Zena Shapter's Blog, page 20

How @AlanBaxter and @davidwoodweb co-wrote #Primordial, #BloodCodex and #DarkRite

As many of you know, I recently co-wrote a book with nine(!) authors (“Into Tordon” by Z.F. Kingbolt), so am particularly fascinated by collaborative writing at the moment. A few weeks ago, Alan Baxter and David Wood released the cover for their upcoming collaborative novel, “Primordial”. It looks amazing! Here’s the blurb:

When eccentric billionaire Ellis Holloway hires renegade marine biologist Sam Aston to investigate the legend of a monster in a remote Finnish lake, Aston envisions an easy paycheck and a chance to clear his gambling debts. But he gets much more. Something terrible lives beneath the dark waters of Lake Kaarme, and it’s hungry. As the death toll mounts, Aston faces superstitious locals, a power-hungry police chief, and a benefactor’s descent into madness as he races to find the legendary beast of the lake

So how did David and Alan go about collaborating over the writing of their awesome books? To find out, I asked them…

When you write collaboratively, how do you make the decisions? Do you both have an equal say? What happens when there’s a stalemate?

Alan: We’ve done it differently for different projects, but fundamentally we work out an outline first, knock that back and forth, then get into the actual writing. There’s not really been a stalemate yet, as we’re both fairly flexible when it comes to making the story work. It does tend to be Dave putting in more work on the initial outline.

David: When issues come up, we go back-and-forth until we figure it out. Sometimes it’s a simple matter of an email exchange. Other times we’ll have a Skype chat if we need to think something through. As Al said, we work fairly well together and both have a pretty good feel for what makes a story work.

Did you agree that was how things were going be before you started writing, or did your working relationship evolve into that system, and were there any hurdles with that?

Alan: It just kind of grew naturally that way. To be honest, the whole thing has been fairly hurdle-free thus far!

David: For whatever reason, we work well together and are pretty good at working in a way that emphasizes our respective strengths. Now that we’ve written three books together, we’ve evolved to a point at which I do most of the heavy lifting in terms of plot, Al does most of the prose, and we share equally in other aspects.

With the collaborative writing I’ve done, it’s my job to ensure the story has a consistent voice and tone. With yours, does one person do a ‘voice’ or ‘tone’ edit, or do you write so similarly that a consistent voice and/or tone comes naturally, and have you experienced any hurdles with that?

Alan: We edit what the other wrote, then write our bit and so on. The tone tends to settle down naturally that way. Our styles are similar enough that it works, which is partially why we’ve continued to collaborate. Although, when it comes to regional stuff, Dave does all the last pass on the US dialogue and I do all the British and Australian to get that right.

How do you cope emotionally with working collaboratively, where egos and ideas must remain subservient to ‘the story’?

Alan: We are without ego and live to serve the story.

David: Something we preach on our podcast is to not be “precious” about your work, and we do a pretty good job of living by that rule. We each respect what the other brings to the table.

Which is the hardest part of collaborative writing for you – conceptual, writing, editing, production or marketing – and why?

Alan: It’s all hard in different ways. I’m not sure there’s any one part that’s the hardest except for the part that’s hardest with all writing – getting it noticed!

David: Living on opposite sides of the world poses a challenge. If I’m working in the morning and need to discuss something with Al, I have to wait eight hours or so until he wakes up. Otherwise, it’s pretty smooth.

What would be your biggest tip for anyone thinking of writing collaboratively?

Alan: Don’t. But seriously, only work with someone you know you can match in terms of time, style, content, and so on. And make sure there are no egos in the way. It’s not easy to find someone like that.

David: Collaboration isn’t for everyone. You’re marrying your ideas, styles, and work habits, and just like any marriage, there has to be mutual respect, give-and-take, and compromise. That’s difficult for many authors.

How do you manage to present such a united front when talking about your collaborative writing to the reading public? Do you agreed on what’s best to say or not say, such as protecting spoilers and being respectful of each other as co-authors?

