Author Interview with Annaliese Matheron!
Grandparents are boring right? Wrong! As Ben is about to find
out.
Packed off to his Nan and Grandad's for the summer holidays with his older brother Kieran, Ben is on the brink of loosing his brain to boredom.
Packed off to his Nan and Grandad's for the summer holidays with his older brother Kieran, Ben is on the brink of loosing his brain to boredom.
That is until he spies Mrs Gillespie Nans rotten old neighbour acting very suspiciously. It seems that the old people of Honeypot Grove are keeping a very big secret and Ben is determined to get to the bottom of it.
Ben soon finds himself uncovering government secrets, finding underground surveillance centres and confronting Lycra clad assailants. And he's dragging his big brother along for the ride.
But when the boys get in to some serious trouble at the hands of a criminal Boss, can they really count on their Nan and Grandad to save them?
Packed full of adventure and a few laughs along the way Ninja Nan and Sidekick Grandad will leave you wondering if all old folk are what they appear to be?
I am honored to introduce a very talented and sweet Author, Annaliese Matheron! She is the Author of FOUR Ninja Nan books (for ages 7+) as well as her new book Wolflore (for ages 10+). Both Ninja Nan and Sidekick Grandad AND Wolflore will be FREE as e-books on Amazon June 17-19, 2013! Links are below! So get yourself copies! She also has New Wolf Rising slated to be published in Oct 2013, so keep your eye out for that! Thank you for being here Annaliese, I'd love to pick your brain...
TELL
US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BOOK.
I have never
been what one might consider as conventional – not that I shirk convention and
tradition some things just have to be done properly, like afternoon tea for
example. However, on the whole I would say that I live a life less ordinary. I
live in the country, with my partner Jason, who’s a landscape photographer, and
our three children who we home-school and so are at home all the time. You
might think that this would be of great use; having three personal slaves
around all day to help with the house work and looking after all our chickens
and other pets, but unfortunately it doesn’t work out like that and the kids generally
make more mess than all the animals combined.
We live in a
sleepy little village. We have a church and the mobile library comes once a
month to save me, but that’s about it ... apart from all the wildlife of
course. Not that I’m all that in to nature, animals and bugs. Don’t get me
wrong I think it beautiful and interesting but I’m not exactly the outdoors
type; I have been described as a hermit once or twice.
The thing is
that I have enough to be getting on with from the confines of my cosy writing
chair which is one hundred percent mud free.
But don’t think
I’m not adventurous – far from it!
It just happens
that some of my best adventures have occurred whilst sitting at my desk, that’s
all.
So far I have
had five big adventures, I mean books published; four belong to the Ninja Nan
Series, in which a young boy called Ben, and his older brother, Kieran, visits
his grandparents house for the summer holidays and finds out that they are
keeping some very big secrets; they and all the other old people in the street
are part of a government spy ring.
And the other is
Wolflore, my new work, and is for a slightly older audience 10+ (where Ninja
Nan is 7+) Adam Blake and his mother, Lucinda, have always moved around.
Different towns, different schools, different kids. Adam just didn't know how
different some of them might have been, not until he finds out that he is
almost as far from being human as it gets. Adam is catapulted into a new world
which exists just below the fabric or reality. Where sirens stalk the halls and
Demons plot their secret agenda behind closed doors. Where Vampires can be
hired for muscle and Voodoo priestesses are seriously scary, and kind of hot. When
his best friend, Harry – a human, goes missing Adam must use all that sets him
apart from his human friend in order to save him.
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU
BECOME A WRITER?
I’ve always
written but I didn’t realise that I was a writer until quite late. I thought I
was lots of other things and entertained ideas of being an Astronaut, or an Ice
Skater or an Archaeologist or a Theatre Director! But never a writer, not until
I took a creative writing module as a fun portion of my degree.
I remember when
it hit me; when I realised what I was, Bam! I actually slapped my own forehead
in stupidity. “I am a writer, why didn’t I see it before, when I write I can be
all the things I’ve ever wanted to be and more. Foolish, Annaliese.”
