Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
When I’m not writing, I’m the creator and evil Overlord of an awesome site called Mookychick Online (mookychick.co.uk). It’s especially awesome if you’re a young adult, or a woman with an alternative lifestyle and a brave spirit. That’s kind of what we do. We’re pretty well-known as a feminist site in the UK. We love everyone and hate no-one, because I think we all agree that hating isn’t any way to make the world run right.
Being an evil Overlord is FUN. The hours are good and the perks are fantastic. Life got SO much better when I filled my underground lair with flying monkey butlers, although they’re poorly house-trained and make an impossible mess.
But writing is more fun. Yes, more fun than being an Overlord, even. I write for adults and young adults and other assorted changelings. I cross genres and mix it up a bit. Unlike promises, cliches are there to be broken.
I write steampunk and mystery and horror and pure adventure fantasy joy. I’ve written for the fabled British comic 2000AD, home of Judge Dredd (I co-wrote a Judge Janus story with famous comics writer Grant Morrison). I’ve contributed to a bunch of wonderful anthologies, and can’t pick a favourite because I love them all.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My most recent publication is a feisty modern YA tale called SEAL GIRL, and people are saying nice things about it. It’s had some pretty cool reviews.
I’ve always been into the more quirky myths, so ‘Seal Girl’ is heavily influenced by celtic myth. You’ve heard of mermaids, right? What about selkies, the seal girls of the cold Atlantic sea? Mermaids are pretty; sure they are. Selkies are TOUGH.
There’s also no shame in saying SEAL GIRL was influenced in part by ‘Mean Girls’. How could there be any shame in bowing to the comedy genius of Tina Fey?
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My secret superhero power is this: I can write a book in a week.
Yes. Really. I’ve done it three times.
Okay, stop twisting my arm. I admit it. Just the first drafts, but still…
A BOOK? IN A WEEK? THREE TIMES IN A *ROW*?
The way I do it is this…
1) I book a holiday cottage. I make sure I have no idea how to access the internet, because I know it would be my downfall. I can’t afford to be having FUN when I’m doing this. I make sure that good restaurants lie nearby and pretty surroundings exist somewhere outside the cottage (not that I’ll ever see them).
2) When I arrive, I make sure I have the first three chapters planned out. They’re my safety net. Also, the book’s been cooking in my brain for a few months so I’ve got a fairly strong handle on things.
3) I unpack my writing totem and set it on my writing desk. It is a beautiful blue butterfly in a bell jar. Morpho Aurora. Beautiful. It helps, I think. I wouldn’t feel right if it wasn’t there.
4) I write from 9 am until 10pm. I WRITE LIKE THE WIND. I can’t stop the words coming. I stop only for delicious takeaways and to catch an episode of my guilty secret… the TV reality show ‘Come Dine With Me’. Unlike the blue butterfly, Morpho Aurora, I am not convinced that watching re-runs of ‘Come Dine With Me’ helps.
5) I return home 7 days later (6 if you count being kicked out at noon on a sunday so the cleaner can do their thing) having written the first draft of a book. I’ve done it three times. It’s worked every time. Just a shockingly messy first draft, obviously, but the first one always is. I’ve had a fair bit of interest from agents in the full manuscripts.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
In the world of YA fiction, I’m all over ‘Gone’, ‘Hunger Games’ and ‘Divergent’ like a rash. Great writing. Big themes. Inspiring.
Of the adult writers who move me, I immediately think of Philip Pullman, Terry Pratchett, Neal Stephenson, Neil Gaiman, Joe Hill and Joanne Harris. They are very fine writers. I like how they bend things into shape.
Comics have heavily influenced me, though I’d be hard-pushed to say exactly how. I’ve read comics since Judge Dredd had a wobot called Walter and an Italian cleaning lady. I’ve grown up with comics. I’ve seen comics writers move into fiction, and now I’m seeing fiction writers move into comics. I’d feel enormously satisfied doing both. There is a beautiful level of synergy going on here. Comics are in my blood, and I’d love to see more people read them.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently readying two YA novels for querying:
JABBERWACK: A dystopian steampunk YA set entirely underground, with a ridiculous number of shovels and an amputation in chapter 3. I KNOW, right? This one takes a chapter to chug up to speed, but it’s had beta readers overflowing their baths and missing their train stops, and while I don’t want anyone to be late for work or have a cold bath… okay, yeah, I do. That makes me HAPPY. Thank you for your suffering, dear friends. I am glad you liked the book. I owe you a hot bath and a cab ride home.
HOUSE OF SIGHS. This is a YA set in an Orphanage, and I can’t tell you what it’s about because that would spoil it. Jane is an orphan. That’s all she remembers. Welcome to the Orphanage, Jane. And all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well, for the Orphanage is the safest place in the world…
Suffice to say that HOUSE OF SIGHS is me wishing to tap into the unnerving British eccentricity of shows like The Prisoner, and the TV series The Avengers when it featured Steed and Mrs. Peel.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Hunt out people who love to read, who are addicted to it, and ask them nicely (and succinctly) if they would consider reading and reviewing your work.
If you can help them in return, suggest ways you’d be pleased to help them in return. NOT money. I’m not talking about money changing hands, that wouldn’t feel right. It’s honest reviews I’m looking for.
I’m lucky to have a website that has a large following and community. I try to help others in terms of promotion and am very grateful if they can help me in return.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write, write, write.
And book that writing holiday in a beautiful cottage somewhere. Just make sure you can’t get on the internet or it’ll be the worse for you.
Believe me, having spent money you can ill afford on a mere 7 short days in which to write a book is an AWESOME incentive to cure that looming writer’s block.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
List every reason why you can’t and shouldn’t. And, to every reason, reply… SO WHAT?
So what. It’s tough love, but it’s a powerful mantra that can get you out of a rut.
What are you reading now?
‘NOS4R2’ by Joe Hill.
Oh, man. It’s heaven to read and hell to spell.
What’s next for you as a writer?
GEEK GIRL and GLEE GIRL are the forthcoming stories due to be published in my Mythology High trilogy for Buzz Books USA.
I will continue to write like my pants are on fire.
What is your favorite book of all time?
This question is a little mean. But I think it’s probably any book by Alan Garner. Also, whichever book weighs the most. If you’re stuck on a desert island, don’t worry about the quality of words. Go for quantity. It’ll keep your fire going longer if nothing else.
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