L.E Fitzpatrick 2017

AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

WITH 

L E FITZPATRICK 

Hi LE, can you tell us a little about yourself and your work?

I’m a thriller writer with a twist. I’ve got a dark imagination and love sci-fi and fantasy, so I like to cross genre a little and play with concepts. The Reacher series I’m working on at the moment is a blend of crime thriller/dystopian sci-fi.

Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?

Very unhelpfully for my publishers, I write cross genre books. Basically I write what I want to read, and that tends to be dark, fast paced stories, with a sci-fi twist.

What was one of the most surprising things you 

learned in creating your books?

The most surprising thing I’ve found is how dark my writing tends to go. I don’t think I will ever be able to write an inspirational, uplifting tale.

What is the first book that made you cry?

The first and only book that ever made me cry was Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell. I was going through a classic reading phase and couldn’t put the book down… even at 2am when I was sobbing through the end. I won’t spoil it to tell you why.

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

There are lots of traps and pitfalls for aspiring writers, but probably the one that gets us all is receiving feedback on our work. Whether that comes privately or publicly, it’s a tough pill to swallow and often can put a writer off for life. The trouble is you can’t avoid the feedback, so you just have to learn to deal with it.

What has your experience been like as a indie author? Bruises, highlights, lessons.

I’ve been incredibly lucky as an indie author. I worked hard – don’t get me wrong – and it’s not an easy process. There were some times when I wanted to quit, or felt like a failure, but eventually I achieved all the goals I set myself. I think, looking back, one of the main reasons for this was the people I met and befriended on the way. I’ve been part of several writing communities that support each other and run projects together, through these people I’ve been connected with publishers, editors, all sorts. It’s been a very positive experience because I’ve always tried to surround myself with positive people.

Does a big ego help or hurt writers?

Good question. I think it depends on the writer. You should believe that you can achieve anything you set your heart on. But never believe you’re entitled to it. And never, ever, ever, think your work can’t get any better.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Once upon a time I used to say it was time, but actually I find I work better when I have less time to write. 

Probably the thing that stops me writing is when I’ve got to binge watch a TV series.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

I have written a few things that don’t tie in with me as an author under a pseudonym. But for my Reacher series, I am very proud to see my name plastered all over the cover.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, 

what would it be?

It will be worth it. All the hard work, the time, the self-doubt. Eventually it will be worth it, so don’t lose heart and 

never give up.

If you could spend the day with a character from one of your books who would it be and what would you?

This is an easy one. I’d spend the day with Roxy. 

He’s a singer, gambler, thief and general mischief maker. I’m sure we’d get up to no good.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

Editing. If I had only one payment I could make it would always be to get my books properly edited. This has become easier since signing with a publisher, but it’s a service that often gets overlooked and it really is essential.

How do you balance making demands on the reader 

with taking care of the reader?

For me, like I said above, I write what I want to read, so whenever I’m creating a book, or even a storyline, I’m always thinking about how to trick and manipulate the reader as well as how to tantalise them and give them what they want.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

I have one finished (yesterday) novel that needs to go off to the publishers soon. This is the third book of the Reacher series. When I write the series I also write background scenes to work out what happened “off camera.” I’ve published a few of these as short free stories, so I’ve got a few more of these to develop too. And then I’ve got my Dark Waters series, which is currently published, but which I’m hoping to revise this year, as it’s never seen an editor and I can’t preach to you about editing without getting that done.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

When I was a kid I wrote lots and lots of books which won’t be published. But nowadays I don’t tend to write without publishing in mind. For me it’s as much about creating something for an audience as it is creating a story.

What’s the best way to market your books?

There are lots of ways to market your books. Firstly, I’d say the easiest and cheapest is to approach bloggers and reviewers and get your book as many reviews and into as many places as possible. But I’ve had my best successes – including getting into the Amazon Best Seller list – using paid promotions like Bookbub. These sites can be expensive but very often the sales equal the cost of the service and the rise in the ranking is a huge help to surge the book forward.

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters

 from the opposite sex?

Most of my characters are men. I don’t consciously write them differently from how I write women. I don’t really think we are very different. Actually I’d like to think that the characters could easily swap genders without it effecting the plot.

What period of your life do you find you write about most often? (child, teenager, young adult)

Mostly I write about adults and always have… even as a kid (which was a wacky idea of what I thought adults were like).