Since then I
haven’t stopped writing, and I don’t ever want to stop writing either. I can
safely say that I don’t just love writing I am in love with it and it’s one of those everlasting, Earth moving,
all consuming loves that never burns out.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST
WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
I guess it
depends on how you measure achievement and what your standards are at the time
– because standards always rise. At one point just finishing a book was an
achievement, then getting it published, then having someone buy it!
Getting to the
final of The People’s Book Prize with Ninja Nan and Sidekick Grandad was a high
point, but the best nod is when a reader sends me an email to tell me they
loved my books. Or comes to a signing and shares the favourite bits of a story
I’ve written with me. Knowing that what I have to write about is being enjoyed
is the greatest achievement.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST
THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
For me the
hardest bit is letting people know that my book is out there in the big wide
world and is looking for friends. Readers can’t read it if they don’t know it’s
there and that’s the part that I struggle with.
Not being with a
big name publisher means that marketing in small, and, unfortunately, I never
wanted to be in marketing although there was a time when I thought being a spin
doctor might be fun; maybe I should try and tap into that.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON
AT THE MOMENT?
At the moment I
am finishing up a sequel to Wolflore
it’s called New wolf Rising and so
many things have happened to our young werewolf hero, Adam. He’s been cursed,
haunted and stalked.
The new book
introduces some fantastic characters, that I’m very excited about. The Van Oren
brothers, Johan and Axle belong to an ancient and mighty family of Slayers. The
brothers come from Sweden, bringing all their Norse tradition and secret ways
with them as they try to track down the Demon Mirror.
Adam and Axle
cross paths and their story has a surprising ending.
There are lots
of other aspects to the book but that thread is one that I think my readers
will find particularly interesting.
WHAT GENRE(S) DO YOU
WRITE?
I don’t tend to
write in one genre. I write whatever I find to be entertaining and thought
provoking. The characters are the real driving force in my writing and they
dictate the action, the themes and direction of the story. I like to think that
my writing is intelligent and open and that my readers will feel as if they
have experienced something once the story is over.
DO YOU EVR SUFFER FROM
WRITER’S BLOCK? IF SO, HOW DO YOU GET
PAST IT?
Yes, it’s the
worse. A good friend once told me to JUST WRITE! So I do, when I know what’s
going to happen but can’t think of how to show it I push through it by writing.
It doesn’t matter if what I write doesn’t work, that’s what the delete button
is for, but I find that the process of writing - doing the doing as I call it
when I’m stuck, gets the creativity flowing.
If I have a plot issue,
if my characters are being stingy and haven’t shown me what happens next then I
usually go on a run. Almost all of my plot problems have been solved in my
running shoes.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE
PLACE TO WRITE?
I have a place where I
write, but it isn’t my favourite place, it’s a desk and that’s about all there
is to say about it. I have a fantasy writing room which hopefully one day when
I’m an international bestselling author I’ll get to summon into reality, and
when I do I’m sure my old desk will be in pride of place.
WHAT’S THE GREATEST
COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
I think the
biggest compliment is when a reader comes back and buys your new book; you know
you’re doing something right when that happens and when they buy it with their
own pocket money – that for me is very special.
OTHER THAN WRITING,
WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
There are so
many things that I love, it would take me all day to list them. But my family
and writing surpass all of those. My partner, our children, and writing - if I
had or could do nothing else, I would still be happy.
DID YOU HAVE YOUR
BOOK(S) PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE PUBLICATION?
Yes,
professional editing is a must. Otherwise it’s like setting sail without a
compass. Us writers are so close to our work that we can’t see the that the bad
bits are rotting and that they risk infecting the rest of the work. We think
it’s all great and it isn’t until an impartial critical voice offers its
perception that we start to question our work, take off the rose coloured
glasses and se that nasty pronoun for the maggot infested mess that it is.
