Notes From Herself
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Writing poetry can be therapeutic.
At 24, Stacy Morris lives in Australia and works for Apple as a technical advisor. On the side, she is an author. Her first book, Notes to Self, was published August 2016. “[It is] a poetry collection delving into the emotional side of the human experiences. Its themes are with mental health and relationships - romantic, family and the relationship with self,” said Morris. Morris enjoys reading and photography, and said she started writing when she was 11 - her first piece a Christmas song for her brother. Professionally, her first work was a news article. Morris chose self publishing because she said she found it interesting and liked having control. Since the release date her book has affected many people. “I started out with my meaning of success being just to help one person, to have this book really be able to motivate them to change their lives or start a difficult conversation,” said Morris. “I have received numerous emails from readers who have told me the book was able to help them. That really touches my heart and that’s what this was all about.” She is currently working on another book of poetry, a continuation of Notes to Self, an aftermath of how her life has changed. “Notes to Self needed to be raw and straightforward. My next book allows me to play with words more and create alternate pieces.” When it comes down to it, Morris writes as a form of reflection, which will show in her next book. |
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Soul Writer
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Among the concrete jungle of New York a passionate author roams.
The snap of a button, the woosh of a shutter, a picture appears on the back of a camera. The hum of a coffee maker and the fluid melody the liquid forms when being poured into a cip. The scrape of lead across paper and the rigorous ticks of a keyboard… This is McKayla DeBonis. At 20 she is a self-published author of two poetry books, Semicolon and Bones in the Garden. She helps her mom with photography projects and is a part time employee at Dunkin Donuts. She loves all aspects of writing, reading and binge-watching t.v. series. |
DeBonis said she started writing at a young age and enjoyed being able to escape reality to create her own world.
“The first thing I ever wrote was a short story of Lara Croft searching for a hidden world in the Amazon. When I was young, all my dad and I would rent on weekends would be Tomb Raider.”
She has been an author since 2017 and said one of the reasons she chose to self-publish is because things were completed on her time and schedule.
“My first book is titled, Bones in the Garden and it talks about my the time I went through an abusive relationship, the theme essentially talks about flowers in the garden, my past buried in the soil, along with my bones from my former self,” said DeBonis.
“My second is titled Semicolon; and it talks about darkness, the depression and anxiety that I’ve endured my whole life but the second part takes you through the light or the healing process of my mental illnesses. It’s mostly about the growth from one to the other.”
Writing is a form of healing for DeBonis and said she loves what she does. She is currently working on a futuristic fiction novel where the main character is trapped underground and is curious about what exists above.
“If I could give the writer next to me advice then I would say to write for yourself because you matter,” said DeBonis.
“Let your words heal yourself first, don’t write for the person next to you just because you think they will enjoy it better. That’s not the point of writing.”
“The first thing I ever wrote was a short story of Lara Croft searching for a hidden world in the Amazon. When I was young, all my dad and I would rent on weekends would be Tomb Raider.”
She has been an author since 2017 and said one of the reasons she chose to self-publish is because things were completed on her time and schedule.
“My first book is titled, Bones in the Garden and it talks about my the time I went through an abusive relationship, the theme essentially talks about flowers in the garden, my past buried in the soil, along with my bones from my former self,” said DeBonis.
“My second is titled Semicolon; and it talks about darkness, the depression and anxiety that I’ve endured my whole life but the second part takes you through the light or the healing process of my mental illnesses. It’s mostly about the growth from one to the other.”
Writing is a form of healing for DeBonis and said she loves what she does. She is currently working on a futuristic fiction novel where the main character is trapped underground and is curious about what exists above.
“If I could give the writer next to me advice then I would say to write for yourself because you matter,” said DeBonis.
“Let your words heal yourself first, don’t write for the person next to you just because you think they will enjoy it better. That’s not the point of writing.”
Christian Sterling Q and A - New Novella
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How old are you and can you provide me with some personal background such as where you grew up, hobbies, interests and occupation?
I just turned 25, grew up in RI, and started my career in the Music Industry… I worked for ESPN after college, then moved to Nashville, TN to market country acts. I was a guitarist for years, but have recently been spending most of my time writing, going to the gym, and eating Chipotle.
When did you start writing? What inspired you to write?
I always liked to write and was pretty good at in school. The essays and poetry I wrote in high school tended to be the ones that caused a bit of buzz in the classroom. I didn’t realize until later on that I had more than knack for writing, it was my primary medium as an artform.
How did you become an author? What was your journey like?
I’d had this idea for a TV show and knew I’d never be able to make it come to fruition, so figured I’d make it a book and see what would happen. Within the first page of writing I realized I had been wasting my time in music and decided to focus on writing as my medium for art. I’ve pursued writing to a larger extent than I ever thought, especially since the response to my work has been so positive.
How many books do you have published to date?
Two as of this Friday. American Parable: Ashes and Embers was my first, and my novella Death Row. The second in the American Parable series should be out come Summer 2018, and I’m hoping to have the start of another series released at the top of the year 2019. Both series should alternate going forward.
What is your favourite genre to write?
I think it’s hard to put a label on the genre, but definitely fiction. There was a moment where I realized I write mostly about virtuous criminals, something that was not a conscious decision. I think this is because criminals are almost always deemed outsiders to everyday society, something I connect with.
Do you like to read as well? Why or why not? If you do like to read, which genres do you prefer?
I do, although I don’t have as much time as I used to unfortunately. I loved Tolkien growing up, as well as a number of other fantasies. I think Of Mice and Men is pure poetry from start to finish.
What made you choose the indie publishing route?
I’m impatient and stubborn. I don’t like the idea of my story sitting on an agent’s desk for 6 months to have them tell me everything that is wrong with my characters. I hate the idea of my story sitting on a publisher’s desk for a year for them to tell me everything that is wrong with my story. My work is a representation of me in my truest form, and until a business wants to collaborate with me in a way where I can stay true to myself as an artist, I’ll be an indie author.
Were there any obstacles in your publishing journey?
Hell yeeeeah. I did my own artwork for American Parable, formatted it, edited it, learned what it’s like to hire a bad editor, see typos in the story after ordering copies, re-editing, all of it. It’s a learning curve, but the beauty is, you can always go back and fix things and continually get better. I was lucky with Death Row to work with an excellent artist and editor, but I wouldn’t have been able to appreciate that had I not gone through all those obstacles in my first release.
How successful have your publications been?
Honestly, surprisingly well (though a long way away from being a NYT Bestseller, haha). I’ve yet to do a major marketing push for any of the books aside from Instagram. I’m waiting until the second AP is released so I have a series to sell with Death Row in my catalogue as well. But having gotten virtually all positive feedback on my work so far, most of which from strangers, I consider that a success.
When did you start writing Death Row and what inspired the storyline?
Being an artist/creative is a very difficult thing in today’s world. The main character of the story is an imprisoned painter who spends much of his time in solitude, painting and thinking, as many artists prefer. It’s a bit of a parallel to the artists we see sitting behind desks all day, too tired to pursue their art when they can.
What would you coin as your own writing technique?
I tend to get right to the point. People don’t have time or want to spend the time reading a five page description about a tree-those days are over. And when there’s character development, I tend to wrap it in a scene where there’s humor surrounding it to give the scene more pep. So short and sweet.
Which authors have inspired your writing?
Tolkien. Rowling. GRRM...to name a few.
What future writing goals do you have planned?