David: When in doubt, I just do whatever I want because I know Al’s not going to spend the money on an airline ticket just to come over here and punch me. More seriously, because we’ve been podcasting together for years, we’ve literally spent hundreds of hours exchanging ideas about writing, publishing, and professionalism, so we’re of like minds on most issues, and we check in whenever we’re uncertain about something.

Alan: Actually, you make a good point there about the podcast. I hadn’t really thought about it, but we have spent so long talking this stuff through that we’re on the same page on pretty much every aspect of the business. Maybe that’s the secret to collaboration – do 100 hours of podcasting together first!

Thank you so much David and Alan! “Blood Codex” and “Dark Rite” are available from all good bookstores right now! “Primordial” is due for release through Cohesion Press in 2017.

Interested in what other authors have to say about collaborative writing? I’ve also interviewed Margo Lanagan and Deborah Biancotti about their collaboration with Scott Westerfeld, and the ‘Alice Campion’ authors: Jenny Crocker, Jane Richards, Jane St Vincent Welch and Denise Tart (watch this space for that interview)!

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How @MargoLanagan and @Deborah_b Biancotti co-wrote #Zeroes & #Swarm with @ScottWesterfeld

As many of you know, I recently co-wrote a book with nine(!) authors (“Into Tordon” by Z.F. Kingbolt), so am particularly fascinated by collaborative writing at the moment. A few weeks ago I attended the launch of “Swarm“, the second in the superhero YA series by Margo Lanagan, Deborah Biancotti and Scott Westerfeld. Every power has a price! I loved the first in the series, “Zeroes”, and can’t wait to get stuck into “Swarm“. They’re both New York Times bestsellers. Wow!

So how did Margo, Deborah and Scott go about collaborating over the writing of their awesome books? To find out, I asked Margo and Deborah…

At your Sydney launch of ‘Swarm’, you mentioned working well as a team, with most decisions being made equally between the three of you. You also had a glorious leader, however, and where a single person needed to make a call that person made it. Did you all agree that was how things were going be before you started writing, or did your working relationship evolve into that system, and were there any hurdles with that?

Deb: Did we say we worked well? That might’ve been dramatic license.

#IntoTordon blog interview via @DawnMeredith

Today I’m over on the lovely Dawn Meredith’s blog talking about “Into Tordon”…

How do you get a consistent tone/voice from nine separate authors?
What was your favourite part of the process?
What’s your favourite scene in “Into Tordon”?

All this and more! To read, just click here. Thank you for having me, Dawn!

Aw, I got flowers this morning! #IntoTordon #ReleaseDay

What a great week this is turning out to be! Look at the enormous bunch of flowers that arrived on my doorstop this morning! You can hardly see me behind them!

What were they for? Well, you see that little card in front – it was from my fellow co-authors of “Into Tordon“. Today is the day! Our pre-release Sydney launch was so much fun, but today is the actual today that “Into Tordon” is released into the world! You can buy it right now! And this was a card of gratitude for being the group’s glorious leader over the last three years. Aw, I guess I didn’t realise just how much they appreciated me – but I do now! They’re so gorgeous! PLUS, some bubbles for later. Yum! Thank you to each of my co-authors for this lovely surprise – you shouldn’t have (though I’m awfully touched that you did!): Zoya Nojin, Kris Prescott, Leah Boonthanom, Tracey Jackson, Tony McFadden, Liz Michell, Mijmark and Kirsten Taylor.

“Into Tordon” should now be arriving in shops and schools nationwide, as well as in all good online bookstores. I haven’t searched everywhere online but the following definitely have it for sale: NewSouth Books, Booktopia and QBD. Follow Z.F. Kingbolt’s journey on the website, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Watch out, Adelaide – we’ll be there later this month for a launch with our publishers MidnightSun, 19th November, 2pm at Shakespeare‘s Bookshop in Blackwood. We’d all love to know what readers think!

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In the ‘Dead of Night’ on Halloween thanks to @AustHorror

The Australian Horror Writers’ Association is celebrating its 10th anniversary by releasing a ‘best of’ Midnight Echo anthology, ‘Dead of Night’, and guess who’s in it? Me! Woo hoo!

