What is your name, where were you born and where do you live now?
Hi,
thanks for having me. I am Julieanne Lynch, born in Enniskillen, Northern
Ireland and now reside in Northern Ireland after living in the UK for over ten
years.
Did you always want to be a writer? If
not what did you want to be?
Yes,
I knew I always wanted to write, but not a novelist, journalism was my first
choice, believing that my dreams of writing a novel were unreachable.
What is the name of your latest book,
and if you had to summarise it in less than 20 words what would you say?
My
latest book is called, Walking with Shadows, and is the second novel in my
Shadows Trilogy series. Giselle’s life continues to spiral out of control, but
in all the darkness that surrounds her, there is a growing luminous light, that
will be her saviour, only the light comes from within.
Who is your publisher? or do you self
publish?
I
am signed to Strict Publishing International.
How long does it usually take you to
write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?
It
actually varies. Some work can take me on average three months, from start to
finish; other works tend to be harder and can take up to a year. It really all depends on how I first story
board my books, and how my own personal life affects them.
What can we expect from you in the
future? ie More books of the same genre?
Books of a different genre?
I
have one more book from the Shadows Trilogy – Fighting Shadows – due out this
summer. I do like to write Urban Fantasy
novels, and have a few works due for release later this year, and I am writing
more for an adult audience, as well as working on a middle grade novel,
possibly for release next year.
Do you have plans for a new book? Is
this book part of a series?
I
have actually begun a new series, Witchblade: The Hunters Saga, and so far I am
loving this story. I am enjoying researching the religious crusades of 12th
Century Europe and using elements imposed by the Waldensian empire, and
drafting them into my stories.
Do you have a favourite out of the books
you have written? If so why is it your favourite?
I
have fallen in love with my novel, The Bell Tower, which initially started off
as a short story. Why? Simply because I have taken my love of Gothicism and
incorporated it throughout the novel. My
MC, Nancy, is both heartbreakingly beautiful and hauntingly tragic. If and when I decide to send this into my
editor, I am sure the story will be successful because of the different
approach that I take on a heart-breaking tale.
Do you have a favourite character from
your books? and why are they your favourite?
Oh
yes! Antoine Vilniv from my Shadows Trilogy is just divine. He is fun to write
about and can be a breath of fresh air after writing more complex scenes. He is a strong character and is always
surprising me (crazy I know) and I just love his interactions with Giselle;
whom I have a will they/won’t they “thing” going on.
Where do you get your book plot ideas
from?What/Who is your inspiration?
I’ve
always had a great love affair with the classics and Gothicism, so in a sense,
my passion draws inspiration from the works of Polidori, Daphne Du Maurier and
Samuel Puig, just to name a few. Because of this passion, I am able to
incorporate a lot of Gothic and supernatural elements in my work, and not only
do I find this a great way to work, it keeps my passion alive.
Do you have a certain routine you have
for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
Normally,
a good writing day starts as soon as my children leave for school, and I can
write for seven to eight hours straight, more often than not forgetting to eat.
BUT, in saying this, I also have a lazy side, one that would love to
procrastinate as much as possible. On days
like this, I turn the laptop off and read, or do things around my house. Music
also plays a big role in my writing endeavours; I love nothing more than my
favourite bands playing as I write pivotal scenes in a story, and I often
compile a set track list for each novel. I find it interesting and a fun way to
interact with my readers.
Do you have anybody read your books and
give you reviews before you officially release them?ie. Your partner, children,
friends, reviewers you know?
I
do have a group of beta readers, and two proof readers that I use before I send
of my MS to my editor. But ultimately, I do send out ARC’s for review to a
selection of close knit reviewers, this normally happen 10-15 days before
release.
Do you gift books to readers to do
reviews?
Yes
I do. I have found having an active
Facebook page, and admins who keep it ticking over keeps the interest peeked.
So I often give permission for the admins to run some contests and send of
ARC’s in exchange for reviews.
Do you read all the reviews of your
book/books?
Yes!
Every single one; even the bad ones.
How do you come up with characters names
and place names in your books?
Most
of the time, if I am writing in a specific genre and place in time, I research
names of that era. For my Shadows Trilogy series, where most of my characters
have a Russian/Slavic and old European background, I researched names that had
a specific meaning. Take for instance my MC’s name, Giselle – her names means
hostage or pledge – very apt considering everything she goes through. The name
Afanas means immortal, Leonid means brave, Alexander means defender of men.
These are just a few examples of how I think when choosing my characters and
their names.
Do you basic plot/plan for your book,
before you actually begin writing it out? Or do you let the writing flow and
see where it takes the story?
Yes,
I story board everything. I write a
concise chapter by chapter plan, with main scenes that I expect to happen.
Obviously there are times when the writing flows freestyle and I can easily
step away from my original concepts, but I try my best not to. I like to stick with the original idea until
it comes to my revisions and editing, then if a change is needed, I perform
that change. Writing like this keeps my
expectations realistic and helps me stick to a set goal or deadline.
What do you do to unwind and relax?Do
you have a hobby?
I
like to hill walk, and work out. I am a
big fan of mountain climbing and intend to climb a few in 2013. To relax I love
to sit down with a chilled glass of wine and watch a movie or go out for meals
with my husband. I am not too hard to please. A good book always does the trick
as well.
Which format of book do you prefer,
ebook,hardback, or paperback?
I
am an honest to God advocate for the written word regardless of how it is
printed. If eBooks encourage more
children and teens to read, then I am behind it 100%. I do love my hardbacks and paperbacks, but in
these modern times, I doubt there is room to be over choosy. I think there is
something available to suit all tastes.
What is your favourite book and
Why? Have you read it more than once?
Now
this will comes as a surprise to you. I absolutely love and adore Alice
Walker’s, The Color Purple. My God does this book bring home to me the
hardships of the oppression women felt. It is well written and the way Walker
just draws me into the world of Celie and Nettie, it leaves me emotionally all
over the place and keeps me grounded. It is a pure masterpiece of the 20th
Century and it is a book I never tire of reading.
Do you think ebooks will ever totally
replace printed books?
I
doubt that they will, but like everything else, technology is always evolving
and remember the next generation of readers may encourage how well eBooks do.
Do you think children at schools these
days are encouraged enough to read? and/or do Imaginative writing?
I
think they are, in fact I know they are. My eleven year old daughter is
currently reading Roald Dahl’s, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, and she
loves it. She has also read Dicken’s Great Expectations, and various other
classics. I know that in her school they quite frequently have to take part in
imaginative writing and she enjoys it. But this is in her school, so I am
unsure of other’s.
Did you read a lot at school and write
lots of stories or is being a writer something newer in your life?
Yes!
I was BIG into my reading and devoured book after book, often choosing to read
over going to discos or socialising with my peers. I’ve been writing from the age of 12, and
wrote my first novel at the age of 16. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I
stepped back into the world of writing and began to take myself serious as a
writer. It seems to have been a natural
progression, and one that came with age and maturity.
What piece of advice would you give to a
new writer?
To
read, read, and read more. You can never
read enough, and of course write. Practice daily; carry a journal with you
wherever you go. Document everything that you consider interesting, as you
never know when you could use that in the future. Don’t be afraid to make
mistakes, because believe me, we all do. Research the industry and only submit
once you are 100 % happy with your product.
If you could invite three favourite
writers to dinner, who would you invite and enjoy chatting with?
Oh,
this is easy, Lovecraft, Jane Austen and James Patterson.
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Awesome interview, Julieanne! Very insightful and I look forward to your other works. :D
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