As I look to expand on the work I do and the help I try to give Indie Authors, I have decided to offer Editing Services starting soon. What do I mean by editing services? Well quite simply, for a small fee, I will look over a sample of your work and offer feedback on the following topics:
1. Opening sentence
2. Plot and pace
3. Level of interest
4. Dialog
5. Show versus tell
6. Descriptive text
7. Characterization
8. Genre check
9. Grammar and spelling
10. General comments
Does this sound like something you might be interested in? Well, keep reading my blog over the next few weeks and watch out for upcoming announcements.
Have a great week!
My Books
Buy one of my books... Available above at Amazon. Also available at SmashWords, Barnes & Noble and iTunes
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Writing Update: 06/16/13
Another week! It's been a tough one too. Back to work at the day job, trying to get the new house sorted, and also trying to write. Yep, the writing has suffered. Oh well, I'm almost 40,000 words into Ryann's Brother now, so this coming week I should pass the halfway mark. Yay!
What else is new? Not a lot. I'm struggling to get into a regular routine as I'm so tired, but hopefully I'll get that sorted during the next couple of weeks. After all, I have a lot more writing to do this year...
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Author Interview: Geraldine Evans
Today I am pleased to present to you all the 75th in a series of Author Interviews. Recently I sat down with the bed-lounging, palm-reading, Geraldine Evans, and our conversation went something like this:
About Louise Wise: Geraldine Evans has had twenty novels published–seventeen crime, one contemporary women/suspense, one historical and one romance.
She's been been plucked from slush piles twice: once by Robert Hale, and once by Macmillan, who took her very first mystery novel, DEAD BEFORE MORNING, and published it, in 1993. They sold it in turn to St Martin's Press in the US and thence on to Worldwide for softcover publication. Not bad for a writer who had endured six long years of rejections for her first six (romantic) novels.
She ventured into epublishing her backlist towards the end of 2010. So far,she has epublished ten of her novels, the latest being KITH AND KILL (#15 in Rafferty series) and THE EGG FACTORY, a Standalone contemporary women/suspense novel set in the world of the infertility industry.
Geraldine is a Londoner, but she and her late husband, moved to Norfolk (UK) in 2000. She is a member of the Crime Writers' Association and East Anglian Writers.
Geraldine's Blog: Geraldine Evans
Geraldine on Twitter: @gerrieevans
Geraldine on Facebook: Geraldine Evans
Gealdine's latest book: The Egg Factory (Amazon)
Geraldine: Not really, beyond trying to write every day.
Paul: What types of books
do you like to read? Who are your favorite authors? Why?
Geraldine: I like crime novels, historical novels and
historical non-fiction. My favorite crime authors are Reginald Hill, Cynthia
Harrod Eagles, Ruth Dudley Edwards. I like these authors because although
they’re crime novels, they also incorporate a lot of humor, which, for this
reader, adds to the enjoyment. Favorite historical novelists: Philippa Gregory,
Jean Plaidy, Sharon Penman. I like these authors, particularly, because they
are able to bring the past and its characters vividly to life for me.
Paul: If someone had the
power to step into your creative mind what would they see?
Geraldine: They would see all the ideas I have for
further writing, be it novels, short stories or non-fiction, all of which I
have written, though, so far, only my novels (20) and a variety of articles
have been published. My mind is teeming
with so many ideas that I sometimes wish I could be cloned so that I would have
time for them all.
Paul: What is a typical day
for you?
Geraldine: I tend to work very late so I’m not an early
riser. I perhaps get up around nine a.m., after eating breakfast in bed. Then,
once washed and dressed, it’s straight on my computer to check emails, book
sales and sales rankings. I have been concerned mostly lately with getting my
backlist eformatted. This is taking up a lot of time which means my WIP has
had to take a back seat, though I have written a number of short stories for my
writers’ group, which I intend to put up on kindle, etc., when time permits.
Since getting a laptop, I have come downstairs from my tiny study and work in
the living room. A chunk of my time is spent in trying to stop the room turning
into a hovel (I’m not a very tidy person). I have two two-seater settees and
one is currently buried under an avalanche of paper.
