Writers At Work
In the latest of Ravenshead's series of interviews with writers we talk to Juliet E McKenna
Juliet is a fantasy author. She has a web site, is one of The Write Fantastic authors and writes a regular blog.
She has already published nine novels with Orbit. Fans will be pleased to hear that 'Eastern Tide' is published by Orbit on 5th October. This is the final volume of The Aldabreshin Compass sequence that began with Southern Fire.
Ravenshead (RH) interviewed Juliet E McKenna (JEM) in October 2006 and the interview is reproduced here:
An Interview with Juliet E McKenna
RH: Can you tell us a bit about your background?
JEM: White, middle-class British just about sums it up. My parents married in their teens and once it became apparent that they were fundamentally ill-suited, they divorced. Both remarried happily and recently celebrated silver wedding anniversaries. This did mean I moved from Lincoln to Bournemouth rather unexpectedly while at primary school and then moved to Oxford to go the University after school. So I don't have any strong sense of having particular roots anywhere. Being of Irish blood on my father's side, I've always had a sense of having one foot in two very different camps, one reason for my life-long interest in history.
As I was one of those children well-suited to formal academic education, I went to the grammar school and on to St Hilda's, Oxford. Then I worked in recruitment and personnel management, where I discovered how people with that background are very much in the minority, and that academic attainment is not necessarily the only indicator of talent or intelligence, or even a reliable one.
RH: When did you start writing?
JEM: Probably a few weeks or months after I learned to read. Which was at the age of three and a bit, thanks to my brother being two years older than me. So I learned to read when he did, when he started school.
RH: What makes you write?
JEM: The urge to tell a tale, it's as simple as that. I love to create stories as much as I love to read them.
RH: Where do you get ideas from?
JEM: Everywhere and anywhere. There isn't a day goes by when I don't see something in the news or a magazine or on the telly that doesn't somehow feed into what I'm currently working on. As far as more formal research goes, when I'm fleshing out a concept, I read an eclectic selection of fiction and non-fiction that has some connection with the idea in hand and then I visit galleries, museums and the like to round out my sense of the visual and atmospheric aspects. Biography and autobiography are excellent sources when I'm developing characters.
RH: How has your writing developed and changed over the years?
JEM: I started out writing retreads of my favourite books and characters. I had some vague notion that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but it took me a long while to realise that it's death to creative development. Then I went through the usual teenage phase of writing wish-fulfilment, where central characters were thinly disguised versions of me and my friends, only that bit smarter, wittier, braver and all the rest of it. Once I had that out of my system, I wallowed for a while in the common misconception that if I wrote a competently crafted story that ticked all the accepted boxes for a particular genre, that would make a book worth publishing. Then, as I took every opportunity to hear writers talk about their own work and books in general, I realized that it's originality above everything else that drives the best writing and makes the leap into print.
RH: Which writers have influenced you?
JEM: This really is an impossible question to answer. It sounds glib to say 'everyone I've ever read' but I honestly believe that's true. From the astonishing and awe-inspiring books I've read and re-read, to the rubbish ones I've not so much tossed aside as hurled with great force, to paraphrase Dorothy Parker. I'm afraid I really am incapable of identifying any influences in my own writing and I suspect I'd find it paralyzing if I did.
RH: What's the easiest thing about writing? What's the hardest?
JEM: The easiest thing about writing is talking about it. Whether that's talking to a room full of people at a library or a convention, or sitting in a bar or over coffee with fellow wordsmiths or interested readers. The hardest is applying seat of trousers to seat of chair and fingers to keyboard to actually string the words together, irrespective of mood or distractions. But it has to be done, and ideally, every day. Otherwise the book won't get written and that's what I am being paid to do.
RH: Have other people's comments affected your writing?
JEM: My first readers certainly influence every novel and short story. Because they bring a less immediately involved assessment to the writing that means they can see shortcomings that I'm just too close to notice. My editors do the same, as well as bringing a wider commercial appreciation to the book. Which isn't to say I write to suit the market but it's impossible for me to keep current with everything that's published while I'm writing. So my publisher's team can come up with interesting observations from that angle. I read reviews just the once, and if a reviewer makes a valid, constructive point that makes me think I could do better next time, I'll bear it in mind. But if I am really convinced that what I am writing is what really needs to be written for a particular book or character, I'll ignore everyone from my test readers on. Thus far when that's happened, I've always found more people ready to agree with my decision than disagree when the book's been published.
RH: You write articles, reviews, and novels, talk at conventions and teach on residential courses. How does this variety and contact with your readers and other writers influence your life as a writer?
