Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Hello to your Lovely Readers, I am an indie author based in the Hunter Valley, a beautiful area of rural New South Wales Australia. I live a simple live that includes my two Jack Russel puppies, Missy (15) and Little Man (13). I spend my days either writing or making jewellery in my workshop. The two motto’s I live by are “Life is too short for bad Coffee, bad Chocolate and bad Men” and “Always leave a place or person better than you find them.”
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘The Tempest of Eerikki’ book?
‘The Tempest of Eerikki’ is the first book of the fantasy action adventure series ‘The Panacea Quest’. The real challenge with this book and subsequent books of the series is in keeping track of all the details. The adage “the devil is in the detail” is true with a good fantasy novel. Nothing worse than reading in one book the character has a couple of sons only to read in the next book or even worse the same book that the character has both sons and daughters. While some readers may not pick this up immediately it can be disconcerting on a subconscious level. A great Editor can help with this, but I keep copious amounts of character notes that include full bio’s and backstories. I am creating this world so I should be able to keep it all straight.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
I have a secret obsession with reading Sci-Fi Alien Romance so writers like M.K. Eidem, Anna Hackett and S.E. Smith are who I read most, and I suppose have the greatest influence over my style. They weave tales that are entertaining and fast paced. I very much enjoy writing to this style. I have always found it is not the amount of words I write, its about if I am telling the story and does it entertain or touch my readers.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
Oh well that is a hard one, I am an Aussie born and breed. We have amazing places all over and I am very fortunate to now reside in a small hamlet in the Hunter Valley an area renowned for its Vineyards and Wineries. It may sound very strange but If I need to say one place it would have to be my workshop. It is a beautifully converted garage that offers a perfect view of farmland with a mountain vista in the background. It is peaceful and perfect for writing and allows for my other passion, making jewellery.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
Not usually, I seem to have large spurts of inspiration, that give me a good story outline. These outlines have most of the basics a catchy beginning, part of the journey and drama as well as a possible ending. From this I do like to start detailing my main characters which includes creating some of their backstory which helps me to give the characters depth.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘CHRYSALIS of the Creator’ book?
It was about 12 months; the book outline came to me at the same time as ‘The Tempest of Eerikki’ but there was a lot more involved with the characters and story line. Unlike ‘The Tempest of Eerikki’ I was not sure if it was going to be a stand-alone book or part of a series. So happy its part of a series I ended up falling in love with the characters and wanted to write more about each one of my Galactian Hero’s.
Q7. On what platforms can readers find your books to buy?
The books are on multiple platforms including Amazon Kindle, Apple, Googleplus, Barnes and Noble just to mention a few in both electronic and paperback. I am in the process of doing audiobooks and can not wait to have them available on Audible. We can always catch up at my author website www.mariekejtreloar.site
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Rowland, The Senator’s Son’?
I am very fortunate to have a friend who is a great photographer Peter Tyrrell. I always had a vision that the cover should have a mysterious almost tantalising edge and of course I needed a male model with a massive set of shoulders (very fortunate that I found this in my “Secret Senator”). We took approximately 300 photos to get the right one and then there was at least twelve versions of the cover before I was satisfied with it. Unfortunately, today the cover is the first step that will entice a reader to delve between the pages and emerge themselves in the story.
The book itself came from a ‘what if’ conversation with a friend as in – What if a respected Politician dies, leaving his eldest son with a task to protect a mysterious woman. Who unbeknown to all is the Politian’s secret Mistress and the son falls for the woman? The title sort of wrote itself from that story outline, hence “Rowland, The Senators Son.” The next book in the series is “Oryan, The Governor’s Man” the cover will have a similar look and feel except with a little more of a military slant.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and yourself?
I am a total genre hopper while I love writing raunchy action adventures, I always make sure there is some fairly substantial twists and turns I can never promise they will all end as happily ever after tales.
As a writer, I love the freedom that writing offers. At any one time I usually have at least two or three stories on the go and the opportunity to switch between them is how I keep things fresh for myself.
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that are not in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
Ah now let me think, “Rowland, the Senator’s Son” – I love the character of Rowland, Alexia offers him the opportunity to broaden his sexual experiences. These encounters not only broaden his mind they strengthen his spirit giving him the courage to pursue his true destiny.
Sassy Reviews 