Tag Archives: Interviews

My Writing Process – Juliette Quenin

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I was born in France but I travelled and lived in many countries as a child and as a teenager. I always had two certainties in life. One was that I wanted to be a creative, artistic person and the other one was that I wanted to live in London. I have now fulfilled both those dreams so I am a happy person. I have tried my hand at different creative mediums. I studied acting in Paris, I sang Opera for a few years and I have done a cinema school. As such I directed a couple of short films and worked on other fellow students’ short films. But writing has always been a constant passion of mine and since in London (nearly 12 years now), I have dedicated myself to playwriting.

What you have written past and present?

Over a period of 10 years I have written 8 full length plays. The Beauty of the Cactus Flower talks about the difficulties of being a woman in this age and time. Dear Wallis is about a teenager revolting against an abusive alcoholic mother. My play Sugar talks about the strong bond in between a grandmother and a granddaughter and the healing power of baking. 430 King’s Road, An Urban Odyssey tells the story of the punk movement’s birth, narrated as a Greek Tragedy. Little Wing exposes the difficult relationship between two brothers carrying the burden of a past accident. Womb’s talks about the demolition of buildings and key historic buildings in the Soho Conservation area and the impact this has on the local residents. Catsville tackles the problem of animal hoarding and loss. And my last play is still a work in progress, so I won’t be talking about it today.

What are you promoting now?

I have decided to self-produce and direct one of my plays. Little Wing, the story of the two brothers, is going to be on stage at the Jack Studio Theatre in London from the 7th of April till the 18th of April 2020. I have produced and directed short films and readings before, but this is a very different adventure and I am very excited about it. Hopefully this will be the beginning of a new modus operandi: Part time playwright/part time director.

Do you plan or just write?

Years ago, I used to just write. Not anymore. I miss this very spontaneous way of working because it can produce beautiful and poetic writing but I have noticed that in terms of storyline I would get stuck, sometimes finding myself in a cul-de-sac. I wanted to take my writing to the next level, so I started planning. Now, as far as I am concerned, the work is less spontaneous but much more structured and of course playwriting is about structure, structure and more structure.

What about word count?

For me as a playwright, it is more about number of pages. I know that when I hit the 70 pages mark (knowing that a page of dialogue is more or less 1 minute and half on stage) I have a play that is about 1 hour and 30 minutes long, so then I can relax, before starting a new draft.

How do you do your structure?

The play and the subject matter command it really. My plays are rarely about big dramatic situations and twists, so I am not worrying too much about the climax for instance. Of course there is always a climax, but mine tend to be quite subtle. I tend to favor two act plays. They work well for me. I’ve learned through the years that a scene did not need to be of a certain caliber and length, that it’s all about balance and rhythm. I have studied music for many years and I love the idea that my plays are like scores. 

What do you find hard about writing?

Endings! It’s always hard to finish a piece. It’s like a little death and I don’t like that. Also, the time in between two plays is a difficult one for me. I get crippled with doubts, I become a bit crazy. Will I ever be able to put pen on paper again? I have a few coping mechanisms now but it’s still difficult. One thing I don’t have, fingers crossed, is the famous writer’s block.

What do you love about writing?

The craft. It puts me in a zone like nothing else does. Nothing makes me happier than a well-produced page of dialogue. I love this wordsmith business. I fancy myself as a lacemaker, only it’s with words and sentences. Beautifully written pieces can move me to tears (more that the content of the play itself actually). For that reason, I am a big fan of Jean Cocteau, J. M. Barrie,  Edmond Rostand and William Shakespeare for instance. I recently reread Hamlet. Everything, absolutely everything you need to know about plays and playwriting is in there. And if I dare say, everything you need to know about life!

Advice for other writers?

