Ask the Author: Amy Friedman
Answered Questions (9)
Amy Friedman
Here's an mysterious anecdote from my own life, though it's definitely not the inspiration for "The House of Mirrors". In the 1990's, when I was at university in New Zealand, I walked down a street near the university, which I had walked down many times. I saw a house I had never seen before, a large two-storey grey house with a grass tennis court outside. A 6-year old blond boy in seventies clothes was on the tennis court with his dog, a golden retriever. The boy was throwing a tennis ball for the dog who looked at him lovingly. I never saw the house, tennis court, boy or dog before or since. Later that week I was at a bus stop where the house had been, a woman got talking to me. She said that in the seventies a large 2-storey grey house used to be there, there was a little boy that used to throw a tennis ball for his dog on the grass tennis court. The little boy had cancer and died at age 6. They're still there in spirit! I'm honoured that they appeared to me.
Amy Friedman
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Amy Friedman
I just finished writing "Coconut Beach", (the sequel to my novel "Brothers"). The sequel came mainly from my imagination, though I have met some people who are similar to some of my characters. I took the original book, fast forwarded 20 years so that the characters who were in their early 20's in the first book are now my age. The plot of the second book came from the natural unfolding of the characters' evolving personalities, as people grow and change. By the end of the second book, their lives had come full circle and they were no longer bound by the past or restricted by mistakes they had made when they were younger. The future shouldn't have to be limited by the past or who the characters were in the first book. Everyone can rewrite their script at any age.
Amy Friedman
Read regularly, read books that extend you and broaden your perspective. Write often, get feedback from other writers. Be prepared to rewrite parts of your work if necessary. Follow your heart, don't compromise your unique voice. Get a good publisher who is fair and gives you a fair contract. Take the contract home and get advice from other authors. Don't sign anything in haste; do your research. If you're writing about a subject you have no personal experience with, research it thoroughly first. I recommend the use of mind maps to plan anything you write. I thoroughly plan any fiction work; I do diagrams with arrows to show timelines in the plot or the relationship of the characters to each other. Don't start writing until you have a clear idea of where the book is heading.
Amy Friedman
It's rewarding being creative and writing whatever inspires you. As an author you get to play God in your books; meaning you decide what happens to your characters and how things turn out for them. You can write about a world you would like to live in, living vicariously. Having your own book launch is very rewarding if you get to do that; I sure enjoyed mine. Also the thrill of seeing your book in print. Getting positive feedback from your readers is exciting, signing autographs is surreal. Attending writer's groups is helpful as it tightens up your writing. In particular, getting feedback from other published authors who have more books out than you do helps you keep up with the play.
Amy Friedman
I meditate, do yoga, exercise and go out in nature. When I'm having a mental block or am distracted with other thoughts I do something else, and write later in the day when I'm feeling fresh and inspired again.
Amy Friedman
Coronavirus has come to planet Earth and wreaked havoc on its inhabitants. 2021 is not the year flying cars were invented; instead we are washing our hands and social distancing to avoid perishing slowly.
Amy Friedman
I'd go to Hogwarts via Platform 9 3/4. First I'd go to Diagon Alley to buy brooms, wands and other supplies. I'd stop at the Leaky Cauldron to have a Butterbeer with Harry and his friends. Then we'd travel by flying car to Hogwarts where we'd explore the castle, play Quidditch and try out some spells. (I've tried to delete the extra replies to this question, but I'm having computer problems. My computer will not allow me to delete multiple replies.)
Amy Friedman
I'd go to Hogwarts via Platform 9 3/4. First I'd go to Diagon Alley to buy brooms, wands and other supplies. I'd stop to have a Butterbeer at the Leaky Cauldron with Harry and his friends. Then we'd travel by flying car to Hogwarts where we'd explore the castle, play Quidditch and try out some spells.
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