Ask the Author: Sue Towler
Answered Questions (8)
Sue Towler
High Country New Zealand. I would love to do an autumn muster.
Sue Towler
I'm planning on reading books by New Zealand Authors this summer.
Sue Towler
A visit to Erewon, a High Country Sheep Station in Canterbury New Zealand, was the inspiration. I heard and read an historical story about early settlers in the area in the 1800's and after reading and researching further, my story idea was formed.
Sue Towler
My first story came about after I woke up one morning with a sentence running through my head which sounded like the first line of a story. So I sat down one night, wrote the line down and carried on writing. 100 handwritten foolscap pages later I decided I either had a short story or the beginnings of a novel. The novel idea won out and Elizabeth's Diaries was the result.
The second book, Brigit, was inspired by the overwhelming positive reaction to Elizabeth's Diaries. I decided I wanted to write about Outback Australia so Brigit became my focus.
My third novel was inspired by a true story after a visit to Erewon High Country Station in Canterbury NZ in 2017. The story stirred something in me so I started to research life in NZ in the 1800's and Isolation was born.
The second book, Brigit, was inspired by the overwhelming positive reaction to Elizabeth's Diaries. I decided I wanted to write about Outback Australia so Brigit became my focus.
My third novel was inspired by a true story after a visit to Erewon High Country Station in Canterbury NZ in 2017. The story stirred something in me so I started to research life in NZ in the 1800's and Isolation was born.
Sue Towler
I am currently working on a series of children's books about a wee character called Geraldine Lamb. I will post more about that in due course.
Also on the go at the moment is my fourth novel, along similar lines to Isolation, but centered in Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand in the 1800's. The current working title is 'Stitches'.
Also on the go at the moment is my fourth novel, along similar lines to Isolation, but centered in Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand in the 1800's. The current working title is 'Stitches'.
Sue Towler
Some of the valuable advice I have been given over the years is: read - a lot. Learn sentence structure and characterisation from your favourite authors. I love Philippa Gregory and Diana Gabaldon.
Read books on how to write and choose the information that best fits with your style of writing. Don't try and reinvent the wheel, people who write the how-to books have done all that, learn from them, attend writing seminars/webinars courses. Not everything you learn will 'fit' with you but you will gain some valuable insights and helpful advice.
If you are serious and/or passionate about your writing don't give up - it took me 13 years and 13 re-writes to get my first book, Elizabeth's Diaries, to print. Rewrites are important, don't be afraid to do re-writes.
If you care about your book for goodness sake take the time to get it edited or at the very least, proofread by more than one person.
Good Luck and enjoy your writing.
Read books on how to write and choose the information that best fits with your style of writing. Don't try and reinvent the wheel, people who write the how-to books have done all that, learn from them, attend writing seminars/webinars courses. Not everything you learn will 'fit' with you but you will gain some valuable insights and helpful advice.
If you are serious and/or passionate about your writing don't give up - it took me 13 years and 13 re-writes to get my first book, Elizabeth's Diaries, to print. Rewrites are important, don't be afraid to do re-writes.
If you care about your book for goodness sake take the time to get it edited or at the very least, proofread by more than one person.
Good Luck and enjoy your writing.
Sue Towler
I love to talk and writing is another way for me to 'talk' about things I am passionate about, i.e. New Zealand High Country, Outback Australia and New Zealand Colonials in the 1800's.
Sue Towler
Fortunately for me I have a vivid imagination, I go to bed with an idea running through my head and after a sleepless night I have the beginning of a story.
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