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OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS ME! A few years ago I had the absolute pleasure of working with the BRILLIANT and INSPIRING Fiona Erskine. And what can I say... I knew. I knew back then that she was a wonder woman, superstar, first-class, top quality author. Her books feature WOMEN IN SCIENCE -- yes, I know!!! -- and they are so needed and so not stereotypical in any shape or form. GRIPPING THRILLING EXCITING CLEVER SHOCKING POWERFUL I could just keep on listing adjectives about Fiona's books, so I'll stop at that. Anyway, I'm celebrating with Fiona because the second book in THE CHEMICAL DETECTIVE series is now available for you to buy, read, and fall in love with! READ ON, my friends. You won't regret it!!!!!!  Photo Credit: Gary Walsh and Stockton-On-Tees Library Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Fiona grew up riding motorbikes and jumping into cold water. After studying chemical engineering at university, she learned to weld, cast and machine with apprentices in Paisley. As a professional engineer she has worked and travelled internationally and is now based in the North East of England. Here's the first installment!!!!!  Dr Jaqueline Silver blows things up to keep people safe. While working on avalanche control in the Julian Alps, she stumbles across a mix-up in a consignment of explosives. After raising a complaint with the supplier, Zagrovyl – a multinational chemical company and her ex-employer, the evidence disappears. She is warned, threatened, accused of professional incompetence and finally suspended. Taking her complaint to the Zagrovyl head office in Teesside, she narrowly escapes death only to be framed for murder. Escaping from police custody, she sets out to track down her predecessor at Snow Science, a Ukrainian engineer who disappeared in mysterious circumstances. From the snowy slopes of Slovenia, to the wreckage of Chernobyl, Jaq must fight for her innocence, and expose the truth. Before it’s too late. SHORTLISTED FOR THE SPECSAVERS DEBUT CRIME NOVEL AWARD, 2020 ‘Just the right blend of suspense and tension.’ Forbes, Editors' Pick ‘Action, intrigue and a stonkingly modern heroine. It's a blast.’ Sunday Times Crime Club ***BUY YOUR COPY NOW!*** And here's the next installment!!!!!  Dr Jaqueline Silver is tricked by her nemesis, Frank Good, into making a short trip to China, but the factory she was sent to visit vanishes overnight. When her former student, Dan, sends a message in code, she takes a road trip from the Shaolin Temple, home of Kung Fu, to the Banqiao hydroelectric dam, scene of the worst structural failure of the 20th century, ending up in the rare earth mines of Jiangxi. Jaq forms an uneasy alliance with a troupe of western male strippers who are daylighting as art thieves. She outwits corrupt police, duplicitous industrialists, only to come face to face with a knife wielding serial killer, a modern practitioner of Lingchi, administering slow slicing or death by a thousand cuts. And if you think The Chemical Reaction hasn't got enough science in it, then rest assured that this will be remedied when Phosphate Rocks: A Death in Ten Objects comes out on June 17th 2021!!!!! ***Find out more here!***
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I'm absolutely thrilled to welcome back a super dooper talented author and all around lovely person to the blog today, who's celebrating the release of their latest book! They've written me another fantastic blog piece and I think you're going to love it!  Julie Anderson worked in Westminster and Whitehall for a variety of government departments and agencies, including the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. This informed her first successful political thriller, 'Plague'. She is currently writing the third in the series of novels featuring investigator Cassandra Fortune. Julie is Chair of Trustees of Clapham Writers, responsible for the annual Clapham Book Festival. Follow Julie here! Website: www.julieandersonwriter.com Twitter: @jjulieanderson/twitter Pinterest: www.pinterest.co.uk/andersonjulie4  Blood calls for blood. Near the ancient Temple of Apollo, environmentalists protest outside an international conference. Inside, business lobbyists mingle with politicians, seeking profit and influence. Then the charismatic leader of the protest goes missing. The next day a body is discovered, placed like an offering to the gods. One day later a broken corpse is found at the foot of the cliffs from which blasphemers were once tossed to their deaths. As a storm closes in and strange lights are seen on the mountain, the conference centre is cut off. Is a killer stalking its corridors? Or are primal forces reaching out from the past? Like the cryptic Oracle of Delphi, Cassandra Fortune must supply the answers before the conference is over. And before more die. Justice will be done, but what kind of justice? When Worlds Collide by Julie Anderson Perhaps it's the clash between different world views, or a physical conflict, like a war or a revolution; sometimes it might be between the past and the present, the old and the new, but collision and conflict are the staples of fiction writing. It might be the domestic and every day, an argument between a mother and son, for example - Sons and Lovers, or between brothers - Cain and Abel ( I couldn't resist, I bet that's the only time Geoffrey Archer gets bracketed with D.H.Lawrence ). On the other hand characters could be caught up in great national and international conflicts - War and Peace, A Tale of Two Cities and even Gone With The Wind have war or revolution as their backdrop. Sometimes it is reality and fiction which collide. I am currently writing the third book in a series of thriller mysteries centred on the character of Cassandra Fortune, Whitehall investigator extraordinaire, the second of which, Oracle, is published on 5th May 2021. The first Plague (Claret Press, 2020) was set in the world of Westminster, of high politics and low sleaze, about a series of murders in strange circumstances during a 'plague panic'. It was the pandemic aspect which drew comparisons with real events at the time of the earlier article, but another aspect has drawn even more attention since. The novel depicted corruption and cronyism - 'You're ensuring the contracts go to the right companies so you can reward your friends and allies' says my heroine to the villain (p246).  