Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve loved reading and writing for as long as I can remember, though it has taken me about a decade of failed efforts to figure out how to actually write a novel. To date, I’ve written two young adult contemporary novels (one that’s finished which I’ve just released, the other is still at the first draft stage), the first volume in a young adult dark fantasy series which will be out later this year, and an adult novel that still needs a bit of revision. I’ve also written lots of short stories, poetry, essays, and unfinished books!!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called The Space Between, and its the story of a girl who goes missing on a weekend camping trip, and the impact her disappearance has on her best friend and their families. It’s about the tangle of friendship, love and sex, and how people struggle to make sense of loss.
The thing that spurred me on to write this book was a loss in my own life – after a year of trying to become pregnant I miscarried, and the bright light that came out of that awful time was the knowledge that writing was the thing I was meant to be doing. I feel like the narrative of the book was propelled by the urgency I felt at that time to create something out of the darkness. I’m honestly so proud of this book, it has so much of my heart in it.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I have a toddler, and a day job, so I just write in whatever gaps I can find! Nanowrimo has given me a love of writing with other people, so that’s something I still do with my wonderful writing buddies here in Canberra when I get the chance. Otherwise I do a lot of my best work at a café, with coffee in reach and the sound of thunder playing through my headphones (which I’m sure is not at all unusual!).
What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a writer, one of the books that has I most love is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. She writes so beautifully and with such honesty about the writing process, and maps out the pitfalls and pleasures of the work of a writer. It’s one of those books you can go back to over and over again for inspiration.
What are you working on now?
Right now I’m planning the second book in my young adult dark fantasy series, Darkfall. I’m simultaneously excited and terrified to get started!!! I’m really happy with book one, which will be available in October 2017, and I don’t want to disappoint my readers with book two! Also I’m more of a pantser than a plotter, so writing a series is stretching me somewhat…
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still learning about promotion!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Persist, persist, persist.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Persist, persist, persist.
What are you reading now?
The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco. I’m still fairly early in the story, but it’s a fascinating fantasy world, and I love her writing.
What’s next for you as a writer?
As I mentioned, I’m releasing the first book in a young adult dark fantasy series later this year. I’m hoping to have the second book ready for release next year, and to polish up my other young adult contemporary (which is a thriller with just a touch of horror) next year as well. So busy, busy, busy!
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?
NOOOO. You can’t ask me that. I’m not going to answer. Maybe instead of books I could bring three or four other writers and we could fill our days subsisting on coconuts and oysters and telling one another stories, and that way we’d never run out? Actually, that doesn’t sound like such a bad life.
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