How do you select the names of your characters?

They come to me. Charlie Smith, the lead in the Reacher series, was originally going to be called Matthew Smith (the Smith is tied into the plot) but the first name was entirely open. Matthew wouldn’t work and I have no idea why. Perhaps I don’t select the names at all, I might just uncover them.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal 

with bad or good ones?

I read my good reviews when I need an ego grooming now and again. Actually I find reviews quite useful, especially writing a series, to see what things are working and what aren’t. A constructive bad review is one of the best resources for any writer. An unconstructive bad review isn’t important.

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only 

a few people will find?

Yes, but I can’t tell you what they are. What I can say is there is an end game to my series that I’ve had planned from the start and when I write I put clues inside to hint at future plots. There are a few big reveals coming in book 4 and a lot of small seemingly unimportant scenes throughout the first three books that tell a much bigger story.

What was your hardest scene to write?

The hardest scene I’ve had to write was the last chapter of book 3. Charlie finally finds out where his daughter it, basically 

what we’ve been building towards, and the tone, dialogue, setting had to be just right. It took so many rewrites I can’t even remember the original plan. Now it’s right. And hopefully the readers will like it.

Do you Google yourself?

Not really. Too many other things to google – like poisons, weaponry, decay rates.

What is your favorite childhood book?

This will say a lot about me as a kid. My favourite book was Pride and Prejudice. It still is one of my favourite books. I could read it every day and I was obsessed with Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet.

Does your family support your career as a writer?

I’m so lucky to have a wonderful partner and son who actively support my writing career. They put up with an awful lot, as I spend every available hour typing and reading and when I can’t get quite snippy.

If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

I wish I had been more confident. It wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I started to feel comfortable with other people reading my work and it’s such a shame because as soon as did that I gained so much more as a writer.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

On a good day it could take about six months. But book 3 has taken nearly two years. I’ve learned that books take as long as they take and you can’t rush them.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Absolutely. But often it’s a sign that there is something else wrong and you need to take a break and relax before hitting the keyboard again.

Nikki Ashton 2017

AUTHOR iNTERVIEW

WITH

NIKKI ASHTON

Hi Nikki, can you tell us a little about yourself and your work?

My name is Nikki Ashton and I live in Cheshire with my husband, mother-in-law and two dogs. I work part-time as a trainer for a software company, and write romantic comedy the rest of the time. I've written eight romcoms, but have recently finished a contemporary romance, which is new for me. It's also my first book set in the US and not the UK.

Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?

I chose romcom because that was the genre I always used to read-along with being my favourite type of film. I also like to make people smile and have an out of control mouth and smutty sense of humour, so it was inevitable that would be my genre. I have just started writing contemporary romances too. I think that came about because that's the main genre that I read nowadays. So, after 8 romantic comedies I am going to concentrate on contemporary for a while. They will be a series of three books called the Connor's Ranch Series. Maybe once they've finished I'll be ready for some light relief again.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

That I actually had more than one story in me. My first book was probably far too long. I didn't think I'd ever write another one, so threw everything into it. When the story for my second book came into my head, it was a huge surprise.

What is the first book that made you cry?

I'm sure there must have been one prior to this, but the one I recall making me cry is Falling for Hadie, by Komal Kant. I cried like a baby, but not as much as when I read Carnage by Lesley Jones; that book broke me.

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

Expecting your first novel to be a best seller. You need to build your audience and only a handful of people will have a first book that takes the world by storm. - we can't all be EL James. 

Never give up hope because it might take a month, a year or 

ten years for people to recognise your ability as a great story teller and writer.

What has your experience been like as a indie author? Bruises, highlights, lessons.

I've had mostly positive experiences as an indie author, barring a few barbed comments from people who think because you're an indie author it's 'just a hobby'. Some times you get the odd person who doesn't want to help you, or share their experience, but generally the author world is full of amazing people. The biggest lesson that I've learned is be good to people, engage with your readers and never think you're better than you actually are. It's a long drop down there.

Does a big ego help or hurt writers?

