1. How long did it take you to publish, ‘The Summoning?’
I’d already published 7 novels by the time I wrote The Summoning, so while it was my first in YA, it was an easy sale. My agent had multiple offers within a month.
2. If you could choose one thing about the whole work involved from writing your first book, to its publication, what would you say was the hardest thing to achieve?
I didn’t publish the first book I wrote. Few authors do.
3. Of all the books you have written, which book did you enjoy writing the most?
Like many writers, my favourite is always the last one I wrote. It’s freshest in my mind and I’m usually the most excited about it. That excitement fades after endless edits J but by then I’m onto the next book.
4. How long did it take you to get your first successful book published?
My first published novel (Bitten) took about 6 years to write--I had a full-time job and a family, so not much time for writing. That wasn’t, however, the first novel I wrote. I’d started my first when I was 21 and sold Bitten when I was 29.
5. If you could give one piece of advice to a new writer, what would it be?
Keep writing. It’s boring advice, but it really is the most important thing. You need to love writing and to keep at it, even if you don’t get published quickly (most authors don’t!) Do it for the love of story-telling, and likelihood of publication will rise exponentially as you perfect your craft.
6. Many writers are warned about the dreaded ‘rejection letter,’ but speaking from your own experience, what is your take on the rejection letter?
Rejection is part of the process. While it gets easier, it never gets truly easy, though. Criticism and rejection always hurts. You just learn to deal with it, the same way you do everything else unpleasant in life…like going to the dentist’s office!
7. What would you say is the first steps of publishing?
If it’s commercial fiction, get an agent.
8. We all love writing our own characters, giving them personalities, histories and lives, but if you had to choose two characters from your own books, which two would you say are your favourites?
Ah, that's like being asked to pick my favourite child <grin>. Like my kids, all my main characters are my "favourite" for something. It's refreshing to be able to change voices with each book--inhabiting a new life for a little while.
9. The publishing industry is beginning to get increasingly difficult, with less and less books being published each year, and this year is no exception. Book deals and publications are at an all-time low.
Many writers are turning to Amazon, Smashwords, Nook, etc. and self-publishing their books.
But this choice isn’t for everyone.
What would you say to young, unpublished writers out there who are debating about which route to take?
And had you been starting out all over again, would you still take the same route?
Absolutely. And that isn't a slam on self-publishing. It works for many people, but for someone like me, it wouldn't. I don't have the personality to sell my writing, and I want to spend my time writing, not packaging and promoting my work.
I’d already published 7 novels by the time I wrote The Summoning, so while it was my first in YA, it was an easy sale. My agent had multiple offers within a month.
2. If you could choose one thing about the whole work involved from writing your first book, to its publication, what would you say was the hardest thing to achieve?
I didn’t publish the first book I wrote. Few authors do.
3. Of all the books you have written, which book did you enjoy writing the most?
Like many writers, my favourite is always the last one I wrote. It’s freshest in my mind and I’m usually the most excited about it. That excitement fades after endless edits J but by then I’m onto the next book.
4. How long did it take you to get your first successful book published?
My first published novel (Bitten) took about 6 years to write--I had a full-time job and a family, so not much time for writing. That wasn’t, however, the first novel I wrote. I’d started my first when I was 21 and sold Bitten when I was 29.
5. If you could give one piece of advice to a new writer, what would it be?
Keep writing. It’s boring advice, but it really is the most important thing. You need to love writing and to keep at it, even if you don’t get published quickly (most authors don’t!) Do it for the love of story-telling, and likelihood of publication will rise exponentially as you perfect your craft.
6. Many writers are warned about the dreaded ‘rejection letter,’ but speaking from your own experience, what is your take on the rejection letter?
Rejection is part of the process. While it gets easier, it never gets truly easy, though. Criticism and rejection always hurts. You just learn to deal with it, the same way you do everything else unpleasant in life…like going to the dentist’s office!
7. What would you say is the first steps of publishing?
If it’s commercial fiction, get an agent.
8. We all love writing our own characters, giving them personalities, histories and lives, but if you had to choose two characters from your own books, which two would you say are your favourites?
Ah, that's like being asked to pick my favourite child <grin>. Like my kids, all my main characters are my "favourite" for something. It's refreshing to be able to change voices with each book--inhabiting a new life for a little while.
9. The publishing industry is beginning to get increasingly difficult, with less and less books being published each year, and this year is no exception. Book deals and publications are at an all-time low.
Many writers are turning to Amazon, Smashwords, Nook, etc. and self-publishing their books.
But this choice isn’t for everyone.
What would you say to young, unpublished writers out there who are debating about which route to take?
And had you been starting out all over again, would you still take the same route?
Absolutely. And that isn't a slam on self-publishing. It works for many people, but for someone like me, it wouldn't. I don't have the personality to sell my writing, and I want to spend my time writing, not packaging and promoting my work.