Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Auckland, New Zealand, where I was born and raised. It’s a bustling city with beaches and amazing scenery just a short drive away – and the perfect place to be a writer. I’m married with two almost-grown children, although my youngest has autism which has presented some interesting challenges on the way. However, we’re the sum of our parts and I think, as an author, that you take that sum and draw on what you learn on the way to inform the content of your books. This is especially true for me as I write what is probably best described as women’s contemporary fiction – essentially books about people, and more importantly, what happens when you throw a bunch of people together and let them loose on each other. I have four books out in this genre (Maybury Place, The Bell Curve, The Tender Conflict and The Journey) and have also co-authored a non-fiction book called Mothering Heights.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recently written and published book is The Journey. It’s a story about a young author/illustrator who goes on a two-week walking tour through New Zealand wine country. The trip is supposed to be part research and part rejuvenation but ends up being life-changing on account of her traveling companions and what happens on the way. It’s a book with humor, mystery, intrigue, romance, chases, escapes – oh, and it has fifty pieces of trivia woven throughout.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I wouldn’t say unusual, but I am a planner so do spend quite some time crafting my storyline and characters before writing a word. This suits me well on two counts – I’m a natural planner and my time for writing is not extensive. So, when I do get the time to write, I know exactly where I’m at and can get stuck in straight away. Having said that, not every book goes to plan, but I find that enjoyable too. Oh, and I like writing in cafés as long as I can’t overhear what other people are saying. As a character writer, that’s like my version of Kryptonite.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I would definitely say that I fell in love with writing women’s contemporary fiction because I fell in love with reading it. My favourite authors have been people like Rosamunde Pilcher and Maeve Binchy and Joanna Trollope. I also have a huge soft spot for Jane Austen and love the subtleties her books bring as she describes the times in which she lived.
What are you working on now?
I have pretty much finished my next novel which is called The Worth of Water. It’s a book that was inspired by the theme of values – a subject I wanted to explore in more depth. So, through the characters, I look at the value of life, love, money, morals, friendship, marriage and more. It’s examined through the life of two contrasting families drawn together when their children start dating, and all that happens in the wake of this occurrence.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This is the million dollar question for self-published authors as trying to connect with readers isn’t easy given the amount of material on offer for readers these days. I’ve sold a lot of books in New Zealand through various means and get some great feedback, but it’s been challenging to get that feedback turned into reviews. I’m always trying new things – including this interview!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Learn your craft. Writing does require some talent but it’s also a skill and as such there is much to learn. Dive in to some books on writing and practice, practice, practice.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
It’s hard to go past “show not tell” because, for me, it brought greater depth to my writing. It’s not a technique for every sentence (unless you want to write your own version of “War and Peace”) but it definitely improves your writing and the reader’s experience.
What are you reading now?
I tutor high school students for English and because of the New Zealand academic year only being in the second term (our school year runs from February to November) I’ve been reading all of my students’ books. At the moment I’m getting to know Holden Caulfield again as I journey through The Catcher in the Rye.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Obviously to get The Worth of Water published. I’m toying with the idea of writing some “How to” books on planning and writing – but we’ll see. These days I not only tutor but also content write for a sales training and development firm so my time for writing is somewhat small. It’s a matter of making the most of the time I do have.
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?
Ah, the desert island question. Well, I’d definitely put Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice on the list. I also loved The Book Thief so would take that. After that? The Lord of the Rings (complete one volume) might fill in some lonely island days. And maybe also Ship of Theseus, which has to be one of the most unusual books I’ve ever read, although I’d be worried about losing a lot of the inserts out of it on the island. Those should keep me going until I’m rescued.
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