The Write Way with Jo Franklin

To celebrate the publication of Help! I'm an Alien, I'm pleased to welcome author, Jo Franklin, onto the blog to tell us about her writing habits. 

How do you feel about Help I’m an Alien being published?

Excited. It’s like I’ve been queuing for the funfair all my life and now I am at the very top of the helter skelter in my hessian sack, ready to go. Look out world, here I come!

Can you give my readers a one line pitch of the book, so they can get a feel of it?

Daniel knows he doesn’t fit in with the people around him so when his incredibly annoying sister tells him he is an alien, adopted by their parents, he believes her and decides that he must get back to his home planet. So begins a journey with hilarious and unexpected consequences.

When it comes to starting a new project, are you a planner or a pantser?

I'm a converted planner having been caught out so many times with no story arc, story end or sometimes not even a story at all. I am now evangelical about planning because lack of story is the thing I see most in unpublished manuscripts. Having said that, Help I’m an Alien started off as a three day scrawl- fest after the muse struck me like a thunderbolt. But then I stopped writing and sorted out a plot before I carried on.

When and where do you write?

I developed my writing routine by going to Peckham Library for five years. It’s a massive library with over a 1,000 visitors a day so you have to get there early if you want a decent table which helped with my routine. But now I have a dog, I have to stay at home so he doesn’t get into mischief. 

I still try and by very disciplined. All household chores are neglected after 8am and I try and leave admin, emails and social media until after Bargain Hunt, lunch but that doesn’t always work out. 

Do you have a daily word count?

I’m more concerned about chapters because the writing takes on its own momentum as the chapter progresses. I find it very hard to write a second chapter in a day. It’s some sort of psychological block. I need therapy.

Who are your favourite #UKMG authors?

Cathy Cassidy and Ali Sparkes. I admire their books and their work ethic. I’ve met Cathy briefly but have yet to meet Ali. Maybe I’ll run into her at a Premier Inn one day. She is always on the road. I think that Frozen in Time by Ali Sparkes is my favourite contemporary Middle Grade book.

Which unpublished authors do you think we need to look out for?

I’m a member of an awesome critique group. Two of us are now published - me and 

Tasha Kavanagh - but the other three deserve success. Emma Styles, Alli Jeronimus and Jennifer Miles. Also my former crit buddy Matt Totsky who lives in Detroit, is a great writer.

Me, Tasha, Alli and Jen at Tasha’s launch for Things We Have in Common 

Help I’m an Alien is the first in the series published by Troika Books and is available to buy now. 

You can find out more about Jo at:

Website

Twitter 

 Instagram 

The Write Way with Katherine Woodfine

To celebrate the publication of Mystery and Mayhem, I am pleased to welcome author and editor of the book, Katherine Woodfine, onto the blog to talk about her writing and how Mystery and Mayhem came about. 

1) How did Mystery and Mayhem come about?

The idea for Mystery and Mayhem originated with publishers Egmont, and with Robin Stevens who was then working as part of their editorial team. I was delighted when they contacted me to ask if I’d like to be a contributor to the anthology, and write an introduction, celebrating the joy of mystery stories!

There’s so much fantastic middle grade crime fiction out there at the moment - and I love the idea of bringing a group of authors together to form a ‘Crime Club’. The anthology offers you a whole series of very different mystery short stories - there really is something for everyone. And what’s more, you can put your own detective skills to the test and have a go at solving the mysteries for yourself. 

2) Do you hope to bring out a second book in the Crime Club series?

Never say never! 

I know all the members of the Crime Club have really enjoyed collaborating on this book, so who knows what could happen in the future.

3) You came on the blog at Christmas to discuss your debut in 2015, what have you been up to since? 

The sequel to Clockwork Sparrow, The Mystery of the Jewelled Moth, was published at the end of February this year, which was really exciting! It’s been lovely to see readers who enjoyed the first book getting stuck into the second.

Otherwise I’ve been busy doing all kinds of events everywhere from Cornwall to Oxford to Birmingham. A huge highlight was when The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize - I had the chance to celebrate with all the other shortlisted and winning authors at a fantastic party in the gorgeously-decorated Waterstones Piccadilly in London.

Of course I’ve also been busy working on my next book, The Mystery of the Painted Dragon, which comes out in 2017. And on the theme of short stories, I’ve recently been writing a new story for Winter Magic - a Christmas anthology coming out this year from Simon & Schuster, headed up by Abi Elphinstone, which I’m really excited about.

