Yay! It’s Monday again and time to place a new, exciting author on my couch! Welcome, Ali, I’m so pleased to see you here!
Thanks for having me!
Tell us a something about yourself?
Well, I was born in the UK but raised in New Zealand and I’ve now come back to London to pursue being an author.
I almost failed my second year of English at high school and spent a considerable amount of time debating whether or not I wanted to be a chemist (I did ok in Chemistry) before taking a publishing assistant job for The University of Law in London.
I was also a feature film writer for Lotus Magma ‘Off the Cuff’ magazine and have received two Editor’s Choice Awards for my work as well as an Honours Diploma in Media Law & a Distinction Diploma in Sub-editing and Design from The London School of Journalism.
I released Jaded Rein at 18yrs old, Jaded Youth the year after and am working on getting Jaded #3 & #4 out this year.
What is or are the genres of your book or books?
Y/A Science Fiction, Action and Adventure. I wanted to write a sci fi that appealed to readers that weren’t necessarily sci fi fans though, so that’s what I’m trying to achieve with the Jaded Series.
Well, you did good! I’ve read both of the books in your Jaded Series and enjoyed them enormously! Please, tell us when and why did you begin writing?
I was always reading and I guess that’s what got me into writing. The first things I can remember finishing was when I was eight called, ‘Chocoblock’ which featured a giant named Maisy and a poem titled ‘Seasons’.
From there I wrote a short story memoir about a doughnut eating horse when I was twelve and was nominated in the top ten novelists at my school. I was hooked from then on.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
When I picked up a pen?
LOL! That was good! Where do you get ideas for your stories?
The characters in my head just come to me. My mum is worried I have multiple personality disorder whenever I say that!
What was the hardest part of writing your books?
Sex scenes are definitely the hardest to write. You’ve got to get the perfect balance of steamy without becoming crude and cringe worthy.
I know exactly what you mean…gosh, sometimes reading my text after a long time I still blush like an apple! Have you ever had a writer’s block and if yes, how did you make it go away?
Not writers block so much as procrastination. But when that happens I either force myself to go to the library with no distractions or give it a week. I soon get writing withdrawals!
Indie or traditional publishing?
Indie all the way. There’s a lot to be said for having complete creative control.
When is your best time to write?
Everyone always asks me how I write so quickly. Well my trick is to write whenever my other half is watching football, which is all the time (surprise, surprise in the UK). I get like eight whole hours to myself on Soccer Saturday!
What is your favorite cartoon character?
Oh I can’t remember her name but it was the mayors secretary from The Powerpuff Girls. She was so sexy and I still never saw her face! She has in fact inspired a character for a book I’ve got an idea to write…
Your favorite author? Book?Movie?
Ok so I’m a self-confessed Harry Potter fan – author, books & movies! I’ve read the books over and over and watched the movies a million times.
Nalini Singh is also a huge favourite of mine. She was in fact the author that inspired me to write my first novel as a sci-fi actually. I pick up every one of her books.
Current favourite authors that I have contact with would be Scarlett Dawn and Angie Martin. Every book of theirs that I have picked up I just haven’t been able to put down.
What do you do in your spare time?
Spare time, what spare time?
Any current projects you’d like to share?
Well apart from the Jaded Series…there are two standalone books I’ve started working on in the background. One is a murder mystery the other is a comedy based novel…that’s all I’m going to say for now…
What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
I actually think the toughest criticism comes from myself. Any negative reviews I’ve received have always been constructive, which I appreciate as I’m a new author and know that I’ve got so much to learn. But personally, once I’ve finished writing the first draft, I always think ‘Well what a load of shit.’ It takes actually reading it through with my editor to realize it’s far better than my initial reaction.
What has been the best compliment?
That I converted a reviewer into a sci-fi fan 🙂
If you could meet one ‘celebrity’ author who would it be?
Chelsea Cain. Her books are wickedly gory and clever and I have a feeling she’d be great to have over and share a bottle of wine with.
I have to confess I haven’t read any of her books but will definitely add them now on my TBR list. Do you have any words of wisdom for the other writers?
My writing advice is to ignore other authors advice. Everyone writes in their own way and as long as you continue writing you’ll figure it out. But professional tip – get a good editor that loves your book as much as you do.
Favorite quote?
Currently my favourite quote is from Nalini Singh’s first Psy/Changeling book: Slave to Sensation.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“Bad dreams?”
“No dreams.” It was a husky whisper. “That was the problem.”
Where can people find out more about you and your books?
All my books and about me can be found here:
http://www.amazon.com/A-G-Chambers/e/B009NQ7VPE/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1395686264&sr=1-2-ent
https://twitter.com/AG_Chambers
https://www.facebook.com/GwynethLesley
Do you want to tell us something about your books?
Quote from Jaded Youth:
“All at once Joanna felt tiny bite sized kisses all over her body. Wide eyed with shock, she stared at Adrian who was still standing two feet away from her.”
Quote from Jaded #3 out later this year (subject to editing)…
”Her eyes opened for him as his body slumped, depleted, and he separated from his doppelganger and the rest of the world. He’d protected her. He’d saved her. And now he was dying for her. He had loved her.” (and no this isn’t about Joanna…)
Thank you for the great answers and thank you so much for joining with us today!
AUTHOR JENNIFER LOISKE 