DAWN SINCLAIR
- GUEST AUTHOR
& LYRICIST -
G'day folks,
Today, I interview a woman with many talents. Not only is she an author, but also a lyricist with over 240 song collaborations with artists and composers across the world.
Welcome, Dawn ...
1.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.
I was fourth of five siblings and, as a constant smiler, I
was sometimes called Miss Sunshine. I was also a curious child and my question
“why?” was often heard by family and teachers, probably to their consternation.
Reading books, particularly something that challenged my
word capabilities, was like breathing to me - it gave me a reason to get up in
the morning and, apart from my family of dolls, was the only company I needed.
I was at once shy and precocious.
In my thirties, I attempted writing a novel but, as always
self-critical to a fault, I threw every attempt away as soon as it was
finished. I was in my forties before I felt confident enough to try in earnest
and, meantime, I also delved into the notebooks and copied some of my poems
onto a computer my uncle persuaded my husband and I to buy. The results of that
amazed me.
People loved them and wanted more. Well, I had filled dozens of
notebooks so that kept me busy when I wasn’t writing the book. Children of
Hamelin was the first novel I ever considered satisfactory to show to anyone.
It took about two years to get to the publishable stage and by then, I was
hooked. I began the next book, The Eternal Question, right away and although it
took several years to finish, it has been my proudest moment when it was also
published.
2.
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?
My love affair with my
pen began at an early age and by the time I moved to grammar school I had
already begun to write short stories for fun. Essays were a doddle for me and
I’d happily write them for anyone who struggled with their homework assignments.
When there was a poetry contest for the school magazine, I leapt right in and
won with my first ever attempt. I guess that was when I began to fill the
notebooks that became my constant companions over the next 20 or 30 years.
At times, I would write
at night until the small hours, then grab a couple of hours of sleep before
going to work. Those poems were never read by anyone but me and I frankly
confess that I could barely believe I’d had a hand in their creation. It was as
if my pen had a life of its own. To this day, I don’t know from where my ideas
or words spring onto the page. But I am grateful they do!
3.
WHAT TYPE OF
PREPARATION DO YOU DO FOR A MANUSCRIPT? DO YOU PLAN EVERYTHING FIRST OR JUST
SHOOT FROM THE HIP?
I have no idea where
the ideas for my stories, poems or song-lyrics originate but I am definitely
not the kind of writer who makes outlines or in any way plots the entire path
from start to end before taking the plunge. I dive right in, start writing and
generally let my characters give me the run-around until I can grasp the reins
and get them under control, a process which might explain why a novel takes me
years rather than months. A song-lyric usually takes hours, comes out pretty
much whole and especially so if I have already been given the music to work
with. Poems are born with all their fingers and toes intact. I am an
introspective person so much of the work is done in my brain before I pick up
the pen, I suppose.
4.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
I like being called a writer. Or a poet. Or a
novelist. I have always found that
amazing. The validation of something I used to think was just my imagination
playing tricks on me.
5.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
Self-doubt. I am
rarely satisfied with what I have written and I am convinced it isn’t good
enough to show to anyone, much less to ask money from people to do so. It’s why
I don’t try to market my books etc. It’s also probably why I do not make much
money at it. I have convinced myself that money isn’t as important as
self-worth. In other words, as long as I can reach a stage of satisfaction in
the finished product, nothing else matters to me.
6.
WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?
I do not remember ever NOT being a writer. I have done
other things to earn money, however, and most of them revolve around retail,
although I began my working career in a library – of course.
7.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
I suppose finishing The Eternal Question felt greater to me
than anything else.
8.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
I am writing
a novel called Exiles.
9.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
I am inspired
by every book I have ever read - and I read a lot!
10.
WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE?
I call it epic fantasy but it could as
easily fit the action-adventure genre. I have no great talent for pigeon-holing to be
honest.
11.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?
Yes: WRITE.
Forget about getting everything precise. Forget about the
spelling and grammar and syntax – until AFTER the story is done. Get your story
on paper and you are ninety-nine per cent there. Now, if I could only follow that advice…
12.
DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?
Yes. I know my shortcomings and they are responsible for
any blocks I suffer. Self-doubt has plagued me all my life.
13.
DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?
I wouldn’t stick to it even if I did have one.
14.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?
Before I was anything else but
a poet I used to go to cafes and write while the world went by. Now I only write when
I am sat at my desk. I prefer silence and as I am losing my hearing, that is
easy to achieve. My very supportive husband is respectful of the need for quiet
when I am “at it”.
15.
WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?
I am an avid fan of thrillers and probably read all the
current writers in that genre. I love them all. Outside of that genre, my
favourite would be Steven Saylor for his wonderful Roman stories.
16.
WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
Someone wrote in a review of The Eternal Question: “This
might have been co-authored by Stephen Hawking.”
Doesn’t come better
than that, does it?
17.
WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?
Someone called my style “over-wrought”. She meant
over-wordy and, it’s true, in the version she read, I had a tendency to over-do
the adverbs and include too much description. I have since remedied that for
the paperback version. So, whilst her comment seemed cruel, it actually helped
enormously and I thank her for it.