I think having a big ego has its plus and minus points. It can get you noticed because if you tell enough people you're amazing then you'll get noticed- you've just got to make sure your books live up to expectation. However, no one likes a big head and it can turn readers and other authors off and ruin your reputation. I think you have to try and get a balance of promoting yourself yet be humble too. I know I'm no one special, I just write for a living, and while I hope to make people smile I'm not saving lives.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Facebook and internet shopping. I can get very easily distracted by a cute dress or a pair of heels, but usually it's Facebook pictures of Jamie Dornan and Micah Truitt that stop me writing.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

No never. I'm a bit of an attention seeker, so like people to know what I do, lol. Maybe if I wrote books that I didn't want my mum to know about, I might.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, 

what would it be?

Get an editor and proof reader for Guess Who I Pulled Last Night? I've been very lucky that book has been successful considering the errors in it.

If you could spend the day with a character from one of your books who would it be and what would you?

Ooh that's a difficult one. All my leading men are hot, but are totally loved up with my leading ladies, so I couldn't really pick them as much as I'd love to spend the day just gazing at the members of Dirty Riches. It would therefore probably be Molly, from Get Your Kit Off. She's a player liaison officer for a premiership football club and has to deal with all sorts of weird and wonderful situations. I'd love to work with her for a day to sort out Tino's Llama issues!

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

My Editor - I might not always agree with them, but they know their stuff and a good debate on whether a character should change or even be left out does one good. Equally the best money ever is paying for the services of Laura Barnard, at Bunny Author Services. She does all the things I'm rubbish at because I'm so disorganised, and she does them brilliantly. She contacts bloggers, schedules takeovers and will even order your swag for signings if you need her too. She still finds time to write her own books too - she's amazing.

How do you balance making demands on the reader with taking care of the reader?

Writing romantic comedy makes that fairly easy, because everyone wants a happy ending with some laughs along the way. I did kill a character off once and got a little bit of stick for it, but it was pivotal to the plot so I stuck by my decision. Contemporary romance is harder because there is usually a lot of angst along the way, and death and destruction if often expected. I tend to write what I feel and just hope that I've done a

 good job for the reader and that they're happy to come along for the ride.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

None. I did have one which was unpublished for 15 years, 

but that was my first self-published book, Guess Who I Pulled Last Night?

Have you written any other books that are not published?

No I don't. I've been lucky enough to like everything 

enough to want to publish it.

What’s the best way to market your books?

Social media is extremely important, as is getting a good relationship with bloggers and readers who will help you to market your book. I also think a stand out title and cover help.

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters 

from the opposite sex?

Understanding the male mind!! I have the most bizarre conversations with my husband so that I get it right. I do like to write the ideal man though, so it's usually the physical aspect of certain situations that I need help with - if you know what I mean :-)

What period of your life do you find you write about most often? (child, teenager, young adult)

My mid-late twenties because they have happy memories. Not that my other years weren't, but I pretty much felt most fulfilled then. I was newly married, had a great social life and none of the worries of where I was going and what I was going to do with my life- I was simply enjoying it

How do you select the names of your characters?

They often just come into my head after writing down their description. Some are names I would have called my children had I been lucky enough to have any, and some are colleagues who asked if they could be in a book.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal

 with bad or good ones?

I do and I must admit I deal better with bad ones much better now than I used to. If a bad review is constructive I try and learn from it, but when you're given 1 star because they didn't like the names of the characters (I really did get that one), then I don't take much stock of them.

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only 

a few people will find?

No not really. In Guess Who..? a lot of the scenes in that really did happen to me and my friends, so I'm sure my mum was a little shocked. Sometimes I will put a joke in there that only friends or family will understand, but that's all.

What was your hardest scene to write?

That would have to be when one of my characters went to see her dead father in the Chapel of Rest (won't say which book or it will spoil the plot). It was hard because it was based on my own experience of seeing my dad. Sometimes though you have to lay yourself bare to write a good scene, no matter how hard it is.

Do you Google yourself?

Only once when I was slated in a Goodreads review for naming my character after a real person who'd been in the news for dying tragically. They'd said I'd done it so that I could move further up the Google search. I had no idea that the name was real, but what made it worse was that my character had the same profession as the poor lady who had died. I do now Google my characters names, just in case.

What was your favorite childhood book?

The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton. I loved the imagery and idea of it. I also loved all the Naughtiest Girl is a Monitor books and really wanted to go to boarding school and eat peppermint creams - that's all they seemed to eat!!

Does your family support your career as a writer?

