Tell me about yourself. What got you started in writing?
I grew up in Brisbane, Australia.
Reading has always been one of my favourite things to do and, as a child,
making up my own stories was a natural progression. I didn't write them down, because they were just for myself. I was
a shy child. Creating characters and worlds for them was my way to be brave. I
held story-telling sessions with my stuffed toys all sitting in a circle around
me. Later, my mother encouraged (forced)
me to take a speech and drama class to help build my confidence. I will be
forever grateful to her for that.
When I retired from classroom teaching,
I began to write my stories down. It was as though the time was right to be
writing. The ideas were there and I had to let them escape from my brain and
sort themselves out on paper.
How and where do you write? Do you
prefer a lap top or do you prefer writing freehand?
I plan freehand. I write lots of notes,
half-formed ideas, draw maps, print out relevant info from the Internet, make
plot diagrams etc. All the loose pieces of paper go into a project folder that
I have on the desk beside the computer.
I don’t start typing until I have a fair idea of how the story is going
to progress in my head. That being said, once I start typing, things usually
change radically and often. My husband is quite used to hearing me conducting
conversations with my characters as I try to flesh out a scene or an idea.
I write on a desktop computer. I need to have noise around me as I
work, so the television has to be on. I like to have things going on around me
as I write. My stories happen in the real world, so I like the real world to be
happening around them as they are created. Silence is not my friend. It makes
me worry. I guess that comes from having
children and dogs.
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| Purchase Tayla Bayliss, Dogsitter |
What's your favorite part about
writing? Your least favorite part about writing?
My favourite part of writing is the beginning of a new story, that
initial rush of creative juices when I can feel the adventure unfolding ahead.
I am a control freak and through writing I am controlling a whole bunch of
characters and events. Oh sure, they try to take over and run themselves at
times, but ultimately, I am in control.
My least favourite part is offering my work up for critique. I need
to grow a thicker skin so that I can shrug off less than fantastic reviews.
How do you come up with your
characters? Why would readers want to get to know them?
My characters are average kids.
They do not have any special powers. They do not live in any fantasy
worlds. They are like the kids I grew up with, the kids I teach, the kids who
live in my street.
My main character, Taya, is the adventurous little girl that I
wanted to be. She has the adventures that I dreamed of having. She is a child
who wonders about things and likes to figure out puzzles. She can be a scaredy-cat and she can be
amazingly brave. She has a best friend,
Chris, who teases her and occasionally tries to curb her enthusiasm, but who is
always there to back her up when things become difficult.
They are like-able kids with whom young readers can easily
identify.
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| Purchase Tayla Bayliss, Code Breaker |
Who wouldn't want to be out and about solving mysteries and having
adventures?
I'm with you. I also love a good mystery!
What types of marketing do you do
to promote your writing?
I use all the usual Social media, Facebook, Twitter etc. My target audience, for the most part, does
not have access to these things but their parents and grandparents do.
I have an author website and a books website and a blog.
My books are on display at and available from the local café/bistro
and at a writers’ club bookstore.
My absolute favourite form of marketing is personal appearances. I
enjoy visiting schools and conducting author sessions with the classes. These
are loads of fun and enable me to talk with the children about writing in
general
and my books in particular.
How do you schedule your writing
time? When do you write?
Physical writing is done in the mornings as I tutor in the
afternoons/evenings. Saturday is my day
off. That is the only day I get to spend
time with my husband. Mental writing happens at anytime at all…usually at 2.00
a.m.
What are you currently working on?
Do you have a new book out?
I am almost finished the fourth Taya Bayliss mystery. It is in the editing phase. I am hoping it
will be ready for launch by the end of August.
It is called ‘Taya Bayliss – Snake Charmer’. Taya has to confront one of her biggest fears
as she tries to put the clues together in this one.
Do you have a project on the back
burner? Tell me about it.
I have a dog, called Trudy, who is the naughtiest, cleverest, most
mischievous dog you can imagine. She and
her sister, Heidi, write a blog called ‘The Big Blonde Dog’ which details all
their misadventures.
I would one day like to turn some of the stories into picture book
form with titles like
‘Goldidog and the Three Beds’ and ‘Behind the Bamboo Curtain’.
I have started the project folder but that is as far as I have
gone.
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| Purchase Taya Bayliss, Treasure Hunter |
What would you tell a beginning
writer who wants to publish but doesn't believe he/she has enough talent?
Publishing is the easy part.
Places like Createspace and Lightning Source have made publishing books
a simple and affordable process.
Write...just write. Writing
is part of who you are. So do it. Put your thoughts on paper as often as you
can, even if it is only in journal form.
The hardest part, if you are anything like me, is asking someone
other than your friends to read your work and give you their opinion, but that
is how you learn and improve. There will always be people out there your work
will not suit. That does not mean it is not good.
Find people who will be constructive in their criticism. Avoid the
Negative Nellie’s. They are always around. Don’t let them derail you from
achieving your dreams.
Be true to yourself and get your message out to the world.
***
Thank you, Erica!
Learn more about Erica here:
The links are:- My
websites www.ejgore.net
:- My Blog. www.ejgoreauthor.wordpress.com
Book links
Treasure Hunter: www.amazon.com/dp/0987370804
Dog Sitter:
www.amazon.com/dp/0987370812
Code Breaker: www.amazon.com/dp/0987370847
Thank you, Kathryn. It was an absolute pleasure to speak with you. I look forward to having you visit my blog.
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