Paul Collins has written over 130 books and 140 short stories. He is best known for The Quentaris Chronicles (The Spell of Undoing is Book #1 in the new series), which he co-edits with Michael Pryor, The Jelindel Chronicles, The Earthborn Wars and The World of Grrym trilogy in collaboration with Danny Willis. Paul’s latest book is The Glasshouse, which Jo Thompson illustrated.

He is also the publisher at Ford Street Publishing.

Paul has been short-listed for many awards and won the Aurealis, William Atheling, and the inaugural Peter McNamara awards. He has had two Notable Books in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards.

He has black belts in both ju jitsu and taekwondo – this experience comes through in both  The Jelindel Chronicles and The Earthborn Wards.

1. Your latest novel, The Slightly Skewed Life of Toby Chrysler, has received fantastic reviews. What was your inspiration for this novel and is Toby based on a real person?

Toby isn’t anyone I know. I’ve met several autistic kids, though. I sometimes wonder if kids I knew when growing up were autistic. Long before we had a name to account for certain behaviour, of course. I rarely write books with anyone in mind, although someone did inspire my current picture book, The Glasshouse.

2.  Paul, you’re not only a prolific writer of books for both adults and children but you also run Ford Street Publishing. You must be incredibly busy! How do you maintain a balance between the two careers?

The fact is, I don’t. My writing has taken a backseat for some time now. I have Maximus Black, the first book in a trilogy, just waiting for final polishing touches, but I can’t get to it. I also have a six part chapter series called Broken Magic that is just sitting here, but I can’t devote the time to do anything with it. All I’ve managed this year are a few chapter books that I’ve been commissioned to write. I think gone are the days I could write on spec. Publishing books is one thing, but publishing successfully is a whole new ballgame. Major publishers have six plus departments to handle every facet of their business, from commissioning through to accounts, but a small press has to be all of those departments rolled into one. The publicity/marketing of books is a full-time job in itself. Having said that, I’m in my element publishing books. There’s less doubt in doing something where you’re in control than doing something where other people dictate whether you’re successful or not. The writer’s life is fraught with uncertainty.

3. You’ve packed so much into your career, including writing, publishing, editing, and running creative workshops. Along the way, you’ve also won a number of prestigious awards and received widespread critical acclaim. Which of your many professional achievements has given you the greatest satisfaction?

I published Australia’s first adult heroic/high fantasy novels back in the early eighties, long before the major publishers got in on the act. Not many people would know that David Lake, Keith Taylor, and Russell Blackford wrote Australia’s first fantasy novels. It was only lack of distribution that saw the demise of my publishing house in the mid eighties.

I think, too, that The MUP Encyclopaedia of Australian Science Fiction and Fantasy was another milestone in my career. My contributors and I spent about eighteen months putting that book together, and it stands as a written history of this country’s spec fiction. Last but not least, I edited the country’s first fantasy collection, Dream Weavers (Penguin Books). I look back at the collection and pause to think that back then, I had to look very hard to find fantasy authors to fill it. That book came out less than 15 years ago, but look at the Australian fantasy authors that have sprung up since then. The encyclopaedia would double if anyone were to update it now.

4. Which of your fictional characters Burns Brightest in your mind and why?

I’d choose two, because they have similar characteristics. First I’d go for Sarah, from The Earthborn Wars; second I’d pick Jelindel from The Jelindel Chronicles.

Both of these characters were inspired by Peter O’Donnell’s crime fighter, Modesty Blaise. Both are indomitable, striving hard for justice in very hostile environments; they have their flaws, too, and aren’t adverse to bending the “rules” if needs be.

Like all main characters in fantasy, they start out quite naïve – especially Jelindel – and through trial and error, they finally triumph. During their rite-of-passage, they save their worlds from devastation, but at great cost to themselves and others. Both lose their families, and due to their circumstances they must either grow up really fast, or perish.

These characters fight on against seemingly insurmountable odds. Neither loses her integrity, nor do they take the easy options that are offered. I feel as though both of these characters are real and are people I’d like to know in real life.

Visit Paul’s websites:
www.paulcollins.com.au
www.quentaris.com
www.fordstreetpublishing.com

Lauren Kate grew up in Dallas, went to school in Atlanta, and started writing in New York. She is the author of The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove and Fallen. She wants to work in a restaurant kitchen and learn how to surf. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband.