4) With two novels published now, are you finding write the next one easier or harder?

Whatever project I’m working on, I always think it’s more difficult than the last! But I think that’s partly because memories are selective. I think we all tend to look back on previous books through rose-tinted glasses - I usually forget about all the hard parts and just remember the fun bits!

5)Now you’re writing full time, are you getting more or less writing done?

Since I finished working full-time, I’ve had the chance to get involved in all kinds of great bookish projects and events. It’s been a huge amount of fun, but it has meant that I haven’t had quite as much time for writing as I had originally envisaged. I can never resist the chance to get involved in interesting new things, but I’m trying to be stricter with myself from now on so that I make sure I have plenty of time for writing - that’s the whole idea, after all!  

6) When starting a new novel, what do you do first? Do you research an idea or go straight into the first draft? 

I usually start with research - because I mainly write historical fiction, it helps me to do a lot of reading around a particular topic, or historical period, before I get going. I do read non-fiction, but I’ll also read relevant novels, watch films and look at lots of images to inspire me - and I usually create a Pinterest board to collect useful pictures. Through this process, I’ll often stumble on some interesting and unexpected snippets of information, or little details that spark my imagination.

I also tend to spend quite a lot of time thinking about the characters and getting to know them, and working through the plot before I start writing. It will be ticking over in my mind when I’m walking somewhere, or sitting on a train, or falling asleep at night. I usually have quite a clear idea of the story and how I want it to feel before I sit down to start writing a first draft.  

7) Do you have a set editing process, or do you edit as you go along? 

I do lots of editing as I go along. I chaired an event recently where one of the authors told me that she never goes back to edit until she has drafted a whole book - I wish I could be as self-disciplined as that! But I love editing, and I find it hard to resist going back and tinkering with favourite scenes. I have a bad habit of doing that when I don’t want to tackle something difficult - like writing a tricky new scene, or untangling a plot problem.

8) What was the last book you read?

Sarra Manning’s new young adult novel, London Belongs to Us. I love Sarra’s writing, and this is a really charming story set over the course of a single night in London. Anyone who loves London will love this - and I also really enjoyed the fact that some of the characters from Sarra’s previous novels make cameo appearances in the book.

I’ve also just finished re-reading Joan G Robinson’s lovely children’s story When Marnie Was There, after seeing the new Studio Ghibli film it inspired. 

9) Which authors do you think will be the rising stars of 2016?

Ooh, good question! There are lots of fantastic new authors that I have no doubt will do brilliantly in 2016. M G Leonard’s Beetle Boy has already had tremendous success, which has been great to see - I can’t wait for the sequel. More recently, I also very much enjoyed Harriet Reuter Hapgood’s YA debut The Square Root of Summer.

I have a big stack of new middle grade books which I’m really excited to read, including The Crooked Sixpence by Jennifer Rose Bell, The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Milwood Hargeave, and Cogheart by Peter Bunzl. I’ve heard great things about all of them. On the YA side, I’m very much looking forward to K M Sutherland’s Our Chemical Hearts.

10) What was the best piece of writing advice you were ever given?

Don’t get it right, get it written. Just get the words down on paper first, before you start worrying about the quality. It really helps to remind yourself of that when you’re working on a messy first draft. You might be worrying about how terrible it is, but in fact it’s all just part of the process - a step on the road to a finished book.

11) If you could be any detective, fictional or real, who would you like to be?

Nancy Drew! I’d have a great time, zipping around in my convertible car, casually solving a few mysteries whilst remaining stylishly dressed at all times - and of course, being effortlessly brilliant at everything, whether it’s ballroom dancing or skiing down a mountain. 

Having said that I also have a soft spot for Miss Marple and have always fancied being a bit like her when I’m an old lady - bicycling around St Mary Mead, doing a bit of knitting, and looking totally harmless, whilst secretly being a brilliant detective.

Thank you, Katherine, for some fabulous answers. 

Published by Egmont in May 2016

Summary 

Twelve mysteries.

Twelve authors.

One challenge: can you solve the crimes before the heroes of the stories?

These are twelve brand-new short stories from twelve of the best children’s crime writers writing today. These creepy, hilarious, brain-boggling, heart-pounding mysteries feature daring, brilliant young detectives, and this anthology is a must for fans of crime fiction and detection.

With an introduction by Katherine Woodfine, the anthology also features a brand new short story set in the world of The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparow, ‘The Mystery of the Purloined Pearls’ featuring chorus-girl turned detective Lil!