18.
WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR
OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?
In poetry and song-lyrics more than in my books. I want my
characters to be unique and try not to put my own spin on their words and
actions. But, I guess some people might recognise me or themselves in there
somewhere. You cannot help that.
19.
OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
Travelling has been one the passions of my husband and I.
Part of that is due to the fact that we love being together in strange new
places. We met when we were both very young (I was 16 and he was 18) and have
grown closer with every passing year. Mind you, apart from our sense of humour
and our great love for one another, we have very little in common.
20.
DID YOU HAVE YOUR BOOK / BOOKS PROFESSIONALLY EDITED BEFORE
PUBLICATION?
In one respect, you could say so because I bought a
professional editing application and used that to thoroughly check everything
before publishing. In fact, I use it during the writing process too – not such
a good idea because it distracts me but I have some bad habits that won’t go
away (saying “that” too darned often for one) and I like to think I can train
by getting them at an early age. Ha!
21.
DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY.
Not too hot or cold, blue skies and a gripping thriller in
my hand.
22.
IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WITH ONE PERSON, WHO WOULD
IT BE? WHY?
My husband. At least I could have a jolly good laugh every
day.
23.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEAK TO WORLD
LEADERS?
I’d say “why?” and “why not?” I often wonder if they ask themselves that
before they make such disastrous decisions.
24.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
I want to finish the book and then give my pen a retirement
present.
25.
WHAT ARE YOUR VIEWS ON
BOOK TRAILERS? DO THEY SELL BOOKS?
I’ve never seen one. I doubt I would like them. One of the
great things about picking up a book is the thrill of discovery. Similarly, I
hate film or TV trailers and feel that their creators shoot themselves in the
foot for showing them.
26.
DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN ANY OF YOUR CHARACTERS?
Never.
27.
DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?
I think they are old-fashioned and too smug for their own good
but after early efforts in my career, I realised that trying to deal with them
was too distracting. I prefer to write and dream.
28.
DID YOU EVER THINK OF QUITTING?
No. I have always said I write to satisfy something inside
of me and if I become disillusioned I will stop. Until now, it has not happened
but I do see a time soon when I might retire altogether.
29.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MANUSCRIPT TO WRITE? WHY?
The easiest was the first one I finished – Children of
Hamelin. But The Eternal Question, although much more complex and
headache-making, was definitely more satisfying. It’s become my favourite which
is why I am writing a follow-up.
30.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE ‘SUCCESS’ AS A WRITER?
Anyone who manages to
complete a novel can give themselves a pat on the back. It’s harder than you
think! Success is a many-faced creature and for me, is too illusive to look
for. I am just proud of what I have written.
31.
WHAT SHOULD READERS WALK AWAY
FROM YOUR BOOKS KNOWING? HOW SHOULD THEY FEEL?
I would great kick out of it,
if they said “Wow, I never thought of it that way before!” People have said that to me in the past and
it gave me a big thrill.
32.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR BOOKS
MADE INTO MOVIES? EVER WRITTEN A SCREENPLAY?
I have not written a
screen play but The Eternal Question would have made a great film, I have
always thought. It is rounded with a surprise ending. But then, I would say
that, wouldn’t I?
33.
HOW MUCH THOUGHT GOES INTO
DESIGNING A BOOK COVER?
Oh gosh, I agonize over
mine, believe me.
34.
WHAT’S YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM?
I suppose I’d consider my life a roaring
success if I had a song of mine in the music charts or a poem of mine quoted by
a famous person or - top of my dream-chart -
if Ron Howard or James Cameron decided my story would be great for their
next movie.
35.
WRITING IS ONE THING. WHAT ABOUT MARKETING YOU, YOUR
BOOKS AND YOUR BRAND? ANY THOUGHTS?
I cannot afford to
employ someone to do it and I have the wrong nature to do it myself—bragging is
anathema to me. Sad really.
36.
ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?
Yes, as a technophobe,
I struggled but found loads of useful help online and my husband was amazing
too.
37.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FIVE WORDS.
World-creator. Poet.
Optimist. Life-loving. Funny.
38.
WHAT PISSES YOU OFF MOST?
Intolerance. Why can’t
people stop being so intolerant of others? We cannot all be the same and if we
were, how ghastly would life be then?
39.
WHAT IS THE TITLE OF THE LAST
BOOK YOU READ? GOOD ONE?
It was a David Baldacci
thriller – the title is unimportant because he never writes a bad one.
40.
WHAT WOULD BE THE VERY LAST SENTENCE YOU’D
WRITE?
Thanks pen!!
41.
WHAT WOULD MAKE YOU HAPPIER THAN YOU ARE NOW? CARE TO
SHARE?
I think a best-selling
book under my belt would do it.
42.
ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?
Wouldn’t it be nice if
people left reviews every time they read a book? I wouldn’t mind if they were
not always rave-reviews. I don’t expect everyone to like everything I write but
it would be nice to know they actually read the books. It’s all any author
hopes for, surely.
Clancy's comment: Well done, Dawn. I agree with you about reviews. Good luck with your talented work, and more strength to your arm.
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