Interview

Writing & Editing Checklists by K.M. Allan is out now!

~ ChanAtkins ~ 2 Comments

Interview with YA author K.M Allan on her new non-fiction release

Author K.M. Allan – image belongs to the author

Today on The Glorious Outsiders blog we have an exclusive interview with YA author K.M. Allan. In a break from YA fiction, the Blackbirch author has just released her first non-fiction book, Writing and Editing Checklists, with another non-fiction book soon to follow. I was curious about what prompted the move from fiction to non-fiction and what inspired her to share her tips and advice with new and aspiring writers. I have had the pleasure of reading this book and I’ll be recommending it to new writers I work with in my job, because it really is extremely useful! With handy checklists to refer back to, this book ensures you cover everything needed to write and edit your manuscript to perfection. You can find my review at the end of the post.

https://amzn.eu/d/b1lUUUB
  1. Your new book, a non-fiction titled Writing and Editing Checklists is out now. What made you decide to pen a non-fiction book after the Blackbirch YA series was complete?

Honestly, it was burnout.

I’d been working on the Blackbirch series for a long time, and its four books all came out within three years. When the final book was released, I needed a break.

No fictional ideas were coming to me, and I didn’t want to stop working on anything, so I turned to my writing blog.

At that point, I’d been writing about writing for seven years, and there were more than a few readers over that time who’d mentioned how helpful the posts were to their own process. I, and them, especially liked the checklist blog posts, so I decided to turn as many blogs as I could into checklists, and that’s how the book came about.

2. What would you say are the main challenges of writing a non-fiction book and how did the process differ from writing fiction?

Well, I didn’t have to come up with any plot twists for this book, so that was a big difference!

From a writing point of view, there were things that were similar, such as making sure the voice and tone of the book were consistent all the way through. I actually found that the biggest challenge was the formatting.

For Fiction books, you only have to worry about headers and footers, page numbers, and maybe some fancy drop capitals or chapter images. For non-fiction, because the format needed title pages, examples, bullet points, and graphics for the checklists, getting those elements right was a learning curve. It was frustrating at times, but once it all came together, it was worth it.

3. Your blog centres very much on sharing advice and tips – was this always the intention when you started blogging or did you fall into naturally?

It was definitely a bit of both. When I launched the blog, I didn’t have a book out or any creative work behind me, so the only thing I could blog about was my writing process, what I was learning as I was trying to write my first book, navigating impostor syndrome, and at the time, getting a book ready for querying with agents and publishers.

I found sharing tips and advice, my love of making checklists to write and edit, and writing routines the easiest topics to blog about, and readers really seemed to like that too.

4. Have you ever considered running workshops or clubs for aspiring writers?

No, I haven’t. I’m good with words on a screen, not so much with words in real life. I’d be too nervous for something like that, which is one of the reasons why I turned the posts into a book. I hope the book will reach more aspiring writers than the blog can, and help them that way.  

5. What research, if any, did you have to do to complete this new book?

As the content had already been researched when I wrote the original posts, I just had to research which posts were the most helpful to readers to decide what to include. As some of them go back seven years, I also made sure the info was still as accurate as possible.

6. Who did you have in mind as the audience when you wrote this book?

Definitely new writers, writers who like to be organized, and writers like me who love a good checklist to tick off so we feel like we know what we’re doing and have accomplished something.

7. What is the one bit of advice you would give to a new writer? The most important lesson to learn, in your opinion?

Go with whatever process gets you sitting at your desk, and just write. The more you write, the better you get at it. It’s how you learn what works and doesn’t work for you, and how you develop your own style.

I’d also add to read as much and as widely as you can. If a book makes you feel something, try and work out how and why so you can do the same for your own stories.

8. Can you tell us what helped you the most when writing Blackbirch? For example, writing handbooks, instructions, other blogs podcasts, writing advice etc?