Do the 1%, which is present yourself to the page consistently and preferably at the same time of the day, and the universe will do the 99% left, which is inspiration, willingness and the courage to push forward. Drink lots of water, exercise (I’m not very good at that myself) because sitting hours in front of the computer can be hard on the body. If it’s a first draft, don’t indulge in endless rewriting (that’s a tough one). And don’t give up! My production company is called Five Minutes Before the Miracle (short for Don’t give up five minutes before the miracle!) which is a constant reminder that one needs to be perseverant in life. That’s the key.

 

Felicity Everett The People at Number 9 | Author Interviews

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I loved your book. Where did the idea for The People at Number 9 come from?

I’m glad you enjoyed The People At Number 9. The idea had probably been bubbling under for a long time before `i thought of a way to make it into an entertaining story. I’ve always been susceptible to ‘dangerous’ friends – the kind who are fun to be with but unreliable and sometimes worse! It started in primary school for me, when I was desperate to be in with a little gang, led by a queen bee who decided on a weekly basis who was ‘in’ and who was ‘out’. Even after the agony of being sent to friendship Siberia on a number of occasions, I didn’t learn my lesson and find a proper friend, just hung around until my turn to be ‘in’ came round again. I’m not saying Lou and Gav in The People At Number 9 are as mean or calculating as this – they probably aren’t aware of exploiting Sara and Neil (who maybe deserve it anyway!) but it’s that attraction, like a moth to a flame, that interested me.
Did you expect it to become so successful and resonate with people so much?

Of course any author hopes for  readers, but you can’t write the book you think people want to read, because it won’t be authentic. You have to write the book you’ve got in you.  More than anything, writing is communicating. It’s a way of asking ‘is it just me or…?’ So when I wrote The People At Number 9, it was my curiosity about the subject that drove me forward. I hoped people would get it, but it was surprising and thrilling that so many readers reacted so positively to it. From the feedback I’ve had, I think it resonates because it’s a rare person who hasn’t at some time in their lives been the underdog in a friendship – the one who always makes the phone call, books the tickets, turns up on time and is kept waiting around. Not many people are daft enough to let a situation like that get out of control the way Sara does in the novel, but they can empathise enough to enjoy the journey.

How long did it take for you to write?

It took about two and a half years to write, which is quite along time for a short novel, but I wrote it when me and my family were living in Australia for a little while, and there were many distractions!

What is your writing process?

I don’t plan very much. I take a theme and some characters and sort of improvise, although for No 9 I did have a vague route map for the story. In the past I’ve tried to do that thing that some writers do of creating a life for their characters before they even start writing, listing their record collection, where they lived as a child, their favourite colour – stuff like that, but it just didn’t work for me. I think I find my characters by hearing them speak. I love writing dialogue.

I am a compulsive rewriter – I can’t just rush to the end of a first draft, knowing it’s terrible and then rewrite it from the beginning, I have to go back and make each paragraph right (or as right as it can be) as I go along, which is very laborious. My finished first draft is effectively a fifth or sixth draft. I don’t send it to my agent until I’m pretty sure it’s as good as I can get it.

Do you have a daily word count?

No. It’s so dispiriting if you don’t reach it. I’m happy if I can write five hundred good words a day. Sometimes a good day’s writing can actually be deleting a page or two, if the scene’s not working, or the writing is flabby, so I tend to think in terms of progress rather than pages.

Where do your ideas come from?

That’s a tough one. I don’t really know. I think I’m very influenced by place and I’m interested in the psychology of relationships. I suppose I tend to take a fairly mundane universal situation – a friendship gone awry or a move to the countryside (in the case of my new novel) and then ask ‘what if?’ If you ask that question enough times, it can take you to some pretty dark and twisted places!

Do you have a specific place where you write.

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I write in bed! We moved to a new house, and I got the study all kitted out, had the desk positioned in front of the window with the lovely view, got all my books organised, and then found I never went in there. It was just too daunted by the open lap-top on the pristine desk. It felt too ‘intentional’, as though I had to write really impressive sentences; be ‘A Writer’. So now, instead, I wake up and grab my laptop, read the news, check Facebook and then open my document – I sort of sneak up on it. I re-read what I last wrote, alter a word or two and then, before I know it, I’m in full flow and if I’m lucky I’ve written a page or two. The only problem is that all that slouching is doing my back in!

