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Post by catherine daly on Apr 25, 2005 13:02:47 GMT
Alison Norrington, author of: Look before you Leap, Class Act, And her most recent Three of Kind will be on line this Wednesday at 8pm to answer your questions. If you can't make it then, put your questions now and Alison will answer as many as she can on the night. Check out Alison's website: www.alisonnorrington.com/
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marie
Full Member
Posts: 84
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Post by marie on Apr 26, 2005 16:46:01 GMT
Hi Alison,
I won't be able to make it tomorrow night so I'll ask my question now.
Did you receive many rejections before you got published, and if so, did you ever feel like giving up?
Marie
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Post by Jenny on Apr 27, 2005 7:28:40 GMT
Hi Alison, I haven't read any of your books yet, but you're on my list! My friend has a very extensive range of books(packed onto a very small bookcase for some reason), and I noticed yours among them, so I am going to borrow it sometime over the next few weeks. Anyway, something I always wondered is how newly-published authors handle being thrust into the world of radio and tv interviews. Do you find it very nerve wracking? I noticed on your Web site that you did an interview on Ireland AM on TV3 (a show that I really like). Is it hard to do interviews on live TV shows, even if it is a short interview like the ones on Ireland AM usually are? Best of luck with Three of a Kind! J
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Post by Jenny on Apr 27, 2005 7:29:55 GMT
PS Tell Catherine Daly that this is an excellent site. I just stumbled upon it by accident, and can't stay away from it now!
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Post by Jenny on Apr 27, 2005 9:48:00 GMT
Hi Alison, Just one more thing relating to the above questions about the media, does your agent organise media interviews, or is it that the media gets in touch with your agent and requests them? How does the whole process of advertising your book work? Thanks! J
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Post by fran on Apr 27, 2005 11:54:00 GMT
Hi Alison,
I have read look before you leap and Three of Kind. I still have to read Class Act. I thoroughly enjoyed them. I just wondered what gives you the inspiration and ideas for the story lines?
Thanks Fran.
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Post by Sheila on Apr 27, 2005 14:05:29 GMT
Hello Alison. I won't be online later so I thought I'd post my question now. Have you found that perks come with being a writer such as getting nice photoshoots in VIP magazine and stuff like that? I know it's a bit of an off the wall question, but I'm sure you've been asked a lot of the same questions many times in interviews and I thought you might like a different question! If you do have perks, what has been your favourite one to date?
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Post by lisa on Apr 27, 2005 15:14:09 GMT
Hi Alison,
I really enjoyed Class Act and Look before you Leap! Well done on excellent story lines and belivable and realistic characters.
Three of a kind is on my list of "to read next", Ive about 4 or 5 books to read, (think your number 2!). I'm dreadful really, as soon as they come out into the shops I just HAVE to buy them, I cant wait until Im ready to read them, hence the MAJOR lack of space in my apartment!
What made you decide you were going to give writing a go? Were you always interested in writing growing up?
Did you do any "writing courses or classes" yourself Alison, or just get "stuck in" and did it?
Thanks a million,
Lisa xxx
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Post by Mags on Apr 27, 2005 15:20:50 GMT
Hello Alison! What is your own favourite book from an Irish writer, male or female?
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Post by catherine daly on Apr 27, 2005 17:19:31 GMT
Sorry I can't log on later, but I leave you in Alison's capable hands!! HAve fun, I look forward to readign all the posts tomorrow.
xxx catherine
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Post by SarahW on Apr 27, 2005 18:36:07 GMT
Sorry can't make it tonight, Alison. But as another mum did want to ask how how you juggle children and writing. And how when and where you write.
