This writing community has been such an encouraging place to be, and I am so grateful to have become part of it nearly one year ago. Self-published, or indie, authors know the steep learning curve and the struggle that is self-marketing. It's a marathon, and so writers in this community are very keen on helping each other on promotion and brainstorming ideas.
Bethany Lynn is an author herself, plus the wearer of many other hats, and I can't wait to purchase my own copy of her book, My Brother is Au-Mazing. She is doing an incredible project this year that spotlights all kinds of new authors across all genres. Bethany reviewed my book, featured me on her Author Spotlights, and included me in her website newsletter in the form of a short interview. Check out her info and social media here.
What made you want to become an author? When I was eight years old, my family and I immigrated to Canada; I could not speak a word of English at the time. Nearly two years later I was speaking, reading, and writing in English without problems, and my teacher at the time was so encouraging and supportive of my language journey, that I would constantly write stories. One day he told me that I could one day publish a children's book, and so it became my dream to do just that. As dreams go sometimes, we put them aside, but when I was having my first child at the age of thirty, I knew I wanted to show my child/children that you can make your dreams come true at any time in your life.
What inspired you to write your current book? The idea for "Cornelius the Dragon" came about ten years ago; a friend of mine was having a bad day and asked me to tell them a story, and so came about the character: Cornelius, the dragon. I kept this character in my head, wanting him to have his own story. Funnily enough, one day I watched an interview with Lady Gaga, and she said if you wanted to make your dreams come true, you had to work hard at it, and you had to live it. So that's what I did. When my first child was born, I began writing the story of Cornelius the Dragon, sometimes with my baby on my lap, sometimes on a play mat, and sometimes late at night when she was sleeping.
Do you have a favourite genre or author? My favourite children's author has always been Astrid Lindgren; I grew up with her stories and characters, had all kinds of her books, and always loved her joyful, innocent characters, and unique places she'd take her readers. As my adult self, I am knee-deep in the Louise Penny series of Inspector Gamache; it's not necessarily my favourite genre, but I am a huge fan.
What advice would you give to new or aspiring authors out there? The advice I would give is write it down. If you have an idea, write it down somewhere; better yet, have a whole notebook dedicated to your scribbles of ideas that you can later build on. And make time to write. Don't leave your ideas in your head. In order to be a writer, you must write. I have to remind myself of this advice all the time.
View Bethany's review of my book here.
Comments