Paul: Do you have a
favorite character in each of your series, aside from the lead? If so, which
one and why?
Geraldine: In my Rafferty & Llewellyn procedural
series, I confess to a liking for my irreverent, rather naughty Catholic
priest, Father Roberto Kelly. I like him because he’s politically-incorrect,
like me! In my Casey & Catt procedural series, I like Star Casey, my lead’s
unreconstructed hippie father. I like him because he doesn’t obey anyone’s
rules, but lives his (admittedly drug-blurred) life on his own terms. That’s
one of the reasons I became a (thankfully, not drug-blurred) writer.
Paul: In all the years
you’ve been publishing your work, what is the biggest mistake you made that you
could share so others can avoid making it?
Geraldine: I suppose my biggest mistake was right at the
beginning of my writing career, when I failed to grasp the significance of the
size of the advance. Small advance = midlist status with no chance at hitting
bestsellerdom and little chance of making a living as a writer. Once branded
midlist, you tend to stay there. You’re also likely to be among the first to
be dropped from a publisher’s list when times are hard.
Paul: How do you find the time to write?
Geraldine: At the moment, because I’m eformatting my backlist, with great
difficulty. But at least now I’m now a full-time writer. Once I’ve finished
proofing Rafferty novels 8 and 9, I intend to concentrate on my WIP and finish preparing
the rest of my backlist later in the year.
Paul: What is one thing you hope I do not tell the
readers?
Geraldine: Ha! Ha! So many to choose from! Let me see. That I sometimes
lounge around in bed, reading, till 11.30 in the morning. My excuse is that I
often work into the wee small hours. And writers have got to read, right? So it
counts as work.
Paul: If you are self-published, what led to you
going your own way?
Geraldine: Reading
and learning from other authors who had already taken the Indie route. Writers
such as J A Konrath and Kristine Katherine Rusch, among others. They
explained the advantages, especially to the midlist author with a good-sized
backlist. I epublished four books in my backlist to which I had regained the
rights. And then, when I’d finished my latest WIP (Kith and Kill) and sent it
to my publishers, they demanded the erights to the rest of my backlist as a
condition of publishing. From my reading, I knew of the value of my backlist
and I refused their demand. So was thus totally thrown out of traditional
publishing and cast adrift on my own. It was an opportunity I was glad to
seize.
Paul: Do you plot your stories or do you just get
an idea and run with it?
Geraldine: I
tend to just get an idea and run with it. I’ve never been the kind of writer
who sits down and plans their novel from start to finish. To me, this would be
a fate worse than death. Utterly boring. I didn’t leave the dead-end day jobs
behind only to start boring myself voluntarily.
Paul: Do you do a lot of editing or do you find
that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?
Geraldine: I
find experience has made my writing more fully-formed. I seem able to write
with an editor’s eye. Although, once the first draft is done, I always have to
work on my descriptions, which tend to be on the short side.
Paul: Do you have to do much research for your
stories?
Geraldine: The
amount of research necessary depends on the story. Of course, for both my
procedural series, I have to keep up with advances in forensics and changes in
law and procedures. Apart from that, I’ve had to do most research for my historical
about Henry VII’s little sister, Mary Rose Tudor and for my Casey & Catt
series, the first of which involved deaths by arson of an Asian young woman and
her baby. This book demanded I read up on Asian culture and religion as well as
what happens to the body in death by fire.
Geraldine: My most recent book is The Egg Factory, a
contemporary/suspense set in the infertility industry. It involves the suicide
of my lead character’s younger sister, the reasons for which are tied up in her
involvement with an unscrupulous fertility expert and his amoral partner. Their
illegal activities attract the attention of organized crime, which leads the
main character, Ginnie Casey, an investigative journalist, into deadly danger
when she starts to look into the background to her sister, Karen’s, death.
Paul: What inspired you to
write this book?
Geraldine: Its sheer topicality and the fact that an
intriguing plot idea came to me, which I simply had to write. This was another
book that required extensive research, but that didn’t deter me. I’m one of
those writers who enjoy research. The trick is knowing when to stop!