Now real life seems, again, to be mirroring events in the book. So opposition politicians and the press point the finger at the cronyism of the current Johnson government of the UK in the awarding of public contracts worth millions of pounds to friends and allies, without due process. The latest scandal is called 'Greensill' and shows the involvement of a former PM and a current Chancellor in, apparently, doing a favour for a political friend. One critic, V.B.Grey, wrote of Plague 'an authoritative insider view of modern power politics that is all too frighteningly prescient'. It seems to be becoming more so. Reality and fiction seem to be colliding in Oracle too. As Plague explored power politics and corruption, Oracle explores different types of justice - blood vengeance rather than punishment under the law, the twisting of the legal system by politics, the politicisation of the police. It is set in Delphi, Greece. During Autumn of 2020, as I was writing it, the Athens Appeal Court ruled that Golden Dawn, the former neo-fascist political party with seats in the Greek parliament and links to organised crime was, in fact, a criminal organisation wrapping itself in the mantle of politics. What is worrying is that an earlier investigation by the UN found that, in some areas, up to 40% of police were members of Golden Dawn. How would that distort the justice system? Look no further for another real life example of politics distorting justice than the United States and the difference in treatment of the insurrectionists on 6th January (Trump prevented the use of the National Guard) and the Black Lives Matter protesters at the end of last year (Trump sent in federally funded private security 'police'). If the police and policing are politicised in this way and result in some receiving preferential treatment, justice will suffer for all, something my heroine says in Oracle. So far, so relevant and topical.  Yet there is another collision in Oracle, that between the past and the present. The novel is set in Delphi high on Mount Parnassus near the ancient Temple of Apollo. Humans have dwelt there for over five thousand years, worshipping first the 'Great Mother' Gaia, then Apollo. Having visited, long before COVID, I can attest to the sense of the divine still lying close to the surface in that place, which is spectacular and beautiful. In the book the investigation begins when a murdered body is found in the temple precinct, placed like an offering to the gods. One day later a recent, broken corpse is found at the foot of the cliffs from where blasphemers were once tossed to their deaths. A character goes to the Temple to summon the Erinyes, the Furies, to hunt down a murderer, seeking blood justice. Is this a modern murder mystery or are primal forces reaching out from the past? Like the cryptic Oracle of Delphi, my heroine must supply the answer before the conference is over so that law, not vengeance triumphs. I named my heroine Cassandra, though she says she cannot tell the future - if she could there would be no mystery. Given that real life keeps catching up with events in my novels, however, I'm starting to wonder. Oracle was published by Claret Press on 5th May 2021.  And here is my second awesome interview of the day, and this time with an author/illustrator combo! Here we go... Can you introduce yourself and tell us about your upcoming books? I'm Paddy Donnelly, an author illustrator originally from Ireland and now living in Belgium. I've been working as a picture book illustrator for the past three years or so. I've had a number of picture books published so far, however I'm very excited that my debut author illustrated picture book THE VANISHING LAKE will be published on April 20th 2021! I also had another picture book published recently - HERE BE DRAGONS, written by Susannah Lloyd which came out in February of this year.  Something mysterious is happening at Grandad's lake. There are days the lake is beautiful, shimmering, and full. And then there are other days . . . where the lake is completely empty! Meara asks her granddad why the water disappears, but every time doesn't believe his far-fetched stories of mermaids, giants and narwhals. Meara sets out to uncover the truth for herself. Little does she know the answer is much larger than she realizes. Grab your copy of The Vanishing Lake: Amazon Amazon UK Barnes & Noble Walmart IndieBound BookDepository Books-A-Million Bookshop The story is actually based on a real place, close to where I grew up in Ballycastle in Ireland. It’s a lake called Loughareema which actually does disappear and reappear every few days, depending on the weather. Growing up in Ireland, storytelling is an important part of life, so I was surrounded by myths and legends from a young age and I think that’s had a big influence on what stories I like to write about.  A knight is on a mission: to find and slay a dragon. The other knights have told him that there's no such thing as dragons, but he doesn't care. For he has a map, and the map says: "HERE BE DRAGONS." He travels right to the spot marked ‘X’, past treasure, suspicious bones, and many signs telling him to turn back. Will the hapless knight see the dragon before it's too late?! This type of book really appeals to me. The knight in the story can't spot any signs of the dragon and is saying one thing, but eagle-eyed kids will be able to spot clues for the dragon along the way. I like books like that where kids are one step ahead of the main character and you can see where things are going to go wrong... Did you always dream of being a writer/illustrator? I definitely always dreamt of doing something creative as a career but not necessarily as an author/illustrator. I loved drawing and stories as a kid, but never really imagined I would end up in picture books. At university I studied multimedia design, web design and it was only after a number of years working in that field that I decided to try out a little illustration. I've never had any formal education in illustration, but I discovered that I really loved it, and eventually got into designing iPhone apps for kids. This was a lot of fun and nicely combined my design skills with some illustration work. That led me on to considering working in picture books. In the beginning I did a lot of research, tried to figure out how the industry worked and built up my portfolio with children's illustration pieces. I eventually got my agent and they secured me my first picture book projects, and things have just gotten busier and busier over the past year. I'm absolutely loving working in picture books and hopefully I'll have a few more of my own stories in the future. How long did it take from that first thought to release day? For my author illustrated picture book, I'd say I had the idea and wrote the first outline for the story around spring 2018. The publisher purchased the rights to the story about a year after that, and I created the artwork during the summer of 2019. The Chinese version of the book was released in fall 2020 and the English language version will be released on April 20th 2021. So in total I'd say three years from idea to publication. What's been the hardest part of