American Parable will be 5 books, the first three of which will be its own movement, each book coming out a year apart. I have a new series in the works, and I’d love to do a fantasy series one day as well. I think in between these novels I’ll continue to write smaller literary pieces as I did with Death Row.
Katy Upperman Q and A - Author of Kissing Max Holden
What made you want to become an author?
I’ve always loved reading (Judy Blume is my lifelong favorite author), though it didn’t occur to me to pursue writing as a career until 2008, about a year after my daughter was born. I’d been a teacher up until that point and while I loved staying home with my girlie, I missed the sense of community that comes with working. I was also desperate for a creative outlet. I picked up Twilight on a whim, then fell headfirst into the compulsively readable saga of Edward and Bella. It was such a fun literary experience, I felt inspired to try writing myself. My first manuscript was a contemporary young adult romance that was way too long and severely lacking in plot. It ended up going nowhere (thank goodness!), but the act of writing brought me such joy. I’ve been hooked ever since!
How long did it take for you to write Kissing Max Holden?
This is sort of a loaded question. Kissing Max Holden was my second manuscript, and also my fifth. The first time I wrote it, the draft took about two months to complete, followed by a few more months of revising. I queried, hoping to find agent representation, but the story just wasn’t strong enough. I trunked it to work on new projects, but Jilly and Max kept calling out to me. Eventually, I revisited the manuscript, but ended up throwing out everything but the main characters in favor of a new and improved storyline. So, from very first words to publication, Kissing Max Holden turned out to be an eight year (!!!) project.
Do you have any future writing plans and if so what are they?
My sophomore novel, The Impossibility of Us, a contemporary YA about a California girl who falls for an Afghan boy, will release July 31, 2018, so my most immediate plan is to drum up excitement about this new book that I love so much. Beyond that, I want to keep writing for as long as I feel passionate about story and character. I want to continue learning and improving my craft. I want to produce work I’m proud of, and hopefully sell that work to publishers who will put it in the hands of young adults (and young adults at heart!).
What has been the most difficult thing about being an author?
Letting go of the work. Once a book is published, it no longer belongs to the author; it belongs to readers. Still, I’m such an approval seeking people pleaser, I sometimes find myself hoping everyone will adore my book baby as much as I do. Unfortunately, that’s not reality; even the most beloved novels have their haters! Learning to free the story once it hits shelves and making peace with the fact that my books won’t be for all readers has been a hard fought battle, but I think I’m getting there. Hearing from readers who connect with the story definitely helps!
What has been your favourite thing?
The most thrilling experience so far was the first time I saw Kissing Max Holden in a bookstore. Though I’d dreamed about that moment for years, I was not prepared for how amazing it would be. Also, receiving messages from readers about how they relate to Jilly or swoon over Max or couldn’t help but bake cookies when they were done reading is pretty special. It’s humbling and amazing when someone tells me that they can’t wait to read what I write next.
What is your goal as a writer and, simply, a person?
My goal is to produce high quality work, while striving to be a gracious and compassionate person. (I keep thinking on this question, trying to come up with something more eloquent or verbose, but it’s really that simple: I want to do my best, and be my best.)
I’ve always loved reading (Judy Blume is my lifelong favorite author), though it didn’t occur to me to pursue writing as a career until 2008, about a year after my daughter was born. I’d been a teacher up until that point and while I loved staying home with my girlie, I missed the sense of community that comes with working. I was also desperate for a creative outlet. I picked up Twilight on a whim, then fell headfirst into the compulsively readable saga of Edward and Bella. It was such a fun literary experience, I felt inspired to try writing myself. My first manuscript was a contemporary young adult romance that was way too long and severely lacking in plot. It ended up going nowhere (thank goodness!), but the act of writing brought me such joy. I’ve been hooked ever since!
How long did it take for you to write Kissing Max Holden?
This is sort of a loaded question. Kissing Max Holden was my second manuscript, and also my fifth. The first time I wrote it, the draft took about two months to complete, followed by a few more months of revising. I queried, hoping to find agent representation, but the story just wasn’t strong enough. I trunked it to work on new projects, but Jilly and Max kept calling out to me. Eventually, I revisited the manuscript, but ended up throwing out everything but the main characters in favor of a new and improved storyline. So, from very first words to publication, Kissing Max Holden turned out to be an eight year (!!!) project.
Do you have any future writing plans and if so what are they?
My sophomore novel, The Impossibility of Us, a contemporary YA about a California girl who falls for an Afghan boy, will release July 31, 2018, so my most immediate plan is to drum up excitement about this new book that I love so much. Beyond that, I want to keep writing for as long as I feel passionate about story and character. I want to continue learning and improving my craft. I want to produce work I’m proud of, and hopefully sell that work to publishers who will put it in the hands of young adults (and young adults at heart!).
What has been the most difficult thing about being an author?
Letting go of the work. Once a book is published, it no longer belongs to the author; it belongs to readers. Still, I’m such an approval seeking people pleaser, I sometimes find myself hoping everyone will adore my book baby as much as I do. Unfortunately, that’s not reality; even the most beloved novels have their haters! Learning to free the story once it hits shelves and making peace with the fact that my books won’t be for all readers has been a hard fought battle, but I think I’m getting there. Hearing from readers who connect with the story definitely helps!
What has been your favourite thing?
The most thrilling experience so far was the first time I saw Kissing Max Holden in a bookstore. Though I’d dreamed about that moment for years, I was not prepared for how amazing it would be. Also, receiving messages from readers about how they relate to Jilly or swoon over Max or couldn’t help but bake cookies when they were done reading is pretty special. It’s humbling and amazing when someone tells me that they can’t wait to read what I write next.
What is your goal as a writer and, simply, a person?
My goal is to produce high quality work, while striving to be a gracious and compassionate person. (I keep thinking on this question, trying to come up with something more eloquent or verbose, but it’s really that simple: I want to do my best, and be my best.)
Sadia Q and A - Dundurn Press Blog Tour
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The biggest obstacle with this book was ensuring I wrote the voice of a Muslim teenager accurately. It was a risk, but I think worth it. I learned so much about Muslim culture through research and talking to students and friends.
