Behind The Scenes With: British Journalist and Non-Fiction Writer Jane Alexander

Okay, so this is my dream come true – sitting down with one of my closest friends (although we've never even met face-to-face, how weird is that?!), Jane Alexander.  What a phenom!  When I grow up, I want to be this lady!  Read on – you'll see why…

Q.  Your non-fiction book The Natural Year was just re-released.  Can you tell us a little about the book?  I hear there are some interesting updates to this piece…

The Natural Year was my second book, originally published by Bantam Books in the UK and Avon in the US.  I feel that so many of us have lost touch with our seasonal roots; that we try to lead these crazy modern lives that are always up, always bright, always 100 per cent switched on – and that goes against the wisdom of nature.  At the time, I had interviewed loads of wise souls and I wanted to share their insights into maybe a more gentle way of being. 

Yes, it has been updated for the Kindle version. When the book first came out, I had to take out quite a bit of material so it fitted the publisher's ideal word count.  Obviously, that doesn't matter in an ebook so I've put back a few additional sections.

Q.  Okay, tell me the truth…  How much of this advice do you practice in real life?

I'm just like everyone else, muddling through the best I can.  Anyhow, if you did everything in this book, you'd never have time to do anything else!  I'm just throwing it all out there, in the hopes it might be helpful; that something or other will chime a chord; that bits or pieces will work for people.  Having said that, I do try to keep some balance (I exercise, I meditate, I do yoga, I love massage and I try to eat reasonably well) – but it's a constant challenge…

Q.  You decided to self-pub the ebook this time around.  Can you tell me about your decision behind this?

A lot of my books are now out of print yet I was still getting emails from people about them, saying they found them a useful resource and asking where they could get copies.  At the same time I watched people like you going ahead and self-publishing and I figured it was something I needed to check out.  I asked my agent to find out which of my titles had rights reverted and am now working on getting those titles out there.  I confess I dragged my heels for ages and then, let's be very honest Kim, you grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and made me do it… and I'm so grateful.

Q.  Do you worry about the stigma of self-pubbing?  What has your experience been so far?

No, I don't.  Not remotely.  This is totally new for me and I'm sure it will be a learning curve.  Right now I can't say whether it will work or not but I do know it will be nice not to have to turn people away when they ask where they can buy my old books.  My personal feeling is that self-pubbing will become more and more common and will be validated as a perfectly acceptable alternative to mainstream publishing.  It's a no-brainer really.  What I do love is that you can get a book out there immediately, with no faff (rather than waiting for up to two years as one does with traditional publishing) – and that you're in control of the process.

Q.  Can we expect any of your other popular non-fiction titles released as an e-book soon?

Absolutely, providing the Kim Jewell publishing phenomenon helps!  Next up should be The Energy Secret, followed by a series of small spin-offs from one of my bestselling titles, Spirit of the Home. I'm still waiting to hear if rights have reverted on other titles but, as soon as they do, I'll self-pub them.  Why not? 

Q.  How did you get into non-fiction writing?

By accident!  I was working as a journalist, writing on natural health and wellbeing for the Daily Mail when Judy, a London-based agent, approached me about writing books.  We met, got on like a house on fire, and she got me a two-book deal with Bantam (Transworld).  My first book was Supertherapies, published back in 1996, followed by The Natural Year.  I then wrote a series of books for HarperCollins before branching out with other publishers.  I lose track but the book count is somewhere over 20 now!

Q.  You and I met on Authonomy, a writers' community founded by HarperCollins.  Can you tell us more about your experiences there?

And what a lovely meeting that was, Kim!  I went onto Authonomy to gauge reader responses to my first attempt at YA fiction,Walker.  I got a ton of great feedback and met a ton of great people, many of whom have become very dear friends (some met in RL, some not).  Authonomy changed my life – in many ways – although I'm not entirely sure it's the best place to get feedback on writing anymore.

Q.  Okay, so I'm a huge fan of your YA work, which I read on Authonomy.  When can we expect to see your fiction hit the bookshelves?

Hmm.  That's the million dollar question. Walker(my shamanic novel), despite being agented and winning competitions, failed to find a publisher.  However I have now completely rewritten it and I'm getting ready to self-publish it.  There will be two versions – the 'male' version and the 'female' version.  Very shamanic… 

Samael, my dark romance, also underwent a complete rewrite and is now with a bunch of editors (including HarperCollins, following its Authonomy review).  However, if that doesn't find a traditional publisher, I will put it out in ebook format too.  

Q.  Do your friends and family read your work?  What do they think, and are they supportive?

Nope, my family never read my work. They are supportive – although I think my husband sometimes wishes I would stick with the journalism – or get a new job entirely.  My friends, however, are simply wondrous…my online ones in particular…

Q.  What kind of reaction have you gotten from your readers?

You know, you don't get a huge amount of feedback from traditional non-fiction publishing – people very rarely put pen to paper or go to the bother of writing an email but the letters I have had have been quite humbling.  What really makes me smile is when some stray thing I've written or reported has been the nudge someone needed to find their own path.  And every so often I come across someone who says, 'Oh you're that Jane Alexander – I've got your book and I love it.'  Yeah, my ego purrs at that, of course it does.

