Interview with Terry Tyler
I first came across author Terry Tyler online when I read her brilliant novel You Wish....
That's still one of my favourite books. I've read a few more of her books since then and love her writing style. She's a prolific writer and currently has twelve books on Amazon.
INTERVIEW WITH TERRY TYLER
Welcome, Terry. Thanks for visiting me here!
You've written lots of books! Where does your inspiration come from?
Now, this question is asked in virtually all author interviews; I have completed many of these over the past four or five years and I usually answer 'I don't know, it just appears'.
Ha, ha! That's usually the correct answer ;)
However, I'm delighted to say that, this time and with regard to my current work in progress, I can answer it properly! A few months ago I was undecided about what to start work on next. I had three ideas in note form: a post apocalyptic novella, a contemporary drama based on a historical period (as I've done before), and psychological thriller for which I couldn't think of a decent end. Then, one afternoon, I was having an Amazon browse and saw a title: The Serial Killer's Wife. And that was it. Those four words gave me the basic idea for my next novel....which leads me to your next question, Maria :)
Tell us about your latest book
It's a dark psychological drama. There's a serial killer on the loose, and five people suspect that the monster might be someone close to them. It's not a crime drama as such, as I don't particularly enjoy reading detective/crime stories and certainly don't want to write them, but obviously I've had to do a fair bit of research; I've kept police procedure bit to a minimum, though, and the police themselves are only minor characters. I've always been interested in serial killers, so know a fair bit about the psychology, but main characters are the five who fear they might know the killer. Plenty of opportunity for the red herrings and plot twists I love! It's called The Devil You Know; the title popped into my head along with the idea for the plot. I hope it will be ready for publication in October, but I'm still on the first draft; early days.
That sounds very interesting! A bit like Agatha Christie!
How long did it take you to write your last book?
My last book was Best Seller, a novella of 40K words, and it took about three and a half months. Two months for the first draft, six weeks for the rewrites. For a full length novel I usually reckon on three/four months for the first draft, and two or three months for the rewrites.
You're a fast writer! I wish I could keep up with reading them as you publish them... love your books! :)
Do you do your own editing or use a professional? Anyone you’d recommend?
I do my own editing. I don't want anyone telling me what I can and can't have in my own book, and think I have a fairly good handle on how to trim a novel down and make sure every word matters, although obviously my first books are not as tight as my more recent ones; your technique improves all the time. I have two reliable test readers, too. If you're not confident about going it alone, I'd recommend Alison Williams, @AlisonW_Editor on Twitter. She's as picky a reader as me, and we usually mirror each other's opinions when reviewing the same books!
Proofreading, however, is a different matter. Every writer needs a proofreader, because you can't spot your own typos/missing words, etc, and most people make errors like the odd misplaced hyphen. There are masses of cowboys out there these days, though, or just amateurs who don't know what a semicolon is for, let alone how to amend a wrongly assigned dependent clause, for instance. Recommendations: Julia Gibbs @ProofreadJulia, or Wendy Janes @WendyProof. Alison, Julia and Wendy come highly recommended by many, not just me!
Have you ever published something and wished you hadn’t?
Not in its entirety, but like most writers I sometimes read back my older books and go 'ouch' at certain bits, or am about to tweet an old blog post, then decide to give it a quick once-over just in time! Since Kindle publishing, it is all too easy to rush to get that first novel out; not all first novels are worthy of publication. Mine certainly wasn't! It was a multiple point of view drama of the type I write now, written in 1993; I've considered looking it out and rehashing, but I've probably re-used any decent ideas in it, anyway.
What are some of the pros/cons of being an indie author?
Cons:
It's all down to you. I hear paperbacks are a pain in the neck to produce, too; I wouldn't know, I've never bothered with them.
It's not too bad but can be a bit expensive. I use Lulu.com I've heard CreateSpace is good too.
Pros:
Creative freedom.
DIY means that you are forced to learn about the market and the publishing industry as a whole, which can only be a good thing.
Pricing, timescale and promotional freedom.
Being able to choose who edits and proofreads your book.
Keeping all the royalties.
