DIANE GUNTRIP
- GUEST AUTHOR -
G'day folks,
Today, I interview a very talented woman from Western Australia.
Welcome, Diane ...
1.
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR WRITING JOURNEY.
I have had a long and varied career in education, teaching
and coaching students at all levels. However, along the way, I have delved into
many other creative pursuits such as textiles, jewellery designing and designer
cushion manufacture. It was during one of my many creative phases that I had
the urge to write some short stories.
2.
WHEN AND HOW DID YOU BECOME A WRITER?
It is a long story
so I will aim to make it as brief as possible. When I began to write short
stories over fifteen years ago, I had no intention of taking the project
seriously nor did I have any aspirations to publish my stories. On completion,
they were stored on my computer and forgotten. A few years later, I thought I’d
have another look at them. One in particular, ‘Dear H’ stood out and I had the
idea to expand the story and write it as a diary. Again, on completion it was
put aside. Further down the track I asked a neighbour’s granddaughters to read
the manuscript. They encouraged me to have the manuscript published. As the
subject was and remains topical, I decided to self-publish the book as I felt
it imperative to reach as many young people as quickly I could.
3.
WHAT TYPE OF
PREPARATION DO YOU DO FOR A MANUSCRIPT? DO YOU PLAN EVERYTHING FIRST OR JUST
SHOOT FROM THE HIP?
My first book, ‘Dear
H’ was a progressive creative pursuit. The sequel, ‘The Daisy Chain’ was
planned ‘in my head’ before I began to write. I knew exactly what was going to
happen from start to finish. My third book, which I am presently writing, has
also been planned from start to finish.
4.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
In my writing I aim
to bring awareness to the issues that are relevant to young people of today. I
enjoy immersing myself into characters who are dealing with emotional issues
and hope that my young readers can identify with the characters and find
solutions to their own situations.
5.
WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING A WRITER?
It is not the
writing that poses the problems but reaching the target audience.
6.
WHAT WERE YOU IN A PAST LIFE, BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER?
I began my teaching
career in the UK as a specialist teacher of Textiles. On arrival in Australia,
this subject was not taught as a specialist subject so I focussed on primary
education. Alongside this, I studied for a Diploma in Counselling and ran a
tuition business for eight years. Throughout my teaching career, I have always
been creative and have followed pursuits in speech training, singing, piano,
jewellery design and spoken French to
name a few.
7.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WRITING ACHIEVEMENT?
‘Dear H’ is my
greatest writing achievement so far. When I wrote the story, I was unaware how
powerful the book was. Initially, I considered it a book to be read and enjoyed.
However, after it was pointed out to me that it contained such a powerful
message, I began to view the book in a completely different light. Since then I
have been instrumental in presenting workshops in schools in Western Australia
and in the UK based on the book and the topic of bullying. I have also presented
workshops to adult groups. I am open to invitations to present workshops both
in Australia and in the UK.
8.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
At the present time, I am working on the story of Tilly, a
character who was mentioned briefly in ‘The Daisy Chain’. Again, I have chosen
topics that are often difficult to openly discuss, such as grief and a teen
pregnancy which has devastating effects for the character’s future plans.
9.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
I am deeply
interested in people and their emotions and what makes them tick.
10.
WHAT GENRE DO YOU WRITE?
I suppose you would
call my books human interest but this doesn’t really describe them. ‘Dear H’
was written for an audience of girls from age ten+. However, my presentations
are to boys and girls and both are reading and buying the book. Many adults
have also purchased the book and enjoyed it. ‘The Daisy Chain’ is the sequel
and is aimed at a female audience of 13 years+.
11.
DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS FOR NEW WRITERS?
If you have the urge
to write, then follow it.
12.
DO YOU SUFFER FROM WRITER’S BLOCK?
Not in general.
13.
DO YOU HAVE A PREFERRED WRITING SCHEDULE?
No I don’t.
14.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE WRITING PLACE?
I always sit in my study to write.
15.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST JOY IN WRITING?
My greatest joy is
not in my writing but sharing my books with young people.
16.
WHAT’S THE GREATEST COMPLIMENT YOU EVER RECEIVED FROM A READER?
‘Being bullied –
openly or covertly, is something that psychologically scars a child and/or
adult for life. It changes the way they walk, talk, breathe and think from the
moment of impact. This is a truly moving and beautiful exploration of one
girl’s experience of bullying and her resilient way of coping. She draws on her
internal and external resources and with guts, determination and grit she
overcomes.’ Claire Orange Children’s Mental Health Specialist and Author.
February, 2017
17.
WHAT WAS THE WORST COMMENT FROM A READER?
I haven’t received a
poor review yet!
18.
WRITERS ARE SOMETIMES INFLUENCED BY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR
OWN LIVES. ARE YOU?
Perhaps a little of
me creeps into my books. In ‘Dear H’ I did yearn to be a singer at one stage. However,
I have not experienced bullying.
19.
OTHER THAN WRITING, WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE?
Travelling would be top of the list at the moment. I would
like to incorporate book presentations in with this,
20.
DOES THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY FRUSTRATE YOU?
Yes. It is so hard to have a book published and the process
is so slow.
21.
WHAT SHOULD READERS WALK AWAY
FROM YOUR BOOKS KNOWING? HOW SHOULD THEY FEEL?
I would like to think
that my readers identified with my characters and felt empowered and motivated
to face the future with the resources and determination they have within
themselves.
22.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE YOUR BOOKS
MADE INTO MOVIES? EVER WRITTEN A SCREENPLAY?
This has been suggested to me by some of my readers, one of them
being a journalist. I told them that it would be wonderful. However, it is not
quite so simple a process.
HOW MUCH THOUGHT GOES INTO
DESIGNING A BOOK COVER?
I try to involve student
input when making decisions on my book covers.
WHAT’S
YOUR ULTIMATE DREAM?
My ultimate dream would
be to see my books read by a much wider audience. The topics are universal and
are so important. ‘The Daisy Chain’ contains Amanda’s ideas on how to implement
an anti bullying strategy. More than
anything, I would like to see similar strategies trialed.
23.
ARE YOUR BOOKS SELF-PUBLISHED?
Yes, my books are self
published.
24.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN FIVE WORDS.
Perfectionist. Determined. Strong. Focused.
Humanitarian.
Clancy's comment: Well done, Diane. Thank you. Keep up the good work, and may you sell heaps of books.
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