publishing a book so far? Definitely getting your foot in the door is tough. It's a very competitive industry to work in, however once you've made a connection with a publisher and they know you can deliver the work, they're much more likely to return to you for a second project. So in the beginning you're creating a lot of artwork for your portfolio, sending it out there, showing it off to publishers and sometimes not hearing much back. That can be disheartening, but eventually with enough persistence you start to make little dents into the industry and eventually the projects get better and better, as does your work. And the easiest, or most enjoyable? Getting to hold that finished book in your hands is a feeling like no other. All your hard work over the years is just wrapped up in a nice little package. And books live on for many years, so this aspect is definitely more enjoyable to me when I compare it with my previous digital design work. Also, when you hit upon a promising idea for a story and your fingers can't keep up to type all the thoughts tumbling out of your head. That's a great part too. What's next for you? I've got a lot of fun book projects on at the moment. I also illustrate middle grade book covers, so a few of those will be released in the upcoming months. I've also got my second author illustrated picture book coming out in spring 2022, which is incredibly exciting! It's called DODOS AREN'T EXTINCT and lets the reader into the secret that extinct animals aren't really gone, they're just disguised as other animals. It's going to be a fun one to work on. What's one piece of advice you'd give to writers just started their pursuit of publication? You need to just keep writing, writing, writing and if you're an illustrator you need to keep drawing, drawing, drawing. There aren’t any real shortcuts. It’s so vital to keep up the practice and eventually things will fall into place if you stay committed. Creating children’s books really is a dream job, but there is so much work that goes into it that nobody sees. If it really is your dream to become an author-illustrator, you need to dedicate so much time and effort into it. As well as writing a lot, you need to read, read, read. Read lots of picture books or what and figure out what works especially well in them. Take notes on how the book is structured, how the story grabs you, what details the illustrator has woven into the artwork. It’s important to get really familiar with the picture book world before you can start creating your own stories. Last picture book you read? Maybe by Chris Haughton What picture book are you reading now? Mini Rabbit Come Home Best book you've ever read? Watership Down Best moment of your writing life? Getting the email that a publisher wanted to buy the rights to one of my picture books. Name of your newest WIP? Dodos Aren't Extinct If not an author, what would be your dream job? I would still be illustrating other authors' stories. I've been pretty rushed off my feet lately, but I'm popping back in with a couple of awesome author interviews today! The Author...  With a passion for history, author Jean M. Roberts is on a mission to bring the past to life. She is the author of three novels, Weave a Web of Witchcraft, Blood in the Valley and The Heron. After graduating from the University of St. Thomas, Jean served in the United States Air Force, she has worked as a Nurse Administrator and is currently writing full-time. She lives in Texas with her husband and is working on her next novel, The Frowning Madonna. Social Media Links: My Website: The Books Delight Amazon Author Page Follow on Twitter Follow on Facebook The Book...  The past calls to those who dare to listen… An invitation arrives; Abbey Coote, Professor of American Studies, has won an extended stay in an historic B&B, Pine Tree House. The timing is perfect. Abbey is recovering from an accident which left her abusive boyfriend dead and her with little memory of the event. But her idyllic respite soon takes a terrifying turn. While exploring the house, Abbey comes face to face with Mary Foss, a woman dead for 350 years. Through a time/mind interface, Abbey experiences the horrors of Mary’s life, living at the edge of the civilized world in the 1690’s New England. As Abbey faces her worst fears, she struggles to free them both from the past. The Interview... Did you always dream of being a writer? No! I never imagined I’d write a book, let alone be scribbling out my fourth novel. I worked as a nurse for many years. On quiet nights, I’d read cheap romance novels and often tell myself I could write a better book than this! When did you start pursuing publication of your work? My first foray into writing was my blog. I am really interested in genealogy and family history and I used my blog to write about my research. I came across a pair of ancestors who were accused of witchcraft in 1651 and found their story so compelling I just knew I wanted to write about them. I wrote in fits and starts for a few months before deciding I was really going to pursue it. How long did it take from that first thought to release day? Weave a Web of Witchcraft took over a year to write. I was really concerned with historical accuracy and even though I had a pretty good idea of what life was like in Colonial America in 1650s, I spent a considerable time doing research. All told, it took a year from inception to the finished product. What's been the hardest part of publishing a book so far? If I had known what I was getting into I’d probably have run away in terror. Writing a book is the easy part. I had this silly idea that I would produce a fantastic novel and everyone would just buy it. Marketing is time consuming and difficult, especially for people who do not enjoy promoting themselves. And the easiest, or most enjoyable? As a history lover, the best part of writing historical fiction is doing the research. It’s a great excuse to buy new books! The very best thing I did in connection with my second book, Blood in the Valley, a novel about the American Revolution, was to travel to the Mohawk Valley in New York and visit many of the places included in my book. It really made the book come alive for me and I hope I was able to pass that on to my readers. What’s next for you? I am really excited about the release of my third book, The Heron, which is being published by Black Rose Writing on April 15th, 2021. It’s a bit of a blend of historical fiction/time slip and paranormal suspense. I am also editing my fourth book, The Frowning Madonna and am hoping to have it ready for queries later this year. What's one piece of advice you'd give to writers just started their pursuit of publication? Have a plan. I had no idea what I was doing when I published my first book. I had no social media presence, no idea how to market, no idea how to query agents or publishers. I would recommend researching the whole process from self-publication to the more traditional process. Then write your book. Last book you just read? The Bridled Tongue by Catherine Meyrick What book are you reading now? Beware the Lurking Lizard by Vivienne Brereton Best book you've ever read? Pride and Prejudice Fave author? Jane Austen Best moment of your writing life? Holding my printed book in my hand for the first time. Name of your newest WIP? The Frowning Madonna. If not an author, what would be your dream job? A librarian. I'm delighted to be chatting with another awesome author today about the whys, the whens, and the hows! Check it out... The Author...  