Elle Amberley

Elle is the author of the novel Nowhere Left To Hide and her latest novel, Lost In Your Time has just been released in e-book format by Indio Press and is available via the amazon kindle store. Read our interview with Elle here.

Describe your typical writing day.

Oh, I’m a messy writer, and a very busy one with that. No day is the same. If however I’m in the middle of writing a first draft, the world could collapse around me and I’d still be typing away furiously. This is when my husband brings me little treats, as I forget to eat, along with cups of coffee.

When I’m revising and editing I need more peace and have to work in chunks, carefully crafted around my children.

Any other day will see me scribbling away on bits of paper, notebooks, anything. I’ve been known to stop the car so I could jot something down. Other times I might spend all night on my laptop.

How do you approach planning before beginning a book?

Ah, this is interesting because a while ago I would have told I don’t really plan. However I’ve realised that’s not so true. The planning takes place in my head, hence the very fast first draft, I only have to sit down and type. It’s like a film in my head.

That said, very often I get more ideas for other projects and file them until I can go back to them.

Do you have an editing process?

Once I’ve finished the first draft I usually put it on the side while I focus on another project. The length of time between the first draft and revising varies, but sooner or later I get twitchy and have to go back to it. I change bits here and there, check facts, spelling, anything that doesn’t sound right. I print it and read it, and read it again, pass it on to my best friend, also a novelist, and so on. Then comes the point when you get a little sick of it, lose your confidence, until I start laughing again, or crying, along with the characters. Hopefully by then the editor says, “good to go” and I can start worrying about something else.

Where do you find inspiration?

All around me. Little things, big things, the news, conversations you hear, things that happen or have happened to me. I’ve always had a wild imagination; it kept me going as a child. I invented a whole new world around me.

Tell us about your route to publication.

Mine was a relatively easy path. I wrote features in a university rag while in the States, got some interest, met an editor and voila.

I do like to make things complicated though. A year ago or so, my new editor decided he wanted to americanise my books a little more, whereas the projects I had in mind were more Brit Lit. Americans love that genre and I don’t really understand why we should translate everything into American English. I love to read a novel the way it was meant to be written.

Anyway this is when I was approached by Indio Press. It was a bit of a gamble, as they are a new press, but I do like a challenge.

I must say I am now in good terms with my other publisher and working with a new editor, which means I’ve had three books in the last year. Busy times.

Is there another author you admire?

I admire many authors, but I’ve never been the fan type. I like diversity. I tend to go for books that surprise me, take me on a journey. I’m not adverse to trying a different genre but I’m not keen on science-fiction, vampires and such, or anything too violent. There’s enough horror in the news

Which three things would you take with you to a desert island?

I’d take my family obviously, but they are not things so I’d take a pen, paper and my iPod.

Which book(s) are currently on your nightstand?

One of mine as work in progress, laughing out loud. Recently finished reading “You, before me.”

Who would be your ideal dinner guests?

My friends and family.

Is there a character from fiction you’d like to meet?

Probably not, I’d rather keep the image I’ve created in my mind. It’s a bit like watching a movie adaptation of your favourite book.

Best/Worst thing about being a writer?

Best thing is letting your imagination run riot. The worst thing is when you’ve gone through your book a thousand times and you’ve got to comb through one more time. You just want to get on with the next project. Letting go is hard though.

Are you working on anything at the moment? Tell us about it?

I always am. I’d love to have time to write a novel in French. I’ve started it and it’s all in my head, driving me crazy. I’ve also got several short stories due to be released and three novels outlined in my head. My brain is going to pop.

Top five tips for new writers?

Read, write, listen to your instinct, don’t get distracted too much by the Internet, be careful who you listen to.

For more information on Elle, visit her website.

To buy Lost In Your Time, visit Amazon.

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by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.