have wanted to write my own stories but that’s all it was really, a dream in the back of my mind. It was only last year though when I was introduced to the world of ebooks and Indi authors that I finally felt like I had the opportunity to take that first step. I was so excited to finally put this series of characters onto paper and hope people like them as much as I enjoyed writing them. 
What are the hardest part of being an author? For me it’s trying to work around my disability. When I was four I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis which affects all my joints including my hands. Just recently I had to postpone my release because I had a flare that has lasted nearly 3 months now. I have really only been able to start writing again the last few weeks. It’s not something I can predict only maintain. So I just have to go with the flow and work as I can. My friends, other authors and those waiting to read HBN have been incredibly understanding when I had to explain why my book was delayed yet again. We have a very lovely little community in the Indi world and I’m so proud to be a part of it.

What do you enjoy most about being an author? I love that I can let my imagination go wild, there are no restrictions on who your characters are or who they can become.

What authors/books have had an influence on your writing? I love T.M Frazier, Tillie Cole, Harper Sloan and Lane Hart. It’s hard to choose who really influenced me the most, I think it was a bit of all of them.

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?
Absolutely, I was told once that your characters are like your imaginary friends in your head and writers block is just when they stop talking to you. I believe that most days, sometimes I can sit there for an hour trying to find the words my character would have said and it’s like they won’t tell me what they are thinking and nothing I write for them is good enough. I spend that time rereading through my work instead until they decide to cooperate with me haha.

Do you have a particular place that you like to write? When I first started writing it was just me and my laptop on my lounge or in bed with my children climbing all over me, which was quite a challenge. Now I have taken over my son’s old room for my very own writing cave. It’s all set up where I can lock myself away and pound the keys to all hours of the morning which has helped with my focus.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write? Honestly. I usually have to wait till my kids are in bed to really get in the zone of writing so I can get that momentum going. I love hiding away in my writing cave with a bit of music going and just see what comes out.

How do you like to reach your readers? I’m only a new author, His Beautiful Nightmare is my debut so I am still new to all this. Primarily I use social media, facebook to be specific, I practically live there haha. I am looking forward to 2017 though because I have the fantastic opportunity to attend two book signings. My first thanks to Kat T Masen who is hosting Books By The Bridge in Sydney next February and then Riveting Reads in Brisbane in October. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone there and do a little fan girling of my own with most of my own favourite Indi authors attending. 
I practically live on Facebook so that’s the best place to find out everything that is going on with my releases, events and my random ramblings. Though I am new to Twitter also so please bear with me while I try at learn to be a twit haha.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorkamnew... @authorkamnewton
Can you tell us about your latest book? His Beautiful Nightmare is the first book in The Suffer Ring Series. It’s about this gorgeous and
curvy rockabilly chick named Ruby Lee and the bad boy Cobolt Wolfe who comes into town to shake up her world. It has a little bit of everything in there I think, bad boys, sassy girls, tattoos, classic cars and a little darkness mixed in. I guess all the things I like to read about myself.

How long did it take you to write the book?I am a very slow writer, I have been writing HBN on and off since September last year, though I have had some health issues over that time, so I would say more like 6 months of solid writing time to get it to publication.

Do you have a favourite character/topic in your work? I love Ellie (Eloise), she is the ultimate best friend and is a combination of a few of my own friends in one. She is bright, sassy and funny. She will be getting her own book in The Suffer Ring series because I feel her story really needs to be told, she is more than just a character to me.

What was your process? Did you plot out the entire book, or just let the storyline flow? Do you write in chronological order? I’m a flow writer, I have a rough idea of where everything fits but really I let the characters determine the story. I had a dream about the ending of HBN last year and decided to write it out thinking that’s where it was heading. I looked back at it just a few days ago and realised how much the characters had changed the direction of this story since then. I love how sometimes I don’t even know what’s going to happen next, I excite myself haha.

Do you have plans for further instalments? Yes I also have plans to release a spin off series to The Suffer Ring Series later down the track.

Do you have a plan for your next book? My next book will be the second book in The Suffer Ring Series called Our Stolen Illusion, which is the story of Xander and Ivy. I do have a standalone that is itching at me to be written so I’m still unsure if to take some time after OSI to write that or to wait till the series is complete. I think I will just have to see what feels right at the time.

Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when reading? I love the feel and dare I say smell of a good paperback (another confessed book sniffer - Amanda), there is nothing like it. I get all my favourite books on paperback and I hope to eventually get them all signed too. Though I love ebooks because I have discovered some amazing Indie authors this way and If I go anywhere I can take my kindle with me and have my entire library at my fingertips

Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing?I think they both have their merits; you just have to find what format suits you personally. I’d love to publish with a company and be the next Nickolas Sparks, EL James or JL Perry but I am happy self-publishing and knowing that I am doing this for myself because I have always wanted to write my own books and this is a way I am able to achieve that.