Paul: Do you also write any poetry, non-fiction or
short stories?
Geraldine: Funnily
enough, although I haven’t written poetry since I was at school, I attended a
talk by a local poet only the other week and he had us writing a poem. About a
door of all things! He rather liked my effort, even though he had me reading it
backwards. I also write short non-fiction and short stories, though I have yet
to achieve publication of the latter.
Paul: Do you have any pieces of work that will
never see the light of day?
Geraldine: Never
say never. I think some of my earlier pieces might yet be resurrected once I
find the time to give them a thorough edit. My earlier works were romances
aimed at the Mills and Boon market and they’re well-known for having very
strict requirements. For six long years I tended to get back much the same
comment: ‘Too much plot and not enough romance’, although they said that my
writing was good. This comment moved me to murder, where I have found my niche.
Paul: Do you enter competitions? Are there any you
could recommend?
Geraldine: I’ve
entered very few competitions, though I would recommend the short story
competitions in Writing Magazine/Writers’ News. The winner receives a short,
professional critique of their work, which is as valuable as gold dust.
Paul: How much marketing do you do for your
published works or for your ‘brand’?
Geraldine: A
lot. This is another eater of writing time, but I feel it’s part of the job.
I’m a member of the Crime Writers’ Association, East Anglian Writers,
Crimespace, LinkedIn, The Red Room, plus several other sites. I tweet, I’m on
Facebook. I send out flyers and postcards. I comment on other people’s blogs
and I have my own blog and website (http:///www.geraldineevans.com).
I did a blog tour. I try to keep all these sites updated with my doings. Since
starting e-publishing, I can now afford to go to writers’ conventions, of which
I’ve booked several this year. I’ve also booked writing holidays for writing
improvement and networking.
Paul: What’s your favorite / least favorite aspect
of your writing life? Has anything surprised you?
Geraldine: My
favorite part is getting a good idea for a novel and running with it. My least
favorite, I suppose, is having so much writing time consumed by the ancillary
activities necessary to a writer’s life. I was surprised by the time it took to
actually achieve publication. I was even more surprised when, after having all
six of my romances rejected by Mills and Boon, my very first crime novel, Dead
Before Morning, was taken from Macmillan’s slush pile and published.
Paul: What do you do when you’re not writing? Do
you have any hobbies or party tricks?
Geraldine: Party
tricks? Yes, I read palms, though I’ve let this slide lately owing to time
constraints and I’ve forgotten most of it, anyway. I also enjoy gardening from
seeds and cuttings, growing my own vegetables, painting portraits and learning
to play the keyboards. I’m also about to sign up for a ballroom/Latin dancing
class. Good thing I no longer need to have a day job!
Paul: Thanks, Geraldine, that was great. I wish you every success for the future.
About Louise Wise: Geraldine Evans has had twenty novels published–seventeen crime, one contemporary women/suspense, one historical and one romance.
She's been been plucked from slush piles twice: once by Robert Hale, and once by Macmillan, who took her very first mystery novel, DEAD BEFORE MORNING, and published it, in 1993. They sold it in turn to St Martin's Press in the US and thence on to Worldwide for softcover publication. Not bad for a writer who had endured six long years of rejections for her first six (romantic) novels.
She ventured into epublishing her backlist towards the end of 2010. So far,she has epublished ten of her novels, the latest being KITH AND KILL (#15 in Rafferty series) and THE EGG FACTORY, a Standalone contemporary women/suspense novel set in the world of the infertility industry.
Geraldine is a Londoner, but she and her late husband, moved to Norfolk (UK) in 2000. She is a member of the Crime Writers' Association and East Anglian Writers.
