Maggie and the Mountain of Light by Mark Snoad

4/28/2024

(Wayfinder Girls Novel Book 1)

Debut author, Mark Snoad introduces us to the first book in the Wayfinder Girls series, “Maggie and the Mountain of Light”:
A respected organization, a hidden purpose, a world-ending threat.

12-year-old Maggie Thatcher longs to be a courageous Wayfinder Girl. But that's not very likely; she is barely coping with life as it is, relying on her asthma inhaler, epi-pen, and the support of her best friend, Anahira Waititi.

Maggie and Anahira attend a Wayfinder 'apocalypse training' camp in London. Despite it being just for fun, the sight of a green-skinned person with other-worldly eyes sends Maggie into a panic, especially as it's a person that only Maggie can see.

And then Maggie learns of a dangerous secret that the Wayfinder Girls have kept hidden from the world. Anahira wants in on the secret. Maggie must decide whether to join her friend, even if she has no idea what that decision will ultimately cost.

Will Maggie face her fears and journey into the unknown?

A Wayfinder Girls adventure filled with mystery, magic, and mayhem.

I enjoyed this story quite a bit. I was so intrigued by Wayfinder Girls I thought it might be a real organization.
Maggie is a girl full of fears and always on the edge of survival. I would be too if many foods were trying to kill me. She doesn't realize how brave and resourceful she is.
I loved the multi-layered plot and how real many of the characters became.
Five stars from me!

You can buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Maggie-Mountain-Light-Wayfinder-Girls
https://www.goodreads.com/-maggie-and-the-mountain-of-light
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/maggie-and-the-mountain-of-light

You can connect with the author:
https://twitter.com/SnoadMark
https://wayfindergirls.org
https://www.facebook.com/mark.snoad1
https://www.instagram.com/mark.snoad.writer
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-snoad-writer

Copyright © 2024 Mark L. Schultz except for the author’s introduction

121 Comments

Mark Snoad link

4/28/2024 07:28:30 pm

Kia ora Mark and thank you for your review. I'm thrilled that you liked my debut novel and pleased that the Wayfinder Girls felt like a real organization - that was my intention, and I'm pleased that it worked. I loved writing in that space between the real and the fantastical, especially with the jewel known as the Mountain of Light, which has a very rich and scary history.

Mark Schultz

4/28/2024 07:53:13 pm

Thank you for the Maori greeting. Thanks also for reminding me the Maori are the indigenous population of New Zealand, where you live. New Zealand is 16 hours ahead of Florida. While it's Sunday evening for me, it's nearly noon on Monday for you. We will proceed ahead.

Yes, you had me convinced that Wayfinder Girls was a real organization. Well done. You fooled this old boy scout. Yes, I was a member of Baden Powell's organization in the 1960s in the state of Washington.

First question.

Please, tell us more about yourself. Perhaps something a little bit beyond your bio.

Mark Snoad link

4/28/2024 08:27:31 pm

Yes, I'm speaking with you from the future! So pleased to hear you were a boy scout, I was one too. And my daughter, Mikayla, who was a big part of my inspiration for my novel, received the Queen's Guide award a few years. I am very grateful for the opportunities and experiences that Girl Guiding (Girl Scouts) gave to my food-allergic and anxious daughter.

As for me, I was born in London. My family moved to Aotearoa New Zealand when I had just turned six. I've lived in the city of Auckland for just over fifty years and I'm very much a kiwi (the people, not the birds or the fruit). I am a high school teacher and as well as my debut novel, I've also created an educational board game which is used in schools to help teach economics and business studies. I dabble in acting and have appeared in several shows at my local amateur theatre as well as a dozen professional children's shows. Maybe that's why I'm a teacher - I always have a captive audience!

Rocco Spanò

4/29/2024 05:25:17 am

Would you like to read my book?
"Lu Bummularu" The potter tells us the story of Selinunte 628 B.C. (History of Sicily) https://a.co/d/hxchQAh

Mark Schultz

4/28/2024 08:23:27 pm

Scout brothers, very nice.

Your daughter's experiences provided so much realistic fodder for your story. You certainly fulfilled the dictum to write what you know.

I like the fruit, but how does the bird taste?

Your board game sounds interesting. Ever play Monopoly? It has an interesting history and is currently played quite differently from what the inventor had in mind.

New question.

Being an actor might make it easier to write scenes and the story. What do you think?

Mark Snoad link

4/28/2024 08:40:38 pm

Scout brothers, I like that! And yes, my daughter's experiences were crucial in getting the story right. I needed to accurately capture the thoughts and feelings of a food-allergic and anxious 12-year-old girl. I think I managed to do so successfully. When writing the novel, I used to read a chapter at a time to my family at dinner time. On at least three occasions, after reading an action sequence, Mikayla commented on the action. I'd then read the next sentence, which was Maggie's internal thinking, and each time it was word-for-word what Mikayla had just said. She couldn't believe I knew what was going on inside her head. They were some proud Dad moments!

And yes, I've played Monopoly. The disconnect between the intention of the game and the way it is now played is fascinating, and a bit disappointing. My board game is a Monopoly-style game which uses actual NZ businesses rather than streets. It's also a faster and more unpredictable game. Students like playing it, but maybe because they then don't have to listen to me!

Great question about the link between acting and writing. I think there is one. As an actor you try and play with the intention behind the lines in the script, and I think that has benefits for my writing. It's fascinating how the same line in a script can have different meanings depending on how it is delivered on stage. Capturing that interplay between actors, who have the benefit of an audience seeing and feeling what the actors do, is the challenge when writing scenes between characters. I'm just starting on the journey of letting the reader into the story. Done well, it is magical.

Mark Schultz

4/28/2024 08:53:50 pm

You know your daughter well! I love that. You are close to her. We have three adult children and five grandchildren. We are closest to our youngest daughter and her three girls. It helps a lot that they live only a dozen miles from us.

Different actors can put a different spin on a few lines or an entire scene easily. It is not much different from a bunch of writers creating a short story for a contest with the same three or four words. Each story will be different. The profoundness of inspiration is amazing. Mix in multiple actors, like only a writer can and the magic can flow effortlessly.

New questions.

What is your favorite genre to read for pleasure?

Has writing changed the pleasure of reading for you?

Mark Snoad link

4/29/2024 05:41:25 am

Nice to hear about your family, there is such a special bond between grandparents and grandchildren. I wonder if one or more of your granddaughters would like reading Maggie and the Mountain of Light.

And yes, magic to flow effortlessly, that's the goal!

As for my own reading, my favourite genre is fantasy, which I've been loving since reading Lord of the Rings as a boy. I reread Tolkien's masterpiece at the start of the year and loved it. I'm currently rereadng the original Shannara trilogy, by Terry Brooks, another classic fantasy series. I love reading authors such as Terry Pratchett, Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, Raymond E. Feist, and Neil Gaiman. Fantasy is my jam, as my daughters used to say!

Really interesting question about whether writing has changed the pleasure of reading for me. I went through a season of feeling guilty when reading because I thought I should be writing. I also went through a stage where reading became a critical exercise, as though I was marking student assessments. I've thankfully moved on from both of these mindsets and can now say that the pleasure I derive from reading has been enriched because of my writing. I find I can better appreciate the skill of the writer and I'm more aware of the magic of storytelling.

Mark

4/29/2024 09:19:12 am

We love our kids but if we had known how much grandkids were we might have had them first. ;-)

We have much in common. I love fantasy also, it is my second favorite genre for personal reading pleasure, close behind science fiction. I read Tolkien's LOTR three times before graduating from high school.

I am pretty certain you are familiar with C. S. Lewis, the author of the popular fantasy series, "The Chronicles of Narnia". My entire family loves those books. Lewis wrote a sci-fi trilogy called "Out of the Silent Planet". He patterned the protagonist after his good friend John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.

Some writers struggle to regain the joy of reading, congratulations to you.

New questions.

Why do you write?

How has writing changed your life?

Mark Snoad link

4/29/2024 03:15:16 pm

Having grandchildren first, now there's a idea!

And yes, absolutely, I know about C.S. Lewis and have read and enjoyed both his Narnia series and his sci-fi trilogy, as well as some of his more personal and reflective work. I love how J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis were friends and colleagues. The 'Inklings' group they were a main part must have been a powerhouse writing support and critique group!

Why do I write? Good question. I won a story competition when I was ten with a story about a magic sword, so I guess I've always had that desire within me to write, I've loved reading throughout my life and I wondered whether I could write something to help spark joy in others. I had an idea for a story many years ago, a fantasy story that could be described as a cross between C.S. Lewis and Terry Pratchett (if such a thing were possible). I took time to write that story (in between teaching, acting, selling a board game, and raising a family!) and then tried to get an agent. After multiple edits, critiques, and a few hundred rejections, I turned my hand to another story - Maggie and the Mountain of Light. Thus, despite getting knocked down quite a bit, I'm still persevering, still working on my writing. It's something I don't think I can just let go of.

Writing has certainly taught me how to handle rejection. Well, not writing, but the tough road to getting published has. Writing has helped me be more reflective, more aware of the world around me, and I hope more understanding of other people. Writing has also allowed me to release some of my creativity and my own unique sense of humor! And it turns out that some people like what I write, which is amazing!

Mark Schultz

4/29/2024 04:46:17 pm

I would have loved to be a fly on the wall when the Inklings met. Amazing writing that has endured for generations now.

Thirty years ago, or more, before Amazon became the publishing powerhouse that it is, you might have had no trouble finding an agent for your first story. Amazon has turned the publishing paradigm cart upside down and then smashed it to bits. Traditional publishers at all levels struggle to stay profitable and no longer take chances on nearly all unknown writers. Most of the publishers are one or two failed book launches away from closing the doors for good. Agents are in the same position, they don't get paid until the author signs a contract. Many publishers rely on agents to sift through hundreds or thousands of book submissions to find a golden nugget. Writers today frequently never hear back from an agent, some of them consider themselves lucky to get a rejection letter.

You have learned a great deal about life as an author. So many authors tell me they are almost always observing the people around them when they are in public and get lots of inspiration from those around them.

New questions.

Does your work, past or present, have any influence on your writing?

Who was the first person to inspire you to write?

Mark Snoad link

4/29/2024 05:22:28 pm

It would have been amazing to have observed an Inklings meeting. The interactions between J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis would have been remarkable, such powerful and enduring writing. So good!

I empathise with all the writers struggling to get noticed. It is a hard road. I also appreciate the position of those in the publishing industry with, as you say, Amazon smashing the paradigm apart. The rare times I received a rejection letter I tried to accept it with good grace, telling myself I appreciated the agent taking the time to write back to me. The small word "but" was the killer - "great concept, but...", "you write really well, but...", "I loved the premise of your story, but..." Thus, I am so thankful that my publisher, Monarch Educational Services, a boutique publisher specialising in clean reads for kids and young people, took a chance on me. Monarch is based in North Carolina and it is a wonderful, supportive, and dedicated publisher led by the incomparable Dr. Jen Lowry.

I think that observation of people is another link between writing and acting. Trying to understand and empathise with different people. Trying to get inside their heads.

My work definitely inspires my writing. It was actually one of my students, a refugee from Afghanistan, that prompted me to incorporate the Mountain of Light in my story. He knew that I had been born in London and one day he said that England should give his country's diamond back. I researched what he meant and was astounded to find that the ownership of the diamond on the Queen Mother's crown was heavily disputed. Incorporating the very real sense of the theft of cultural artefacts into a children's story was a challenge, but I felt it was important. It also allowed me to ask the "what if" question - what if the Koh-i-Noor diamond was not of this world?

I would like to say J.R.R Tolkien inspired me to write, but he wasn't the first. As a boy reading LOTR it was incredible, but daunting - the incredible scope, history, and mythology behind Tolkien's work, wow!!! But then I read The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks and writing a story became a bit more achievable. In later years I have been inspired by my daughter, Mikayla, with her resilience and bravery. And I've also been inspired by the stories of faith I've grown up with. That sense of there being something more to this life. I guess that's why I've always been drawn to fantasy.

Mark Schultz

4/29/2024 06:01:41 pm

It is hard to find a good publisher at any level. There are so many scammers out there, it takes a lot of work to confirm you are talking to the real deal.

Not many people practice empathy in the modern world, it seems. The loudest and most vulgar garner most of the attention. It is a valuable skill that a relative few have.

That was another thing I wondered about, the Koh-i-Nor diamond. I was unaware of its checkered history and was quite fascinated by the background.

New questions.

What inspired you to write this book?

Why did you choose this genre, or do you feel the genre chose you?

Mark Snoad link

4/29/2024 06:39:58 pm

It's extra tough for writers. They write what's on their heart. Take a risk and send their work out to agents. Maybe they pay for critiques. Edit and re-edit. Get rejected. Get rejected some more. And then they get an offer from someone not in the mainstream publishing world. It might be the only offer they ever get. So you can see how writers end up getting caught out by scammers.

The Koh-i-Noor diamond is fascinating. A month or so after Queen Elizabeth II died an Indian politician wrote to the incoming king and requested he give the diamond back to India. The history of the diamond, as recorded in my book, is factual. It is considered a 'cursed' diamond, with its owners throughout the time of its existence suffering all manner of betrayal and misfortune. I think readers are surprised to find historical fact in a fantasy story written for children.

