Isn’t it great being friends with lots of other talented writers. I was kindly, and thoughtfully asked by the brilliantly quirky Jaimie Admans to take part in the My Writing Process Blog Tour. It’s a welcomed break from all the work I’ve been doing recently, although, a lot of it isn’t writng related, which is annoying. Somebody needs to give me a kick up the backside everyday until Here Lies Love is finished.

Jaimie Admans recently joined me in an interview and answered some questions about her Christmas release, North Pole Reform School that already has 47 5 & 4 * reviews!

The idea of this is that you answer four questions about your writing process, and then nominate other authors to follow you on the tour. I’m not sure that I’ll be able to match Jaimie’s fantastic answers, but I’ll have a go at least!

1) What am I working on?

As many people will probably know, I’ve been working on a new-adult novel called Here Lies Love, which closely follows Abbey as she tries to flee the man who she was sold to by her father. She has been abused and locked up inside of a wooden cage, but Abbey has a strong character. She knows she will eventually escape. What she doesn’t know, however, is that the world outside waiting for her, is also a cruel place. A place where she will be tested emotionally and physically; so much so, she may even contemplate returning to Stefan’s grounds.

Here Lies Love touches upon dystopia elements, which I recently discovered thanks to Sharon Sant’s Runners. It was such an eye-opener, a genre I quickly came to be interested in. Here Lies Love is by no means a follow up or comparison to the brilliant Sharon Sant’s work, but in my opinion, my own interpretation of the dystopian genre. It is a story I hope she may read one day and give two thumbs up to.

My young-adult fantasy novel, The Black Petal, has recently been signed to Ghostly Publishing, which still has me smiling! But in saying that, it is the first in a trilogy, which means I’m already doing research for the second book. All I will say is, read up on the Orpheus myth

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I’m not going to sit here and say that my work is an exemplary within the young-adult and new-adult genres. I’m a small time author in an ocean of much larger and more talented writers. What I would say however, is that I try to write with a lot of detail and emotion. I like to get into the heads of my characters, get them to ask questions of themselves as well as their surroundings.

This particular way of storytelling may not suit everybody, and that’s fine. But I do hope that my readers can connect with my characters, whether it be in a fantasy novel, a dystopian novel or in a small, dramatic novella, where the main character delves into the phobias of others.

3) Why do I write what I do?

I grew up reading a lot of adventure and fantasy stories, ranging from Enid Blyton to Philip Pullman – both huge names in the fiction world, yet completely opposite. I would like to think that both of these fantastic authors, as well as a host of others, influenced my own writing with all the varieties I explore.

Yet, I love fantasy. I relish the opportunity to delve deep into an unknown world. It’s an escape – one that has countless opportunities and unimaginable avenues to go down. I also grew up reading ancient myths from Greek, Roman, Norse and Mesopotamian cultures, which I explore somewhat in many of my works. It is what I love to read.

I recently conversed with acclaimed author, Raymond Khoury, on twitter and his advice for me was:

Write for yourself, as if nothing’s changed; and stay on top of every detail. No one cares about your career more than you.

Hey, if it worked for Raymond, then I’m certain, with much effort on my part, it can work for me.

4) How does my writing process work?

I always plan. It’s a must! I’m not sure how other writers can write, write and write away without a plan. It astounds me that many of the authors I enjoy reading, structure an entire novel without so much of a plan. My brain just doesn’t work that way I’m afraid.

Research is always a must, no matter what type of novel I am trying to write. Even if I don’t use any of the research I come across, it helps me develop my plan. By detailing the general overplan of each chapter, I can begin to form ideas of fitting events into the book as a whole.

When I do begin to write, I pretty much start off at Chapter 1, then 2 and so on. There is absolutely no way that i could ever write Chapter 10 before Chapter 8, let’s say. Nope – my OCD mind just won’t allow it. I also have to start off on paper – not very green and environmentally friendly, I know! but staring at a blank screen on Word sends my brain into a cocktail of confusion. A nice, new shiny white page, with lines and a margin – oh yes! And what this also means is that when I type up my scribblings (and believe me, nobody but me will be able to read them) I can edit as I go along.

It is always important to reach the end. I can elaborate and fill out areas if need be, one the book is ‘finished’ if that makes any sense. I often have a revelation at some point, where I go “ooh! That’ll work fantastic in Chapter such and such.” If that happens, I make a note of it and carry on – only returning to it at a later date.

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Phew~! How was that? I hope you enjoyed reading some of my answers! And remember, all of my books, both unpublished and published are available to add on Goodreads.

On a side note, today is the last day to vote on the Pick a Name Competition. Have your say in what one of the male characters in Here Lies Love will be called!!

I’m going to pass this tour onto two unlucky victims *ahem lucky authors, who I’m sure will relish the chance to reveal their writing processes.

Meet Zachary Bonelli

Zachary grew up in a small town in northern Illinois, west of Chicago. After graduating high school, he dual majored in English Literature and German Language at a small, Midwestern liberal arts college. After undergrad, he turned his eyes towards exploration, and spent many years in Japan, Thailand and Hawaii.

Nowadays, he lives with his partner near Seattle, Washington, where he works as a web developer.

He love stories and has long been fascinated by video games as a storytelling medium. Zachary also loves exploring different cultures, discovering the different underlying stories that different groups of people tell themselves, the stories that define who they are and how they perceive the world.

Zachary Bonelli’s Website

Meet Shannon Thompson

At sixteen years old, Shannon A. Thompson became the published author of “November Snow.” At twenty-one, she was featured in “Poems: a collection of works by twelve young Kansas poets.” On May 1st, her paranormal romance, “Minutes Before Sunset” was released by AEC Stellar Publishing. In July, it was awarded Goodreads Book of the Month. It’s the first novel in The Timely Death Trilogy. Her first short story, “Sean’s Bullet,” released in an anthology in October, 2013, and her upcoming novel, “Seconds Before Sunrise,” is expected to release March 27, 2014.
She’s lived in five states and moved over fifteen times, which she uses as inspiration for writing. Shannon dedicates all of her published works to lost loved ones, and she encourages everyone to find their passion.
Shannon recently graduated from the University of Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis on creative writing. She also works as a Social Media Marketing Manager for AEC Stellar Publishing, Inc.

Shannon A Thompson’s Website

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