HELLO AND WELCOME RACHAEL JOHNS!
Thank you for coming over to chat about your writing life in this two part special of 7 Minutes with an Author.
1. How do you balance your writing day?
Often not well! But writing is my full time job, so for me this means dedicating school hours (most of the time) to my profession. I drop the kids off at school, then come home and head into my cabin (office). I check emails, social media etc, then usually read through the writing from the day before, tweak/edit that a bit and then get stuck into new words. Writing is only one part of being an author, so I have to juggle deadlines for other things such as edits, blog posts, promo articles, etc. Often I’m writing one book, editing another and thinking about the one I’ll be writing next. Oh and promo-ing the latest release. I’m not very organised, so I wouldn’t say I have a specific method to juggling these things, I just get it done! (A bit like an organised madness that works eh?)
2. What time do you get to bed when writing a new story?
Whether or not I’m writing a new story, I go to bed between 10-11pm every night. I rarely write at nights these days, so it’s not really a factor. Saying that I’m actually ALWAYS writing a new book! Breaks are few and far between in my life at the moment.
3. If you knew then what you know now, about writing, what advice would you have given yourself?
Don’t be impatient to get published. Take time to learn your craft and listen to feedback but don’t take it all on board as gospel. Protect your writing voice and keep at it. You’ll get there eventually. I think today we are so lucky to have the option of self-publishing but I think a trap many new writers fall into is self-publishing their first books because they are being rejected by traditional publishers. Sometimes this is because a book doesn’t fit a publisher’s imprint, but often it’s because they are simply not at publishable standard yet. But with it being so easy to self-publish, the option is very tempting. I’m so glad it wasn’t around when I started out as I’d hate for some of my earlier practise books to be “out there”. Saying that, I’m not against self-publishing – it’s definitely a viable option these days, but people need to be sure they are doing it for the right reasons! (All good advice. I know I have made every mistake possible with my first self-published book.)
4. What types of stories do you like to read?
Of course I love reading books about relationships – whether that be romance or the complicated relationships between friends or family – but I also really love a good crime novel. I find I can enjoy these books much more than I can books in my own genre, as when I read WF and romance, it’s hard to switch off my internal critic. As I’m reading, I’m always analysing whether I think things are working and how/why the author has done certain things.
5. What are you reading now?
I’m almost finished Monica McInerney’s A TRIP OF A LIFETIME. I love her book LOLA’S SECRET and this one is linked, so it’s fab to read about Lola again!
6. What T.V. shows do you like to watch or binge on?
I need to make more time to watch TV as I have so many recommendations from friends. I love Offspring, Nashville and Packed to the Rafters. Currently though I’m watching The Handmaid’s Tale with my hubby! It’s so disturbing! (I haven’t watched Handmaid’s Tale yet, but everyone is saying the same thing about it.)
7. If you could be one superhero who would you be?
Hmm… you know, I’m not really a superhero fan so I have no idea!!! Sorry 🙂 (OMG! We have to convert you!)
If you want to know more about Rachael you can find her here at:
WWW.RACHAELJOHNS.COM
T
ALK OF THE TOWN
Lawson Cooper-Jones has two priorities in life – his son, Ned, and the survival of the dairy farm that has been in his family for generations. Despite the best efforts of the town matchmakers and the determined pursuit of local girl Adeline Walsh, Lawson’s heart belongs still, and only, to his late wife.
But when a flat tyre strands Lawson and Ned in nearby Rose Hill, he’s surprised to find a woman living alone in the old general store of the deserted town. Ned immediately forms a bond with the beautiful stranger called Meg, and Lawson is surprised to find himself captivated by her too.
Although shy at first, Meg starts to open up to him about the haunting secrets of her new home and, with Lawson unable to get her out of his head, they agree to investigate the history of the old building together. Soon they find their friendship has bloomed into something more.
But when meddling Adeline makes it her mission to uncover the truth about the newcomer and her real identity is revealed, Lawson and Meg’s budding romance comes crashing down. Can they both learn to forgive in order to claim a future for their damaged hearts?
A moving story of secrets, love and new beginnings from bestselling author Rachael Johns.