Good luck tonight, Sarah XXX
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Post by AlisonNorrington on Apr 27, 2005 19:02:53 GMT
Well after having problems 'logging on!!!!' I'm finally here. Thank you all for so many questions, and so many great ones too. I'll answer them now, one by one. Marie.... I got loads of rejections - and I've saved every one! I used to get so excited to get a letter through the post with the publishers colouful logo on the envelope, only to open it and find it was another 'thanks but no thanks'! Some publishers sent a standard postcard and had simply filled in my name and address at the top, and others were slightly more encouraging - along the lines of "we really liked this bit and that bit, but sorry, we don't feel strongly enough to publish you". I only wrote 3 chapters of Class Act, thinking that I was being dead smart - I mean, why write the full story if they only want to see the first 3 chapters? I knew how my story would end and what I wanted to happen, but set about sending the 3 chapters out to all and sundry. The *"@!"*! hit the fan though, when Piatkus rang me and asked to see the full book!!! Panic then. So I told them that I was half way through and they were happy to wait. When I finally took it up to them and hand delivered it (my mum had to prise it from my white knuckles at the door) I couldn't rest for 3 weeks. Then the postman brought a dog-eared and torn padded envelope with my manuscript and a thanks but no thanks letter. So, from then on I became more determined I suppose. I had put so much work into the manuscript that I decided to treat it as a 'product', and simply get on with book 2 whilst operating a production line of envelopes and sae's. I was delighted when Poolbeg rang and asked to meet me!!!! I would say to anyone writing - it is lots of hard and solitary work, but try to listen to criticism (as long as it's constructive) and be determined. Thanks for that question Marie!!! xx
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Post by susan on Apr 27, 2005 19:08:05 GMT
Hi Alison
Thank's for coming online.
Just one or two questions if you don't mind answering please!
1. How many hours a day do you write? 2. Do you find it's better to write in the morning or night?
Thank's for your time Alison.
Susan xx
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Post by AlisonNorrington on Apr 27, 2005 19:15:05 GMT
Hi Jenny!
The media thing was a complete surprise to me! And yes - it was terrifying!!!! I had sat in a relatively quiet corner of my room and had worked on Class Act for a year - then waited another year to get it published and all of a sudden I was thrust onto the telly! Talk about a rabbit in the headlights!!!
With Class Act I wrote an article called Polar Bear Syndrome, which was how I felt after having my 2 sons - which really dealt with how I felt invisible when I was pushing the buggy. It was published in a national newspaper and Ireland am saw it and asked me to go on the show. Honestly, I don't know if any of you saw it, but my kind family (!!) taped it. So I've been immortalised on VHS! It's not funny and it's not clever. Let me paint a picture -bright red and shiny cheeks, weird powdery make up and peach glossy lipstick (courtesy of ireland am, may I add) and I was flinging my arms and hands around like a bloody windmill!!! I really enjoyed the experience though and tried to learn from my mistakes. My first radio interview was slightly better - it's a little easier if you don't have a microphone shoved up your top and a crowd of camera men in the background.
For Look Before You Leap, the story was picked up by Open House and I went onto their show in the afternoon. It was great fun and I had chosen my clothes and what I was going to say. Preparation is always the key!! Marty Whelan was being kind of flirty and it was easy to have a laugh with him, but I remembered to keep my hands still this time!!
So far, media interviews such as telly and radio have come from Poolbeg, as the researchers for the programmes have been sent Press Releases for my books and it all depends whether or not something in the concept of the story catches their imagination.
But I have to say, I really enjoy it and it's always great fun - once you've managed to drag yourself out of the toilet for the 50th time, only minutes before you're due to go 'on air'!!!!!
Preparation is so important, I try to work out answers to obvious questions before hand, but when you go into the studio there's always someone there to forewarn you how the interview is going to be - so it's never a case of being really thrown in at the deep end. Thank god!! Well, not yet anyway......
Thanks jenny.xx
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Post by AlisonNorrington on Apr 27, 2005 19:21:33 GMT
Hi Fran!
Thanks for your question. I find that inspiration comes from loads of different places. Sometimes I can overhear a conversation that gets the head going, or I bump into someone who looks fabulous (or weird!) who has to go into a book!
I overheard 2 women talking in the supermarket a few months ago and one said, "Hi Jean, I'm off the f*gs!" "Mary, that's fabulous!" "Yeah," says Mary, "I'm off them for six weeks!" Jean looked truly impressed at this and said, "six weeks! Jesus!" "Yeah," smiled Mary, dead smug, "six weeks next month!" And I swear to god that they were serious!!! I looked back as I pushed my trolley round to see whether they cracked up laughing or messing - and they didn't! They just carried on their conversation about the benefits of B&H over Marlboro Lights!!
Class Act was very much MY story - in that I knew I'd be a single mum (even though I wasn't at the time) and it was the dilemma of meeting a new man (out of a pub or club!) Look Before You Leap handled the subject of bigamy and is something that I feel that, even a few years ago when divorce was illegal in Ireland, could affect many women. It would be so easy to meet a guy, and he'd tell you he was divorced, but would you ever really ASK to see the decree nisi???
Three of a Kind deals with the concept of 'having it all' and I try to make my characters real. I hope that my books appeal to women of all ages - that they deal with issues that have affected women for many years and probably will for years to come.