Who are our favourite writers?

Jonathan Franzen, Colm Toibin, Anne Enright, Elizabeth Strout, to name a few. I love a family novel and I like social commentary. I’m a big fan of short stories – The New Yorker has a wonderful archive and I’ve discovered some great novels by writers I’ve first come to for their short stories – George Saunders and Curtiss Sittenfeld being two.

What books have you read recently that you loved?

Eligible by Curtiss Sittenfeld and Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (see above). I’ve also re-read Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier because it’s a tutorial in evoking a sense of place and a compelling atmosphere, two things I am attempting in my new book.
What is next for you?

I’m writing a gothic psychodrama!  It’s a novel about a couple who move to the countryside to make a fresh start, but find themselves haunted, not only by their own past, but by a strange unease in their new community and the landscape that surrounds it.

 

 

Business of Books: Jane Cable interviews designer and digital marketing specialist Aimee Coveney

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the-business-of-books-interviewswithjanecableBUSINESS OF BOOKS: BETTER BY DESIGN

Jane Cable interviews designer and digital marketing specialist Aimee Coveney

What is your book-related job or business?

I started out by opening my own freelance design consultancy after finding my niche of working with industry professionals and directly with authors themselves. I am now co-founder of Bookollective and run the Design and Digital Marketing areas of the business. As part of this, I regularly design book covers, websites and promotional material, as well as running social media campaigns and blog tours. I see design and digital marketing as increasingly appreciated areas of the publishing sector, with many having put these on the back burner for years. Design is key to visually presenting yourself as an author and also transitions over to the marketing of your work both on and offline. Digital marketing is regularly misused, but its values are increasingly apparent to authors and professionals. When understood and targeted correctly it can quickly grow your visibility and credibility within the marketplace.

 Jane Cable interviews designer and digital marketing specialist Aimee Coveney

What is the most rewarding part of it?

I love hearing back from authors and publishers on how much they love a design; especially book covers. After what can be years of writing their book, it can often be an emotional moment seeing it in its final ‘wrapping’. I think independent authors sometimes feel their writing doesn’t deserve a professional design and when they decide to take that route, it is an honour to be the person to work with them and create something that visually represents their hard work. Publishers are always passionate about books and I love their enthusiasm for good design.

On the digital marketing side, I love finding new opportunities and contacts for both authors and Bookollective as a business. There’s no greater feeling than building on something you feel strongly about and helping others to do the same. Interacting online, sharing knowledge and the Bookollective mission to create a community within the publishing industry is a reward in itself.

 

What do you consider to be your major successes?

With a vast amount of books being published every day, it is always a success when one you represent gets favourably acknowledged in some way. This year I was thrilled to win a cover design award and also seeing my expertise recognised with an article in the UK’s bestselling writing magazine. Bookollective was also ‘Start-up of the Week’ in The Bookseller which was a fantastic accolade. It’s been a busy and exciting start to the year and I can’t wait to see what else it will bring.

 

Have you always loved books and what are you reading at the moment?

Absolutely! I can vaguely remember being delighted at winning a book whilst in nursery: it’s one of my earliest memories. I grew up reading classics such as Beatrix Potter and Judy Blume before being brave enough to read outside of my comfort zone and now enjoy a wide array of genres. At the moment I am reading Asking For It by Louise O’Neill; an emotional roller-coaster for me. I don’t read every book that I work with, but I am a self-confessed book hoarder!

 

Bio: Having enjoyed years in the publishing industry, Aimee’s award-winning experience means she is well-placed to offer top advice on the design and online marketing of your book/s. Aimee regularly contributes articles for the ALLI Self-Publishing blog as well as other publishing related websites and magazines. Aimee is a Partner Member of The Alliance of Independent Authors. 

