Today, Ian Irvine has dropped in to share his seven answers to seven questions. Enjoy!
1. Tell us a little about your publication credits. If you have none, tell
us about the genres you prefer to write, and your current projects.
I started writing in 1987 and was first published in 1998. I have written twenty-one novels, of which twenty have been published and the last is at the printer at the moment. I mainly write fantasy. My Three Worlds series for YA-to-adult readers, which comprises 11 books in two quartets and a trilogy, has done well and has been published in many countries and languages. The first book is called A Shadow on the Glass.
I’ve also written a trilogy of eco-thrillers about global warming and catastrophic climate change, Human Rites. These books draw on my professional experience as a marine scientist dealing with environmental and pollution issues over several decades. The first book is The Last Albatross.
And I’ve written 7 books for children, including three books so far of the Runcible Jones quintet (Puffin), and the four books of the Sorcerer’s Tower quartet (Scholastic), for primary readers, wonderfully illustrated in black and white by DM Cornish.
I’ve also written various articles about the business of writing and publishing, how the system works, and about the art of book promotion. See also the long article on my site, The Truth About Publishing, which is widely used in creative writing courses.
2. How long have you been writing for children?
About four years.
3. How much time do you spend each week writing and/or revising? And how
much time on other writing-related tasks such as promotion, researching
markets and so on?
I write full-time, so typically I would spend about 50 hours a week in writing and editing (more during the initial draft stage). I probably spend another 10 hours a week on all the other aspects of the writing life and business.
4. How much time do you spend reading children’s books? And what are you
reading right now?
I suppose I spend a quarter of my reading time on children’s books; unfortunately not nearly as much time as I would like. I’m presently reading The Field Guide, the first book of the Spiderwick Chronicles.
5. What advice would you give other would-be children’s writers, or share
with other professional children’s writers?
Keep it simple, keep description to a minimum and start the story in the first sentence. Don’t waste time in scene-setting or you’re likely to bore your readers away.
6. What is your favourite online resource for children’s writers? Why?
Write 4 kids, http://www.write4kids.com/, though to be honest I don’t use online writing resources all that much.
7. Do you have a website or blog? What else do you do to promote your
published works and/or your writing skills?
My websites are
www.ian-irvine.com
And
I do all manner of things for promoting, including speaking at conventions and schools, getting huge numbers of postcards and other materials printed and distributing them, mass mailouts to my fans etc. I’ve also had three book trailers made and these can be seen on YouTube, eg for the Runcible Jones books, at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTt1eYG4LG4
Thanks heaps for dropping in, Ian.
If YOU would like to be featured here on the blog and share your answers to the seven questions, drop me a line at sally @ sallymurphy.net.