Interview with Author Zach Abrams

interview with Zach Abrams about Ring Fenced

1 What is your book about

My book tells the story of Benjamin Short in his various incarnations.  Benjamin is a very complex character and compartmentalises his life to an extreme.  His life is split into five different characters, each living under a variation of his name and the people in each of these lives have little or no knowledge of the others.  The one common thread weaving each of his lives together is his obsession for music.  There is an inevitability the divisions can not be sustained and the story deals with the unforeseen events taking place causing the divisions to become blurred with catastrophic results.

Benjamin is an anti-hero.  Although each of his characters has some redeeming features, they essentially are all different aspects of Benjamin's self obsession.  He is a sociopath constantly using other people to serve his own ends.  

2 How did you come up with the idea for your book?

That's the strange part.  I didn't have an idea for a book.  I was sitting thinking about writing something and I had the idea for the character.  He developed in my mind and I thought I'd start trying to write about him.  At first I though it would make an essay or a short story.  The ideas expanded as I tried to explain about the different aspects of his character and the story seemed to write itself.  At no time did I prepare or think through a plot and I didn't know where it was going.  Afterwards, when I read it through for the first time it was like reading someone else's novel. 

3  Does your main character resemble anyone in your family or circle of friends?

I certainly hope not.  True there are aspects of myself and of people I know but Benjamin is not based on any one person.  To survive in modern society, I, like most people have to compartmentalise.  Benjamin takes this beyond the boundaries of what is normal or reasonable.  Each of Benjamin's lives are reasonable normal if taken in isolation - it's only when they are combined under the same character and obsessively ring fenced that they become pathological 

4 Who is your favorite writer? Why?

There are many writers I love depending on my mood.  One that I particularly enjoy is the British author Michael Dobbs (to confuse matters there is a US author of the same name).  I became addicted to his books after reading 'House of Cards' where I adored his depiction of Francis Urquhart.  His own political experiences make his novels knowledgeable, insightful and amusing.

5 How long did it take you to write your book?

Once I started writing 'Ring Fenced,' I was consumed by it and wrote obsessively.  I completed the first draft within five weeks then needed a rest to draw breath.  The first edit took me about four months and it was over another year before I was sufficiently happy with it to allow anyone else, outside family, to read it. I waited a further year or more to embark on another novel and I competed and published 'Made a Killing during 2012.' It was less obsessively written but not by much  Its sequel 'A Measure of Trouble' has recently been completed and I hope to have it published quite soon

 6 What strange writing rituals do you have?

I don't know if I'd go as far as calling them rituals but I prefer to write into a word document while having a couple of windows open in the background.  I have one open to a dictionary /thesaurus and the other open in Google search.  This way I can often research or confirm small details I'm writing about while the thought is in my head.  Only recently, I've added a separate word document to the combination so I can make notes on my time line and characters as I go along.

I've recently noticed that I'm not too distracted by background noise so I don't have a problem with a television or radio being on while I'm writing.  It's maybe helped by my partial deafness but strangely enough I've found afterwards that I have a reasonable awareness of what the programme has been about and it hasn't significantly affected my writing - except maybe a few more typos to correct.

7 What are your hobbies? 

Hobbies? Are you serious?  Where's the time?  Seriously though, I still have a lot of work commitments and try to write whenever I can.  This involves the associated requirements to edit and publish and to try to mutually support other writers that I know.  Outside of all of this I enjoy reading, music travel and sports.  

8 What are you reading at the moment?

I've recently completed writing 'A Measure of Trouble' - a sequel to Made a Killing and it should be published soon.  I have two new projects on the go which together with writing, editing and publishing responsibilities I have little time left to read at present However when I can, I'm working my way through some of Lee Child's Jack Reacher series as they are easy and enjoyable reads. When I'm not writing at the same time, I love reading Indie books, as I find real originality whereas the mainstream mainly keeps churning out variations of the same thing.

Interview with Author Mel Toye

What is your book about?

Entice Me is about three women who are living their lives unsatisfied and unfulfilled but are unsure how to break free and live the life they really want. Which begs the question – what do they want from life? It is not until life forces them out of their daily routines that they are forced to discover what the world has to offer. Complication arises when one woman is set out to be the best in the business and when things don’t go her way no one suspects what she will do next.

