Meet My Main Character Blog Tour

Over the last couple of months I’ve been featuring Australian Rural Fiction writers in the Writers On Reading Series but this week is a little different.

This week’s blog post is all about me – well, actually not me, but my main characters in Essie’s Way. Miranda and Esther.

I’ve been tagged by Stella Tarakson to take part in the Meet My Character Blog Tour. Stella writes for children and young adults. She’s written a number of non-fiction books but now her focus is on now on fiction. Stella’s first junior novel, Mike the Spike, is being published by New frontier Publishing, as part of their Little Rockets Series in August! You can find more about Mike, Stella’s main character here.

Thanks for inviting me Stella and good luck with Mike.

 

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Now, most writers taking part in this tour would probably have only one main character in their post but both Miranda and Esther are protagonists in Essie’s Way so i’m going to introduce you to both …

 

1. What is the name of your character? Is he/she fictional or a historic person?

This novel has two main characters, Miranda McIntyre and Esther Wilson. Both are fictional.

 

2. When and where is the story set?

The story is set mainly on the south coast of NSW in the fictional town of Pelican Point but there are also scenes in Sydney, where Miranda lives. The story has a double narrative and switches backwards and forwards in time, telling the story of Esther’s life as a young woman, when she was known as Essie, as well as following current day events.

 

3. What should we know about him/her?

Miranda is a thirty something woman, soon to be married, with a promising career in law. But there’s something missing from her life and she can’t pinpoint exactly what that is.

Esther is in her eighties, a recluse who lives by herself in a small shack on a coastal cliff. She plays the violin and gets on a lot better with her, Buster, than she does with people.

 

 

4. What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?

When thinking about something old to go with her wedding dress Miranda remembers an antique necklace from her childhood days but when she questions her mother about it she flatly denies all knowledge of it. Her hysterical reaction send Miranda on a search for the necklace which she finds and then starts an investigation into her mother’s past. She is also having doubts about her impending wedding to James.

Esther is happy living alone but her solitude is threatened by the possibility that she could be forced to move out of her home. When she has a fall on the rocks while fishing and a young woman comes to her rescue, it sparks a string of events that will force her to relive her buried past.

 

5. What is the personal goal of the character?

Miranda’s goal is to discover the answer to a family secret. In the process she will discover more about herself than she anticipates.

Esther’s goal is to live quietly on her own for the remainder of her life.

 

6. Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?

Essie’s Way is P\published by Hachette. You can read more about it here.

 

7. When can we expect the book to be published?

Essie was published in December 2013. My previous novel, Blackwattle Lake was published in December 2012, also by Hachette.

Both books are sold through Big W, local bookstores and are also available here at Booktopia.

 

A captivating story about learning to forgive.

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I’ve invited a couple of fellow writers to join the Meet My Character Blog Tour. They’ll be blogging about their main characters next week.

Monique McDonell writes contemporary Australian Women’s Fiction including Chic Lit and Romance. Monique’s novels include Mr Right And Other Mongrels, Building Attraction and A Fair Exchange. You can find out more about Monique here and connect with her on Facebook here.

Wanda Wiltshire writes YA Fantasy/Romance. Wanda’s first novel, Betrothed was published by Pantera Press. The second book in the series, Allegiance is due out in July. You can find Wanda on Facebook here and read her blog here.

 

 

 

 

 

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Writer Wednesday: YA Fantasy Author Wanda Wiltshire, Author of Betrothed on The Writing Process

This week I welcome to the blog Young Adult Fantasy author

Wanda Wiltshire.

Wanda Wiltshire celebrates the launch of Betrothed.

I first met Wanda when she walked into a Creative Writing class I was teaching a few years ago. She was writing her first novel at that stage, having had an epiphany that she was meant to be a writer … but I won’t say any more, I’ll let her tell that story.

That novel she was writing was Betrothed which was published last week by Pantera Press.

Even if you’re not a YA or Fantasy reader this book will have you hooked from page one!

T

he first in an enchanting faery series by Wanda Wiltshire

Amy Smith has always known she was different. Severe allergies, fragile health and taunts at school have made life an endurance test for the adopted seventeen year old.

When Amy starts having strange dreams, everything changes. Night after night, she becomes trapped in a shroud of black – a void of silence but for a male voice calling for a girl named ‘Marla’.

One night, the darkness clears, Leif is revealed and Amy discovers that she is the girl he has been searching for.

Immediately the two are swept up in a passionate yet forbidden love. Leif isn’t like the other boys Amy knows. Breathtakingly gorgeous, he speaks with her telepathically … not to mention, he can fly …

Desperate to find a way to be with her, Leif tells Amy of the terrifying threat to his Fae homeland, the danger to the people, and of an unforgivable betrayal to his King. He urges her to seek her true identity…. But Amy is confused… isn’t it all just a dream?

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Thanks for visiting Flying Pony Wanda, and congrats on Betrothed!

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1. What activities (other than writing) get your creative juices flowing?

Reading for starters – there’s nothing like a good book to get me excited about my own writing. Getting into nature is great too, particularly when there’s no one else around. I can imagine all kinds of amazing things when I’m surrounded by rainforest or strolling along a quiet stretch of beach.

2. What sort of writing routine do you have – disciplined or undisciplined, regular or erratic, focused or easily distracted?

A bit of everything really. When I’m feeling highly creative, it’s nothing for me to start at 5 or 6am and be at the computer til midnight. At these times I have this wondrous ability to ignore all else around me – family, mess, the eight year old attempting to cook his own dinner! But when it comes to editing I’m not nearly so driven and find myself easily distracted – usually by twitter or Facebook!

3. Do you ever suffer from writer’s block and if so what do you do about it?

I don’t know whether it could be classed as writers block, but I have had scenarios where I need to get from point A to point C but I have no idea what point B is. When that happens I usually pick up a novel or pray or both. The problem always sorts itself out soon enough.

