World, Writing, Wealth discussion
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July 2017 Group Read Author Interview: Leonie Rogers
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An interesting interview, well done! I feel we now know Leonie and her work a lot better
Just a small note - I'm a 'Rogers' not a 'Rodgers' - small but important spelling thing :-)
Leonie wrote: "Just a small note - I'm a 'Rogers' not a 'Rodgers' - small but important spelling thing :-)"I apologize for that mistake, Leonie. I've fixed it.
Thank you, Leonie, for taking the bull by the horns and being our first author to be interviewed!
If you have any follow-up questions for Leonie, please feel free to post them.
When did you decide to become a writer?
I’ve always written, but with children, and a job, I wrote only small things for many years. Then I managed to tear my ACL while skiing, and had to have a knee reconstruction as a result. At last I had time on my hands, so I began to write the story I’d had in my head for about twenty years. Once I’d written 160,000 words, I realised I was actually writing three books, so I did. Now I have way too many ideas, and not enough time to write them all down.
What books have you written?
I’ve written a science fiction trilogy - the Frontier Trilogy, and I’m part way through a fantasy series. I also have another science fiction novel three quarters written.
Do you adhere to an outline or go wherever your imagination takes you?
I have a basic outline in my head, but generally I go where my imagination takes me in the first instance, and then during the second draft, I fix the problems.
How do you withstand critiques of your masterpiece?
I’ve started to grow a thick skin. In reality, not everyone will like either my story, or the way I write. I generally choose not to read any except the early reviews of my stories, and I never, ever reply to a poor review. For one thing, it’s not professional, and for another, it's author suicide.
Put yourself in the place of a reader. Why would s/he want to read or have to read your book?
It has glow in the dark 100kg starcats!
The visual is encroaching on the written word. Do you think the written word will retreat and disappear, or remain steady?
Without the written word, the visual doesn’t exist. If anything, the written word will become stronger, I think, given the demand for visual media and associated stories.
Any valuable marketing tip/s for fellow authors?
Keep writing - build a brand built on your name and writing skills.
Do you have a WIP and what’s exciting about it?
I do - I’ve written the first book, currently called Amethyst Pledge, and am part way through writing book 2. It’s a YA fantasy, based around a religious order and there are monsters, betrayal, and some romance.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Don’t stop learning, and remember that sometimes you didn’t write what you thought you wrote. It’s important to have outside critique - an eye that isn’t intimately involved can see what you don’t.
Which writers inspire you?
CS Lewis, Brandon Sanderson, Terry Pratchett, Elizabeth Moon, Seanan McGuire…I have a huge list, and it goes on and on.
What are your recommendations for reading and why? For example, what do you consider a must read and why?
A must read for me is the Narnia Chronicles - relatively short stories, but they pack a huge punch for their size and have held generations spellbound. CS Lewis was such a clever story teller.
What non-writing related things would I like to say about yourself?
I’m a physiotherapist, I’ve had a varied life, involving camel training, fire fighting, vertical rescue, marriage and children. I also love to travel.
Where can readers connect with you?
You’ll find me at my blog - www.leonierogers.me, on Twitter as @RaeYesac, and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/leonierogers... On Goodreads, just click on my name, and I’m there!