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

Entice Me was created when I had just left a very demanding job that I loved but was treated very poorly. I had never felt fulfilled in any of the jobs I worked in and had spoken to many people who had worked in their careers for decades yet were unfulfilled, they were stuck. I wanted to create Entice Me to hold a motivating message through an entertaining story to not wait for life to force you to change paths, but to think about what are your ultimate dreams in life and each day work towards it.

After writing Entice Me, it seems my life has also changed directions, writing is my dream and at the time I didn’t realise it. I wanted to escape the rat race but I was not sure what I wanted to do. It seems I have been writing and telling stories all my life I just never realised it was my dream career until recently. Now I want more than ever to share with everyone to chase their own dreams. It can be daunting and push you out of your comfort zone to the max, but it is incredibly rewarding.

What makes your book different than others in your genre?

Entice Me is a chick lit novel that pushes the boundaries that this genre would not normally write about. Drama, suspense, eating disorders, fraud and even suicide make this chick lit a book that will have you hooked to your seat wanting to read more.  What makes Entice Me even more compelling are the characters which can relate to anyone in any stage of life.

Who is your favorite writer? Why?

Currently it is Janet Evanovich, I love her characters, her writing style and the fact that I can’t put her books down.

What strange writing rituals do you have?

Now, I write mainly in the evening, so I like to have a cup of herbal tea and something to eat as I sit down and write. For sanity purposes I have a pen and notepad in every room of the house as well as in my bag and in my child’s pram because when I get a thought for a good story or just a conversational piece, I have to write it down as soon as possible.

Is your writing style similar to any well-known writers? If so, which one(s)?

A good chick lit novel is one filled with girly fun and adventure, which is light and entertaining that will leave you smiling throughout the read. Entice Me portrays this and adds even more thrill to your read.

I don’t think I could really compare my writing to any one else’s, as all writers add their own uniqueness and specialty. I would say my story telling is combined with self-help as I want to inspire and send a message through my novels to chase your dreams in life but be sure to have fun on the way.

Who is your Muse?

My motivator is my son. I was writing before he was born but he motivated me to self-publish my novel and become a freelance writer. I love that I am showing my son that I am chasing my dreams and he can too.

What are your hobbies?

Writing! Generally all my spare time is spent on writing and marketing. But I love it. I love spending time at the beach and exploring new adventures and places too.

Does your main character resemble anyone in your family or circle of friends?

Most likely, one cannot help but write about personalities and traits that are known to the person. When my husband and brother read the first two chapters, they said ‘this sounds just like you’. Not that I would ever go around sleeping with strangers in a drunken manner and throw my underwear on their bed (as I am happily married!) but I guess my voice came through the novel, which is great.  Although once the characters where created the story just flowed through me, these characters created their own paths.

How long did it take you to write your book?

Longer than one would appreciate. I spent two years writing Entice Me, when my computer crashed I lost everything except for three chapters. I took four months off, when a friend suggested perhaps it was a sign to start again. Then I rewrote Entice Me again adding in Sally and Mr Perfect to really spice up the storyline. I believe most of the story changed but for the better. Took me another 1 year and a half to write Entice Me again. I was also working full time in another role. I would write in lunch breaks, at night time and on weekends.

What are some writing goals for the future?

My immediate goals are to become an International Best Selling Author. I would love for my novels to be turned into movies. And I will be aiming to write and self-publish some short stories and non-fiction eBooks as well as release my next fiction novel by the end of next year.  My main goal at this stage is to earn a full time living from writing.

If you were stranded on an island which book would you bring with you?

I would be sure to pack a notepad and pen so I could write my own story.

What was the most difficult thing you have learned being a writer?

When writing Entice Me I had to be absolutely focused to finish the novel. Then once I finished it, I had to let go of all my fear of rejections and go out and spread the word to the world about Entice Me.

Interview with E.B. Black, Author of Pandora's Mistake

Author Q&A

What is your book about?

Pandora's Mistake is about the myth of Pandora's box. I took a character that has been mocked through out history for her curiousity and tried to make her into someone that people could relate to. It's has romance and talks about the creation of all humanity according to greek mythology.

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I love greek mythology. I wanted to rewrite some of it without changing any of the actual details. I like making people look at familiar characters in a new light.

What makes your book different than others in your genre?

I stay true to the original stories.

It's sexier and grittier; I'm not afraid to write about anything.

Because I'm re-writing greek myths, my stories are tragedies and don't necessarily have happily ever afters.

Who is your favorite writer? Why?

Stephenie Meyer because she inspired me to write paranormal romance and fantasy romance novels.

What strange writing rituals do you have?