To find out more about Katherine Woodfine:

Twitter / Website

The Write Way with Tanya Landman

Today I'm over the moon to be finally welcoming Carnegie award winning author, Tanya Landman onto the blog.  Tanya has come on to answer questions about her writing and her latest novel, Hell and High Water, which comes out in paperback next Wednesday.

How do you feel now Hell and High Water is in paperback?

Great!  Every time a book comes out I feel an unbounded maternal pride. I would quite like to staple it to my forehead right now.

Can you give me a one sentence pitch, to let my readers get a taste of what the book is about?

 Aaargh!  I hate doing those. I suppose if you nailed my feet to the floor and forced me I’d have to say it’s a historical murder mystery -  sort of Punch and Judy meets Poldark

Was it harder to write than Buffalo Soldier?

I spent so long writing Buffalo Soldier that actually it was very hard to drag myself out of the American West and back to British shores.  But its very much set where I live in North Devon, so I took a lot of long walks on the beach and cliffs to get myself in the mood.

So are you a planner or pantser?

Pantser.  Much to everyone’s annoyance. I don’t like having to stick to a very detailed plan - sometimes the characters want to take off in a different direction and it’s important to give them their heads and see where they go.  Sometimes they run into dead ends or disappear into blind alleys, but that’s all part of the process.

How do you find the time to write?

It’s difficult!  I do a lot of school visits and really love doing them, but performing and writing use very different parts of the brain.  I have to block out stretches of time when I can concentrate solely on writing.

Where is your ideal place to write?

I yearn for a shed.  But I’m still writing in the place where I started - a corner of the kitchen.  I complain about it endlessly, but it does seem to work for me!

Do you have a daily word target?

I aim to get 1000 words minimum done each writing day.  If it’s going well I can get a lot more done.  If it’s going badly squeezing out 1000 can feel like pulling your own teeth.

Who are your favourite #UKYA authors? 

There are so many!  I could fill pages waxing lyrical about other writers.  It’s a really exciting time in YA. I’m only going to mention one by name though - Mal Peet, who was (and is) an inspiration and a very good friend.

Any tips on coping with rejection? 

It’s really tough and it doesn’t get any easier!  A writer’s ego is a very fragile creature.  The only thing to do is to keep going.  Never give up.  And while one book is doing the rounds of agents and/or publishers, get stuck into something else.  The new characters will keep you occupied and distracted and that really does help.

Do you know any SCBWI unpublished authors that we should look out for?

If you’re with SCBWI you’re doing the right thing. I’ve got my eye on all of you.

Hell and High Water is published in paperback on the 5th of May by Walker Books. 

You can pre-order it here with Book Depository. 

Summary

A heart-stopping tale of a young man's attempt to clear his father's name. When his father is arrested and transported to the Colonies, Caleb is left alone. After a desperate journey in search of an aunt he's never met he receives a strange, cold welcome. Then a body washes up on the nearby beach and Caleb is caught up in a terrifying net of lies and intrigue. Soon he and his new family are in mortal danger. This powerful story holds the reader in suspense as it charts the growth of a frightened boy into a brave young man. 

Tanya's Social media 

Twitter

Website

The Write Way with Kim Slater

I am so pleased to welcome author, Kim Slater onto the blog today. Kim Slater's second book, A Seven Letter Word, was published last month by Macmillan Children's Books. 

How does it feel to be publishing your second book, A Seven Letter Word?

Quite unbelievable. It seems no time at all since I was studying for my MA in Creative Writing and pouring all my energies into searching for an agent.

Can you give me a one line pitch for A Seven Letter Word, so my readers can get a feel for the story?

A talented Scrabble player with a very bad stammer overcomes the school bullies and his own doubts to solve the mystery of his missing mother.

You mention on your website, that you wrote for many years before deciding to go to university. What made you come to this decision in the end? 

It was a logical decision really. I’d sent various three chapters and a covering letter out for years to secure the representation of an agent but never managed to get off the slush pile. 

I was determined to become a published author so I knew I had to change tack and do something different if I wanted a different result. 

As a lifelong learner, the idea of studying to hone my craft appealed to me. I started off with a full-time English & Creative Writing degree and then went on to study an MA in Creative Writing. 

It was the right decision because before graduating from the MA in November 2012, I was signed with agent Clare Wallace at the Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency and I had a book deal with Macmillan Children’s Books.

Was writing your second novel harder than writing your first? 

