I had the opportunity to interview up-and-coming author E. S. Skipper this evening, who's novella, No Worries, Mate, has just been published in the Bollocks! Anthology, released by Wayward Ink Publishing. Welcome!
Can you tell me how you came to want to write?
I started reading fanfiction a while back and I enjoyed it a lot. There were many great stories out there, but also some really bad ones which were getting heaps of reviews. The authors hadn’t even studied the subject properly. And yes, it is fiction, but some of these people were moving into dangerous topics. People could have gotten hurt if they thought it was all right to try things they were reading. So after moaning at my friend, he said he had enough of my complaining and told me to put up or shut up. So I put up.
My stories can be found on fanfiction https://www.fanfiction.net/~emmettssubmissive
Oh,
so not a fair question. Without realising it, after the fact I tend to
see people I know in characters. Although my novel I am trying to write
at the moment is about two very close friends. I have used them as
inspiration. They are whom I imagine in my head. But other than that,
they are nothing like the characters and they have become unique in a
way, but still hold the characteristics of my friends. They love it, so I
am happy about that.
Okay,
you're making me give the secrets away. Actually, I have none. I sit
down and write. I don’t think my characters talk to me. I don’t pause or
make changes until the chapter is done, normally. Take Rangi and Jake
from No Worries, Mate. A friend on Facebook said something so small which
made it click in my head. Yep, she had visited New Zealand and
commented on how laid back and nothing was a bother. As you know, I say
No Worries all the time. It’s a common New Zealand, and yes, I have to
admit, Australian saying. So out of her simple comment, No Worries Mate
was born.
Oh,
you are so freaking mean. You know how I felt. Scared, worried,
grateful, but mainly proud I had actually taken that step. But I
wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for my beta and friend Lily G. Blunt.
She is my mentor and she held my hand every step of the way. When I say
that I seriously mean she held my hand. Hell, she even set the document
up. I basically typed the story and handed it to her. She did the rest.
You have seen my writing. I never go back and edit. Oh wait, I do now.
What was your reaction when you learned you had been accepted?
I
am not ashamed to say I cried. I was never a scholar at school.
Basically told I was a no-hoper. Well, I can’t wait for a school reunion
now and go and say, well guess you were wrong. Don’t give up on a
dream. Hell, writing was never my dream, but now it is a passion.
It’s
horrible! It honestly is hard. You have to go through so much. But an
author is just a slice in the whole process. EDITS are the bane of my
life. I hate them. Normally you go through two edits. I had FOUR! As you
know, I am new at this game. I handed over a story but got told that in
a few places I was telling rather than showing. Thankfully Wayward Ink
Publishing saw something in me. I had to fix it after the first
submission before it went to the next partner in the business. Then it
had to go to my first editor, Julie Lynn Hayes.
I ADORE her and can’t thank her enough. But guess what? I didn’t gel
with my next editor. I didn’t mind her, but her style was not to my liking.
She is brilliant at her job, but she didn’t get me as a writer. And
best part? I have yet to find one. Although holding your book in your
hand is incredible and it makes it all seem worthwhile.
Real life
Family
Facebook (worse one)
Helping others trying to write
Traveling
Family
Facebook (worse one)
Helping others trying to write
Traveling
Wow,
um... It was a tennis one (no I don't play tennis), called Love All. It
was given to me by my mum and it's about a girl who had a crush on a boy.
It was the first book that captivated her. I would cringe if I read it
now. I don't even remember the authors name.