1. I’ve heard Fallen being described as the ultimate love story. Would you describe yourself as a romantic? What’s your secret to keeping your love stories so fresh and passionate?

I am definitely a romantic. I can’t think of a story I’ve ever written or wanted to write that wasn’t a love story at its core. I think  love stories often run into trouble (good, interesting trouble, that is) where there’s a lapse in communication. So one of these ways I try to keep my writing fresh is by thinking of the love story I’m working on from a variety of different points of view. For example, even though Luce and Daniel sometimes aren’t the very best at being open and honest with one another, I’ll write from both Luce and Daniel’s points of view to show the reader (and myself) a more rounded picture. This is why the prologue and epilogues of the first two books are written in Daniel’s voice. And why Passion will be told in alternating chapters between Luce and Daniel.

2. Your stories are dark, sensual, and feature delicious twists. What are some of your influences when it comes to this sort of writing?

To me, the most interesting love stories (in a fictional sense–not a real life sense!) are the tortured/complicated/doomed ones. I think the Great Gatsby is one of the loveliest doomed love stories out there. It inspires me every time I read it. As for the strange and sensual stuff, I love magic realism and am a big fan of Marquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude.

3. Given the wonderful success of Fallen (and with Torment now out), what more would you like to have achieved professionally in ten years time?

Great question. I love to cook and have a big dream of someday opening up a restaurant–or at least working in a kitchen somewhere. But I’ll definitely always be writing too.

4. Which of your characters Burns Brightest in your mind?

This is like being made to pick your favorite child! Arriane is the most fun and the easiest for me to write. When she shows up in a scene, my fingers just start flying. But I’ve just finished writing Passion and much of it is told from Daniel’s POV, and I will say it was fascinating and so very rewarding to get inside his head for so long. I can’t wait to show off his side of the story when Passion comes out.

Michelle Zink lives in New York and has always been fascinated with ancient myths and legends. Never satisfied with simply reading them, she usually ends up asking, “What if?” Sometimes asking only leads to more questions, but every now and then, when everything falls into place just right, a story is born. Prophecy of the Sisters is one of those stories.

1.    Lia and Alice Milthorpe, the central characters of The Prophecy of the Sisters trilogy, are bitter enemies. One twin is destined for good and the other evil: which character was more interesting to write and what motivated you to depict sibling rivalry?

Alice was probably more interesting for me to write in the first book. Because the story is told from Lia’s point-of-view, I had to give the reader a sense of Alice’s capacity for evil through her sister’s eyes. At the same time, I really didn’t want a carbon-cut-out villain. I wanted a three-dimensional human being, and I wanted the reader to empathize with Lia’s conflicted feelings over her sister. All of which made Alice a very intriguing character to develop. As the series continues, Lia has become just as intriguing. In the same way that I created Alice to have glimpses of good mixed with terrible evil, Lia struggles against her inner darkness rather than being a Mary Sue. This all really comes to a head in Circle of Fire, and it was a real challenge for me to let the reader feel the danger in Lia’s descent into darkness while keeping her relatable enough that no one would despise her.

I don’t have any siblings, and I’ve always been fascinated with that connection. For me, there could be no greater conflict than to pit two people who should, by all rights, be closer than anybody, against each other in a battle with apocalyptic consequences for mankind. I guess you could say their relationship was a kind of psychological playground for me as a writer. Which probably makes me sounds really twisted!

2.    The series is set in the 19^th century. Why did you choose that time period and what are some of your favourite books from that era?

I chose the time period for two reasons; 1) I thought a Gothic setting would lend itself well to the darkness of the story, and 2) Lia’s search for answers is a lot more fun without the aid of Google! 😀 My all-time favorite book from that era would have to be Wuthering Heights, though I have to be honest and admit that I’m not a huge reader of historical fiction. I was actually a little surprised when reviewers began referring to the series as historical. For me, Prophecy has always been a fantasy that happens to be set in 1890 as opposed to historical fiction.

3. The Prophecy of the Sisters is your debut work. What do you see yourself writing in the near future?

I write an average of 2-3 books a year regardless of whether or not I’m contractually able to sell them. Writing is the only thing that grounds me and keeps the demons at bay, so I do a lot of it. I thrive on challenging myself to do things I’ve never done before (though it’s often terrifying), so while I do have two more YA fantasy novels coming out in the next couple of years (one Steampunk and one contemporary), I’m also working on a MG series and an adult novel.

