Adventure, Mystery, and Cobras: Interview with Children’s Author Fiona Ingram

WordHustler sat down with Fiona to discuss her writing method, how to take real life adventure and spin it into a series of children’s books, and - most importantly - how to market yourself as a writer. Fiona just found out her book has been nominated as a Finalist in the Children’s Fiction section of the USA National Best Books 2009 Awards! How did this plucky writer go from having an idea to an award-winning book, all on her own? Read on to find out!

Also, stay tuned at the end of the interview for a fantastic trivia question! One lucky (and smart) reader will win a FREE copy of The Secret of the Sacred Scarab!

WordHustler: You have an amazing and eclectic background from growing up as a lover of books, to a scholarship winning university stint, then on to journalism. What do you consider your first big break, writing-wise?

Fiona Ingram: Actually, this, my first ‘real’ book. It has been the hardest thing to do, seeing it through from conception to production to (groan) marketing. I’ve been writing bits of fiction on and off for years, but articles-my bread and butter stuff-always came first. Years ago, I started quite a dramatic historical novel, but never took it further. I’ve written two romantic historical novels as well, alas yet to be published. I also recently discovered a hidden cache of short stories for younger kids that I’m hoping to develop.

WH: After 15 years of journalism, what made you decide you HAD to write this children’s book?

FI: Egypt got me in its grip and I HAD to write the book. A few years ago, I took my mom and my two nephews to Egypt for an exciting family holiday. Both kids are great readers and very bright so, I thought (clever aunt) I would give them something unique to remember the trip. A short story … that wouldn’t let me sleep at night … until it became a book. But I still didn’t sleep at night because before I could finish the book, I realized I had to continue the adventure in a book series-until the world is saved, of course.

WH: How long did it take you to write this book, especially with such intense research? What were your best research resources?

FI: It took about three years to complete because my mom (the inspiration for the boys’ Gran in the book) actually fell ill and nearly died about a year after I began writing. I gave up my job to nurse her. In that time, I completed the manuscript. I had collected souvenirs, photographs, postcards, guide books (force of journalistic habit) and made notes of my experiences during the trip. I could draw on all that, but solid research is required when talking about real places, facts, cultural anecdotes etc.

I think the best research resources are a combination of the real experience (the trip), and the hours of fact gathering back home. I had an editor look at the manuscript briefly in South Africa (I later went with an American editor) but one thing impressed upon me the value of actually going to Egypt. He said, “I know you’ve been there.” I asked how he knew. “I can just tell from your descriptions,” was his reply.

WH: You have said that as the book was being written, it eventually developed into the first book in a series, with Justin and Adam’s next adventure called The Search for the Stone of Excalibur, where the boys are “plunged into the myths and legends of King Arthur.” Do you have the whole series outlined or do you take it one book at a time? Will you be aging up the material as your main characters grow up?

FI: The next book is The Search for the Stone of Excalibur and the series is The Chronicles of the Stone. I have most of the series outlined. I have also researched most of the books’ background already- I just have to go to the locations. I think that’s the best part of it all. “I must do field work!” Aging the boys up created something of a dilemma for me. I started my boys younger initially (around my nephews’ ages) but the publisher wanted them a bit older because some of the concepts, moral dilemmas and scary experiences in the book might be too much for younger readers.

I didn’t want my heroes to grow up too soon and lose that wonderful, magical belief in the mystery of our universe, the fabulous treasure of ancient history, and the many imaginative things that a slightly younger audience will enjoy. I finally conceded by aging them a tiny bit more. They’re ‘on the cusp’ as it were, where they are able to handle some quite frightening moments, but still have the power of imagination to jump right into what the book series will bring. However, luckily for me, there’s a time span that drives the books on-all seven Stones of Power must be found before the confluence of certain planets, so it’s adventure at the gallop and no one will have time to get older too quickly.

WH: What for you is the most challenging part of writing children’s/YA books? Realistic-sounding dialogue? Educating without talking down to kids? Etc?

FI: Kids these days are quite blasé and jaded in many ways because of over-exposure to technology, television, cell phones, Internet and computer games. Life is also different in that kids are also exposed to many adult/mature aspects of life that should actually come later. They grow up too soon, date too soon, try it all too soon, and then what’s left? How does one create a fascinating experience where the heroes (and shortly, a heroine coming in from Book Two onward) cannot rely on a GPS to get them out the desert (or trouble) or a cell phone to call for help, and have to use their brains to survive difficult situations, work out clues and even translate foreign/ancient languages.

My books rely totally on reality and fact, and the challenge is in making the experience as entertaining and exciting as perhaps a fantasy novel would. There are no magic wands, no techno-gadgets, just themselves faced with some quite difficult situations, especially as the plot deepens in subsequent books. Educating while entertaining was actually easier than I thought because everything the heroes learn about their new environment is geared toward assisting them later in their adventure. They listen, learn, and then know what to do. This is particularly useful when trying to escape from a giant cobra while trapped in an abandoned tomb!

WH: You are doing a fantastic job of marketing yourself and your book since self-publishing it at the end of last year, especially in reaching American audiences since you live in South Africa. What advice can you give other writers looking to promote and market themselves?