Midnight Echo is Australia’s premier horror magazine and I was thrilled to be published in it back in 2013 with my short story ‘Darker’, which won the AHWA’s 2013 short story competition (along with Australian horror royalty Alan Baxter). Now my story is getting another outing and I couldn’t be more pleased that the announcement has been made today, on Halloween. He he…

Edited by former AWHA vice president and Midnight Echo editor Shane Jiraiya Cummings, the anthology will include 25 stories from across the publication’s history. It will be available later this year as both ebook and print edition, and AHWA members receive a free digital copy on release as part of their membership – so sign up now!

The full list of authors are: Andrew McKiernan, Gary Kemble, Deborah Sheldon, Kathryn Hore, Christopher Green, Felicity Dowker, Jason Crowe, Joanne Anderton, Rebecca Fung, Stephen Dedman, Kris Ashton, Christopher Sequiera, David Conyers & David Kernot, Eugene Gramelis, Claire Fitzpatrick, Jason Fischer, L. L. Hannett, Shauna O’Meara, Zena Shapter (that’s me, yay!!), Anthony Ferguson, Bryce Stevens, Martin Livings, R. J. Astruc, Alan Baxter and Deborah Biancotti.

There are so many writers I admire in this list and I’m honoured to be included among them. Congratulations everyone! I can’t wait to read all your wonderful stories! And have a spooky day!

A Winning Cause! #ResearchMatters @KidsCancerProj #WABIAD

NBWG reps (r-l): Kristin Prescott, Kylie Pfeiffer, Susan Steggall, me, Chris Lake & Madi Duncan

Yesterday I made the long trip out to the Children’s Hospital at Westmead in support of The Kids’ Cancer Project and their Write-a-Book-in-a-Day, or WABIAD, challenge. I enter the challenge every year and invite members of the writers’ group I run, the Northern Beaches Writers’ Group, or NBWG, to enter with me and together raise much needed funds for research into childhood cancers. I’m lucky enough to be supported by many of you, readers kind enough to sponsor me. Thank you! Over the last four years, you’ve helped raise over $10,000 in sponsorship and subsequent book sales. Woo hoo!

NBWG’s 2016 parameters

The main part of the challenge is of course to write, illustrate, print and bind an entire book in one day. We’re given a set of parameters and have to stick to them. This year we got some tricky ones – try writing a book for kids involving an escaped convict, a kidnapping, a spider, a beautician and a rubbish tip! It was a challenge! But twelve hours later, we had written “The Time of the Jade Spider”, a fantastic adventure featuring an ancient spider amulet and time travel! Read more about that day here.

I’m so proud of what we achieved, even more so because our writing was acknowledged at Westmead yesterday when we were awarded National Best Book in the open category, 2016. Squee!

It was so lovely to see ‘Northern Beaches Writers’ Group’ up in lights! Thank you for participating this year: Leah Boonthanom, Madi Duncan, Chris Lake, Mijmark, Kylie Pieffer, Kris Prescott, Susan Steggall and Kirsten Taylor!

What’s even more wow is that my teams have won ‘Best Book’ four years in a row now! Thank you, WABIAD!

Thank you also Owen Finegan, CEO of The Kids’ Cancer Project, for presenting our award! It was lovely to meet you afterwards as well.

The next part of the challenge for me is to get “The Time of the Jade Spider” to a publishable standard, which involves re-plotting, re-writing, editing, proofing, laying out and putting the entirety of my creative support business at the story’s disposal until it’s perfect. The process is already in motion, so watch this space for news of the story’s release early next year! Once published, profits will continue to go to The Kids’ Cancer Project, because donating to the charity throughout the year gives me all the warm feelies.

Let’s find them more money every year!

What’s that? You like warm feelies too?

Then why not help The Kids’ Cancer Project right now?

Donate through this link or buy one of the Northern Beaches Writers’ Group’s previous books, all of which you can buy through any good online bookstore or this link here.

Thank you again, dear readers, for the role you play in supporting an issue so close to my heart as a mother, and for helping sick kids across Australia. Good on youse!

#IntoTordon by @ZFKingbolt Launched in Sydney!