Ann Dayleview writes fantasy novels which aim to transport the reader to worlds unlike any other. She reads any young adult and middle grade fantasy novel she can get her hands on. Her writing is often inspired by the wild assortment of music she listens to. Everything from classical to pop and beyond! In addition to writing, Ann loves spending time with her two dogs, baking all the sweet things, and bringing awareness to mental health issues. She lives in Pennsylvania with her ever rotating collection of books she lugs from place to place. The Book...  HUMAN TEENS ARE GOING MISSING, AND ALL EYES ARE TURNING TO THE FAE. Seventeen-year-old Freddie is a human at a magically diverse boarding school who longs to report on the war-torn realms of Fairy. When humans disappear on campus, it's the perfect opportunity to jump-start her journalism career. While the public blame the fae, Freddie wants facts. If she's going to get published, she'll need to find out who or what is behind these disappearances. Aiden is a fae soldier with a murderous reputation. Raised in the dark fae court and forced to partake in the brutal Fairy Civil War, he thirsts for revenge against the realm which murdered his family. His new mission gives him the opportunity he's longed for. But when Freddie snoops into his life, he questions if revenge is worth the price of his freedom. Lured by her suspicions and distracted by his curiosity, Freddie and Aiden form a tenuous bond. But as their feelings for one another grow, so does the danger. Every clue points to Aiden as the kidnapper, and as his enemies close in, Freddie must make a choice: turn against him or fight for a relationship doomed to fail. The Interview... Did you always dream of being a writer/illustrator?
I didn’t, but I’ve always used writing as a way to relax and I’ve always been a super avid reader. It wasn’t until I was getting married and got really stressed out and joined a writers group that I started getting serious about my work. The people there were so supportive and really encouraged me to pursue it and here I am! When did you start pursuing publication of your work? I didn’t start pursuing publishing until I wrote this story. With each round of edits I loved this story more and more and felt the message was one I want to share with readers. After I finished, I sent it to a few editors to ensure it was right for the market and the writing was solid. By that time I had the confidence to move forward and start the process of getting it published. How long did it take from that first thought to release day? If I don’t count the breaks I took to write other books, this book took a year and a half. I drafted the book during Nanowrimo so that only took a month, but it took me about a year to revise and edit it. The professional edits and proofreading took another couple of months, and the marketing (and figuring out all the publishing platforms) took/ is taking about five months. What's been the hardest part of publishing a book so far? Since this is my debut novel, the hardest part of publishing this book has been figuring out how to get this published! I’m new to Ingramspark, Draft2Digital, and KDP and figuring out those platforms and doing everything correctly is HARD. And the easiest, or most enjoyable? I don’t think there is any easy part of writing, every bit takes hard work. But the most enjoyable would be coming up with the world, the characters, and the relationships. I love the plotting phase even if I get frustrated coming up with all the little details. Sometimes I will call my friends on long drives (pre-COVID) and spitball ideas. What's next for you? I’m looking into trying to become traditionally published, but self-publishing has been so fun so I guess I’ll keep exploring. The other novel I wrote features characters struggling with mental illness in a fantasy world based in the Caribbean. I LOVE the story and the characters, and I hope I can show strong characters in spite of mental illness. What's one piece of advice you'd give to writers just started their pursuit of publication? Revise. Feedback. Edit. Feedback. Edit. If you want to be published make sure you’re putting your best work forward, and that takes help. Everyone has their own process to refine their book, but at some point you’ll be too close to a project to see its flaws. For me, the more feedback I get, the better. But if you work better without too many people in your head, that’s fine too, just make sure you have killer editors. And if you’re just starting out, don’t give up. Sometimes you’ll have to shelve a project and acknowledge you don’t have the skills to tell that story in the best way, but you’ll get there later. Last book you just read? The last book I read was The Cruel Prince to get me in the fae mood for marketing A Tale of Ashes. What book are you reading now? I’m currently reading Serpent & Dove. Can you believe it’s my first non Hermione witch book? Best book you've ever read? That’s a hard question, there are so many good ones! I really liked the Trickster’s Choice duology by Tamora Pierce, but the book that really holds a place in my memory is The Claidi Journals by Tanith Lee. That series is filled with the most bizarre worldbuilding and twists. I’m not sure if I love it because it’s strange or it’s such a good story. Fave author? Although she wrote mostly middle grade, my favorite author is Eva Ibbotson. Her stories make me want to travel and experience the worlds where the characters live, even when they are set in our world! Best moment of your writing life? So far, the best moment of my writing life has been seeing this book release come together. I’ve gotten to partner with the best bloggers and authors, my ARC readers have all been so nice, and partnering with the artist who’s doing my character cards, my amazing cover designer, and the amazing woman who’s doing a custom tea blend for my giveaways has been a true delight. I LOVE working with people! Name of your newest WIP? HA! My WIPs never have titles until I’m nearly done. Right now I’ve been shifting between the Atlantis book and that book with the crazy world building. If not an author, what would be your dream job? I think I’d like to be a pastry chef, but I’m not sure if I could handle the stress. Maybe a pastry chef in a small town shop where the occasional magical mystery happens. I really like baking and you can see some of my creations on my Instagram. I'm pleased to welcome an author to the blog today who's celebrating the very recent release of their second middle grade horror. It looks so much fun! The Author...  