Looks like the pros win! :)
What’s your favourite genre to read?
Historical fiction. At its best, I can't get enough! I like the quite serious and meticulously researched end of this genre that immerses the reader in the period. I am not keen on historical romance. I prefer stories that educate me about the period, as well as being entertaining. My favourite eras to read about are the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, and my favourite authors are Deborah Swift, Ann Swinfen, and Gemma Lawrence . I've also enjoyed Tony Riches, and some novels set in the 18th century by William Savage. For Victorian, I recommend Carol Hedges and Tom Williams.
My other favourite genre is post apocalyptic (may or may not include zombies), but it has to be really well written; there is a lot of junk around. I recommend Kate L. Mary, Frank Tayell, and John Privilege.
What genre do you write in?
A sort of mixed up non/multiple genre. Several regular readers have said that I have created my own....
That's cool!
I write contemporary (1970s to present day) fiction set in England, orientated towards relationships, but not romance; always character-driven, but with a certain amount of mystery and twistery; I like to keep the reader guessing about what will happen/who is behind what.
Mystery and twistery! I love that :)
When writing a novel or story, do you think word count is important? If so, what is the ideal length?
The ideal length is the the right length for that particular story, whatever that may be.
Agreed :)
If a book needs to be 125K words long to be told properly, then it does. Three of my books (Kings And Queens, Last Child, and The House Of York) are over 120K words long; happily, a couple of reviewers said they didn't feel that long; they weren't aware of 'wading through' them! Similarly, Best Seller is only 40K words long, because I decided the story was best told in novella form, with concise detail rather than a deeper exploration of the characters. Several reviews say it read as satisfyingly as a full length novel, which I was pleased about; however, one felt it should have been longer, with more background about the characters. You will never please everyone; you just have to write the book you need to write. Consider whether all the words are necessary, or if you've added superfluous detail or been self-indulgent. 'Padding' always shows. On the other hand, I've read books that are too short for a long and complex story, so I've failed to become involved in it. If you're not sure, get a couple of test readers upon whom you can rely to be honest.
Do you have any advice for writers as to how to deal with bad reviews?
Accept them as inevitable. I know they knock your confidence, and we all go through it, but, alas, not everyone will love everything you do.
Look up your all-time favourite books on Amazon. They will have some 1 and 2*, too. If Phillipa Gregory/Elizabeth Jane Howard/William Boyd, etc, can get bad reviews, so can you.
Don't challenge them; if you've made your book available on a site that allows readers to review, they have a right to express their opinion.
Learn from them; if more than one reader says the book has, for instance, unrealistic dialogue, they might be expressing the opinion of many; the majority of readers don't review, but will simply not buy another book from you.
A few mediocre reviews makes the book look more credible, as if it's been more widely read. Few things look more naff than just eight reviews, all 5*, written by people who've never reviewed anything else.
Don't consider 3* a bad review ~ 3* means 'it's okay' on Amazon and 'I like it' on Goodreads.
Don't complain to or about book bloggers who do not review your book favourably. You submitted the book; presumably you read the terms first.
Understand the difference between a bad review from a genuine reader who wasn't that keen on your book, and a troll who is out to get you personally. Most are the former, and shouting 'troll' every time you get a bad review can make you look a bit petulant!
Great advice
Many thanks, Maria, for inviting me to feature on your blog, and I do hope some of this has been of interest/help to your readers.
I'm sure it will be. Thanks so much for being a guest, Terry!
****************************
Author links
Blog: http://terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Terry-Tyler-...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerryTyler4
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Terry-Tyler/e...
That's still one of my favourite books. I've read a few more of her books since then and love her writing style. She's a prolific writer and currently has twelve books on Amazon.
INTERVIEW WITH TERRY TYLER
Welcome, Terry. Thanks for visiting me here!
You've written lots of books! Where does your inspiration come from?
Now, this question is asked in virtually all author interviews; I have completed many of these over the past four or five years and I usually answer 'I don't know, it just appears'.