Q.  Who are your favorite authors, books, genres?

Lately I'm not reading much at all, which may surprise you.  I'm mainly listening to music, walking in the woods and staring out the window.  I think my eyes are tired from the thousands of books I've read over the years.  Having said that, I do love the imagination of YA fiction (you know I'm a big fan of your work, Kim, amongst others); I'm coming round to SF after years of disdain and as I've said before, I love Symphonic Bridges by Marek Stefanowicz (it's the book that pulled me back into meditation, vegetarianism, exercise, breathwork and generally reconnected me with my spirituality). 

Q.  Real books or e-reader? 

Both.  My husband bought me a Kindle last Christmas and it's a huge boon on trips.  But you can't beat the smell of a new book.

Q.  Okay, now give me the deets on the real Jane Alexander…  Do you have day job?

I write.  Full-time.  All the time.  It's the only thing that pays (or doesn't pay) the bills. There is no safety net, never has been.  At the moment it's bloody tough out there though and, I'll be honest, for the first time in twenty years of freelancing, I'm not making enough to cover the basics.  I write columns for three magazines – Natural Health, Spirit and Destiny and Top Sante.  I also blog for The Lady magazine which makes me laugh a lot.  And I spend far too much time farting around on my own blog, Diary of a Desperate Exmoor Woman.

Q.  Where do you live?

I live in a small town on the edge of the Exmoor National Park, a wild and beautiful area in the South-West of the UK. Exmoor inspires my fiction and both my YA titles are predominantly set there.

Q.  Can you tell us anything about your family?

My husband, Adrian Tierney-Jones, is a beer and travel writer – a journalist and non-fiction author.  And yes, also self-employed – how precarious is that for one household!  My son, James, is coming up to thirteen, sports-mad, science-savvy and totally edible.  

Q.  Tell me something random that no one knows about you.

I'm an open book.  I don't think there's anything interesting left to tell. 

Q.  Sun bathing or sky diving?

Neither.

Q.  Are you a social butterfly or wall flower?

Hermit.

Q.  Most reckless thing you've ever done?

Walked out of my job at the London Evening Standard on some stupid principle and got on a plane to the US.

Q.  Where and when do you write?  Is it hard to find time to write?  Your preference – music blaring, or absolute quiet?

All day, every day.  Don't even think about it.  Music – depends.

Q.  Pen and paper or keyboard?

Again, depends. Non-fiction – always keyboard. Fiction – always pen and paper (Moleskine). 

Q.  At what age did you start writing?  Did you always want to be a writer?

I wrote my first book when I was four.  It had 'grown-up' writing – ie a lot of squiggles.  When I was young I wanted to be, variously, a warrior-priestess, a TV presenter and the owner of a string of Arabs (the horses, that is ).

Q.  I see you everywhere – your blogs, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn…  How do you do it all?  And do you think social media is important for aspiring authors?

Quite clearly at the expense of my journalism and non-fiction!  I write damn fast, thanks to my background in newsprint journalism – having half-hour deadlines concentrates the mind.  Yes, I think social media is important – but it depends how you use it. You have to have a product worth touting first and foremost – and then the process needs to be organic somehow… I see a lot of people on social media trying too hard. It's a Jedi dance – feel your way. 

Q.  Do you have any advice for writers, young and old alike?

Hmm.  I'm not an advice giver really. If you want to be a journalist, I'd say find another career!  Journalism is pretty much dead in the water (unless you have an independent income).  If you're following a dream, then gird your loins and develop a very tough skin. I think the rise of self-pub is allowing anyone to publish, which can be a great thing.  However, personally I reckon most people (even the most wonderful natural writers) need editors and that is a process which will be lost in the self-pub revolution so quality may be iffy.  Mebbe put your ego on one side and have someone you trust go through with the red pen?  Oh, and read your stuff out loud – if you can't get to the end of a sentence without oxygen, it's probably too long (or you've morphed into Cicero or James Joyce!).

Q.  What can we expect next from Jane Alexander?

Feck knows!  I have three projects sitting in the wings, waiting for the auspicious time and the right people.  At some point I'd like to have a bash at adult fiction.  And I need to complete the Samael trilogy.  Oh, and – don't laugh – I'm helping to run bootcamps on Exmoor, helping people have fun getting fit.  Check out their website.

Thanks, Jane, for taking the time to sit down with me!  (We really must do this in person sometime soon.)  Jane's book The Natural Year can now be downloaded on Amazon.  For more on Jane, check out her blogs Diary of a Desperate Exmoor Woman and Never Knowingly Overwhelmed , or follow her on Twitter.