Yes they do, they are hugely supportive especially my poor husband who has to hear tap, tap, tap coming from the corner of the room every night. He's fantastic though and is very proud of me, and makes sure I stop writing at a decent hour

If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

I'd have listened and attended more of my English language/literature A level class. I have to be honest college was just a means to get into the best parties for me.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

It really can change from book to book for me. Some stories flow better than others. My first book in the rancher series only took me about five weeks, whereas the book I have coming out in February, Roman's Having Sex Again, took almost five months.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

I don't call it writer's block, I call it a 'quiet day' because the voices aren't so talkative. I write something nearly every day, even if it's just one or two lines, that way I don't have those stress levels because I haven't written anything.

Shay Bell 2017

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

WITH

SHAY BELL

Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them?

It’s funny, I didn’t actually set out to write in LGBT, It chose me. The first book I wrote, Stiletto, it was sort of clear from the start where it was going to go but that said it’s not all about LBGT. It’s about love and that’s what drives the theme. “Jenna” was totally different, again I had no genre in mind and, once I got into it, it was going to be straight. I was actually getting bored with the story line to a degree, it was becoming too linear, then I had an idea that changed the whole story, it also added two new chapters. I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?

How much love there is in the indie book community. Not just readers that give me feedback or the authors I meet and speak with almost daily But the sense of community there is out there. Last year after the Orlando shootings in Florida I was asked almost immediately to write a short story for an anthology (Over The Rainbow) to support the families of the victims. A lot of good authors donated their time and brain cells without a second thought. That’s the love right there that blows me away.

What is the first book that made you cry?

Surprisingly I’m not much of a reader, when I do read its usually Biographies but there’s a certain point in “Jenna” (I can’t tell you where) that brings a tear to my eye almost every time I read it. It’s weird because that particular book doesn’t set out to make anyone cry, a couple have in another part of the story but I think I’m too close to the characters and for me when I hit that part it’s happy tears.

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

From experience, there’s three common pitfalls.

Bad covers. Seriously, everyone DOES judge a book by its cover. Get a good cover that tells you instantly what a book is about and if you can make it sexy and eye catching you’ve already won half the battle. 

Blurb. Make your blurb good and to the point, don’t mistake it for a synopsis, totally different animal. No one wants to read for 15 minutes just to find out what your book is about. They will get bored and move on if you haven’t caught them with the first sentence of your blurb. 

Thinking the book will sell it’s self. I think most of the authors I’ve spoken to thought “Hey I’ve written this awesome book and I have lots of friends and family, they will all read it and tell everyone they know and they will tell everyone and in 6 months everyone will know my name!” So wrong, Its hard to convince any one they should read your book. End of story. You need to be out there daily and the best way I’ve found is not by saying hey, buy my book, but just talking to readers, about anything and everything except your book, if you’re a honest genuine person they will decide when its time to look into your brain.

What has your experience been like as a indie author? Bruises, highlights, lessons.

I’ve been pretty lucky. Most of my reviews have been awesome, its hard not to take it to heart when you get one that’s not so great. You need to remember what your fan base actually thinks of you and your writing. There are days you just wonder why you bother and other days your on top of the world, unfortunately there will always be trolls on the other side of the keyboard but you need to ignore them. My filter isn’t very good and sometimes they get through. But I have a lot of fangirls that soon shut them down for me if I’m not around. But that being said you also need to be aware that not everyone likes your particular writing style or genre, and that’s fine, it would be a boring world if we all thought the same.

Does a big ego help or hurt writers?

Straight up, I have a big ego. I’m not afraid to say it. But I’d like to say it’s more about confidence in yourself than being an arse hole. But I can get away with it because I’m a guy. Unfortunately for female authors it just comes across as “She’s a bitch” Admittedly though my ego has grown with me as a writer. 

It’s hard not to get a fat head though when readers tell you 

they love what I’ve done for them. With the ego also come humility though, and you need to have and show both sides 

at the right time.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

Time. I work an average of 60 hours a week in the real world and I have a family. It’s not just time to write either, It’s being able to get your head in the right place to write when you get time to do it. If they don’t marry up just right you end up deleting everything because it won’t be good enough. I cant write just because I have time to do it.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

Nearly every writer I know writes under a “”Pen Name”. In this digital world where we exist you have to I think. The old days are gone when the only way a reader can connect with you is by posting a hand written letter to publishing company. I feel you need to protect and separate your real world from your virtual world. I have had a few fanatical fans that you really don’t want to have too much information about your personal life. Sure readers want to know about you and what you do, what make you tick so to speak, and that’s fine and understandable. But it never ceases to amaze me how many writers are prepared to put every little tid bit about them selves out there for the world to see.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, 

what would it be?