I was inspired by a few things in writing this book. Firstly, my daughter, Mikayla, who's courage, resilience and bravery in just doing daily things was profoundly inspirational. I drew inspiration from the idea of someone ordinary doing something extraordinary, much like the hobbits in LOTR, or the children in Narnia. Many stories for children feature main characters who have hidden powers or gifts. Thus, Harry Potter is a wizard and Percy Jackson is the son of a Greek god. The stories are all about these main characters discovering their powers and growing in their abilities. But what if a main character didn't have any powers or abilities? What if all they had was anxiety and food allergies? What then? Like Frodo and Sam, the story of the simple confounding the wise, the weak confounding the strong.

I was also inspired by the Scouting movement. My daughter, Mikayla, found a home within the Girl Guides (Girl Scouts) and I wanted to honour that organisation, or at least the intent behind that organisation. Creating the fictional Wayfinder Girls was my way of saying thanks to GirlGuiding and also celebrating the unique opportunities that the Scouting programmes give to young people.

I actually can't conceive of writing outside of the fantasy genre, at the moment at least. Although I have had an idea for a sci-fi novel. But I'll probably stick to fantasy for now. I love the possibilities that fantasy provides, the sense of wonder, the world building, the battle against overwhelming odds. And I connect with the idea of a world beyond that of what we see. So, in many ways, I think the fantasy genre has chosen me, or at least, it's the genre I'm most comfortable in.

Mark

4/29/2024 07:23:05 pm

Your scenario, not very fictional, makes perfect sense to me. It also makes sense to the predatory agents and publishers. The not-so-evil ones are content to empty an author's wallet or purse. Those that are truly evil also steal the intellectual property rights of an author.

I love that you included the diamond in your story. I recognized the Koh-i-Nor name but that is all. I didn't know the rest of the story. So many want it despite the trouble that seems to follow.

Maggie (Mikayla) is certainly in good company with Frodo and Sam. In my mind, Sam was the real hero of LOTR. I especially liked Sean Astin's portrayal of Sam.

I hope you have written your sci-fi idea down somewhere. I have encouraged many authors to keep a journal of ideas.

New questions.

Have you ever seen a UFO or UAP, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena?

How many drafts did your book go through before publishing?

Mark Snoad link

4/29/2024 08:06:07 pm

Thanks, Mark! I agree with you about Sam, and Sean Austin's performance. Love the line "There's good in this world worth fighting for" and the line "I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you." Beautiful. Such a strong sense of loyalty, courage, dedication, and selfless bravery. So good!!

I can't say I've ever seen a UFO or UAP myself, but I appeared in a Lipton Ice Tea television commercial a few years back (It's called Lipton Ice Tea Waterfall and it's on Youtube). We shot the commercial in a place in Aotearoa New Zealand called Coromandel. The local townspeople were very matter-of-fact about the area just over the ridge from their town being the centre for UFO activity in NZ. I never got to see anything myself, but the locals were convinced. And I'm using that sense of other worldly visitation in my Wayfinder Girls series.

As for the many, many drafts I went through before being published, I have lost count, but it would be over thirty. Just working out where to start the story can be challenging. I originally started it in the woods with Maggie encountering the Bugbear, but then realised I needed to give more readers more time to enter Maggie's world. It's interesting to note how many edits were done from the time of signing a contract with Monarch Educational Services and publication. There were at least ten edits, with different developmental and story editors critiquing my work. It's something you don't necessarily realise when you start out as a writer - the need to hold your writing somewhat loosely, so that when edits are suggested, you am open to changing them. And yet, even after all those edits, and all those eyes on the manuscript, there are still errors, like an entire (short) paragraph repeated - doh!!

Mark Schultz

4/30/2024 08:49:46 am

My sisters have told me we saw a UFO when we were children. But I have no memory of that experience. Maybe I was abducted. ;-) As a young adult, I was very interested in UFOs and recall that there was supposed to be a UFO hotspot in New Zealand. There was also speculation that UFOs came from a hollow part of the earth.

Signing a contract with a publisher gives them control of your book for a limited amount of time, hopefully. They publisher can require any number of changes up to and including s complete rewrite. They can also choose what they think is the best time, hoping to sell the most copies, to publish. It is so easy to overlook all manner of errors. Show them my latest blog on the Words For Thought page. It's about tricking your brain to reveal the errors your brain is hiding from you.

New questions.

Who designed the cover of your book? Feel free to drop a link if appropriate.

How many drafts did the cover go through?

Mark Snoad link

4/30/2024 03:43:28 pm

Wow, that would have been some experience. It was fascinating when the US airforce released footage of the UAPs they had encountered. Mysterious indeed!

My experience of the editing process with Monarch Educational Services and Dr. Jen Lowry was a very positive one. The intention was always to strengthen my writing. And it was done in a very collaborative way. I remember being asked to include what type of shoes Maggie and Anahira were wearing when they first got to camp, and I thought, "Shoes, does it really matter?" But I included that detail and later, when my book was published, I discovered that quite a few young readers were also keen to learn what shoes they were wearing!

I appreciated the attention to detail that good editing brings. I am certain it made Maggie and the Mountain of Light a better book. Thanks for letting me know about the Words for Thought page, I'll certainly recommend it.

The cover of my book was wonderfully hand illustrated by Korin Linaburg, an illustrator with Monarch - https://www.instagram.com/flower.child.artist/

Korin based the cover off some suggestions I gave her, including a photo of my daughter, Mikayla, when she was 12 years old. There was quite a lot of discussion about what to have on the cover and thus, quite a few drafts in the mock-up stage. We had to be quite confident of the design when Korin began painting, and I am thrilled with the result. I love the diverse group of Wayfinder Girls standing together, awaiting whatever is to come. I also love how Korin has captured something of the personality of each girl, and how there is that touch of mystery and magic with the two shadowy figures in the background. I also love how it's a scene that readers can connect with, that it captures an actual scene in the book, and it does so beautifully.

Mark Schultz

4/30/2024 04:24:47 pm

Good editing! I would never have known about the interest in shoes.

I like the cover! They look ready for action.

New question.

At first glance, the cover seems obvious, but I frequently miss a detail or two. What do the elements on the cover represent?

Mark Snoad link

4/30/2024 05:24:09 pm

Yes, shoes, who knew? Well, Dr. Jen Lowry at Monarch knew :)

The cover definitely shows the Wayfinder Girls ready for action, although at least one of them is looking really anxious. It's not hard to see which one, especially as she is in the centre of the group. The image establishes the personality of Maggie really well. Her expression, combined with the fact that she is holding silver discs rather than the golden ropes the others carry, set her a little bit apart from the other four girls. Maggie is also carrying her ever-present meds bag, shown in the cover by Maggie's right hand tightly gripping the bag strap.

The girls are all dressed in their official Wayfinder Girls uniforms, showing they belong to a unit (much like the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts), although they have a choice over their shoes :) - Maggie is wearing pink light-up Skechers and Anahira is wearing black Converse high-tops. Korin gave the other girls a selection of other colourful and popular shoes - thanks, Korin!!

The diversity of the girls is perfectly captured in the cover. Going from left to right we have:
1. Razia Rashidi, from Afghanistan, wearing a hijab and glasses, a smart. knowledgeable and tech-savvy girl.
2. Anahira Waititi, a Maori girl from New Zealand, who grins when she says Taika Waititi (movie director and actor) is her uncle :)
3. Maggie Thatcher, from England, our anxious 12-year-old main character who struggles to cope with the world she's currently in.
4. Kayla Indi, from Zimbabwe, a resourceful and super-positive girl with a big grin, who always sees the best in people.
5. Samantha Needleton, from England, prefers to be called Sam, nothing much impresses her, but she is loyal and determined.

And finally we have the two mysterious, shrouded figures in the background. Who are they? Where are they from? Why aren't the girls facing them? Can the girls even see them? All questions intentionally designed to create mystery and intrigue. Add to that the swirling bright light and colourful sparks, and you get a sense of magic, of something different to the world we know.

Lastly, with the title, I love how the "Mountain of Light" is both a perfect title for a fantasy novel and also a name given to a diamond that is very tangible item in our world. I love how readers can google Mountain of Light and will drawn to the history and mystery of the Koh-i-Noor diamond - where did it come from? Is it really cursed? Why doesn't England give it back? Who are its real owners?

So, yes, suffice to say I am thrilled with the cover that Korin Linaburg hand illustrated. I know I'm biased, but I think it's perfect :)

Mark Schultz

4/30/2024 05:54:41 pm

I wondered if you were going to name the scurvy pair in the background. Haha.

The cover is lovely and captures so much of the story.

New questions.

Were the character names difficult to develop?

How did you choose them?

Mark Snoad link

4/30/2024 06:43:34 pm

I thought I'd leave the names of that scurvy pair in the background for readers to discover. I can say that quite a few readers have found the pair to be their favourite characters :)

As regards character names, I gave the main character the name Margaret Elizabeth Thatcher because I liked the idea of a 12-year-old being given a name that some adults quickly disapprove of. Margaret Thatcher was a controversial Prime Minister of the UK in the 1980's. The adult reactions to her name is so mystifying to Maggie. She didn't pick her name, her mum did. And I liked the contrast between the name Maggie has and her anxiety and struggles, they seem at odds with each other. And then there is the factual part about the "Iron Lady". I enjoyed playing around with that.

For Anahira, I chose a popular Maori first name and then chose a recognisable last name similar to Thatcher but one that evoked a very different response. Waititi is a Maori last name made famous by Taika Waititi. Adults responded with a smile when they learn of Anahira's name, very different to Maggie's experience. And I enjoyed Anahira's playfulness when she claimed Taika as her uncle. It is quite a common practice in Aotearoa New Zealand to have lost of cousins, uncles, and aunties, even if they are not blood relations.

The other characters names were informed by their ethnicity. Razia Rashidi from Afghanistan, Kayla Indi from Zimbabwe, and Samantha Needleton from England. Samantha, or Sam as she liked to be called, is a character also enjoyed by readers with her directness and I'm-not-impressed attitude. I love her line "Are we getting a badge for this?" It sums up her attitude perfectly!

The story of Lady Marie Studfall is a fun one. As an exercise suggested by someone in NaNoWriMo a few years back I put together some street names around my local community. Thus Vesca Place and Solana Drive became Vesca Solana, a fantastic sci-fi name, and one which my daughter, Hannah, used for a story at school. There was also Lady Marie Drive and Studfall place. Put them together and you have Lady Marie Studfall, and I could immediately see the character. What astounded me somewhat is the discovery of an ancient site in England that was called Studfall (or Stutfall) Castle.

Lastly, Maggie's twin brothers. I couldn't resist calling them Osgood and Zola. I was born in London and I have been a fan of football (soccer) for my entire life. The team I support is Chelsea Football Club, based in south-west London. Maggie's Dad is a football fan and both the boys play in the Chelsea football academy. Two sporting stars that have played for Chelsea are Peter Osgood (whom my Dad loved to watch) and Gianfranco Zola (who I loved to watch). Thus, Maggie's brothers became Osgood Thatcher and Zola Thatcher. Gee parents give their children weird names sometimes :)

Mark

4/30/2024 09:21:50 pm

I love the story behind the names! Iron Lady sure fit because Maggie always found a way to get past her fears when it mattered. She kept moving forward.

New question.

Have you written and published any short stories before writing your book?

Mark Snoad link

5/1/2024 05:04:07 am

Thanks! It can be fun creating names, and sometimes the names just seem to fit perfectly.

I have written half a dozen short stories, but none have been published. I entered one or two into competitions but didn't get anywhere. It's more about the challenge of writing a story that's limited to a certain number of words. Two of my stories were less than 3,000 words, and another two less than 1000 words. I even accepted the challenge of writing a 100 word story, which was fun.

A writer friend of mine wrote one 5 words long. Five words! She admitted it was a bit morbid, but it evoked powerful emotions. Here it is:

Yard sale
Noose
Used once

As I said, quite morbid, but it packs a punch. The power of 5 words.

I found it interesting looking back at the short stories I'd written. Even though I feel called to write fantasy, most of my short stories are about real life, where I often find myself writing about loss and / or grief. I lost my mum to cancer when I was fifteen and it has influenced my writing, at least my short story writing.

One other short story I wrote was pure fun. It was while I was acting in a play called Spirit Level, written by Pam Valentine. I wrote a silly fantasy story, using the on-set computer, writing only when on stage (before the curtain was raised!). I used the actors as characters in the story, and incorporated the dialogue used in the play at different points in the story, all the while trying to match the lines the actors say on stage with the lines the characters say in my story. At the wrap party I gave a copy of the story to each actor. We did a read through. It was well received. Pure joy!

Mark Schultz

5/1/2024 01:02:43 pm

Baby shoes for sale, never used. Another story with a lot of punch in only six words. That is not original with me, BTW.

Name authenticity is a big deal for authors in a number of genres. Fortunately for them there are websites devoted to names by decade and region, some of them going back for hundreds of years in many countries. The names have been pulled from and collated from old church and tax records.

Short stories from real-life pain. An interesting and probably not too uncommon phenomenon especially including the increase in memoirs being published.

That story you wrote during the play run is cool. A wonderful bit of memorabilia for the cast and crew.

I have recommended to writers that short story writing contests, especially those that provide feedback from the judges, can help a writer improve their writing skills. I do have a warning, there are a lot of shady contests out there. Some want to extract as much as they can from your wallet, others want to steal your intellectual property. Here is a copy-and-paste link about those things: Beware Bogus Writing Contests! Look for These 8 Red Flags. https://annerallen.com/2019/05/beware-bogus-writing-contests. You can also use the search box below to find the link. There are other blogs I have links for on my Highly Regarded Blogs page.