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When did you start writing? I’ve been writing for about twelve years. When my first son was a baby, I decided to take a course at the Manitoba Writers Guild on writing books for children. One of our assignments was to write the first chapter of a young adult novel. When the course finished, I kept working on the book. It took five years but that book finally got published as Tori by Design in 2011. Thankfully, I write my books much faster now. What inspired your writing? I love the idea of giving voice to characters readers don’t see or hear from much in young adult literature. I’ve written a lot about children growing up in rough circumstances, or facing problems that I think need to be recognized as areas for discussion. Sadia began when one of my students was having trouble finding books with Muslim characters. At the time, there wasn’t much out there, except for Deborah Ellis’ Breadwinner series. While Sadia is Muslim and her cultural identity features largely in the book, she’s also a tomboy, an athlete and a teenager grappling with shifting sands of friendship. How long did it take for you to write Sadia and what inspired the storyline? I wrote the first draft of Sadia very quickly, in under six weeks. It was the summer and my kids were at camp. All of a sudden I had hours every day to write. I came across an article about a junior high girls’ basketball team who were mostly Muslim players. In order to play, they had special uniforms sewn for them that respected hijab. I used that article as the jumping off point for the book. After the first draft was finished, I gave it to a friend to read. Nadia is Muslim and pointed out inaccuracies, but also places in the book where my misconceptions had snuck in. I did more rewrites and then sent it to Dundurn. I was overjoyed when they accepted it and excited to see a book I passionately believe in reach publication. Did you encounter any obstacle in writing? If so, explain. The biggest obstacle with this book was ensuring I wrote the voice of a Muslim teenager accurately. It was a risk, but I think worth it. I learned so much about Muslim culture through research and talking to students and friends. The other obstacle was Sadia’s age. I’d initially written her as a middle school student, but Dundurn was hoping for an older audience. During editing, I changed her from grade six to grade nine. It’s only three years, but what a difference in makes in the way the character sees herself and sees the world. Given a tight editing timeline, it was a push and I basically locked myself in the spare bedroom/my office working for two weeks straight. What message would you like your novel to portray? Acceptance, definitely. These days we have too many reports of intolerance and a lot of it is due to ignorance about other cultures or fear. Sadia is forced to stand up for herself when discriminatory rules about her headscarf disallow her from playing in a basketball tournament. My favourite scene in the book is when the rest of her team stands up for her too. What are your future writing plans? I have another book coming out in May with Yellow Dog Books. It’s called Pulse Point and I wrote it with my sister. It’s dystopian, which is a new genre for me. Kaia lives in world where citizens have to produce the energy they consume. As soon as a person can’t produce enough energy, they are killed. When Kaia learns the mother she thought was dead is alive, she escapes the City to find her and discovered secrets about the world she thought she knew. |
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A 'Hot Topic' Author
By Biblio Virgo
A recent self-published author has entered the YA contemporary genre.
At the age of 26, living in Syracuse, Utah, she has published four novels to date: Swallow, The Openers, Stereo, and her most recent, Seven Cities. Knowing she most likely wouldn’t be able to make a living off of writing books she had worked on achieving an English major at Weber State University to expand her education. Due to mental illness these plans did not come through. She is now an assistant manager at Hot Topic said she loves working with her employees and “geeking-out” over new product.
Meet Jayna Ostler.
“I think the very first story I ever wrote was in fourth grade. About a giant snake at my elementary school getting locked up in a cage or something. I've always enjoyed stories and my mom got me into reading at a young age. In high school, a few of my friends called me ‘my friend writing a book’ and I let a lot of people read my ridiculous stories about ‘hot guys in bands’ and ‘extra hot vampires.’ Thankfully.... those stories will never be completed or shown to the public,” said Ostler.
After high school she continued writing.
“A roomate I had while working in Yellowstone, the summer after I graduated, told me about NaNoWriMo since I was writing a story in a notebook in our kitchen. I was intrigued by the idea and when I moved home, before starting college, I slaved away with 1667 words a day for the entire month. That was the very first time I finished writing a book in its entirety,” said Ostler.
Since then Ostler said she has become an annual participant in NaNoWriMo and NaNoWriMo writing camps. She said she has predominately written YA contemporary because this is her preferred genre.
“I try really hard to write about real things, even if they are very hard things to talk about. Struggles with mental illness are very prevalent in two of my novels which was very therapeutic for me to write. I try to bring a lot of LGBTG+ representation into my work as well, but I am trying to step up my game with that as well,” said Ostler.
As a self-published author, Ostler said her biggest difficulty was not getting paid which can be disappointing because self-publishing takes a lot of work from cover design to editing bodies of text. She said a few of her books are being sold in local Syracuse bookstores but she constantly has to remind the stores to give her her percent share. Although this is an obstacle it does not damper her spirits.
“Write everywhere. Write every day. Even if it's simply jotting down ideas for stories, traits of people for characters, or good conversation you want to turn into dialogue, write every day. I always carry a notebook in my bag with me and a few spare pens,” said Ostler. “It's helped me remember crucial details to stories and helps me to avoid boredom when I'm in a waiting room. Write bad. A first draft is called a rough draft for a reason. Nothing has to be perfect the first time around and not everything will be perfect the 100th time around and that's perfectly okay. Every bad piece of writing is practice for a better story.”
Ostler said she is currently working on a sequel to Stereo called Records and is also working on a novel based in Utah surrounding the topic of LGBTQ+.
More to come from this YA author.
Books of Bronx
By Biblio Virgo
The state of New York is not just for business people clad in suit and ties carrying brief cases.
Living in Bronx, New York, Cornelius Moore is the author of The Club which was published in August of 2016. At 47, he works as a technical recruiter in the city of Manhattan, living with his wife and one daughter. Moore said he has been successful as an author, but has not made enough profit to make a living off of just writing. He said his main interests lay in the written word and reading.
“I actually started writing when I was a teenager but I found the things I was writing were very juvenile and underdeveloped. I decided not to write until I felt I was mature enough to write competent stories. It wasn’t until my early 30s when I felt more complex and well-rounded stories came to me. That’s when it started becoming my passion,” said Moore.
Through his writing, Moore said it gives him freedom that he cannot find through anything else. His first and only novel so far, The Club, an adult crime/drama, actually started as a screen play. He said he has not written any other screen plays because his main focus has drifted to novels.
Moore decided to take the self-publishing route with Create Space and said he did not encounter any obstacles in this journey. Since 2016 he said he has sold about 200 copies.
“Two events inspired me to write this story. The first one was when Bornie Madoff was arrested for his massive Ponzi scheme and fleeced people out of hundreds of million dollars. The second one was a story I read in the New York Times about how rich people struggle when the economy is down,” said Moore.
On top of the 200 copies sold, Moore said he has 60 good reviews on Amazon with people still reading the novel.
Moore said he is currently working on a four-book series called Crimes and Passions. He said he is also planning on writing a sequel to The Club which will incorporate familiar characters throughout all novels.
As an author he said he loves the ability to use his imagination.
“Everything and everyone is fair game on the page. I have no fear when I am writing.”
Living in Bronx, New York, Cornelius Moore is the author of The Club which was published in August of 2016. At 47, he works as a technical recruiter in the city of Manhattan, living with his wife and one daughter. Moore said he has been successful as an author, but has not made enough profit to make a living off of just writing. He said his main interests lay in the written word and reading.
“I actually started writing when I was a teenager but I found the things I was writing were very juvenile and underdeveloped. I decided not to write until I felt I was mature enough to write competent stories. It wasn’t until my early 30s when I felt more complex and well-rounded stories came to me. That’s when it started becoming my passion,” said Moore.
Through his writing, Moore said it gives him freedom that he cannot find through anything else. His first and only novel so far, The Club, an adult crime/drama, actually started as a screen play. He said he has not written any other screen plays because his main focus has drifted to novels.
Moore decided to take the self-publishing route with Create Space and said he did not encounter any obstacles in this journey. Since 2016 he said he has sold about 200 copies.
“Two events inspired me to write this story. The first one was when Bornie Madoff was arrested for his massive Ponzi scheme and fleeced people out of hundreds of million dollars. The second one was a story I read in the New York Times about how rich people struggle when the economy is down,” said Moore.
On top of the 200 copies sold, Moore said he has 60 good reviews on Amazon with people still reading the novel.
Moore said he is currently working on a four-book series called Crimes and Passions. He said he is also planning on writing a sequel to The Club which will incorporate familiar characters throughout all novels.
As an author he said he loves the ability to use his imagination.
“Everything and everyone is fair game on the page. I have no fear when I am writing.”
Dream it
By Biblio Virgo
Age does not limit success.
At 17 years old, a senior in highschool, Brittney Kristina has managed to write her first published book Forsaken. As a young author she is also a dedicated student involved in varsity swim team, water polo team and being editor for her school newspaper.
