Ask the Author: Jack Byrne
Answered Questions (10)
Jack Byrne
I'm writing book 5 now and the outline for book 6 is done.
Jack Byrne
No, Deanna. Dingo Run completes a story arc as Jim Kelly and Mark Turner grow to understand and trust each other through the events of The Billabong, Walkabout and Dingo Run. That's not to say their story's over... there's lots more to come.
Jack Byrne
Kayla, it's not, yet. But a few more novels in, it will move into AU.
Jack Byrne
Hi, Renae, and thanks for your question! Historical writing can be difficult, because there's often a lot of research involved. I can understand why you would ask.
So: I had my two main characters firmly pictured in my mind when I sat down to write the first scene in 'The Billabong.' I closed my eyes to concentrate, thought, 'What was their story?' and opened my eyes again, and there was the opening scene of the book, playing in my mind's eye. It was clear as day, like watching a DVD, only I could feel the heat, smell the gum trees and the koala, and feel the vibration as the axe struck the hard ironbark timber. And then I nearly jumped out of my skin when the gunshot sounded. I don't know what you call that sort of writing. It's certainly not my usual writing style, but that's how it works with The Bushrangers stories.
I guess too, historical's not as hard to write for me as it is for others, because I have ridden horses a lot and lived out in the country for many years. I'm familiar with the native wildlife and the privations of living 'rough' and I find them in many ways easier to describe than city life. Given that, I'm continuing on with The Bushrangers series, with a third novella due for publication by the end of October, and a novel that I'm working on now and will submit soon.
But at the same time I've already moved into contemporary works as well, having had two short stories published and submitted a novella last week. I'm doing that because someone suggested to me that it might be an interesting change. I'm not sure about that, but I've given it a go. If it works, I'll keep writing both contemporary and historical, at the same time.
So: I had my two main characters firmly pictured in my mind when I sat down to write the first scene in 'The Billabong.' I closed my eyes to concentrate, thought, 'What was their story?' and opened my eyes again, and there was the opening scene of the book, playing in my mind's eye. It was clear as day, like watching a DVD, only I could feel the heat, smell the gum trees and the koala, and feel the vibration as the axe struck the hard ironbark timber. And then I nearly jumped out of my skin when the gunshot sounded. I don't know what you call that sort of writing. It's certainly not my usual writing style, but that's how it works with The Bushrangers stories.
I guess too, historical's not as hard to write for me as it is for others, because I have ridden horses a lot and lived out in the country for many years. I'm familiar with the native wildlife and the privations of living 'rough' and I find them in many ways easier to describe than city life. Given that, I'm continuing on with The Bushrangers series, with a third novella due for publication by the end of October, and a novel that I'm working on now and will submit soon.
But at the same time I've already moved into contemporary works as well, having had two short stories published and submitted a novella last week. I'm doing that because someone suggested to me that it might be an interesting change. I'm not sure about that, but I've given it a go. If it works, I'll keep writing both contemporary and historical, at the same time.
Jack Byrne
You can be great at writing, you can be great at devising intricate plots, you can develop characters fully, you can get the pace even....
But all that comes to nothing unless you have the motivation to sit down every day and write. I'm not sure what gives me that. The closest I can figure is that especially with my main characters, I kind of fall in love with them a little bit. So when I sit down to write, it's like spending time with old friends.
But all that comes to nothing unless you have the motivation to sit down every day and write. I'm not sure what gives me that. The closest I can figure is that especially with my main characters, I kind of fall in love with them a little bit. So when I sit down to write, it's like spending time with old friends.
Jack Byrne
I love this question. There's no short answer! With me, there's always a list: OK....
(1) I've been working with Dreamspinner Press on edits on the sequel to 'Walkabout' which is called 'Dingo Run' and just yesterday have done the final proof and returned it to them
(2) a short story which developed against my will into a contemporary novella which I'm polishing off today and sending off to Dreamspinner Press. A quiet, kind man meets an out-and-proud stranger. The attraction is immediate - or is it?