I always write sitting in bed. This leads me to sometimes take naps in the middle of the day. A few months ago, I rolled over my laptop and cracked the screen. It was terrible.

Is your writing style similar to any well-known writers? If so, which one(s)?

I think I'm most similar to Kelley Armstrong, but I only write for adults. She's not afraid to write about characters with faults or write about morbid and disturbing things. She also wrote a trilogy about necromancers, which is one of my favorite things to write about.

Who is your Muse?

Life is my muse. The interesting experiences I have and people I meet fuel my imagination.

What are your hobbies?

I play piano on occasion, I especially love to compose music.

When I get breaks from writing and promoting, I watch television, movies, or read books.

I also play D&D (and other role-playing games) with friends and enjoy video games.

Does your main character resemble anyone in your family or circle of friends?

Pandora reminds me of myself as a child before I had been exposed to anything. Pandora is very innocent and naive.

How long did it take you to write your book?

It took me six months of work to complete.

What are some writing goals for the future?

I'm currently working on a romantic trilogy about necromancers.

If you were stranded on an island which book would you bring with you?

Jane Eyre

What makes a good fantasy novel?

Imagination and the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes. I love the worlds and cultures fantasy can take you to. They're completely different from your own.

What was the most difficult thing you have learned being a writer?

I have to be patient about everything. Every step in the writing process takes a long time and there are many of them.

What are you reading at the moment?

I'm usually lost in some type of fantasy, romance, or YA novel.

Interview with Georgina Hannan, Author of Cursed

1.      When did you first start writing?

I started writing when I was about fourteen. I started a romance story in a collection of notebooks and my friend joined in with me for a bit. Unfortunately a lot of that story was lost so I have been re-writing it and updating it ever since.

2.      Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

No, I used to want to be a teacher!

3.      What drew you to writing young adult stories? 

Well as I started when I was fourteen it was my age group and still is just. I like writing about the way younger people see and feel about relationships and situations as it’s a lot different to an adult.

4.      Where does your inspiration for these stories come from?

Good question! I’m not really sure, sometimes it’s just a random idea or its adapted from a dream or an advert or something in my life.

5.      What has your experience been like publishing with Fast-Print.net? 

They have been very good and very helpful. There have been a few teething issues but mostly they have been very accommodating and I would recommend them.

6.      What was your favourite chapter to write and why?

My favourite chapter would probably have to be Chapter 8 as I enjoyed writing it from different views. I won’t say any more than that J

7.      Where is your favourite place to write?

My favourite place is my bedroom at my desk, which I just recently set-up J

8.      Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? i.e. You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

My only routine is I sit at my desk and I have to listen to music otherwise I become distracted by the TV programmes.

9.      Do you use a computer/laptop for your first draft or are you a pen and paper writer? 

I used to use pen and paper as I knew I’d always have it with me, however I hated typing it all up so I use my laptop now.

10.   How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

The characters are usually a mixture of names I like and surnames of random people or first names of people I know with different surnames.

11.   Did you learn anything from writing your book?  What was it?

I learnt more about the Dartmoor area and the places available to visit there. I also learnt that editing is very hard but very rewarding.

12.   How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

Not that long a few months or so really. It’s the editing that takes the longest for me.

13.   Can you describe the feeling you had when you saw your published book for the first time?

I was ecstatic! I was so very excited and I kept touching it and showing it to everyone.

14.   Who are some of your favourite authors? 

Lauren Kate, Karen Mahoney, JK Rowling, and many more.

15.   Have you ever suffered from a "writer's block"? What did you do to get past the "block"?

Yes I have, not sure there are many writers out there who can say they haven’t! I tend to do a few things; mess around on Facebook for a bit, text a few of my friends and family, make a nice hot chocolate and re-read what I have written. If that still doesn’t work then I put a film on and go back it after it. There has only been one occasion where I had to give up trying for the day as it just wasn’t happening.

16.   What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?

Keep at it. Try editing your own work before giving it to a professional as it makes you so much closer to your own work and teaches you a skill.

17.   Would you share a deep dark secret about you with us?

A deep dark secret, gosh I’m not sure I can think of one! Let’s see... I once tried writing a raunchy scene but I made myself feel embarrassed so deleted it!

