Ask the Author: N.J. Simmonds
Answered Questions (7)
N.J. Simmonds
"You're not allowed to go," my mother told me, her voice like an icy breeze in my ear.
She'd never forbidden me to do anything, because my mother had died the day I was born.
She'd never forbidden me to do anything, because my mother had died the day I was born.
N.J. Simmonds
'The Path Keeper' grew and grew from two initial little idea seeds.
One was a documentary I watched about a teenage girl who was so desperate to fall in love and be loved that she didn't realise the 'boy' that she was crazy about was actually her best friend dressed up...which made me remember just how consuming love was for me in my late teens. How I would ignore all the warning signs about someone not being right for me just to get swept up in the drama of it all. Which is what Ella is like with Zac - she knows there's something strange about him, dangerous even, but she pushes and pushes because after such a crappy time she needs to feel those extremes. She needs to feel alive again.
The second idea seed created the scene where Ella is in bed waiting for Zac to let himself in to her room. That feeling of excitement and dread was a really vivid dream I had which made me want to explore the scenario further.
The rest? That just came as I went along, slotting it all into place until it somehow came together in the end.
One was a documentary I watched about a teenage girl who was so desperate to fall in love and be loved that she didn't realise the 'boy' that she was crazy about was actually her best friend dressed up...which made me remember just how consuming love was for me in my late teens. How I would ignore all the warning signs about someone not being right for me just to get swept up in the drama of it all. Which is what Ella is like with Zac - she knows there's something strange about him, dangerous even, but she pushes and pushes because after such a crappy time she needs to feel those extremes. She needs to feel alive again.
The second idea seed created the scene where Ella is in bed waiting for Zac to let himself in to her room. That feeling of excitement and dread was a really vivid dream I had which made me want to explore the scenario further.
The rest? That just came as I went along, slotting it all into place until it somehow came together in the end.
N.J. Simmonds
Everything inspires me every day. Something someone says, a line in a film, lyrics from a song, a pretty view, dreams, life, emotions - the good and bad. My problem is that I have too much inspiration...sometimes I have characters from a brand new book idea trying to muscle in on my planning for my current work in progress. My head can get very crowded at times!
N.J. Simmonds
'The Path Keeper' is a series so I am contracted to write a minimum of three books with Accent Press, which is great as I originally saw it as a trilogy (although I made spin it out further if my readers want me to). I'm currently finishing Book Two 'Son of Secrets' (out end of 2018) and planning the third in the series. I also have ideas for a horror, a romance thriller and a darkly humorous take on family life. I just need to get through the launch of 'The Path Keeper' first as I have tours in four countries over three months!
N.J. Simmonds
The good: I made my passion into my job, and I get to inspire others. That's why I love writing YA, meeting teens and supporting them at a crucial part of their life.
The bad: Don't expect to earn a lot of money or be taken seriously by most people. Keep the day job if you can.
The ugly: Working in my pajamas from the sofa or my bed and not seeing anyone for days - which means I look a complete wreck most of the time.
The bad: Don't expect to earn a lot of money or be taken seriously by most people. Keep the day job if you can.
The ugly: Working in my pajamas from the sofa or my bed and not seeing anyone for days - which means I look a complete wreck most of the time.
N.J. Simmonds
My advice in 5 steps...
1. Write! It may sound simple but to be a good writer you need to write, write and write. It doesn't matter if you keep a journal, manage a blog, guest write for other websites and magazines, or doodle poetry in your spare time - don't stop writing! No one has to see it, but like with any creative practice you'll get better and better.
2. Read! Read everything, even the genres and writers that you don't think you like. Look at the words they use, the pace of the writing, their style, the way that they form sentences for maximum impact, how different genres are structured, character arcs and the subtle nuances in the dialogue. By all means lose yourself in the story (a good book should be so good you'll struggle to analyse it because you want to enjoy it) but soak it all up. It will make your writing better.
3. Go on a writing course. No matter at what level your experience is at, not only will you enjoy it, learn something and have a sounding board for ideas...but you will also meet like minded people who will support you.
4. Be brave. There's no point writing if you don't let people read it and remark on it. Get your work out there and immerse yourself in the world of literature. Use social media to connect and throw yourself into it. I always reply to my social media followers and love supporting new talents!
5. Grow a thick skin. You'll need it. Agents will say no. Publishers will say no. Editors will say no. Your readers will give bad reviews. IT DOESN'T MATTER. Write for you, and as long as you are happy you can't fail. Someone somewhere will love it as much as you do...and they are the ones that keep you doing what you love.
Good luck!
1. Write! It may sound simple but to be a good writer you need to write, write and write. It doesn't matter if you keep a journal, manage a blog, guest write for other websites and magazines, or doodle poetry in your spare time - don't stop writing! No one has to see it, but like with any creative practice you'll get better and better.
2. Read! Read everything, even the genres and writers that you don't think you like. Look at the words they use, the pace of the writing, their style, the way that they form sentences for maximum impact, how different genres are structured, character arcs and the subtle nuances in the dialogue. By all means lose yourself in the story (a good book should be so good you'll struggle to analyse it because you want to enjoy it) but soak it all up. It will make your writing better.
3. Go on a writing course. No matter at what level your experience is at, not only will you enjoy it, learn something and have a sounding board for ideas...but you will also meet like minded people who will support you.
4. Be brave. There's no point writing if you don't let people read it and remark on it. Get your work out there and immerse yourself in the world of literature. Use social media to connect and throw yourself into it. I always reply to my social media followers and love supporting new talents!
5. Grow a thick skin. You'll need it. Agents will say no. Publishers will say no. Editors will say no. Your readers will give bad reviews. IT DOESN'T MATTER. Write for you, and as long as you are happy you can't fail. Someone somewhere will love it as much as you do...and they are the ones that keep you doing what you love.
Good luck!
N.J. Simmonds
I've been asked this before and the truth is that I don't really know what it means. Do other writers start typing without knowing where the story is going? I 'watch' the movie of my book in my mind for months before I start putting it on paper. I then write a rough outline and start writing. I also walk a lot and do lots of mundane mum things in my day, so during that time I am always ticking over ideas and ironing out the plot and character creases. Works for me. As for ideas...my problem is that I have TOO MANY ideas, there's no shortage of inspiration!
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