Write, write and write: Author Spotlight with Dionie McNair
1. If a movie was made of your life, what would be the title and why?
I think I would call a movie made about my life ‘Flying with Broken Wings’ because after having had a difficult childhood and years of an abusive marriage I have at times felt broken and unable to achieve what I want. Fortunately I have drawn on my inner strength which I didn’t know I had and escaped and reconciled with my past and have moved on the bigger and better things like becoming a published writer. I would like to see it as a movie of hope for those who are struggling with life.
2. If you had a snail that could grant magic wishes what would you call it and why?
If I had a magic snail I would call her ‘Shellie’ – because she has a shell and also because I would always be getting her to ‘shell’ out some good things for me.
3. If you could have a super hero for a partner, who would it be and why?
I would choose Superman. He seems the least tortured superhero, with an easy acceptance of who he is and what he can do. He is also a writer, if only a journalist, so he could relate to me.
4. What is the meaning of life? (And you can’t say 42!)
So first of all I had to look up where the 42 came into it. I seem to have missed something along the way. Well now I know about 42 and think it would be convenient to distil life down to a number, be it 42 or otherwise.
I suppose the meaning of life depends on your core values and beliefs. For me, I’m not religious, but believe in a higher being, God if you like, I don’t think it matters what you call this being. For if there were no higher being there would be no meaning or purpose of us striving for a better life.
I think meaning of life is not just a static idea for all, but one that we each, individually, have to make out of the time and resources we have. We choose a path that has meaning to us, to achieve a goal that has meaning for us – take Mother Teresa, Margaret Thatcher, Angelina Jolie, Gill Hicks – dependant on the hand we have been dealt.
5. Tell us a bit about your latest/upcoming release.
My latest release is an erotic romance novel with a touch of suspense and intrigue. Titled Demolition of the Heart and published by Totally Bound Publishers it was released on the 22nd August 2014 and is available in e book and paperback on Totally Bound and Amazon.
Kayla Mackenzie in Demolition of the Heart has come from a background of privilege, but in her short twenty five years life has already dealt her some hard lessons in love, loss and the burden of having a prestigious pioneering family legacy to live up to.
When Wade Faxton mysteriously gains possession of her beloved family home with intention of demolishing it, feisty and impetuous, Kayla tackles him head on with explosive results that put her life and her heart at risk.
Join Wade and Kayla in Demolition of the Heart where against a back drop of revenge, embezzlement and murder they fight for possession of the house, their love and their lives.
6. What genre/s do you write in and why?
Being an eclectic type of person I write in several genres. I love writing romances, erotic and with a twist such as paranormal or suspense. It is of the utmost importance that I have a captivating story to thread through the familiar story of the romance genre. Happy endings always appeal to me.
I also enjoy writing YA novels in either fantasy or social issues. Challenging to write YA books are important to give messages to young people and also enjoyment and entertainment from reading.
7. Do you have secret to overcoming writer’s block?
I don’t usually acknowledge the existence of writer’s block. I have a multitude of ideas to write about so have no problems beginning a new book.
Every now and then though when I am writing I lose momentum. I get the feeling my story has taken a wrong turn. At these times Ire-read what I have written and then leave the computer and go have a coffee, a sit in the garden or even a nanna nap. Sometimes I need to sleep on it overnight. Then I go back to my writing and delete everything back to where I know the story was heading in the right direction then I start again.
8. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Definitely. All my novels have strong female protagonists. They may not have been strong in the beginning but they learn to draw of their own inner strength whether they knew they had it or not.
I like to see each of my heroines grow and mature through life’s experiences and this is the message I want to get out to my readers. You are a woman, you are stronger than you think. You can do it, cope with it and triumph over whatever adversity comes your way.
In the case of my romances – despite being a strong woman who does not need a man to complete her she is delighted when she finds a man to love who deserves her.
9. Do you have any advice for other writers or aspiring authors?
My advice to aspiring writers is: write, write and write. Be prepared to edit and be ruthless with your work. Edit, rewrite, edit and polish. Also believe in yourself – you are a writer.
10. What is the best link for people to buy your book from?
Demolition of the Heart & Deathly Embrace: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos...
Blog + Demolition of the Heart & Deathly Embrace: http://cassandrahawkeromance.com/
https://www.totallybound.com/index.ph...
Deathly Embrace from Ai Press: http://www.ai-press.net/deathly-embrace/
About Cassandra Hawke:
Dionie was a closet writer for several years before she got brave enough to share her work with anyone until she joined Eyre Writers Inc, a creative writing group in the seaside town of Port Lincoln and really began to improve.
Her first book was a 100,000 words family saga novel, but after a workshop on 'How to write a Mills and Boon', she embarked on a new direction—writing the romance novel.
After being made redundant from the job she loved in 2011 she became a carer for her frail, vision-impaired mother and turned to fulfilling her dream of becoming a writer.
When Dionie is not writing she enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially her mother, and three wonderful adult children and two adorable grandchildren.