Sociality is a strong suit for Kristina. She said even if people do not know her name they know who she is, a writer. Kristina said her favourite things to do between classes are listening to music, reading and writing stories.
“I’ve always loved to write,” said Kristina. “The moment I held a pencil, I just sort of knew. When I truly discovered my ability to write, I was nine. I had written my first book (about 60 pages of a spiral notebook) called Snow Cats. I presented it to my fourth grade teacher, and she didn’t believe me at first. But she scanned over it and I remember looking at her face - her eyes lit up, a broad smile emerging into view.”
It is suffice to say Kristina was born with the ability to write. Eight years later she has developed her writings from 60 pages of a notebook to 250 pages of a novel. Although she did not publish any works before Forsaken, Kristina said she wrote about 13 books which ended up in the garbage after completion.
“I actually wrote Forsaken twice. It took me about eight months the first time, but then six months later I took it down and perfected it. It took me about 10 months the second time. I suppose you can call me a perfectionist when it comes to my writing,” said Kristina.
She said there were several obstacles within the writing process due to being a senior in highschool. She said there were many distractions which came with being a teenager such as recognition of peers, “boys” and education.
“I think my biggest issue was finding the time to sit down and write it. Eventually though, I got into this groove and I wrote about five hours a day,” said Kristina.
The story line for Forsaken came to Kristina when she was 14 through a dream. Despite the three-year-gap she said she still clearly remembers what happened.
“In the dream, me and this boy with long blonde hair traveled a vacant world, clouded with blue mist. At the end of the dream, he told me he would find me one day and I truly believe he meant Forsaken would find me,” said Kristina.
As soon as she woke from the dream she grabbed her journal and wrote down every detail. At the time she was working on a different story, letting the dream lie dormant between the journal’s pages until she was 15. Not long after, she resuscitated the memory, forming her dystopian novel, which has been selling well.
“I get one or two random people purchasing Forsaken each month, but that’s enough for me right now. I see one purchase and a smile sits on my face for a while. My best month was August of this year - I sold nine books,” said Kristina.
She is currently working on a second novel called 50 Days. She said she hopes this book will further envelope her in the world of writing, but she will not stop there. Kristina said she would also like to become a motivational speaker who writes non-fiction books for teenagers and teaches writing courses. Her ultimate goal though, is to become a trauma psychologist and write books on the side. Big things are coming.
“In the end, being young isn’t an excuse. Do you want to achieve something? Then do it now, don’t wait for a college degree… Life is too short to wander among a path with no destination,” said Kristina.
“Put that phone away, make some coffee and write.”
At 17 years old, a senior in highschool, Brittney Kristina has managed to write her first published book Forsaken. As a young author she is also a dedicated student involved in varsity swim team, water polo team and being editor for her school newspaper.
Sociality is a strong suit for Kristina. She said even if people do not know her name they know who she is, a writer. Kristina said her favourite things to do between classes are listening to music, reading and writing stories.
“I’ve always loved to write,” said Kristina. “The moment I held a pencil, I just sort of knew. When I truly discovered my ability to write, I was nine. I had written my first book (about 60 pages of a spiral notebook) called Snow Cats. I presented it to my fourth grade teacher, and she didn’t believe me at first. But she scanned over it and I remember looking at her face - her eyes lit up, a broad smile emerging into view.”
It is suffice to say Kristina was born with the ability to write. Eight years later she has developed her writings from 60 pages of a notebook to 250 pages of a novel. Although she did not publish any works before Forsaken, Kristina said she wrote about 13 books which ended up in the garbage after completion.
“I actually wrote Forsaken twice. It took me about eight months the first time, but then six months later I took it down and perfected it. It took me about 10 months the second time. I suppose you can call me a perfectionist when it comes to my writing,” said Kristina.
She said there were several obstacles within the writing process due to being a senior in highschool. She said there were many distractions which came with being a teenager such as recognition of peers, “boys” and education.
“I think my biggest issue was finding the time to sit down and write it. Eventually though, I got into this groove and I wrote about five hours a day,” said Kristina.
The story line for Forsaken came to Kristina when she was 14 through a dream. Despite the three-year-gap she said she still clearly remembers what happened.
“In the dream, me and this boy with long blonde hair traveled a vacant world, clouded with blue mist. At the end of the dream, he told me he would find me one day and I truly believe he meant Forsaken would find me,” said Kristina.
As soon as she woke from the dream she grabbed her journal and wrote down every detail. At the time she was working on a different story, letting the dream lie dormant between the journal’s pages until she was 15. Not long after, she resuscitated the memory, forming her dystopian novel, which has been selling well.
“I get one or two random people purchasing Forsaken each month, but that’s enough for me right now. I see one purchase and a smile sits on my face for a while. My best month was August of this year - I sold nine books,” said Kristina.
She is currently working on a second novel called 50 Days. She said she hopes this book will further envelope her in the world of writing, but she will not stop there. Kristina said she would also like to become a motivational speaker who writes non-fiction books for teenagers and teaches writing courses. Her ultimate goal though, is to become a trauma psychologist and write books on the side. Big things are coming.
“In the end, being young isn’t an excuse. Do you want to achieve something? Then do it now, don’t wait for a college degree… Life is too short to wander among a path with no destination,” said Kristina.
“Put that phone away, make some coffee and write.”
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Something Unexpected
By Biblio Virgo
Life is not about where you start, but where you end, and all the things in between.
Author and mother, Kirsten Fullmer, was born in Oregon, United States. Upon graduating from high school, Fullmer had decided to get married and had two children. Unfortunately, things did not remain this way.
At 24, Fullmer was a divorced, single mom without education and cleaned hotel rooms to make a living. In time, she met her second husband where she had two more children and was able to go back to school to become a structural draftsman, a person who applies minor electrical and structural calculations to buildings.
In due time, Fullmer’s work payed off. She said she acquired her own consulting business and would travel nationwide, and sometimes even globally, to teach 3D structural machinery software.
Though Fullmer had a successful career as a draftsman, her retirement brought a career all in its own.
“People always told me I was a storyteller… I passed my stories among friends and family who encourage me to continue writing,” said Fullmer. “I was nearly 50 years old when I wrote and published my first novel, and I did not expect to find a whole new career that I would love.”
And so it began. Fullmer wrote and published all three books of Shabby Chic Trilogy within four years.
“While writing book three, Shabby Chic Forever, I pulled the first two books from my initial publisher and found a new publisher who would give me more control over distribution,” said Fullmer.
The books were then redesigned and officially published in 2016.
Fullmer said due to an illness she sometimes finds writing difficult. Lines of thought are left incomplete and she said she lacks concentration. Her biggest challenge though, Fullmer said, was the death of her daughter in March 2016.
“It was very sudden and found it extremely difficult to find the inspiration to do much of anything, let alone writing,” said Fullmer.
Despite this difficult time, Fullmer said the sales for her books were always increasing. 4000 books are currently circulating the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Australia, Brazil and Japan.
It does not stop there. Fullmer just published a new book, Love On The Line, on June 17, 2017.
“The story was inspired by the tales I heard at the dinner table as my husband and daughter recounted their days at work,” said Fullmer. “I’ve been considering writing a series of books about women working in male dominated fields, like I did in drafting, so this book seemed a great place to start.”
Like Shabby Chic Trilogy, and now her new novel, Fullmer said she wishes to continue writing stories about women who try to keep their lives in order, even when men try to intervene.
Are there more books to come? Wait and find out.
