Tell me about yourself. What got
you started in writing?
Born in South Africa
and raised in England, my experiences have become inspiration for my writing. I
have always been creative and dappled in most crafts over my lifetime. When my
family immigrated to Canada, I promised myself a creative outlet as the
children were older and I had more time! I picked up leaflets at the library
and the local writing circle's next meeting was the following Tuesday. I
attended and was soon hooked on the craft of storytelling. I am now the
secretary of the group and deeply involved in the foundation and its events (www.wfscsherwoodpark.com).
How and where do you write? Do you prefer a laptop, or do you prefer writing
freehand?
I am happy to write almost
anywhere with my laptop but will jot down short pieces, ideas etc. in a
notebook I carry around with me all the time. I have created a writing space in
the dining area of our living room and expand it a little more each year. My
hope is to have a study all to myself in time.
What's your favorite part about
writing?
I love creating new worlds,
characters, places and immersing myself in them. An idea can come from a picture, a word or a sentence.
Your least
favorite part about writing? As a free
flow writer, I can write continuously for a long time but once the first draft
is finished, it is the revisions, editing and continuity I find tiresome but
necessary.
How do you come up with your
characters?
To be honest they 'appear' in
my mind and chatter away to me. Some become more insistent while others bide
their time and reveal their agendas later on.
Why would readers want to get
to know them?
I feel my characters are
well rounded but many are unusual in their objectives and I love giving them
twists.
What types of marketing do you do
to promote your writing?
I use most
social media sites, my author and publisher's websites and numerous events,
such as book fairs, book signings and readings.
How do you schedule your writing
time? When do you write?
I write whenever
I get the chance whether that is early mornings when the house is quiet, in my
lunch hour, evenings or with the headphones in to block everyone out at the
weekend. I attend writing retreats every year too, which are marvelous for
indulging myself in a large block of writing time.
What are you currently working on?
I have two manuscripts I am working on presently.
One is a western romance, Willow Tree Tears. The other is a suspense/thriller
called The Giving Thief.
Do you have a new book out? I launched my second children's book, Ockleberries to the Rescue in
October of 2014.
Do you have a project on the back burner? Tell me about it.
I have two manuscripts that I need to get
back to (but new ideas keep cropping up!) One is my first foray into writing a
novel, Life in Slake Patch, a speculative fiction set in an alternative future
with men and women living in separate compounds. The other is a romance with a
reincarnation twist called, The Twesome Loop.
What would you tell a beginning
writer who wants to publish but does not believe he/she has enough talent?
I would advise any writer to share their
words, whether to a writing group, friends or family to build their confidence
and take advantage of their local writer in residence for guidance. Once they
have a good foundation and knowledge of the art then they need to approach
professionals to assist them. The more they 'practice' (write) the better they
will become.
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Thank you Mandy!