Inspiration could be the gorgeous black guy with the bald head and floor length leather coat, to a situation that we, as women, find ourselves in - often through no fault of our own...
x
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Post by AlisonNorrington on Apr 27, 2005 19:24:34 GMT
Hi Sheila
I'm not sure if I'm doing this right! I'm just trying to answer all of your questions one by one. (Thanks for so many too!!!)
I haven't been asked to do photoshoots for VIP yet (not sure whether that's a blessing or not.... yet....), but I have to admit that so far, I can't remember any particular perks as such.
Although I am trying to sell my house at the moment and the auctioneer is trying to get a piece in one of the property supplements for me, as I've written a short piece on my house and surrounding countryside/beach etc.
But if anyone out there would like to throw a perk my way - please feel free!!!!!
xx
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Post by jacintamcdevitt on Apr 27, 2005 19:24:54 GMT
Hi Alison I had problems myself logging on tonight - must be something in the air. How's it going? You've already answered any question I was going to ask!! J
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Post by claire on Apr 27, 2005 19:30:29 GMT
Hi Alison I'm not good with the questions but I'm enjouing reaing the answers to the ones asked. I loved the bit about the conversation in the supermarket, I can just see it and hear it. Now that's the kind of humor that I miss from home and can never be properly translated in another language.
claire
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Post by AlisonNorrington on Apr 27, 2005 19:31:32 GMT
Hi Lisa
I don't really know when I decided to give writing a go! I suppose I cut my writing teeth when I was bored, working in an office job that was mind-blowingly dull. I was in a European office at Ford Motor Company and there were loads of interesting (and rather good looking) guys coming into the office every day with different accents and dress sense. It got my mind working overtime and I began to type the startings of a story (when I was pretending to work! It was great fun - pretending to be typing up page after page of minutes, when really I was lost in a world of lust and fun with these guys in the office!!!)
I have never taken a writing course, but did get involved in a Writers Group last year in Essex at the Queen's Theatre, which was great fun. It was a playwriting group and really helped me to work on my dialogue and characterisation. Plays are solely conversation and action based, and you don't have the luxury of being able to describe what characters are thinking - it's a case of show - don't tell.
I listened to a lot of the points that came from publishers and agents with regard to why they were turning down my work and tried not to take it too personally (although when you're feeling a bit down with rejection letters, it isn't easy). So I suppose I'm kind of self taught, but I feel already that I have learned a lot over the last 2 years since I wrote Class Act. The editing process is such a case of fine-tuning that it would be hard not to improve after each book.
Thanks for your question Lisa - I know you're a real regular to the site and it's great to hear from you. Thank you....
xxx
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Post by AlisonNorrington on Apr 27, 2005 19:35:57 GMT
Hi Mags
What a hard question to answer!!! I have loads of favourite books but feel if I have to pin down one Irish writers book it would have to be Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes. I loved the fact that I began the book by completely AGREEING with Rachel that she didn't have a problem with drugs (maybe it was just me being thick, but I really couldn't see her family's problem with her behaviour!) And it was great when I was as shocked as Rachel in the book when she went to rehab only to find that it wasn't all jacuzzi's and tanning booths, yoga mats and sushi!
I feel that the 'con' of making the reader feel an allegiance with Rachel was fabulous - it was only much later in the book when she was struggling with the counselling and rehab centre that I began to see it from the flipside - she really DID have a problem!!
To me - that's brilliant writing. Well done Marian - once again!!!!
Thanks Mags..
alisonxx
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Post by AlisonNorrington on Apr 27, 2005 19:40:47 GMT
Sarah Webb - thank you for a question!
I know that many of us are many 'things' - mums, cooks, chauffeurs, wives, partners as well as writers and I feel that the juggling act is always a problem.
The concept of quality time with our kids is a tough one and I, for one, feel continually guilty that I'm not giving them enough. The joy of writing though, for me, is that I try to pack as much in while they are at school during the day - and that sometimes means rattling hundreds of words a minute at the laptop, or it could mean a frenzied walk around the shops, people watching and making notes. I try to spend time with the children and make sure that we sit down for dinner together (however much they moan that they want it on their laps in front of The Simpsons!)! Sometimes I try to pick up some more work when they're in bed, but then again sometimes I'm shattered by that stage. It's a tough call - as I KNOW that you know - but we - as mums - are all in a similar boat. We need to be multi-tasking octopusses (or octopi??? - jesus - I don't know!!!)