Click on the image to read “The Manly Daily” article!

What a fantastic Friday! I was on the radio, in the newspaper (click on the clipping to read!), on a blog, and high after the Sydney launch of my co-authored book for 8-14yrs “Into Tordon” by Z.F. Kingbolt. I still can’t believe that nine of us wrote it. Yes, nine! I’m so proud of each and every one of my co-authors. Over the last three years they have written, re-written, edited, plotted, re-plotted and emailed consistently with me over the creation and production of “Into Tordon”. Their honesty, commitment and willingness to evolve as writers and produce such a high quality adventure fantasy blows my mind. Yes, there were of course hurdles. But we pushed through together and came out smiling. Here we are at the Sydney launch of “Into Tordon” last night, along with some of our fans:

The incredible Susanne Gervay with eight of the nine authors of “Into Tordon”, plus fans!

Thank you Leah Boonthanom, Tracey Jackson, Tony McFadden, Liz Michell, Mijmark, Zoya Nojin, Kristin Prescott and Kirsten Taylor for allowing me to guide you, for trusting in my leadership and letting me play with your words until they were perfect. “Into Tordon” is awesome!

Want to know more about how “Into Tordon” was created and those hurdles I mentioned? The wonderful Michelle Troxler from The Write Tribe interviews me here, asking questions such as how long it took to create “Into Tordon” with nine authors involved, what lead to its creation, how we came up with the name ‘Z.F. Kingbolt‘, the challenges of collaborative writing, and advice for other collaborators.

Into Tordon: Zena Shapter on writing and publishing a book together

For those of you who couldn’t make the launch last night, here are some photos. While you’re looking, why not hit ‘play’ on the radio broadcast below, podcast for your listening pleasure – the lovely Rosemary Puddy and Michelle Holmes from Radio Northern Beaches interviews myself and one of my “Into Tordon” co-authors, Kristin Prescott, about the Northern Beaches Writers’ Group, raising money for The Kids’ Cancer Project, our other group projects and of course “Into Tordon”!

http://zenashapter.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/NBWG-Interview.m4a

 

Now, back to the launch…

It was held at Berkelouw Bookshop in Balgowlah, Sydney. Big thanks go to Lee Gray and her team at Berkelouw for letting us launch “Into Tordon” in their beautiful store. We really appreciate all the time and effort you put into this amazing event.

Thank you to the wonderful readers who left their homes and came out to celebrate with us. What would be the point of writing without readers to read! Books are awesome! Read more books!

There were juice poppers for the kids (thank you Lee!) and some “Into Tordon” prizes they could win by completing a colouring in sheet or word search (thank you for organising Zoya and Kirsten!)…

Meanwhile the adults mingled, ate nibbles (thank you for organising Kirsten!) and enjoyed some champagne (thank you for organising Kris!)…

Then it was onto the speeches. We were so so lucky that the incredible Susanne Gervay – internationally bestselling author of the “I am Jack” series and Regional Advisor of SCBWI Australia East and New Zealand (Society for Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators) – agreed to launch “Into Tordon”. She loved the book and gushed endlessly and adorably about it, calling it “Harry Potter on steroids!” (though as my co-author Tony McFadden later said, we do not condone the use of performance enhancing drugs)!! Thank you so much, Susanne, for your kind and generous words!

Our MC Kris Prescott inviting Susanne Gervay to launch “Into Tordon”

Susanne was so entertaining and delightful in her introduction of “Into Tordon” and the authors, people couldn’t stop smiling! Then she introduced me specifically, as the ‘glorious leader’ of Z.F. Kingbolt or, as she phrased it ‘benevolent dictator’, he he… meant affectionately of course, though it caused a few chuckles among the other writers…

Then it was time for a book reading. I picked a section near the beginning, when our main characters experience something quite unexpected…

With the crowd now keen to read themselves, it was time to buy books and have as many of the authors as possible sign as many books as possible… what fun!

Adults were even buying the book for themselves after Susanne Gervay’s high recommendation. Thank you Susanne! You are an amazing woman and it’s a privilege to know you even just a little bit.