FI: When I read an article that said: “So you’ve written a book? That was the easy part!” I thought, “Oh, rubbish.” I’ve eaten my words a thousand times. It has been very difficult to start at the bottom, knowing nothing about book marketing (hey, I’m a writer, so let me write!), and do all the things one is advised to do: create the author platform, get a book website, have a blog, Tweet, slog … slog … slog…. especially when one is not a computer boffin or an Internet whiz.

Creating the author platform is essential because it creates an awareness of you and your work. However, one excellent piece of advice I read is this: whether you spend a million dollars or NO dollars on marketing, do one thing-tell everyone about your book. Do not stop marketing. Even when your book is out there and you’ve done all you can, don’t stop spreading the word!

Do something every day (either online or physical) to continue your marketing thrust. Remember-marketing doesn’t sell books … marketing gives you exposure and exposure sells books. I have written three articles on publishing and self-marketing. They are on my Authorsden site for anyone interested in a good step-by-step marketing program (learned the hard way!) and useful links.

WH: Can you give us a few words about the value of entering contests as a writer looking to promote him or herself?

FI: My book was nominated a Finalist in the Juvenile Fiction section of the 2009 New Generation Indie book Awards and I just got the news that it was also named a Finalist in the Children’s Fiction section of the USA National Best Books 2009 Awards. I am ecstatic because I entered four major book Awards this year and scored Finalist in two. Not bad all the way from Darkest South Africa…

One of the main importance of competitions is marketing. You don’t have to win to get the spin-off. Many people read the books to decide on places so the word will spread; even if you only get a Finalist place, you still get to ‘go to the ball’ because the event organizers include as many highly placed books as possible when they publicize the event results. So one can also share in the glory. There are usually lots of publicity angles attached to competitions.

WH: What are a few of your favorite children’s/YA books out there today (besides your own, of course! )?

FI: I have most of my childhood books and when I adopted an underprivileged African child who came complete with a reading level bordering on illiteracy at age eleven, I rediscovered them all over again when I began reading to Mabel. I loved the Lucy Fitch Perkins‘ twins’ series, Chronicles of Narnia, Anne of Avonlea, Little Women, The Waterbabies, Tom Sawyer, Wind in the Willows, The Faraway Tree and many children’s classics. Mabel has gone from barely being able to read to achieving 75% for English, 88% for history, and now wants to be a journalist. The power of books!

WH: What is your preferred writing method? Do you have a certain writing spot/technique?

FI: I confess I am quite traditional. I only recently moved my office out my bedroom into a really charming, newly built office overlooking a courtyard with a fountain and a lily pond at the back of my house. There’s also room for a big dog basket for my two dogs that are ecstatic to spend every day with me. I enjoy classical music (played very loudly) as inspiration. Luckily the family is also quite keen on my choices. I like to research the facts I need first, then create the chapter outline, then just sit back and type. I am so fortunate to never have writer’s block. I cannot write on trains, planes and in cafés or restaurants. There are too many distractions. I write my ideas and scribble memos to myself by hand, but I prefer to get everything onto the computer and press “Save!”

WH: How do you best balance your fiction writing with your journalism duties/commitments?

FI: I have given up my full-time job because I couldn’t cope with those responsibilities, marketing book one, and writing book two. Something had to give and it was going to be me! I have taken three months off to finish my second manuscript and really get into marketing book one. I suddenly have book readings lined up at various schools here so that will also keep me busy. Freelance work is an option but right now I am nose to the grindstone writing.

WH: What are three things you’d advise aspiring writers to do?

FI: Apart from never give up, never give up, never give up?

1. Finish your manuscript. Work on it every day until it’s complete.
2. Have your work professionally edited/assessed before you send it to anyone.
3. Learn from day one all about marketing and finding an agent or publisher by subscribing to newsletters and e-zines, and by joining other author groups. I knew nothing when I began marketing and that’s how I learned.

WH: What are three things you’d advise aspiring writers to NEVER do?

FI:  1. Give up.
2.     Take rejection/criticism personally (so hard!).
3.     Think that all you have to do to become a world-famous writer is write. There’s lots of other hard work involved like marketing, marketing, and more marketing!

WH: Shameless plug alert: Do you think WordHustler is a valuable resource in helping writers successfully get their work out there, professionally and effectively?

FI: Shameless confession: how I wish I’d known about WordHustler before I started. You could have saved me soooooo much time! It’s a brilliant site and I already Tweeted it!

The Marketing guru speaks (and tweets)! Have you been inspired to send your projects out to a great literary agency like The Gernert Company? So now that you’ve gotten some great advice about getting your book professionally edited and getting your work out there, it’s time to see how crafty you are at Egyptian trivia!

Question: What famous Egyptian city featured in The Secret of the Sacred Scarab is also the name of a much-beloved American city?

Answer in the comment box below. We will put all correct answers into a pot and randomly pull a winner by November 9^th! A copy of The Secret of the Sacred Scarab could be yours! Good luck- with the trivia and your writing!