And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Give it a go. If you think you can do it and want to give it a try, then why not. There is no one stopping you but yourself. I was surprised by how much support I got from my family and friends. I honestly thought they would call me a fool and think nothing more of it. Instead I got messages and phone calls encouraging me to go for it and take that chance. It’s the best decision I have made and with ebooks and Indi-publishing anyone can do it now. All you have to do is try.
Thank you so much Kam for dropping in with your debut book, I hope we can follow you on your writing journey and it would be a pleasure to have you back with each book as we follow the Suffer Ring series. 
Thank you readers for once again droppin by. If you'd like to be interviewed for this blog, please drop me a line at amanda@amandahoward.com.au or find me on facebook.

Cheers, 
AmandaThank you for visiting Amanda Howard
Check out my site at http://www.amandahoward.com.au
and
My Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Howard/e...

Author Interview: Steve Dillon, Author, Artist, Editor, Publisher, Publicist and Philanthropist

Hey fellow readers and writers. This week I am interviewing Steve Dillon: author, artist, editor, designer, publicist, publisher and philanthropist

Steve Dillon is one of over 30 artists and writers involved in the creation of the fantastic collaboration The Refuge Collection. The book can be described as a series of tales about a place called Refuge. "Heaven to Some, Hell to Others". It's a place where the thin veil of death is often torn asunder, where Egyptian gods roam freely alongside Lovecraft's mythos deities. There are tales of terror, suicide and murder, perverted priests, corrupt politicians. All in the name of charity, with stories from Ramsey Campbell, Kaaron Warren, Paul Kane, Lee Murray, Tracie McBride, Mark Allan Gunnells and many more! So far, 32 interwoven stories have been published online, and the last few tales are in progress. Book 1 is out now, (Heaven to Some...) and this contains the first 18 stories by 12 authors), and the remaining 18 will be included in book 2 (Hell to Others!)

Steve not only wrote 15 stories for Refuge, but also contributed artwork and cover design work. He was also the series editor.  All of that equals a pretty big job in my eyes. 
Well done Steve and thanks for coming today to talk to me about your contributions to The Refuge Collection.  Can you tell us a bit about you as an author? 
Writing fiction has always been a hobby, but as our kids have grown older, I’ve found more and more time to develop the hobby. Writing is now a passion; a compulsion and is rapidly in danger of becoming an obsession.

What are the hardest part of being an author?
Finding the time to get the ideas down before the next idea hits me. That, and the dreams… When I’m immersed in any project, whether that’s painting or writing, sleep becomes more like walking I’m just walking in a different world. Since I started work in The Refuge Collection, each night is like a visit to Refuge. I dream its streets into being, meet up with and converse with its people, study about their personalities and wonder what adventures will befall them next. I seldom sleep more than a couple of hours before waking, and if the ideas are buzzing about me—the hornets, I call these—then getting back to sleep is very difficult. Sometimes I have to switch on the laptop and start writing. Is that bad?

What do you enjoy most about being an author? 
Above all, the ability to construct an alternate reality, to play out my dreams, to test my theories, explore the interactions between ideas and personalities. Of course, this can be done while I’m painting, but writing provides—for me at least—a much faster means of transport to get there.

What authors/books have had an influence on your writing? 
I’m hesitant to offer a long list of writers, but of course everything we read influences us. The first library book I recall reading was a Doctor Who story. It was way above my age, but I was enthralled and subsequently labelled a ‘bookworm’ by my family. After filling my world with Spiderman, Doctor Strange, The Avengers and all those early British Marvel comics, I moved on to read more Science Fiction—I was equally attracted to the artwork and I collected Sci-Fi posters and artwork. I turned to fantasy after a while— everything by Tolkien, Terry Brooks’s Magic Kingdom and Shannara Chronicles (I hated the TV series) and of course Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea. I’ve Lol’d at most of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld books and peripherals. My main inspiration for the darker side of fiction comes from Clive Barker, Ramsey Campbell (who has a story in The Refuge Collection), HP Lovecraft, MR James, Brian Lumley and many more. Since coming to Australia, I’ve discovered a much broader wellspring among my colleagues and friends, as well as my co-writers at The Refuge Collection. Lee Murray’s ‘Into The Mist’ leaps out at me as one of the best novellas I’ve read recently, but I mostly read short stories now. I also listen to audiobooks on my daily commute, and have recently discovered Ian Tregillis’s ‘Something More than Night’ which in my opinion is a modern archetype. When I was young, I read the Bible studiously (especially Revelations), as well as Shakespeare (I memorised most of Macbeth and large sections of Hamlet and Richard III.)

