Birth of a Destiny by T.R. Milne ~ Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway
On today's Birth of a Destiny Blog Tour stop, I am proud to present to you an interview with T.R. Milne!*
*Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post!*
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I live in Melbourne, Australia with my husband and three children, but I grew up in an old ghostly farm house with wide verandas, creaky floorboards in a little country town in Queensland, Australia where my book is set. I love every-thing about Australia and feel blessed to live in such a wonderful part of the world.
In addition to writing, I also work part time as a (people) Change Manager. In between my writing, paid job and parenting, I don't have much spare time. But, when I do, I love to spend time with my family and friends, sail, swim, do yoga, read books and watch movies with my lovely husband, usually while eating chocolate.
What does your writing process look like?
I start by planning out my book on paper. These books capture my early thinking and imagination, but to anyone else, they would make no sense whatsoever. I usually start with the big picture storyline of the book - the main things that happen, how the characters develop, major story arcs, character dynamics.
During this early stage, I try and be as imaginative as possible as well as really challenging myself: what would happen if this would happen. I like to create the playground for my world, but once I have that, I don't play it safe.
The next step for me is getting the structure, storyline, characters, dynamics right - basically getting the story to stick together. After that, it's tightening, refining, then onto the copy edit stage - saying things in the best way I can. Then, onto a proofread. How many re-writes at each stage varies. For example, I have lost track of how many times I re-wrote Birth of a Destiny, but the second book in the Light Bearer series should only be about five writes (three drafts, one copy edit and one proofread). So, the bad news - it takes a really long time and persistence to become a good writer. The good news - it's totally worth it and you get better and faster as time goes by.
This is summed up beautifully by Art Williams: ‘I’m not telling you it is going to be easy. I’m telling you it’s going to be worth it.’
Will you have a new book coming out soon?
I have only recently published my first book: Birth of a Destiny, which is first in the Light Bearer series. However, the second book is written and just needs to be edited. So, once that work is done, I will plan to publish it, probably in the later part of 2015.
What do you do when you are not writing?
If I am not writing or working at my part-time job as a Change Manager, I am either reading, marketing my book, talking at schools, or spending time with my family and friends, but at the end of each day, all books are down and I am a Mum - undoubtedly my most important job in the world.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In terms of my writing, in ten years I hope that many children are reading my books, and in some small way, I have encouraged some of these children to love reading and be inspired to write. If I can achieve this in my life, then I will be one lucky author.
In my life, I hope that I can somehow help create a happy, healthy and close-knit family who are all striving towards their dreams, and having a good time along the way. A little place in the country somewhere would also be rather special.
I hope that I can somehow contribute to creating hope in the world where less people are hungry, sick and poor and our children get to have childhoods with love in their hearts.
Do you read your reviews? How do you respond to them?
It is early days for me, and so far I have been really blessed to get great reviews. I don't feel I need to respond, as every-one is entitled to their own view.
Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?
Yes, absolutely - to keep going and not to give up. It takes about 10 000 hours to become a good writer and not many people can shortcut that. And, yes, there may be bumps and hurdles along the way, and many times, you might say to yourself: why on earth am I doing this, but just keep believing in yourself, in your work and to KEEP GOING.
"Persistence has and always will solve the problems of the human race." Calvin Coolidge.
"Persistence has and always will solve the problems of the human race." Calvin Coolidge.
About the Author:
T.R. Milne was shaped as a writer by early childhood where she grew up in a haunted house on a farm where her imagination grew wild.
Her love affair with writing began nine years ago, when her first child was still a baby. Since then, between working part-time and parenting a brood of scrumptious children, she has been writing during little stitches of “free” time in coffee shops, kitchen tables, libraries, and her study.
She now lives with her husband and three children in Melbourne, Australia where she is a Change Manager and Author.
T.R. Milne finds inspiration for writing in all the things that bring light into her life T.R. Milne loves writing for Young Adults, stirring their fertile imaginations and eager sense of adventure. Birth of a Destiny, the first in the Light Bearer series, is her debut novel.
Giveaway
(2) paperback copies of Birth of a Destiny by T.R. Milne open Internationally
Thanks so much for being on the Birth of a Destiny blog tour, Betsy!!!
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