4.    Which of you characters Burns Brightest in your mind?

I have to say Lia and Alice. I know they’re not one and the same person, but they’re two sides of the same coin. The light and dark in us all. And I think that’s why I find them so intriguing. How much light do we each have? How much darkness? And what are the things that tip us from one side to the other as we move through our lives? It’s the eternal mystery, isn’t it?

“I’ve been writing stories all my life, even when I should have been doing other things, like studying Algebra. My first paying job was as Chuck E. Cheese. I worked in theatre for years, and now I’m writing full time, which is my dream job, because I get to work in my pajamas and take a break every afternoon to play Guitar Hero.”

1. As you know, I really loved The Splendor Falls. Sylvie Davis was such a memorable, well-drawn character. How did you so effectively capture the adolescent psyche and what sort of reception have you had from teen fans?

The “how” is a tough question, because it’s not something I consciously think about. It’s not so much about what kids are into these days (texting and YouTube and boys and popularity and whatever) and more about the point of view. I’ve always been drawn to characters who have to prove themselves, who are taking a big step from the known, safe world into a strange, new scary world. Basically that means I was destined to write YA or fantasy. Or both. 

Writing a teen protagonist, like any other, is about getting into character: trying to remember (or imagine) what it’s like to look out from her eyes, making decisions and viewing events from her perspective rather than mine. Ironically, I was one of those 13 going on 30 kids: responsible, well-spoken, rarely got into trouble. And you see that in my characters: even though they’re teens, they’ve got responsibilities and big life goals and in some cases, a very healthy sense of perspective.   I think where some authors get into trouble is they don’t give teens enough credit for having those things.  In fact, they often have big huge dreams and goals, because life hasn’t taught them about Contingency Plans yet.

I’ve had great reception from teens fans–and their mothers!  I love getting multi-generational emails. 🙂

2. I read in an interview that you wrote your first novel, Prom Dates From Hell, in six weeks, found an agent in six weeks, and sold the book in six weeks. Do you usually work that quickly? How would you describe your creative process, generally?

You know, when you write a book before it sells, there’s a lot of freedom. Freedom from pressure and deadlines and, most of all, from expectations. I’m not complaining about my current situation. (I’m so lucky to get to do what I love!) But it was a LOT easier to turn off internal editor and the Greek Chorus of Doubt that lives my head. (And, to be honest, that was a brief time in my life where I had a lot of freedom from non-writing obligations.)

My writing process is longer now, but my books have gotten longer and more complex. I have a lengthy gestation period. Prom Dates was the exception, but I used a lot of ideas from the “going to write a book someday” file.  I think, I write random scenes, character studies, I cast my character and locations with pictures, I vegetate and cogitate. I usually write the beginning slowly, rewrite the middle several times, then when I get to the end I dive in and work without stopping until it’s done.  It’s not a very efficient process; with all the rewriting and detours and second guessing, I write and throw out a LOT of words. I keep saying I’m going to stop doing that, but… I’ll let you know  how that turns out.

3. You undertook a lot of research for The Splendor Falls. Did you find that process satisfying and is it something you think you’ll continue to do for future books?

Research is one my favorite parts of writing. I LOVE  when one thing leads to another thing that ends up being the perfect thing you need to tie everything together in your book. I have to rein myself in, both on the gathering of information and how I work it into the book.  Research (and world building are like an iceburg.  Only 10 percent should show. Some books more, some books less.

Plus, writing a book, you get to “be” whatever you want. Ballet dancer, archeologist, magician… This is really a great job for someone who couldn’t decide what to be when she grew up.

4. Which of your fictional characters Burns Brightest in your mind and why?

This is a hard question. The protagonist of my Maggie Quinn: Girl vs. Evil novels is probably my favorite character to spend time with. She’s quirky and resourceful, loveably insecure but brave enough to put her fears aside in a pinch. She’s a heroine you’d want by your side in a fight: in D&D terms, she’s Chaotic Good, capable of breaking rules for the right reason, but her loyalty, once earned, is unshakable. Plus she gets to say all the things I think about the world but am too nice to say.