Geraldine's Blog: Geraldine Evans
Geraldine on Twitter: @gerrieevans
Geraldine on Facebook: Geraldine Evans
Gealdine's latest book: The Egg Factory (Amazon)
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Infographic: Canceled: A Brief History of Single-Season TV Shows
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Review: 5th Street Bistro (Anacortes)
The 5th Street Bistro is located in The Majestic Inn and Spa in Anacortes and is a restaurant / bar that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I have been a regular at this establishment for the past fifteen months and I have probably been one of the most frequent visitors during this time. Therefore I believe my review is fair and just and reflects the changing nature of the restaurant.
When I first started visiting the 5th Street Bistro (March 2012) its menu was varied with plenty of choices for one and all. The Happy Hour was exceptional, the wine list adequate, and the main menu diverse. The bar and restaurant were also staffed with happy and skilled servers.
Wind forward fifteen months (June 2013) and there has been an almost 100% change in everything. The bar and wait staff has seen nearly everybody replaced (left to seek pastures new). Now that in itself is not necessarily bad, but in a small town like Anacortes where most places still employ the same staff as last year, it is most unusual and there has to be an underlying reason for it. Then there is the chef. In the fifteen months I have been there, the 5th Street Bistro is on its third chef. Enough said about staffing.
So, onto the food. There was a time about six months ago when I despaired of the menu. Suddenly it went from being a nice northwestern-themed hotel menu to a southern-based 'grits-insprired' offering. The Happy Hour became an Unhappy Hour, with everything suddenly going up drastically in price (with the hours shortened to boot). The 5th Street Bistro was pricing itself out of the market and also offering food that the local clientele did not want. Unfortunately this also came at a time when the restaurant was undergoing a complete redecoration and was closed / relocated for almost three weeks. Business suffered and something obviously had to be done.
Recently a new chef has been hired and the Happy Hour menu has been reworked. Prices have been lowered slightly and new items added. A few of the older, original, items have also been added back. I am told the main menu is also due for a complete overhaul along the same lines.
So what about quality? The 5th Street Bistro suffers because of itself. It is the only restaurant in Anacortes that is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night Happy Hour. And it does that with few menu changes and a diverse array of kitchen staff who have seen several chefs and cooks come and go. It is no little wonder that the quality of the food from hour to hour and day to day is, at best, inconsistent. I have seen two dishes go out side by side looking completely different even though the customers ordered the same exact thing.
Please simplify! Treat each dining period as a separate event. Make breakfast breakfast and lunch lunch. Change the menu, simplify it, educate the kitchen staff, keep everything consistent. Then for dinner, bring on the A-Team (oh, and for heaven's sake get rid of those abysmal 'home fries' - they are never cooked correctly, and go cold in two minutes).
Wow! I'm writing a lot and I haven't even covered half the topics I wanted to. Other suggestions? Employ a dining room manager (or two - one for AM/early PM and one for late PM) and have them actually run the dining room and bar. Let them make decisions about who gets which tables, ensure sidework gets done, food is to quality, and when servers get phased, etc. Management in this area is sadly lacking. Lastly, change it up a little from time to time - guest beer taps, cocktails of the day, new wines. The list is obvious. Again, a proper manager could make this happen.
I like the 5th Street Bistro. It's a friendly place. It serves mostly good food and has mostly good service. But it could be great with just a few minor tweaks. I look forward to the next fifteen months.
I have been a regular at this establishment for the past fifteen months and I have probably been one of the most frequent visitors during this time. Therefore I believe my review is fair and just and reflects the changing nature of the restaurant.
When I first started visiting the 5th Street Bistro (March 2012) its menu was varied with plenty of choices for one and all. The Happy Hour was exceptional, the wine list adequate, and the main menu diverse. The bar and restaurant were also staffed with happy and skilled servers.
Wind forward fifteen months (June 2013) and there has been an almost 100% change in everything. The bar and wait staff has seen nearly everybody replaced (left to seek pastures new). Now that in itself is not necessarily bad, but in a small town like Anacortes where most places still employ the same staff as last year, it is most unusual and there has to be an underlying reason for it. Then there is the chef. In the fifteen months I have been there, the 5th Street Bistro is on its third chef. Enough said about staffing.