New questions.

How many books are you planning for the series?

Any side stories?

Mark Snoad link

5/1/2024 03:43:32 pm

It is amazing what powerful emotions can be elicited from only a few words, and it is an excellent writing exercise to write short stories. It can only help strengthen writing craft. I'll have to write some more and submit them to contests. Thanks for your info and link about Beware Bogus Writing Contests, I'll check it out.

Maggie and the Mountain of Light is the first book in the Wayfinder Girls series, and at this stage I have plans for two more books in the series.

I'm just getting started on book 2. Entitled Maggie and the Cosmic Landfill, it challenges Maggie and her unit to stop the Earth being flooded with cosmic waste from another world. The waste would come through a portal that had been closed due to the presence on Earth of the Mountain of Light. That thorny issue of unintended consequences. The extra challenge in book 2 is the fact that Maggie will only have one day to stop the dumping of the waste and they won't have Lady Marie with them - she is meeting the Queen of England to confess to what the Wayfinder Girls did in book 1.

In book 3, I'm planning on a race through several worlds to try and rescue someone who's been kidnapped. Nothing concrete yet, just a vague idea of how cool it would be to encounter several worlds, including the world of Faerie.

As for side stories, I'm writing a short story now for a small local anthology. It's about Lady Marie Studfall's first encounter with another world when she was training as a Wayfinder Girl. It may involve a dragon! And there is the Wayfinder Rulebook which I still need to write, not a story, but definitely a related side project.

Mark Schultz

5/1/2024 04:34:22 pm

Anne Allen is one of my favorite bloggers, I have links to quite a few of her blogs in the last few years.

One day to prevent the Earth from becoming a galactic garbage dump! That is quite a challenge. It will be fun to see how that is accomplished. Book 3 sounds good also.

I love stories about dragons. My favorite subset of fantasy.

New questions.

What do you think of the current controversy regarding AI, Artificial Intelligence?

Did you use AI in any of your writing or planning for your books? I am not including research in this question because most of the major browsers have embedded AI in the browser.

Mark Snoad link

5/1/2024 05:17:42 pm

Thanks! I think 'fun' is the right word to use to describe the intention for my writing. And that's why readers are often surprised by the real-world issues and real-world history they discover in my fantastical book.

AI is definitely a large and complex challenge. As a teacher, I'm well aware of this challenge, because students are using AI to help them write assessments, ranging from using AI to aid their research right through to AI writing large chunks of their assessments. It is hard to spot, especially as teenagers tend to be early adopters with technological advances and are often way more tech-savvy than their teachers.

I know of two strategies for teachers trying to ascertain whether AI has been used. Firstly, simply just ask AI how much of a student's work it wrote. A teacher does this with ChatGPT, copying and pasting the student's work into a question and asking AI to identify the parts of the work it wrote. Simple. Although many students are using AI tools other than ChatGPT. It's a good start though. The second strategy is to include an odd word or phrase within the assessment question, but write it in the smallest font possible and in white, thus making it look like a blank space to a student. The AI though, it reads this seemingly non-existent prompt. Thus, when students submit their work and it includes information about pixies, the teacher knows the students has used AI to write their assessment for them!

I think with AI there are dangers and opportunities, as with any advance in technology. The opportunity is the ease with which to research and refine thinking on an issue, or to help edit the work you've done. The danger is the loss of human creativity. And it is a very real danger.

I didn't use AI in the writing or planning of my books. It never occurred to me to do so, and I wouldn't feel comfortable with doing so either. I'm also not sure whether AI would get my sense of humour - the Fey wearing football shirts and loving ice cream :)

Mark

5/1/2024 07:38:37 pm

AI isn't going away anytime soon, not if our secret robot overlords have anything to do with it. ;-)

That is a great idea, a secret AI prompt. I love it. Because kids will take the easiest way most of the time.

Currently, AI is still a counting machine basically. It can count in huge quantities. It can compare results of many different computations, but it cannot handle human creativity. I don't know that it ever will in the near future. People who use AI to make book covers and pictures are finding that AI has trouble remembering how many fingers and toes a human has. It also struggles with human proportions and arms and legs can look decidedly unhuman.

I have serious doubts that AI will ever be able to keep up with human humor. If fed a few million jokes, it might be able to write a good joke occasionally, but verbal delivery would be impossible without massive training.

New questions.

Have you encountered a troll reviewing your book?

How did you handle it?

Mark Snoad link

5/1/2024 08:05:43 pm

All good points raised about AI, especially regarding human creativity and humor. There is something distinctly human about telling a joke and making people laugh. It's all about the human experience, which AI can't understand. Although I do get your point about our secret robot overlords, many sci-fi writers over the years have tried to warn us, but will we listen ;) I can't help but reference Skynet or the Matrix when I read some news stories. Or the warnings from Battlestar Galatica about having everything interconnected!

I have been very fortunate and I have not yet encountered a troll reviewing my book. I've been lucky, I've had over 50 ratings on Goodreads, all of which have been honest and authentic reviews. Even the 3-star ones, which I remind myself are still positive, contain considered and helpful feedback.

I am aware of other writers who have had 1-star reviews which just spout vitriol, with it being quite clear that the reviewer did not even read the book. I feel for those writers and wonder how I will react when it eventually happens. It's something about human nature I guess. We could get ninety-nine 5-star reviews and only one 1-star review and we can't help but focus on that solitary negative review. I understand, because reviews are like gold for a new writer struggling to be heard in an ever crowded marketplace. It's all about finding your audience. I don't expect everyone to like Maggie and the Mountain of Light. In fact, I expect that some people will dislike it. And that's okay. It's about trying to connect with the group of readers that will love my book. I guess that's what I'll keep in mind when I eventually get trolled.

Mark

5/1/2024 08:32:32 pm

No question, reviews are an important currency for authors. Many have been afflicted by the dreaded trolls. Aside from that, many authors have only a handful of reviews and they do perseverate on the bad ones. To those legions of authors, I say be glad you got a poor review because it proves that the good reviews are not a product of your mother's bridge club or yoga class. People are smart enough to realize that trolls are just that and nothing they say needs to be taken seriously.

New questions.

What was the first paying job you worked as a kid and how old were you?

Have you done any public speaking?

If so, will you be doing more in the future?

Mark Snoad link

5/2/2024 05:45:04 am

So true. Fair, balanced, and honest reviews are so valuable, even if we, as writers, might prefer 5-star reviews. I'm certainly trying to show my gratefulness for all reviews.

My first paying job was a delivery boy, delivering advertising material around my neighbourhood. I and my two sisters were raised by my mum, after my parent's marriage broke up when I was eight. It was tough. So we all worked delivering advertising material. It didn't pay much, but every little bit helped.

As for public speaking, I'm possibly not like many writers because I love speaking to large groups. I'm often happiest when I have an audience :) I worked for YFC, a community youth organisation, in my early twenties, both in a part-time and full-time capacity. Part of my role involved speaking to large groups, including during youth rallies in large school halls. In my teaching career, I've also had the responsibility for running student leadership training, often requiring to talk to 80 to 100 students at a time. Some people might say I talk too much!

I'm happy to do more public speaking in the future and I hope I will be talking about writing, especially about my best-selling Wayfinder Girls series :)

Mark

5/2/2024 01:04:10 pm

Advertising circulars door to door. I have done something like that, delivering Yellow Pages phone books. Those were big, I could only carry a dozen or so at a time to apartment buildings.

Your fondness for public speaking does set you apart from many writers if not most. They are afraid to speak in public for various and sundry reasons many of which probably originated in junior high school. I had a severe stammering issue all through my school years into high school. I started stammering after my parents' divorce when I was five.

I have conquered the stammer and a Dale Carnegie course in public speaking gave me the key to banishing those fears. The secret is to only speak in public on topics you are an expert about. For authors, nobody knows their book like they do. Whoever is in the audience wants to hear what the expert will say.

I enjoy speaking in public also. Yes, I am nervous, but I channel that energy into my passion for the topic and the audience shares their excitement with me. It's a win-win.

New questions.

Among present or past family members and friends how many are or have been writers or authors?

Is there anyone you know who might claim you as their inspiration for writing?

Mark Snoad link

5/2/2024 03:45:35 pm

Scout brothers, delivery boys, and both had parents divorce when we were young - we do have a lot in common! It's so good to hear how you have overcome your stammering and fears, well done, it's not easy. The YFC National Director (of that community youth organisation I worked for) also had severe stammer when he was young. He was a compelling and inspirational speaker who encouraged thousands of young people.

I am unique in that I rarely get nervous when speaking to large groups. It's not necessarily a good thing as it could mean I'm overconfident, but I often feel that public speaking is my happy place. And I've often been complimented for my energetic and entertaining style. I've always found it interesting the number of teachers who hate public speaking. These are people who talk for a living, but they get really nervous when speaking in front of the whole staff.

As for writers in my family, I have two uncles who have self-published books about their life experiences. My uncle, Philip Snoad, wrote about his experiences being the 'Eye in the Sky' for the Metropolitan Police in London, and another uncle, Peter Snoad, wrote about his experiences driving from England to New Zealand in the 1960's. You read that right - driving. He and some friends drove two Land Rovers through Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, before putting them on a ship in Malaysia, and then flying to New Zealand from Singapore. Amazing!! But there hasn't been any novelists in my family or friend group.

I've actually had one of my daughter's friends say I've inspired him to write. I had a coffee with him last year and we talked about the ideas he has for his own epic fantasy novel. It was lovely!

Mark

5/2/2024 04:33:59 pm

Writer uncles! Fabulous. Did Peter travel with a guy named Gus?

You are inspiring others! Wonderful.

New questions

I noticed that your book is not in Kindle Unlimited. Is there a reason for that?

What is your favorite food and beverage?

Mark Snoad link

5/2/2024 05:18:51 pm

Yes, having writer uncles is cool. I'm not sure about Gus, but there can't be that many people who have travelled from England to New Zealand mostly by Land Rover :)

Thanks! It is quite gratifying to know that a young person is taking inspiration from my writing and publishing journey.

I'm not sure about Kindle Unlimited. I'll have to check with my publisher.

Favourite food, hmmm. I had to go Gluten Free about 5 years ago, due to gut health problems, so some of my favourites have changed over time. But I still love a good old fashioned roast dinner, with apple crumble for dessert. My favourite beverage? Coffee!

Mark Schultz

5/2/2024 05:34:43 pm

I worked for 20 years in construction as a sheet metal worker and had an apprentice much of the time. I enjoyed sharing my knowledge with others. I suspect you will have more opportunities to do the same.

Kindle Unlimited is a subscription book reading service by Amazon. I haven't checked for a while, but it used to be for a monthly fee you could read as many books as you want. It also used to be exclusive, in that the book could only be available on Amazon, not any other platform. Authors were paid a fraction of a penny for each page read. I think Amazon handed out millions of dollars in page royalties to authors last year.

New questions.

Did you seek specific help in formulating your query letters?

Did you use querytracker.net or some other website like that?

Mark Snoad link

5/2/2024 05:48:08 pm

It's a special thing, sharing knowledge and supporting another person. I'm pleased that you had that opportunity in your career. And here you are now, supporting, equipping and encouraging writers. Thank you!!

I'll certainly investigate Kindle Unlimited. Thanks!

With my query letters, I was probably a bit overconfident at the start, but I soon sought out and found some helpful advice from other writers, and also from agents. Research is important! I still kind of astounded that some writers send query letters off to agents with spelling mistakes, or the wrong name of the agent. Crazy. I think I was able to perfect my query letter. Dr. Jen Lowry at Monarch Educational Services said my query to her was the best query letter she had received. Yay!!

And yes, I did use querytracker.net. I found it really helpful, especially for keeping track of all the queries I had on the go. It can take agents several months to respond, if they respond at all, and it is easy to lose track, so a query service is useful.

Mark Schultz

5/2/2024 07:05:02 pm

Very good. I am glad to hear that query tracker worked for you. I have not used it.

That was a nice thing for Dr. Jen to say, I imagine that felt really good.

New questions.

Have you considered self-publishing?

What is your publisher doing to market your book?

Mark Snoad link

5/2/2024 07:21:07 pm

It did :)

I did consider self-publishing, probably after my rejections or non-responses had gotten into the hundreds. But I kept persevering with the goal of being traditionally published. Self-publishing is a viable option for many writers and some have done very well. There are a lot of resources available, such as your services, to help edit, critique and polish a manuscript, as well as promotion and marketing services. It can all be a bit overwhelming for a debut author, but it can be done.

My publisher, Monarch Educational Services, is actively building their presence in the publishing industry. They are small but determined. In terms of marketing my book, it started with sending the ARC copy to reviewers, including Kirkus, hosting a book launch party, and doing small promotions often. They also organised interviews for me with some of the connections they had. The growing Monarch community of authors is really supportive and encouraging, with all of the different authors sharing ideas and tips on marketing and promotion. It is very much a collaborative exercise.

Mark Schultz

5/2/2024 08:01:44 pm

It's nice to hear they are doing more than a listing on their website.

They are building a community of authors and the members are sharing their ideas and tips. I love the sound of that.