Good luck “Into Tordon”, may your entry into the book world be smooth and well-received. I’ll be appearing at our publisher’s Adelaide launch on Saturday 19th November with some of my co-authors, 2pm at Shakespeare’s Book & Coffee Shop in Blackwood. Come and meet the publishing phenomena that is MidnightSun Publishing, aka Anna Solding, and look out for “Into Tordon” – coming to all good bookstores from 1st November. It should be in school libraries across Australia too, thanks to Scholastic, so tell your kids / nieces / nephews / grandchildren to look out for it or ask about it. I hope “Into Tordon” engages its readers, whatever their age, with its brilliant storytelling and adventures, cultural diversity, and messages about acceptance, tolerance, gaming, and friendship. It’s available for pre-order now through NewSouth Books, Booktopia and QBD. Follow Z.F. Kingbolt’s journey on the website, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

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You’re invited to ANOTHER book launch! Actually, a few…

It’s been a crazy busy month!

First up, I have to tell you about an anthology that’s just been released, which includes my story “Let The Tempest Hold Me Down”:

If creatures lived in our mist and steam, cloud and skies, Tek would be one of them. Frustrated by tradition, however, he’s long believed in leading a different life and when tragedy strikes close to home, he’s more determined than ever to prove himself. Only hindsight will reveal how devastating his actions will be…

The anthology is published by Hugo-finalist Sci Phi Journal and is on sale now as both a print book and ebook through this link.

Talking of anthologies, my short story “Like the Web of a Swamp Spider” is soon to be published in the first ever Northern Beaches Writers’ Group anthology “A Fearsome Engine”, a collection of stories that explore mankind’s relationship with technology, and you’re invited to the launch!

Come for a quick drinkie after work to celebrate this insightful anthology on Friday 18th November, 6.30-7.30pm, at Manly’s Sunkissed Bar & Grill. Bring the kids, or come alone for a sneaky! The proof copy arrived the other day and it’s looking fabulous!

What’s my story about? Well, friendship is about forgiving each others’ mistakes, and accepting others for who they are… only in some situations that’s easier said than done. Salee must respond to the challenges of living on a distant planet according to the technology available.

If you’d like to come along to the launch, you can RSVP via the Facebook event here or use the contact page here. See you in Manly!

Talking of Manly, I had the lovely experience of teaching some creative writing secrets to a bunch of twenty teenagers these school holidays at Manly Library. The workshop was called ‘Vividness & Voice‘, and my students loved it so much they gave me a round of applause at the end! Aw, special moments!

I hope I get the same response when I speak this Friday at the pre-launch party for Z.F. Kingbolt‘s speculative fiction novel “Into Tordon“, which is all booked out!

The posters are in the bookshop, the nibbles, refreshments, puzzles and colouring-in competition are all finally organised, author copies are in the house (and since there nine of us, there are quite a few!), there’s even a book blast page here and pre-orders are available through NewSouth Books, Booktopia and QBD… I can’t wait! See you in Balgowlah!

Next month, there will also an Adelaide launch of “Into Tordon”, to which you’re also invited! Come along at 2pm to Shakespeare’s Bookshop in Blackwood. See you in Adelaide!

I actually let my daughter start reading “Into Tordon” the other day (there have to be some perks to being the child of one of the authors!), and she says, “it’s the best thing I’ve ever read, out of anything.” Aw, more special moments!

Posting my signed copy to its reader!

Another special moment this month was receiving my first email request for a signed copy of one of my books, which was lovely. It’s so nice to know I’m in readers’ thoughts.

If anyone else would like a signed copy of anything I’ve written, please don’t hesitate to get in touch! I know not everyone can make it to launches or author events, and I appreciate all the support you can offer.

More news to come, but I’d better get back to work now… on my next project!

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You’re invited to the launch of Z.F. Kingbolt’s #IntoTordon!!

Save the date!

Friday 21st October, 6pm!

It’s when the wonderful Susanne Gervay will launch my joint alter ego, Z.F. Kingbolt at Berkelouw Books in Balgowlah. See invite!

