Interview with Australian Author – Sally Eberhardt
“Australian Authors” – Tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?
Sally – What not many people know – After a very brief career as a magician’s assistant to a dwarf (is it PC to say that? He called himself a dwarf so does that make it OK?) I settled on marriage and a job in the bank. Both ended at about the same time and I headed overseas to travel solo around Canada and the US.
My background is in small business, agriculture, market research and social enterprise.
I have a passion for helping people and balance that with spending time in nature or dabbling in art and photography. As an introvert, I need lots of alone time to recharge from networking and presenting workshops.
“Australian Authors” – What made you want to become a writer?
Sally – Books have shaped my life in many crucial ways. The power of words to transport, inspire and transform a person is mind-blowing. I wanted to share my journey, my insights and learnings, with others to make their journey easier.
Writing was one of my favourite things to do at school – I relished the challenge of being given a topic, prompt or opening line from which to create a story.
I aimed to put a twist in the tale, raise eyebrows, show insight, tell a story that revealed feelings I otherwise kept hidden.
Yet even then I rarely wrote just for fun. Writing was for assignments. Then school was finished. I stopped writing. There was no need.
But there was still a twinkle of desire….
A few years later a brief foray into studying journalism sucked the life out of writing for me — so many rules, so suffocating, so boring! This was not what I had signed up for so I quit.
In following decades there was the occasional letter home from abroad, a travel diary, a poem or song but I doubt I wrote anything of consequence more than once a year … and that’s if you count Christmas cards.
Yet something was simmering away.
Thirty years after that false start in journalism, at the age of 52, I decided to write a book. Not fiction, not a memoir; something that helps people, that makes a difference, that makes this journey we call ‘life’ easier for others.
Conception was easy, the eighteen-month incubation more difficult and giving birth was glorious. By the time my book baby arrived, I was in love with the process.
I am a WRITER and now I am paid to write.
“Australian Authors” – What gives you inspiration for your book(s)?
Sally – People inspire me, events inspire me, memes inspire me …. inspiration is all around if you have open eyes, open heart and open mind.
“Australian Authors” – Now, the big question, are you working on another book?
Sally – Yes! Fast fiction is so much fun to write and people are enjoying my quirky little stories so there is an anthology in the works. It will be a collaboration with a dear friend who writes (and illustrates) urban legend/fantasy stories.
“Australian Authors” – What genres do you prefer to write in?
Sally – I love to mix it up – short stories that either amuse and surprise or reveal and provoke would be my favourites. I’m an observer of human nature and love to solve problems – this comes out in both my non-fiction articles and book, and short stories.
“Australian Authors” – What do you think about the ebook revolution?
Sally – I love anything that encourages more people to read … or read more.
I believe audibooks are the fastest growing format and love how audio means those who don’t like to read don’t miss out 🙂
My book will soon be available as an audiobook and I’m planning to record lots of stories and articles – it’s so great to put emotion and emphasis where you want and I feel it connects more deeply with the listener.
“Australian Authors” – Do you start a book with a definite plot, or do you just write?
Sally – Plotter … or pantser? For my book, being non-fiction, I surprised myself by being incredibly organised and structured.
When I write fiction, I tend to have a beginning and destination in mind, but how we get there is a lot of fun !
“Australian Authors” – Pen or type writer or computer?
Sally – Pen for quick ideas and snatches of inspiration, computer for the rest.
“Australian Authors” – Do your characters seem to hijack the story, or are you always in control?
Sally – My characters don’t run the show, I do. Having said that, I tend to step into their shoes so they think and behave in their own way, not mine.
“Australian Authors” – Are your characters based on real people or completely imagined?
Sally – Most characters are based on real people, sometimes even myself – but with a lot of creative licence 🙂
“Australian Authors” – Have you thought about joining with another author to write a book?
Sally – Yes! My next book is a collaboration, and I would happily be part of more anthologies. Together we create something more diverse, something bigger and broader than each individual. And the more people marketing a book, the better!
“Australian Authors” – Who are your favourite authors?
Sally– Trent Dalton is a favourite – he’s a great bloke, a Brisbane local and tells fascinating stories.
I grew up devouring Wilbur Smith and my book shelves still feature many stories about Africa by various authors.
Biographies and autobiographies are very inspirational and some cheeky chicklit (eg Kathy Lette) brings humour.
“Australian Authors” – What’s your advice to Authors? On writing? Publishing? Marketing?
Sally – Do your due diligence before parting with big bucks to writing mentors, publishers etc. There are some good people out there who genuinely help and give value but some charge too much for too little. Ask other authors about their experiences and see who they recommend.
Find your own voice and style.
Be brave enough to be vulnerable.
Always be willing to learn.
Edit, edit, edit.
Join writer’s groups – they are enormously supportive and helpful.
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