Start writing earlier. I didn’t write my first book till I was 43, I did start other books years ago in my 20s and lost interest. If I could have those 20 years back again I’d be so much further in front now. I can’t say what the quality of the stories would be and that’s a bit scary though.

If you could spend the day with a character from one of your books who would it be and what would you?

This is a no brainer for me. My second Main Character from “Stiletto” Is a short red headed fire cracker named Lottie, I’d love to spend a day with her. Honestly I wouldn’t let her out of my bed but that being said I’d nearly have to expect she is going to murder me when our time is done. She’s a bit unpredictable.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?

Simple, an editor, and getting the best cover money can buy.

How do you balance making demands on the reader with taking care of the reader?

This is too easy to answer, I don’t want or expect anything from my readers anymore, they have already given me more than I could ever ask for and for that I’m grateful. As for taking care of them, I’ve come to realise this whole writing thing will only ever be a hobby for me, I’ll never write the next 50 shades, Twilight or Harry Potter. It’s never going to be about making money so if I meet a new reader that I like and seem genuine my first instinct is to give them one of my books. They need a book, I’ve got a book it’s a no brainer. Give them a damn book. I like to believe in the theory of the guy from “My name is Earl”, ‘Do good things and good things happen’.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

I currently have about 4 WIP (Work In Progress) I have ideas for two of them but I’m only working on one, that will be my next release hopefully. Another I recently sent to one of my readers to look at, and I was surprised when she didn’t like the main character. When she pointed out why it was so obvious I’d made a mistake with him. So I’ve got some new ideas for that when I re visit it. My next two books were actually meant to be biographies but that has been pushed back. But that could change again at any time. I really need to get a new book out though instead of going back and fourth.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

No, I wish I did, I’d get them out there. A author friend of mine has about 20 books she hasn’t released though. She explained to me they are all missing something though and she can’t put her finger on it. But one at a time she finds that missing something and blows her readers away, she is amazing, She recently helped my with my plot that I was stuck with on my current WIP. I was great to get her fresh set of eyes on it. I was stuck looking one way and she showed me how to look in the opposite direction.

What’s the best way to market your books?

I don’t think there is a magic bullet. I’ve tried Facebook ads, Goodread ads, Twitter ads and Amazon ads, although they wont advertise for me anymore because they say my covers depict violence.. Pffftt… The only way that I’ve found that actually works is me just being online and talking to people and making that personal connection. If people get to know me they want to look inside my head. Unfortunately for me I’m too friendly and

 I spend way too much time online and not enough time with 

my family and writing. That’s the life of an Indie 

author though I guess.

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters 

from the opposite sex?

I have no problem writing female characters. All my main characters are strong woman. I think that’s what Impresses me about a woman, it’s not her looks or body it’s her personality and strong character I’m attracted to and that just flows when I’m writing about that type of woman I’d like to spend time with I guess. What I’ve recently found out as I pointed out earlier was trying to write a lead Male character. Up till now this has never been a problem but this particular guy I was trying to write for the wrong reason. I was trying to create a character woman would love. He end up being too superficial. That’s my fault and it’s obvious now, woman don’t care what a guy looks like. Sure they want eye candy but there are other things they want in their book boyfriends. This guy will get better now I know my mistake. It’s all part of the process I guess. What has surprised me a couple of times though was there is one particular guy I wrote into Jenna that I didn’t put a lot of effort into, some girls like him and they were never meant to. But he had what they wanted inside. He will be part of the inspiration now for the other guy.

What period of your life do you find you write about most often? (child, teenager, young adult)

Mid 20s to mid 30s, it’s a good age, your old enough to have some experience but young enough to still feel like you have a purpose. It’s a great age, sort of pre responsibility.

How do you select the names of your characters?