JEM: People go on about writing being a solitary life and I've always thought if that's true, you're doing it wrong. Writing articles makes me focus on the craft of writing, which naturally hones my own skills. Reviewing does the same and also helps keep me current with what else is being written, so I don't end up with tunnel vision blighting my own work in progress. Both of these activities also help me keep a sense of proportion, particularly in the current testing times as far as the retail and publishing businesses are concerned. Meeting readers means I hear nice things about my books and that's always fun but far more importantly, I hear about what else they're reading, what they've particularly enjoyed and what's disappointed, and what's interesting them in the wider sense, about life, the universe and everything. I get the same from meeting other writers as well as sound advice and cautionary tales on the business of being an author and insights into the craft of writing, when they talk about ways they've approached particular stories.
RH: Any advice for other writers?
JEM: Don't get it right, get it written.
Then revise that first draft with a sternly critical eye until you've got your beloved story as near to perfect as you can. Don't settle for 'good enough'; you're aiming for 'as good as it can possibly be'. Then seek out test readers whom you trust absolutely to tell you without fear or favour what's lacking or unconvincing about it,. Because there will be plenty for them to say. Embrace that constructive criticism and improve your story through another round of rewrites.
Or grit your teeth, accept that this one isn't going to make the grade, bin it and start looking for a new idea. Because first novels that actually end up published are as rare as hens' teeth. But remember that everything you write will bring you closer to that book that will ultimately deserve a shot at publication.
RH: Which of your characters is your favourite, and why?
JEM: After two series and ten books, I can’t pick out just one. To a greater or lesser degree, I’m fond of all my characters, apart from the despicable or villainous ones. Livak was my first heroine so she’ll always be one of my favourites and Kheda, hero of the second series has been through some real trials, so he’s been a fascinating character to write. I do have a lot of affection for some of the secondary characters who might not seem to warrant that at first glance. I’m talking about Shiv and Allin from the Tales of Einarinn, Itrac and Telouet from the Aldabreshin Compass.
RH: Whose books do you most enjoy reading?
JEM: You do realise that this answer is only going to reflect what I’ve been reading most recently, I hope? I relax by reading crime and mystery fiction and I’m a great admirer of Andrew Taylor, Val McDermid, John Harvey and Michael Connolly to name only a few. I adored Joanne Harris’s latest book, and have thoroughly enjoyed all her others. As far as fantasy fiction is concerned, I’ve read excellent books by Lynn Flewelling, Victoria Strauss and Kate Elliot lately, and can recommend Tanya Huff’s supernatural thrillers. As always, I’m eagerly awaiting Terry Pratchett’s next book.
RH: Do you have a strict routine while writing?
JEM: I do my best. Once the boys are at school, I deal with email and associated stuff, like answering interview questions for instance, making sure I don’t spend too long on it. Then I get to work on the current project, which will usually mean writing but there will be weeks when I’m reading background material and making notes. Lunch is a quick sandwich and a check for email that’s come in over the morning that needs an immediate answer. Then I work till the boys come home from school, and these days, quite often carry on for an hour or so while they unwind with the telly or a computer game. Then I’m cooking and chatting and taking them to after-school activities until after dinner when they’re either doing homework or otherwise occupying themselves. So I’ll grab that chance for another quick email check and finish anything urgent that’s still outstanding, until my husband reminds me it’s time to stop, switch off and relax with some telly, a good non-work related book or, two nights a week, going out to aikido class.
RH: When is your next book due out and what is it about?
JEM: Eastern Tide is published by Orbit on 5th October, and is the final volume of The Aldabreshin Compass sequence, that began with Southern Fire. This is a fantasy series set in a tropical island archipelago with a rich and complex culture that condemns magic. Only magic has proved to be the only way of fighting off dragons. Kheda, warlord and absolute ruler, has been forced to re- evaluate all his beliefs as he has allied himself with wizards in order to save his people Now he is coming home, to try and rid the islands of dragons once and for all. He knows he will have to face the family, friends and enemies he left behind. Will he be able to explain himself?
RH: What are you working on next?
JEM: I’m currently stretching a few different writing muscles with a contemporary novel with fantasy elements woven into it. I’m also developing a fantasy trilogy focusing on a conspiracy to put an end to a destructive cycle of civil war. The nobility may still be intent on pursuing their ambitions through force of arms but the common people who’ve suffered years of this have had enough.
RH: Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule and good luck with your new writing.
JEM: Thank you for the interview. I enjoyed it.