Ha, ha! That's usually the correct answer ;)
However, I'm delighted to say that, this time and with regard to my current work in progress, I can answer it properly! A few months ago I was undecided about what to start work on next. I had three ideas in note form: a post apocalyptic novella, a contemporary drama based on a historical period (as I've done before), and psychological thriller for which I couldn't think of a decent end. Then, one afternoon, I was having an Amazon browse and saw a title: The Serial Killer's Wife. And that was it. Those four words gave me the basic idea for my next novel....which leads me to your next question, Maria :)
Tell us about your latest book
It's a dark psychological drama. There's a serial killer on the loose, and five people suspect that the monster might be someone close to them. It's not a crime drama as such, as I don't particularly enjoy reading detective/crime stories and certainly don't want to write them, but obviously I've had to do a fair bit of research; I've kept police procedure bit to a minimum, though, and the police themselves are only minor characters. I've always been interested in serial killers, so know a fair bit about the psychology, but main characters are the five who fear they might know the killer. Plenty of opportunity for the red herrings and plot twists I love! It's called The Devil You Know; the title popped into my head along with the idea for the plot. I hope it will be ready for publication in October, but I'm still on the first draft; early days.
That sounds very interesting! A bit like Agatha Christie!
How long did it take you to write your last book?
My last book was Best Seller, a novella of 40K words, and it took about three and a half months. Two months for the first draft, six weeks for the rewrites. For a full length novel I usually reckon on three/four months for the first draft, and two or three months for the rewrites.
You're a fast writer! I wish I could keep up with reading them as you publish them... love your books! :)
Do you do your own editing or use a professional? Anyone you’d recommend?
I do my own editing. I don't want anyone telling me what I can and can't have in my own book, and think I have a fairly good handle on how to trim a novel down and make sure every word matters, although obviously my first books are not as tight as my more recent ones; your technique improves all the time. I have two reliable test readers, too. If you're not confident about going it alone, I'd recommend Alison Williams, @AlisonW_Editor on Twitter. She's as picky a reader as me, and we usually mirror each other's opinions when reviewing the same books!
Proofreading, however, is a different matter. Every writer needs a proofreader, because you can't spot your own typos/missing words, etc, and most people make errors like the odd misplaced hyphen. There are masses of cowboys out there these days, though, or just amateurs who don't know what a semicolon is for, let alone how to amend a wrongly assigned dependent clause, for instance. Recommendations: Julia Gibbs @ProofreadJulia, or Wendy Janes @WendyProof. Alison, Julia and Wendy come highly recommended by many, not just me!
Have you ever published something and wished you hadn’t?
Not in its entirety, but like most writers I sometimes read back my older books and go 'ouch' at certain bits, or am about to tweet an old blog post, then decide to give it a quick once-over just in time! Since Kindle publishing, it is all too easy to rush to get that first novel out; not all first novels are worthy of publication. Mine certainly wasn't! It was a multiple point of view drama of the type I write now, written in 1993; I've considered looking it out and rehashing, but I've probably re-used any decent ideas in it, anyway.
What are some of the pros/cons of being an indie author?
Cons:
It's all down to you. I hear paperbacks are a pain in the neck to produce, too; I wouldn't know, I've never bothered with them.
It's not too bad but can be a bit expensive. I use Lulu.com I've heard CreateSpace is good too.
Pros:
Creative freedom.
DIY means that you are forced to learn about the market and the publishing industry as a whole, which can only be a good thing.
Pricing, timescale and promotional freedom.
Being able to choose who edits and proofreads your book.
Keeping all the royalties.
Looks like the pros win! :)
What’s your favourite genre to read?
Historical fiction. At its best, I can't get enough! I like the quite serious and meticulously researched end of this genre that immerses the reader in the period. I am not keen on historical romance. I prefer stories that educate me about the period, as well as being entertaining. My favourite eras to read about are the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, and my favourite authors are Deborah Swift, Ann Swinfen, and Gemma Lawrence . I've also enjoyed Tony Riches, and some novels set in the 18th century by William Savage. For Victorian, I recommend Carol Hedges and Tom Williams.
My other favourite genre is post apocalyptic (may or may not include zombies), but it has to be really well written; there is a lot of junk around. I recommend Kate L. Mary, Frank Tayell, and John Privilege.