I think most of my characters are in one way or another based on someone I’ve met somewhere. I don’t often name that character after the real person, although at time I have. Other characters, the name is just obvious to me for some reason. Then there are the ones you just have no idea. I always want every character to have awesome name or at least be in line with their personality, they can’t always have a cool name though. I was particularly stuck for a name for one guy in “Jenna”, I had his first name, that was easy because I named him after a real life guy, But His last name had me stumped. I was driving through Sydney late one night and saw a billboard for a funeral home. ‘Cass Brothers Funerals’ and I thought it was just the coolest last name for my guy, Kevin Cass had an identity.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal

 with bad or good ones?

All the time. I love when I get a new review, Usually because when you first start out it is so hard to get reviews at all. When I get a good one I’m usually so exited buy it ill screenshot it and share it in my readers group (Shay’s Bitches) and if I can find who wrote it I’ll try to connect with them and thank them personally. Lucky for me I’ve never actually had a bad scathing review, There has been a few 3 stars and the reader has pointed out why the book didn’t appeal to them as much, It hurts, but I try to remind my self everyone likes different things in a book and its up for discussion. So I have to accept it.

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a

 few people will find?

Yes. ”Stiletto” was being edited at the same time I was writing “Jenna”, there was an opportunity to sneak a cross over in there. The time line of both books happened to match up at one tiny point. In both books my two main characters came in contact with each other. No one has ever noticed it though. I’ve pointed it out to a couple of readers after they had read both books consecutively and they are “ohhh yeah. I didn’t see that”.

What was your hardest scene to write?

Maybe the car chase scene in “Jenna”, although it wasn’t overly difficult but when I write I see everything playing out as in a movie, I found it hard to write what I was seeing and was unsure if it would come across as making sense, so I purposely kept it short, It didn’t actually need to be very long so I was thankful for that. But sex scenes are hard to write, I need to be in the right frame of mind to write them, I want every one to be different to every other one. But not just in that book, I want it to be different to every sex scene in all my other books as well. I remember reading a post on FB maybe a year or so ago where a chick was telling her husband that she was copying and pasting sex scenes for her new book from one of her other books. I don’t read, but I wouldn’t be reading her books with recycled sex scenes and I cant believe her readers don’t notice and abandon her, she spoke as though it was normal. Really?

Do you Google yourself?

I used to, but I soon discovered I’m not very interesting

 anyway so I gave up.

What is your favorite childhood book?

Romona The Brave or The Jungle Book.

Does your family support your career as a writer?

Yes, Those that know what I do, One sister loves what I do, the other is a prude but she still thinks I’m awesome and looks after my website for me because she is clever like that. My mum tried to read my first book but gave up, I think she was a bit shocked, and that’s understandable. My father doesn’t know. He wouldn’t understand, but he would be supportive.

If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

Pay attention in English class, I can’t spell very good, I don’t use punctuation correctly and according to my editor I don’t have good sentence structure. But that’s fine. I have people now that look after all that for me. What’s important to me is I can tell a good story and all the spelling and punctuation can be fixed by computers and people more clever than me.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

If all the planets line up I can write a book in about 3 to 4 months. But Ill be happy if I can get out one to two books a year. Now my first two are out I have less time to write because I’m out there all the time talking with readers.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Most defiantly. I’ve had it many times. Some people have tricks, but for me I just leave it and let the story develop in my head and come back when I’m ready. I cant force the story out, I’ve tried but it never ends up any good.

shaybell.com

Stiletto

Do you remember your childhood?

Was it awesome?

Or maybe it wasn’t so great.

Was there a childhood bully?

But that’s all behind you now right?

You’re tough and moved on.

But what if it was harder than you thought?

This is a story inspired by true life events and real people.

This is what could happen if payback was made an option.

Because payback can be a bitch,

Poppy is that bitch.

Jenna

What if your life was normal?

What if your life was okay, average and mundane?

Then one day you realise you don’t want normal, okay and average.

Mundane is not okay any more.

Then you are presented with a one off opportunity to have a whole new life.

A polar opposite life to the one you have now.

You just have to take one little step.

There’s only one catch- You have to leave everything behind without the chance to say a single goodbye.

Would you take that opportunity?

Would you take that step?

This is the story of a normal, okay, average and mundane country girl from Queensland Australia.

This is her story.

She takes that step.

This is Jenna!

Audrina Lane 2017

Hi Audrina can you tell us a little about yourself and what you been up to since we last spoke? 

I’m Audrina Lane from a small town called Ross-on-Wye

 in Herefordshire. I live with my partner Steve and my two black Labrador dogs called Rael & Lily. As I work full time for

 the Herefordshire Library service I’ve been mainly doing that. 