I was learning as I went when writing Blackbirch, and then turning those lessons into posts for my blog, so that was helpful. As for writing books, The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi is one I’d highly recommend. If you’re a writer who hasn’t used it before, definitely check it and the other books in the series out. They are invaluable tools of the writing trade and so handy to have within reach when you’re working on an emotional scene.

9. Do you envision marketing this book will be different to marketing Blackbirch? Do you perceive any particular challenges, for example?

Marketing for me is the same as most writers nowadays, which is to post on social media and my blog and hope those following see it.

I do really enjoy the creative side of making marketing graphics and taking photos of my books, though, and that has been fun to do again.

As for challenges, I usually include book teasers with interesting dialogue, or the last sentence of a cliffhanger scene when marketing, and the checklist book doesn’t have those things. For that part of marketing, I’ll have to find something else from the book to highlight for new readers, but I’m looking forward to it.

10. What can we expect from you next? Please tell us about any upcoming projects!

Now that the checklist book is out, I’m excited about getting back into fiction writing. At the start of this year, I penned the opening paragraph of a YA murder-mystery that’s been floating around in my head for a few years now. I’ve missed coming up with characters and working on puzzling plots, so I’m eager to get back to that and start fleshing it all out.

image belongs to the author

If you’d like to find out more about K.M. Allan and her books please check out the links below.

Blog: https://kmallan.com/

Instrgam: https://www.instagram.com/k.m.allan_writer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/k.m.allan.author

And here is my review of her latest book, Writing and Editing Checklists:

“I was excited to read an ARC of this book and as a creative writing tutor and editor, I can honestly say I will be recommending this book to all of my students and any aspiring writers I make contact with. Personally, my brain likes checklists so this is a great format for me. It covers absolutely everything you can think of with regards to writing and editing and is a great little book to refer back to time and time again. You can jump around the chapters and pay attention to what suits you at the moment in your own writing journey. I think the editing checklists are so valuable too – they will enable writers to ensure their work is as clean as possible before spending money on an editor. This is a fantastic companion book for writers of all stages and genres. Highly recommended!”

Character Interview: Julie from Timelines

~ ChanAtkins ~ 2 Comments

Welcome to another character interview on The Glorious Outsiders, where we are obsessively addicted to good books and memorable characters! At the start of each month I post an interview with a character from a book I have enjoyed and for September that book is Timelines, the latest release from author Karen J. Mossman. I recently enjoyed this book, which is a quick read that leaves you desperate for more! It’s also a great introduction to Karen’s writing and style so I’d recommend it as a place to start if you’d like to try out her work. I hope you enjoy this interview with the main character, Julie! At the end you will find links to the book and Karen’s social media platforms!

  1. How old are you?

Hi I’m Julie and I am 28 years old.

2. Where do you come from?

I guess I could say I come from your future.

3. Where do you live? Describe it to us

I live and work in the West Sector. The world is divided into four, North, East, South and West. I live in the year 3326, where the world is very different from yours from what it once was.

4. Do you have a family, if so tell us about them

I have mother, but that’s all. She is a good person, but as I live and work on the base, I see very little of her. My work colleagues are my family.

5. Who is your best friend and why?

Ricardo. He and I time hop together. He knows me better than anyone else and we look out for each other.

6. What are your talents?

I don’t know if you would call them talents, but I’m good at my job. Not everyone can do it. We travel to the past and are invisible. We have no tangible form. We cannot interact, take anything with us, or bring anything back. We are basically an observer who reports back past atrocities, this helps our world credit rating. We cannot dwell on what we see or become emotional about it. I have been told that is a talent, but it’s not really. We are highly trained personnel.

7. What do you think people think of you?

They think that I am good at my job and I am. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be able to do it.

8. What’s your biggest fear?

That something will go wrong with our time hop. Nothing has ever gone wrong, until this now.

9. What’s your biggest hope?

That there would not be so much fighting between the sectors. The East or the worst, but the other have their problems. It is only us in the West who are sensible and fair.

10. Is there anything about your life you would change?

No, absolutely nothing. It is a great honour to see our history first hand. To witness what it was like for people back then.