Author Interview with Sonia Taylor Brock

Tell us about The Inheritance of a Swamp Witch
Written in the Cajun Dialect, it provides a new take on some very old myths and legends. The Legend of the Swamp Witch has been told for centuries in the Swamps of Southern Louisiana. Some say Voodoo, Santeria and horrible monsters. Others say there is a strange magic that will suck your life away if you get too close. An old lady that mysteriously makes things happen. No one knows exactly where she lives….unless she wants you to know.
Strange things go on in that swamp. All the locals know not to venture too close to that particular area of the swamp….you might not make it out. Those that do, never want to go back. All kinds of things are hidden there… things that BITE!
Dan Rawlings, a young reporter eager to make a name for himself goes into these swamps looking for answers into the heart of the Swamp Witch’s home. A missing heir to a fortune and the story that will make him famous, only the Swamp Witch has the information he needs. He enters this strange place and listens to her stories. Is she just a crazy old woman….or is she something more? In only a matter of days he has changed. He suddenly finds himself In a battle to the death; ready to defend this place and these people that have somehow used their magic to steal his heart. He came here for a story, but who would believe what he had discovered?
What genre is it? 
Fiction / Fantasy/ Urban Fantasy
What kind of readers will it appeal to? 
All groups of readers who are into Paranormal Fiction, Fantasy, Witches, Dragons, Fairies and Louisiana. Men particularly like it for the action and adventure. A little historical fiction and mythology is thrown in to make you wonder, could it be real! Romance enthusiasts will also like it for the quirky attractions that develop in the telling of the book. Young adults will also enjoy the colorful characters.
You say that, but doesn’t the fact that it’s written in the Cajun dialect make it inaccessible to most readers? 
My books are written in the Cajun Dialect or should I say Cajun Accent.  I have included a Glossary at the back of my books for terms that are not easily understood and the meanings of French terms.  I have written the way that Cajuns sound.  You will definitely get a “feel” for my heritage in my writing.
A feel for it? Maybe a sample paragraph from the book will help us understand what you mean.

The Busboy, “Tee Boy” was sweeping the floor when the cook came out lugging a huge aluminum pot.  Tee Boy ran over to help the cook carry the pot over to the table of one of the families and then they proceeded to dump the whole pot right into the middle of the table.  Now I understood why there were rolls of paper towels and brown paper covering the tables. 
        The smell was fantastic.  The pot had contained small lobster-like bright red crustaceans (I learned later were crawfish not crayfish) with an assortment of whole cooked potatoes, corn on the cob, peppers, whole onions and other goodies. I watched everyone dig in with his or her hands.  They would pick one up, break the tail off and begin sucking on the heads!  YEUCK!!  Shells and heads began hitting buckets sitting on the floor like rain. 
        The cook came over and flopped onto the stool next to me.  He mopped his brow with a rag and adjusted the bandana he used as a sweatband on his forehead and lit a cigarette.  Apparently, smoking in public was still allowed here.
        The man leaned over to me and said, with that deep musical tone they all seemed to have, “Mah cuzin, he say to me, “I done suck no heads, no… but I eat da hell outta some tail, yeah” He chuckled, extended his hand and introduced himself. “Lucky Benoit.  You gonna be ‘roun here awhile?” 
        I shook his hand and said, “I don’t know, I came here to do some research on one of the local families here.  I’m kind of a history buff, but I’m having a little trouble getting information.”  He said, “Yep ‘sa lotta history here.  Who ya looking up?”  He obviously didn’t buy the history buff bit, but I replied, “A family, and I’m not sure how to pronounce it correctly….. E S C H T E?” 
        “Dat would be ‘Esh-tay.’ Dere’s alotta dem roun here, yeah.  Which one ya aimin fuh?”  I said, “Marie Eschte” and the cop at the end of the counter coughed and looked my way. 

