Ask the Author: J.M. Hartwig
Answered Questions (6)
J.M. Hartwig
I can't really remember where the idea came from. The character of Aidan Grifford emerged from my second novel Storm Shot, and allowing him to become the storyteller for Without a Trace just happened. Storm Shot took nearly 2 years to research and write. Without a Trace took only 3 months to complete the first draft. The story grew and emerged with the character which made it easy to end the book with the lead in to the sequel.
J.M. Hartwig
Being connected to my characters helps. Once that connection is up and running and I have a starting point for a storyline, the rest follows, though sometimes, it takes a while for the various elements to emerge. Sometimes they come with a trickle and sometimes with a rush, then I just write until its all recorded.
J.M. Hartwig
The sequel to Without a Trace. The draft is completed. Now I have to copy-edit. I hope to have it published by the end of 2014.
J.M. Hartwig
Research, research, research and either get a good copy-editor or do a course in copy-editing. There's nothing worse than finding errors after you've published.
J.M. Hartwig
Being able to create characters who exist in a time and place I've created. There are no boundaries. Writers are limited only by their imagination and creativity.
J.M. Hartwig
I don't usually try to force things. If the idea and the words are there, they'll come out. If I try to force things, I usually end up writing a lot of stuff that gets edited out in the end, so it's really a waste of time.
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