Interview: E. S. Skipper

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

Emmett's Submissive | FanFiction

www.fanfiction.net

When you create your characters do they come strictly from your imagination, people you know in real life, or a mix?

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.

I’ve had the privilege to watch you write. It’s amazing how your process works. How do you develop your writing ideas?

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.

Your story, No Worries, Mate has now been published. How did you feel, once you’d submitted?

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.

Hell yes! Tell me about the publishing process; what you enjoyed most, and liked least.

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.

Yes, it does Do you have any plans to publish again?

*hangs head* Yes, as much as I moan about it, I can’t not do it again! Although this time I will be better prepared.

Do you have other stories in the works?

Yep! That is all I am saying at this moment in time. I don’t know what I will be finishing or submitting next.

Name the five biggest distractions from your writing.

Real life
Family
Facebook (worse one)
Helping others trying to write
Traveling

Where do you hope to see your writing career, say, five years from now?

Honestly, I can’t think that far ahead. I hope I’m an established author. Or maybe, I give it up and try my hand at other interests I have. All I know is that I have a lot in my head and these buggers won’t keep quiet.

What's the first book that really captivated you?

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.

What do you enjoy reading the most?

My friend just joked porn to me. Yeah, nah. I am a romantic. I don't go for straight out sex stories. I like to get to feel the characters connection (pardon the pun) with each other. And yes they are all M/M stories.

Wonderful! Thank you so much for letting me put you on the spot this evening! I wish you the very best in all your future endeavors.

 

M. C. Rayne Interview

 

Mr. Rayne popped in today for a hazelnut latte, and graciously allowed me a quick Q & A session:

Can you tell me how the emotional process of your writing works?  What type of resources do you use to tap into your feelings, to reach down deep inside, to pen the pure, perfect words your characters experience?

Many of the people who read my work know to expect some underlying angst somewhere in the story, be it at the start, middle or end, but there it is - waiting for the reader. It's strange, but writing stories with sad themes are easier than writing your typical love story, and I think this is because I have never been in love. I don't think the big L is out there for me, and I'm much happier playing with emotions. 

People say I write love well. I'm not sure, but with the relationships I pen, these are things I would want if love ever came to me. I live inside my head a lot, plan out a future I may never have, and a lot of the time I am building Mr Right in my mind, with our home in the woods, filled with cherished pets. I'm a dreamer. 

As an author, if I can call myself that, I like to delve into a little darkness, show love and life in its truest form - it isn't all sunshine and roses. I think if I wrote a happy, happy love story I would be fooling myself and the small handful of readers I have. If my boys are going to have a happily ever after then they will need to go down a few broken road first. Such is life.

Do your characters “talk” to you, as so many other authors describe happens to them?

I used to think people were crazy when they said their characters talked to them, but I didn't realise until I started writing this is true. All my life I have lived inside my mind, playing out unwritten stories, but now as I'm trying to become an author, the boys NEVER shut up. They talk to me at the worst times too, so I email myself a lot with things to add to stories. This kind of works for me. Most of my chapters are dreamed up while I walk to work, long before taking form on my computer.

How did you get on with the whole publishing experience? Did you enjoy it?

I wouldn't say I loved it, I was a nervous wreck, but the ladies at Renaissance Romance Publishing managed to calm me down and guide me through this daunting time. With them, and other authors who have gone through it, I managed to get through. As a self confessed impatient person, I did hate the slowness of the process and wanted my book in my hands two seconds after getting accepted by the publisher. You don't see the work involved in releasing a book until you go through it. 

Where do you hope to be with your writing career ten years from now?

I'm not in this to make money, this isn't why I write. Yes, I could carry on giving my work away for free, but I want to hold my books, see them on websites, and this costs;  I can't do this for free. As long as I make back what I put into my work and touch at least one person with what I pen, then I'm happy. In ten years I just hope I'm still writing and getting better with each release.

Some readers are familiar with Bean. Would you like to tell us about him?

Awww, Bean is my baby! Okay, well I live with two best friends and we all wanted a pet. We can't have a dog as we are all a slave to the 9-5 and didn't feel this was fair to a living creature, so my best friend Dae suggested a Guinea Pig. I was dubious at first, I really wanted a dog, something I could cuddle and play with, but as normal, Dae got his way - he always does, haha. As a child he grew up with these animals, so I went with it.