To find out more about Bookollective’s services for authors and publishers, visit her website bookollective.com

You can connect with Aimee on social media: 

Twitter: @authordesigner / @bookollective   Facebook: @bookollective  

For further information, authors & publishers can email: aimee@bookollective.com

 

 

Rory Nicole Ogden | Acting Interviews

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Rory Nicole Ogden Acting InterviewsChild actress Rory Nicole Ogden has accomplished more since November 2012 than many artists twice her age. In winter 2012, she made the decision to fulfil her dream of becoming an actress and before she knew it, Rory was auditioning for (and getting) small roles in films. Then came a short film called “Just a Kid,” a delightful story about a young girl (Julie) who tries to cheer up her brother after his heart is broken. Rory landed the role, and that began a trend that continues to now.

 

What made you become an actress?

I fell in love with the idea of being in the movies and TV when I was young.  I thought the movie Transformers was so incredible I felt like I had to be in that life. I kept asking my Mother but she thought it was a phase.  I never stopped asking so my Mom talked to a friend that is an actress in LA.  The friend said to put me in classes and when I realized how much work it really was I would most likely change my mind.  The classes were two hours away and once a week for 12 weeks my Mom would drive me down there and sit in her car and wait for me.  I discovered that I loved it more than I thought, even with all the work it really takes.

 

 Did you train and, if so, where?
Yes Plaza 7 Agency in King of Prussia PA with a great Improv Instructor Jimmy Carr
My classes taught me about Improv, Slating, Monologues and working with other actors.  I didn’t realize there was so much work that went into every aspect of acting but I loved it.  I still use the monologue I picked there because it really suits me.  One of the important things I learned there is if I screw something up like my Monologue to just go with it, if I don’t show people I messed up they wont know.  Its acting right lol!

roryactress

Career Highlight

I just finished up a project for Cartoon Networks Adult Swim that will be airing in Nov or Dec.  It was such a unique experience.  They did a 3D scan of my body so they could make an exact replica of my body.  Than they made silicone molds of my face to reproduce my face for some neat things they did in the project that I can’t say yet!  What other 13 year old gets to do such cool things? Cross your fingers I get to go back and do more.

 

Lowest Point

A student film that I did very early in my career.  It was a bad production done in a house with a dog that could be smelled 20 feet away and cats and more dust and cobwebs than a Halloween house.  We would get there 10 minutes before our call time and the team would show up 45 minutes later.  It’s why I very rarely do student films.

 

 Hardest Thing About Being an Actress.

 

Finding time to practice and learn scripts while having a normal life as a teenager.  For adult actors its often their only job but as a student If I miss school for work I still have to make up everything I miss while doing my current work. My Mom’s condition to keep acting is to get good grades.  So I don’t have a choice there!  I also play Varsity Field Hockey as the Goalie so missing games hurts the team. I also love going out with friends and doing lots of social activities.  Twice I have been lucky enough to do roles with my best friend.  Most of the time you go on set and you don’t know anyone and that’s tough being a kid.

Do you make enough money from acting, if not, what else do you do?

I have saved some money up for College from acting but I also like to spend it :)  I plan on attending NYU or UCLA.  To study acting and film making.  My passion is gong around to Jacob Whitesides concerts and getting VIP tickets.  It’s a good thing my Mom likes Jacob!

 

Best and Worst audition.

 

Best

Just a Kid which was my first audition.  I had so much fun with the Director Michael Scotti Jr.  He was so fun to work with and Immediately felt the character was perfect for me.  A week later I was offered the role.  The Director later told my Mom the part was down to two people and when he was deciding he got a Thank you Note from my Mom and that sealed the deal!

Worst

I had two worst auditions.  Once was for someone I had worked for before who I loved but I went to the audition coming right off the plane from Florida with a case of sun poisoning.  I was having trouble talking and I didn’t know why I actually went to the hospital after and my tongue had swollen up with the sun poisoning.  Needless to say I didn’t get the part.