This means that most of my writing is done in the evening

 or at weekends.

Why did you choose to write in your particular field or genre? If you write more than one, how do you balance them? 

I guess the story that first filled my head dictated that I would be writing in the Contemporary Romance genre. Although this genre has many sub-genres and I have recently ventured into dark, erotic romance and also a couple of short stories which are paranormal romances.

 

What was one of the most surprising things you learned 

in creating your books? 

I guess the way that the characters can kind of talk to you and shape the storyline. I also enjoy it when new characters suddenly pop up to help move the storyline forward or sometimes in completely different directions.

What is the first book that made you cry? 

I think it was “The five people you meet in Heaven” By Mitch Albom. I think because the subject matter was all about the ways that different people can shape your life even if maybe you only meet them the once. I hate ruining storylines but it was a book I read in a day and the tears flowed! 

What are common traps for aspiring writers? 

I guess the biggest is assuming you’re going to make millions and be the next J.K.Rowling, when in actuality this is probably not going to happen for the vast majority of writers.

 Also rushing to get your book out to the public when maybe it needs further work or editing.

What has your experience been like as an indie author? Bruises, highlights, lessons. 

I guess the biggest lesson is marketing; this really needs to start almost before you commit words to the page. It is by far the hardest thing that an indie author has to do. I remember when I released my first book and after a month or two the family and friends had bought their copies and sales completely ground to a halt. Then you have to go out and try to find your readers.

Getting my first 1 star review on Amazon hurt as previous to his most of the reviews I’d gathered were 4 or 5 stars. But the review made a good point and it made me go back and get my book properly edited by an Editor.

Highlights, firstly when you see your eBook up there and ready for people to purchase, it sends a thrill through you that your words are finally out there. Then the next one is having and holding a paperback of your book – nothing beats this feeling. Also when readers message me or leave me a review telling me that they loved the story, the characters or that I have made them cry! Then you know that you have touched them in all the right ways.

Does a big ego help or hurt writers? 

I don’t really know, I guess you need guts to open yourself up to criticism but equally you can turn readers off by saying that your book is better than that of an established author. 

What is your writing Kryptonite? 

My writing Kryptonite is music. I find it really difficult to

 write when there is silence around me so prefer background noise like music.

 

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym? 

Audrina Lane is my pseudonym; my real name is Clare Lockley. I guess the reason I chose another name was the subject matter that I write with my romances always having an erotic side to them. Also working in a public place and for the council I thought it best to separate the two different people to avoid possible backlash or stalkers!

If you could tell your younger writing self-anything,

 what would it be? 

I think my advice would be to start writing sooner. The original storyline for my first novel “Where did your Heart go?” was written when I was 19 years old, way back in 1992. At the time you had to submit to publishing houses as Amazon and self-publishing didn’t exist. I was too scared to send my novel off and so it sat in a box file until 2013 when I finally found the courage to re-write and go for it.

 

If you could spend the day with a character from one of your books who would it be and what would you? 

I would love to spend the day with my character James but back in time in 1988. James is very much based on my first love and relationship and to get the chance to relive those special feelings and experience that first kiss again would be excellent! We would go swimming again, and then lie on my bed listening to George Michael’s “Faith” album and kiss.

What was the best money you ever spent as a writer? 

I think I have two answers for this question. The first would be getting my book covers professionally designed, which cost around £75 per cover. Although I now have an author 

friend who is designing my most recent and forthcoming covers and she is free.

The second was getting an amazing editor, who not only edits my work but suggests ways to make the storyline better. She also includes turning my word document into a proper eBook and paperback file. Well worth her £200 fee.

How do you balance making demands on the reader with taking care of the reader? 

Ooh, tough question. I think you have to appreciate that readers do have their own imagination and don’t always need everything spelled out for them, they like some things left un-spoken so they can make their own interpretation of the themes work. I guess I also demand my particular readers don’t feel short-changed by maybe writing an expected ending – a shock, or twist or cliff-hanger between a series of books can make them mad, but equally has them waiting for the next. I’m a reader too so know how this feels but love that the author I’ve read has got me to the point of getting inside or emotionally involved with the characters and the storyline.

 

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? 

