Ask the Author: Lynne Stringer
Answered Questions (26)
Lynne Stringer
When I find one I really love I read it over and over and over until I've had my fill of it. Books that have made me do this include LM Montgomery's Anne series, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jane Eyre and the Twilight series. I never know when my obsessive side will come to the fore when I'm reading a book. :-)
Lynne Stringer
Yes, I have written another novel set on Verindon, although it takes place thousands of years prior to the events in the trilogy. I am also working on another one at the moment that is also in Verindon's history. I'm not sure when you'll see them, but they're coming. :-)
Lynne Stringer
Thanks for the question. :-)
I've never used beta readers, instead going straight to professional editors who I know have the experience and training to help me make my book the best it can be. I guess being a professional editor myself means I trust them. I also know quite a few good ones, so that helps.
I find being the member of writers' groups, both local and online, can be a great source of info on where to find the best people to help you make the book the best it can be, as many of them have also searched for the same things in their time as writers. :-)
I've never used beta readers, instead going straight to professional editors who I know have the experience and training to help me make my book the best it can be. I guess being a professional editor myself means I trust them. I also know quite a few good ones, so that helps.
I find being the member of writers' groups, both local and online, can be a great source of info on where to find the best people to help you make the book the best it can be, as many of them have also searched for the same things in their time as writers. :-)
Lynne Stringer
I think I'd like to go to Narnia. It would be nice to be a queen there. Don't know if that would be possible but it would be nice. :-)
Lynne Stringer
I think Mr Hatchet has been my most surprising to date. He took over The Heir (Verindon #1) when I was writing it in a way I hadn't anticipated and the direction his character went in was definitely not expected. I can't mention any details, though. Too many spoilers. :-)
Lynne Stringer
Probably the major difference is that a sci-fi/fantasy book will require more world building and explanations as the world will be largely unfamiliar to the reader, whereas a book set in the real world should be understood more readily.
For example, if I'm writing a contemporary book and I mention the characters go to a coffee shop, most people will instantly get an image in their minds so a description is only required if this coffee shop has particular traits that you want to mention if they're important to the plot. However, the place where sci-fi characters go to unwind will be completely alien (no pun intended!) to the reader, so will need to be explained at length.
For example, if I'm writing a contemporary book and I mention the characters go to a coffee shop, most people will instantly get an image in their minds so a description is only required if this coffee shop has particular traits that you want to mention if they're important to the plot. However, the place where sci-fi characters go to unwind will be completely alien (no pun intended!) to the reader, so will need to be explained at length.
Lynne Stringer
I don't usually make lists. I just read whatever comes my way. :-)
Lynne Stringer
One has already been made into a book ... kind of. I was once the victim of an armed robbery in the bookstore where I worked and when writing my most recent book - Once Confronted - I drew a lot on that experience, as my protagonist was also the victim of armed robbery.
Lynne Stringer
As a kid, I was into horse books. Anything animal related, really. While I will still read those, my tastes have definitely broadened to include speculative fiction of all types, contemporary drama, historical fiction, YA fiction of all types and, of course, romance. :-)
Lynne Stringer
I like historical fiction but I hate research and I know I'd have to do a fair bit in that genre so that keeps me away from it, but I keep wishing I could write a historical romance. :-)
Lynne Stringer
It certainly taught me how to edit well. :-) Yes, it does keep me concise, which is not to say I don't ever ramble, but when I'm reading back over something it helps me spot repetition or rambling more easily.
Lynne Stringer
I usually have an outline in my head that might be extremely detailed or might just tell me where I need to end up. I rarely write anything down before I start writing the story proper.
Lynne Stringer
Seeing a book improve from something with a lot of problems to something that works well. :-)
Lynne Stringer
Yes, it definitely has. It taught me that an economy of words was more effective. Frequently in writing, many people think more is better but that can cause a reader to start skimming because they're looking for the next exciting part. My writing tends to be brief and to the point and I think it works.
Lynne Stringer
It's Keridan, a character in my science fiction trilogy, the Verindon trilogy. He's been raised to view things a certain way but comes to see that another way is better and he always struggles to do what's right even though he wasn't raised that way.
Lynne Stringer
Of the ones that have been published, I think Keridan is my favourite. He's a flawed character who has grown up in a world where he is expected to put any emotion and morality aside and be ready to kill instantly but he still finds a way to rise above that and when he meets the right person for him, is able to see a different way and recognise that that way is better than the way he knows. I admire that in him and I admire his struggle to do what's right.
Lynne Stringer
I find it harder because I haven't done a lot of it and it's a very distinct style with a lot of rules surrounding the layout and tone you can use. Novel writing comes more naturally to me.
Lynne Stringer
A bit hot at the moment, seeing as it's summer. :-)
Lynne Stringer
As much as there will be haters of this answer, it's still Bella and Edward from Twilight. I always like complex characters who are flawed but still striving to do the right thing, and Edward definitely fits into that department. What's more, there's so much development of both him and Bella as characters over the four books. I liked their journey together from two people who arguably had insurmountable obstacles in their way, to two people who should be together.
Lynne Stringer
Sorry, I'm afraid I don't know any. Have you tried searching for some on this site?
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