The other bad audition I had was the student film I did that was a nightmare.  I was put on the spot to tell an embarrassing story and I told a story of my mothers and I could see her turning red while I told it.  I don’t think she wanted it told.  I must have babbled for 15 minutes.  I never expected to get the part but I did.

 

Advice for other actors.

 

Make time for all your dreams don’t just make time for acting.  Play sports, go to dances and do all the things other teens do.  In fact I don’t tell my classmates I act but sometimes it comes out.  One time in Computer class we were learning how to use Google and the teacher had us Google the person next to us and my classmate freaked out and began telling everyone when he saw my website and IMDB.  Also if you really want to act start with training it’s the most important thing you can do.<

What is the most important thing for actors to do to improve their career?

I think you have to keep learning and doing different stuff.  Like I prefer comedy its a lot more fun but I have been doing other stuff so I can show that I can do anything.  I don’t want CD’s to look at me and pass on me because they only think I can do comedy.

Role Models

Selena Gomez- I have a lot of respect for her.  I always thought she was a good actress.  I grew up watching her on Wizards of Waverly Place.  It became my favorite show.  Selena is also a great singer another passion of mine.  Recently she disclosed she has Lupus and it makes me realise what a strong woman she is to be able to do all of the things she does even when she is sick.

Funniest Thing that happened on Set

While filming my first film just a kid I had to ride my bike down the street.  The DP, Director and Producer were in a van following me down the street filming me.  A person saw this and called the police thinking I was going to be abducted.  The police came rushing to the scene.  After questioning me and them they realised it was only a film.

 

 

Actor Interviews: Rakesh Dasgupta

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Actor Interviews- Rakesh DasguptaWhat made you become an actor?

It all started while I was in school. I never really had any friends to talk during my school days. I was experiencing domestic violence almost everyday; I could not find anyone to listen to me. I was getting bullied at school. All these experiences started giving me depression at that age and I was so helpless. But I always loved to watch movies and I liked portraying those characters I saw in the movies. Its hard to explain but when I used to portray the characters in front of the mirror I used to (kind of) become those characters from within which helped me for that short span of time to forget everything surrounding me. I found this to be a very helpful technique to stay away from my depression and the unwanted ambience. As time progressed, I just got hooked up with this acting.

Did you train and if so where?

Sounds weird but I must say my initial training started in front of the mirror. Being a commerce graduate I never had any formal acting qualification. Until 2013 when I started taking informal acting and accent removal classes in Sydney with some of the experienced actors.

Career Highlight

Instead of taking names of some of the projects that I have worked on, I would like to consider my career highlight to date being given the opportunity to go to Hollywood and perform in front of the film directors and casting directors. Also getting representation offer from one of the leading agencies in USA during my first week in Hollywood was something completely unexpected. (Well its a different thing that I could not accept the offer for having no work rights in USA)

Lowest Point

Those first days in Sydney when I did not have a place to live and was visiting Salvation Army to ask for food as I didn’t have any money with me. I don’t want to speak too much on my lowest points in life as I think people who want to pursue acting, want to become actors and have big dreams would get discouraged and scared listening to my past. So I would prefer to keep this point short.

Hardest thing about being an actor

1. Getting job – you can be an acting degree holder from the best acting university in the world and you might have the best acting talent but you might not get any acting job. If you ask me why, I don’t have that answer. It’s the way it is. 2. Uncertainty of the future – as an aspiring actor you never know where you will end up in the next 5 or 10 years time; you can end up with stardom or you can just end up with nothing. 3. No financial security – In the early stages of acting career, it does not pay you much, if at all to make both ends meet. It’s very likely that you might just end up with one meal a day as that’s all you would be able to sometime afford being an aspiring actor.

Do you make enough money from acting, if not, what else do you do?

