Tell us about your latest book.
My latest novel, Beneath the Lighthouse is a thrilling, creeptastic,
paranormal adventure for lovers of Young Adult horror. It follows Jamie
McGuinness, my sixteen-year-old protagonist, who’s life is less than ideal.
After the death of his sister, Jamie sinks within himself. His grief
controls his every thought and action. Those who should love and care the most,
have changed and become monsters before his eyes.
He struggles to cope and his only saving grace is the lighthouse where
his sister was found dead. But it is here where his journey truly begins.
It’s not your average teenage horrorfest. It deals with some serious
themes; such as physical and mental abuse, depression and sacrifice. All these
add an edge to Jamie’s story, giving the reader a deeper understanding of his
thoughts and feelings. Adding to the overall reading experience.
Writing is one of those careers where you never
know if something is going to work, or if all those hours you’ve put in are worth
it. But it is more than a hobby. It is a love affair, sometimes torturous,
other times, euphoric. I’d tell any writer out there to continue reading. Let
your love of words inspire you. Digest everything you read. Learn from others.
But most importantly, write every day, even when it feels impossible. You will
always have something within you to say, be it a poem, a blog post, even an
email. Just keep writing. There will be times when self-doubt creeps it, and
believe me, that happens to the best of us. But that is when you find you’ll
create your best work – prove to yourself, not others your talent.
And if there is one thing I’d tell any aspiring
writer out there, is that success is rarely overnight. It happens, but it is
rare. Write because you love it. Don’t force it. Enjoy it.
What's the best thing about being a
writer?
I love the fact that I am my own boss. I work under
my own schedule, and though at times I’m given deadlines that often make me
want to hide under my bed. I essentially thrive under pressure.
Being a mother, who works at home, also gives me
the best of both worlds. My youngest children see me daily. I am here when they
go to school, and here when they return. It’s a luxury that not many parents
have, and I cherish the position that I am in.
I also love that I am now able to really focus on
the work that I feel I was destined to write. I have a wonderful agent, manager
and team of people behind me spurring me on, and how many people can say they
have realised their dreams?
I am lucky.
Where can people find out more about
you and your writing?
You can find out about me and my writing on my
website:
I am active on Facebook – www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieanneLynch
and of course, email: author@julieannelynch.com
I am always happy to hear from my readers, old and
new, and love nothing more than discussing a specific character, a current
project, or offering advice on a more personal level. I am easy going, and
really do enjoy a little bit of banter.
Who is
you favorite character in your book and why?
I absolutely love
Iliana. When I first began writing the book, she was to be a minor character,
nothing more than a vengeful spirit. But as the story progressed, I soon
realised that Iliana was the glue to everything happening in Jamie’s life. She
is more than a villain. She is a victim, and I loved showing her side of the
tale that essentially became a riptide in Jamie’s world.
Why do
you think readers are going to enjoy your book?
I truly believe
readers will enjoy Beneath the Lighthouse because it’s very different from your
generic teen horror story. It covers a lot of real life issues that affects
many teens today. I’m talking subjects of mental and physical abuse, confusion,
personal crisis – subjects that readers can relate to. Aside from the themes of
realism, I’ve created a paranormal story that is not only addictive, it’s
thrilling, it’s dark, and it will keep you guessing until the last page.
Who
designed the cover?
The amazing cover was
designed by the incomparable Mister Sam Shearon. Sam is a British Graphic
Artist specialising in Science Fiction & Horror, Vintage Futures, Monsters,
Cryptozoology, Zombies and Bio-Mechanics. He captured the true chilling essence
of Iliana, and I don’t think another cover of mine has ever had my jaw drop.
It’s the perfect representation of the world I have built.
What is
your work in progress? Tell us about it.
My current work in progress is the follow up to
Beneath the Lighthouse. It is called, “What Lurks Within” and continues
following Jamie on his journey. Only this time, Jamie is losing his mind, piece
by piece, and all at the hands of something darker than anything he could ever
imagined. He thought things were bad with Iliana, but nothing compares to the
true horror of what lurks within your mind.
What
books or authors have most influenced your life?
I have an eclectic
taste in authors and their work. I’ve been reading all my life, and depending
on the mood, my reading experience is different all the time. However, having
studied Literature at length, I have a deep-rooted love for the classics, and it’s
hard for me to pin my love down to a few. But there are a few novels who have
stood the test of time with me and have influenced my journey as a writer and
woman.
The Castle of
Otranto, by Horace Walpole
Wuthering Heights, by
Emily Bronte
Dracula, by Bram
Stoker
Great Expectations,
by Charles Dickens
The Vampyre, by John
Polidori
Jane Eyre, by
Charlotte Bronte
Rebecca, by Daphne du
Maurier
The Color Purple, by
Alice Walker
The Alex Cross
series, by James Patterson
The Morganville
Vampire series, by Rachel Caine
When
you’re not writing, how do you spend your time?
I am a bit of a health and fitness enthusiast.
Nothing gives me greater pleasure than spending a few hours in the gym at the
end of the day. I find it’s my down time. No word count. No emails. No phone
calls. No mummy duties. Just me, my headphones and weights.
And if I am not in the gym, I love mountain hiking,
running, or taking long walks. I love the great outdoors, and I have a deeper
appreciation of the time I get outside, considering the amount of time I spend
sitting at my desk, surrounded by so much technology.
Also, being a mother means I have to give a whole
lot of myself to the demands of a busy household. So when I have my down time,
I really am quite selfish with it.
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2 Comments
Great advice for authors. Enjoyed this interview.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting me. It was a pleasure.
ReplyDeleteI love to hear from you. So feel free to comment, but keep in mind the basics of blog etiquette — no spam, no profanity, no slander, etc.
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