4. Which aspects of the writing life do you most love?

That initial purge of story to page is magical, especially when the words seem to flow so effortlessly from your mind that your fingers can barely keep up! I just love that. I rarely get enough sleep at those times. I also love getting together with other writers, visiting writer’s festivals, listening to other authors – all those things are gold. I get such a thrill from them.

5. Which aspects do you least love (or detest!)?

There is nothing I dislike about writing, but there are aspects that are more challenging than others. Editing those awful and thankfully rare paragraphs that no amount of tampering seem able to fix is top of the list. That’s where having wonderful writer friends comes in handy – usually I’ve only to hand the problem over for it to be soon resolved.

6. What books and writers have most influenced your own writing?

I think a writer takes something from every book he or she reads – the good and the bad. It’s almost as though each book possesses a specific lesson – what to do, what not to do. In very different ways a few of the authors I have learnt from are Jane Austen, Anne Rice, Melina Marchetta and Stephanie Meyer.

7. Can you describe for us your writing process, from getting the original idea to completed manuscript?

The idea for my first book Betrothed was the answer to a prayer – literally. When it came to me, I simply parked myself in front of the computer and started writing. At the end of each scene I would ask myself this question: What happens next? Occasionally I would come up against one of those pesky, ‘point A don’t know how to get to point C scenarios’, in which case prayer never failed to reveal point B. After I wrote ‘the end’ on my first book, I filed it away and started work on my second. When I wrote ‘the end’ on that, I took Betrothed out and gave it a good edit before handing it to a couple of friends to read and make suggestions. After taking into account their suggestions, I did still more editing before giving it to my fabulous writing teacher to read and edit. From there it was just a matter of further edits to whip Betrothed into the shape it’s in today!

8. Describe your path to publication.

Around three years after I started writing, I began to think that I should attempt to get Betrothed published. I sent some feelers out in the form of some very substandard letters to a couple of very inappropriate agents. I expected nothing and I received nothing.  Soon after that I was in the backyard, hanging out the washing and talking to God all at the same time. “God,” I said. “I just don’t know where to go or what to do with Betrothed. You know I’m hopeless at approaching people – you know I have no confidence. If I can’t even get started, then how am I ever going to get my book published? I need a sign. Give me a sign that it’s all going to work out.”

At that precise moment and for absolutely no reason, I looked down. The ground was covered in dew and great patches of slug eaten clover. Amongst all that mess was a perfect four leaf clover staring right at me. “It’s a sign,” I cried. I took the clover to my writing class that night and told them the story. “It’s a sign.” they all cried – “something amazing is going to happen.” “I know,” I said, and it did. The next morning my husband came home from work and told me that he’d bumped into a colleague he didn’t often see called Baz Radburn. Baz told Kevin he’d recently had a book published and he was having a launch at Dymocks in George Street in two week’s time. Baz invited us along and after hearing I was a writer, said he’d be happy to introduce me to his publisher, Alison Green from Pantera press. A few months later I was offered a contract.

9. What advice would you give to writers who are working towards publication?

Most important – don’t send your manuscript out too early. You only get one crack at each agent/publisher. Make sure your writing is as tight as you can possibly make it. Give it to a few trusted writer friends to read and comment on. If you don’t have writer friends, join a group and get some – they are invaluable and a lot of fun too! Consider every bit of feedback given you. Even if you don’t agree, the fact that something has been picked up is reason enough to take a closer look – especially if the same thing has been picked up by more than one person. After all that, pay a professional to edit your manuscript. Finally, send it off with a kiss and a prayer! Worked for me!

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Connect with Wanda:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/wandawiltshireauthor?fref=ts

Twitter: @Wanda_Wiltshire

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The Launch Of Betrothed: A Night Of Fantasy, Faith and Friendship

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the book launch of Betrothed, published by Pantera Press, written by Wanda Wiltshire. The launch was held at Dymocks George St, Sydney.

 

 

Wanda is one of my former writing students, a friend and a very talented writer. It was wonderful to be able to celebrate this debut with her and there is no one more deserving than Wanda.

 

Wanda Wiltshire and Pamela Cook at the launch of Betrothed.

 

A few years ago she walked into one of my classes and said she’d written a book after having dreamt (literally) that was what she had to do. I won’t say too much as Wanda will be telling her story here on the blog soon, but I will say that I have never seen anyone with more determination to finish her novel to the highest possible standard and to have it published. I should actually say novels because Betrothed is the first in a six part series. What Wanda has that many writers lack is faith – in her story, in her own abilities and in the publishing process.

 

Wanda launches Betrothed

 

That’s not to say that Wanda is brimming with confidence – she has the same insecurities all writers have – is it good enough, will anyone like it, and now who’s going to buy it – but her belief in what she is writing has kept her focused and sitting at that computer. She is currently working on the next book in the Betrothed series and has outlines for the rest of them, as well as having written two other novels in the few years I have known her.

 

Ali Green, publisher of Betrothed.

 

It was wonderful to be able to celebrate this milestone with Wanda and a number of other former students, all very talented writers, who have become firm friends. It’s rare that such a dedicated, enthusiastic group comes along and I feel very priveleged to have been a part of their writing journey. I know that in future years their books will be joining Wanda’s on the book-store shelves and that’s because they too are determined and dedicated.

 

Former Justwriters at the launch of Betrothed. L to R: Krystina Hill, Pamela Cook, Sharon Ketelaar, Perla del Pozo, Wanda Wiltshire, Kerry Rogerson.

 

If you love Fantasy, Romance or both look for Betrothed in your local book store from Monday. You won’t be disappointed!

For a review of Betrothed click here:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17975557-betrothed

 

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