At this stage of my career I do not make enough money from acting to pay all my bills. As such I have to do other stuff like working in supermarkets, gas stations, doing gardening work etc etc. I prefer these kind of odd jobs instead of a full time desk job because they provide flexibility to attend auditions and shoots.

Best and Worst audition

Best audition – When I had four days time to practice my lines which is quite unusual to get such a long time to prepare a script. I knew my lines and moves to perfection and was very satisfied with the way I performed in the audition room. The casting director appreciated my performance and I was so convinced about getting that role but guess what, I didn’t get the role.

Worst audition – I was driving to this audition and my car broke down in the middle of the highway. I had to get my car towed to the nearest gas station and then I got a cab and was able to reach the audition venue just on time. It was summer and I was profusely sweating. I went to the audition room and I couldn’t recall half my lines; I left the script in my car which made me look so unprofessional. I came out from the audition room dejected with no hope. Two days later my agent informed me that I got that role.

Advice for other actors

Firstly you should only pursue acting if you enjoy the actual art; If your reason to pursue acting is to become famous, you got a bad news coming – you are in the wrong business. Do not have a back up option because if you have a back up option you are basically preparing for failure. Acting is a business in which ‘YOU’ are the product that you sell, so maintain yourself (a good physique is always an asset in the acting business). When you are an aspiring actor you will get naysayers coming by default who will tell you that it cannot be done – just ignore them. Most importantly, you have to honestly believe in yourself that one day you will become a successful actor; Well, if you don’t believe in yourself, who else will.

What is the most important thing for actors to do to improve their career?

Practice Practice Practice! Practice your art, work on your art whole year, not just two days before going to an audition. Doesn’t matter if you practice lines in front of the mirror in your room, in the middle of the beach or in an acting school, but do something everyday to improve your confidence level.

Role Models

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Dwayne Johnson, Johnny Depp

 

How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur Book Review

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The daughter of a friend of mine is in her second year at drama school. She’s good: can sing, can dance, can act – particularly in comedy. So, she has it all? Trouble is, so do so many of the rest of her year group. And so do all of those other aspiring actors in all those drama schools across the country. She’s beginning to ask how she can show she’s different, that she deserves to be remembered from one audition to the next. How she can avoid annoying someone whose off hand influence can close as well as open doors for her?

howtobeasuccessful_actor_book become How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an ActorpreneurI’m going to give her a copy of this book. It may be the single most useful thing I ever do for her. How To Be a Successful Actor: Becoming an Actorpreneur by Catherine Balavage is one of those practical, down-to-earth guides which doesn’t try to hide the obstacles and difficulties of choosing an actor’s life but does give solid and sensible, practical, advice on making the best impression and avoiding the worst pitfalls. Equally valuably, Balavage makes suggestions for networking, for working with others to help each other through teamwork (e.g. helping film each other’s showreels), working for nothing except getting your name out there, remembering names, and never, never, never forgetting to say thank you – even when you don’t land the part. She is upfront about the chances of success in acting: ‘Only act if you cannot do anything else. It is the hardest and most competitive industry you can go into. Your chances of success at making a full-time living for the rest of your life are small.’ And then she offers clear and straightforward, practical advice about how to shift the odds just slightly in your favour.

 

This book seems, at first glance, rather plain, with no images and most chapters simply divided into paragraphs with explanatory headings, or questions followed by responses. I like this format. It’s no-frills and underlines the fact that this is a handbook. A ready reference tool which will be highlighted and annotated by anyone who uses it regularly. The pages of useful contacts and Top Tips are invaluable. I also liked the interviews with others in the profession: the replies to questions overlap with each other in ways which reinforce what Balavage has already said. This reinforces my conviction that this author really is writing from experience and passing on advice distilled from her own hard work. Which I really hope my young friend will take.

