Without Alice

Without Alice…available now via publisher Punked Books

DJ Kirkby’s debut novel was published last week. Not only does it feature a smokin’ hot cover star on the front (see right – hubba hubba) but if you dive into its pages you are taken on an incredible emotional journey that haunts the reader long after you’ve finished reading it.
The author took time out of her hectic promotional schedule to share some of her writing experiences with me, and offered tops to aspiring writers.

Lots of new writers struggle to find the time to write with work,
caring responsibilities and so on. How do you find time?
I think that I have a touch of hyperactivity mixed in with my autism and therefore I don’t seem to need much sleep. I write during some of the hours in which I should probably be sleeping. Unfortunately sleep seems to be something my brain only does when it gets bored, which can make life embarrassing at times; I have been known to fall asleep at socially inappropriate moments!

How did to ‘learn’ to write? Did you go on a course, join a writing group or consult a guide? How helpful did you find them?
I have never taken any creative writing courses or joined a writing group or consulted a guide. Though I am not even sure what you mean by a guide so I may inadvertently be telling a lie here…
I have been writing since I was capable of forming words into sentences. It was my way of trying to explain how different I knew I was from the rest of the world. I never succeeded in explaining it sufficiently until I was diagnosed with a form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome at the age of 40. Throughout my childhood I filled numerous secret volumes with my frantic, almost illegible scrawl. The best that came of that was that was that I did learn eventually develop a very distinct style of story telling, one which some of my readers have said they would be able to recognise without being told who the author is.

Some writers mark out each chapter of their novel before they start to write and others just go for it. What is your technique?
I just start with a title or an alluring first sentence and let my novels write themselves from there. The only time I ever do any planning is before National Novel Writing Month each year as I need to be very organised for that. I use something called The Snowflake Method http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/snowflake.php to help me get ready for NaNoWriMo.

How important is redrafting to you?
I think redrafting sounds like something that would make me lose the will to live! However I do enjoy editing which I fear makes me sound like a real saddo. I think of editing as something akin to trying on different perfume, both can transform appearances in subtle but important ways.

How did Without Alice become published?
I met my publisher through Facebook of all places. He suggested that I send him the first three chapters of my novel, then asked for the whole manuscript. After that I made an appointment to meet him during the London Book Fair where he offered me a contract for Without Alice.

And finally, have you any advice for new writers?
o Believe in yourself
o Develop an online presence through a blog and open social networking sites such as twitter – this will give your readers a place to find you and an opportunity to get to know you.
o Always remember that publishing is a small world and as an author it’s important to behave professionally at all times
o Write something worth publishing
o Have it professionally edited by a reputable firm such as BubbleCow
o Submit it with a catchy tag line, robust blurb, a synopsis that meets their requirements and concise cover letter.
o Have any publishing contract vetted by the Society of Authors
o Sign the contract
o Drink champagne with loved ones to celebrate.
o Begin writing your next novel.
o Be prepared to do a lot of self promotional work
o Don’t expect to earn a living from writing for a long time.

‘Without Alice’ will be available exclusively from Punked Books until the October 4th 2010 general release date. For more information please follow this link -
http://authortrek.com/punked-books/2010/04/24/without-alice/

 

www.cathbore.com