Where are you from?
All
the way across the world for most people. I’m in Melbourne, Australia, the city
with four seasons in one day.
Tell us your latest news?
News,
as in plural? My paperback for my upcoming novel, DROWNING IN YOU (DiY), is
much prettier than the eBook. I should be receiving proofs to approve these
paperbacks in a couple of weeks. I can’t believe more than 2,500 people have
added *my* book to Goodreads. That enough? (Yes, Rebecca, enough self promo!)
When and why did you begin writing?
I
know it sounds cliché but I’ve been writing and making books since pre-school.
Back then I would write my own versions of fairy tales such as RAPUNZEL and
make a cover and pretty illustrations to go with it.
These
days, I’m cautious of copyright and I write my own stuff.
When did you first consider yourself a
writer?
A
serious one? I started my first serious manuscript back in August 2010. I was
19 then. It’s been a long journey but the 2 and 1/2 years writing and wanting
to get published have been worth it to learn as much as I know now.
What inspired you to write your first
book?
I’d
been wanting to do some creative writing for a while but no idea long enough
would come to me. Nowadays, like my first idea for a book, I get my ideas from
my experiences and putting a “What If” spin on them.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Yes!
It’s quite direct, makes you feel in the moment, and is emotional.
How did you come up with the title?
DiY
came along after I’d finished and rewritten a second draft. Writing it, I was
emotionally drained, yet beautifully in love, and the idea of metaphorically
drowning in someone you love randomly sprung to mind.
Is there a message in your novel that
you want readers to grasp?
Absolutely.
Love always wins. Always.
How much of the book is realistic?
Being
a perfectionist, I struggle to write extraordinary, unbelievable aspects. I
used to be a State-level swimmer and I’m a Type 1 Diabetic so every scenario
that occurs regarding both those aspects in my books are all true and correct.
;)
Are experiences based on someone you
know, or events in your own life?
Always.
I can’t write something that I don’t know what feels like. Sure, my parents are
alive and healthy and I’ve never been accused of murder but I use scenarios
where I’ve felt a similar emotion and draw on that for a particular scene.
What books have most influenced your
life most?
Man,
my favourite question being foremost an avid reader. I was 9 when I started the
HARRY POTTER series and that shaped my childhood. TWLIGHT made me love books
again after my horrid teen years where I was afraid to be seen with a novel.
More
recent ones that have affected the types of stories I like to write are THE SEA
OF TRANQUILITY and BEAUTIFUL DISASTER.
If you had to choose, which writer would
you consider a mentor?
Jodi
Picoult! I can’t adequately explain her genius but I’ve never read a book with
realer, deeper, fuller characters than hers…and the storylines! Man, she knows
how to pen an unputdownable novel.
What book are you reading now?
TEN
TINY BREATHS and at 25% into the story, I can tell it’s going to be a
5-starrer. Sooo good.
What are your current projects?
I’m
currently working on another New Adult Contemporary Romance. I’m devouring this
genre like crazy, so it’s expected I had to write another.
Name one entity that you feel supported
you outside of family members.
To
be honest, my most supportive group—ever—have been my circle of writing friends
and critique readers. I absolutely couldn’t have come this far without them. They
are like family to me.
Can you share a little of your current
work with us?
Yay!
Here’s my favourite snippet from DiY:
“This isn’t the type of thing I do,
confronting a guy I’ve been in love with, confronting rumors of how my mom died
and how my father was critically injured.
This isn’t the type of thing I do,
finding out if the guy I’m in love with is a murderer.”
Is there anything you find particularly
challenging in your writing?
Yes!
Making it interesting to my readers!
Who designed the covers?
Sarah
Hansen from Okay Creations designed DiY. She designs many covers that grace the
lists of the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon and more. She’s amazing, simply.
What was the hardest part of writing
your book?
The
emotions. I don’t just write a “fake” story. Everything that happens is real in
my head. I can’t write interesting and realistic stories unless I believe I’m
the characters feeling the things that are occurring.
So,
being in all those tough situations my characters go through. It’s an out-of-this-world
feeling with so much power in your hands: so intense.
Did you learn anything from writing your
book and what was it?
I
did! I learned about love again and about finding your soul mate. Makes me
appreciate having someone care about me, too.
Do you have any advice for other
writers?
Read,
and read more. I’ve spent lots of time figuring out how to best improve my
writing and the only way to be better than the books out there is to know your
competition. Analyse the bits you love and hate from books and figure out how
you can put your own twist on that technique.
You
can’t learn to write well unless you pump your mind full of great fiction.
Do you have anything specific that you
want to say to your readers?
Thanks!
Sure, I do. Please visit my website/blog. I have all my social media links there
to stalk, and I love sharing giveaways, freebies, and lots of book news.
Follow Rebecca:
Blog/website
| Facebook | Twitter
| Goodreads
Drowning in You:
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