Author and mother, Kirsten Fullmer, was born in Oregon, United States. Upon graduating from high school, Fullmer had decided to get married and had two children. Unfortunately, things did not remain this way.
At 24, Fullmer was a divorced, single mom without education and cleaned hotel rooms to make a living. In time, she met her second husband where she had two more children and was able to go back to school to become a structural draftsman, a person who applies minor electrical and structural calculations to buildings.
In due time, Fullmer’s work payed off. She said she acquired her own consulting business and would travel nationwide, and sometimes even globally, to teach 3D structural machinery software.
Though Fullmer had a successful career as a draftsman, her retirement brought a career all in its own.
“People always told me I was a storyteller… I passed my stories among friends and family who encourage me to continue writing,” said Fullmer. “I was nearly 50 years old when I wrote and published my first novel, and I did not expect to find a whole new career that I would love.”
And so it began. Fullmer wrote and published all three books of Shabby Chic Trilogy within four years.
“While writing book three, Shabby Chic Forever, I pulled the first two books from my initial publisher and found a new publisher who would give me more control over distribution,” said Fullmer.
The books were then redesigned and officially published in 2016.
Fullmer said due to an illness she sometimes finds writing difficult. Lines of thought are left incomplete and she said she lacks concentration. Her biggest challenge though, Fullmer said, was the death of her daughter in March 2016.
“It was very sudden and found it extremely difficult to find the inspiration to do much of anything, let alone writing,” said Fullmer.
Despite this difficult time, Fullmer said the sales for her books were always increasing. 4000 books are currently circulating the U.S., Great Britain, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Australia, Brazil and Japan.
It does not stop there. Fullmer just published a new book, Love On The Line, on June 17, 2017.
“The story was inspired by the tales I heard at the dinner table as my husband and daughter recounted their days at work,” said Fullmer. “I’ve been considering writing a series of books about women working in male dominated fields, like I did in drafting, so this book seemed a great place to start.”
Like Shabby Chic Trilogy, and now her new novel, Fullmer said she wishes to continue writing stories about women who try to keep their lives in order, even when men try to intervene.
Are there more books to come? Wait and find out.
Divine Inspiration
By Biblio Virgo
People discover their creativity differently. For some people it is present from birth. For others it is meshed over time.
Tarah Burrell, author of Disciple, is from North Georgia Mountains. She started writing in her teenage years, though it was not words of literature, but music.
Years later, Burrell became a mother and she said this is when her creativity really started to shine.
“You could say I was ‘divinely’ inspired. I had a thought, and I strongly felt this thought was tied to God. I felt the emotion so greatly that I began to create a story around it. This gave birth to writing an actual book,” said Burrell.
With one book of the trilogy published, Disciple, she is now working on the sequel.
“'Disciple' is a young-adult, paranormal romance novel, based out of Savannah, Georgia. I have a very big love for that city. It only made sense to create the story line around it,” said Burrell. “I put a lot of myself into Brynn, the lead character, in the way that she is an artist. She has just begun her first year in college, when she meets 'The One', in Brandon, her classmate. There's something in him that she recognizes, and just madly falls for. In the meantime, Savannah being the sort of place that it is, eery things begin to happen to her. Very scary occurrences pop up in her life, and she meets both angels and demons alike.”
In respect to publication she said she chose self-publishing because finding an “accepting” agent in a large publishing house can be tricky, though this was not the only thing.
Writer’s block also posed as an obstacle when writing her novel.
“It’s actually where I am right now. I have also found that creating dialogue is tough. A woman in her mid thirties doesn’t always have the advantage of what a teenager Brynn’s age is experiencing, or her thoughts and mannerisms. I had a rough time with that,” said Burrell.
As Burrell continues to write the trilogy she said she is also working on a new story she started.
“So, stay tuned.”
Tarah Burrell, author of Disciple, is from North Georgia Mountains. She started writing in her teenage years, though it was not words of literature, but music.
Years later, Burrell became a mother and she said this is when her creativity really started to shine.
“You could say I was ‘divinely’ inspired. I had a thought, and I strongly felt this thought was tied to God. I felt the emotion so greatly that I began to create a story around it. This gave birth to writing an actual book,” said Burrell.
With one book of the trilogy published, Disciple, she is now working on the sequel.
“'Disciple' is a young-adult, paranormal romance novel, based out of Savannah, Georgia. I have a very big love for that city. It only made sense to create the story line around it,” said Burrell. “I put a lot of myself into Brynn, the lead character, in the way that she is an artist. She has just begun her first year in college, when she meets 'The One', in Brandon, her classmate. There's something in him that she recognizes, and just madly falls for. In the meantime, Savannah being the sort of place that it is, eery things begin to happen to her. Very scary occurrences pop up in her life, and she meets both angels and demons alike.”
In respect to publication she said she chose self-publishing because finding an “accepting” agent in a large publishing house can be tricky, though this was not the only thing.
Writer’s block also posed as an obstacle when writing her novel.
“It’s actually where I am right now. I have also found that creating dialogue is tough. A woman in her mid thirties doesn’t always have the advantage of what a teenager Brynn’s age is experiencing, or her thoughts and mannerisms. I had a rough time with that,” said Burrell.
As Burrell continues to write the trilogy she said she is also working on a new story she started.
“So, stay tuned.”
The evolution of grief
By Biblio Virgo
It is common for grief to act as a roadblock in people’s lives. Something traumatic happens and a person can shut down, unable to continue in daily habits. Or a person can use the trauma to their advantage, developing emotion into success. This proves true for new author T. R. Kester.
Born and raised in Adelaide South Australia Kester was forced to discover his writing abilities through grief. In 2005 his older brother died, which pushed Kester to become an author.
Kester’s original purpose behind writing was self-therapy.
“I was not able to process the grief of the situation productively so my high school counsellor suggested I should start a journal. The journal never eventuated and I began writing short stories about witches and all things fantasy,” said Kester.
It was later in 2015 when things started to fall into place. Kester’s partner Neil saw an article in a local paper saying that an Adelaide Hills publisher was starting his own company.
“He was looking for new authors to publish,” said Kester. “I entered his writer’s competition and was a runner up to the winner.”
After 10 years of hard work Kester had published his first novel Something Wicked, in the same year, 2015. He said he hopes to release its sequel, Something Secret, soon and is currently working on the fourth installment.
Something Wicked is about a lineage of three witches known as the Pogue brothers. The witches are faced with many domineering enemies to fight in order to save the human race.
“The journey has been interesting. I have drawn so much on my emotions that once I got published I suddenly felt like I had completed my grieving of my brother’s passing.”
Kester’s plan is to write as many books as possible for the series. More books are to come.
Born and raised in Adelaide South Australia Kester was forced to discover his writing abilities through grief. In 2005 his older brother died, which pushed Kester to become an author.
Kester’s original purpose behind writing was self-therapy.
“I was not able to process the grief of the situation productively so my high school counsellor suggested I should start a journal. The journal never eventuated and I began writing short stories about witches and all things fantasy,” said Kester.
It was later in 2015 when things started to fall into place. Kester’s partner Neil saw an article in a local paper saying that an Adelaide Hills publisher was starting his own company.
“He was looking for new authors to publish,” said Kester. “I entered his writer’s competition and was a runner up to the winner.”
After 10 years of hard work Kester had published his first novel Something Wicked, in the same year, 2015. He said he hopes to release its sequel, Something Secret, soon and is currently working on the fourth installment.