Yes definitely. It didn’t help that I was trying to match up to a first novel like ‘Smart’, nominated for twenty-three book awards.

It took me a long time to get into the right space psychologically to write. In other words, to stop worrying about what my agent, my publisher and my readers would think and just relax in to it and write. 

It took me a very long time but I did get there in the end and it was the same resolve that helped me get published in the first place; I had to believe I could do it and then back myself. This, I managed to do with great support from my family, my editor and my agent.

When starting  new novel, what do you do first? Do you research an idea or go straight into the first draft? 

I simmer the idea for a while on ‘the back burner’ as I like to call it. 

I am always simmering new ideas while I’m writing my current book - one of my favourite times for doing this is just before I go to sleep at night. 

This means I am always writing and planning the next story so I don’t really have a clear gap before I start draft one of the next book.

Can you write anywhere or do you have to sit down at a specific time and  place to write?

I can write anywhere so long as it’s quiet. I prefer to write in the mornings and I write every day including weekends. 

When I’m doing something else, I’m usually thinking about writing (or simmering) at least part of the time.

Do you have a set editing process, or do you edit as you go along? 

Each day I re-read what I wrote the day before and edit it. Sometimes, I wish I could just throw caution to the wind and get the first draft down without looking back but it works better for me to edit as I go along and I find it gets me back into the story quicker at the start of each writing session.

Do you read a lot of YA novels? Who are your favourites?

Of course, I read nearly ALL the YA novels! 

Generally, I really enjoy reading anything by Sarah Crossan, Kevin Brooks and Katherine Woodfine. 

I also recently loved and would recommend The Thing about Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin, Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon and at the moment I’m reading and really enjoying The Sin Eater’s Daughter by Melinda Salisbury.

Which authors do you think will be the rising stars of 2016?

It’s hard to predict a book’s success but I’m looking forward to reading The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood and The Bubble Boy by Stewart Foster.

What was the best piece of writing advice you were ever given?

Before I got published: Never give up. (I mean like, NEVER.)

As a published author:  The first draft is just that. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

Thank you Kim for some superb answers. 

Summary 

Finlay's mother vanished two years ago. And ever since then his stutter has become almost unbearable. Bullied at school and ignored by his father, the only way to get out the words which are bouncing around in his head is by writing long letters to his ma which he knows she will never read, and by playing Scrabble online. But when Finlay is befriended by an online Scrabble player called Alex, everything changes. Could it be his mother secretly trying to contact him? Or is there something more sinister going on?

To find out more about Kim Slater: 

Twitter / Website

The Write Way with CJ Redwine

As part of The Shadow Queen blog tour, I am pleased to welcome author, C.J Redwine, onto the blog to answer some burning questions about her writing. 

You have a brand new series coming out, how does it feel to be working with new characters and do you miss the old ones?

I’m happy to be working with new characters. I loved the cast of the Defiance series, but I felt satisfied with the way their story ended, and so their voices stopped talking to me. Listening to new voices and learning their stories has been another grand adventure.

Can you give me a one line pitch for The Shadow Queen, so my readers can get a feel for the story?

The Shadow Queen is a dark epic fantasy inspired by the Snow White fairy tale in which a fugitive princess must battle to save her kingdom from the most dangerous sorceress her people have ever seen while staying one step ahead of the dragon-shifter prince who is magically contracted to rip out her heart.

When starting a new novel, what do you do first? Do you research an idea or go straight into the first draft? 

Research! I write out a detailed synopsis (about 7k) that fleshes out the world, the backstory, and the characters. Once I have that completed, I can start writing.

Can you write anywhere or do you have to sit down at a specific time and  place to write?

With 5 kids and a business to run, I can’t be picky about writing time. I usually write at my desk in my home office, though sometimes I head to the coffee shop at my local bookstore. And I write whenever I make the time.

Do you read a lot of YA novels? Who are your favourites?

I do, though sadly not as much as I used to. I read about 1-2 a month now. Some favorite authors are Jodi Meadows, Rae Carson, Marie Rutkowski, M.G. Buehrlen, Courtney Stevens, and Katie McGarry.

Which authors do you think will be the rising stars of 2016?

I don’t think I’ve seen enough from the 2016 to accurately predict things yet, though I’m keeping my eye on Erin Summerill, Jeff Zetner, Janet B. Taylor and others.

What was the best piece of writing advice you were ever given?

 Take risks.

The Shadow Queen is published this month by Scholastic.