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing? 
I believe in it, because people often refer to it. I have tried to write three novels, one of which got to 60,000 words before I put it down and accepted the fact that it was something I’d never finish. That’s not a block, in my opinion, even though it may be a dead end. There’s plenty more to write about, after all. Ideas come to me all day every day and I find I have to block them out, so I don’t believe I’ll ever suffer from lack of ideas. Personally, I find writing to be more of a sludge at times, when I have to pause the ideas factory in my head to write stuff down—the details if you like—when I really just want to crack on with the story.

Do you have a particular place that you like to write? 
At my day job, if I can get away with it—that’s where I’m writing at the moment. Usually when I’m waiting for some information before I can proceed with something. I write in bed sometimes, or on the commuter train—with earplugs in—and that’s where I wrote the first draft of ‘The Shiraz Train.’ I also have a dedicated space where I work at my day job as well as write, and I travel a lot and stay in hotels, so I do a lot of reading and writing at restaurants or in my hotel room. In general, I prefer solitude and quiet, so I always carry earplugs with me.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?
During working hours is preferred, but not always practical as my day job gets in the way. Other than that, not really.

How do you like to reach your readers? (Social media? Book signings? Blogs etc.)
I use Facebook a lot, and Twitter tends to feed off that. We also have a fantastic web site built by Eric Gross, one of our contributing artists. I’d love to engage more in person at book shows and conventions, etc. but I’m fairly restricted in that respect because of my job, family commitments and geographical constraints.

Can you tell us about The Refuge Collection?‘The Refuge Collection’ is a series of short, standalone, scary tales set in the shared, mysterious world of Refuge. 36 tales from Refuge have been imagined by about 30 writers and artists, but they also inter-leave and form a large organically-grown story-tree. It’s often in my own stories, and in my role as series editor, where we graft the other branches to the tree, or plant seeds that can grow into other tales, allowing the characters to blossom between stories.

All the proceeds are for charity to aid refugees, and we see this as a way for fictional horror stories to help people who are living real-life horror stories.

How long did it take to write the book?
“Book 1 of The Refuge Collection—subtitled ‘Heaven to Some’—saw print about 9 months after I kicked off the project, and Book 2—subtitled ‘Hell to Others’—will follow about 3 months later. A lot of that time is spent working with the other writers on how the plot will flow, and sequencing of the stories.

Do you have a favourite character/topic in the book?
Refuge is populated with an assortment of characters that are often revisited in different tales, sometimes by different writers. The town’s mayor is a devious, devilish sort, and along with father Millar, the corrupt parish priest, he’s probably the one most writers want to include in their own stories.

What was your process? Did you plot out the entire book, or just let the storyline flow? Do you write in chronological order?
I began by writing a few inter-related short stories in quick succession, to flesh out some of the key characters, places and events. Then the other writers developed the themes, contributed their storylines and ideas, and we worked together to make them all fit together. One of the stories, by Ramsey Campbell, is a reprint, and this needed to be adapted slightly to fit into Refuge. My most recent stories are inspired by the events and happenings that other writers have brought to Refuge through their stories. Although I had a beginning and an ending in mind, how those two elements came together have largely been affected by the other tales and the imagination of the other writers.

Do you have plans for further instalments?
Yes. Book 2 will be out later this year, and we’ve already begun writing for The Refuge Companion, which will include some additional stories, but also character summaries, plot overviews, and additional thoughts. Easter eggs and puzzles will be solved, and some of the symbolism in the books will be expounded upon.

Do you have a plan for your next book?
I don’t know that Refuge will ever let me go, and I’ve been asked by some of the writers to make this an annual project. Plus, we’ve already held discussions for a TV series, graphic novels, a role-playing game, etc. But I’m also trying to find time to write non-Refuge work for competitions and for escapism. The problem is, they always seem to draw me back to Refuge… I’m writing one about cats at the moment, and cats feature heavily in Refuge, so who knows?
Author, editor, artist, publicist, philanthropist... what do find to be the hardest "job"?
“Series editor, definitely. Being in control to some extent of the underlying plot – the shared world side of things, as well as the underlying empathy with the refugee situation – meant I sometimes had to explain why key characters couldn’t be killed off, or why a certain plot point wouldn’t work. In some cases, multiple review cycles were needed and eventually I ended up turning down stories after several revisions because we just couldn’t make it work. That was quite draining on my time and energy.

There are often people who try to detract from author's work. How do you deal with trolls/haters/detractors? 
“I see it all as personal opinion. I was never a Stephen King fan (now we’ll get the hate mail!), but I know he has sold one or two stories, so he must be good. If Stephen King was to write the way I’d like him to write, maybe it would be worse for that. Who knows? Having said that, some of his movies are great, and I loved ‘Needful Things.’