That deep and rich flavour and culture of Louisiana seems to shine through in your writing. 
The Louisiana culture is very evident in my books.  That is what makes them unique and different.  Only a Cajun can tell the story the way I do.  You will be able to smell the Gumbo cooking on the stove when you are reading.
My hopes for the series is to complete the eight novels I have mapped out and to have everyone identify with the characters as much as I do.  I would like to be a best selling author of course, any writer who told you otherwise is blowing smoke…in your face.  I want these books to establish me in the Fantasy / Fiction / Urban Fantasy genre as a recognized name in that field.
You say these are old myths and legends? Have you needed to change or update them in any ways? 
Regarding the giving a new twist on old myths and legends, that is very hard to do without telling you that my next comments might contain spoilers.  In a nutshell, I have given an new take on how Vampires were created by referencing an old classic poem The Ryme of the Ancient Mariner.  The main character, The Swamp Witch is also not who she seems, she is actually the Titan Goddess Tethys!  There is even a character that embodies the Native American Legend of the Anasazi and he is a Shapeshifter who is a Giant Thunder-Hawk.  Yes, you could say that I have changed them just a wee bit.
Or a lot! How long did this book take you to write? 
A lifetime! This is my first book and I have been rolling the threads to this story around in my head since…well forever. But the actual writing process took me about 1 year.
And what was the most challenging part of the whole process? 
Learning! Making the choice to become a self-published author or wait for the long process of being accepted by a Literary Agency or Publishing House or striking out on my own. When I made the choice, then I had to learn how…from scratch…by myself. If anyone ever wanted a personal challenge to enlighten them about who they are and what they can accomplish, self publish a book. It will teach you a few things!
Tell us a bit about yourself. 
I was born and raised in Southern Louisiana.  I joined the United States Marine Corps at seventeen.  While in the military, I went to Chaminade University of Hawaii and completed my Bachelors Degree in Business Management.  I have two children and one grandchild.  My youngest daughter was born with Down Syndrome.  I have been active in the Down Syndrome Association, The Association of Retarded Citizens, The Special Olympics and various other organizations over the years.  I have worked in various capacities in the Publishing and Public Relations fields for over seventeen years.  They include IVAX Industries, The Cullman Times, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Facilities Safety Management Magazine, Creative Loafing – Atlanta and Galz Magazine.
I have always loved writing and art.  I am a storyteller at heart and for the longest time tried to convey my thoughts and emotions in my artwork but it never was quite what I wanted.  I was always told that I should write a book when I began telling my stories.  I tried to do that a couple of times with not much success.  Finally, I was given some very sage advice…Write what you know and write from the heart.  I took that advice, closed my ears to naysayers and began to write.  I finally found what I was meant to do!
I have published several short stories under a working compilation called Da Lady Down Da Bayou and they include, Mrs. Dee’s Story, Miss Manners, Music of the Heart and The Swamp Witch Makes Red Beans and Rice.  My Novels include The Inheritance of a Swamp Witch and A Witch’s Welcome.  They are the first two books of a series of eight called THE SWAMP WITCH SERIES.
Have you got a blog where readers can keep up with your work? 
www.soniataylorbrock.com/blog.
Facebook author page.
Where can we buy your book? 
On Amazon ( US , UK )
What’s next? 
I have just published the second book in the Swamp Witch Series, called A WITCH’S WELCOME. I am currently working on a compilation of short stories based on the main character of the Swamp Witch Series called Da Lady Down Da Bayou. The Swamp Witch Series will have eight books in the series. Providing I survive them, I will go on to publish another series that I have in the works that is also paranormal, but more for the Mature (explicit material) Reader.
 

Self-Publishing Tips: Book Editing. Book Covers, and Research by Dee Doanes

So many writers keep asking me how to self-publish books that I wanted to share Four Steps that will helping new writers out there. I had interest in my book from a great literary agent. I decided to self-publish when I thought about the things I could on my own since I had a background in marketing.

These are the Four Detailed Steps I did, including the costs, to self-publish my book:

Step 1 Hire a Book Editor

After writing my book  the first thing I spent money on was hiring a professional book editor. Ann Kempner Fisher was my editor. She is absolutely the best!  She’s located in the U.S. It cost $1,300 and was well worth the money. Most good and experienced editors charge $4.00- $6.00 per page. If you’re located in the U.K. join a well-known writers group and get referrals from writers in the group. Spending  money on editing is a necessity and  not an option. Some self-published writers havn’t done this and say publicly that paying for a book editor is too expensive. They post on blogs that they wanted to publish books quickly on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).  Then I read complaints on Amazon reader forums and Good Reads forums, readers having to struggle to read books with bad grammar, misspellings, etc.  You only have one time to impress readers and won't get another chance. Stephen King, James Patterson, and other professional writers always use editors. Self-published writers have to do the same thing to compete.

Step 2 Format Book for Publication

I formatted my book for Kindle. This was difficult to do myself so I went on  Fiverr.com to find someone to format my book per KDP requirements: set up the margins, table of contents, etc. This cost around $25. The people that do book formatting charge by the number of pages. Fiverr is a wonderful marketplace to find all sorts of inexpensive services for your book project including: website updates, social media marketing, book promotions, logo/ad design, graphics, etc. Just look for the highest rated vendor in the appropriate category and place your order via Paypal.

