1. Awesome Aussie Tales (for Kids)
2. Young Adult Novels

Only Australian authors can submit to Awesome Aussie Tales (for Kids) for consideration, but international authors may submit their work for consideration for the Young Adult Novel category.

Naturally, all submissions must fall within the speculative fiction genre. Word counts and target age groups apply to both categories. Please go to our Submission Guidelines page for full details.

Thank you for joining us today, Sabrina. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m a writer and wildlife biologist living in lovely, sunny San Diego, California. In time that’s not taken up by work or writing, I garden, bake, hike and work as a slush editor for Flash Fiction Online.

Do you know the ending of a story before you write it?

I generally know the ending before anything else. It’s coming up with an equally interesting beginning and middle that sometimes trips me up.

How long does it generally take you to write a short story/novel?

A short story can generally take me several months. I write a story in about two months, get critiques from fellow writers, and then ignore the story for a few months until I can come back to it with fresh eyes. I’d actually like the process to go faster, as it means I’m not very productive, but I do generally have several stories going at once.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

I really feel my characters aren’t as strong as I could be. I’ve had one or two characters that really felt alive to me, and thus I feel the lack whenever other characters aren’t so deep. For me, the best stories and novels are those with rich, memorable characters, so I’m constantly looking for ways to improve and enhance my characters.

How do you handle acceptance … and rejections?

Rejections used to really hurt. They still do, but after I collected a few dozen of them, I’ve developed a much thicker skin. I keep a list of markets for each piece so that once I get a rejection from one market, I can incorporate any new edits and send it straight out again.

As for acceptances … well, there’s still nothing like the thrill of getting that email.

What inspired your story in Night Terrors?

There are quite a few ancient cultures who sacrificed unfortunate young men and women to their gods. Like the rather macabre person that I am, I started wondering if one individual was a better sacrifice than the other, and then, what would make the ideal sacrifice. As for the ocean aspect, I’ve lived in coastal areas much of my life. Here in San Diego, we have a well-populated coast and open desert scrub. I found myself dreaming instead of the more remote coast of New England, home of bleak winters and old family legends … and settlers that would have done anything to survive.

What are you working on now?

A large variety of short stories, mostly in the genres of dark fantasy and horror. I’ve one where my heroine battles crippling anxiety as she searches a vast city for the monster that half-killed her sister, another where a young singer finds her missing memories trapped in glass in a curios shop, and another where a woman and her granddaughter find themselves trapped in the midst of old curses come to life.

Where can you be found on the internet?

I share a blog with five other fabulous female writers at theprosers.blogspot.com. We blog about writing tips, tricks and frustrations, and about balancing burgeoning writing careers with family, work, and the increasing number of excellent shows available on Netflix Instant Watch.

We have organised for Goodreads to give away three paperback copies of Night Terrors. Just click on the ‘enter to win’ button below and your name will be added to the list of potential winners.

This giveaway is open to anyone living in Australia, United Kingdom, United States or Canada. It closes on 31 May 2012.

Good luck!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Night Terrors Anthology

by Karen Henderson

Giveaway ends May 31, 2012.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Welcome to the website, Jonathan. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a part-time writer of science fiction, fantasy, and horror tales. I am also a part-time musician, a teacher of writing and music, and a historic preservationist in Fort Worth, Texas.

What types of stories do you enjoy writing the most?

I especially enjoy writing the science fiction subgenre of space opera. The grand scope of the rise and fall of empires appeals to my sense of history, and I never run out of events to write about.

Are you a planner or a panser?

I’m not quite either one. I tend to “see” vivid scenes in a story or novel that inspire the rest of the story. Often I start with two or three of these that I then thread together to form a coherent whole.

Typically when I start writing, I know what will happen, but have no idea how it will happen. Sometimes the discovery process is full of surprises, especially when I write about familiar characters discussing their course of action. What they come up with is often a different twist to the plot than what I had planned, but it’s always much truer to character.

What books/authors have influenced your writing most?

Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover series influenced me greatly in how I build my worlds. Hers was a world that felt like a medieval fantasy but was actually science fiction, and the success of that melding intrigued me enough to create melds of my own. Now I tend to overlap fantasy, science fiction, and horror without any regard for genre boundaries.

How do you handle acceptance … and rejections?

