After a
five-week holiday without any internet, I am so glad to be back with you all
again.
Thanks
to those of you who commented on Learner Mum and Pauls cup-cakes.
So much
to tell you while I have been away, so let’s kick it all off with the wonderful
interview I did with the lovely Erin Elliott.
An Interview with Author
Joanne Rawson + Giveaway
Joining us today we have Erin Elliott, author of the upcoming “Mira’s View”
– the first in The Sword of Lumina YA fantasy series. Erin took time out of her
busy schedule to interview Chic-Lit author Joanne Rawson about her short story
“Learner Mum.”First, a little about the story.
Polly Wilkins is a successful freelance journalist slash writer. She has been living with her partner Steve in what her parents call sin for the last eight years. But, to her parent’s disappointment, there are no signs of wedding bells or the patter of tiny feet on the horizon. Why? Because Polly, is not in the least bit maternal. Can this all change after Polly and Steve have a torrid weekend looking after her nephew? Or will Polly stick to her guns and loose Steve forever?
Erin:
What inspired this story?
Joanne: I
was awaiting the release of my first book, For Better or for Worse. Nancy
suggested I write something for the anthology, Having My Baby. Well, having no
children myself, and now a little mature in years my maternal instincts have
swayed towards being like Polly, which had me thinking. What fun it would be to
write a story based on no maternal instincts.
Erin: I found
myself laughing at the description that Polly gave when watching her nephew
Josh, is this something that you have experience with or that you drew from for
your story?
Joanne: Oh no
first- hand experience! My brother Tristan is fifteen years younger than me,
and being an only child for fifteen years, babysitting was classed part of my
sisterly duties. I had many hair raising moments, that my Mum, (Margot) kindly
remembers me of still today. However, the one that sticks in my mind and perhaps
scared Tristan for life is the night he had an upset tummy, at around the age
of two. Well, he called me crying, he had pooped right through his nappy,
caked, from head to foot and puked in the bed. (Gross, I am sorry.) Anyway
gagging, I removed the nappy, as he processed to poop and puke more, on me and
on the carpet. Eventually I got him in the bath. Hot and frustrated, I dressed
him, took him downstairs while I went back to gag and change the sheets and
clean the carpet. Then there was an almighty scream from downstairs, I ran down
to the sitting room just at the point Jaws came lunging out of the water,
almost poking his head through the T.V screen. Terrified out of his wits he
clung to me, too frightened to stay on his own, even when I put in his video. I
had to hold him while I managed to clean up. When mum and dad arrived home,
just as I was trying to scrub the carpet while Tristan hung on me like a baby
kangaroo around my tummy, I broke down into tears, thinking I had failed.
Needless to say, Mum was more than comforting. Sorry Tris for any embarrassment
caused – Sis xx
Erin: What
other works do you have available now?
Joanne: Always
MR. Wrong, Angel of Kindness, No Strings Attached, Trials and Tribulations of a
Blind Date (Anthology) For Better or For Worse, Having My Baby
Erin: What
ideas are you working on now or what ideas do you have for future stories?
Joanne: Have you
ever wondered what goes through a brides mind when she stands at the altar?
Well that is the first part on my new book, in the mind of Zoe North. I also
have ideas for another book based on the life and trials of Nanny Nora
Erin: Have you
considered making a sequel for Ms. Polly?
Joanne: Not at
the moment, but I never say never.
Erin: What
advice do you have for future writers trying to make it into the publishing
world?
Joanne: If at
first you don’t succeed try, try and try again. People seem to have a glamour’s
notion that as authors we write, we get published, and we bring in the bucks.
Oh, I wish! My advice would be: Write only what you know about. Listen to all
the advice given from your publisher, they know what sells. Your editor should
be your best friend, not your enemy; they are there to make a good story great.
Lastly, do not be despondent, making it as an author is a long process. I have
had five stories published, and two more to be released soon, but I still class
myself as an apprentice, and welcome any help and advice when offered it. Jo xx
Buy It
“Learner
Mum” is available from Melange Books and can be purchased here.
Add it to
your Goodreads shelf here.
Giveaway
Have you had a disastrous experience watching someone else’s child? Leave a
comment below to win a free ebook copy of “Learner Mum” by Joanne Rawson!Winner will be chosen on or after May 4, 2014.
Also don’t forget, we’re still giving away that $10 Amazon gift card over HERE!
About
Erin Elliott
I’ve been a preschool special
education teacher for the last ten years. I’ve always wanted to be a writer and
started writing stories and “books” when I was in high school. I have three
books coming out, The Sword of Lumina series. I love spending time with my
family, reading, summer and the sun. My lifelong dream is to live in Hawaii
someday.