Kelly Martin lives in a possibly haunted house in a small southern town. While she'd like to say paranormal things have only happened to her at her home, it would be a lie... She is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and an international #1 best selling author in horror, paranormal, contemporary, historical, young adult, and mysteries. All of Kelly's books have one thing in common-- imagine the real world is tilted slightly on its side. You don't really know what's going on, what's missing, but there is a tilt, a hum you can barely hear, telling you that something is off. Follow Kelly here! Website: www.kellymartinbooks.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/readkellymartin YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/kellymartinbooks The Book...  The sign over the covered antique mirror said DO NOT TOUCH. Twelve-year-old Nora wished she had listened. Mirrors reflect what is in front of them, but what happens behind the glass—to the reflections themselves? Nora finds out when her own reflection, aka Fake Nora, changes places with her one night. Nora is shoved in a place that looks exactly like her house with no echoes, dull lights, and muted sounds. It isn’t her home at all, simply a shell of a place she loves. Fake Nora is living her best life in Nora’s house, feeding on the fear of her little brother while no one else at the house knows anything is wrong. Inside “reflectionland,” Nora meets thirteen-year-old Jesse, who has been stuck in his mirror since the forties, and he warns her that they aren’t alone in the house. There are others sneaking around, known as the bad ones—spirits of people who gave up after vanishing in the mirror. Refusing to stay a reflection forever, Nora conjures a plan to escape, but Fake Nora isn't about to give up her life in Nora's home. And Jesse? He could become a bad one forever. The Interview... Did you always dream of being a writer/illustrator? I've loved writing since elementary school, but it wasn't something I ever thought of doing as a job-- well, maybe in my wildest dreams. When did you start pursuing publication of your work? My very first book was written during NanoWriMo 2011. I wrote it and revised it. I figured I should try to get it published since I'd done so much work on it. It's been solid and consistent since then. How long did it take from that first thought to release day? I was very lucky. I queried I think in March. The book got picked up by a small press in July and released in October 2012. What's been the hardest part of publishing a book so far? I think the hardest part is staying positive. Publishing and writing in general is so up and down (emotionally) that I had to learn to give myself grace. I also have hypothyrodism (which can make you super tired) and PMDD (which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy) so I had to learn that it's okay to take small breaks and give myself permission to have rough days with the knowledge that tomorrow will be better. And the easiest, or most enjoyable? Readers. Hands down. I love when someone tells me they've read my book (good or bad). It's like... whoa! I wrote something from my brain and people actually read it. It's so cool! What's next for you? Fake Nora, my spooky middle grade, comes out March 2nd. I love that book, and I love writing spooky middle grade! What's next? I'm not sure. I have one project I've been querying. One that is finished and ready for edits. One that I need to have finished and to a publisher by June/July. And one I want to start for an October release. It's always busy in my head lol What's one piece of advice you'd give to writers just started their pursuit of publication? Take time to feel your feelings. Feel the emotional highs of the good. At the same time, it's okay to feel bad for the low times. Take a second or two and wallow, but don't let it overwhelm you. Use the 'no's and 'unfortunatelys' (aka the worst words ever to get in a publishing email...) to push yourself forward. And have a "happy buddy". Someone in the industry who is your sounding board and encourages you to keep going. This one is very important. Tell your happy buddy that you got a rejection. They will tell you how sorry they are... then ask you how many words you've written today. Find someone like that and be that person for someone else.  Last book you just read? Hide and Seeker by Daka Hermon (READ IT!... SO GOOD!) What book are you reading now? The Fear Zone by K.R. Alexander Best book you've ever read? Ever... hmmmm... Probably The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Fave author? Mary Downing Hahn Best moment of your writing life? Winning Best Horror Novel at the Imajinn Awards and being asked to be a keynote speaker at a convention. Name of your newest WIP? Bell Witch meets Amityville ;) If not an author, what would be your dream job? In my much much younger days, I wanted to be an actor. I'm happy to be kicking off a new week with a new interview with a new author! The Author...  Anya Josephs was raised in North Carolina and now lives and works in New York City, where they are pursuing a career in social work. When not working or writing, they can be found seeing a lot of plays, reading doorstopper fantasy novels, or worshipping their cat, Sycorax. Their writing can be found in FANTASY, ANDROMEDA SPACEWAYS, and MYTHAXIS, among many others. Their debut novel, QUEEN OF ALL, a fantasy for young adults, is forthcoming from Zenith Press. The Book...  Jena lives on her family’s struggling farm and in her beautiful friend Sisi’s shadow. She’s not interested in Sisi’s plans to uncover the Kingdom’s darkest secrets: the suppression of magic, and the crown prince’s systemic murder of those who practice it. Jena only wants to keep a secret of her own—her changing feelings for Sisi. Yet when a letter arrives summoning Sisi to the royal Midwinter Ball, Jena has no choice but to follow her into a new world of mystery and danger. Sisi falls into a perilous romance with the very crown prince she despises. Desperate to save her, Jena searches for answers in the halls of the palace and in the ancient texts of its library. She discovers that the chance to save her friend, and their world, lies in her own ability to bring the magic back and embrace her own power. The Interview... Did you always dream of being a writer?