 

[Editorial note: Catherine Balavage is an editor of this magazine]

 

Nikki Gemmell Interview | Books

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Nikki Gemmell is a talented Australian author, best known for writing the best-selling erotic trilogy The Bride Stripped Bare, With My Body and I Take You. She has recently released her first children’s book, The Kensington Reptilarium. Scarily talented and productive, it was an honour to interview her.

 nikki glemmel interview

You have written eight novels and four works of non-fiction. How do you manage to be so prolific?

 

In that exhausting lifestyle triumverate of the modern harried woman – work/family/social life – something has to give.  I just don’t believe you can have all three.  In my case it’s the social life that’s been sacrificed.  I just get too knackered.  Having kids has also made me much more disciplined.  I don’t spend their school hours unpacking the dishwasher and tidying the house – I write, solidly.  Am constantly gleaning little pockets of time to get it all done (in fact am typing this now, in the car, on the side of the road, having just dropped off my son to a basketball match.)

 

You write a lot about female sexuality. What draws you to write about it?

Honesty connects.  Nowhere more powerfully than in the sexual sphere.  There is so much vulnerability, bewilderment and misconception about sexuality, and it feels exhilarating (and necessary) to write about it utterly truthfully.

 

Lire included you in a list of the fifty most important writers in the world. How did that feel?

It’s a little tuning fork in my head – to try and live up to it!

 

You have written your first children’s book, The Kensington Reptilarium: what made you choose that genre?

Several of my own children who were too addicted to their wretched screens.  I wanted to write a kid’s book that would ignite the flame of reading passion in them, because I just couldn’t get it to catch alight (to my despair and mortification.)  Lo and behold, the Grand Scheme of Maximum Distraction actually worked.

 

Do you have a favourite book that you have written?

Shiver, my first novel – a story extremely close to my heart.  The Bride Stripped Bare – because it transformed my life.  And The Kensington Reptilarium – because it was such enormous, liberating fun.

 

What is your writing routine?

Get the kids, work solidly, then pick them up and give my life over to them.  My trick is to get household chores done around them – never in cherished writing time.

 

How do you come up with your ideas?

I’m constantly on the prowl with a notebook in my handbag – it records ideas, titles, quotes, conversation scraps, magazine articles.

 

Do you ever get writers block?

I used to but not anymore – writing is a business to me now, as well as a passion.  It pays bills, so I just have to plough on or my kids won’t be fed.  I literally can’t afford to be blocked anymore.

 

How long does it take you to write a book?

Usually a couple of years, but I’ve actually written one of them in three weeks (not saying which!)

 

What’s next?

The publishers want a sequel to Kensington Reptilarium, as it did well for them.  Then I’m thinking of an historical novel after that. Something different for me.  I’m addicted to change, trying new things. Not afraid of failure in the slightest. It’s how you progress in life.

 

Advice for wannabe writers?

Tenacity is all. And discipline. Focus. The capacity for hard, gruelling work. Talent only gets you so far.

 

Best piece of advice you have ever been given?

Write as if you’re dying – it’s a great motivator.  It stops you making that seventh cup of tea.

 

http://www.nikkigemmell.com/ 
Nikki Gemmell’s Threesome: The Bride Stripped Bare, With the Body, I Take You
Honestly: Notes on Life

 

MonaLisa Twins Interview | Music

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We have interviewed MonaLisa Twins, we have featured these talented women, Lisa and Mona Wagner,  before but thought it was time to get their own thoughts in their own words.

monalisa-twins_pressphoto_band_ORIGINAL_5160px 72dpi

 

Have you always wanted to make music?

Lisa: Music has always been a big part of our lives, so it was a very natural thing for us and a smooth transition into being “professional musicians”. The radio was always on and we were constantly singing, even on car rides or in school. As kids we got easily excited for a lot of things: we had a passion for animals, all kinds of art, we loved books, movies and everything that was fun to do. But music stuck with us the most, so yes, we always wanted to “make” music, since we were always doing it anyways, but the wish, dream and passion to really make it our profession, started growing from the age of about 13.

 

What are the origins of Mona Lisa Twins?