HOW
DID YOUR BOOK COVER COME TO FRUITION?
I’m
very lucky to have lots of very talented friends who read my books and wanted
to be part of them. Sarah Marshman, who designed the Ninja Nan covers
previously worked in Hong Kong producing animation, and I thought that her bold
style was appropriate to the books and the age group.
And
David Atkins who designed the Wolflore cover drew on his experience as a comic
book illustrator to capture the characters in a dark and engaging way. David is
also a fantastic writer, his stories are amazing portrayals of beautiful
nightmares – not for kids or the faint hearted, but definitely for those who
like vivid, creative stories painted in sumptuous language that stings and
bites.
DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN
ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?
I think that I
can see aspects of myself in each and every one of my characters just as I can
see that my son has the same chin as me and that my eldest daughter has my
curly hair. But they are their own, and I the parts of my characters that I can
identify with are the bits that they have taken from me the rest is all them.
DOES THE PUBLISHING
INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?
I don’t think
that the publishing industry frustrates me. I’m in it and treading water. What
does frustrate me is not having an agent with a speed boat to pull me through
the water so that I can wakeboard!
DID YOU EVER THINK OF
QUITTING?
Once or twice
the idea has half heartedly flit across my mind, but the moment if does the
muse in me gets so offended she gives me a quick slap across the face and
grasps the tops of my arms, then, with a shake she says “Are you crazy? What
would we do? Be miserable forever that’s what!” And. Of course, she’s right.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS
FOR NEW WRITERS?
When we start
writing a story we think about all the things we should do. All the conventions
attached to writing the particular story that we want to write, all the ways
that those before us have done it. But they didn’t write your story. Only you
know how it goes and only you can do it; so do it your way, you’re in charge,
it’s your way or the highway, so write with your heart, your head and your gut
and try to keep the doubt gremlins safely locked away.
And now for the speed round of questions...
Annaliese's “BLONDE” BASICS:
FAVORITE FOOD? I’m a vegetarian so
it’s a good job that I love vegetables. I’d walk over hot coals for good
mushrooms, asparagus and my partner’s leek and potato soup ( not all at once;
that would be gross!)
FAVORITE MOVIE?
If
I was on a deserted island and I could only take one with me it would probably
be Stardust, it has it all comedy, adventure, romance, mystery. And after a
long hard day of dealing with the rigors of island life if would be just the
thing to cheer me. Plus I love the book!
FAVORITE BOOK? Again, it depends on
my mood but if I was on that island again then probably Jane Eyre. And I’d try
to slip in Cymbeline under the stipulation that it’s technically a play and
shouldn’t be in the one book limit.
FAVORITE SUPERHERO? Aqua Man. I don’t
need to explain – he’s awesome!
FAVORITE AUTHOR? There are so many
authors that have taken me on the most amazing adventures, but I guess my
favorite and best would have to be my first author crush Roald Dahl. I remember
reading Danny the Champion of the World over and over again then Matilda, The
Twits, Esio Trot, Charlie and the Chocolate factory – I wasn’t so keen on The
Great Glass Elevator – but all the others were and still are my friends.
NINJA NAN AND SIDEKICK GRANDAD:
NINJA NAN AND THE TRIO OF TROUBLE:
http://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Trio-Trouble-Annaliese-Matheron/dp/1471618129/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1371274518&sr=8-3&keywords=ninja+nan
NINJA NAN STRIKES AGAIN:
http://www.amazon.com/Ninja-Strikes-Again-Annaliese-Matheron/dp/1447797345/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1371274518&sr=8-4&keywords=ninja+nan
NINJA NAN AND HER MERRY MEN:
Hi Erika--thanks for joining my group on Book Blogs! Your children's book series looks very interesting! I look forward to reading your future posts. You can find my blog at http://loren-mathis.com/blog-3/.
ReplyDeleteLoren Mathis
Hi Loren! Thanks for stopping by! Just "liked" you on FB!!!
DeleteErika