Why did you decide to help a charity with this book?
“I’ve always tried to help where I could. I generally avoid the news because I usually feel so helpless, but this one time I was visiting my Mum who lives in the UK. I turned on her TV and saw the real humane crisis that is the refugee situation, and I cried. I was already writing three or four stories, so I thought, Okay, these will be for charity. Then I hit on the idea of asking Ramsey Campbell if he’d be involved, and Kaaron Warren, and once I had their support, the rest came easy. There are a lot of people who want to help but don’t have any way to help out, and this kind of slotted into place: A book about fictional characters living in a place called Refuge, providing the readers an entertaining read, but still raising real-world refugee issues in a way that’s easy to absorb, and put in place by a bunch of people who love doing what they do – writing, artwork, etc.

Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when reading?
I prefer hardback books to thumb through when I’m feeling self-indulgent. I like softbacks to read and fold the pages, and drink coffee over and while travelling, I read ebooks for their convenience, and listen to audiobooks most workdays in the car.

Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing? 
It seems to me that the advent of self-publishing is a writer’s heaven and a reader’s hell… The biggest challenge is to recognise the great stories from the masses. Most people will tend to stick to known authors as a consequence, which is a blessing and a curse—another duality.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors? 
Don’t aspire—just write. I’m an artist because I paint, no matter how good or bad (or unconventional) it might be. And I’m a writer because I write. Even if nobody else likes it, or ever reads it. I was an aspirant for way too long, and life is too short.

How can readers find out more about you:
Website: www.RefugeCollection.com
Smashwords (for ebooks): http://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/22669
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stevedillonwriter/ and http://www.facebook.com/refugecollection
Twitter: @Refuge
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/29KLmdF
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/user/show/12352170-stephen-dillon

As mentioned earlier, this book will benefit charity, to be more precise, The Sanctuary Australia Foundation. Here is a link to a great article about the book and the charity.  
Thanks Steve for dropping by this week. The collection was released in HC on August 1 and the PB is now available too!

Thank you everyone for stopping by. If you'd like to be interviewed for this blog, please drop me a line, if you have a cool story to tell also let me know. 
Until next week!
Cheers, 
Amanda Howard
Thank you for visiting Amanda Howard
Check out my site at http://www.amandahoward.com.au
and
My Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Howard/e...

The Author's Journey: Part 2 Where to Begin

Welcome again to another edition of The Author's Journey.
I am writing this as part of my Master of Arts (Writing) under the subject PWR70002 - Online Writing and I want to share with emerging writers as well as those who are keen to further their own writing.

So here I am, literally. I have an idea - and I often have a thousand ideas, but where do I begin? How do you turn that light bulb above your head into your next dynamo book? Well I thought I'd ask a few experts. I dragged a few friends in this week to help answer this question of 'where do I begin?"

I will share with you some of their processes for that very first step.

Mike Covell, a fellow Ripperologist and historian shares this with us:

Depends where I am. I always have a tablet with me, so sometimes it goes into a memo, If I don't have a tablet, I use my mobile, if I am at the laptop, I use that. We have a cloud, so it all goes into the home pc for further use.  A lot of my newspaper story ideas come at night when I am in bed, so I usually wake up, jot them down, then check the pc in morning.  Before that I used a pen and pad, and I still keep one in my bag or on my desk at all times. I also keep all my old notes in box files.

Musician and author Peter Altieri explains:

I like to let the idea percolate in my head for a while. It is so raw in the early stages, that for me at least, it takes time to form. Once that starts, then I like to do at least a rough outline. Depending on what I'm doing at the time, I would most likely keep it warm until I am ready to start working on it. Like most of you, I usually have several projects going on at the same time.

Philip Bradbury, author of 53 Smiles went into a fair bit of detail that goes beyond that first step of idea from head, but brings with him some valuable advice;, 

I jot down the idea - usually at around 3.00 am they come - and leave it beside my bed for 3 days, the time a Lakota elder told me that spirit needs to grow it. After the 3 days, I take myself off to a cafe or somewhere else quiet and I WRITE ... I just let it all out, whatever comes to mind, vomit on paper. Sometimes it's that exact idea, fleshed out, and sometimes it's a totally different idea. By the end of that I will have around 3,000 words and the inspiration to carry on ...

Amy Wright is a dear friend (that photo at Belanglo is of us) and also the author of the Murder Library and Serial Killer GPS app. She posts biographies and articles on serial killers every single day (and I highly recommend you clicking her name and joining the group). Though she doubted her status as author, I think she is one of the prolific writers in our genre. 
Her advice is:

I always have my iphone and/or my iPad with me. I immediately go to 'Notes' and jot down bits and pieces. If it's a link that's given me the inspiration I'll jot that down too. I put all the pieces together when I have time.