Step 3 Design Book Cover

I used 99 Designs to get a distinctive and low cost book cover illustration and design (for $299). This was a very good price since good illustration can  cost around $500-$1,000.  I heard about 99 designs from fellow writer Tim Ferriss. He's written several best sellers: The Four Hour Work Week, The Four Hour Body, The Four Hour Chef. He really knows how to market books!  99 Designs is a crowd sourced marketplace where several designers and illustrators submit work based on your specifications. You set the price and choose the winner.

A book cover is an important tool in attracting and selling your book to readers, especially for my genre which is paranormal mystery. I have seen some outstanding book cover artwork for established paranormal writers. Then I have seen some poorly designed book covers in the market place from self-published authors. If you want to compete with mainstream published authors you can’t look like an amateur!

Please note:  Illustration is different than design. (My cover is an illustration).I have many artists friends and know a lot about different mediums of art. Without getting too technical, an illustrator typically does art by hand.  A designer typically assembles pre-existing graphics, photos, vectors, etc. An illustrator can design,  but not all designers can illustrate. For new writers, you probably should illustrate your book if it is: children's, horror, paranormal, fantasy, or sci-fi.

Step 4 Research the Book Marketplace

I researched my genre to see what types of books were in the market place. I checked Amazon bestsellers lists, Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists, and went to Barnes and Noble bookstore. This helped me prepare my market campaign for when I started promoting my book. I will discuss this in another post about book marketing. Questions to ask yourself are: How many books out there are like your book? Are you writing a niche topic?

 Any writers interested in learn any more self-publishing tips  please check out my blog: http://www.deedoanes.com and join my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/deedoanesauthor

Interview with Author Georgina Hannan

1.      When did you first start writing?

I started writing when I was about fourteen. I started a romance story in a collection of notebooks and my friend joined in with me for a bit. Unfortunately a lot of that story was lost so I have been re-writing it and updating it ever since.

2.      Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

No, I used to want to be a teacher!

3.      What drew you to writing young adult stories? 

Well as I started when I was fourteen it was my age group and still is just. I like writing about the way younger people see and feel about relationships and situations as it’s a lot different to an adult.

4.      Where does your inspiration for these stories come from?

Good question! I’m not really sure, sometimes it’s just a random idea or its adapted from a dream or an advert or something in my life.

5.      What has your experience been like publishing with Fast-Print.net? 

They have been very good and very helpful. There have been a few teething issues but mostly they have been very accommodating and I would recommend them.

6.      What was your favourite chapter to write and why?

My favourite chapter would probably have to be Chapter 8 as I enjoyed writing it from different views. I won’t say any more than that J

7.      Where is your favourite place to write?

My favourite place is my bedroom at my desk, which I just recently set-up J

8.      Do you have a certain routine you have for writing? i.e. You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?

My only routine is I sit at my desk and I have to listen to music otherwise I become distracted by the TV programmes.

9.      Do you use a computer/laptop for your first draft or are you a pen and paper writer? 

I used to use pen and paper as I knew I’d always have it with me, however I hated typing it all up so I use my laptop now.

10.   How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

The characters are usually a mixture of names I like and surnames of random people or first names of people I know with different surnames.

11.   Did you learn anything from writing your book?  What was it?

I learnt more about the Dartmoor area and the places available to visit there. I also learnt that editing is very hard but very rewarding.

12.   How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

Not that long a few months or so really. It’s the editing that takes the longest for me.

13.   Can you describe the feeling you had when you saw your published book for the first time?

I was ecstatic! I was so very excited and I kept touching it and showing it to everyone.

14.   Who are some of your favourite authors? 

Lauren Kate, Karen Mahoney, JK Rowling, and many more.

15.   Have you ever suffered from a "writer's block"? What did you do to get past the "block"?

Yes I have, not sure there are many writers out there who can say they haven’t! I tend to do a few things; mess around on Facebook for a bit, text a few of my friends and family, make a nice hot chocolate and re-read what I have written. If that still doesn’t work then I put a film on and go back it after it. There has only been one occasion where I had to give up trying for the day as it just wasn’t happening.

16.   What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?

Keep at it. Try editing your own work before giving it to a professional as it makes you so much closer to your own work and teaches you a skill.

17.   Would you share a deep dark secret about you with us?

A deep dark secret, gosh I’m not sure I can think of one! Let’s see... I once tried writing a raunchy scene but I made myself feel embarrassed so deleted it!