Interview with Australian Author – Isobel Blackthorn

“Australian Authors” – Tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?

Isobel – I was born in London on my great grandmother’s birthday and I think this single fact has defined me as a person more than anything else. She was a private nurse and a Spiritualist. I have always thought my occult leanings have come from her.

“Australian Authors” – What made you want to become a writer?

Isobel – I have a deep need to be creative. Without some creative pursuit, I’m listless and dissatisfied. I’ve wanted to write since I was eleven, but it has taken many decades to get here, much living, many hard knocks.

“Australian Authors” – Now, the big question, are you working on another book?

Isobel – I am working on eight novels at present. One is ready for publication, another almost. The others are at various stages of completion. I feel like a factory.

“Australian Authors” – What genres do you prefer to write in?

Isobel – I like literary fiction but that is hard to pin down and very hard to promote as in indie author. I write dark fiction, along the lines of mysteries, thrillers, elements of historical fiction perhaps. I also write contemporary fiction.

“Australian Authors” – What do you think about the ebook revolution?

Isobel – I don’t mind it. I read Kindle books. I review that way. I think the technology is terrific. It opens up a lot of possibilities for authors and readers alike

“Australian Authors” – Do you start a book with a definite plot, or do you just write?

Isobel – I’m a pantser. I only devise enough plot to get things going. The absolute minimum. Too much plot and my muse won’t play ball.

“Australian Authors” – Do your characters seem to hijack the story, or are you always in control?

Isobel – There have been times my characters have hijacked the plot. The Cabin Sessions was like that. The Legacy of Old Gran Parks wrote itself, the four protagonists loud in my head. I just let things happen. They were in control.

“Australian Authors” – Are your characters based on real people or completely imagined?

Isobel – All my characters are completely imagined. I do not think it is wise to admit to anything else.

“Australian Authors” – Who are your favourite authors?

Isobel – There are so many! I appreciate many, many authors. My favourite Australian author is Peter Carey. I love Booker Prize winners. I love the writing of indie authors, including Rachel Nightingale (Harlequin’s Riddle), Elizabeth Jane Corbett (The Tides Between), Kathryn Gossow (Cassandra) and Patricia Leslie (A Single Light), to name but a few. In the horror genre, I adore Gerri Gray (The Amnesia Girl), Donna Maria McCarthy (Biddy Trott), Craig Stewart (Worship Me).

“Australian Authors” – What’s your advice to Authors? On writing? Publishing? Marketing?

Isobel – Don’t give up. It’s a long, hard road. Expect rejection. Expect to have to dedicate the larger part of your life to writing if you have any ambition. Above all, be nice.

Interview with Australian Author – Margaret R Blake

“Australian Authors” – Tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?

Margaret – I began writing as a challenge. I had read a particularly dreadful book and thought … I can do better than that, surely? And so it began. Twenty years later I was offered a contract by a small publishing house in Melbourne for my first completed children’s chapter book, Merlin’s School for Ordinary Children – The Ring of Curses. It was chosen also for the Ditmar award and The Premier’s Reading Challenge. All this might mean nothing to most, but for someone who failed English in high school … it meant a lot.

“Australian Authors” – What made you want to become a writer?

Margaret – For me, the passion of writing developed over several years.I wrote spasmodically at first but then I discovered my voice and there’s been no stopping me since.

“Australian Authors” – Now, the big question, are you working on another book?

Margaret – I’m working on several actually. The third in my Merlin’s School series and a fantasy novel with historical/medieval overtones.

“Australian Authors” – What genres do you prefer to write in?

Margaret – Fantasy. The imagination is allowed to run wild and there are no boundaries.

“Australian Authors” – What do you think about the ebook revolution?

Margaret – Like anything it has its good points but I like to hold a real book, turn real pages and be able to see a real object. Nothing like it.

“Australian Authors” – Do you start a book with a definite plot, or do you just write?

Margaret – I start with a plot/idea in mind, then I allow the characters to tell the story.

“Australian Authors” – Do your characters seem to hijack the story, or are you always in control?

Margaret – Mostly I’m in control, though there are moments where the characters take over. No matter how much I argue they usually win.

“Australian Authors” – Are your characters based on real people or completely imagined?

Margaret – I think there is always something of a real person in a ‘character’. Emotions, actions and personalities belong to the real world so there’s no getting away from it.

