1. How did you get started writing?
I accidentally fell into writing. I was a youth leader for many years and loved their lively and frank chatter. Of course as a leader I wanted to give advice and help them. I realised that many of the youth would switch off as soon as you try to teach them something. However, if you told a story they would stay engaged. Stories are an easy way to learn. Living our own story and learning through others stories are a huge part of how we grow.
2. Out of all your books, which one is your favourite and why?
It is difficult to choose! I’ve always loved my Remnant Chronicles books even though they were the first. I think it is the collision of human and supernatural worlds that I enjoy.
The main human character in ‘The Days of Eliora’ has plenty of flaws, misdirected ideas and nasty experiences. Eliora doesn’t realise that she is part of a much bigger story where angels and demons are opposing forces. She’s the one who features in my Hellcats short story ‘The Palace Plot’.
However, I do love a dystopian too so my Compassion Series is also a favourite!
Please don’t make me choose. It’s like asking which of my children I love more!
3. What is your favorite thing to do outside of writing?
I’m a visual type of person. I enjoy movies and people watching when I’m with others.
I love painting and drawing which is why my website is split between my books and my art. Creating with words and paint are brilliant for buffering what is happening in real life.
Getting out in nature is also big part of how I re-energize so walking my dog by the river nearby is a daily routine.
4. What do you love most about the genre you write?
I write speculative and magical realism fiction for the young adult audience (although we are all young at heart so adults enjoy them too). These genres are just far enough removed from reality that I can escape for a while. Real life is so busy and we are blasted with so many terrible news reports on a daily basis. I find that writing in my genres means I can solve those things … at least in my own version of the world.
5. What do you want readers to take from your books?
Apart from them having a wonderful time in the worlds I create you mean?! I’d like readers to think about what they add or take from this life; for them to decide it really is more important to give. That their life has an impact on others whether that is to thousands of others or to just the one.
6. What does your writing space look like?
My writing space involves a very quiet house (which means lockdown was not a productive time), a comfy seat, my laptop and a snoring dog curled next to me.
7. What’s the one piece of technology you can’t live without?
Sadly, it’s probably my phone. I have a love/hate relationship with it. I love using it to keep in contact with friends, make notes on the go and take photos, but hate how it can be such a procrastination invitation.
8. Do you find it hard to kill off your characters?
I have killed a few off in my time. The bad guys always die well but they are often the fun characters to write so it can be tough. I don’t like the good guys going.
9. How much of your characters are based on your traits or someone you know personally?
There are a few characters based on what I have observed in interviews with famous people or acquaintances. I think I do put myself in the character’s skin when I write them, so often they do have a bit of me in them.
10. What are you working on now? Can you share a teaser of it with our readers?
I’m currently working on polishing two manuscripts. Here are some tweet length pitches.
Obedient to the Matriarch, banal Amber is best dead. She perches at the edge; the order: JUMP!
But keen mind awakened; she needs the truth… even if it takes the form of a fictive boy leading to the mythical land dominated by men.
A grumpy, bearded fairy with questionable cleanliness issues is forced into a glittery lavender dress in an illegal birthday wish.
Damn! Over enthusiastic trainee!
Now they’ll need to work together to prevent the next wish being dangerously potent for either realm.
11. What do you do when a flash of inspiration hits you at an inopportune moment?
The flashes of inspiration often hit at inopportune moments don’t they? If I’m able, I make a note on my phone. However, I often don’t have my phone in those moments so I might try to picture the scene, apply it to a song or get very annoyed with myself as it flutters away.
12. What keeps you going while writing?
Chocolate and a deadline.
Chocolate because it can motivate me to reach a word count.
Deadline because a bit of pressure (even self inflicted pressure) provides something to aim for.
13. What’s next for you?
I’m in the planning stages for a new addition to my Remnant Chronicles. It’s still a long way off but I’m glad to be getting back into the world of angels and demons.
14. Where can we find you on the internet?