Mona: Since we’re twins we’ve been living together for 19 years now. That’s quite a lot of time, considering that we’ve spent nearly every single day under the same roof. It’s actually a miracle we can still stand each other, but for some odd reason we do.

When we were younger, our Dad ran a recording studio at home, so we have always been messing around there and recorded cute Birthday songs for family members or friends and the like. Music always meant good times and spending time with our Dad. To this day we still work together with him, write the songs and record them in our own studio.

L: So it was all just a really natural development, we grew up and over the years became better and more certain of where we wanted to head with our music. There was no date or year where it all started, but you could mark a family concert back in 2007 as the first milestone of the musical journey.

 

How would you describe your sound?

M: When we started out covering lots of songs and later to write our own music, we discovered a great passion for the 60s, especially the early beat music. It was the kind of more sophisticated Rock’n’Roll that we were so in awe of. We loved the easy but somehow very powerful songwriting style of that era and tried to integrate as many of the musical elements in our own songs as possible.

L: After listening to loads of 60s bands we were looking for newer groups who wrote in a similar kind of matter, but were a bit disappointed by the lack of it. So we tried to write the kind of songs that we would enjoy listening to. We incorporated many of the elements that we thought made the whole 60s era so special – mainly focusing on interesting, catchy but diversified melodies in our vocals but also guitars, bringing back the strong harmonies and wiry, bright guitar sounds.

 

What is your favorite Mona Lisa Twins song?

L: This is nearly like having to pick a favorite child! But well, I could say that for our more upbeat songs, I personally am very proud of “This Boy is Mine”, since it really brings the raw 60s Beat music vibe across we were aiming for.

M: For me “The Wide, Wide” land has got a very special place in my heart. We wrote it for our grandma who passed away of Alzheimer, and we first played it at her funeral together with our cousin. It was such an emotional moment, and people seem to connect very well with this song.

 

What is your favorite non MonaLisa Twins song?

L: Ah, that’s even harder! It normally is some kind of Beatles song, but there are also so many wicked ones to choose from. One of my all-time favorites would be “You’re Gonna Loose That Girl”. As for more recent songs I’ve been listening to John Mayer’s “Born & Raised” album a lot lately and especially love his song “Speak For Me”.

M: Probably “Because” by the Beatles.

Who is your favorite modern, and non modern artist?

M: As for “modern” artists I would probably say John Mayer. I’ve been going through an unhealthy obsession with his music lately, but I just love the way he puts words together with sing-along melodies. Non modern is easy, the Beatles in my opinion will always be the most mind-blowing band that ever existed.

 

L: It’s hard for me to pick favorites, but for more “recent” bands I enjoy The Belle Brigade, The Arctic Monkey and Josh Pyke to mention a few. Overall I prefer bands from the past, which next to the Beatles would be Donovan, Simon & Garfunkel and Cat Stevens, but the list goes on and on.

 

Who inspires you?

M: People who do more than you would expect them to. This doesn’t have to be art related at all, but I just get really excited when I hear about stories where people go out of their comfort zones to reach their goals. Everything worthwhile on this world was done by people who are not afraid to try out something different and new and are not constantly held back by the desire to “fit in”. I think that’s what life is all about.

L: I completely agree with that. And of course that would also be my musical heroes and idols from the past and present.

 

Describe your style.

L: It’s probably best described as reinvented 60s sound. Bright guitar riffs, harmonies, melodic and catchy, but certainly not trivial songs.

 

What’s next for you?

M: We are planning to release a Live-CD in spring 2014. We played so many shows this last year that it would be a shame if no one got to hear the songs we performed, except the people who saw the shows. So we figured we put out another live record, before going back in the studio to record new original material.

L: We’ll include live versions of our original songs as well as covers. Our voices changed quite a bit, since we recorded the last album, so it should be interesting for our fans to hear how we perform our music these days. Besides that, we are planning to write many more songs and release them as singles one at a time.