Kam Newton recently released her debut book, His Beautiful Nightmare. I am pleased to have been a part of its launch and happy to have her here sharing her advice as an emerging author, 

I have my notebook j write down new ideas with but if it's a story in in the middle of writing already I have a document just for random paragraphs or ideas I've written. I have a truly TERRIBLE memory, people's names, days of the week etc but my story plots I never forget. Though I have forgotten timelines pretty easy

Gone are the days of little handheld recording devices, or so I thought. Author John Foxjohn, is keen to share that 

"I carry a small digital recorder with me. I record my thoughts."  

I think this is often a better idea that writing things down. Sometimes ideas can be so fleeting and typing/writing can be so laborious that it is good to just talk to the little machine. I have done this on many occasions often when driving. I press record and start talking and recording the ideas that come to me.   
Author of the Dead Girl Series, Kirsty Ferguson explains her process: 

When I have an idea, I start by writing it in my notes on my phone, I'm usually on my walk when I come up with ideas. Then I start to write. I don't plan, I don't use a mind map, I just start typing and let the story take me away. Most of the time, I am surprised by the ending. I wouldn't write any other way. Have tried drafting chapter out by it stifled the storyline and was no good for me.

Best selling true crime author Paul Aitch, gave his advice: 

I like to get as much of the idea down as quickly as possible. I also ask myself questions and add potential solutions to these....  he gave a lot more advice, but I think I will save that for another post.   

Belinda Missen is another emerging author and is finding her process is changing as she writes more and more books.  

Up until recently, I had an idea and started writing. Lately, though, I've started getting a two paragraph synopsis/blurb onto paper and working the story around that.

Megan Badger, worrying that she had done too many steps (but I don't think she has), has a very novel approach before she commences her story writing:

I take notes first (this usually happens when I'm just falling asleep), then mind map followed closely by plot points (with a list of things I need to research), then a call to one of my two brainstorm buddies and coffee date made to trial the idea and refine it through conversation and good company. Then the research begins, the plot refined and fingers to keyboard. 

Chrissy Johnstone shares one of the most important points...

Scribble it down on the nearest scrap of paper!

If you don't write it down, no matter what the paper you need to use, it is much better on a napkin than later forgotten. I could not count the amount of ideas I have forgotten, thinking that they were so fantastic that there is no way that you will forget it. You are lying to yourself if you think you will remember it. One bad storyline written down is worth 100 good storylines forgotten!

A dear friend of mine, Debra Betts is an incredible artist and also an aspiring poet. She explains her process,

Occasionally I write some poetry that never sees the light of day..usually they just appear in my head, and if I don't write it down, it's gone

Lynne Lumsden Green describes, quite well, the anguish of the writer's mind and how we often have a lot of stories floating around our heads. As someone who has 54 current works in progress, I feel her pain and joy of the creative process. 

 I write the idea down and spend a few minutes jotting down related ideas that could be worked into a proper story. Then, a day or so later, I will do a mind map (I call it chunking, because I get 'chunks' of scenes and characters).

At this point, the idea might die. If not, I may set it away to write another day, as I have a lot of projects on the go and who really need another one? But, if the idea is really enticing, I may sit down and write it out. To hell with the other projects, for a couple of days at least.

Friend and travelling companion Charlotte Frisby gave a great insight into her process as an emerging writer, 

I jot it down anywhere, envelopes, notepad, post it note, even the back of my hand. I bought myself a really nice notebook in Rome and it's got loads of ideas for stories, but they have yet to make it into a fully formed, start to finish, story. I'm still a one book wonder.

She raises a great point here. Nice notebooks can, in themselves, be incredible inspiration. Every single book I have written (and I am at 18 published books as at October 2016) has an accompanying notebook. Some look well loved, they are tatty and torn from being carried around, others have pieces of napkins stuck in them from when inspiration struck and it was all I  had to write on. Others have additional storylines that are then torn out and glued into another book so that they can live on in a different story. Notebooks are a must, but you have to feel it too. I have a Sherlock notebook and a matching tiny note pad. They were gifts from a close friend, who calls me Sherlock, and they inspire me. They are both being used frequently. Then on the other side of things I have purchased other notebooks that remain blank. They have not assisted in any inspiring thoughts so for now they remain on the bookshelf in my home library awaiting their turn for greatness. 
Brian Kavanagh, an absolute legend in the Australian (and international) film industry and an incredible author who writes the Belinda Lawrence mystery books, gives a fantastic rundown on that very first part of pen to paper. 

I think it's a form of osmosis. The original idea percolates into the beginning and end (?) of a story; characters developed and re-developed. Then free flow ideas as they come. I end up discovering a desk covered with scraps of notepaper with a thought, an expression, a new character, some relevant dialogue, some bitchy dialogue, some funny dialogue, a new plot angle. Accompanying these is a parallel list lodged in my mind, forever playing as a visual photostream. Eventually, all gets loaded into my mental blender, switch it on, and heigh-ho - a book. One hopes

Author Suzi Jay works the way many of us do. Flying by the seat of our pants. Inspiration is there, so you may as well get stuck straight into it!