Since we are talking about marketing, I want to share one of my favorite blogs is about pursuing the local author angle. How to be a marketing star right where you live. Another copy-and-paste link or search the title in the box below: https://annerallen.com/2019/08/hometown-book-marketing/ I would add a few tips, seek out literature teachers at the high school and college level to share in their class and there might be a club in the school. Local newspapers are a good resource for an interview as well as local cable access. There might also be a broadcast arts curriculum and/or a club at the high school and college level. Have some questions ready to hand the interviewer if they seem uncertain.

Senior centers are another good possibility and they usually welcome any sort of activity like that. Contact the events director.

If there are tourist destinations try and place your books with the local author angle. Museums, gift stores, motels, hotels, tourist attractions are all possibilities. Keep a box of books in your trunk. Get a counter-top holder for a few books, paste a picture of the cover on the holder behind the books and put re-ordering information on the back of the holder.

Consider renting a table at a comic convention, county fair, farmer's market or a flea market. Have free swag to hand out such as a bookmark and sell mugs or posters. There are so many ways to be the 'local author' I doubt I have exhausted the list of possibilities.

I have no idea about New Zealand but some of these tips should be useful or give you more appropriate ideas for where you live.

New questions.

How do you think your book compares to a book published by a major publisher?

Have you ever seen a ghost or had some other type of supernatural experience?

Mark Snoad link

5/3/2024 06:08:55 am

It's a privilege to be part of the Monarch family if writers!

Thanks for all of the promotional tips. I'll definitely be reviewing the list and putting as much as I can into action :)

I might be a bit biased, but I think my book compares very favourably with a book published by a major publisher. Indie books can easily be as good as, or even better, than those published by the big publishing houses. The key thing is whether readers like the book. And whether it finds it's audience. But certainly, the investment of time, effort and energy expended by a committed group of writers and editors is testament to the kind of quality Monarch produces.

Interesting last question. I haven't seen a ghost and if you count getting immersed in the wonder of creation that characterises much of Aotearoa New Zealand as a supernatural experience, then yes, I have that experience quite regularly :)

Mark Schultz

5/3/2024 09:56:50 am

Most indie books compare pretty well with books published by major publishers. One exception is when an author makes their own cover or hires someone who is really cheap for the cover. Sometimes the quality is glaring and obvious. The cover is not the place to skimp.

Like a UFO, I have not seen a ghost though my sisters say we have seen one as children.

New question.

There are many unethical practices in publishing, which one is the most unbearable in your mind?

Mark Snoad link

5/3/2024 04:07:53 pm

I agree. The cover is the window into the book. Not the place to skimp.

Your sisters again, how many sisters do you have? I have three, including a half-sister from my father's second marriage. I've been the only male in a household for most of my life. Two years ago we got a dog, a boy, Wilbur. So I'm not the only male now, even if he is a complete rascal at times.

Tricky question, with as you say, many unethical practices out there. I think one of the most unbearable is when a would-be publisher charges for a writer to sign on with them, gives assurances to that writer that their book will be published, and then strings that writer along for months and months, if not years, with vague excuses about the problems which are holding up publication. That is soul-destroying for a writer!

Mark

5/3/2024 05:10:38 pm

I have two sisters, one recently passed last fall. I was the first born. There is also a half-brother sired by our stepdad, a wonderful man.

Being strung along like that would be horrible. The only thing worse would be losing all rights to your book in the contract and a lot of money. The scammers do like to leave you with nothing except an empty wallet.

New questions.

Is there a book that causes strong emotions to come up no matter how many times you read it?

Do you ever read a book more than once?

If so, which one?

Mark Snoad link

5/3/2024 06:15:54 pm

First born son and eldest brother, those are some pretty tough roles to fill, especially when you were so young when your parents divorced. I was the second born, the middle child of three, but the only boy. So we both had two sisters, and then a half-sibling. Another connection :)

And yes, being left with nothing but an empty wallet would be horrific. Unfortunately, given the number of scammers around, there must be a lot of desperate writers being duped. I feel for them.

The Lord of the Rings is a book that still stirs up powerful emotions, even though I have read it many times. Some of my favourite moments are when Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas race to try and rescue Merry and Pippin, and encounter Eomer - a man, an elf and a dwarf together. Legends seemingly arising out of the tall grasses. Another is when the hobbits are recognised by the all the powerful people of Middle Earth as the heroes of the age. Tolkien's work shines with the triumph of light over darkness, hope over despair, and I will happily read it again and again.

I've also read Robert Jordan's first book in the Wheel of Time series several times. The book, The Eye of the World, is possibly one of the best recent examples of High Fantasy that I've encountered. I've read a few of Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels more than once - pure genius. And I'm enjoying rereading the Shannara series. It's so nice to reconnect with books I loved reading when I was young, and to get a newfound respect and appreciation for the books.

Mark Schultz

5/3/2024 06:41:03 pm

LOTR is an amazing story on multiple levels. I love it and read it three times before graduating from high school. I haven't read it since and would like to.

The names Robert Jordan and Terry Pratchett have come up several times in the course of my interviews. I want to read those also.

New questions.

What book has changed your mind about any particular topic?

Did you have a favorite book as a child?

Mark Snoad link

5/4/2024 06:11:09 am

I'll always be a fan of LOTR. The original. And the best. And yes, I really recommend both Robert Jordan and Terry Pratchett. Fantastic writers.

Interesting question about a book that's changed my mind. I have to confess that I read very little non-fiction, if that's what you mean. My worldview and mindset has certainly been expanded by the novels I've read, and I guess Terry Pratchett's work, along with some of Neil Gaiman's work, has encouraged me to hold some of my personal views a little less rigidly, which is good. As I get older, I find I am more able to accept the grey, learning that life is rarely black or white.

I think I may have answered this in an earlier question, but as a boy I loved LOTR and the Sword of Shannara, and, when in my early teens, the Belgariad series by David Eddings. Brilliant books!!

Mark Schultz

5/4/2024 08:32:21 am

I purposely didn't specify non-fiction over fiction. I allow you to choose. Perhaps I should specify non-fiction. What do you think?

I do understand about expanding boundaries. In some ways, I am less rigid than in my younger years.

New questions

If you could ask every person, who has read one of your books, only one question what would you ask them?

Does writing have a spiritual or healing component for you, does it energize you or make you feel tired?

Mark Snoad link

5/4/2024 02:55:10 pm

I think it is fine not to specify fiction or non-fiction, letting the interviewee choose. it was an interesting question.

Another great question! What would I ask? My book is packed with some fascinating history, as well as the authentic experience of a food-allergic kid, so it would be interesting to know what readers thought about those aspects. It would also be good to know whether they enjoyed the humor in the story. But ultimately, the question I would ask is - how did it make you feel?

I don't think writing has a healing component for me, not yet, anyway. There is a spiritual component, in terms of trying to write stories of hope. And I've found I go through seasons in my writing, sometimes I'm really energised and in the zone. But there have also been times that I've found it a bit of a struggle. Whatever is happening in the other aspects of my life definitely has a bearing on my feeling when I write. And there is also those periods of disillusionment that I have to battle through, especially during those days of near-constant rejection. Writers, like everyone, need encouragement.

Mark Schultz

5/4/2024 03:53:23 pm

Thank you. Sometimes I wonder.

Learning what life is like for a kid with severe food allergies was interesting and a little scary for the child. I have much greater appreciation for that now. Our son was allergic to milk and being a kid, he didn't want to try goat milk or any other substitutes in the 1980s. He survived and is a fully functioning adult with a wonderful family.

Energizing or tiring? Many authors give one answer or the other. You gave answers to both and that makes a lot of sense to me. I suspect it is like that for most authors.

New question.

Since a copyright in New Zealand lasts for 50 years after the author's passing, do you have a plan for all of your books and the royalties in your will?

Mark Snoad link

5/4/2024 04:33:03 pm

Having a food-allergic kid is scary, and not just for the kid! We had a saying when Mikayla was young - be careful, not fearful. But it was the extended family and wider friend group we had to be most careful of, many of whom thought it wasn't a big deal. It also meant that Mikayla was not invited to many birthday parties - too much hassle for the family hosting the party. So we made sure the birthday parties we hosted were as amazing as they could be. There are photos and inspirational ideas for parties on my website for those interested.

It's good to know that your son survived his milk allergy. That's another connection we have, both having food allergic kids. Mikayla is still severely allergic to milk, along with egg, some tree-nuts, and kiwifruit, as well as wheat (celiac disease), but she is doing well and studying to be a teacher. She has amazing courage and resilience.

Interesting question about copyright. I haven't given it much thought to be honest. I am aware that copyright over LOTR has been lifted in Aotearoa New Zealand, the first country in the world to have that happen. I'll be interested to see whether anyone tries something, like a pub called the Prancing Pony. Or maybe a musical based on LOTR :)

Just a note about my use of Aotearoa when I reference New Zealand. Aotearoa is the indigenous Maori name for our country, it translates to "Land of the long white cloud." The Maori journeyed over the Pacific (much like the Disney movie Moana) to get to Aotearoa, and it is known for lots of cloud, especially over the mountains. A Maori comedian many years ago joked that the name meant "Land of the wrong white crowd." :)

Mark Schultz

5/4/2024 05:00:51 pm

We have many things in common, it seems. My son doesn't eat eggs either.

A book is only one form a story can take and there are many other forms such as audio books, plays, movies, video streaming, musicals, graphic novels and who knows what ese may develop in the next few decades. All of these forms and foreign publication rights are available to an author and heirs unless the IP rights are signed away in a contract.

The more books that are written leads to selling more books. It seems like readers, at least on Kindle Unlimited, devour every book of a favorite author. Your MG urban fantasy covers a number of bases and that portends well with more books over time.

Thanks for sharing the origins of the name.

Thor Heyerdahl was an explorer in the middle of the 20th century and he wrote a fabulous book, "The Kon-Tiki Expedition". It was a modern attempt to recreate the journey made by early seafarers across the Pacific. It was also a documentary. Great story.

New questions.

Why is it important for writers to tap into the emotions of the characters?

Have you ever done NaNoWriMo, National November Writing Month?

Mark Snoad link

5/4/2024 05:27:06 pm

Thanks! Some fantastic information there. And yes, I'm aware of the Kon-Tiki expedition. I think, in the past, there was some doubt expressed about the possibility of people navigating the pacific that many years ago. I'm so pleased that the navigational skills, innovation, and seafaring skills of these early pacific explorers have been accepted and celebrated. Incredible achievement.

Yes - the more books an author writes! And that's the message I need to receive. I've only written one book. It's fantastic that it's been published, and that some readers have loved my story, but I need to keep writing.

Tapping into emotions invites the readers in. It is all about the reading experience. How does a reader connect with, or empathise with, a character - through the emotions of the character, through the shared human experience. I tried to capture the anxiety of a food-allergic kid going to camp. That may be an emotion that other kids feel, even if they don't have food allergies. I also tried to capture that feeling of not fitting in, of being different, and I know that's a common emotion amongst middle school kids. Without emotion the story is somewhat bland, a bit like an academic thesis (apologies to any academic writers).

NaNoWriMo is great, a wonderful initiative, and full of helpful, encouraging advice for writers. I think I may have said earlier that it was through NaNoWriMo that I eventually got the name of Lady Marie Studfall :) I used NaNoWriMo one year to help off Redemption's Fool (my unpublished YA fantasy) and another year to kickstart Maggie and the Mountain of Light.

Mark Schultz

5/4/2024 06:59:12 pm

I read The Kon-Tiki Expedition in a Readers Digest condensed books collection. My mother had a subscription and I read a few of the condensed stories. It was quite an exciting read even condensed.

Keep on writing! That is your motto now. Build that backlist. I know a prolific author, she has written several different series in different genres and offers the first book free of your genre choice for signing up for her newsletter. Quite a few authors do that.

You did well tapping into the emotions of the major characters and the minor ones also. Without emotions, the characters are not much more than cardboard cutouts.

I forgot you mentioned NaNoWriMo already.

New questions.

What kind of preparation do you do before NaNoWriMo starts?

Will you do it again?

Do you think you will join a NaNoWriMo group or fly alone?

Mark Snoad link

5/5/2024 06:25:34 am

Yes, keep writing, that's the goal, challenge, and joy all wrapped up in one.

NaNoWriMo is so good because you can start on day 1 without having done any preparation. You just write. For me though, I used NaNoWriMo to complete the draft of my first book, and then another NanoWriMo to write as much as I could for my second book. I therefore did a lot more preparation especially the first time I did it as I was completing a novel I'd been working on for some time. The whole point though is you can just write, just get the words down on the page.

I will definitely do NaNoWriMo again and I will seek to join a local group. It great to walk this writing journey with others!

Mark Schultz

5/5/2024 08:47:45 am

Some authors write the story to see how it turns out. Others make an outline and plan the story at some level. The former are known as pantsers, because they are writing by the seat of their pants. The others are known as plotters, because they are plotting the different events and scenes in their story in advance.

Some plotters make an outline for their story, do as much research as possible and might even create a character bible before the beginning of NaNoWriMo. That way they feel free to write as much as possible, during the month of November, to reach the 50k-word goal. Getting words on the page is the plan!

New question.

Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser?

Mark Snoad link

5/5/2024 03:37:34 pm

I'm a bit of both to be honest. I have an outline of the story, but how I get from beginning to end is sometimes a mystery. I'll probably develop a more robust system as I continue writing. I guess you do whatever works best for you :)

Mark Schultz

5/5/2024 03:56:06 pm

I think most writers are the same, at least many of them confess to being willing to follow the muse if it leaves their plan. Most have said they are happy with the results doing that.