Oddly enough, acceptance and rejections are not always about the story. I have discovered that success stems not from writing the perfect story, but from matching a good story to the right market. “Death Crone,” for example was submitted two dozen times before being accepted for Night Terrors. Another story — also about the revenants — went out twenty-one times before finding a home with a well-known annual fantasy anthology, and several other stories were submitted a dozen times over before acceptance. You have to believe in your writing. Revise when revision is needed, of course, but when your story is solid, sometimes you just have to wait for the right opportunity.

What inspired your story in Night Terrors?

The story “Death Crone” started largely as an atmospheric vignette — a person dozing by the fire as the dead whispered to her from the crypt below — then it picked up a plot and developed into a full story.

What are you working on now?

Even thought I regard myself as more of a novelist than a short story writer, I’ve been working exclusively on stories and novellas this past year. It’s hard to devote the time and energy a novel requires when breaking into novel publication is so difficult in today’s market. It is not only easier to write stories, but it’s much easier to find homes for them in the anthology market.

Where can you be found on the internet?

I have a web site at www.shipleyscifi.com and an Amazon Author page at www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Shipley/e/B006ARANH2. I am also the subject of a Wikipedia article (search for Jonathan Shipley the writer, not the dead bishop) that has been ported over as a Facebook page as well.

Thank you for your time today, Stephen. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I grew up in Kentucky; an only child to parents who supported my creativity and intellectual precociousness. I now live in Texas reveling in the spirit of the lonestar state. I’m supported by a loving family and friends that can tolerate my need to stay up all night working on a story or that side-trip for “research”.

When and why did you begin writing?

When I was a little boy, I made up fantastic tales that guided the adventures of my toys and action figures. When I was old enough to write, the stories took shape as something more permanent and I learned to share them with others. I owe my current incarnation as a writer to my wife who encouraged me to submit some stories a few years ago. She reminded me that without readers, you’re not really a writer. Without submissions, you’ll never find readers.

What types of stories do you enjoy writing the most?

I’m a bit eclectic in my genres and I tend to chase the characters wherever they go. My favorite story to write is the one in which, like the reader, I have no idea where we are going. No Man’s Land started as a group of men playing cards and telling tales in a WW1 dugout. They started talking about what scares them and their attempts to describe it took me along with them.

Are experiences in your writitn based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

I think it’s impossible to ignore your life in your writing. People are people and they act like people. Our classroom for learning about people is the world around us. However, I intentionally try to avoid any direct comparisons, instead using generalities or charicatures to guide me. It’s also important for me to find an escape in my writing, so I tend to shy far away from true life events.

Are you a planner or a panser?

I’d like to say I’m a planner, but I follow my muse as much as the next writer. I have notebooks filled with ideas and concepts and research and when I’m ready, I’ll pull everything out and see what sticks. I’ve used a variety of outlines for different projects, but others were done in a single sitting as a single linear experience.

How do you handle acceptance … and rejections?

Rejection letters have a special place beside my desk. I know there is treasure inside each one, a glimpse into what went wrong for a particular reader and information that I can use to improve the piece and my craft. Some letters can be pitch perfect and explain the issues, others are more general. Acceptance is often more daunting. It means the end of the road for a story, and like sending a child off to the real world, it means that it’s not mine anymore, but belongs to the readers.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Dream, read and write, in that order. Dream as big as you can. Let your imagination go anywhere and never be afraid of where the story is going. Characters may die, blood may be spilled and sometimes the hero does save the day and get the girl. Never be afraid of the story, be afraid of your ability to tell it. Read everything you can. Learn as much about life as you dare, then tell it. Writing is a craft and a passion. BE as well-rounded as possible, but never let the craft crush your dream.

What inspired your story in Night Terrors?

I’ve been always been fascinated about how men deal with the unspeakable tragedies of life. World War 1, in particular, brought inhuman horrors to the forefront. Many of the soldiers came looking for the mythical glory spoken of by the forefathers only to find themselves in a hell built of the bombs and gas and random death.

Despite that nightmare, many of the men found solace in each other’s company, creating structure from the chaos with rituals and numbing routine. Downtime meant time for reflection and many of those conversations focused on finding meaning from the meaningless. Skilled, but often bitter veterans would sit side-by-side with green, wide-eyed rookies and both trying to explain it all in a combination of wit and war-won cunning. No Man’s Land was born in those sorts of impromptu meetings.

What are you working on now?

I am currently polishing a novel about WW1 and working on a trio of screenplays. All three deal with the subject of morality and faith and the impact life has on our soul. I’m also preparing for another season of film racing, essentially making a movie in 24 or 48 hours based on an arcane combination of objects, characters and lines of dialogue. My movies are made in conjunction with Elephant and Castle Productions.

