Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi! I’m Isobel and I’m an 18 year old lesbian poet from the UK. Alongside being a writer I am also studying to be a florist which I absolutely love and I am also a musician and an actor. I have only written the one book so far ‘Beyond The Darkness’ but I have been lucky enough to have been featured in various other anthologies such as The Beckindale Poetry Journal, The Cambridge Poetry Journal, From The Heart Poetry Journal, The 2021 Poetry Yearbook and The Top 100 Poems of 2021 for which I was honoured with elite writer status for the year.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my latest book is ‘Beyond The Darkness’ and it was inspired by a draft of poetry I had written during a very dark year in my life. Whenever I feel low I always find myself turning to literature as a form of comfort and safety, I’m transported to this beautiful, magical place where I can be unapologetically myself without any consequence or oppressing views. This, in turn, inspired me to try and showcase the heart-breaking, realistic truth of how tough times can get but no matter how dark the night there will always be a way through and the sun will rise again. In this particular case, I wanted to make it known that beyond the sun and the stars, the brightest light of all comes from within every individual person. The brightest light is in you, you just have to find it.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have many unusual writing habits! One of which is to turn on very loud classical music and dramatically recite my work out loud. If I believe it sounds Shakespearean enough, as I usually write in sonnet form, then I will keep a certain passage but if it isn’t dramatic or conveying what I want it to, it sit in my drafts folder until I reproach it later on. Another writing habit I have is simply to drink lots and lots of tea! But then again, that’s probably more a British quirk than a writing habit.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have to say I am heavily influenced by classical poets and play writes such as Lord Byron and of course the man himself, Shakespeare. I found whilst reading their work that I was transported to a beautiful time full of tragedy and romance. This is something I always want to embody in my work so they are definitely my biggest literary influence.
What are you working on now?
Although I have only just published my first book, a writer never sleeps! That is all I’ll say for now but I do have some very exciting things in the works…
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
So far my best method has been on twitter! Over the last year I have been lucky enough to develop a writing fanbase on twitter as I posted little snippets of my work and opened up poetry commissions. So for any future authors, I definitely recommend!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I would say the most important thing is to stay true to yourself. It is so easy to get published and immediately start panicking and wanting to change who you are but you shouldn’t. I know it’s scary to publish a book for the first time but it is also so exciting, as long as you’re proud of what you’ve done, you will be amazing. Try not to let any negative review get you down either, unfortunately everyone has an opinion and not every one is nice but that doesn’t mean your work is any less brilliant. You just can’t please everyone.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best piece of advice I have ever heard has to be from my Dad, my Dad is a really wise man and he once told me that the only constant is that the sun will rise each morning and he’s right. After a bad day of writers block my Dad would tell me not to stress myself out because the sun will rise and I could have another go. So- I would and it helped massively.
What are you reading now?
I read so many books so I do find it hard to keep track sometimes! However I am currently reading Persuasion by Jane Austen and I am absolutely loving it! 10/10, highly recommend.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Next for me as a writer I think is doing what I always do which is writing my heart out. I do have some very exciting projects lined up for this next year now though, it’s a very exciting time.
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?
I would have to bring Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (my all time favourite), I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson, The Sky is Everywhere also by Jandy Nelson and I’d have to bring a Jacqueline Wilson book! You can’t beat a good Jacqueline Wilson book.
Author Websites and Profiles
Isobel Askew Amazon Profile
Isobel Askew’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
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