New question.

What reality show, current or not, would you like to be on?

Mark Snoad link

5/5/2024 04:46:06 pm

Hmm, interesting. I'm a fan of Bear Grylls and his wilderness survival reality shows. If I had to choose, then I'd like to be on one of his shows. Probably not one of his more extreme survival shows, but one of the more, ahem, survivable ones :)

I think it would be both a valuable experience in terms of achieving what is seemingly impossible, and also a wonderful chance to be fully immersed in nature, away from all of our modern trappings.

Mark Schultz

5/5/2024 05:44:05 pm

That is a fabulous choice. I enjoyed his shows also. His show would be my second pick, Forged In Fire would be my first pick. As a sheet metal apprentice, I built a portable, propane-fired forge as an annual project. It was fun to build, though I never used it to make a knife or armor.

Last questions.

Are you an under-writer or an over-writer?

When the first draft is done, do you need to add more to flesh it out or do you have to cut material because there is too much?

Mark Snoad link

5/5/2024 05:58:36 pm

Forged in Fire is a very cool show (or should I say hot show), but one I think would be way beyond my skills (or lack thereof). Much respect to you for building a portable, propane-fired forge - that is impressive!!

Like our namesake in the Gospels I am a bit of an underwriter. I like to move from action to action and find that I leave out a lot of the descriptive details, needing to put them in later (like what kind of shoes the girls are wearing). Being reasonably well read in the fantasy genre, I am also okay with not being sure what's going on, trusting in the writer that it will all eventually make sense. But a lot of readers don't seem to like that, needing to have more context in which to place themselves in the story. So. I need to write that stuff in later :)

It is a balance between pace and precision, momentum and description. I like to jump ahead in my writing, wanting to get to the next piece of action, but I have to remember to bring my readers with me!

Mark Schultz

5/5/2024 06:31:19 pm

Well said. Many writers are on the other side of the fence. Some are enamored with their words on the page and they struggle with paring descriptions.

You have found a good balance; I don't recall ever feeling left behind in your story.

Thank you, Mark, for being a fabulous guest on the Word Refiner channel. I have thoroughly enjoyed talking with you. We do have a lot in common.

Until next time, keep on writing.

Mark Snoad link

5/5/2024 06:40:29 pm

Thanks! I appreciate your feedback and encouragement.

And thank you for being a wonderful host. I found your questions and commentary to be thought-provoking, supportive, and professional. The questions have helped provide some clarity for me, especially in my future direction. I've really appreciated your insight and advice, and I've found the whole interview process enjoyable and illuminating.

I wish you and your family all the very best, and I wish you continued success in the wonderful way you are equipping and encouraging writers. Thank you!!

Mark Snoad link

8/12/2024 03:40:34 pm

Kia ora Mark,

Greetings once again from Aotearoa New Zealand, where are we are proudly celebrating our best Olympics. 10 Gold medals is not too bad for a country of 5.3 million people at the bottom of the world.

I'm looking forward to reconnecting with you throughout this week and I'm ready for the next question.

Ngā mihi nui,
Mark

Mark

8/12/2024 03:49:50 pm

Before we pick up the questions from where we left off previously. I was engaged in a conversation on Twitter with a couple of people about pizza. Yeah, I know, earth-shattering stuff. But when pieces of the world seem to be breaking apart food is important.

First new question.

What kind of toppings are popular for pizza in your area, in New Zealand?

Mark Snoad link

8/12/2024 04:10:39 pm

Hmmm... Pizza. Great place to start! We have two long-standing favourite toppings - Hawaiian (ham, cheese & pineapple) and Meatlovers (as the name suggests). Although of late we have had quite a few chicken toppings become popular - BBQ Chicken, Apricot Chicken, and Chicken, Cranberry Sauce and Camembert, if you are feeling posh.

We've also had increasingly spicy pizza toppings with such things as peri-peri sauce, red chilli, paneer, and jalapenos. The spicier ingredients are thanks to our wonderful immigrants from India and Asia who are adding their own exotic flavours to pizzas!

Do you have a favourite?

Mark

8/12/2024 04:35:59 pm

Your pizza topping correspond closely to ours in the USA. Though I haven't seen camembert on a menu yet. I do like the cheese.

I asked the question because a person in the conversation stated that they saw spaghetti listed as a topping for a pizza in New Zealand. I am an adventurous eater but that never crossed my mind as a pizza topping.

There is a pizza chain in the US, MOD Pizza. Made On Demand pizza. They have several dozen fresh toppings to choose from and sauces and flavorings to add last as the customer wishes. Made right in front of you the way you want. I employ many of their toppings when I order one. Other than that, I like a meat-lovers or everything-lovers pizza.

New questions.

Have you ever used yourself as a starting point for a character in a story?

Would family or friends recognize you in the story?

Mark Snoad link

8/12/2024 05:02:48 pm

Yes, well some people in Aotearoa New Zealand may put spaghetti on their home-made pizzas, but it courts as much controversy here as it does in the United States. It's definitely not very posh! But there are some locals who love it.

I too like a meat-lovers pizza. And recently I've enjoyed a pulled-pork pizza which was delicious. I am Gluten-Free, so I have to be quite selective where I eat, although the GF range of pizza bases has improved significantly in recent times.

Now to writing. Great question about whether I used myself as a starting point in a story. I haven't done so deliberately. When I wrote my first fantasy novel (which still remains unpublished) I had multiple characters. On one of my early edits I realised that more than one of the male characters were reacting in similar ways to how I would react, which was not great. I had to do some serious editing to allow them to be different than me! It does take conscious effort.

The protagonist in Maggie and the Mountain of Light is definitely based on my eldest daughter. And she is easily identifiable as Maggie by people who know her. Part of that is her distinguishable physical characteristics and her medical condition, but it can also be found in the way Maggie views the world. I was very definite in trying to authentically capture the voice of a 12-year-old girl and I used my daughter (with her permission) as she source material.

The interesting thing about my choice is how closely I follow my daughter's journey growing up and how much I let the character of Maggie develop all by herself.

Mark

8/12/2024 05:47:42 pm

I think there are many writers who have discovered some of their characters sounded alike or even like themself. I am sure that it is easy to do. As you said, serious editing was necessary to rectify the situation.

Quite a few authors create a character catalog. It would seem useful to me to help avoid the issue you encountered. Many create pictures or find pictures to match how the author thinks the characters look. Giving characters accents is one way to keep them from seeming alike. As a proofreader, I walk a fine line between proper grammar and character differentiation on behalf of the author.

I love Maggie in your story, her weaknesses and her strengths. She is well designed.

New question.

Other than your daughter, if you used a close friend or other family member in a book to shape a character, would you tell them or make sure that they wouldn't recognize themselves in the story?

Mark Snoad link

8/12/2024 06:36:15 pm

Yes, a character catalog definitely seems useful. Likewise, images and accents. Anything I guess to help keep a sense of who the different characters are. I think personality types is also helpful. I read about another writer who used the nine descriptions in the Enneagram to help differentiate their characters. I'm quite interested in that idea and my wife and I recently looked at the Enneagram to see where we might fit. It was both informative and fun.

Thank you for your feedback about Maggie. I am so grateful that readers feel a connection to Maggie and see her as a real character. It is rather essential to the story.

Another great question about friends or family members. And a tricky one too. If I was ever in the position of using a family member (other than my what I've already done with my daughter) or close friend as the basis for a character, I would discuss it with them first. I guess it depends on the story. I lean to heroic, adventurous fantasy, so there is always an element of distance between my writing and real life. It would be quite different if I were writing a contemporary story involving some element of trauma or family drama!

Mark

8/13/2024 09:21:17 am

One of my guest bloggers, Rick Hall, is an author and he has created a free website about creating psychologically congruent characters. The website is quite good and very thorough. He utilizes several different psychological scales and provides examples of fictional characters and real people. Here is a link to the blog, Rick introduces the website and has a link to it. Copy and paste time: https://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/character-creation

I think that is wise to exercise caution about using family or friends as the basis for characters in a book. Several years ago, an author modeled many of the characters in his book after family members. All were excited to be in a book. He kept them updated about the story. One family member became upset because she would never do what the character did in the book. It created a rift in the family.

New question.

Which is more fun to write, the protagonist or the antagonist, and why?

Mark Snoad link

8/13/2024 03:07:34 pm

Wow. What a comprehensive and generous body of work Rick has done. I've checked it out and do see myself using it. I've used Myers Briggs in the past for both my own and my work purposes, it's very good. I think the simplest personality types description I've seen is the four animal types - Lion, Otter, Beaver, and Golden Retriever, beautifully summed up by the book The Treasure Tree by John Trent. The Treasure Tree is written so kids can understand the personalities. It's beautifully written and illustrated.

With family members there are so many issues at play. It is best to tread very carefully. And as I mentioned previously, it will be interesting on future books how I let Maggie develop. She may well start behaving in ways significantly different from my daughter, who, as far as I know, has not had any interaction with the Fae :)

Protagonist or antagonist, great question. One of my favourite Disney movies is Aladdin, the original version. I got to play the role of Jafar in a children's pantomime, where I'd walk out on stage to a resounding chorus of boos. It was so much fun. And the make up and costuming was very cool. So, in terms of acting, Jafar has been the most fun character to play. In terms of writing, it may be the antagonist is more fun too. Maybe because their character work is not as all-encompassing as the protagonist? Take Sauron in the Lord of the Rings. Not a lot of character development, but the image of a burning eye watching everything with malice - that's a powerful image. It makes me wonder about the antagonist in Maggie and the Mountain of Light. Tylwyth and Teg probably best fit that description, and they were definitely fun to write. The protagonist, Maggie, was harder to write, as I had to make sure her words, actions, and feelings were all consistent. And as we've already established, that takes work!

Mark

8/13/2024 04:37:29 pm

Rick Hall put a lot of work into that website.

Treading lightly is a good way of describing it. Making enough changes so no one can claim libel or defamation is best.

It seems many authors enjoy writing the antagonist. I have heard many actors relish playing the antagonist role also. Some of them say it's more fun.

Sauron is like an ultimate antagonist, very mysterious and secretive. I wonder how hard that was for Tolkien to write. Nowadays, authors are instructed to make all characters as real as they can. I have shared that maxim many times. I heard it described like this, if the antagonist was writing the story he/she would be the hero. Since people are a blend of good and evil characters should reflect that, without getting silly, of course.

Tylwyth and Teg fit the bill well for me. Everything about them is a little sketchy. What they don't say is almost as important as what they do say. It felt like they were leading the Wayfinder Girls on a merry chase at times.

New question.

Which is more important to a story pace or flow? How do you control it?

Mark Snoad link

8/13/2024 05:11:47 pm

Good point. Imagine LOTR from Sauron's point of view. Interesting. And scary! It's so true that antagonists need to be fleshed out. They are a mix of good and bad, as you say. Sometimes the most disturbing antagonists are those who do evil with good intentions, or at least, what they think are good intentions. Like the sentient AI who believes the best way to save the earth is to reduce the number of human beings.

I love how you describe Tylwyth and Teg as a little sketchy. It was always my intention to try and honour the historic understanding of the Fey as tricksy and mischievous. And, given that they are from another world, they don't see anything wrong in their initial treatment of Maggie - it is the humans who are untrustworthy!

Great question about pace and flow. As writers we are encouraged to get into the action as soon as possible. First line, first page, they must grip the reader, cause the reader to want to keep reading. And that is tough. There are so many books. So many authors clamoring for attention. And there are so many alternatives to reading. So, how to best start a book in order to grab the reader's attention?

I battled with this. I originally started the book with Maggie and her unit facing down the Bugbear. The very first scene was thus action packed - Maggie fearing for her life as a frightening creature from another world attacked her unit. It seemed a good place to start until I discovered it messed with the flow. I found I had to backtrack to cover some key points that had happened prior to the Bugbear encounter. I also worked out that starting with that scene didn't allow the reader to connect with Maggie very well. It was more about action than character.

To improve the flow I changed the opening scene to Maggie arriving at camp. But that decision slowed the pace. While many young readers can connect with their first day at camp, there is not a lot of action involved. I do think the Bugbear scene is that much stronger because time has been taken to introduce Maggie and the Wayfinder Girls, but I have slowed the pace in order to improve the flow.

It is a tricky balance and hard to get right. How much does a reader need to know before getting into the action? Probably not that much, but writers can easily fall into the trap of information dumping, especially in fantasy, when so much description is given that readers struggle to get past the first chapter.

So which is more important? If the pace is great, but readers get lost because it doesn't flow well, then their enjoyment is lessened due to confusion and they may stop reading. If the flow is great, but the pace is not fast enough to encourage the reader to turn the next page, then the reader may not get past the first chapter. In the end I prioritised flow and I tried to keep the reader interested with some humour and mystery. I think it works :)

Mark

8/13/2024 05:45:06 pm

Good intentions pave the road to hell. Or something like that. Most every person thinks primarily of their own needs and desires first and nearly always until something comes along and turns their world upside-down.

The bugbear fit that need quite well! The green-skinned peeper and the fae, T and T, were nice hints for Maggie but nothing really prepared her or the others for the bugbear. That was pretty earth-shattering in multiple ways.

If the pace doesn't vary then readers will likely get bored because everything drags out or the readers will run out of mental breath trying to keep up with non-stop action. Everyone needs a breather now and then.