I start writing the story straight away. If I'm at my computer I start typing if I'm not, I get out pen and paper and write. If for some reason I can't start there and then, like if I'm in the middle of another story with a deadline, I will think of a title and make a mock up of a cover. This is enough to remind me of what it was and keeps me motivated to get it done.

Tegan Barber, another of my friends who may not be an author in the traditional sense but she publishes work on a daily basis that is of an incredible standard,

Depends, sometimes I just write it down other times I wait to see where I can take that idea and if it will work and won't result in becoming dry and mundane. I also don't let people read ideas in the simple stages, people trying to give input on what is simply an idea can sometimes be off putting for me

Steampunk author Karen Carlisle, who has recently released her latest Violet Stewart Adventures, shares her advice:

I grab a notebook and write down notes. Sometimes a full scene, or part of one, will emerge. I often handwrite at this stage as it seems to unlock the ideas more efficiently than typing. I have a notebook by the bed, in my bag ...

Prize winning author Rosanne Dingli, is a woman after my own heart. So many times I've had this happen to me. She explains,

I open a word doc and write a note to myself, addressing myself as if I were another person. "Write a dark novella with the title This Title and a MC whose hobby is weaving." Many months later I open the doc and have NO IDEA what the idea was!!! So I write one anyway, using the prompts I typed in at the time ... and I'm always pleased with the result.

Belle Brooks shows how technology changes and as one of the younger authors interviewed for this blog, she shows how technology is a good friend to the author:

I type everything in my phone when it comes. At 2 a.m. in the morning I will roll over, grab my phone from the nightstand and message myself. If I don't have time to write it, I voice record and play it back later. Some of my best work comes from doozy voice recordings haha. If a story is screaming at me I will write what needs to make it quiet again so I meet deadlines on projects. It is normally about 10,000 words which means I have always got a good start on my next project.

Penelope Romanov (doesn't she have the best name ever?), is a singer and author. She shares her advice with us:

No matter where I am or what I'm doing, I immediately type the beginning...a paragraph at least... then, I can't stop.

Dene Menzel, singer, performer and author of the Voice Factor - and a fantastic coach too who I am
forever indebted for her tips on overcoming stage fright-  shares her tips:

Voice memo on my phone because I might not have a pen and paper handy

Adult contemporary romance author Emma James shares her advice on what she does when inspiration strikes,

When a nugget appears in my mind , a notebook is always handy and a pen. I scribble away until it's all out. I carry notebook in handbag, beside bed, kitchen. All ready in case something hits my mind. Then I try to decipher that scribble later

David Russell, whom I shall call an emerging writer, purely because he has written some incredible epic stories but refuses to publish them though I have had the luxury of reading a lot of his work (yes David, I am saying put them out there!) shares his advice,

I go straight to the keyboard if possible and start getting it down, no matter how sloppily. a friend told me many years ago that bad writing can be fixed but no writing can't.

This is one of the most important pieces of advice I like to share. Many new authors get bogged down, correcting typos fixing grammar as they write their first draft. Hemingway said it best,

"the first draft of anything is shit"

This should be above every writer's desk. Don't worry about that first draft. It is about getting it down on paper/computer. No-one will ever read your first draft. Really, you should never ever share your first draft. This is you telling yourself the story, then you have to make it better. But first and foremost you have to get it out of your head!

I want to thank all of the authors above who took the time to answer my interview questions. This is really a labour of love and I appreciate them sharing their own advice with the blog. There are many more posts to come and I hope that you find inspiration here, and maybe even that tool that you have been missing from your writer's toolkit. Please show them some love by clicking on their name links and checking out their fantastic books. There is something here for everyone no matter your genre preference.

Until next time,


Cheers


Amanda Howard

If you'd like to be involved in this blog, be interviewed about your latest book or if you have a story to tell. Please contact me via the links below.

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Author Interview: Susan Murphy, Author of the Confetti Confidential series

 Thank you Susan for dropping in for today's blog. You have a book coming out on November 1, Annabel's Wedding.  It sounds like you have a lot of great first-hand sources. 

Can you tell us a bit about you as an author?
I always struggle with this question! I’ve only really been writing with the intent of making a career out of it for about 4 years. I’d always dabbled here and there, but never anything big and I don’t think I ever really completed anything I started! After my brother was killed in a workplace accident I started writing more and more as a means of distraction and, I guess in my own way, coping. Once I was writing consistently, I found that I really enjoyed it and it became a much bigger part of my life. The turning point was when I attended a weekend Masterclass with the amazing author, Fiona McIntosh, who not only inspired me, but gave me the confidence and courage to really make a go of it.