I created the identity of Z.F. Kingbolt with a bunch of writer friends specifically to engage readers between 8-14yrs and Into Tordon is the result.

Inspired by the popularity of Minecraft, it’s the book that will get gamers off their screens and reading! It’s the book that will teach young readers about acceptance, friendship and tolerance. It’s also a lot of fun!

Here’s the blurb:

Only champions dare to enter!

Thirteen-year-old Beth has been waiting for weeks to play in the championship of her favourite online game, Tordon. Now tribes of beastmen roar through her speakers. Game on!

She plays to win, until her gaming nemesis Zane challenges her to a real-life risk that has them sucked into a strange world. Here they must push their skills to the limit just to survive!

Faced with riddles, a multitude of dangerous creatures, exotic cultures and scientific impossibilities, Beth and Zane must take on challenge after challenge if they’re ever to return home.

Backed by wonderful publishers MidnightSun, Into Tordon is already getting a positive response. Featured in its magazine reviews, Books & Publishing call it:

A pacy exciting read that middle-grade readers will love getting sucked into.

Z.F. Kingbolt has a website over here, will have a SCBWI Book Blast page as from 10th October, and is already available for pre-order at:

NewSouth Books
QBD

An advert for Into Tordon even came up in my email account the other day. It’s so exciting when you see your book out in the wild! After its launch, Into Tordon will be sent by Scholastic into 1,100 Aussie primary schools and it will be seen in the wild everywhere! So exciting! Come celebrate with me!!

RSVP by 10/10/16 to: ‘contact [at] ZFKingbolt [dot] com’

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The Busy But Fulfilling Side to Author Life. #InspiringKids

What a busy but fulfilling month! I’ve judged three short story competitions, attended one festival, two presentation ceremonies, featured in one local newspaper and one local magazine, agreed to one free writing workshop for kids, and have signed a book deal! Wow!

Wanna see some photos?

Last Wednesday I presented the Mosman Literary Awards, having judged the primary prose section. So many wonderful stories! I read 93 tales about castles, wizards, pigs, pirates and dragons, magic jewels and trees, carpenters, princesses, trolls and aliens, tsunamis, unicorns, terrorists, gaming, mountains and avalanches, time travel, more dragons and more pigs. I think the pig thing is something to do with Minecraft.

Inspiring young writers!

All the wonderful winners. I’m just in from the right.

Chatting to enthusiastic writers after the presentation.

Chatting to more enthusiastic writers after the presentation.

A few weeks prior to that I presented the Manly West Short Story Prize. This time I got to read 52 stories by primary school writers about time capsules, tree houses, magic, secret places and portals, secret dreams, dragons and worlds, mutants, murder, trolls, tigers, refugees, volcanoes, shipwrecks, aliens and ballerinas. Quite a mix! I said the same thing to the Manly Daily when they asked me about the event…

Talking in front of the whole school.

I got a lovely box of chocolates as a thank you!

In my presentation speeches, I got to pass some writing advice on to young writers too. I encouraged them to develop their writing as a healthy life habit. Kids are taught at school about nutrition and how it helps them maintain their bodies, about exercise and how it helps keep those bodies fit and healthy. Writing, I said, is the key to a healthy mind, body and soul!

To prove my point, I’m running a free workshop for young writers during the upcoming spring school holidays at Manly Library, designed to enable writers (11yrs+) to take inspiration from their life and with it make their writing unique. ‘Vividness & Voice’ will be on Wednesday 28 September, 10am-1pm. Click here or phone the library to book…

Also this month, Peninsula Living did a lovely feature on my amazing Northern Beaches Writers’ Group, and our continued efforts to raise money for The Kids’ Cancer Project. This year we managed to raise $2,500 in sponsorship and we’re still going with book sales to add to that. Wanna buy a book to help out? Choose from the ‘middle grade’ fiction here: Amazon.

Of course I can’t wait until I can post a link here to my own awesome novel, Towards White, to be published next year by the International Fantasy Writers’ Guild, or IFWG. Read more about that here. Woo hoo!

Has your month been busy but fulfilling too?

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