Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Taking The Plunge is my inaugural novel, after having 5 non-fiction books published some years ago. Writing fiction has been such an enjoyable experience, in terms of the creativity and freedom it offers, and connecting with readers via bringing stories and experience to life.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
In short, Taking The Plunge named itself. The novel’s protagonist (Anna) is stepping out of her comfort zone in terms of the swimming adventure that is proposed to her, and in her personal life when she is caught between two romances and must make a choice.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
LOL, I’ve never thought about unusual writing habits. Writing at dawn works well for me. I like to visit the places about which I’m writing, in order to experience them directly.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Many authors and books have provided influence, for which I’m immensely grateful. Reading Sarah Waters’ novels first gave me the idea of writing myself. I like to read widely to experience different writing styles, to understand how other authors bring their ideas to life.
What are you working on now?
I have the completed basic structure for Troubled Waters, the sequel to Taking The Plunge. I’m working on how the characters, including new ones, interplay, and their motivations are revealed to readers.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be honest, I’m still learning the best way to promote books. Surprisingly, some seemingly obvious ways haven’t worked, and word-of-mouth has been more effective than I expected.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Just write. Be yourself. Read other authors. Have a trusted critic (in my case it’s a friend who is good at being honest) who can help make your ideas better by seeing what you’ve missed.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Understand the landscape around your novel, i.e. how does it compare / contrast to other novels in the same genre.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading poetry at present, to expose my brain to different ways of articulating ideas, which I’d like to incorporate into my next novel.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’d love to get more feedback from readers about Anna and Taking The Plunge, and incorporate it into the next novel in the series, Troubled Waters.
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?
That’s a tough question. I loved Sally Friedman’s ‘Swimming The Channel: a memoir of love and loss.’ Anita Shreve’s ‘The Weight Of Water’ captivated me when I read it. Perhaps ‘Catcher In The Rye’ because it was the first time I had been exposed to that style of writing.
Author Websites and Profiles
S.M. Nottage Amazon Profile