Adding in humor and mystery was a smart move.

New questions.

What is your writing routine when you sit down to write?

When is the best time for you to write?

Mark Snoad link

8/13/2024 06:13:45 pm

Yes, pace and flow, got to get the balance right. Interestingly, with acting, there is often that need for comic relief, especially in any performance where the drama is real. Readers, like audience members, need a break in the tension. A chance to take a breath, as you so wisely say.

With writing routine and my best time to write... I wish I had a great answer. The truth is that I've hit a very barren stretch since Maggie and the Mountain of Light was published. I've really been battling despondency and apathy, which are definitely not ideal feelings for writing a fun MG sequel. And other things have contrived to sap my joy - family issues, workplace drama, money troubles, and even self-sabotaging behaviour. I was cautioned that many writers can feel some despair after publishing their first novel, which sounds counter intuitive, but I guess also understandable. A writer reaches a highpoint, the mountain top experience of being a published author. And what is the view from the top? Another, much taller mountain in the distance that has to be climbed. A mountain called book sales. And it looks like there's a bit of a dark valley to go through before even reaching that next mountain.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm walking that valley. And I also very aware that I need to keep writing. Maggie's waiting to go on another adventure. My YA fantasy, Redemption's Fool, is waiting to be polished. I have hope. And now I need to apply some discipline, throw off everything that hinders and run my race with perseverance. And at the moment that means sitting down to write, building a routine, and discovering what works best for me.

Sorry to be so raw there, but I thought honesty was needed :)

Mark

8/13/2024 06:56:48 pm

Well said. I appreciate your honesty because nearly every writer can relate to that.

Writing a good story that is easy to read is a lot of hard work. Publishing brings many hurrahs! Followed by reality. The mountain in the distance is a good word picture of what a writer faces after the first book. While writing and rewriting is hard, it's only a sprint compared to the effort necessary to promote and market a book, that is more like an ultra-marathon.

It does get easier if you write more books. Readers seem to gravitate toward authors with multiple books.

Life does get in the way of our plans. If you can't write preparing to write more books might be a good idea. Making daily efforts to market books can be accomplished if the muse is silent. There are many other platforms besides Amazon to sell books.

If you can't write try exploring why you can't write. I know that seems counter intuitive also.

Keep moving forward is my motto.

New question.

Do you write in a straight line or do you write whatever the muse provides for you at a given moment?

Mark Snoad link

8/13/2024 07:17:18 pm

An ultra-marathon, exactly! I've taken some recent inspiration from the Olympic athletes, who work and train for years with a single goal in mind. What struck me is the long-term timeframe many of these athletes prepare for. They might talk about being ready for the next Olympic Games in four years time, but it is the one in eight years time that they might be really targeting for their best performances. Eight years time!! And even with that is the possibility still being competitive at the Games in twelve years time!!! It helped me realise that writing and yes, selling, is my Olympic equivalent. My mindset needs to change from being limited to the current year to having instead focused on where I'll be in four, eight, and twelve years time.

I also recently resonated with an interview I read with the actor Kevin Bacon - "Success is in the doing, he explains, discussing American playwright and screenwriter Neil Simon's approach to work."It's about doing the work," whether that's studying your script or on set. "You have no idea if there is going to be an audience, but that doesn't matter, because you can't control that." That's where he puts his focus. "You don't have to worry about yourself. Yourself doesn't matter" he
says."Try to do the best work you can, and hopefully someone likes it."

I really like that. Success is in doing the work. And it does take work, effort, and commitment. And yes, keep moving forward. That's key.

When I do write I tend to write in a straight line. I have a bad habit of going back over what I've just written rather than writing the next scene. I need to let that go and just get the words down. That's where something like NaNoWriMo is so good. One month. Set a word count goal. Then write. Don't edit, just write. Get the words on the page.

I've also been known to skip over detail in a scene. I know I need to add detail, but I'd rather just move on to a more exciting scene that's coming up next. This habit seems to be totally opposite to my habit of going over what I've just written, but I seem to be blessed with both :)

Mark

8/14/2024 01:05:12 pm

Your mindset is critical in many ways and can make the difference between success and failure. Planning ahead for years or decades takes a lot of pressure off the day-to-day efforts to achieve success in the next week or month. You are an Olympic writer!

Kevin Bacon is right. Putting forth your best effort is what matters and the only thing in your control. The actor has no control over the audience and neither does the author over the readers. Keep in mind that every reader reads a slightly different book from what the author has written. The reader's world view and how they are feeling at that moment can alter what resonates at any given time.

I have encouraged authors for years to get the first draft down on paper as quickly as possible. Yes, the first draft will be a dumpster fire very likely. But you can't edit what is still in your head and no one has ever written a perfect first draft. Even attempting to write an error-free first draft will kill any inspiration before long. Outlining is helpful also just to keep you on track. I have heard of one author that outlines the book after the first draft because it helps him locate an area of interest easily.

Writing out of sequence is a good idea also. Write the easy parts first, even the last chapter because then you know what you are aiming for.
Rick Hall wrote another amazing guest blog about that very topic. Copy-and-paste time again: http://www.wordrefiner.com/guest-blogs/non-linear-writing or hit the search box below.

NaNoWriMo is a good exercise. Writing 50,000 first-draft words is easy and it is hard. Parse it out and that is less than 2,000 words a day.
Many authors join online groups for mutual encouragement.

New question.

Now that your book is published, is there anything about it you would like to change?

Mark Snoad link

8/14/2024 03:42:43 pm

Thank you, Mark. Great advice and encouragement, as always :)

And thanks to Rick Hall for another useful and informative guest blog. It's great to be reminded that there are many ways forward and we don't have to be limited in our thinking. We just need to find out what works for us and do that!

Now, as for my published debut novel, yes, there are a couple of things I would like to change. Firstly, I included the prologue for the second book in the series at the end of Maggie and the Mountain of Light and I think, on reflection, it detracts from the feeling I want to give readers at the end. Whilst I really enjoy the humour involved I can see now how it might be confusing. So, I'd remove that.

I'd also look at the physical aspects of the book. I've already changed the back cover blurb, but I want to change the spine as the name of the book is really not clear. I've noticed too that the physical dimensions of the book are inconsistent with other MG titles. My book seems to be thinner and taller than most other pre-teen books.

As for the story itself... I'm pretty proud of it actually, and there's very little I'd want to change. I kinda like how I can pick up a part of the book, read it and enjoy it. It often makes me laugh. And sometimes I say, "Wow, I wrote that!" It's a nice feeling :)

Mark

8/14/2024 05:18:01 pm

I am a firm believer in trying different methods.

Does your publisher charge you to make changes in the uploaded files? Changing the spine makes sense to me. I think dumping the wayfinder bit from the spine would help. It is bigger than the book title. With more room on the spine the title could be enlarged.

Physical book size is a combination of many factors. Does the publisher think it should be changed? It's hard for me to imagine a minor difference in dimensions would affect a buyer's choice.

The book 2 prologue is humorous, Zlantarb is in a pickle, no doubt. His salvation may be Earth's damnation! Take it out of "Maggie"? Perhaps, your call not mine.

New question.

What do you do to launch a new book when it is first published?

Mark Snoad link

8/14/2024 05:46:51 pm

My publisher is wonderful. Very supportive and 100% committed to the writers and doing all they can to help writers grow their careers. And there are no charge for changes, which is good. I've made some already. And it's true, some of the changes are trivial and may have minimal impact on buyer behaviour. My most important task is to keep writing!

I think there is a golden period of opportunity around when a book is first published. A window where there is a greater appetite to engage with the book. It's a window that doesn't stay open long so it's important to make the most of it. I've only had the one book published, so I'm not that well versed in what to do, I managed to get local media coverage, get on a few podcasts, and do three live book release events, two at local bookstores and one at my local library. I also did three talks at local schools. My publisher also run an online book birthday party, which was promoted throughout the writing community. These are all things that I will do again!

It seems to be much easier to promote and celebrate the publication of a new book, then it is to promote and celebrate an existing book.

Mark

8/14/2024 06:48:37 pm

Job 1 is to keep writing! You got that right! The more books you write the more books you will sell. Super readers love finding a prolific author. If they like the first book they know they will probably love the rest of the catalog.

Your publisher did more than many other publishers do. You chose well. Initial phase is very exciting for everyone. The important trick is for the author to recreate the same level of excitement at every live event. The author has to be a convincing actor, though it isn't too hard when most of the people are there by choice for a book reading or a comic convention. The energy of a few multiplies quickly.

Every new book launch can serve as a vehicle for the backlist also. Always work those in.

New question.

Have you ever participated in a book blog tour, why or why not?

Mark Snoad link

8/14/2024 07:28:14 pm

So true! And yes, I did well with my publisher. I thoroughly recommend Monarch Educational Services. Dr. Jen Lowry is a star!

I have not participated in a Blog tour. Not yet anyway. I am totally open to it, but have not actively pursued the opportunity. Part of the reason is related to my day job. I teach and lead at a senior high school. A very demanding, exhausting, and rewarding job. Finding the energy to write on top of teaching is hard. As is promoting a book. I hope to focus on writing the next book. And then the one after that. I feel that's where I need to put my energy.

Mark

8/15/2024 09:07:29 am

Yes. I am certain teaching is demanding and rewarding at the same time. Time management must be crucial because there are so many requests for your time.

There is no easy answer of course. Every choice has a consequence, a price to pay. Saying yes to one thing means saying no to at least one other thing. Clear priorities are essential.

One of my recommendations to authors are to spend an hour or two on marketing and promotion every week or two. Many authors are in a similar boat, needing to work to keep the Wi-Fi on and food on the table. They write part time and writing is the main activity of an author. If need be, schedule time for writing and marketing. Write it down. Leave time for other activities.

Here is another copy-and-paste link about book blog tours: https://storyempirecom.wordpress.com/2022/05/04/mktg-14-book-blog-tours It is part of series.

New question.

What kind of marketing has worked the best and the least for you for this book?

Mark Snoad link

8/15/2024 03:57:22 pm

So true. Teachers are time poor in a job that you can always do more in. So, yes, time and energy management is critical.

Thanks about the blog tour information. I will investigate. You have so much great content on your site. Thank you!!!

As for my experience of marketing. In terms of book sales, the in-person human interaction moments have been the best. So, my book launch at a local book store, a talk at a local primary school, and a stall at a children's book festival. Those opportunities to personally connect with readers and talk about the story. There was also a boost in sales at another local book store following an article in the local paper. All of the sales have taken place in my home country, Aotearoa New Zealand, with a stock of books I have in my possession. and my personal involvement in the marketing activity.

In relation to impact of marketing, overseas sales are harder to get a handle on. There might be a slight boost to sales following a marketing initiative, but there could also be a time delay. The cumulative nature of marketing is relevant too. It might take anywhere from three to seven interactions before someone commits to buying the book. So, given that, I tried to take on any opportunity I can to talk about my book. This has included interviews on youtube channels, participation in MG chat groups, and being part of this wonderful process :)

Some of the marketing activities did not have an immediate impact on book sales, but it all adds up. I have made mistakes though. The biggest mistake was getting involved with a writer in California who talked a good game and was launching a new marketing initiative. I thought I'd done the due diligence and signed up. The problem was that he needed a minimum number of people to join him and he never reached it. I, as one of the first to join, essentially had lost whatever energy and funds I'd committed to his initiative.

Another consideration is to do with supporting other writers and being an active (as much as your energy will allow) member of the writing community. This is a joyous and rewarding thing to do, but it is also energy sapping and time consuming. All of us writers are hungry for reviews, hungry for shout-outs, hungry for attention. I sometimes wonder if a lot of the marketing activity involves writers promoting their books to other writers, when its the readers we need to connect with. It's like an authors newsletter being mailed out to other authors. I've signed up for several newsletters and I have to admit that most I never read, they get lost in the black hold that is email overload.

Oh, and finally, the online presence as a writer is important too. There are so many platforms you could be on and some may not have any impact on book sales. But you've got to be visible. And again that is time-consuming. I took a bit of a risk on my website because I wanted to do something different. I was also aware that I am a 50-something male writing a story in first person as a 12-year-old girl. So, I needed my website to share something about who I was as a father as well as a writer. It is quite personal, but I think it works.

Mark

8/15/2024 04:53:45 pm

I thoroughly agree about in-person events. There is an energetic excitement that grows as more people show up. Talking with people about books is always a pleasure for me. You have already done several of the things that I recommend to authors. Keep working on those ideas. If you live a large enough area there may be schools with broadcasting technology clubs, writing clubs or specialized schools that might welcome a local author. A local library might have a book club or writing group you could appear before. Fraternal service organizations might be happy to host a local author or meet your daughter because of her disease.

It wasn't your lack of diligence that caused the marketing idea to miss its launch. I am sure it was a good idea. but not every good idea can fly on its own.

Twitter has a lot of authors, no doubt. It can seem like shouting into a void at times. I understand that quite well. There are readers on Twitter and many others also. It takes time to build the follower/audience count.

So many different platforms. I have tried several without any tangible results. Most of the followers on a new platform were already following me on Twitter. Twitter is where I focus my efforts.

Do you have an author newsletter? Most say it is necessary if you have a website. I understand the concept. It's important to have a platform to sell books from that you control. No website is immune to disruption or changes. Amazon has had many changes over the years. If Amazon ever calculated they weren't making enough money selling books, what do you think they would do? They might shut Kindle and KDP down. They already made CreateSpace disappear some years ago. The old adage applies, don't put all of your eggs in one basket.