Where can you be found on the internet?

On Facebook as Stephen Patrick

www.facebook.com/stephenpatrick01

Welcome to the website. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

There isn’t much to tell. I’m thirty-plus. I went to college. I can still speak English when my business demands it. I live in New Jersey, USA. I enjoy biking, hiking, and gourmet cooking. I’m a a music buff, especially partial to sixties and seventies rock, jazz, and classical. I’m also into film, particularly horror and noir.

Do you know the ending of a story before you write it?

Yeah, I do. I have to have the beginning, the exposition, and the resolution in my mind, at least at a high level before I start writing. If I don’t, my addled brain will go off in all directions, I’ll lose focus, and the story will suffer. I don’t necessarily need to know how I get to the endpoint, (that, I can make up / embellish as I go along), but I need to know what that endpoint will be.

What are your writing habits?

Erratic. When the Muse comes to visit, I try to be a good host and spend as much time with her as necessary. Sometimes it takes a few hours, sometimes a few days, sometimes an all-nighter to get my thoughts down in print. When the Muse departs, I engage in writing-related activities (i.e. – proofing my work, submitting my work, drafting queries, researching markets, etc.).

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Writer’s block, and paring a 10,000 word story down to an acceptable length for a particular publication. More often than not, however, it’s worth the challenge.

What books/authors have influenced your writing most?

The obvious ones in the genre: H. P. Lovecraft (can’t beat Lovecraft when it comes to atmosphere), Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, and some of the more (undeservedly) underrated ones: Richard Laymon, Brandon Massey, T.E.D. Klein – the list is long. How much times do you have?

How do you handle acceptance … and rejections?

Rejections – I scream, bitch, moan, kick furniture, then get off my butt, write something else and submit it to a sh*tload of other markets which eventually leads to… Acceptance – Three words: Rum and Coke!

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Yes, three parts Rum to one part Code. All kidding aside (well, not all kidding, I definitely recommend the aforementioned 3 to 1 ratio), learn how to handle criticism. “Depths” is the result of a few false starts and more than one reader / editor telling me things I didn’t want to hear, but you know what? – they were right and I revised the story accordingly. That doesn’t mean you need to respond to every naysayer – one editor offered to print “Depths” if I re-wrote it in the third person. I could have done that, but I wouldn’t be true to myself if I did, or to the story I wanted to tell, so I didn’t. I guess the bottom line is to take every bit of criticism and evaluate it with as much dispassion and objectivity as you can (easier said than done, I know).

What inspired your story in Night Terrors?

In addition to the above, I’m an active caver. I wanted to communicate the majesty, the excitement and the eeriness of a wild cave (by “wild cave,” I mean something other than those tourist-ey type caves with overhead lights and perky guides). I’m talking about places with tight crawls, bottomless chasms, and passageways where, if you take the wrong turn, you’ll never find your way out and your loved ones will have stopped wondering what happened to you. (How cool is that for a story idea?)

What are you working on now?

A couple of novels (in which caves play a part) as well as a bunch of short stories (in which caves don’t).

Where can you be found on the internet?

Other than a couple of “Do Not Accept Checks From This Man” sites, I’ve had short stories published and you can find them if you Google C.I. Kemp. I’m a reclusive sort, so that’s all I’ll say (PS – I’m not the C.I. Kemp on You-Tube).

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

If I entertain you, arouse you, scare you or make you laugh (not necessarily in that order), my existence is justified.

It’s a pleasure to have you here today, Robert. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I was a police officer with the Schaumburg, Illinois Police Department for 24 years. After retiring from SPD, I spent almost four years with the Plainfield, Illinois Police Department as a civilian Records Supervisor. Currently, I am serving on active duty with the Wisconsin Air National Guard, based in Milwaukee. Between the US Army and US Air Force, as both active duty and reserve, I have 20 years of service. I have three grown children, and a grandson. My wife Claire is a fellow writer and we live outside Chicago with a herd of dogs and cats.

When and why did you start writing?

I have been writing for as long as I can remember. When I was a boy, I used to write comic book stories long-hand on sheets of five-hole notebook paper. When I was a teen, I moved up to science fiction. In my twenties I was a Broadcast Journalist for the US Army writing news, feature stories, and radio plays. When I was left the service, I returned to sci-fi and actually starting submitting my work to magazines. I used to pound out stories on an old, turquoise Olivetti portable at a tiny desk stuffed in a walk-in closet. I’ve had periods in my life where writing was scarce and others where I did nothing but write. Why do I write? I love it. I love the entire process: developing plot and story, creating characters (and all too often killing them, my wife points out!), building worlds. I just love it.