“Australian Authors” – Who are your favourite authors?

Margaret – Love JK Rowling,’s creations. It was the lack of continuing Harry Potter books that motivated me to write my own series. Terry Pratchett was fabulous. Neil Giaman. Cornelia Funke. George R. R. Martin. Dan Brown. Stephen King has an amazing take on life. Lately, though it tends to be the book that draws my interest.

“Australian Authors” – What’s your advice to Authors? On writing? Publishing? Marketing?

Margaret – Write and keep on writing if you are serious about it. Publishing can be done online these days and as long as you have a good editor and cover designer, a new author can get out there. As for marketing … create a platform first. Engage and keep it real.

At the end of the day though, have fun otherwise you’ll just create a headache for yourself.

Interview with Australian Author – Patricia Leslie

“Australian Authors” – Tell us a little about yourself? Perhaps something not many people know?

Patricia – I love to sing and dance. When I’m home alone, I’ll pull the blinds, crank up the stereo, blast my favourite songs, and dance like no ones watching (because no one is).

“Australian Authors” – What made you want to become a writer?

Patricia – To give my natural urge to write things down a purpose and a goal to strive toward. By becoming a writer I’ve been able to work toward improving my craft and extending my skills, style, and scope.

“Australian Authors” – Now, the big question, are you working on another book?

Patricia – Several actually. My current series is one book onto a 3-book saga so I’m busy with book 2 and 3, and then I have something planned for Ancient Gaul…

“Australian Authors” – What genres do you prefer to write in?

Patricia – Fantasy though more urban than high fantasy. I like to write about real worlds, historical and contemporary, and inject magic into them. It’s a possibility that Crossing the Line will venture into the high fantasy arena though as I do have a predilection for sword-fighting, wild magic, and mystical beings from other worlds…

“Australian Authors” – What do you think about the ebook revolution?

Patricia – The more ways of reading the better. I know people who were not readers previously discover the joys of reading through their e-reader. Also, sometimes reading on a screen is easier than on paper. I like both.

“Australian Authors” – Do you start a book with a definite plot, or do you just write?

Patricia – I start with a plan and a sketch of a plot and go from there. Mostly. Sometimes, I also just start writing and see where it leads me.

“Australian Authors” – Do your characters seem to hijack the story, or are you always in control?

Patricia – We’ve come to an understanding where I will let their personalities guide me and they won’t do anything too outrageous…

“Australian Authors” – Are your characters based on real people or completely imagined?

Patricia – A bit of both actually. In Keeper of the Way, at least three characters are based on people from my family tree and several others are fictionalised versions of real people from history. Everyone else is completely made up. In A Single Light, several characters were based off people I know. I asked them first before including them because originally their names were also used, but in the final edits I had to work on the characters a bit more so I changed names and dropped one or two from the story.

“Australian Authors” – Who are your favourite authors?

Patricia – Jane Austen, Stephen King, Tolkien, Stephan Donaldson, Mary Stewart, Steinbeck, Ann Cleeves, Isobel Blackthorn, Tracy M Joyce, Bronwyn Parry, Camilla Lackberg… and loads more

“Australian Authors” – What’s your advice to Authors? On writing? Publishing? Marketing?

Patricia – On writing: get the story written and don’t worry about details like form and punctuation and plot holes too much. You will have the opportunity to fix all that in the read over and through constant revision. You won’t get to fix things though until you have the story out of your head and onto paper or your computer.
On publishing: be patient, be consistent, be persistent, and don’t ever give up on finding a publisher. Also, look for publishers that are appropriate for your work. Once you’ve got that contract, remember that the publisher is running a business and has other authors on their books – the world does not revolve around you. Make contact with other authors within the publishing group you’re now connected to if possible, and outside that group too. Other authors can be your best support as you become acquainted to the world of publishing.
On Marketing: it helps if you work out a strategy or plan for yourself. Your publisher can only do so much and that is limited to the size of their publicity budget. Find a social media platform that works for you. I use Instagram because I love to take photos and share them, Twitter so I can share links to interesting articles (my own and others), and Facebook because it’s expected that everyone has a Facebook page. I write articles for other blogs, which then get shared out increasing my marketing reach and visits to my website. I write my own blog posts too and I send out newsletters to my VIP Readers. The point is that you need to be present and consistent across a number of outlets to be heard. You also need to be patient. This is no short term exercise.