Ask the Author: Lesley Donaldson
Answered Questions (6)
Lesley Donaldson
"The Queen's Viper" is my most recently published book. Viper began as a nameless character, a naked immortal sitting in a hotel lobby/dining room in London. The exterior of the building is old but the interior is new. I wondered what she would think sitting there. Was it her house? Why don't people see her if she's naked? I felt very predatory watching people around me, wondering how I could use them as leverage. During this trip, I found her name and her journey in the unattributed portrait of an aged Queen Elizabeth I holding a bouquet of roses. Turns out, the white paint of the roses disguised a black snake-like animal in Elizabeth's hand. Viper found her name and the rest fell into place. I sat back with that idea, as I explain on my blog, http://writerlesleydonaldson.com/writ..., until I attended the Ad Astra convention in Toronto, where Viper's story exploded from a stand-alone novel to a trilogy inspired by Celtic folk tales. The next book, "The Wrath of Atticus," takes its inspiration from the mysterious Elizabethan miniature by crown artist Nicholas Hilliard, and from ancient sites and stories of the UK.
Lesley Donaldson
At the age of three, I told a story about a cat named freckles. I've always been writing stories and incorporating creativity into my activities (I once turned a hospital research project into a show number). I didn't need inspiration to write. I pushed myself out the door from closet writer to "out there" writer after my first Blissdom Canada conference, where I redefined how I measure success and plotted a new trajectory for my future.
Lesley Donaldson
I have many writing projects, however, there are two biggies: an untitled teen horror about a small town youth who is being haunted after a major car crash, and the second book in my V'Braed series, "The Wrath of Atticus," in which Viper faces new adversaries, her old nemesis, while the UK turns upside down during the 2012 Olympics.
Lesley Donaldson
Work hard. Inspiration is not a mystical gift that you wait upon. Follow the sage advice of experienced writers to improve upon your craft. Finally, hire an editor - not just a friend who reads.
Lesley Donaldson
Unleashing my imagination in a productive, entertaining way is very rewarding. Plus, no one spits on me when I'm writing.
Lesley Donaldson
Writer's block isn't something that challenges me. The start of a scene or post more often gives me grief. That's where being a bit of a pantser helps. I jump into the meat of the work in progress, then return to the beginning. That way I don't get hung up on finding an opening tone/hook that is "just right."
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