New question.

Speaking of marketing, why did you pick me to help promote your book?

Mark Snoad link

8/15/2024 05:40:45 pm

Shouting into the void. That's the one. And then you find a supportive writing community and you shout into the void together :)

It's quite fascinating actually, what works for some writers. I read recently about how TikTok had propelled a writer into the bestseller lists, with a subsequent deal with a major publisher, because of the love that BookTok influencers had shown. The writer had self-published two or three books, but it was TikTok who turbocharged her career. And with a book that was several years old. She did well. The article then went on to critique the fact that the BookTok community seem to be all talking about a small number of books, wonderful if you are part of that small group, but I imagine quite frustrating for all those writers vainly trying to make the cut.

The thing with TikTok, along with other platforms, the genre of the book is significant. Thus, the new adult romantasy books are popular, as are the edgy YA novels, often dealing with characters going through tough times. I suspect that Twitter attracts some strong genre related reader interest too, maybe with mystery, fantasy and/or romance. And probably leaning more to the adult market. I think Middle Grade is a little bit trickier to find traction, given that most 8 to 12 year olds are probably not that active on social media platforms, or, if they are, it's possibly not to do with books. The gate-keepers of Middle Grade are the ones I need to connect with, the parents, grandparents, librarians and teachers.

I don't have an author newsletter. Maybe I should, but I honestly don't know if it is worth it. Well, not yet, anyway. I worry that it's close to being spam mail. I know that other writers also get people to sign-up to their newsletters at every possible event, but do the people who sign-up really want to receive a regular newsletter? I don't. But maybe that's just my personal bias which I need to get over :)

Now, why did I pick you for marketing? I came across you on Twitter and checked out your site and your latest interview. I was impressed. Your site genuinely strives to help writers. It's a goldmine of advice and support. And I was intrigued by your interview process with writers, a process which allowed for honest reflection and hope. And finally, your service is so affordable. There are many services available to writers but most come at quite a high cost. Trade reviews often require an investment of several hundred dollars. Other promotional services are often over one hundred dollars. Bang for the buck is relevant. And you provide a genuine, honest, and affordable service which is unique. I enjoyed the process so much the first time that I cam back for a second round :)

Mark

8/15/2024 07:13:37 pm

Shouting into the void together! It sure seems like that at times.

You make a great point about TikTok. This kind of thing happens often and spread around on different platforms. Then the author writes a book or makes a course on replicating the experience. I doubt if the success can be duplicated most of the time. There are so many factors the author has no control over. If the course turns into seminars and I think that happens fairly often, it could be a long time before the author writes another book. Most of those authors fade away into obscurity.

I agree, genre can make a significant difference in results. Knowing your audience market is essential. If there are kid-friendly venues near you, such as a kids museum, adventure playground or a trampoline house. Their gift store might be willing to carry your book. Be ready to provide a simple cardboard, countertop holder that holds 8 to 10 books. Paste a picture of the cover on the inside and a label on the back with reordering instructions for the employees. If you can't sell them at a discount to the gift shop maybe they will take them on consignment. Lots of possibilities.

You are quite right about the MG gatekeepers, yet another angle to pursue.

I don't have a newsletter also. I don't want to take time away from serving authors. I do subscribe to a bunch of newsletters, I read some of them also. I try to hit all of them every few months.

Thank you, I designed my website to be a destination for authors. I am gratified that it has been successful. I can't believe how much trade reviews cost! It boggles the mind.

My interview process is unique, as far as I know. I have never been challenged about that to my surprise.

Thanks again.

New question.

How do you think your book relates to the world we live in today?

Mark Snoad link

8/15/2024 07:43:56 pm

Yes, it's hard not to get distracted by whatever the flavour of the month is and try and catch the wave. But fame is fleeting. And it can be quite discouraging reading about others successes, even though you're totally supportive of the writer and thrilled for their success, it still can feel like it will never happen for me. That's why it's so important to keep reminding oneself that "success is doing the work"

Great idea about those kid-friendly venues, thanks! And of course, one of the best kid-friendly venues is schools :)

And you're welcome. Happy to recommend your service to others. If nothing else, just engaging in this interview process is really rewarding and helps rekindle my passion for writing. So thank you :)

Great question about how my book relates to the world we live in today. As you know, even though the story is fantastical, I chose to set it in the real world. And there are at least two ways my book relates to the world. The first is political, the theft and continual possession of important cultural artefacts held by country other than the country these artefacts belong to. The koh-i-noor diamond is just one real-life example of this. The road to repairing past wrongs is hard, especially when wealth and status is concerned, but I think owning up to historical grievances and trying to make amends is important for healing and for harmony, freedom, and peace.

The second is personal. I was drawn to the idea of a protagonist who didn't have any special abilities or powers. Many MG characters draw on dormant or unknown magical powers or god-like abilities (in fantasy), but there are not many kids with those abilities or powers in the world today. Many actually have poor mental health and feel anxiety. We see it in a lot of our young people. So, to have a main character who is able to go on a magical adventure, despite her health issues and anxiety. I think that would resonate with a few kids.

I also kind of love the whole girl-power narrative in my book. As a father of two daughters I always tried to support my girls to do whatever they set their minds to. No limits. And I think my book celebrates that idea :)

Mark

8/16/2024 08:37:55 am

I like that perspective, success is doing the work.

Schools are where the kids are, maybe your school or the school district would accept a counter display of books in the reception area. Promoting the books of a local author who is also a teacher there might be beneficial.

Cultural artefacts are a big deal these days. It could wind up emptying a lot of museums of popular exhibits unless the museum replaces the genuine article with a replica. It wouldn't be that hard. I own a museum quality replica of a Hawaiian war club. Made of tiger eye koa wood, the broad, leaf-shaped blade is lined with shark teeth. Shark teeth are very sharp.

I love that you crafted Maggie without any supernatural powers and she still overcame the circumstances of the moment. You have provided hope to many.

New questions.

Do you have a classical author or poet you admire?

What popular modern authors have influenced you?

Mark Snoad link

8/16/2024 04:03:51 pm

It's the perspective that I want to keep forefront in my mind. The Maori word for work is "mahi" meaning to work, do, make, perform, accomplish. So, I'll be using that - success is doing the mahi

Wow, that replica Hawaiian war club sounds amazing - so sharp you can cut your finger just looking at it :) I'm sure it's safely displayed. But you're right about the museums. The possession of other nation's artefacts is akin to cultural looting, and there are ways to restore them to their proper homes.

Thank you. I believe it is a story of hope.

J.R.R Tolkien is someone I admire. His body of work is immense and there is always more to learn. I love how he crafted such a complex world, but filled it with such relatable characters. And I love how I can still find new things in his books, even after I've read it multiple times. The commitment and integrity he displayed in building a new mythology is legendary!!

I also admire Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett for their humour. Douglas Adams was so brilliantly funny, and so silly, a joy to read. Terry Pratchett was able to combine humour with a deep critique of the human condition. He was such a prolific writer. A genius.

And I so really impressed by Brandon Sanderson. A wonderful writer who not only writes great books but also shares his knowledge about writing freely. He tackled the very daunting task of completing Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Brandon was originally commissioned to write the last book, following Robert Jordan's death, but Brandon discovered that the work was so big that he needed to write three more books. And they were brilliant. An amazing accomplishment.

I also gain a lot of inspiration from Rick Riordan, the prolific writer of the Percy Jackson and Magnus Chase series of books. His books are funny, action-backed, steeped in mythology, and lots of fun. I love how he started by telling stories to his sons. And how he taught for four years his first book was published. The key is, he kept writing. And he has now written a lot of books and is hugely successful. A lovely guy too.

Mark

8/16/2024 04:35:52 pm

Getting words on the page is success!

I keep it in a drawer, there is no place to display it in our apartment.

Tolkien was an amazing author. I read the LOTR three times before graduating from high school. That was my introduction to fantasy; now my second favorite genre right behind science fiction. I remain amazed at his world building. He was a professor of Anglo-Saxon and English languages and didn't let that stop him from crafting a story that continues to delight.

Tolkien was also the model for the protagonist in a story by another author. Out of the Silent Planet was the first volume in a sci-fi trilogy by Clive Staple Lewis. Elwin Ransom was a philologist like Tolkien. Entertaining reading but not nearly as well known as LOTR.

Those authors, Adams and all are quite prolific. I want to read them all.

New question.

Was there a particular moment when you knew you wanted to write for children?

Mark Snoad link

8/16/2024 05:10:38 pm

J.R.R Tolkien and C.S. Lewis are both remarkable. I would have loved to sit in on one of their Inklings meetings. And it's inspirational how they sparked off the genius in each other. I investigated their work when I did an essay on them as part of a year I spent studying theology. Both brilliant. And yes, I read and enjoyed Out of the Silent Planet, as well as the more well-known and beloved Narnia series.

There are many great writers of fantasy and science fiction, it's always exciting when you discover a new one, and you love their books.

Interesting question about writing for children. I'd been working on a fantasy book, Redemption's Fool, for a long time and not getting much traction. I'd spent so much time editing and re-writing, and become a bit stuck. I was encouraged to try writing something else. An idea had been simmering away and I started writing a new story, which became Maggie and the Mountain of Light. The inspiration for the story, my daughter, also became the inspiration for writing for children. It's a real privilege and a lot of fun!

Mark

8/16/2024 05:29:06 pm

Wow! Yes, hanging out with the Inklings would have been great fun.

Lewis wrote so many books beside Narnia and Out of the Silent Planet. I have read several but not recently.

We raised our three kids on Narnia and they all turned out to be good readers.

Dragon Riders of Pern was a wonderful find for me. Nice fantasy with a sci-fi twist when the protagonist discovered time-travel while riding his dragon.

Did you ever finish Redemption's Fool? The title is interesting. It makes me think of the Apostle Paul.

New question.

Have you ever been asked for writing help or to mentor a fledgling writer?

Mark Snoad link

8/16/2024 05:56:49 pm

I never read the Pern books, but they are definitely up there as seminal works with Narnia and Middle Earth. I was more into the works of Terry Brooks (Shannara series), David Eddings (Belgariad series), Raymond E. Fesit (Driftwar series), and Stephen R. Donaldson (Chronicles of Thomas Covenant). So many books ;)

I did finish Redemption's Fool. It was the book I pitched to my current publisher, who loved much of it, but felt it needed reworking. It is a multiple POV fantasy inspired by the biblical story of Gideon. I was intrigued by the idea of an angelic warrior delivering a message to a human only to be greeted with "Me? I think you've got the wrong guy!" I could imagine the angel's complete incredulity - who are these humans? My publisher eventually turned down Redemption's Fool (for now) but asked if I had anything else. Fortunately I did :)

Redemption's Fool is still sitting there, awaiting my attention.

I haven't been asked to help writers. I'm still growing my profile as a writer and so I'm probably not on the radar of many. I do help other Monarch authors as time and energy permits. The publisher is keen for us to see ourselves as a family :)

Mark

8/16/2024 06:10:02 pm

Thomas Covenant, the Unbeliever. I read several in that series. I was quite intrigued by the leprosy connection. Talk about a fish out of water, he had the most powerful element in the alternate world and no idea how to operate it.

I like the premise of Redemption's Fool. The Old Testament story is wonderful even though Gideon was such a big doubter. That changed when he finally signed on to God's plan.

I think your publisher's family idea has merit. We can all benefit from more connections. But time is so precious for everyone.

New question.

What software do you use to write and publish your books, and why do you use those?

Mark Snoad link

8/16/2024 06:27:33 pm

The Thomas Covenant series is unique in the annals of fantasy, with possibly one of the first anti-heroes. It was a hard read at times, but brilliant. I still recall with some amazement the power of a single word. Only one word. And yet that word held so much unrestrained power. Do you know what that word was "nom", the name of a monstrous Sandgorgon. A brilliant piece of writing in the Second Chronicles series.

Thanks! I like the premise of Redemption's Fool too. As did quite a few literary agents over the years. As a writer seeking representation you quickly grow accustomed, if you're lucky enough to get a response, to the dreaded "but..." - "I loved the concept of this story so much, but", "You have a great voice, but...", "I was really intrigued by the premise of this story, but..."

I want to return to Redemption's Fool soon. It whispers to me. And every now and then a character or a scene from the story pops into my thinking. I see much hope in the story of Gideon. And humour too. There are a few funny scenes as the angel tries to make sense of the behaviour of the humans.

I love what my publisher is doing too. Writers supporting writers. All sharing ideas, and all supporting each other. I do feel a bit guilty sometimes that I'm not doing more, but there is no judgement. My publisher is grateful for whatever help and support can be offered.

Hmmm, software. I started off with Word, but now just use Google Docs, rather than any specialist writing software. It seems to work for me, although I am far from prolific!

Mark

8/17/2024 10:35:05 am

I stopped reading after the third volume of Thomas Covenant. I didn't know about that.

Agents, like publishers don't get any money until after a book is published. Some publishers don't want to wade through a slush pile so they refuse direct submissions. That's where agents come in, they will only bring something to a publisher that they think the publisher will like. An author has to have thick skin.

I love humor and the more I hear about Redemption's Fool the more I like it.