Summary

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

To find out more about CJ Redwine:

Facebook / Twitter

Check out the other stops on the blog tour. 

The Write Way with Alison Goodman

I'm really pleased to welcome The Dark Days Club author, Alison Goodman, onto the blog to tell us about the writing.

1) The first book, The Dark Days Club, in your new trilogy, has just been published in the UK. What kind of reactions have you received about it so far?

It has all been rather thrilling! My publisher, Walker Books UK, have been fabulous. They have really innovative ideas about getting the book out into the world including a massive giveaway of 20,000 samplers on Oxford Street in London, and a Bloggers/Vloggers morning tea, which was a hoot. I’ve had so many great reviews and a lot of lovely feedback from readers who have fallen in love with Lady Helen’s adventures and Lord Carlston’s infuriating manners and dark past. 

2) You are a New York Times Bestselling Author. How does it feel to have that title and does it come with any perks?

When my books EON and EONA became New York Times Bestsellers, an author friend of mine commented that, professionally, my name would now be Alison New York Times Bestseller Goodman. Hahahaha! But seriously, it does garner quite a bit of attention and it certainly pleased my publisher - they sent me flowers! 

3) Can you give me a one-line pitch about your new novel,The Dark Days, to give my readers a taster of what the book is about? 

Pride and Prejudice meets Buffy-the-demon-slayer in high society!

4) How did the idea for the book come about? 

The idea came to me while I was on a tram coming home from a writers’ conference. I had been to a session about researching the Regency and, as I sat on the tram looking out of the window, I began to think about what kind of Regency novel I would like to read now. The answer came in a rush: a mix of everything I loved about Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer, together with the excitement and delight of a supernatural adventure! I scrabbled for a pen and paper and by the time I got to my tram stop, I had the outline of The Dark Days Club. Part of the allure of the idea was the chance to make the book historically accurate. Personally, I love to read about the way people lived in the past. In The Dark Days Club I wanted my reader to be able to immerse themselves in all things Regency and walk alongside Lady Helen as she discovers that her upper class, luxurious world has a hidden demonic underside.

5) As more and more of your books are published, do you find the writing gets easier or harder?

Every book is different, and presents its own challenges. So, while I may find certain aspects of the writing easier—such as crafting the structure —there will always be new problems to solve and techniques to explore. Writing a novel is about creating an emotional journey for the reader, and the possible ways of doing that are endless. That makes the opportunities to learn and develop as a writer endless too. 

6) When starting a new novel, what do you do first? Do you research an idea or go straight into the first draft? 

I always research first; it is how I build up a solid foundation of knowledge about the era I am writing about. I spent over eight months, full-time, researching the Regency before I began writing to make sure that I had a good working knowledge of the times and the way people lived. I also research all the way through writing a manuscript as well. 

7) Do you try and aim for a daily word target when writing? 

Yes, I do, but it changes throughout the progress of the novel. At the beginning of a novel I aim for at least 500 quality, stay-in-the-book words, but more often than not I go way above that total. That is just my base amount to keep the book moving forward. As my submission date looms, then my daily total will be adjusted according to what I need to get the book done! I write my books using Scrivener, and it has a very handy function that allows you to punch in the total number of words you think the book will be and the date you want to finish it, and it will calculate the number of words you need to write each day to achieve that goal. It is simultaneously helpful and terrifying.

8) Who are your favourite authors? 

This is a hard question because I have so many! Let’s see…I’ve already mentioned Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen. I also really enjoy Diana Gabaldon’s books, Ben Aaronovitch’s River series, J.K. Rowling, Lincoln Preston and Anne McCaffrey, to name just a few.

Thank you Alison for joining us today and answering our questions. 

The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman is published by Walker Books and is available to buy now.

Book Summary

London, April 1812. Eighteen-year-old Lady Helen Wrexhall is on the eve of her debut presentation to the Queen. Her life should be about gowns and dancing, and securing a suitable marriage. Instead, when one of her family's housemaids goes missing, Lady Helen is drawn to the shadows of Regency London.

There, she finds William, the Earl of Carlston. He has noticed the disappearance, too, and is one of the few who can stop the perpetrators: a cabal of powerful demons that has infiltrated every level of society. But Lady Helen’s curiosity is the last thing Carlston wants—especially when he sees the searching intelligence behind her fluttering fan. Should Helen trust a man whose reputation is almost as black as his lingering eyes? And will her headstrong sense of justice lead them both into a death trap?

To find out more about Alison Goodman:

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Instagram