So, onto the food. There was a time about six months ago when I despaired of the menu. Suddenly it went from being a nice northwestern-themed hotel menu to a southern-based 'grits-insprired' offering. The Happy Hour became an Unhappy Hour, with everything suddenly going up drastically in price (with the hours shortened to boot). The 5th Street Bistro was pricing itself out of the market and also offering food that the local clientele did not want. Unfortunately this also came at a time when the restaurant was undergoing a complete redecoration and was closed / relocated for almost three weeks. Business suffered and something obviously had to be done.
Recently a new chef has been hired and the Happy Hour menu has been reworked. Prices have been lowered slightly and new items added. A few of the older, original, items have also been added back. I am told the main menu is also due for a complete overhaul along the same lines.
So what about quality? The 5th Street Bistro suffers because of itself. It is the only restaurant in Anacortes that is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night Happy Hour. And it does that with few menu changes and a diverse array of kitchen staff who have seen several chefs and cooks come and go. It is no little wonder that the quality of the food from hour to hour and day to day is, at best, inconsistent. I have seen two dishes go out side by side looking completely different even though the customers ordered the same exact thing.
Please simplify! Treat each dining period as a separate event. Make breakfast breakfast and lunch lunch. Change the menu, simplify it, educate the kitchen staff, keep everything consistent. Then for dinner, bring on the A-Team (oh, and for heaven's sake get rid of those abysmal 'home fries' - they are never cooked correctly, and go cold in two minutes).
Wow! I'm writing a lot and I haven't even covered half the topics I wanted to. Other suggestions? Employ a dining room manager (or two - one for AM/early PM and one for late PM) and have them actually run the dining room and bar. Let them make decisions about who gets which tables, ensure sidework gets done, food is to quality, and when servers get phased, etc. Management in this area is sadly lacking. Lastly, change it up a little from time to time - guest beer taps, cocktails of the day, new wines. The list is obvious. Again, a proper manager could make this happen.
I like the 5th Street Bistro. It's a friendly place. It serves mostly good food and has mostly good service. But it could be great with just a few minor tweaks. I look forward to the next fifteen months.
Monday, June 10, 2013
My New Office
We've been moved into our new house for almost a week now and a lot of things are beginning to find their place. One of the biggest differences for me in our new house is my office space. It's been several years since I've had my own office and I'm really excited to get it looking just the way I want it.
At present it's just a few unpacked boxes and my PCs set up on a makeshift desk - but I have a plan! In August I will be buying a new L-Shaped desk and decorating my office with perhaps a feature wall and lots of pictures, press releases and photos. This is going to my home for many years and I spend a lot of time in my office so I want it to be my little sanctuary and inspiration.
Until then I will use it and slowly get used to its features and confines. It's good to use a space for a month or so before you reorganize it. That way you can get a feel for its pluses and minuses. But - bottom line - I love having my own office again. I am going to be a real professional writer now!
At present it's just a few unpacked boxes and my PCs set up on a makeshift desk - but I have a plan! In August I will be buying a new L-Shaped desk and decorating my office with perhaps a feature wall and lots of pictures, press releases and photos. This is going to my home for many years and I spend a lot of time in my office so I want it to be my little sanctuary and inspiration.
Until then I will use it and slowly get used to its features and confines. It's good to use a space for a month or so before you reorganize it. That way you can get a feel for its pluses and minuses. But - bottom line - I love having my own office again. I am going to be a real professional writer now!
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Writing Update: 06/09/13
It's been a busy week, and not everything has been about my writing! However, this blog post is supposed to be an update on my writing and so here we go...
Last Monday (6/3) my latest book, NotDone, was launched. It's currently available on Amazon and Smashwords (with other channels following soon) for $2.99. Go check it out!
Secondly, I've got back into the manuscript of Ryann's Brother, the first in a new fantasy series that is due for release in October. So far I'm about 30,000 words in (of about 85,000). There's still lots of writing tro do to get this manuscript written!
So, that's about it for today. Next week should be packed with lots of writing so I hope to give you a fuller update then. Until net Sunday, take care!