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1. Christine, your new book, Henry Hoey Hobson, is filled with so many important themes: resilience in the face of adversity; self-belief; acceptance; belonging. I think it’s going to touch a lot of hearts. When you were growing up, were there any literary characters who you identified with and who helped you through rough times?

Growing up in the bush, the only one of seven kids without testicles, I knew what it was like to be different. While my brothers were off precision-ploughing the back paddock, I was lost in a book, poling down the Mississippi with Huck Finn, or mushing sled dogs in the Yukon with White Fang.

I adored my six brothers, but when the relentless boydom of my life got too much, I’d escape into Little Women and Jo March’s dream of becoming a writer.

My parents gave me a manual Olivetti typewriter for my twelfth birthday and it sealed my fate. If Jane Eyre could make it from orphanage to Manor House, and Anne of Green Gables could escape to University from an obscure island in the backblocks of Canada, then I could get out of Dodge.

The characters that inspired me were often outsiders; they were true to themselves, and they never, ever, gave up. When the sharp end of life backed them up to a precipice, they’d grab hold of it, and pull themselves, hand-over-hand, back from the edge.

When I wrote Henry Hoey Hobson I wanted to create an anti-hero who could win over the hearts that matter, simply by being himself.  He was only twelve years old, so Henry needed others in his life, but the Others I gave him weren’t of his choosing – strange creatures of the night, owners of a coffin…

I laughed – and cried – many times while writing his story, and judging by the emails coming in, it’s having a similar effect on its readers.

2. Your acclaimed debut novel, Dust, centres on the life of 12-year-old Cecilia: a fascinating, layered character growing up in 1970s rural Australia. You’re a Biloela girl yourself, originally. Was the story autobiographical, or semi-autobiographical? What was it like to receive such towering praise for your first book? Does that sort of reception create as much pressure as inspiration?

I’d classify Dust as autobiographical fiction, like Little Women, which was based on Louisa May Alcott’s family, growing up in Massachusetts, or To Kill a Mockingbird, based on Harper Lee’s childhood in the deep south of America.

Dust is faithful to the time and place in which I grew up, and like me, Cecilia has six brothers and a Dutch father. In its earliest form, it started out as an attempt to recreate a time and a place, but at some point in the writing process, I realised that Cecilia was not me, but a fictional character with her own needs, desires and fears, and that realisation freed me to write her story. (She ended up being just about everything I wasn’t at twelve years of age, and a few things I wouldn’t mind being, even now.)

By the time Dust was published I was 40,000 words into an adult crime novel and 12,000 into Henry Hoey Hobson (which was commissioned shortly afterwards), so there was no angst about what to work on next. When Dust started attracting critical attention, my first and overwhelming reaction was relief. Now I’m just plain grateful.

Henry Hoey Hobson was sold on the first three chapters and a synopsis. I was so consumed by the story, so ridiculously in love with the characters, and so intent on meeting my publisher’s deadline, I didn’t have time to worry about what other people would think of it. That anxiety kicked in when I finished the manuscript…

HHH was like my second child – so different to his older, clever sister – but so beautiful in his own way. I just wanted others to love him as much as I did.

3. Are you able to tell us a bit about Intruder, the YA novel you’re currently working on?

The inspiration came from one of the worst nights of my life: the night my eleven year old woke up to find a prowler standing over her bed. He ran away when she woke up, but I tortured myself with the question what if?

A year later I started writing Intruder.

What if the child had no mother? What if her father worked nights? What if she lied to the police about what had happened? What if the one person she hates most in the world, was the one who came running when she screamed…?

Every kid I talk to wants to know what happens next, but I’m not telling. Not yet.

4. Which of your fictional characters Burns Brightest  in your mind and why? 

The character I’m currently working on always burns brightest. Right now, that’s Kat, the main character in Intruder. When I’m writing, I’m in my protagonist’s headspace: I think about her, dream about her, and she can be more real than my own family and friends.

But having said that, I sense unfinished business with Henry Hoey Hobson. I left him last year, the only boy in Year Seven. But he still pops in and visits me. Tells me where he’s gone to high school, lets me know what he’s up to… This hasn’t happened before. My characters don’t usually stay in touch. Perhaps there’s more to his story. I’ll keep you posted. 🙂

Check out Christine’s site here for further info.