Authors in the Spotlight
The chances of success and ultimately publication in the world of creative writing are slim. We need all the help we can get to increase those chances.
So interviews with those who have succeeded might answer some of those questions we all have. What was their journey like? Did they ever get rejection letters, and if so how did they deal with them? What made them perservere?
Below you will find interviews with our resident authors where we get the lowdown on what motivates their writing and how they came to be a published author.
Our aim through these interviews is to open a window on the daily life of a published author. Here we can give aspiring writers an idea of what these authors have achieved and a way to gain from their inspiration and example.
(For previous interviews visit our Library page.)
An Interview with Catherine King- March 2010By Fiona JamiesonThis month we are visiting with Catherine King.
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Her latest book is entitled "A Mother's Sacrifice", and it came out on March 4th this year. This will be Catherine's 5th published novel.
Quinta Haig is struggling to make ends meet. The small Yorkshire farm she shares with her ailing mother is run down but, even at fifteen, Quinta is prepared to do almost anything to survive . . . |
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Q: When did you first start writing fiction? I entered and won a short story competition and the prize was a week at residential creative writing school. I opted for the novel writing course and never went back to short stories. Q: : Your characters seem so very alive. How do you infuse your characters with realism? I think about my characters a lot and they become my temporary family and friends. They are very real to me and I know them very well when I write about them. Q: What are you working on at the moment? I am editing my fifth Yorkshire saga which is due out in December, and I am researching book six which has to be submitted next January. Q: How do you approach the writing of a new novel? What research is involved and do you struggle to decide on the plot? I am constantly on the lookout for a good idea. I start with a nineteenth century situation that affected women in particular then I research an industry or two and invent my heroine. The hero usually follows quite quickly. I prefer not to decide on plot beforehand. I’d rather let it emerge from the writing and, yes, sometimes it’s a struggle. Q: Do you struggle sometimes to find ideas? If so, what do you do to get past that point? Sometimes I get brain-ache when I can’t think of anything new or interesting to write about. My remedy is to take myself off to a new location – anywhere different will do – and it refreshes my imagination. Q: As a professional writer how do you set about planning your time? How much time do you spend writing? What other related tasks apart from the actual writing do you have to do? Being a writer is my job so it takes up most of my time. I do the actual writing in the morning for about 3 or 4 hours, depending on my word output. Then I have to do editing, prepare and give talks and workshops, professional networking and ongoing research. I can’t quantify how long I spend on this but it is never-ending. Q: What inspires you? My inspiration comes from knowing that my ancestors lived lives similar to the people in my books. I want to celebrate their courage and strength, and I do that by writing. Q: Do you find it difficult to buckle down and get writing or do the words flow easily as soon as you get going? Yes to both, because it depends where I am in the book. Sometimes it’s a breeze and sometimes I have to wring out every word. Q: Who would you like to include in an Oscars list of those who have been your help and support to get to where you are? My mother and my husband for making me the person that I am; the novelist Elizabeth Gill for helping me through my darkest days; the Romantic Novelists Association for showing me the way; my agent Judith Murdoch and Rosie de Courcey, my first saga editor, for believing in me. Q: Do you envy or admire any other published writers? I admire all published novelists because they have demonstrated the stamina to finish the task. I envy prolific authors who can write thousands of words in a day. Q: Do you find inspiration in those around you or do you go farther afield for your ideas? My inspiration comes from local and regional history. I can get some of what I need on the web but I need to travel to the area and to museums and exhibitions to find specific information. Most of all, I need to talk to local people to discover the gems. Q: Do you think that the ability to write stories is within all of us? Do you think that by learning the tools of the trade anyone can become a better writer and finally maybe get published? We all have differing abilities, imaginations and life experiences. I believe that most people can use these and develop as writers if they are given the right learning environment for them. Q: What do you think makes a good writer? An ability to connect and communicate with your target readership Q: How would you encourage other writers? Believe in yourself and write from your heart. *************************************************************************************** Our thanks to Catherine for her participation in this article. If you wouldlike to attend one of Catherine's workshops check our courses to see when Catherine will be doing her next one. Please also check our competitions page - entering competitions is one of the best ways of improving your writing and getting recognition. |
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