Hello Hywela
Do you plot
or let the story unfold as you write?
A bit of
both. I write a rough outline of the story before I start, and need to know the
end so I have something to work towards. Which is not to say the ending doesn’t
sometimes change: For instance in Starquest,
my heroine argued with me and told me in no uncertain terms that ‘it didn’t
happen that way.’ Eventually I tried the ending as she related it to me, and it
worked! On reflection I realized her version was far more logical.
Having
written my outline, I then write and let my characters lead me and show me
what’s going to happen. Of course, everyone has their own way of writing, but
for me, this is so much more enjoyable than if I’d plotted everything out
rigidly, and sometimes my characters surprise me with something I’d never even
thought of up until then.
Do you have
trouble saying goodbye to characters?
Yes, I do.
Having got to know them, I hate having to leave them – which is probably why my
short story Starquest turned into a
novel, which then sparked a sequel and after that a third novel, forming then Destiny Trilogy.
How long
does it take to research and build a fantasy world?
Oh, how long
is the proverbial piece of string? First I have to think what sort of world my
planet is going to be. Then I have to decide on things like climate, customs
and population, and the type of indigenous animals that might inhabit it.
Sometimes though, a world comes to me almost fully formed. For instance, I was
standing outside my home in Wales, one winter’s evening, and saw snow sweeping
in over the mountains, the sunset turning the snowy landscape pink. I imagined
an icy planet, which had areas of pink snow, the colour derived from
microscopic spores. A sparsely populated planet whose settlers had denounced
technology. How would they communicate over vast distances? Telepathy seemed
the obvious answer, and so the planet of mist and ice, named after the land of
Norse legends, Niflheim was born, and became a main feature in both Starquest and Children of the Mist.
What was the
hardest chapter/book to finish and why?
Beloved Enemy is the third book in the Destiny Trilogy and in some ways the
hardest, as both heroine and hero are quite complex characters as well as being
strong willed and somewhat hard headed. They clash a lot, while being obliged
to work together to survive, and spend most of the book trying to deny their
growing attraction. A few chapters from the end I hit a snag and couldn’t see
how to get past it. As usual my character – in this case, Kerry Marchant, gave
me the answer. It was really very simple, as it happened, and as usual, he was
right.
Is there a
message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I believe we
have a duty to look after our Earth, and the animals that share it, as well as
having an obligation to care for each other. I try to get this message across
in the trilogy as subtly as I can. If the reader ‘gets it’ that’s brilliant, if
not, I hope they just enjoy the books anyway!
Tell us a little more...
What did you
want to be when you grew up?
I always
wrote stories, even as a child, but didn’t think I would ever be good enough to
make it as a ‘real’ writer.
I have
always been passionate about horses and would have loved to have been able to
make a career with them, but unfortunately I just didn’t have any encouragement
from my school, although my parents were very supportive, and my dream remained
that – just a dream and I ended up working in an office. Not my first choice,
but it did give me the opportunity to write, and enough money to save up to buy
my first horse.
I had
several short stories published. It wasn’t until I retired, however, that my
first dream was realized and my debut novel was published by The Wild Rose Press.
Do you have
a favorite quote?
I love this
quote by Chief Seattle Hand how true it is!
“What is man
without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, men would die from great
loneliness of spirit, for whatever happens to the beasts also happens to man.
All things are connected. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the children of
the earth.”
Chief Seattle - Suqwamish &
Duwamish
Do you have
any hobbies?
Apart from
reading? (Is that a hobby) I’ve always loved reading and it’s what made me want
to write myself. I love the outdoors and all animals, especially horses and
dogs. I have a Welsh/American Quarter Horse mare called Flying T’pau and a
‘rescue’ terrier called Choccy. Both are real characters. I love the Western
way of riding which I find more comfortable than English riding, and western
riding is now becoming very popular in the UK, with two main Western riding
groups which promote all aspects of good western horsemanship. I also enjoy
walking in the countryside with Choccy, and watching birds and wildlife.
What is your
favorite comfort food?
Chocolate –
I don’t need to say any more do I! J
What is your
favorite time of year and why?
I love
Christmas. The decorations, the carols, and the ‘magic’. Yes, it’s too
commercialized these days, and the true meaning is often forgotten or ignored,
but I still love it and try to make it as special a time as I can.
Where can we find you online?
https://hywelalyn.co.uk
Download Beloved Enemy (book 3 of
the Destiny Trilogy) on Amazon and other online retailers
13 comments:
It's great to know more about you. Best wishes. D. V.
Great interview! I certainly agree with you about our responsibility to look after this planet. Well said.
Great interview! I, too, love it when my characters surprise me and take the story in a new direction. That's the very best part of writing!
Thanks so much, D V!
Thanks Christine, - I'm praying the world leaders will learn from the terrible pandemic we're going through at the moment, and when things get back to some sort of 'normal', realise we can't go on abusing our planet the way we've been doing. One can only hope!
Thanks Laura, I absolutely agree, when one's characters come alive it's a feeling unlike any other!
Hi all the way over there in Wales! Inspired and impressed by your approach to, and abilities in, world building. So glad you realized your dream of having a horse in your life. I’m in Colorado with my donkeys (among other rescue animals). Wonderful quote. Nice learning more about you.
Lovely interview and I so agree with taking care of the planet. all the best!
This was a really interesting interview! I volunteer at an animal shelter (although during these times, all our animals are in temporary foster care) and I loved reading about your rescue pup!
Thanks so much, Gini. Yes, horses have always been a big part of my life, although I've never been lucky enough to have my own land, and had to rent, but I do feel privileged to have been able to have horses, although I've worked hard to be able to afford to do so. I bet your donkeys are gorgeous, rescues are the best, aren't they - always so rewarding and show their gratitude with unconditional love.
Hi Barbara
Thanks for stopping by. Yes, I really hope the 'Powers That Be' will take notice of how the enforced 'locked down' all over the planet has helped our world start to recover!
Hi Donna, so glad you enjoyed the interview. Fantastic that you help out at a shelter, yes, my little 'rescue' is fantastic. He was quite hard work when we first had him, as he'd been kept shut up for two years from a puppy, and never been socialised, but he's very outgoing now, and has always been the sweetest, most affectionate little dog!
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