I was fortunate to have parents that read to me a lot when I was a child, and encouraged me to use my imagination. I think I thought of myself as being a writer when I was still young enough that I honestly didn’t think about having a career or a job at all! When did you start pursuing publication of your work? Intermittently, about four years ago. But at first I didn’t do a very good job—I queried the right people, but my work wasn’t polished enough, and I took every rejection way too hard. It wasn’t until two years ago, when I started pursuing publication for other projects, mostly short stories, that I saw a lot more success! How long did it take from that first thought to release day? I started writing this book when I was maybe about 12 years old, and I always imagined one day it would be in print, though of course at that time I had absolutely no idea of what that would actually require! So, I guess, fifteen years, give or take a few months: ten years of writing, three years of unsuccessful querying, two years of actually chasing publication in a productive way. What’s been the hardest part of publishing a book so far? Something I never expected—dealing with the fact that other people are going to read it! I wasn’t thinking that would be a problem. After all, I want other people to read it! But every time I realize it’s in front of unfamiliar eyes: when the Amazon pre-sale went up, or when I saw someone posting about it in a Facebook group, for instance, I feel oddly exposed! This book was just mine for so long that realizing other people are going to have a relationship with it, one that doesn’t involve me, is strange. And the easiest, or most enjoyable? Knowing that the book is finding the right audience! I’ve already had a few people reach out to say that they’re really excited to hear about a book that’s queer, that’s Jewish, that has a fat main character, and that’s the whole reason I wanted to get the book published. If it can find its way into one set of hands that needs it, I’ll be happy. What’s next for you? Well, I have two more books in this series! No info yet on when they’ll be out, but I’m hard at work on book #2 in the Jena Cycle. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to writers just started their pursuit of publication? Find a way to cope with rejection. It’s going to look different for everyone—I gamified it, making a certain number of rejections a goal. Other people treat themselves after rejections. Some people celebrate them. But you have to find a way to make it, not just okay, but positive. If you’re gritting your teeth every time you get told no, if everyone lands like a punch, you won’t be successful in publishing. Trust me, I’ve been there. Last book you read? I just finished the Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb. What book are you reading now? Gideon the Ninth. I know, I’m late to the party! Best book you’ve ever read? This is a hard question, but I think NK Jemisin’s The Fifth Season. Fave author? Tamora Pierce. Best moment of your writing life? Relatedly, getting a blurb for my book from Tamora Pierce. Name of your newest WIP? It’s a secret for now, sorry. If not an author, what would be your dream job? Artistic director of a major Shakespeare theatre company. I'm buzzed to welcome today's special guest to the blog, as they are not only a fellow Aussie author, but also a good friend of mine! Plus, they've written one of my most favourite picture books ever (The Fix-It Man). Check it out... The Author...  Dimity Powell loves filling every spare moment with words. She is the Managing Editor for Kids' Book Review and writes and reviews exclusively for children with over 30 published stories. If kids’ stories were ice cream, picture books would be her favourite flavour. She’s even churned out a few of her own including the critically acclaimed, The Fix-It Man, (2017), SCBWI Crystal Kite 2019 Australia NZ Award winner At the End of Holyrood Lane, (2018), Pippa, (2019) and Oswald Messweather, (2021) with more to come in 2022. She is an accredited Write Like An Author facilitator and the Roving Reporter Coordinator for SCBWI Australia East NZ conferences and is an experienced presenter, panel host and moderator at writing festivals and conferences both in Australia and overseas who enjoys sharing her love of story in front of crowds of very small and tall people. It says on her website, www.dimitypowell.com, so it must be true. Dimity lives around the corner from Bat Man on the Gold Coast although they rarely hang out. Such are the lives of authors and superheroes. Follow her through all your favourite SM channels. The Book...  Mess and disorder upset Oswald. They make his legs jiggle and his palms itch - all the time. Counting his crayons helps but is so exhausting. Can Oswald find a way to untangle the mess of worries in his head? The Interview... Did you always dream of being a writer/illustrator? Yes and no. I’ve always adored books and reading and writing extensions of my favourite adventures – they mostly included horses – but even after high school, I had little inkling to be a professional author. I have kept a diary since I was in primary school and taken one with me wherever I’ve lived or walked on this planet. That was and still is the home harbour of much of my best writing. Whilst crossing the Caribbean, I spent many of my hours ‘on watch’ jotting away story ideas inspired by my time at sea. Some of them have now made it into my short stories, although at the time, I had no real concept of ‘writing for work’. When did you start pursuing publication of your work? Shortly after I completed my first ‘Writing for Children’ course. I had material, ideas and a gung ho attitude ignited by my course learning and I couldn’t wait to share them. I did possess a modicum of reality though so dutifully constructed a spreadsheet to record my rejections. I was expecting (almost eagerly) to fill several pages before receiving anything faintly resembling a publication offer. How long did it take from that first thought to release day? Astoundingly, the first story I ever submitted, to the NSW School Magazine, was accepted! I remember staring at the acceptance email, weeping silent tears for many minutes before the realness of the news fully took hold. Within minutes, my ambition to be a children’s writer became a need to set up a business name, create a professional invoice, register for an ABN and make another spreadsheet – this time, for published stories. Fast forward a few years to 2012 which is when my first traditionally published book, PS Who Stole Santa’s Mail? appeared and then a further five years until the publication of my first picture book, The Fix-It Man, and well, that spreadsheet is finally looking healthier. So for me, the publication journey has been akin to a rocket ship ride to the moon; an explosive start, slow burn around Earth followed by a continual upward trajectory into the unknown that’s taken nearly 15 (Earth) years!  