Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am happy to report I am a full-time writer who grew up in Memphis, TN and now lives in Malibu, CA with my husband and two German shepherds, whom we adore. I am the author of two books: “A Portal in Time,” which is a Paranormal Mystery written in two time periods, and “Dancing to an Irish Reel,” which is literary fiction ( meaning true to life.) Both books are published by Vinspire Publishing. I am a 4 time, award winning essayist and I write for magazines, such as “Southern Writer’s Magazine” and a wonderful site called The Wild Geese. I have just completed my third novel and am refining the second draft.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Dancing to an Irish Reel” is the name of my last published book, and it was inspired from the year I spent living on the western coast of Ireland. I lived in a small village called Inverin, which is a breathtaking coastal town, and I worked thirteen miles away in Galway City. It was an awe-inspiring year and I wanted to share the ambience of Ireland and its incredible, soulful culture, so I wrote “Dancing to an Irish Reel” when I moved back to California. In the story, I wanted to write about the push and pull of attraction; those initial stages of what will hopefully be a wonderful romance, when both people are hopeful and excited, but there is still a bit of uncertainty involved. I think this is a universal experience, for the road to love is rarely smooth! This book is called literary fiction because it is true to life! And because I set this story in Ireland, I was given the opportunity to share a landscape and culture worthy of deep praise.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Every day, I write something and it brings me great joy. I settle down at my computer, which has a huge monitor, first thing in the morning and I have to have lots of coffee! I write usually from about 8:00 AM until noon, then I run around the yard with my two German shepherds ( they’re both puppies, as in under two years old) then I go back to my desk. At the end of the day, my husband and I take our dogs to the beach, and this is basically the rhythm of my days, save for errands, keeping up with my girlfriends, and whatever else comes up. I’ve been living this way for the past 4 years and it suits me!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love the Southern writers, mostly because I identify with the South, having grown up in Memphis. Southern writers tend to be lyrical, poetic and descriptive. I love the authors Pat Conroy, who wrote The Great Santini and The Prince of Tides and South of Broad to name a few; Anne Rivers Siddons, who is the author of 24 books, all set in the South; and Donna Tartt, who wrote The Goldfinch, The Little Friend, and The Secret History. I think my all time favorite book is Conroy’s The Prince of Tides because it is brilliantly crafted and tells the story of a family with secrets that leave indelible scars.
What are you working on now?
I am still going over the manuscript of my third novel. It is a Southern family saga set in Memphis. I have completed the first draft, and am currently going over it again and again! Writing a novel, for me, is like fine tuning a puzzle. I go over it looking for continuity, then again for dialogue, then again for theme. It’s like shaping and molding clay!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My website is http://www.clairefullerton.com, and I really focus on keeping it evolving and updated with new reviews, published pieces, photographs and anything I think will interest its viewers. My website is a constant, and as for promotion sites, I like a site called Books Go Social. I am a huge fan of Google+ and have met many nice people there. The Google+ book community is endless! Also, About.me has an amazingly far reach, thousands a month go to my page there, which is great. I use Twitter every day and keep an eye on many blogs on word Press. There’s a big book community there!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes! I will gladly share what I have found to be helpful: If you have a book out, think outside of the box in promoting it. Promote yourself by writing and submitting to magazines that may draw attention to your books. Here’s an example of my point: I joined a community called The Wild Geese online, which is all about Ireland. Many historians and creative people are in this community, and I write pieces all about my love for and experiences in Ireland and send them as small articles, which typically get posted. Many have found me in this community because they’re all interested in Ireland. Sooner or later they discover that I have a book called Dancing to an Irish Reel! So, the lesson is to go to the places that have interest in your book’s subject or setting or anything that stands out in the story. Get involved. Meet readers and writers. Promotion is all about connections, so a writer has to go to where the action is!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Dawn Carrington of Vinspire Publishing told me that a writer’s career is a marathon, not a sprint! This means be patient, work steadily, and continue to build.
What are you reading now?
“Miss Hazel and the Rosa Parks League.” It is a Southern classic, in y opinion, and the writer Jonathan Odell, who grew up in Mississippi wrote this 3rd person, rollicking joy-ride. Only a Southerner could have written this book!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Great hope for my third novel!
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
The Prince of Tides and South of Broad by Pat Conroy, also The Secret History by Donna Tartt. All three are character intensive, written in the first person, and I love that. First person writing allows you to seriously connect with the narrator, so the reading experience seems intimate and personal.
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