Thanks for that question - it's always one that I could talk about for ages.
xxx
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Post by AlisonNorrington on Apr 27, 2005 19:45:45 GMT
Susan
I suppose I kind of answered your question there with Sarah's one.
The hours I write every day changes - sometimes it could be 5 or 6 and others it could be half an hour before I realise I'm churning out page after page of blurb!!
If I'm having a 'blurby' day, I try to do other things in connection with my writing that use other skills - I'm often jotting down things that I hear people say that are either awful or hilarious - or pulling pictures or clippings out of magazines and newspapers, so sometimes I type up these notes on my laptop, ready to use in my story. Other times, if it's really bad - I might go and do some housework (although that hurts - it really, really hurts!!!!) or I might flop down and watch daytime telly with a coffee for some complete escapism. Often I find that something on one of those programmes could just trigger something in my head to get me writing again though!!
I find that I'm at my best doing these 'research' type of jobs in the morning, and then by evening my head is primed and ready to go to crack on with the story. But then again, sometimes inspiration comes at weird and wonderful times. I have even been known to nip into the toilets on nights out and jot down something that's just come to mind!!! Sad, but true.....
xxx
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Post by AlisonNorrington on Apr 27, 2005 19:48:43 GMT
Hi Jacinta!!
Haven't seen you since the Valentines' Readers Day in Deansgrange last year!!! Everything is going fairly well here, and I'm really excited as Poolbeg rang me today to say that Three of a Kind is number 11 in the charts!! So I'm having a bit of a 'feel good' thing going on right now - but it won't last - you know the fickle manner of the publishing world!!!
Please keep in touch - I'd love to know how things are going for you and perhaps we can meet up sometime soon!!
Oh - and what was your question going to be? You said that I'd already answered it???
Kind regards
alison.xxx
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Post by AlisonNorrington on Apr 27, 2005 19:50:41 GMT
Claire
I'm glad you're enjoying this session - have to admit I am too!
You're right - the Irish humour is classic and unbeatable! I can honestly say that a week doesn't go by when I hear something that's just ace. It wouldn't happen anywhere else - and I'm glad about that too!!!
Keep smiling
xx
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Post by claire on Apr 27, 2005 19:50:50 GMT
Here's one for all of you, Alison, Marissa and Jacinta: Are you always thinking of the next project or book whilst in the middle of another claire
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Post by Marisa on Apr 27, 2005 19:55:48 GMT
Hi Alison, just wishing you luck with the on line interview, hope your fingers aren't too tired!!! You seem to be doing very well. It was fantastic meeting you in Wexford with Catherine Daly - gr8 fun. We didn't get back to hotel until about 2 in the morning... long story... Well done on reaching number 11. Its getting more and more competitive in the book world so very well done - it's brill news. Love Marisa XXX
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Post by AlisonNorrington on Apr 27, 2005 19:58:06 GMT
Claire - yes I am!!
It's always a really weird time when you're editing the book you finished 6 months ago (ready to be published in a couple of months time..), you've started to write your current book that is your main project, and yet there in the background - is an idea that is lurking for the future book!
That 's why I make notes!!!
I don't know if other writers are like this - maybe I have an over-active imagination!!?
x
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Post by Marisa on Apr 27, 2005 19:59:44 GMT
Hi Claire, how are you? Yeah, it's terrible! I don't know how it happens but ALWAYS when I'm in the middle of one project, I always get an idea for something else so it takes a huge amount of discipilne to stick with what I'm doing!
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Post by AlisonNorrington on Apr 27, 2005 20:01:59 GMT
Hi Marisa!
It was great meeting you too - I really enjoyed the night, didn't you?
I'd love to know the long story what happened after I left - you didn't get back til 2? Where did you go? I'm jealous!! I could see by my poor mum's face that she was shattered - don't know why but she didn't sit down til the very end!
Thanks for your kind comments - it is always scary bringing out a new book, and you never really know whether readers will really go for it or not. Best of luck to you for Chinese Whispers in May - do you have a publication date yet??
Keep us all posted as I've just finished reading So Long Mr Wrong and really enjoyed it - well done luv!!!!
Speak soon eh??
alison.xx
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Post by Judi Curtin on Apr 27, 2005 20:06:12 GMT
Hi Alison Well done on hitting the bestseller lists. long may you stay there. Ireland AM must have a ton of that peach glossy lipstick - I got to be adorned with it too. And who cares if you flung your arms round like a wild thing - I bet you didn't finish every sentence with 'you know', like I did. Still, maybe no-one was watching except my mother. Judi
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