11. Where would you like to be in 5 years time?

I don’t have any aspirations to get further in my job. Time Traveling is the ultimate and everyone else aspires to it.

12. Do you have any regrets?

With this trip going wrong, I became emotionally involved. This gave me regrets that lingered long after. I wanted to help the people who were being rounded up and killed. I felt their fear and it will lingers inside me forever.

13. How would you like to be remembered?

As someone who was good at her job and not for how I reacted when I returned as an emotional wreck.

14. What are your hobbies/how do you relax?

I like to read. We have a vast digital library and I particularly enjoy reading fiction based on the places I’ve visited. It brings me closer to my ancestors and I get to experience and feel as they did in their time. Although, I must say when I experienced it first hand and felt the emotional value, it put me off reading for a long time.

Thank you very much for having me. I must add that you find can find out more about my story on a video made by Norns Triad Publications. They now offer this service to other authors. More information here – https://nornstriad.com/services/norns-video-production/

Book Description

Time travel can be a useful resource, but what if something unexpected goes wrong? In the year 3236, the government uses time travel to document the mistakes of the past. It’s a way to gain power in the present by learning from history. During a leap back to WWII, Astro-archeologist Julie finds her safe projection hasn’t gone as planned. Instead of the ethereal presence she’s supposed to be, she’s actually visible. What will that mean when she stumbles upon a small village being raided by German soldiers? Faced with death all around her, Julie has to find her way back to the future. But when she returns, will she be the same person she was? Or will the paradoxes of time travel change her life forever?

Universal Link https://geni.us/TimeLines

Publication Date 30th August

Website karenjmossman.com

Find our more about Karen and her social media links are here – https://nornstriad.com/authors/karen-j-mossman/

Excerpt

A displacement like this had never happened before. Ricardo and I were both seasoned travellers, and neither of us experienced anything like this. The anomaly was more cause for concern than my response to it, but even more reason for me to pull myself together.

I forced open my eyes. Not only did I want to see my colleagues, but I also needed to reassure myself that I really was home. It comforted me to hope everything had somehow been a dream.

With a whoosh, the sliding doors to the hospital bay opened. Stepping inside, Ricardo gently laid me on a bed.

Exhausted, my eyes closed again the second I hit the sheets. Darkness consumed me as I slipped into unconsciousness.

Indie Author Of The Month – Richard Dee

~ ChanAtkins ~ 2 Comments

It’s been a while since we highlighted a fellow indie author on the blog, but that’s more to do with how little time I have for reading at the moment, then the quality of indie authors I’m coming across! Please welcome sci-fi/fantasy author Richard Dee to The Glorious Outsiders today. Richard has just launched a brand new novel, We Are Saul, which I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing recently. Here, Richard tells us about the inspiration for the book, the research needed to write it, his writing process plus his tips for aspiring indie authors! You can find links to Richard’s social media pages and books at the end of the interview. Here is the blurb for We Are Saul, followed by the interview.

When Saul is paralysed in an accident, he thinks it’s the end of his life. In fact, it’s just the beginning. While trying to come to terms with his injuries, the mysterious Dr Tendral offers him a way to make a difference. All he has to do is join his project. There are no other details until he agrees, he’s either in or out. What choice does he have? Agreeing is just the beginning. Saul undergoes drastic surgery, only then is the full depth of the project revealed. Or is it? As time goes on and he learns more about Tendral’s scheme, Saul’s new life becomes increasingly difficult. In the end, he has to abandon everything as he learns the truth. All second chances come with a price.

  1. Congratulations on the release of We Are Saul – tell us a bit about the book!

We Are Saul is my eighteenth novel and a stand-alone story. Although it may get a sequel one day, a lot of my series have started with the intention of being stand-alone stories, so never say never. Basically, it explores the life of a man (Saul) who is given a second chance, after things go horribly wrong. Circumstances force him to face and relive his past mistakes and he learns that second chances come with a price.