What genre do you write in?
A sort of mixed up non/multiple genre. Several regular readers have said that I have created my own....
That's cool!
I write contemporary (1970s to present day) fiction set in England, orientated towards relationships, but not romance; always character-driven, but with a certain amount of mystery and twistery; I like to keep the reader guessing about what will happen/who is behind what.
Mystery and twistery! I love that :)
When writing a novel or story, do you think word count is important? If so, what is the ideal length?
The ideal length is the the right length for that particular story, whatever that may be.
Agreed :)
If a book needs to be 125K words long to be told properly, then it does. Three of my books (Kings And Queens, Last Child, and The House Of York) are over 120K words long; happily, a couple of reviewers said they didn't feel that long; they weren't aware of 'wading through' them! Similarly, Best Seller is only 40K words long, because I decided the story was best told in novella form, with concise detail rather than a deeper exploration of the characters. Several reviews say it read as satisfyingly as a full length novel, which I was pleased about; however, one felt it should have been longer, with more background about the characters. You will never please everyone; you just have to write the book you need to write. Consider whether all the words are necessary, or if you've added superfluous detail or been self-indulgent. 'Padding' always shows. On the other hand, I've read books that are too short for a long and complex story, so I've failed to become involved in it. If you're not sure, get a couple of test readers upon whom you can rely to be honest.
Do you have any advice for writers as to how to deal with bad reviews?
Accept them as inevitable. I know they knock your confidence, and we all go through it, but, alas, not everyone will love everything you do.
Look up your all-time favourite books on Amazon. They will have some 1 and 2*, too. If Phillipa Gregory/Elizabeth Jane Howard/William Boyd, etc, can get bad reviews, so can you.
Don't challenge them; if you've made your book available on a site that allows readers to review, they have a right to express their opinion.
Learn from them; if more than one reader says the book has, for instance, unrealistic dialogue, they might be expressing the opinion of many; the majority of readers don't review, but will simply not buy another book from you.
A few mediocre reviews makes the book look more credible, as if it's been more widely read. Few things look more naff than just eight reviews, all 5*, written by people who've never reviewed anything else.
Don't consider 3* a bad review ~ 3* means 'it's okay' on Amazon and 'I like it' on Goodreads.
Don't complain to or about book bloggers who do not review your book favourably. You submitted the book; presumably you read the terms first.
Understand the difference between a bad review from a genuine reader who wasn't that keen on your book, and a troll who is out to get you personally. Most are the former, and shouting 'troll' every time you get a bad review can make you look a bit petulant!
Great advice
Many thanks, Maria, for inviting me to feature on your blog, and I do hope some of this has been of interest/help to your readers.
I'm sure it will be. Thanks so much for being a guest, Terry!
****************************
Author links
Blog: http://terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Terry-Tyler-...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerryTyler4
Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Terry-Tyler/e...
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message 1:
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Shelley
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Jun 07, 2016 12:17AM
Great interview ladies. I love the sound of your new book, Terry :-)
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Shelley wrote: "Great interview ladies. I love the sound of your new book, Terry :-)"Cheers, Shelley.... now I AM going to switch off the internet and write....! x
Shelley wrote: "Great interview ladies. I love the sound of your new book, Terry :-)"Glad you enjoyed the interview, Shelley! :)
Terry wrote: "Shelley wrote: "Great interview ladies. I love the sound of your new book, Terry :-)"Cheers, Shelley.... now I AM going to switch off the internet and write....! x"
Hahaha! It is a big distraction :) Thanks for being a wonderful guest, Terry - now go and write that book x
Maria wrote: "Terry wrote: "Shelley wrote: "Great interview ladies. I love the sound of your new book, Terry :-)"Cheers, Shelley.... now I AM going to switch off the internet and write....! x"
psst - wrote 2500 words, so feel pleased with myself - that's after two days of 0 words, though....!