Something Wicked is about a lineage of three witches known as the Pogue brothers. The witches are faced with many domineering enemies to fight in order to save the human race.
“The journey has been interesting. I have drawn so much on my emotions that once I got published I suddenly felt like I had completed my grieving of my brother’s passing.”
Kester’s plan is to write as many books as possible for the series. More books are to come.
The journey continues
By Biblio Virgo
By Biblio Virgo
A new book will be joining the literature world this coming fall, 2017.
Mary Castillo, hometown author of National City, a suburb in San Diego, has decided to continue on in her story of Dori Orihuela.
Castillo said her novel Lost in the Light received the best feedback from readers and was the fastest to earn out. Earn out means making profit by earning what you invested.
“For readers who want ‘everything books’ - romance, mystery, drama, history and a touch of the paranormal - Lost in the Light was a hit. It is a book that hardcore mystery or romance readers have enjoyed,” said Castillo.
Lost in the Light revolves around detective Dori who was relieved of duty for a period of time due to a gunshot wound. In the meantime Dori purchases a grandiose, victorian historical home that she renovates to make her own. Throughout the novel Dori discovers the home is haunted by the ghost of Vicente. With many conversations and visions, Dori learns Vicente’s dark story.
After Lost in the Light was published, Castillo continued on with an ebook called Girl in the Mist. From there she will now publish Lost in Whispers where Dori continues to speak with ghosts.
15 novels and novellas written and 11 published, Castillo has made a career with writing in publishing, advertising, journalism, public relations and social media.
Not every path starts out smooth though.
Before endorsing herself in writing, Castillo nearly failed college. She was majoring in history with a track in pre-med.
“I decided that I was going to be a writer and I remember that day so well, because as I walked to the chemistry class I was failing, the sky was brighter and the birds sang and there were no limits to what I could do,” said Castillo.
She said that passing the class with a D was a sign that she was heading in the right direction, which lead Castillo to writing “the book she always wanted to write”.
“Writing a novel is a commitment,” said Castillo. “But it is one I can’t imagine not doing.”
A new book will be joining the literature world this coming fall, 2017.
Mary Castillo, hometown author of National City, a suburb in San Diego, has decided to continue on in her story of Dori Orihuela.
Castillo said her novel Lost in the Light received the best feedback from readers and was the fastest to earn out. Earn out means making profit by earning what you invested.
“For readers who want ‘everything books’ - romance, mystery, drama, history and a touch of the paranormal - Lost in the Light was a hit. It is a book that hardcore mystery or romance readers have enjoyed,” said Castillo.
Lost in the Light revolves around detective Dori who was relieved of duty for a period of time due to a gunshot wound. In the meantime Dori purchases a grandiose, victorian historical home that she renovates to make her own. Throughout the novel Dori discovers the home is haunted by the ghost of Vicente. With many conversations and visions, Dori learns Vicente’s dark story.
After Lost in the Light was published, Castillo continued on with an ebook called Girl in the Mist. From there she will now publish Lost in Whispers where Dori continues to speak with ghosts.
15 novels and novellas written and 11 published, Castillo has made a career with writing in publishing, advertising, journalism, public relations and social media.
Not every path starts out smooth though.
Before endorsing herself in writing, Castillo nearly failed college. She was majoring in history with a track in pre-med.
“I decided that I was going to be a writer and I remember that day so well, because as I walked to the chemistry class I was failing, the sky was brighter and the birds sang and there were no limits to what I could do,” said Castillo.
She said that passing the class with a D was a sign that she was heading in the right direction, which lead Castillo to writing “the book she always wanted to write”.
“Writing a novel is a commitment,” said Castillo. “But it is one I can’t imagine not doing.”
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Once a writer always a writer
By Biblio Virgo
This interview is with author of Concordant, Izzy Almaz.
1) When did your career of writing begin and what inspired this passion?
I guess I’ve always been a writer. My father’s a teacher and he placed a lot of emphasis on academia while I was growing up. He would always read to me before bed, and encourage me to do writing or art based activities in my spare time. He’d even make me paint a picture, or write a story or journal entry before I was allowed to watch Saturday morning cartoons.
This definitely sparked my passion for the written word. I’ve always found that writing my thoughts down helps me to process them, and also learn more about myself. I’ve kept journals for as long as I can remember and I’ve always loved reading. I was an absolute bookworm as a child. My favorite room in our house was the library, where I would spend hours engrossed in stories, mostly classics or ancient Greek myths and legends.
I didn’t really start writing fiction until recently. My little sister was always the creative writer of the family. She’d always be writing these fantastic stories, plays and songs. I was a bit of a nerd, I guess. I was a very shy teen. I focused on my schoolwork and sport and left the creative stuff up to her.
I moved to America when I was 19 though, on a soccer scholarship, and that gained me some confidence and life experience. With that, came a barrage of stories that I desperately want to share with the world.
2) Were there any obstacles in getting to where you are today, with a published novella? If so, what were they?
I think my biggest obstacle was my own self-doubt. Once I decided to write a book, I struggled to get started because I was so down with the work I was initially producing. I spent so much time over thinking what people would think of my writing, I was too nervous to show my writing to anyone to critique, I stressed about all the little things and because of that, it took me ages to get the story out.
Once I’d finished the draft for ‘Concordant’, I had to deal with all that self-doubt all over again when sending it to people to read. It was nerve-racking waiting for people to give me feedback, and then once I got it, I had to overcome my ego being bruised. Receiving criticism was hard at first, and it usually took a few days for people’s comments and ideas to sink in and for me to go from ‘pfft, they don’t know what they’re talking about’ to ‘okay they have a really valid point, I need to edit my work’.
Actually getting my novella published was another obstacle. Querying agents was terrifying at first, and while the first few rejections stung, it made me realize I might have to change my game plan if I wanted to get my work out there. I had a few friends who had self-published books, so I gathered as much information as I could and decided to self-publish my work.
3) Why and how did you choose the genre of dystopia for your novella?
I’ve always enjoyed science-fiction movies, or basically any story with futuristic setting, because I really like to entertain questions like: What kind of world will the future bring? What kinds of technological advancements will be available to us? And more importantly, how will they impact our society, and how will it change us as humans?
Before I wrote the novella ‘Concordant’, I had a vague story idea that I’d imagined I’d write as an action screenplay. One day, when I was working as a chef, I spilled a pot of boiling sauce on my arm and had to take nearly six weeks off so my burns could recover. During that time, I read The Hunger Games and the Divergent trilogies and those books allowed me to reimagine my vague story idea in a dystopian setting. Reading those YA books also sparked in me a desire to write stories that represent minorities, particularly LGBTQ+ characters, so while I had time off work, I started writing ‘Concordant’.
4) How did you come up with the title ‘Concordant’?
I really like one-word titles, I’m not sure why, maybe I’m lazy! I like minimalism, and I like the thought of finding one, single word that sums up the whole vibe of a book or film.
I actually never thought I’d call the novella Concordant, but at the time, I needed some sort of title because people kept asking me what I was working on, and I also like to label my notebooks, so there was a need for a title of some sort.
Concordant means to be amicable, or harmonious, and I thought that it best described the social and political environment that ‘Concordant’ is set in. As I continued to develop the story, I realised the title kind of applies to Romy’s relationships, particularly with Richard. So, it stuck!
5) What was your writing process like? Did you have a plan? How did you choose the setting of New York?
