Ask the Author: Alison Gardiner
Answered Questions (6)
Alison Gardiner
That people enjoy your stories, clearly getting involved in the new world. Their enthusiasm for the characters, action and humour is very inspiring. One of my readers named her hamster Skoodle after one of my main characters which was such a buzz. Several mothers have said that the stories have inspired their reluctant reader child to read more; that is a totally fabulous feeling. Following one school visit, a teacher reported that for days afterwards children were wandering around with their copies of my book, chatting about plot, characters, where they had got to etc. It's complete privilege to be involved in encouraging children to read and enjoy books more.
Alison Gardiner
There's a mass of stories rattling around my brain, banging on the inside of my skull, trying to get out. It's a joyous release to get them on a virtual page and see them ultimately fully formed.
Alison Gardiner
Alchemy sprang from my first book. I absolutely had to know what happened next and the only way of finding out was to write the sequel. The fantasy island of Eridor is rich in contrasts, such as Alex being non-magical yet fighting in a magical world; mortal danger lying alongside humour, so fertile ground for the sprouting of ideas. I love my characters (well, most of them), although sometimes felt slightly guilty about throwing them into major challenges with mythical beasts.
Alison Gardiner
Make your characters are real in your own mind. Characters drive the story, draw people in to your world, make them want to read on. You have to know them like your best friends; how they look, react, almost hear their voices in your head. Secondly, keep a notebook with you at all times to write down ideas as soon you have them, snippets of conversation, names, titles etc. It is crushing when you know was good, yet somehow you lost it.
Alison Gardiner
Mind mapping is key to me. I start with whatever I need to get sorted, main character or plot etc, in the central circle, and then keep asking questions. Why? Where? With who? How? I've found that if you keep asking enough questions the ideas start to flow, with visions being created in your head. I also avoid accepting my first idea, keeping prodding at the literary hornets’ nest until something better flies out.
Alison Gardiner
I’ve just completed the first draft of The Goblin’s Curse, book 3 in the Eridor series. Each book is stand alone but follows the same main characters through their adventures on Eridor. It's been a complete joy to go back and work with some of the characters from The Serpent of Eridor who only had a minor part in Alchemy. There are also many new, bizarre creatures which have been fantastic fun to create. When The Goblin’s Curse is sequestering in a drawer somewhere, maturing, waiting for my overstuffed brain to defrag, I'll convert my film script into a book as I had such a riot writing it and celluloid is currently only a dream.
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