What's been the hardest part of publishing a book so far? There are countless joys publishing a book, and just as many hard parts. I think perseverance is the main thing. Possessing a robust, can-do attitude is a must if you really want to see your story through from vague idea to printed perfection. This involves many aspects including, the editing process, marketing requirements and sustaining after-release-date momentum. Maintaining that mantra and an impervious never-give-up attitude is the thing I work hardest at. That and timing. My timing is pitiful. I write things, at times amazing things, then sit on them for far too long believing the idea is not quite strong enough or the writing not good enough and meantime, a similar story lands on bookshelves. Sometimes, I think you just need to believe in yourself enough to take that leap of faith so you don’t miss the train! And the easiest, or most enjoyable? Perversely, the most enjoyable parts of helping a book baby come alive are also the hardest: the editing process, stringing together a passable marketing plan with the publisher, collaboration with the illustrator. I relish all these aspects even though they can be exacting because each of them brings me one step closer to holding my story for real and sharing it with its intended audience – the kids. That’s the best bit of all. What's next for you? I’m glad you asked! In just a few more days my forth picture book, Oswald Messweather, drops and I couldn’t be more proud. Oswald is an intense little character, the type that lets his ice cream melt while counting someone else’s sprinkles. In other words, he suffers from OCD. Oswald Messweather is not a picture book that focuses intently on the educational perspectives of children with OCD but rather more on the emotional aspects associated with this debilitating condition. I can’t wait to introduce him to the world. What's one piece of advice you'd give to writers just started their pursuit of publication? Umquam noli desperare – Do not lose hope at any time! Work hard, stay alert, progress ever forward no matter how slowly. It worked for the Romans and it will work for you, because somewhere out there is someone who wants to read your story. All you have to do is tell it.  Last book you just read? Adult: Have You Seen Luis Velez? By Catherine Ryan Hyde Kids: There’s a Zoo in My Poo by Felice Jacka, a NF picture book + Gone To the Woods by Gary Paulsen, a MG autobiography – Superb! What book are you reading now? Kowloon Kid by Phil Brown along with a thousand other kids’ titles waiting to be loved and reviewed. Best book you've ever read? Impossible to say! Every book impacts in some way no matter what genre thus I feel a bit of love for everything I’m fortunate enough to read. But one of the most truly transformative books I’ve ever read is, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. Serious must read! Fave author? Ah, more futility! Like a dishonest mother of five (not IRL), I don’t have favourites however Morris Gleitzman’s and Markus Zusak’s writing continues to uplift and entertain me like few others’ can. Best moment of your writing life? The best moments are the unexpected ones. I hope there are more to come. The last one was in December 2019 just days before Christmas when my publisher announced they’d accepted my latest picture book MS. I received that email whilst on holiday, sitting outside the entrance of the Melbourne Gaol after touring its cells and stirring history and began that silent-weeping-for-pure-joy thing again. I can only imagine what visitors entering must have thought. Name of your newest WIP? Where Are You, Matilda Grey? the working title for a big re-write project I’d intended to work on in 2020. Perhaps this will be her year. If not an author, what would be your dream job? There’s two: 1. Bookshop emporium proprietor of the kind of place that includes comfy spots to read and yummy things to eat with generous amounts of natural lighting so one can see the ducks waddling around in the sub-tropical gardens of the island where said book sanctuary is located (is that too specific?!). 2. A vet. I love meeting, getting to know, and introducing you all to wonderful, exciting new authors, and today is no exception! Check it out...  This is me, Jane Gilley... My first foray into writing came when I wrote a poem at 7. Night is drawing in And the day has lost its din And while we sleep The animals creep And hunt for food In their hungry mood I couldn’t stop writing when I was a nipper. I wrote wherever my pen could make its mark and especially at the back of my school exercise books. The lady who taught maths, in junior school, even asked if I wanted more paper to write on! But life has a way of taking over and guiding you down its own path. Hence my initial foray into writing was dampened by society’s usual requirements of getting married and working to pay the mortgage, whereby I simply didn’t have the time to sit, tapping away at my computer to my heart’s content. But when I managed to start writing again in 2008; when publishers were telling me they didn’t want any more animal fiction, I self-published 6 children’s books – 5 animal adventures, which I sold at Durrell’s Jersey Zoo – and I had a book signing at Waterstones with a novella for young girls, Maisie’s Dream. All still for sale on Kindle.  With my children’s books localised French / Jersey themes, I was invited by 3 of the primary schools here and on the tiny channel island of Herm to give talks to the school children, about where I found the inspiration for my stories. Since becoming self-employed, I’ve been able to step back and concentrate on writing adult fiction. Avon, Harper Collins published my debut book, The Woman Who Kept Everything – about an elderly lady who rediscovers what life has to offer after an electrical fault in her house threatens a fire, followed by The Afternoon Tea Club – about 4 very different people who meet at a community afternoon tea club and put their worlds to right, after becoming friends.  During 2020 and with PLENTY of time to spare, I wrote 2 new books, which I self-published this year on Kindle – both under adult fiction: The Making of Robert Moony – an unusual, funny, heart-felt tale about a 27 yr old bullied man who finally finds love and acceptance in life, after he is kidnapped by mistake County Lines Road – about 2 teenagers whose lives are turned upside down when a joyride goes horribly wrong and they are dragged away to a gang-house by drugs dealers and have to find a way to escape as well as protecting their families from the gang’s threat of retaliation. All my books are always quirky, uplifting tales about new beginnings and have happy endings! Learn more about Jane's books...  