MS Word has a huge user base. It's used by almost every author I have had the pleasure of working with. I have worked with Google Docs a little bit. But it doesn't play well with the software I use. It has to be converted into a Word format and that conversion process can introduce unusual formatting into the document. I don't mind dealing with Docs for a short story but I can't do it for a novel-length file.

New questions.

What is your favorite, can’t-miss-it, TV or streaming show?
Are you a plotter, a pantser, or a hybrid, which some call a plantser?

Mark Snoad link

8/17/2024 04:00:18 pm

The Second Chronicles of Thomas Covenant is very good. Continuing with the anti-hero vibes and it also explores the consequences of some of the main character's actions from the first series.

Authors definitely need thick skin! I've seen a few writers on Twitter post about their struggles after sending out less than a dozen queries and I think to myself, "Oh dear, you haven't seen anything yet." The publishing industry is brutal, but I can see why. Economic considerations rule all.

Thanks. Even though I've been working on Redemption's Fool for many years, I still laugh when I reread some parts. So it might have something to it. I need to show it some love :)

I'm happy with either MS Word or Google Docs, but I understand the conversion issues involved. I was using Word but my publisher uses Google Docs so I switched.

I am looking forward to the second season of Rings of Power on Prime. I loved the first season. I thought it was a beautiful tribute to J.R.R. Tolkien. Likewise I am looking forward to the second season of The Diplomat on Netflix. My wife and I really enjoyed the first season. As a family we are rewatching some family favourites like Modern Family and The Office. Nice shows to watch together.

I'm probably mostly a hybrid, a plantser :) But I probably need to spend much more time writing to order to properly make a judgement.

Mark

8/17/2024 04:24:20 pm

That is good to hear about Covenant. Maybe I can pick it up again someday.

Rowling is a great example of sticking to it. 200 rejections if I recall correctly.

Good shows. Watching on your schedule is such an improvement.

I think a lot of writers are hybrid to some extent.

New question.

How do you keep track of all the characters and events in your books?

Mark Snoad link

8/17/2024 05:09:08 pm

Great question - keeping track of characters and events is rather critical, especially if you want to avoid plot-holes and the sudden and rather jarring change of a character's name!!

For Redemption's Fool, I had a spreadsheet with a day-by-day timeline along the top and the characters names down the side. I really needed this tool as I had so many POV characters. Probably too many. But the spreadsheet help me keep track.

For Maggie and the Mountain of Light, it was a bit easier because it was a single POV, written in first person. So, once I had a general outline I could follow it fairly well. Of course then my publisher and team of editors got their hands on it and pointed out the places where more detail was needed, or there were a couple of questionable responses.

As I'm sure you know, the editing process is such an important and integral part of writing!

Mark

8/17/2024 05:23:51 pm

On more than one occasion, I have caught errors such as eye color or a misspelled name. Keeping those details straight provide an easier read for the buyers.

Your spreadsheet was very important. More than one author has mentioned using a spreadsheet for that reason.

Have you heard of Scrivener? It's a writing program that connects with MS Word and provides a great deal of control for an author. I have heard that it has a steep learning curve but those that conquer it love it!

New question.

Who is the hardest character to write in this book?

Mark Snoad link

8/18/2024 03:13:32 pm

I have heard of Scrivener but I've never used it. I'm definitely open to using it if I felt like I needed it.

Interesting question about which character was the hardest to write, As it was in first person, and the main character was inspired by my daughter, I put most of my effort into crafting the character of Maggie. Mu initial thinking about the other characters was how they interacted with Maggie, and to try and ensure that there was enough difference in those reactions and interactions. What happened, somewhat unintentionally, is that I created other characters that appealed to some readers. I've been told, for instance, that some readers really connected with the character of Sam - that she was their favourite.

I like Sam too, especially her sarkiness, but I'm not sure I put a lot of effort into crafting her character.

Mark

8/18/2024 03:44:18 pm

I have a companion question to 'hardest' and that is 'easiest' but I felt I knew the answer would be Maggie so I didn't ask it.

Snarky Sam is a cute character, your method produced her almost automatically. I love that because so many characters in a well-populated plot can begin to sound the same. You planned for differentiating your characters and it worked quite well.

New question.

Have you ever had the experience of the story swerving in a different direction than planned, as if a character was driving it?

Mark Snoad link

8/18/2024 04:33:46 pm

I've not had that experience (yet), but I'm well aware of the need to give characters space to tell their own stories. I love the idea of an author being surprised by what a character does or how a story develops. I recently talked with my daughter, Mikayla, about how the character of Maggie will change in subsequent books and we both agreed that Maggie will act and behave in very different ways to Mikayla. Even though Maggie is been inspired by Mikayla, Maggie needs to tell her own story as the series develops.

I am inspired by other writers when they speak of writing a story they'd been gifted by their characters. There is something otherworldly or spiritual in crafting a new story, it is an act of creation, and I think it is important for writers to allow their characters space. I have not yet however had that experience.

Mark

8/18/2024 05:01:12 pm

I love that you and your daughter have discussed what happens with Maggie in the future. That is a wonderful and durable touchpoint for you and Mikayla.

I agree, creating a story is a magnificent and somewhat mysterious affair especially when the characters seem to explain to the author what should happen next. More than one author has discovered a new storyline through the eyes of a minor character.

New question.

Do you have a defined space for writing at home, or do you prefer to write in a coffee shop or some other location away from your home?

Mark Snoad link

8/18/2024 05:40:46 pm

I love the idea of a minor character pushing their way into the mind of a writer, like a "here I am, pick me" moment. I can see it happening. A writer gives life to a character, and that character wants their story to be told. I can see it happening for any of the characters in Maggie and the Mountain of Light. I've even written a short story for a children's book festival that featured Lady Marie Studfall when she was just Marie, a 12-year-old girl on her first day of Wayfinder Girls training. It was fun. And it gave a little bit more shape to the character we see in my book.

I am fairly relaxed and don't seem to need a dedicated space at home or the need to write in a coffee shop, not yet anyway. But as I've said before I am not very prolific. I think with some more intentionality and structure I will be able to achieve more. And I can definitely see me going to a coffee-shop or library to dedicate some time to writing. I like the idea of going somewhere with a set purpose, rather than writing at home with all of the myriad distractions. Watch this space :)

Mark

8/18/2024 06:04:49 pm

A series of short stories about the major characters would be a nice addition to the series. It could also be a giveaway for people who sign up for a future newsletter.

Different authors handle a newsletter in different ways, of course. Most of them include bits of writing progress, or snippets from a life event, whether good or bad. Many do conventions and talk about future personal appearances.

I recall an author who liked to hike. She took a proof copy of her book and edited it while on a hike in a park. It rained and the book got wet. She held a contest with her fan club and awarded the book, as-is, to the fan who promoted her next book the most.

I prefer silence when I am proofreading but I have learned to tune out most distractions pretty well. I can work most anywhere.

New question.

Do you listen to music or have the TV on when writing, or do you need quiet?

Mark Snoad link

8/18/2024 06:51:08 pm

Offering something to subscribers makes sense. It elevates a newsletter and gives something for people to hopefully enjoy. I definitely see myself offering the short story about Lady Marie Studfall freely to readers at some stage.

I love the account of a writer editing their story while on a hike (and the subsequent developments). There is so much inspiration you can draw on while in nature, and Aotearoa New Zealand is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty. I love hiking too, and have wondered about going away for an overnight (or longer) hike and using the time to plot, edit, or simply listen to the characters.

I do enjoy having some music on in the background when I write. It helps with creativity. Although I can see how silence can help a writer listen to the characters. When I've got stuck on how to move the story forward, I've found going for a walk really helps, just allowing your mind time and space to reflect. It's pretty crazy how it seems so difficult when I'm sitting at a desk with my computer open and yet so easy when I'm out walking in the sunshine :)

Mark

8/18/2024 07:03:43 pm

People love free stuff especially if it is limited in some fashion.

I don't recall if we have talked about writer's block or not. Your idea for getting out is one of many I have recommended to authors over the years. Riding a bike, gardening, running, and race-walking are only a few of the things you can do. Some like cooking, baking, or doing laundry. For many authors, engaging in an activity that doesn't require high-level thinking is key. Other authors that have many different books begging for release merely jump onto another story until the difficulties in the first book solve themselves. Writing about why the writer feels blocked can also be useful.

New question.

Do you have a particular routine or ritual to help get you into a writing frame of mind?

Mark Snoad link

8/18/2024 07:38:29 pm

Writer's block is really interesting. As with many creative processes you can get caught in the mistake of thinking you need to be 'in the zone' before you start writing. But as C.K. Stead (a celebrated NZ writer) once said, "the more you practice writing, the better you get at it."

I like the idea of writing as a practice. It is a skill that needs time and effort. If I hesitate because "I'm not feeling it" then I'm not allowing me the space and time needed to practice my craft. And there are plenty of other worthy things to interrupt that space and time, but at some stage you've got to say "this is what I'm going to do" and do it. I'm talking to myself here as much as anyone else. I hear the Nike motto in my head as I'm writing this - Just Do It.

There's a lot of wisdom in that simple phrase. Just do it. Write. Sure, what you write might not be that good, but just get it done. I recently saw a part of a letter from C.S. Lewis where he gives advice to a young writer. At one point he talks about going back to something he'd written a few years before, something which he didn't think was that good, but on returning to it, and with some significant rewriting, he felt that it eventually became some of his best work.

For me, when my publisher passed on Redemption's Fool and asked if I had anything else, imagine if I didn't. Imagine if, instead of writing a second story I had kept editing and rewriting my first story. My journey as a writer might have ended then and there.

I'm going to take my own advice and write.

Mark

8/18/2024 07:46:47 pm

I like that advice. I recall at least one writer saying that they like to write poetry just to write and take their head out of the current novel. Quite a few authors list themselves as a poet after author or writer in their Twitter bio. Some list poet first. Good advice.

Nice insight from Lewis.

Keep writing. I will keep reading.

New question.

Action, dialogue, or narration; which is easiest to write?

Mark Snoad link

8/19/2024 03:02:53 pm

I find dialogue easiest to write, I think because of my acting experience. I enjoy the interaction between characters. I received a review which seemed to criticise the development of the plot through dialogue and I was a little bit confused as I thought that was a good thing. I liked it anyway. It shows again how subjective reading is.

I find detail harder to write. My publisher regularly asked me to add a little bit of detail to a scene, which I did, and which improved the scene, especially for younger readers. I probably lean to much to the reader filling in any gaps with their imagination, and I need to continue to develop a richer and fuller landscape for the reader to explore.

Mark

8/19/2024 03:21:52 pm

You cannot please everybody, that is a guarantee. Writing that way is a good thing, stick to your guns you're a good writer.

I don't need a lot of obvious detail because I already have a lot of that in my head. For younger readers more seems like a good idea. At least you have beta readers, AKA daughters, to guide you.

New question.

Of the five senses which is the easiest to write and which is the hardest?

Mark Snoad link

8/19/2024 03:33:11 pm

Thank you, Mark. I appreciate your encouragement. It means a lot.

Great question about the five senses and something my publisher kept asking me to think about. For me it is easiest to write about what characters see, and you'll probably 'see' that in my books :)

It's been challenging for me to write about the others senses, especially touch, taste, and smell. I don't think I really got to grips with any of them. I think it will be really beneficial for me to consider what are characters are experiencing in terms of the five senses as it will help me create vivid and vibrant scenes. Something for me to work on.

Mark

8/19/2024 03:48:28 pm

You have lots of company when it comes to writing about the other senses. So many authors don't bring other senses into play beyond seeing and hearing. We do receive most of our information from those two sources. Smell and taste are nearly as powerful. Think about how a certain scent can trigger a pleasant memory or one that you would rather forget. Touch doesn't get near enough playtime also. If you know a blind person, they might be able to provide some interesting information about how they navigate their private and public environment daily.

Last questions.

Earlier, you mentioned acting. How has that impacted your writing?

Would you recommend other authors take acting classes or something else like screenwriting courses?

Mark Snoad link

8/19/2024 04:12:12 pm

Thanks, Mark. Great advice, as always :)

I think acting has given me insight into how characters interact, especially through dialogue. Good actors have an amazing ability to breath life into text. The words come alive. And I have a little inkling of that as I write. I think about how actors might deliver the dialogue. It can be a trap, because dialogue in itself won't paint the same picture that actors delivering that dialogue would create. That's exactly why I think my publisher asked for more detail.

But generally, doing an acting class, finding more about the acting process is a good thing, as is a screenwriting course. If nothing else, doing an acting class might help a lot of our introvert writers learn some tricks and tips for when they are talking to groups of people.

I don't have a problem with that, in fact, speaking or performing in front of large groups is one of my happy places :)

Mark

8/19/2024 04:34:43 pm

Good actors can make a scene come alive. No question about that. In a big sense, the book is the actor and the writer is the director or maybe the book is the invisible assistant director and the characters are the actors. I will stop. I think I am going off the rails here.

I like that idea of acting classes for authors, it works on more than one level.

Thank you, Mark, for being a fabulous guest. I have enjoyed continuing our conversation a lot.

Until next time, keep on writing.

Mark Snoad link

8/19/2024 07:13:49 pm

Thanks, Mark. It's been an absolute delight. I hope to engage your excellent services again in the future with Maggie's next adventure or even Redemption's Fool.

All the very best to you and your family

Maggie and the Mountain of Light by Mark Snoad

(Wayfinder Girls Novel Book 1)

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