What types of stories do you enjoy writing the most?

Science Fiction is my favorite genre, probably because of my love of comic books and my fondness for Star Trek. I also enjoy writing suspense and thrillers. With my background in law enforcement, it’s a natural. I’ve also written spiritual fiction and have, on occasion combined Sci-Fi with “Spi-Fi.”

What books/authors have influenced your writing most?

I have a number of authors I hold as mentors and models. Dean Wesley Smith is one. The author of over 90 novels under various pen names, Dean edited the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds anthology series from Pocket Books. Somehow, while sifting through thousands of manuscripts every year, he found three of mine to be worthy. His Master Workshops provided me with invaluable skills in the craft, and the confidence to continue writing.

Dennis Lehane is amazing. I’ve not read another author who can turn a phrase as he can.

Others include Phillip Wylie, Arthur Hailey, Herman Wouk, WEB Griffin, Ben Bova, and local authors Michael A. Black and Julie Hyzy.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Write for the love of writing. For the creative process. Don’t be dismayed by rejections because, “If you write, they will come.” I collected thirty years of rejection notices before I saw my first story published. Heed the advice of editors who take the time to add a personal note to that rejection. Study craft. Attend workshops. Take classes. Read books. Network. Did I mention read books? And write write write. Whatever you can. Whenever you can. Above all, hang in there.

What inspired your story in Night Terrors?

“Last Night in Biloxi” is my first foray into the horror genre. It began as a simple workshop exercise, but took on a life of its own. The premise: setting had to be a rest room. I had spent some time at Keesler Air Force Base outside Biloxi, Mississippi before Hurricane Katrina, and was struck by the contrast in cultures. I applied the two situations together to produce the story. Thanks to Dean Wesley Smith for the exercise.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on my second novel, a police thriller set in a fictional city in the US Midwest. Plus a number of short stories in various genres.

Where can you be found on the internet?

http://www.sff.net/people/robert-mendenhall

Thank you for your time today, Lindsey. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a mother first, and a writer second. I have three young children who mean the world to me. That being said, a part of me looks forward to the future, when the kids are grown and I can throw myself full force into my passion. At the current moment, I struggle to find peaceful moments in which I can pen my tales. But I’m always getting ideas, more and more of them every day, a vivid alternate reality where I control the events that unfold. I cherish the time I spend alone with my imagination.

Do you know the ending of a story before you write it?

I recall a piece of advice given in Stephen King’s “On Writing” that suggests you shouldn’t think too far ahead, lest you run the risk of stifling your character’s growth. He recommends bringing characters to life by allowing them to carve their own path through the world. Yet, I have a hard time doing this. I am a sucker for the well-planned ending. So yes, I do tend to envision a story’s conclusion before ever sitting down to write it. Sorry, Steve!

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

I always make the mistake of reading through what I’ve written before the plot sees finality, and I tend to pick at my manuscripts mid-story, sprucing up the language as I go. Editing a draft before it’s complete makes for a long and drawn-out writing process. This is, admittedly, a very bad habit, which I try my hardest to avoid. Try as I might, though, I find myself compelled to make this mistake every time!

What books/authors have influenced your writing most?

My favorite book is the classic Ray Bradbury novel “Fahrenheit 451″. If I can manage to write something that touches my readers as deeply as that booked touched me, I will have lived my dream.

How do you handle acceptance … and rejections?

I handle acceptances the same way any up and coming writer does. I jump for joy and walk around with a warm sense of satisfaction for the remainder of the day. Rejections… I am okay with those. You know why? In 2012 we are spoiled rotten. Technology is at our fingertips. The pioneers and forefathers of fiction endured the painstaking process of typesetting their work (onto REAL paper!!) and sending it via snail mail. There were less opportunities, fewer venues, and–in most cases–no time on the editor’s behalf to send a personal critique. A writer was prepared to wait around for half a year, only to hear the word “no”.

A rejection letter inspires me to hit the books. Imagination is like a car, fueled by inspiration and research. Skill is not something that most writers are given at birth. You’ve got to earn an audience through hard work and persistence, and that’s exactly how it should be. Otherwise, what would awards such as the Bram Stoker really mean? Little to nothing, I suspect. When I receive one, as I intend to do (Not to sound arrogant, but I’m 28 years old, and–barring unforeseen tragedy–I have decades ahead of me to try!) I will know it is a well-deserved honor.