  1. Where did the idea for We Are Saul come from? What inspired it?

The idea grew from research that I did when writing the sequel to my earlier novel, Life and Other Dreams. I’ve been trying to write that particular sequel since 2017, every time I think I’m getting close to completing it, I get side-tracked by some part of the science that I’m researching or a part of the plot. Before I know it, a new story suggests itself. We Are Saul is the third (or fourth) such side project.

  1. Did you have to do much research to write this book and if so, what did you research and how?

I had to research nanotechnology, robotics, wireless communications, advances in liquid batteries and a lot more besides. I also needed to look at medical ethics and emotional responses to certain situations in quite a bit of detail. Some of it was only for a short paragraph in the book but it all needed to sound right.

  1. What are you working on right now? Tell us about any upcoming releases

I have about ten, part-finished novels, one or two of which I’m hoping to get finished this year. Most of them continue series, which I get most of my ideas for. I also have a new stand-alone project, a psychological thriller, that’s earmarked for NaNoWriMo 2022.

  1. What are your preferred genres to write in and why?

I write Science Fiction and Steampunk adventures, as well as an amateur detective series set in space. I’ve also dabbled in High Fantasy and psychological thrillers and have written a textbook. They are the sort of thing that I always loved to read.   Most of my work crosses or blends genres, which can make them hard to place in marketing.  

  1. What about reading? Which genres do you prefer and why?

I’ll read just about anything, although, as I said, I do prefer the sort of thing that I like to write. Never to pinch ideas but to get a feeling for where others are taking the genre. Often, it’s more a case of what someone hasn’t written. That’s the thing that will plant the seed that leads to my next idea.

  1. Name your top 3 favourite books of all time

My first choice is a bit of a cheat, The Foundation series by Isaac Asimov (I know it’s more than one book but it all fits together as one story). Next is The City and the Stars by Arthur C. Clarke. Lastly, The Hobbit. From a single line, Tolkien created a world. It shows what can be done.

  1. What is your writing process? How does an idea become a book?

I get an idea and see a film of the story in my head. I just write down what happens. I can slow the action or pause it for a better look, I can even rewind it but I can never fast-forward. This means that I see the end at the same time as the reader does. It’s usually as much a surprise to me as it will be (I hope) to them.

  1. What are the best things about being an indie author?

I have complete freedom of expression, no deadlines to stress over and more importantly, nobody telling me to change anything. I can employ my own editors (and ignore them if I want to), design my own covers, set prices, control distribution and special offers. I have a network of beta readers who give me honest opinions about new projects.

  1. What are the worst things about being an indie author?

Marketing is the thing that gives me the most grief, although I hear that’s a familiar refrain from the trad side of the publishing world as well. I think the worst thing about the Indie scene is the assumption (from some parts) that, as Indies, we’re somehow not proper authors or that our work is not very good, because we don’t have the endorsement of agents and publishing contracts. I submitted my early novels to agents but never got much feedback, now I rely on the reaction of my readers to validate my efforts, which I think is a much more accurate indicator of my ability.

  1. Who is your favourite character from one of your own books and why?

My overall favourite is my amateur detective, Andorra Pett. Purely because she is an amalgamation of the traits and personalities of my wife and my three daughters. It makes her fun to write, as her adventures bring back memories of the life events that inspired them.

  1. What comes first for you, the characters or the plot?

As I said, I get the whole package in one, so I don’t have to agonise about setting the scene, building a world or even working out a plot. It’s all done for me. All I do is watch what happens and copy it down.

  1. What advice would you give to anyone considering the indie route?

First, don’t be afraid. There are so many generous people in the Indie community. They have helped me by sharing their knowledge and experience as I’ve progressed on my journey. You don’t need to spend much to get started, just about everything you need to produce words and pictures has a free version. The one thing you do need to spend money on is a good editor, remember that everything you produce will be scrutinised and must be of a professional standard. The most important thing is to be patient and not to get discouraged.

