Did you always want to be a writer?

That would be a categorical NO! I did lots of different part time jobs while I studied Commerce at University – I taught swimming lessons every day and waitressed every night during my summer holidays. I enjoyed being an accountant for many years and it  allowed me to travel all around the world and work, but it just wasn't right for me after I had my two children. I decided to try writing. I announced I was going to write a book and off I went. I was very fortunate to fall in with a supremely talented group of YA writers at TNBW. Writing is something I found I love to do and with the internet and all the advances in technology it’s easier than ever before to put your work out there. Getting people to read it is a whole other story.

 

Will there be a Midnght Chronicles Book 2?

Absolutely.

 

How long does it take to write a book?

My books are long compared to some other teen novels and I may also be a little slower than other authors. Many of my friends can get a book from idea to on sale in less than 6 months. It takes me about six months to write a book and then another nine months to go through rewrites, edits and the publishing process. I normally have two or three projects at different stages on the go at any point in time.
 

How much time do you spend writing each day?

It varies. I try to write something new every day. Most days I write for between 2 and 4 hours. That has me writing on average 400 words each day. So I get a chapter of new writing done every two weeks.

 

What do you do for the rest of the day?

Researching topics and places can be time consuming, particularly at the start of a novel.Then there is rewriting and editing – I spend way more time doing them than I do writing the first draft. I also spend and insane amount of time marketing and working on social media, visiting schools and book clubs and doing all the unavoidable administrative things that must be done when you run a business.

 

Who are your Favourite Authors?

I love everything by the supremely talented Cassandra Clare. She is a writing goddess. Then there is Rick Riordan who is of course a writing God! I love Melissa Marr’s teen books. Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington is one on my favourite books and her last two teen novels Disruption and Corruption were excellent. Lindsay Cummings is a young writing star – I can’t recommend her books enough.