Last Monday (6/3) my latest book, NotDone, was launched. It's currently available on Amazon and Smashwords (with other channels following soon) for $2.99. Go check it out!
Secondly, I've got back into the manuscript of Ryann's Brother, the first in a new fantasy series that is due for release in October. So far I'm about 30,000 words in (of about 85,000). There's still lots of writing tro do to get this manuscript written!
So, that's about it for today. Next week should be packed with lots of writing so I hope to give you a fuller update then. Until net Sunday, take care!
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Saturday, June 8, 2013
Author Interview: Louise Wise
Today I am pleased to present to you all the 74th in a series of Author Interviews. Recently I sat down with the drug-concocting, hula-hoop dancing, Louise Wise, and our conversation went something like this:
About Louise Wise: Married, with four children, Louise Wise lives in England. She is a pharmacist technician by day, and a writer by night. She was educated in an ordinary state school and left without achieving much in the way of qualifications; you could say she was the result of a crap state-funded school. Hungry for knowledge she enrolled in an Adult Education centre and studied English, maths and creative writing. Whereas other young girls asked for makeup and clothes for their birthdays, she asked for encyclopedias! Louise Wise used her general love of romantic fiction and interest in astronomy to write her first published book, Eden. It was an experimental novel and was never meant to see the light of day! She had received many rejections, which stated that the novel was just too original for the current market. An agent took it on but failed to find a publisher for it, this urged Louise into believing in herself as a writer. Since then she believes she has found her niche with romantic comedy. Her books include: Eden, A Proper Charlie and non-fiction So You Want an Author Platform? And newly released, The Fall of the Misanthrope: I bitch, therefore I am.
Louise's Blog: Louise Wise
Louise on Twitter: @louise_wise
Louise on Facebook: Wise Words BookBlogger
Louise's latest book: The Fall of the Misanthrope: I Bitch Therefore I Am (Amazon)
Louise: I do like it
silent, maybe the radio on in the background and I HATE being watched. If
someone comes into the room where I’m working I stop what I’m doing — and I can
get quite stroppy if I’m interrupted too much! But that’s my prerogative,
right?
Paul: If someone had the
power to step into your creative mind what would they see?
Louise: Projects half
finished, a jumble of ideas, characters devolving and evolving, sound tracks
running through my mind, craziness and then suddenly a spark, and a
project/character is rounded and centralized. I love that moment.
Unfortunately, it comes at an impromptu time of day!
Paul: What is a typical
day for you?
Louise: I work as a
pharmacist technician, so I juggle that with kids and housework and then of
course my writing. I squeeze in my writing between it all, but as I’ve become
more successful I have decided to cut my hours at the pharmacy and concentrate
more on my writing.
Paul: Do you have a
favorite character in each of your series, aside from the lead? If so, which
one and why?
Louise: Fly from Eden has
always been a fantasy character for me. Every girl needs a fantasy man! He’s big,
dark, and dangerous. From A Proper Charlie I loved writing
about Melvin, a gay man who was slightly over obsessive about his best friend
Charlie, I loved the campiness of him but he was also very loyal and brave. In The
Fall of the Misanthrope it was Ellen Semple. She is everyone’s ‘jolly
hockey sticks’ type of woman. She is eternally happy; a fantastic
contrast to Valerie.
Paul: In all the years
you’ve been publishing your work, what is the biggest mistake you made that you
could share so others can avoid making it?
Louise: Don’t be in a
rush to have your work edited. I wasted a lot of money paying someone to edit a
manuscript that was really just a draft. Rest your work first, send it out to
beta readers, rewrite, rest again. Get it to the absolute BEST you can before
hiring an editor.
Paul: How do you find the
time to write?
Louise: If you love
something, you’re going to find the time. If time isn’t there maybe you don’t
love it enough?
Paul: What is one thing
you hope I do not tell the readers?
Louise: I battle with
depression, something which was covered in The Fall of the Misanthrope,
although I never had it as bad and my character Valerie. That lady had
problems!
Paul: If you are
self-published, what led to you going your own way?