Thank you so much to Richard for joining us here to talk about We Are Saul. Here are the relevant links!

Purchase: http://mybook.to/We_are_Saul

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60304988-we-are-saul

About Richard Dee

I’m Richard Dee and I’m from Brixham in Devon.

I write Science Fiction and Steampunk adventures, as well as chronicling the exploits of Andorra Pett, a reluctant amateur detective.

I spent forty years in shipping, firstly at sea, then in Port Control and as a Thames River Pilot, with adventures to match anything you could imagine. When I retired, I just moved them out into space, changed some of the names and wrote them down.

When I’m not writing, I bake bread and biscuits, cook delicious meals and walk the Devon coast.

My first novel, Freefall, was published in 2013, my eighteenth, We Are Saul, will be published in June 2022

I also contributed a story to the 1066 Turned Upside Down collection of alternative history stories. I’m currently working on more prequels, sequels, and a few new projects.

I’m an active member of Exeter Authors Association, attending events and giving talks on World-building for speculative fiction. You can keep up with me at https://richarddeescifi.co.uk/ where you’ll find free short stories, regular features on writing, book reviews and guest appearances from other great authors.

There’s also an offer for a FREE novella, when you join my subscriber’s newsletter. I can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RichardDeeAuthor

Richard can be contacted at: mailto:richarddeescifi@gmail.com

Indie Author of the Month – Sim Alec Sansford

~ ChanAtkins ~ 4 Comments

It’s time to celebrate another indie author and this month I am welcoming Sim Alec Sansford to The Glorious Outsiders. Sim was one of the masterminds behind last years very first Blandford Literary Festival – a fantastic literary event I was honoured to be a part of. Sim has also just released his debut novel, Welcome To Denver Falls. Here, Sim tells us how it feels to finally be a published writer, how music is a massive inspiration and how supportive and welcoming he has found the writing community to be.

  1. Tell us about your latest release. What is it about and who is it aimed at?

My latest release is my debut novel, Welcome to Denver Falls.

The story follows photography student, Harper Andrews, who leaves the comfort of her college campus behind, and ventures to the mysterious town of Denver Falls. Plagued by haunting dreams and unsettling visions, Harper faces a race against time to unlock secrets of the past in order to save her future.

There is a lot of suspense and a little romance, but it is really a tale about friendship and self-belief. That’s the message I hope resonates the most with readers.

2. Tell us about your publishing journey so far.

My first experience with publishing was in November 2019, when I published my first short story, The Storm, online. Growing up, as a young writer, I found it difficult to know where to turn for support. This prevented me from sharing my work. In early 2019, I heard about a local writing group in my town and decided to put my fears and anxieties aside. I took my short story along with me, and the reaction from the other writers was an incredible confidence boost. I was fortunate to make some great friends who ultimately talked me through the process of publishing my work online. It was a mountain to overcome the fear of sharing my work but, it is most definitely the best thing I have ever done.

3. When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

To be completely honest, I can’t remember a time that I didn’t want to write. There was something about books that I found absolutely magical and I knew right away that I wanted to be part of that magic. Whether I was writing, editing or even publishing, I knew someday, somehow, I was going to be part of that world… and I guess now I am, and that’s a really amazing feeling.

4. What is your typical writing day like?

To sum it up in one word: emotional.

I don’t think I have experienced anything else in my life so far that can cause such a whirlwind of emotions. For the most part, my writing days are pretty exciting. I love nothing more than escaping into the mind of my characters and quite often they will end up surprising me by taking things in a different direction than intended. Then there come the nagging thoughts… that sentence doesn’t sit right… But if that character does that it will change this?… Does that sound like something they would say?… How would a reader respond to this?… And so on. On a good day, I can just sit for hours typing away on the keys and before I know it the story has written itself. The trick is to not sweat the small things, just write. The rest comes later in editing.