I am currently mid-way through the sequel of a two part series. I’m also co-writing a book with an author friend so this switches between us as we are writing as two different characters, alternating chapters. I have also started three other different stories, but they are all on the back burner. Finally I’m writing a short story for an anthology which has a tight deadline so that is my current priority.

 

Have you written any other books that are not published? 

Only the one that I wrote when I was 19, called “Take my Breath Away” which became my first real novel “Where did 

your Heart go?” 

What’s the best way to market your books? 

OMG, if I had the definitive answer for this then I would be a bestseller!! As an indie author there are limited places for marketing. I currently use Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as that is all I really have time for. I like to try and link my novels with topical trends if and where possible to reach new and different readers. Now that I have paperback copies I have done a couple of book fairs locally and am branching out this year with larger ones in Telford and Manchester.

 

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters

 from the opposite sex? 

Getting them to sound right and true to their characteristics or place where they fit into the storyline. My co-authoring book sees me writing in first person as a male racing car driver who is a womanising alpha male until he falls head long in love with a pit board model. The male mind is a hard place to go!!

 

What period of your life do you find you write about most often? (child, teenager, young adult) 

With my Heart Trilogy set of books I went back in time to my teenage years but coupled this with the same character aged 40. I think I did this because I was tired of reading just romances involving twenty something characters when those in middle age can also fall in love. The 80’s were my favourite decade so getting to set books back then meant I could indulge in my memories. 

How do you select the names of your characters?

I actually love to use my reader’s names (first names only) and inject them into the storyline mainly in secondary character roles. For my first trilogy I used my first boyfriend’s real first name for my leading male character and I always wished I’d been called Stephanie! Then to fit in with “Top Gun” subtle theme running through I used the names Charlotte and Mitchell after characters in the film. So far I have never struggled to find a name to use.

 

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with 

bad or good ones? 

Yes I do read my book reviews as they can be helpful in guiding me when editing future books. Ok it is always hard to deal with the bad reviews but mostly the good ones out weight them! I do like to find out and thank my reviewers if I know them. Having a growing fan base means that you can keep them informed of future book releases.

Do you hide any secrets in your books that only a

 few people will find? 

Only people who have read and loved “Top Gun” would really pick up the references to the film and also the lyrics for many of the songs that give a greater insight into the way my characters are feeling. Also my friends from school will recognise how much of the storyline within the first book “Where did your Heart go?” is actually based on real life. 

What was your hardest scene to write? 

My hardest scene was the final couple of chapters of the last book in my Heart Trilogy series. It involved killing off two characters that most readers had formed an attachment too. I worried that they would all want the “Happily Ever After” ending that most romances have but mind is a slightly twisted version 

of this. Actually writing the two chapters made me cry 

and I still struggle to read them now without feeling emotional or welling up with tears.

 

Do you Google yourself? 

No, perhaps I should! 

What is your favourite childhood book? 

My favourite childhood book was “Little Women” by Louisa M Alcott, I guess because I identified with Jo March, the tomboy of the family who wanted to be a writer! I have re-read this book many times since my Nan read it aloud to me when I was around 7 years old.

 

Does your family support your career as a writer? 

They are coming round to it. My Dad is my biggest fan, even though he hasn’t read my books. He’s a factual, biography reader so fiction doesn’t interest him. That said he has a pile of my business cards and enjoys handing them out whenever he thinks he might get me a new reader! My Mum has told me that she might read them one day so I’ve told her not to retro ground me for some of the things that she will realise that I may have done when I was a teenager. My partner Steve equally doesn’t read but as a musician understands that need to be creative. He’s also my website designer and technical person so his support comes in this area. 

If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do? 

I think the only thing I would do differently is to have gone to University and studied English to degree level, perhaps with a creative writing course alongside this. I’m a completely self-taught author.

 

How long on average does it take you to write a book? 

It takes me around 6-9 months to write a full length novel. I can do a short story in a few days if the characters are talking to me.

 

Do you believe in writer’s block? 

I do believe that you can get stuck when writing. I know that the 2nd book in my Heart Trilogy tool nearly a year to write as I was so busy at work and stressed that I just didn’t seem to have the energy. I also struggled to push through the doubts that my readers would hate the follow up to the first book. I think most authors will tell you that writing the middle book of a trilogy is the hardest. To combat this I either switch to writing something else or to composing poems and a walk with my dogs is a great way to clear my head!