A great interview with invaluable information for a novice writer like myself. I'll keep those pointers in mind for future reference.Always helpful Terry :)
Terry wrote: "Maria wrote: "Terry wrote: "Shelley wrote: "Great interview ladies. I love the sound of your new book, Terry :-)"Cheers, Shelley.... now I AM going to switch off the internet and write....! x"
p..."
Good progress! :)
Michael wrote: "A great interview with invaluable information for a novice writer like myself. I'll keep those pointers in mind for future reference.Always helpful Terry :)"
Thanks for commenting, Michael :) Glad you enjoyed the interview.
Michael wrote: "A great interview with invaluable information for a novice writer like myself. I'll keep those pointers in mind for future reference.Always helpful Terry :)"
Thanks so much, Michael, I'm glad it was helpful. Good luck with the writing!
Thanks for the mention...I use Createspace and they are good. It does tie you in to Amazon, but that's OK for now. Best thng about them is the troubleshooting team, who are quick to respond to problems.
Great interview and sound advice as usual, particularly about dealing with reviews.That new book sounds intriguing. Can't wait :) And thanks so much for the mention!
And thanks for mentioning me, too. I also use CreateSpace, which is very straightforward. Interestingly, I've found that paperback sales have jumped lately. It's good to feel that there are physical books out there in the world. Absolutely agreed with what you say about editors and proofreaders.
Great interview. Thanks for the mention. That dark psychological drama sounds intriguing.
Thanks for your comments Carol, Alison, Ann, and Wendy!! Glad you enjoyed the interview :)
Carol wrote: "Thanks for the mention...I use Createspace and they are good. It does tie you in to Amazon, but that's OK for now. Best thng about them is the troubleshooting team, who are quick to respond to prob..."Thanks - I always hope people will read the comments in interviews, which often yield more tips!
Alison wrote: "Great interview and sound advice as usual, particularly about dealing with reviews.That new book sounds intriguing. Can't wait :) And thanks so much for the mention!"It's a load of crap at the moment, Alison, but is early days!
Wendy wrote: "Great interview. Thanks for the mention. That dark psychological drama sounds intriguing."You're welcome :)
Ann wrote: "And thanks for mentioning me, too. I also use CreateSpace, which is very straightforward. Interestingly, I've found that paperback sales have jumped lately. It's good to feel that there are physica..."Thanks, Ann ~ my proofreading sister and I (Julia) are on a bit of a mission to help people stop wasting money on rubbish proofreaders!
Enjoyed reading this, sound advice as always from Terry, thanks for the post Maria.
Hi Maria and Terry - really interesting information ... lots to take on board, but succinctly put - thanks and cheers Hilary
A down to earth practical interview with great advice that I'm sure many will take on board. Thanks both.
Just caught up with this, really great interview with good advice. Loving the sound of the new book :)
Cathy wrote: "Just caught up with this, really great interview with good advice. Loving the sound of the new book :)"Thanks, Rosie, Cathy, Hilary and Judith! Good idea re-blogging this on my own blog, then - so easy to miss stuff. Hoping the new book works out, Cathy - it's at the 'first draft and it's a load of rubbish' stage, but I commence the real work this week - 2nd draft!!
Terrific points on how to deal with bad reviews T and I love the sound of your new book. Super interview ladies :-)
Georgia wrote: "Terrific points on how to deal with bad reviews T and I love the sound of your new book. Super interview ladies :-)"Thank you! :)
Rosie wrote: "Enjoyed reading this, sound advice as always from Terry, thanks for the post Maria."Glad you enjoyed it, Rosie!
Hilary wrote: "Hi Maria and Terry - really interesting information ... lots to take on board, but succinctly put - thanks and cheers Hilary"Hi Hilary! Thanks for reading :)
Judith wrote: "A down to earth practical interview with great advice that I'm sure many will take on board. Thanks both."Thank you, Judith! Glad you enjoyed it :)
Cathy wrote: "Just caught up with this, really great interview with good advice. Loving the sound of the new book :)"Thanks for stopping by, Cathy. Yes, her book sounds great, doesn't it? :)
Georgia wrote: "Terrific points on how to deal with bad reviews T and I love the sound of your new book. Super interview ladies :-)"Thank you, Georgia x