5. What is your writing process? (how do you plot a book, come up with characters, find motivation etc)

Usually, it starts with an image. Just a quick snap shot or a short scene played out in my head. Quite often triggered by music which is something I rely on quite heavily when I need to set the tone for a story or a character. My latest release began as a small scene in a daydream; a young girl in a forest alone, then a man appeared and asked her if she was lost. It was only a small image, but from that I found myself asking a hundred questions… Who is this person? What is she doing in the forest? Is she good, evil, both? Where is the forest? Who is the man? What are his intentions?…

From there I slowly map out a plot in my head and create a playlist of songs that help capture the mood of the story. These songs then help me add new scenes, be it by interpretation of the lyrics or the way they make me feel. I tend to map most things out in my head starting with a beginning, middle and end. For the rest of the story, my way of expanding plot is just to write. I see where the story takes me and slowly over time new ideas and characters are added.

6. What has been the most positive thing about your publishing journey so far?

Definitely the connections I have made with other writers, readers and creatives. I have met some incredibly talented people that I am proud to call my friends. Their knowledge and experience have been invaluable to me and I am able to provide them with new perspectives that perhaps they have never considered. It really is a fantastic community to be part of.

7. What has been the most negative thing about your publishing journey so far?

Being self-published comes with a lot of challenges, mostly financial. Without the push of a major print, it can be expensive to promote your work, and it is often disheartening if you spend a lot of time and money on an ad campaign that returns few results. The important thing to remember is one new reader is one more than you had before. You have to stay positive and stick at it.

8. Who is your favourite character from your own books and why?

Of course, I love all of my characters, but I have to say that Abigail Millar is my favourite. She first appeared in my book, The Willow, where her story serves as a prequel to Welcome to Denver Falls. It was actually only after I had written the book that I realised just how much I had in common with her. While I have not ever made three wishes on a creepy willow tree in the middle of the woods, she really resonates with me. She’s strong and determined, and I love that.

9. Where do your ideas come from?

Most of my ideas come from music. I am a big fan of reimagined songs and love the new (often creepy) twists that the artist put on them. Bands like Until the Ribbon Breaks, and Denmark + Winter do this particularly well.

10. What can we expect from you next?

Currently, I am continuing the story of Denver Falls in the form of a second book, and a weekly series on my blog titled Welcome to Denver Falls: Soul Mate.

Though I do have a few old projects that I would love to bring to life. Particularly a supernatural dystopian romance I have been working on since my teen years. I have an eclectic group of characters in that story, and I’m positive readers will love them as much as I do. However, for now, my focus is on Denver Falls.

11. Tell us three facts about you.

I would be completely lost without music.

I’m a little bit psychic.

I value friendship over everything.

12. What is the best advice you could give to aspiring writers?

JUST. DO. IT.

I waited far too long to put my work out there for fear of the reaction… Are my stories any good? My characters compelling? Will people steal my ideas? Do I need to stick to a word count? What if I never get published? The truth is, the only person standing in your way is you.

Pick up the pen. Grab your phone or computer. Whatever you have to do, but just start writing. Don’t worry about the end goal too much, just enjoy the journey.

Writing, like life, is all about growing and changing. It doesn’t have to be perfect the first time. It is your world and you’re in control.

Thank you so much to Sim for joining us on the blog today as our Indie Author of The Month. If you would like to find out more about Sim and his work his bio and links are below!

Born and raised in the county town of Dorchester, Dorset, Sim began scribbling away stories on scraps of paper since before he can remember. He spent a lot of his childhood on adventures walking the dogs in the woodland surrounding Thomas Hardy’s cottage with his family. Something about the cottage and ‘the man what wrote stuff’ who had lived there sparked a fire inside him, it was from there he began to focus on writing more seriously. 
In 2012, Sim signed up to Open University to study Creative Writing alongside working full time. He isn’t quite sure how he made it out alive, but he graduated with honours and began using the skills he had acquired to edit and redraft old work. 

http://www.simalecsansford.com
Twitter.com/simsansford 
Instagram.com/simeon_alec
Facebook.com/SimAlecSansford