Dionie also enjoys egg decorating and carving, reading of course, painting and cooking when she is not writing.
I think I would call a movie made about my life ‘Flying with Broken Wings’ because after having had a difficult childhood and years of an abusive marriage I have at times felt broken and unable to achieve what I want. Fortunately I have drawn on my inner strength which I didn’t know I had and escaped and reconciled with my past and have moved on the bigger and better things like becoming a published writer. I would like to see it as a movie of hope for those who are struggling with life.
2. If you had a snail that could grant magic wishes what would you call it and why?
If I had a magic snail I would call her ‘Shellie’ – because she has a shell and also because I would always be getting her to ‘shell’ out some good things for me.
3. If you could have a super hero for a partner, who would it be and why?
I would choose Superman. He seems the least tortured superhero, with an easy acceptance of who he is and what he can do. He is also a writer, if only a journalist, so he could relate to me.
4. What is the meaning of life? (And you can’t say 42!)
So first of all I had to look up where the 42 came into it. I seem to have missed something along the way. Well now I know about 42 and think it would be convenient to distil life down to a number, be it 42 or otherwise.
I suppose the meaning of life depends on your core values and beliefs. For me, I’m not religious, but believe in a higher being, God if you like, I don’t think it matters what you call this being. For if there were no higher being there would be no meaning or purpose of us striving for a better life.
I think meaning of life is not just a static idea for all, but one that we each, individually, have to make out of the time and resources we have. We choose a path that has meaning to us, to achieve a goal that has meaning for us – take Mother Teresa, Margaret Thatcher, Angelina Jolie, Gill Hicks – dependant on the hand we have been dealt.
5. Tell us a bit about your latest/upcoming release.
My latest release is an erotic romance novel with a touch of suspense and intrigue. Titled Demolition of the Heart and published by Totally Bound Publishers it was released on the 22nd August 2014 and is available in e book and paperback on Totally Bound and Amazon.
Kayla Mackenzie in Demolition of the Heart has come from a background of privilege, but in her short twenty five years life has already dealt her some hard lessons in love, loss and the burden of having a prestigious pioneering family legacy to live up to.
When Wade Faxton mysteriously gains possession of her beloved family home with intention of demolishing it, feisty and impetuous, Kayla tackles him head on with explosive results that put her life and her heart at risk.
Join Wade and Kayla in Demolition of the Heart where against a back drop of revenge, embezzlement and murder they fight for possession of the house, their love and their lives.
6. What genre/s do you write in and why?
Being an eclectic type of person I write in several genres. I love writing romances, erotic and with a twist such as paranormal or suspense. It is of the utmost importance that I have a captivating story to thread through the familiar story of the romance genre. Happy endings always appeal to me.
I also enjoy writing YA novels in either fantasy or social issues. Challenging to write YA books are important to give messages to young people and also enjoyment and entertainment from reading.
7. Do you have secret to overcoming writer’s block?
I don’t usually acknowledge the existence of writer’s block. I have a multitude of ideas to write about so have no problems beginning a new book.
Every now and then though when I am writing I lose momentum. I get the feeling my story has taken a wrong turn. At these times Ire-read what I have written and then leave the computer and go have a coffee, a sit in the garden or even a nanna nap. Sometimes I need to sleep on it overnight. Then I go back to my writing and delete everything back to where I know the story was heading in the right direction then I start again.
8. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Definitely. All my novels have strong female protagonists. They may not have been strong in the beginning but they learn to draw of their own inner strength whether they knew they had it or not.
I like to see each of my heroines grow and mature through life’s experiences and this is the message I want to get out to my readers. You are a woman, you are stronger than you think. You can do it, cope with it and triumph over whatever adversity comes your way.
In the case of my romances – despite being a strong woman who does not need a man to complete her she is delighted when she finds a man to love who deserves her.
9. Do you have any advice for other writers or aspiring authors?
My advice to aspiring writers is: write, write and write. Be prepared to edit and be ruthless with your work. Edit, rewrite, edit and polish. Also believe in yourself – you are a writer.
10. What is the best link for people to buy your book from?
Demolition of the Heart & Deathly Embrace: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_nos...
Blog + Demolition of the Heart & Deathly Embrace: http://cassandrahawkeromance.com/
https://www.totallybound.com/index.ph...
Deathly Embrace from Ai Press: http://www.ai-press.net/deathly-embrace/
About Cassandra Hawke:
Dionie was a closet writer for several years before she got brave enough to share her work with anyone until she joined Eyre Writers Inc, a creative writing group in the seaside town of Port Lincoln and really began to improve.
Her first book was a 100,000 words family saga novel, but after a workshop on 'How to write a Mills and Boon', she embarked on a new direction—writing the romance novel.
After being made redundant from the job she loved in 2011 she became a carer for her frail, vision-impaired mother and turned to fulfilling her dream of becoming a writer.
When Dionie is not writing she enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially her mother, and three wonderful adult children and two adorable grandchildren.
Dionie also enjoys egg decorating and carving, reading of course, painting and cooking when she is not writing.
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