Normally, I just write and see where it takes me, but when I decided I wanted to write a complete story, I realised (much to my dismay) that considerable planning and preparation would have to take place. I started by getting the plot out of my head by handwriting it all in a notebook. From there, I developed the ideas and characters, broke the story down into chapter-like segments, and then tried to start writing from the beginning.
I never realised how much planning goes into writing books! I did so much plotting and scribbling. I ended up finding a technique that worked well for me using an assortment of sticky notes to arrange chapter numbers and plot points. That way, I could shuffle my chapters and ideas around as needed. This was the easiest way for me to keep track of all the changes that came as the story developed. At times, characters appeared out of nowhere, or I’d think of a great piece of dialogue but found it didn’t fit where I wanted it to so I’d slot it into a later chapter.
The same goes for locations and settings. There are a bunch of fictional cafes and restaurants in ‘Concordant’ and keeping track of them all took a whole lot of planning. I chose the setting of New York because I initially wanted Richard to work on Wall Street, but as his character and the story developed, he became the CEO of Halcyon Entertainment. I considered setting the story in Australia, perhaps in Melbourne or Sydney, but ultimately I felt the story belonged in New York City. Though I’ve never been to New York, my experiences from living in America gave birth to the story and shaped the social landscape that’s present in ‘Concordant’, so I felt like the story belonged there.
6) How did you create the main character Romy? What inspired her personality?
At the risk of sounding like a complete narcissist, Romy is based on myself. Being a queer person of mixed race, I’ve never really fully identified with any characters represented in mainstream literature. My solution to this was creating a main character that looks exactly like me! But in all seriousness, I think diversity and accurate, authentic representation is really important, and it’s something I strive to include in all of my work.
I came up with Romy’s character when I was working at a cafe that’s located close to the CBD, and I would spend a few hours each morning hidden behind a bar making bread dough. While I was kneading away, I would watch and listen to all the customers and, in particular, I’d notice the regulars from the offices nearby. There would be a few guys who’d come in multiple times each day with different clients and I’d find it so fascinating to watch how their mannerisms and behaviors changed each time, flawlessly adapting to their client’s individual wants or needs. That gave me the idea for Romy’s character, and a way to introduce her to Richard.
Romy’s personality was inspired by most, if not all, of my bad traits. As journal writing has always been a reflective exercise for me, it seemed only natural that this extended into my fictional writing as well. I enjoy basing my main characters on myself and using them to analyze my own behaviors. In Romy’s case, I was inspired by my ambitious and materialistic tendencies. I wrote her as a kind of critique on myself.
7) What made you decide on a cliffhanger ending and what can you tell the readers to tie loose ends? Do you wish to pursue the story with another book?
Ultimately, I wanted ‘Concordant’ to spark ideas and questions about our relationship with modern technology with regards to our privacy and human rights. I wanted to make my readers think about wealth disparity and who actually holds power within our society. I hoped that ‘Concordant’ ending with a cliffhanger would prompt these questions, and many others. I guess I wanted readers to think critically about what the ending might mean and in turn, ask their own questions about technology, humanity, and society.
I’ve had a few readers that have read the last chapter as Romy and Pat dying, which is different to what I intended it to read like! But in saying that, I think there’s a beauty in not spelling every little thing out to your audience so they are able to make their own interpretations and bring their own understandings to the story. With that being said, I do wish to pursue the story in ‘Concordant’, either in the form of a sequel, or in a full sized novel.
8) What future goals do you have for writing? Do you plan on writing more books?
I certainly do plan on writing more books! In addition to furthering the ‘Concordant’ story, I’m working on a children’s book for trans and non-binary kids, a semi-autobiographical book based on my experience as an soccer scholarship recipient at an American college, and also a romance novel which will be told in two parts, the second part being a retelling of ‘The Steadfast Tin Soldier’. It can be a little counter-productive having multiple projects on the go, so for the moment I’m concentrating on the romance novel, mostly because my partner got a little offended that I didn’t dedicate my first book to her!
My ultimate goal for my writing is to constantly improve my story telling, and to broaden my knowledge of language and how to utilize it effectively and artfully. I’d also love to write for different mediums, in fact, I spent most of 2016 adapting ‘Concordant’ into a screenplay and I’m currently writing a short film that I hope to direct this year.
9) What makes ‘Concordant’ stand out from any other book?
I like to think ‘Concordant’ stands out from other dystopian books because it features a number of LGBTQ+ characters, particularly Romy – an androgynous woman – as the main character. But, even though there are many diverse characters in ‘Concordant’, I wanted to tell the story in a way that didn’t necessarily highlight their differences – I wanted to normalize them.
I also think the novella is unique in the way the chapters are numbered. I wanted to emphasize that ‘Concordant’ is set in a future that revolves around ‘memory screening’. I wanted to evoke a feeling that citizens in this society are constantly counting down the hours until their next scheduled ‘screening’.
10) What tips can you offer young writers?
I think the most important tip for any aspiring writer is to read. That’s how you learn to write with good grammar and spelling, that’s how you improve your vocabulary, that’s how you discover different writing styles and genres. Be a sponge. Absorb the knowledge. Hone your tools.
Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t write every single day. I think it’s important to set realistic and manageable writing goals. If you exceed them it feels super rewarding, as opposed to setting the bar too high and then getting disappointed if you don’t clear it. Sometimes deadlines are great, they can force you to knuckle down and complete a project, but in my experience, they can also stifle creativity. There will, most likely, come a time when you must have the ability to work under pressure and complete a certain amount of writing in a given timeframe, but while you don’t have those restraints, allow yourself a day (or week) off every now and then to relax, think, and explore.
Above all, I think it’s important to write with passion and purpose. Write the stories you’ve always dreamed of hearing.
1) When did your career of writing begin and what inspired this passion?
I guess I’ve always been a writer. My father’s a teacher and he placed a lot of emphasis on academia while I was growing up. He would always read to me before bed, and encourage me to do writing or art based activities in my spare time. He’d even make me paint a picture, or write a story or journal entry before I was allowed to watch Saturday morning cartoons.
This definitely sparked my passion for the written word. I’ve always found that writing my thoughts down helps me to process them, and also learn more about myself. I’ve kept journals for as long as I can remember and I’ve always loved reading. I was an absolute bookworm as a child. My favorite room in our house was the library, where I would spend hours engrossed in stories, mostly classics or ancient Greek myths and legends.
I didn’t really start writing fiction until recently. My little sister was always the creative writer of the family. She’d always be writing these fantastic stories, plays and songs. I was a bit of a nerd, I guess. I was a very shy teen. I focused on my schoolwork and sport and left the creative stuff up to her.
I moved to America when I was 19 though, on a soccer scholarship, and that gained me some confidence and life experience. With that, came a barrage of stories that I desperately want to share with the world.
2) Were there any obstacles in getting to where you are today, with a published novella? If so, what were they?
I think my biggest obstacle was my own self-doubt. Once I decided to write a book, I struggled to get started because I was so down with the work I was initially producing. I spent so much time over thinking what people would think of my writing, I was too nervous to show my writing to anyone to critique, I stressed about all the little things and because of that, it took me ages to get the story out.
Once I’d finished the draft for ‘Concordant’, I had to deal with all that self-doubt all over again when sending it to people to read. It was nerve-racking waiting for people to give me feedback, and then once I got it, I had to overcome my ego being bruised. Receiving criticism was hard at first, and it usually took a few days for people’s comments and ideas to sink in and for me to go from ‘pfft, they don’t know what they’re talking about’ to ‘okay they have a really valid point, I need to edit my work’.