Louise: I was writing
long before the Internet, and sending submissions to agents and playing the
waiting game. I have kept every single rejection letter. I thought I’d never be
published, especially as, to my utter delight, I found an agent for Eden. I
thought this is it! Success! But, no, getting an agent doesn’t mean she can
find a publisher for your book. All publishers thought Eden was
too niche, funny that Eden is my biggest seller! Anyway the
ePublishing boom started and I haven’t looked back.
Paul: Do you plot your
stories or do you just get an idea and run with it?
Louise: I get an idea and
run with it — for a while. I play with the characters in my head, write a chapter
or two and see if it has staying power. Once I’ve written the first or second
draft I begin another story. When that second story is drafted up I go back to
the first. Seems to work so far. At least is stops me from editing too soon.
Paul: Do you do a lot of
editing or do you find that as time goes on your writing is more fully-formed?
Louise: I think it’s a
mistake to edit as you go along. By the time you get to the end, the beginning
could have changed. Correct the odd spelling error or do a little research if
that’s what you need to move on to the next scene, but don’t go crazy. I don’t
even put chapters in, and I’ve highlights all over (yellow mean might want to
delete [never delete for real. Keep all deletes in another file just in case],
red means needs expanding/research) etc.
Paul: Do you have to do
much research for your stories?
Louise: Even a simple
romance needs research. With my chick lit A Proper Charlie my
central character worked as an office assistant for a newspaper (she longed to
be a journalist), but I hadn’t a clue as to how a newspaper is run. I
researched it and even ended up going to a job interview just so I could get a
tour of the building (asking would’ve probably got me a visit a little easier,
but I didn’t think of that at the time). The Internet is a good resource,
especially Google Earth. You can go anywhere with that.
Louise: The Fall of
the Misanthrope: I bitch, therefore I am is a comedy romance whose
central protagonist is suffering from depression. It’s essentially a dark and
modern Cinderella with Valerie Anthrope playing Cinderella, busy-body Ellen as
the fairy godmother, Lex as the dashing prince, Boots the cat as the slipper
(don’t ask!) and Valerie’s depression the ugly sisters. The end is a huge twist
though. It doesn’t end as you’d think.
Paul: What inspired you
to write this book?
Louise: I love chick lit,
books that make me smile. But some of them, I found, were too silly. I wanted
to write a grownup one, and so dreamed up a flawed character who was not only
unfunny, but bitchy and miserable too. She was so bitchy and miserable she
ended up being funny anyway!
Paul: What do you do when
you’re not writing? Do you have any hobbies or party tricks?
Louise: My job as a
pharmacist assistant can be very stressful job, but I love it. Meeting
different people every day can enrich your life and help dream up new
characters. I like doing ‘girly’ things like meeting up with friends and going
shopping, having dinner or going to see a film or a theater production. No
party tricks though. Oh, I can hula hoop, doesn’t that count?
Paul: Thanks, Louis. That was really interesting. I wish you every success for the future.
About Louise Wise: Married, with four children, Louise Wise lives in England. She is a pharmacist technician by day, and a writer by night. She was educated in an ordinary state school and left without achieving much in the way of qualifications; you could say she was the result of a crap state-funded school. Hungry for knowledge she enrolled in an Adult Education centre and studied English, maths and creative writing. Whereas other young girls asked for makeup and clothes for their birthdays, she asked for encyclopedias! Louise Wise used her general love of romantic fiction and interest in astronomy to write her first published book, Eden. It was an experimental novel and was never meant to see the light of day! She had received many rejections, which stated that the novel was just too original for the current market. An agent took it on but failed to find a publisher for it, this urged Louise into believing in herself as a writer. Since then she believes she has found her niche with romantic comedy. Her books include: Eden, A Proper Charlie and non-fiction So You Want an Author Platform? And newly released, The Fall of the Misanthrope: I bitch, therefore I am.
Louise's Blog: Louise Wise
Louise on Twitter: @louise_wise
Louise on Facebook: Wise Words BookBlogger
Louise's latest book: The Fall of the Misanthrope: I Bitch Therefore I Am (Amazon)
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