Author Interview with Angela Armstrong
The writing experiences for the Gen2K novel and novelettes and The Unflinching Ash had a surprising amount in common. Both were written in answer to disappointment, and then asking, “What if..?”. The Gen2K stories were born of my own infertility crisis, and the discovery of little-known consequences for undertaking IVF treatment. I then asked, “What if after millions undertook this treatment, the worst happened?” For The Unflinching Ash, I left an international magic show with my three daughters, frustrated by their uncertainty about whether they could aspire to be a magician or only a magician’s assistant. I then asked, “What if there were more renowned female Illusionists?”
While the impetus for writing in both worlds was similar, my approach for each was very different. The Unflinching Ash was written for a long time with an excellent editor from one of the big houses giving me feedback – it was always intended as my chief commercial debut. The Gen2K pieces were what I wrote while I waited. As most people know, busy editors don’t always reply right away. So I could giddily send 15K words of new Ash materia and watch my Inbox, but it would be some time before the editor would come back with notes on what had become a new version of a 100K manuscript. So I filled my back catalogue, did next to nothing to promote it, and waited for the next set of directives for Ash. This allowed me to always be writing, and hopefully offers any keen readers who devour Ash the pleasant surprise of finding more by this author, if they go looking.
You also might find it in the Alternative History, Historical Fiction or YA sections. Ash is often dubbed as Fantasy, but strictly speaking, I’m not sure it’s fantastical. This is a story about the magic and mystique drawn from within, rather than the magic a mage might conjure with a wand. It’s about illusions, mentalism and showmanship rather than spells. I hope in it you’ll find a world like ours, but different, with a sassy heroine worth rooting for. I thrilled in re-imagining our dark ages a little brighter for having Ash in it.
One of my favourite things about writing is re-reading my own stuff after I’ve set it aside for a while to work on something else. It’s a treat to return to something with fresh eyes and have you sneak up on you.
I have always backed myself – I know I can write. But self-promotion is hard. I want readers to know I can write, but I’m no peacock. Finding a way to say, “Do you see my feathers?” without fanning them out is proving difficult.
This quote comes from when we meet Ash’s sister, Grete:
Grete wore caution like a crown. Although Ash and Grete were both born from the same Mapa and Papal, the sisters were antipodean enchantresses. To Ash the Mysteries had dealt passion, grit and tireless intent, which she carried like a loaded quiver on her strong, lithe frame. Grete’s appeal was no less, but instead came by way of caution, calm and censure – an attractive safe harbour expressed in her soft edges and soft speech. Both young women had thick dark hair and the blessing of symmetry on their side. Both could sneak.
This quote is particularly meaningful to me
because it introduces an essential paradigm for the story – these two are both
strong, impressive women, but they have responded to trauma and plotted their
course in very different ways, and that’s okay – there isn’t one right way to
forge a brave path.
1) There isn’t one right way to forge a
brave path. Find yours and take it, allows others to choose their own.
2) Don’t let the haters get you down.
3) Confidence does not make a woman a
b*tch.
Can I say that?
Kind. I'm already elbows deep in a contemporary middle grade magical realism novel set in New Zealand.
About the author
Before writing books, Angela studied English and Film at the
University of Otago, taught full-time in schools, owned an art gallery, and
reviewed books for trade publishers. She lives with her husband Haki in
Northland, New Zealand, where she devotes her non-writing hours to
home-schooling three chatty daughters who have inherited a fierce love of words
from their mother.
Going to add this one to my list! 😍
ReplyDeleteYou will love it Katie!!
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