In my day to day life I’m a marriage and funeral celebrant so that of course gave me plenty of great fodder for stories filled with romance and hilarious and cringe-worthy moments! I’m also a Mum to three fabulous kids - more great fodder. When I’m not writing I’m usually standing on the edge of a cliff, on a P&O cruise ship or even getting blown away on a beach somewhere while officiating a couples wedding ceremony. I also spent 3 months at the SA Writers Centre as their Writer in Residence which I loved. That’s me in a nutshell.

What is the hardest part of being an author?
Finishing! The hardest part is pushing through all of the points at which you get stuck or fed up or just think it’s all rubbish, so that you can finally write ‘The End’. The isolation of writing can also be hard. I sometimes sit in my little office and bang away at my keyboard for hours without talking to another living person and that can be difficult. It’s great to have a writing group or like-minded friends to chat to about your writing and to bounce ideas off. I’ve recently decided to seek out a critique partner, so I’ll let you know how that goes.

What do you enjoy most about being an author?
Finishing! Haha, I hate to repeat myself, but it’s the truth. I have never felt prouder than I did the moment I finished writing my first book. (That was until the edits came back!) I remember that the day I finished it I felt as if I had just been let out of prison after a long stint. That sounds bad, but it wasn’t. My head had been in this story for so long, constantly re-working the characters, their lives and their stories. I’d ride the bus thinking about them, cook dinner with them talking to each other in my head, I was like a zoned out potato. I’ve learnt now how to turn it on and off rather than have it constantly consuming my thoughts, but when I finished the first manuscript it was like being set free for the first time in months. It felt amazing!

What authors/books have had an influence on your writing? 
Soooo many, but I’d have to say that it was most definitely Kathy Lette’s ‘How to Kill Your Husband and Other Handy Household Hints’, that pulled me from crime and murder to Women’s Fiction. I was given the book as a gift and scoffed at it because I’d only ever read books like Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta series, but once I started reading it I was hooked and I’ve never looked back. I love Bridget Jones and of course the more historical romances by Fiona McIntosh.

Do you ever get Writer’s Block? If so, how do you deal with it? Do you believe there is such a thing?
I have to say that I don’t really get writer’s block, at least not yet anyway! I see many posts on social media about people sitting in front of empty pages and not having any inspiration, but I see stories in EVERYTHING. In fact my list of story ideas is about 8 pages long. Not sure I’ll ever have the time to write them all, but I’m trying.

Do you have a particular place that you like to write?
I will write pretty much anywhere. With the life that I lead, if I waited until I was seated in my office, in front of my desk, I’d never get the chance to write anything! I’ll write on the bus, while waiting in the car at soccer training, in my lunch break at work and anywhere else I can manage, but what I do like is somewhere that I can see people. I am a massive people watcher and I love to watch their mannerisms and interactions. Sometimes you also have to check out places to include in your story, I’ve ended up in places I would never have imagined, like an adult entertainment shop!

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?
I write whenever I can, but if I had the luxury of choice, I would choose to write in the morning. I’m usually fresh and full of ideas in the morning, but the reality is that a lot if the time I end up writing in the middle of the night when I’m tired, cranky and feeding my face with wine and chocolate!

How do you like to reach your readers?
I communicate mostly via my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/susanmurphyauthor and my website/blog at: http://www.susanmurphyauthor.com/

I’m also on Twitter and LinkedIn and I often get spots on book blogger posts etc. Goodreads is also a great place to connect with other writers and readers. I love it when people leave messages about how they enjoyed the book or just jump on Facebook and join in with whatever is going on at the time.

Can you tell us about your latest book? 
I actually have 2 books on the go at the moment.

The first is ChickLit, similar to my first 2 books in the Confetti Confidential series, but this one is stand alone and has all new characters. It is complete and currently with the publisher, so fingers crossed!

The working title is ‘Never Let You Go’ and it is set in beautiful Hawaii.

Here is the blurb:

According to the poets ‘True love comes but once’, but what if you missed it?

Jennifer Bell knows she missed her chance when she was forced to let go of the love of her life more than 20 years ago. Heartbroken and alone, she fell into the arms of a charming guy and into his violent hold. Barely escaping with her life and bearing scars that would likely never heal, she vowed never to let herself fall in love again.

Throwing herself into her work as a marriage celebrant to escape her own life, she spends her time helping others achieve their fairy tale ending. But what if the chance for love found its way back to her?

While on a working holiday to Hawaii, with her crazy best friend, Anna, an encounter with the man she lost all those years ago could change everything.

Will she have the courage to fight for what she wants? Or will she discover that the poets were right after all and love comes but once for each of us.