ANYWAY, he came home with the small, sweet black and white animal who is a dog in the form of a guinea pig. Seriously, Bean comes when called, talks to me, licks me, and purrs like a cat, which is kinda odd, but normal - so I'm told.

It sounds strange, but Bean is my mini muse and is featured (under the alias Fred) in my upcoming novel, Flavours Of Our Life, due out early next year.

K. L. Platt Interview

Today I had the pleasure of sitting down to visit with K. L. Platt (Karen L Cullen), for an interview.

Why don't you tell us about yourself and how you came to want to write?

Well, I can't remember a time I didn't want to write. I love writing, I wrote a story for my daughters 13th birthday and printed it out, as a gift. After she had finished reading Breaking Dawn she said she would love to know what happened next, and told her I would write a short story for her. Four and a half years later, I finished Sunrise, my very first fan fiction.


When you create your characters, do you base them off of people you know in real life, or do they come strictly from your imagination?

I kind of pick from each. Some names are people I know, or appearances, or characteristics. I find then they are more believable.


What is your favorite genre to read, and what genre do you prefer to write?

To read, it would have to be fantasy. Mainly vampires or wizards, the books that can take you to another world, or back to feeling like a child. I love those. Favorite genre to write, I would say is m/m romance. I love how both partners are equal, and it can be rough as well as gentle. It just seems more powerful and erotic.


I tend to agree with your thoughts, on writing M/M. It's difficult for me to read or write HET anymore, to me it just doesn't compare. Do you think this is part of the reason so many more readers are turning to M/M fics, because the emotions are so much more raw and erotic?

Yes, I think it is. Even with a weaker character and a dominant character, in m/m it is still very raw and powerful.


What do your family and friends think of you getting published? Are they supportive of your M/M writing?

My kids and hubs and parents know what I write, and are fully supportive of it. I haven't really had any negative feedback from friends who know, either. I am lucky.


You've recently been accepted by Renaissance Romance Publishing, for an original story. How did you feel, once you'd submitted? What was your reaction when you heard your story had been accepted?

Oh wow! I was so scared, as I have had other rejections from other publishers. When I was accepted I literally did a happy dance, and it still doesn't seem real.


Your published works will be part of Renrom's Fall Fires collection, correct? Can you tell us anything about it without giving anything away?

Yes. It's a story about challenges, how two people grow with one another from childhood, the teens to adults.


Do you have more writing in the works? If so, can you tell us anything about that?

Yes, I am in the middle of writing my first fantasy story, called Nephlim. Nephlims are half human, half angel. I can give you a rough teaser if you like?

Final look at the place I had called my home for eons, a place I was now being exiled from; merely for loving someone and her bearing my child. In front of me Soryan glows in it’s early morning magnificence. The lush greenery of the hills that stretch out to the outer realms of the kingdom, the temperate forest of Lei with it’s golden leaves and amber tree barks looked ethereal in the sunrise. The gossamer river that flowed through the centre of Soryan sparkled like a jewelled ribbon as it curved its course through the village. 

“It is time,” Bradox barked behind me causing me to tense as he grabbed my wings roughly, closing my eyes I took a long breath then exhaled. 

“Let’s get it over with,” I responded curtly. He’s safe? Jayden my son you promised.” 

“We said he would be, we do not break our promises.” 

Bradox chided as he pushed me to my knees. Bending my head I waited for the first cut of the sharp blade that was to relinquish me of my wings, rendering me human, able to grow old, become sick and eventually pass on. The first cut felt like a hot blade searing my skin causing me to cry out and fall forward, grasping the dew covered grass with my hands. White feathers billowed around me and I closed my eyes to the sight.

Great imagery! Sounds like a great adventure.

Where do you hope to see yourself in five years, where your writing is concerned?

In five years I would love to be writing full time.


Finally, how did you end up with your pen name?

I chose my pen name for two reasons. First, it was my grandma's married name and she was always a source of inspiration and guidance to me. Second, because my uncle used to write and I lost him last year. He never got to publish so this is a way of having the Platt name published.


Thank you so much, Karen, for taking time away from your family to spend with me today. I look forward to reading your original fiction, and all of your new writing to come.

Karen's links:

Blog   http://fromtheheartofklplatt.weebly.com/index.html   
Author page   https://www.facebook.com/pages/K-L-Platt/144866772345643