Robert has no friends. His mother invited herself to stay with him for a few months and has never left. He hates his job and is beginning to wonder what life REALLY has in store for him. But his life is about to change in a shocking act of mistaken identity, proving that friends and love can be found in the most unlikely of places . . .  Next-door-neighbours, Karen and Terri, have always tried to do right by their errant kinds. But when a simple joyride goes horribly wrong and Tomas and Jodie are captured by a county lines drug gang, they’re not sure who to turn to. Dragged away to the gang’s suburban lair will the two teenagers find the strength to escape? And even if they do escape, how can they protect their mums and everyone else they love from the gang’s threat of retaliation? The Author... Taking time off from writing, author Jane Gilley, can usually be found walking along the beaches or reservoirs in the Channel Island of Jersey, where she lives with her husband Chris and Senegal parrot, Solly. Writing was always in her blood, starting with poetry when she was seven, followed by freelance magazine and newspaper articles, as well as two plays and six children’s books when she found time. “I write various uplifting genres with gentle humour, yet the theme for my adult books is my interest in how life can suddenly change direction because of unexpected circumstances. It’s happened to me!” She loves the research as much as the writing and she has done several writing courses. Well-travelled, she often uses the places she’s visited as backdrops to her stories – especially in her children’s books. Her debut women’s fiction, The Woman Who Kept Everything was a best seller in 2019. She has written three more books since then, The Afternoon Tea Club, The Making of Robert Moony and County Lines Road.
You can find out more about Jane at www.janegilley.com Kicking off the new week with a fab new author interview and OMG THIS CHAPTER BOOK SERIES LOOKS SO GORGEOUS! The Author...  Christine Evans is the author of The Wish Library chapter book series (illustrated by Patrick Corrigan, Albert Whitman, 2021). She has also written two picture books, Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist illustrated by Yas Imamura (Innovation Press, September 2019) and Emily’s Idea illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns (Sounds True, March 2020). She is represented by Elizabeth Bennett from Transatlantic Agency. Christine is also the co-Regional Advisor for the San Francisco/South region of SCBWI. Christine has jumped out of a plane once, windsurfed once, and water skied once. She much prefers books and writing to adrenaline sports. She is a British expat and has lived in California for eight years with her husband, two young daughters, and her tiny Yorkshire terrier. Christine's Links! Website: pinwheelsandstories.com Twitter: Christine Evans (@ChristineNEvans) / Twitter Instagram: Christine Evans (@christinenevans) • Instagram photos and videos The Books...  When Raven leaves for vacation, Luca finds himself on his own again. As the new kid at Lincoln Elementary, he’s tired of getting told what to do by everyone around him. So despite his best friend’s warnings, Luca visits the Wish Library and asks to be the one in charge. But even rule makers need to compromise sometimes.  Raven is having the worst week ever. Her best friend Belle has just moved away, and tomorrow is Voices of History Day. Raven and Belle were working on their project together, and now Raven has to present alone―in front of the whole class. But when Raven stumbles upon the Wish Library and asks for school to be canceled, she faces a whole new challenge―and finds that just maybe she had the bravery she needed all along. The Interview... Did you always dream of being a writer/illustrator?
I’ve loved creating things my whole life and was always making something as a kid. But writing children’s books wasn’t something I really thought about until I had my own kids and started reading beautiful picture books to them every day. When did you start pursuing publication of your work? About five years ago I decided to enroll in courses and really take learning the craft of picture books seriously. I joined 12x12 (a picture book challenge run by Julie Hedlund) and SCBWI. I went to conferences and met critique partners. And then I started collecting rejections! How long did it take from that first thought to release day? My first picture book, Evelyn the Adventurous Entomologist, came out in September 2019 so that was about four years after I’d started on my journey to publication. I’d got the idea to write about Evelyn Cheesman around two and a half years before it became a book. Now I’m releasing a chapter book series The Wish Library which is such a dream come true! What's been the hardest part of publishing a book so far? Putting a piece of my heart into the world and getting rejections has been super hard. And since being published, marketing during a pandemic has certainly been “interesting”! And the easiest, or most enjoyable? I’ve loved meeting readers! School visits are a part of the job I didn’t really think about pre-publication but they’re one of my favorite parts now. What's next for you? Book 3 in The Wish Library series is in the works and it was even more fun to write than the first two. What's one piece of advice you'd give to writers just started their pursuit of publication? Keep going! I’m a firm believer in perseverance being one of the main factors in becoming a published author. And don’t be afraid to put your work out into the world. Last book you just read? The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue What book are you reading now? Maybe a Mermaid Best book you've ever read? I can’t choose just one! Salt to the Sea, The Nightingale, The Girl Who Drank the Moon, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue are all up there but my favorites change all the time. Fave author? Again, don’t make me pick just one! I love Kristin Hannah and Ruta Septys as they both write books that make me cry. In KidLit my critique partner Vicky Fang writes and illustrates fantastic books. Best moment of your writing life? My first book launch. Name of your newest WIP? Together Forever If not an author, what would be your dream job? A librarian. Any career involving books is a dream for me. |
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April 2021
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