Friday 14 June 2013

#Orangeberry Author Interview – Theresa Curnow

When and why did you begin writing? I began writing when I was about 13 or 14. It started off with short stories and progressed onto my first novel when I was fifteen. Why did I begin writing? Because I loved to read. Enid Blyton was my favourite at first and then as I grew older, James Herbert. I wanted to write like them.

Who is your favourite author and why? I have several favourites, all in different genres. I like Nicci French and Alex Chance, and Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Oscar Wilde, Henry James and my newest discovery, Christopher Ransom.

Have you started another book yet? I haven’t started it yet but I do have an idea yes and when I find some time, I’ll begin brainstorming it. I have written about half a novel about an alien invasion but its ground to a halt and I’m not sure it’s working so I’ve set it aside for the minute and will work on this new idea and hopefully go back to the other one at a later date when I have a clearer idea of where its going.

Do you have any advice for writers? Try and write every day, even if it’s just a paragraph and I know this is obvious advice but as I found out, not writing anything for weeks on end meant that I grew as rusty as an old watering can and could barely write a letter or an email at one point. It’s like anything, to keep the creative muse happy, you have to keep feeding it every day.  

Do you have any specific last thoughts you want to say to your readers? Don’t try and be like your favourite author, create a new brand and a new voice and research the market all the time to find those gaps that need plugging with your great new novel!

What do you do to unwind and relax? I read and watch movies but mainly, I read. I love it and I read anything. It’s one of the only things that help me relax and forget any problems.

Do you have to travel much concerning your books? I do when I can but a lot of my research is done either online or from the library.

Will you write others in the same genre? I’ve thought about this recently and I really want to branch out into other genres. My new novel is more of a psychological thriller than horror and I have thought about writing for teenagers.

How do you promote this book? Usually on Twitter and Facebook and by telling friends and family to spread the word. Promoting books and getting people to buy them is one of the hardest things to do particularly in such a busy and competitive market.

How did you develop your plot and characters? Normally, the plot is already vaguely in my head and I sometimes jot down an outline on cards but more often than not, I just write it and brazen it out as I go along and then after the first draft is written, I go back and re-write and shape it. My characters are normally the things that develop more easily than the plot and they are the driving force in the story. I often struggle with plot more than the characters.

What do you consider the most challenging writing a novel, or writing in general? Definitely writing a novel. No matter what anyone says, writing a novel is hard and not everyone can do it. Writing in general is easier for sure and writing short stories is even easier. I know some say short stories are harder but personally I find them a lot easier to create.

What made you want to be a writer? Reading books as a child. Enid Blyton was a big influence at first and then later on Stephen King and James Herbert. I wanted to create worlds in the same way as they did. I wanted to be like them.

What inspired you to write your first book? In English class one day, we had to write a short story, and I decided to develop it into a book. It wasn’t very good but it gave me a taste of what it was like to create a plot and characters.

Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords
Genre – Supernatural
Rating – PG13
More details about the author & the book
 Connect with Theresa Ann Curnow on Facebook & Twitter 

What is your favourite quality about yourself? My favourite quality is my sense of purpose. If I really really want something I will endure anything to achieve it.
What is your least favourite quality about yourself? I can be quite lazy at times and a mass of contradictions.
What is your favourite place in the entire world? Zennor, for its quiet and rugged beauty.
What is your greatest strength as a writer? My ability to create stories out of mundane everyday things.
Have you ever had writers block? If so, what did you do about it? I’ve had terrible writers block and it lasted for about a year and still hasn’t fully passed.  I found that walking was one of the only things that really helped.
When and why did you begin writing? I began writing when I was about 13 or 14. It started off with short stories and progressed onto my first novel when I was fifteen. Why did I begin writing? Because I loved to read. Enid Blyton was my favourite at first and then as I grew older, James Herbert. I wanted to write like them.
Who is your favourite author and why? I have several favourites, all in different genres. I like Nicci French and Alex Chance, and Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Oscar Wilde, Henry James and my newest discovery, Christopher Ransom.
Have you started another book yet? I haven’t started it yet but I do have an idea yes and when I find some time, I’ll begin brainstorming it. I have written about half a novel about an alien invasion but its ground to a halt and I’m not sure it’s working so I’ve set it aside for the minute and will work on this new idea and hopefully go back to the other one at a later date when I have a clearer idea of where its going.
Do you have any advice for writers? Try and write every day, even if it’s just a paragraph and I know this is obvious advice but as I found out, not writing anything for weeks on end meant that I grew as rusty as an old watering can and could barely write a letter or an email at one point. It’s like anything, to keep the creative muse happy, you have to keep feeding it every day.  
Do you have any specific last thoughts you want to say to your readers? Don’t try and be like your favourite author, create a new brand and a new voice and research the market all the time to find those gaps that need plugging with your great new novel!
What do you do to unwind and relax? I read and watch movies but mainly, I read. I love it and I read anything. It’s one of the only things that help me relax and forget any problems.
Do you have to travel much concerning your books? I do when I can but a lot of my research is done either online or from the library.
Will you write others in the same genre? I’ve thought about this recently and I really want to branch out into other genres. My new novel is more of a psychological thriller than horror and I have thought about writing for teenagers.
How do you promote this book? Usually on Twitter and Facebook and by telling friends and family to spread the word. Promoting books and getting people to buy them is one of the hardest things to do particularly in such a busy and competitive market.
How did you develop your plot and characters? Normally, the plot is already vaguely in my head and I sometimes jot down an outline on cards but more often than not, I just write it and brazen it out as I go along and then after the first draft is written, I go back and re-write and shape it. My characters are normally the things that develop more easily than the plot and they are the driving force in the story. I often struggle with plot more than the characters.
What do you consider the most challenging writing a novel, or writing in general? Definitely writing a novel. No matter what anyone says, writing a novel is hard and not everyone can do it. Writing in general is easier for sure and writing short stories is even easier. I know some say short stories are harder but personally I find them a lot easier to create.
What made you want to be a writer? Reading books as a child. Enid Blyton was a big influence at first and then later on Stephen King and James Herbert. I wanted to create worlds in the same way as they did. I wanted to be like them.
What inspired you to write your first book? In English class one day, we had to write a short story, and I decided to develop it into a book. It wasn’t very good but it gave me a taste of what it was like to create a plot and characters.
What is your favourite quote and by whom? No, it’s not a very good story-its author was too busy listening to other voices to listen as closely as he should have to the one coming from inside. Stephen King.
A good quote to write by.
What is your favourite food? I have so many that I just can’t choose one. I love pasta and anything with garlic in it and I have a weakness for chocolate and chips although not together.
Buy Now @ Amazon & Smashwords
Genre – Supernatural
Rating – PG13
More details about the author & the book
 Connect with Theresa Ann Curnow on Facebook & Twitter 
- See more at: http://blog.orangeberrypromo.com/2013/06/author-interview-theresa-curnow/#sthash.9pbGACDl.dpuf

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