Author Interview - Estelle Ryan ~ Pandora Poikilos

Saturday, 30 March 2013

Author Interview - Estelle Ryan

Why do you write? Oh dear. I’m going to sound corny and cliché-y. I write because I have to. Yes, yes, I know! Corny. I am one of those creative types others roll their eyes at. If I’m not making music or creating something with my hands, I have to write. It releases the build-up of creativity. If not released, this creative energy will turn me into one of those aliens I played with when I was nine! I really believe that.

How did you come up with the title? Well, it was a Gauguin painting that started this journey Genevieve was about to go on. It was through that painting that she was able to make all the connections that took her where she needed to go.

Why did you choose to write this particular book? I wanted a story that interested me. Combining psychology, art crimes, conspiracy theories and nonverbal communication was magic to me. More importantly, I wanted a main character who is different from all the other heroes of all the other books. Not only did I get to have a lot of fun combining all my interests, but I could show readers a little insight into autism.

Have you included a lot of your life experiences, even friends, in the plot? Not at all. Oh wait. Let me first say this: it is obvious that my writing is me. I am the result of my life experiences. In that sense, my books would be a result of that. But the story itself, the characters are completely fictitious. I did name the villain after a good friend of mine (and he knows about it!).

Did writing this book teach you anything and what was it? Oh yes! The research I had to do for The Gauguin Connection was both interesting and fun. Firstly, I spent a lot of time learning more about Autism Spectrum Disorder. Since the main character, Genevieve, has a high functioning form of this, I needed her to be true to that. Along the way, I have met the most amazing, inspiring people.

Because of the plot, I had to learn about bore lapping (it has to do with gun barrels), international shipping lines and small towns in Russia.

What did I learn about writing? Planning is queen!! Don’t repeat yourself. If you can remove a scene, a dialogue, a sentence without taking anything away from the reading experience, it should not be in the book. Don’t repeat yourself.

Who designed the cover? My very good friend, Anna J. Kutor. Her photography is superb and her eye for what looks right is astounding. It’s amazing that we are still friends after my pedantic demands requests for things to be moved ONE millimetre!

Have you ever had writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it? I’m fortunate that I’ve never had writer’s block. When I struggle to get into my writing, every time it is a sign that something is wrong with that scene. The moment I change it, the words start flowing again. I think part of what helps me avoid writer’s block is my love for planning my books, as I mentioned before. When everything is planned, I know what to write.

Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)? No, but I love to travel. I do believe that travelling enriches my writing. New people, new cultures, new challenges, new experiences help me become a more well-rounded person (I hope!) and that will be reflected in my writing (I hope!).

Can we expect any more books from you in the future? Yes! The third Genevieve Lenard novel will be published at the end of August 2013. The second in the series, The Dante Connection is already available.

Are you reading any interesting books at the moment? It’s taken me a long time to reach this book on my list, but I’m quite enjoying Jo Nesbo’s The Redbreast.

What contributes to making a writer successful? The million dollar question! I believe it is a combination of factors. There are successful writers producing books with horrid grammar, underdeveloped storylines and bland characters. For this moment, let’s forget about them. The first factor I believe in is a quality product – well-developed story, characters, pace, conflict, and all the other things we learn make a good book. Following that are: a good editor, nit-picking proofreader, a fan base, marketing (in various forms), a lot of patience and luck. Yes, unfortunately there is luck involved – the right person reads your book at the right time, tells his/her friends and you have the beginnings of a snowball. And then there is a writer’s support system. Without the support of those close to you, it is nigh on impossible to continue this marathon. I am extremely fortunate with my friends cheering me on and believing in me.

What do you do to unwind and relax? The boring truth: I love to spend an entire weekend lazing around my home, reading, watching movies, doing something creative (play an instrument, build/sew/paint something) or just hanging out. The interesting lie: I unwind by training to climb the 8 highest mountains. When I’m not training, I travel around the world on my Harley with my sword on my back. Yes, I’m an expert swords-woman. I also excel in seven other martial arts, speak 17 languages and can lick my elbow!