Do you have any advice for other writers?

Yes. My advice is: Remember why you write! Although it is a very personal experience, a writer is nothing without his audience. Keep your reader in mind. Don’t use fiction as a forum to vent or grieve. Use it as a mechanism to connect with other people. Make your characters real by giving them their own free will, instead of chaining them to a specific agenda.

True, I answered another question by admitting that I sometimes plan my endings in advance, but I do this with flexibility. As a character develops, I often shake my head and say, “No, this person wouldn’t end up that way. It’s simply not in their nature to take the course of action that would place them in my intended outcome.” Even if you have big plans for a story, those plans often change. Allow it. Change doesn’t mean you have failed in your goals; it means your characters are choosing their destiny.

The reader, when sitting down to enjoy a book, wants to forget that he’s reading fiction. He wants to be transported to another world, a place that is fantastic, yet real. One-dimensional characters that only serve to preach a message tend to pull the reader out of that world. A story with a moral is a wonderful thing, but please… don’t let your characters suffer under the weight of your goals. Don’t back them into a corner and treat them as puppets. Let them live! Let them move through the world as you and I do, motivated by their own unique outlook We’ve all heard the saying WWJD (what would Jesus do?). Well then, WWCD? What would your CHARACTER do? Always remember that being heard is a blessing. Bore your reader, and you’ll soon find that no one is listening.

What inspired your story in Night Terrors?

That’s easy. It was inspired by my growth as a person. When I was younger, my stories were hinged on shock value. I thought packing a punch was the best way to grab attention. As I mature, I find myself wanting to write about the aspects of life that I’ve learned to value the most–human connection, family bonds, those people in life you’d fight any battle for, on any day… even if those battles are life and death situations, pitted against monstrous beings or supernatural doom.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on getting my name back in print. My writing history has been a series of peaks and valleys. I was first published at the age of sixteen, selling three stories in a year’s time. Then I met my true love and got wrapped up in living life, rather than recording it. A few years passed, and I found myself pounding at the keyboard again. I saw a lot of success in 2008 and 2009, adding a list of publications to my resume. Shortly after, I found myself in a valley once again. My muse was nowhere to be found. Life hit me hard. I had a lot of inner struggles to address, and I set the pen aside for two years.

Now, here I am again, following my heart and writing as much as possible. This time I hope to stay on top and not let anything annihilate my muse.

Where can you be found on the internet?

My official website is here: http://www.lindseybethgoddard.com/

I can also be found on Facebook, though I should warn you that my Facebook page remains a personal place where I socialize with family and friends. I do post updates about my writing accomplishments, but 60% of the time my status updates are the reflection of a raw, uncensored woman who tends to prattle on about her feelings and her life. I haven’t switched over to a purely professional format just yet. When the time is right, I’ll make an author profile where fans can follow news on my writing publications. For now, if you don’t mind befriending a real person who tends to post anything and everything that’s on her mind, here’s the link: http://www.facebook.com/LindseyBethGoddard

It is a pleasure to meet you, Robert. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a born and bred southern Californian. I live with my wife, son, and our dog. I’ve been fascinated with horror since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until I read “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson in junior high school that I began reading. That story changed my life.

When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing in high school. There was a specific incident that caused me to explore writing fiction. I loved to read, and spent most of my time ignoring my teachers and reading books during class. There was an assignment to write a real or fictitious story about Thanksgiving (an American holiday), so I wrote a horror story. I ended it with a bit of a cliffhanger, and when class resumed after the holiday, the teacher found me as soon as I entered the room and slapped my story onto the table telling me I had to finish it. She read it and had her husband read it and they just had to find out how it ended. I told her it was written in a way that allows her to imagine her own ending, and the look of shock and sadness on her face taught me two things: 1. never end a story in way that causes the reader to create the ending in their mind (I thought that was clever, but it’s not), 2. I really have to give this writing thing a shot.

What types of stories do you enjoy writing the most?

Horror. I’ve dabbled in science fiction, mystery, and other genres, but it always comes back to horror. I like to write anything from the subtle and dreadful to the twisted and gory.

How do you handle acceptance … and rejections?

