Author of Lily the Witch Hunter
Jane Austen.. I understand the difficulties in that answer but if I could turn back time to write with her, I would. To say she lived in a time when women were to be seen and not heard, her books were, and still are, outstanding.
What's your favorite part of a book?
That first kiss and the build up. It's my favourite part of reading and writing. I've been known to sit and yell at a book the way most people to do movies!
How do you get started with writing a story (as in, how do you start developing the story, how do you get inspired for it)
The idea literally pops into my head. I work it through in my mind before sitting down and working out a basic storyline. That's probably the most important part of my writing in my eyes. I like to have something to follow and I usually write the synopsis/blurb pretty soon after that. If I haven't had any names come to me naturally, I'll look on baby naming websites for names I like and put them in my plan. As I write mostly in the evenings, after I have it all planned out I turn on my tablet, pour a glass of wine and get started!
What advice would you give to people who "run out of creativity" when writing?
Step away from the book! Take a day or two to rearrange your thoughts. Or, if you're like me, work on the cover (if you do it yourself) or maybe work on another book. I always have at least two books being written at the same time so I can chop and change between them when writer's block hits.
What books have most influenced your life most?
Little Women and Pride and Prejudice – they're such classic, timeless stories that always warm my heart. The Harry Potter series introduced me to the world of magic and fantasy when I was about seven or eight years old, and I'd say that's a big part of why my natural inclination is to write fantasy and paranormal. Harry Potter is a love I carry to this day!
What are your current projects?
Book five of The Mauve Legacy series, Prophecy. Also another, stand alone YA Paranormal Novel titled Destiny. It's solely about werewolves and I'm having great fun thinking up the story of their creation.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
I don't know if you can call it an entity, or even support.. But I had my daughter at 17 and got the usual 'you'll never make it because you're a teen mum' etc, etc. Those comments really drove me to continue on with my writing even when I felt like giving up because they're definitely not true. So in a way, the comments meant for put-me-downs have lifted me up.
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
It started as a young child – and I mean a very young. My mother always encouraged me to read books, so it's been a lifelong dream. I actually said to her (and anyone who would listen) when I was about eight that I would be a famous author one day.. Maybe I'm not quite world famous but I'm certainly an author now! But it was actually my partner, Darryl, who brought that interest to the forefront. He got so fed up of me stealing his iPhone so I could read the free e-books that he said 'why don't you just write a book instead of reading them all the time?' I owe a lot to him for that flippant comment.
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Yes – that writing a book isn't nearly as easy as I thought it was!