(3) A set of twelve contemporary novellas with a single loose theme.
(4) In general, learning to write emotion into my stories. Being Australian and raised by a military man, I was taught from age zero not to cry, not to show emotion, and to always maintain a stiff upper lip. I can remember when my first dog died when I was ten, feeling a deep numbness inside about it but being unable to break my training and let the tears flow. By then my father had realized his error, and he hugged me and told me it was all right to cry. Trouble is, I couldn't. So for me to write emotions into my stories is very difficult. I think I'm getting there. But I rely quite a bit on editorial and reader feedback to let me know if I'm getting it right in that department. What am I doing writing romance, you ask? God only knows. I'm sure other writers would do a better job of it.
(4) Where was I? Oh, yes, other things I'm working on: the first full-length novel in The Bushrangers story.
(5) I have three other seedling novel ideas in my working folder, waiting for inspiration to strike hard enough on each one for me to outline and begin writing them.
(1) I've been working with Dreamspinner Press on edits on the sequel to 'Walkabout' which is called 'Dingo Run' and just yesterday have done the final proof and returned it to them
(2) a short story which developed against my will into a contemporary novella which I'm polishing off today and sending off to Dreamspinner Press. A quiet, kind man meets an out-and-proud stranger. The attraction is immediate - or is it?
(3) A set of twelve contemporary novellas with a single loose theme.
(4) In general, learning to write emotion into my stories. Being Australian and raised by a military man, I was taught from age zero not to cry, not to show emotion, and to always maintain a stiff upper lip. I can remember when my first dog died when I was ten, feeling a deep numbness inside about it but being unable to break my training and let the tears flow. By then my father had realized his error, and he hugged me and told me it was all right to cry. Trouble is, I couldn't. So for me to write emotions into my stories is very difficult. I think I'm getting there. But I rely quite a bit on editorial and reader feedback to let me know if I'm getting it right in that department. What am I doing writing romance, you ask? God only knows. I'm sure other writers would do a better job of it.
(4) Where was I? Oh, yes, other things I'm working on: the first full-length novel in The Bushrangers story.
(5) I have three other seedling novel ideas in my working folder, waiting for inspiration to strike hard enough on each one for me to outline and begin writing them.
Jack Byrne
Write and write and write and get feedback and write some more. Listen to the feedback. Listen to your editor and take their advice. Stay positive and learn to accept constructive criticism. If you don't succeed in your chosen genre, try other genres. And then write some more.
Jack Byrne
The freedom. I can do what I want, when I want. The only exception is when inspiration hits me and I HAVE to go write it down right then and there. Other than that it's brilliant.
Jack Byrne
I know this is counterintuitive, but I stop writing. Because I think there's a certain point where you have poured all of yourself and your ideas out, and you need to reverse the flow, to seek input. That's the time I go saddle up my horse and go out riding for a few hours, go out to a party, go to the cinema, catch up with old friends, or chat on Facebook and catch up with everyone there.
Jack Byrne
So far (touch wood) I have never lacked for ideas. I find it very easy to come up with plot lines and characters. For me, it's the narrowing down of ideas to just one plot and a few main and secondary characters, that I find more difficult.
Having said that, the idea for my latest project (a male/male romance) came from watching a uTube video, seeing a movie, reading several books on British history, seeing a particularly beautiful landscape photograph, and overhearing an endearment from a very old man to his wife in a coffee shop. That comment crystallized the plot for the story for me, from the cloud of vaguely connected ideas growing in my mind.
Having said that, the idea for my latest project (a male/male romance) came from watching a uTube video, seeing a movie, reading several books on British history, seeing a particularly beautiful landscape photograph, and overhearing an endearment from a very old man to his wife in a coffee shop. That comment crystallized the plot for the story for me, from the cloud of vaguely connected ideas growing in my mind.
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