‘Never Let You Go’ is a story of love and friendship that knows no bounds. It is a story of finding yourself through the toughest of experiences and learning how to not only love again, but how to love yourself.

The second is a bit of a leap for me into historical Fiction and is based loosely on a true story. It is set in the late 1930s through the to the 1940s and goes back and for the between then and the present through a box full of old letters. I’m really excited about this project and early feedback on the first few chapters has been wonderful. There’s a post about the story and the research on my website at: http://www.susanmurphyauthor.com/#!Writing-Historical-Fiction/c1q8z/577ce68e0cf25c6b0c157be4

How long did it take you to write the book?
‘Never Let You Go’ took me about 4 months to write, as did my previous 2 books. I tend to write quite fast and lean and then add content on edit rather than remove it like most writers do. I’m strange like that! The historical fiction story is proving a little more challenging and I suspect will take me a lot longer. This is the first time I’ve really had to research and try to write about a time that I did not experience myself and that is not easy.

Do you have a favourite character/topic in your work?
As I mentioned I’m a marriage celebrant and have been for over ten years. I think that this really gave me a great topic to write about and a wealth of stories. I also have three sisters, so there is definitely some true life in some of my books. The crazy antics and cringe-worthy scenes are exaggerated or made up of course, but it was a great to have a base from which to write. My sisters, like me, are all quite mad. I’ve also worked with lots of couples, dealt with all kinds of personalities and experienced a lot of interesting things, as well as travelled to lots of locations, so it’s all great for story telling.

What was your process? Did you plot out the entire book, or just let the storyline flow? Do you write in chronological order?
I generally tend to mull over an idea in my head for a while and then just sit down and write. I don’t plan too much, but I do write in chronological order and I print out a calendar of the timeframe I am covering and make sure that I’m keeping to that truthfully. It’s amazing though what a good editor picks up and I was reminded numerous times during edits on both my books that I had skipped to the wrong day/date etc. Thank goodness for editors!

Once I have my timeframe I like to just let the story flow. When I used to write I would get so caught up in the planning that I wouldn’t get around to the writing, and when I did start, I would find that I felt constricted by my plans. Once I just let go and allowed the story to take me wherever it wanted to, I found my stories were so much more fun, interesting and engaging. Since then I’ve stuck with that method and it’s always a surprise!

Do you have plans for further instalments?
One day I might do another in the Confetti Confidential series. Those sisters were so crazy and hilarious that there are plenty more antics they could get up to. For now, I’m really enjoying the jump to historical fiction so I’ll see how that goes for a while.

Do you have a plan for your next book?
After the historical fiction, I’d love to write another ChickLit and make yet another jump to a suspense. Not sure I can pull that off, but I’ll give it ago. I love a challenge!

Ebooks vs Physical books? Do you have a preference when reading?

Oooooh, hard one! I’ve always been a book person. I like the feel of a book and turning the pages, but after getting my first Kindle for Christmas, I have to admit, it’s pretty damn awesome. I jump around a lot with my reading so being able to take a Kindle loaded with different genres when I’m travelling or trying to ignore my family,is fantastic. I gave myself a neck injury from carrying a bag stuffed with a Fiona McIntosh novel in it once. Those things way a tonne (but are so worth the injury!)

Self-publishing vs traditional publishing? What are your thoughts? Do you feel that the industry is changing?

I respect both 100% Traditional publishing isn’t for everyone and neither is Indie. I think that writer’s need to do what feels right for them and their work and if they feel they want or need a traditional publisher then great, but if not then Indie is a fabulous way to get their work out there and read by the masses. When I look for books I go by what appeals to me about it, not by who published it.

And finally, what advice would you give to aspiring authors?
The best advice I could give to aspiring authors is to write. Just write and get on with it. Don’t go back over it, don’t question and re-read and agonise. Write it then give it a once over and seek only 1 or 2 people to look it over for you and give you some honest feedback. When I’m writing I’m thinking that it’s complete and utter crap the entire time and wondering who the hell would read this? But I push those thoughts aside and keep going and for some reason, still unknown to me, others enjoy it and so did a publisher.
How can readers contact you?Website: www.susanmurphyauthor.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanmurphyauthor/Twitter: https://twitter.com/SMurphyAuthorAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com.au/Confetti-Confidential-Annabels-Wedding-ebook/dp/B00RKU7UU6/Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13495153.Susan_MurphyInstagram: SusanMurphyAuthor
Thank you so much for dropping in today Susan. Good luck with the new book!
If you'd like to be interviewed for this blog or have a great story you'd like to share, please drop me a line. 
Until next week my loves, 
Cheers!
Amanda Howard
Thank you for visiting Amanda Howard
Check out my site at http://www.amandahoward.com.au
and
My Amazon page at http://www.amazon.com/Amanda-Howard/e...