Acceptances are exiting, of course. Having a publisher enjoy your work enough to pay for it and put their money towards publishing it is a thrill. Knowing that people are going to read the story is a great feeling. Rejection, on the other hand, is another ball of wax. Form rejections cause me to shrug, read through the story once more, and send it to another applicable publisher. It’s the personal rejection that cuts deep. I recently had a pro-rate magazine editor tell me that he was going to buy my story right up until he read the last sentence. He said he didn’t think his audience would like the way the story ended. That one stuck with me for days. I re-wrote the last sentence because his comments were valid. Rejection can be a downer, but ultimately it gives me drive to try harder.

Do you know the ending of a story before you write it?

Rarely. I like to write without really knowing where the story is going. As I begin to see the path, I know where to take the characters, but I find it more exciting when the ending is surprising even to me. Of course there are times when I know ahead of time, or at least have a vague idea of how a story will end. I find that it’s best when stories write themselves.

What inspired your story in Night Terrors?

A few years ago there was a publisher doing a four part anthology series based upon a painting. The painting was to be quartered, and their submission call was for dark tales that told a story based on one of the quadrants. I wrote a story for each quadrant, and all four of my stories were accepted. For reasons unexplained, the anthology was cancelled. This is the second of those four stories I’ve sold since the cancellation of that series.

What are you working on now?

I have quite a few short stories submitted to various publishers, my second novel entered into a contest, and a novella submitted to another publisher. I’m writing my third novel, which is the beginning of a three-part series about one man’s venture into the depths of Hell. The first book is called Kingdom of the Dead. There’s also a spattering of short stories in the works.

Where can you be found on the internet?

My blog robertessig.blogspot.com, facebook, and several horror related forums.

Welcome to the website, Lisamarie. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I live on the Isle of Sheppey on the Kent coast (UK) with my husband and 18 month old daughter. I’m lucky enough to work from home, which gives me time for writing as well as the day job. I’ve been writing for about two years now, and I’m addicted.

Do you know the ending of a story before you write it?

Usually… Often the first thing that comes to me is the first line, or, if I’m lucky, the entire first paragraph. Then I try to get the ending so that I’ve got a start and finish point, and I just have to fill in the gap. Sometimes, though, a word of phrase in that middle part changes everything, and suddenly the end is different! I never set anything in stone when writing.

What books/authors have influenced your writing most?

I love to write horror, it’s my favourite genre. So I would have to say Stephen King and Richard Laymon are my biggest influences. King because he managed to make a niche genre mainstream, and Laymon because he loved what he was doing so much – he broke so many boundaries because he just wrote what he wanted without caring what anyone thought! For general writing, though, I list Virginia Woolf and Agatha Christie as influences. Christie plotted so tightly that I am in complete awe of her. And as for Woolf – I love her style. Utterly poetic prose, making the most mundane things something beautiful. But it was Enid Blyton who inspired me to pick up a pen when I was eight!

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Finding the time. With a young daughter and a full time job, some days I only get a few hundred words down, if that. Luckily I have a very supportive and understanding husband, who, if I ask very nicely, will take our daughter out for an hour or so to let me have some uninterrupted writing time. It’s wonderful to have someone believe in what I’m doing to such an extent.

Are experiences in your writing based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

There’s always a bit of me, or a bit of something I – or someone I know – has experienced in every story. It’s a bit of a signature with me now, although only close friends and relatives would know it! My mother, particularly, often sends a message after reading something I’ve written with the points she’s picked up. In the short story I’m writing at the moment, the house that it is set in is the house that I grew up in, for example. I know my mum will pick up on that!

What inspired your story in Night Terrors?

My story is based on my old school; the descriptions of the building, the corridors, everything is taken directly from real life. Luckily for me, the bullying and the haunted blackboard are from my imagination, but I was always curious about what might be hiding in the school’s attic since there was no way we could ever get up there. And of course, the school was most definitely haunted. The sixth formers told us first years that on our first day…

What are you working on now?

At the moment I’m working on a number of different projects. I am putting together a collection of flash fiction stories, and I have written 43 of them. When I have 50 I’ll be done with that one! I’m writing a novel as well, and I’m about two thirds of the way through it – it’s a story about a boy called Jude who tries to escape from his violent past, but can’t. And of course I’m writing short stories to submit to anthologies and magazines.

Where can you be found on the internet?

I have a blog, The Moonlit Door (http://www.themoonlitdoor.blogspot.com). It’s not a specific blog, I just write whatever comes to mind, and I try to do it once a week. There’s poetry, flash fiction, details of publications and events. I’m on Twitter (@lisamarie20010) and I have a Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/lisamarielambwriter).