Actually getting my novella published was another obstacle. Querying agents was terrifying at first, and while the first few rejections stung, it made me realize I might have to change my game plan if I wanted to get my work out there. I had a few friends who had self-published books, so I gathered as much information as I could and decided to self-publish my work.
3) Why and how did you choose the genre of dystopia for your novella?
I’ve always enjoyed science-fiction movies, or basically any story with futuristic setting, because I really like to entertain questions like: What kind of world will the future bring? What kinds of technological advancements will be available to us? And more importantly, how will they impact our society, and how will it change us as humans?
Before I wrote the novella ‘Concordant’, I had a vague story idea that I’d imagined I’d write as an action screenplay. One day, when I was working as a chef, I spilled a pot of boiling sauce on my arm and had to take nearly six weeks off so my burns could recover. During that time, I read The Hunger Games and the Divergent trilogies and those books allowed me to reimagine my vague story idea in a dystopian setting. Reading those YA books also sparked in me a desire to write stories that represent minorities, particularly LGBTQ+ characters, so while I had time off work, I started writing ‘Concordant’.
4) How did you come up with the title ‘Concordant’?
I really like one-word titles, I’m not sure why, maybe I’m lazy! I like minimalism, and I like the thought of finding one, single word that sums up the whole vibe of a book or film.
I actually never thought I’d call the novella Concordant, but at the time, I needed some sort of title because people kept asking me what I was working on, and I also like to label my notebooks, so there was a need for a title of some sort.
Concordant means to be amicable, or harmonious, and I thought that it best described the social and political environment that ‘Concordant’ is set in. As I continued to develop the story, I realised the title kind of applies to Romy’s relationships, particularly with Richard. So, it stuck!
5) What was your writing process like? Did you have a plan? How did you choose the setting of New York?
Normally, I just write and see where it takes me, but when I decided I wanted to write a complete story, I realised (much to my dismay) that considerable planning and preparation would have to take place. I started by getting the plot out of my head by handwriting it all in a notebook. From there, I developed the ideas and characters, broke the story down into chapter-like segments, and then tried to start writing from the beginning.
I never realised how much planning goes into writing books! I did so much plotting and scribbling. I ended up finding a technique that worked well for me using an assortment of sticky notes to arrange chapter numbers and plot points. That way, I could shuffle my chapters and ideas around as needed. This was the easiest way for me to keep track of all the changes that came as the story developed. At times, characters appeared out of nowhere, or I’d think of a great piece of dialogue but found it didn’t fit where I wanted it to so I’d slot it into a later chapter.
The same goes for locations and settings. There are a bunch of fictional cafes and restaurants in ‘Concordant’ and keeping track of them all took a whole lot of planning. I chose the setting of New York because I initially wanted Richard to work on Wall Street, but as his character and the story developed, he became the CEO of Halcyon Entertainment. I considered setting the story in Australia, perhaps in Melbourne or Sydney, but ultimately I felt the story belonged in New York City. Though I’ve never been to New York, my experiences from living in America gave birth to the story and shaped the social landscape that’s present in ‘Concordant’, so I felt like the story belonged there.
6) How did you create the main character Romy? What inspired her personality?
At the risk of sounding like a complete narcissist, Romy is based on myself. Being a queer person of mixed race, I’ve never really fully identified with any characters represented in mainstream literature. My solution to this was creating a main character that looks exactly like me! But in all seriousness, I think diversity and accurate, authentic representation is really important, and it’s something I strive to include in all of my work.
I came up with Romy’s character when I was working at a cafe that’s located close to the CBD, and I would spend a few hours each morning hidden behind a bar making bread dough. While I was kneading away, I would watch and listen to all the customers and, in particular, I’d notice the regulars from the offices nearby. There would be a few guys who’d come in multiple times each day with different clients and I’d find it so fascinating to watch how their mannerisms and behaviors changed each time, flawlessly adapting to their client’s individual wants or needs. That gave me the idea for Romy’s character, and a way to introduce her to Richard.
Romy’s personality was inspired by most, if not all, of my bad traits. As journal writing has always been a reflective exercise for me, it seemed only natural that this extended into my fictional writing as well. I enjoy basing my main characters on myself and using them to analyze my own behaviors. In Romy’s case, I was inspired by my ambitious and materialistic tendencies. I wrote her as a kind of critique on myself.
7) What made you decide on a cliffhanger ending and what can you tell the readers to tie loose ends? Do you wish to pursue the story with another book?
Ultimately, I wanted ‘Concordant’ to spark ideas and questions about our relationship with modern technology with regards to our privacy and human rights. I wanted to make my readers think about wealth disparity and who actually holds power within our society. I hoped that ‘Concordant’ ending with a cliffhanger would prompt these questions, and many others. I guess I wanted readers to think critically about what the ending might mean and in turn, ask their own questions about technology, humanity, and society.
I’ve had a few readers that have read the last chapter as Romy and Pat dying, which is different to what I intended it to read like! But in saying that, I think there’s a beauty in not spelling every little thing out to your audience so they are able to make their own interpretations and bring their own understandings to the story. With that being said, I do wish to pursue the story in ‘Concordant’, either in the form of a sequel, or in a full sized novel.
8) What future goals do you have for writing? Do you plan on writing more books?
I certainly do plan on writing more books! In addition to furthering the ‘Concordant’ story, I’m working on a children’s book for trans and non-binary kids, a semi-autobiographical book based on my experience as an soccer scholarship recipient at an American college, and also a romance novel which will be told in two parts, the second part being a retelling of ‘The Steadfast Tin Soldier’. It can be a little counter-productive having multiple projects on the go, so for the moment I’m concentrating on the romance novel, mostly because my partner got a little offended that I didn’t dedicate my first book to her!
My ultimate goal for my writing is to constantly improve my story telling, and to broaden my knowledge of language and how to utilize it effectively and artfully. I’d also love to write for different mediums, in fact, I spent most of 2016 adapting ‘Concordant’ into a screenplay and I’m currently writing a short film that I hope to direct this year.
9) What makes ‘Concordant’ stand out from any other book?
I like to think ‘Concordant’ stands out from other dystopian books because it features a number of LGBTQ+ characters, particularly Romy – an androgynous woman – as the main character. But, even though there are many diverse characters in ‘Concordant’, I wanted to tell the story in a way that didn’t necessarily highlight their differences – I wanted to normalize them.
I also think the novella is unique in the way the chapters are numbered. I wanted to emphasize that ‘Concordant’ is set in a future that revolves around ‘memory screening’. I wanted to evoke a feeling that citizens in this society are constantly counting down the hours until their next scheduled ‘screening’.
10) What tips can you offer young writers?
I think the most important tip for any aspiring writer is to read. That’s how you learn to write with good grammar and spelling, that’s how you improve your vocabulary, that’s how you discover different writing styles and genres. Be a sponge. Absorb the knowledge. Hone your tools.
Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t write every single day. I think it’s important to set realistic and manageable writing goals. If you exceed them it feels super rewarding, as opposed to setting the bar too high and then getting disappointed if you don’t clear it. Sometimes deadlines are great, they can force you to knuckle down and complete a project, but in my experience, they can also stifle creativity. There will, most likely, come a time when you must have the ability to work under pressure and complete a certain amount of writing in a given timeframe, but while you don’t have those restraints, allow yourself a day (or week) off every now and then to relax, think, and explore.
Above all, I think it’s important to write with passion and purpose. Write the stories you’ve always dreamed of hearing.
