Author Interview – Jane Badrock – The Ice Maiden
Tell me a bit about who you are.
At school my best subjects were maths, art and English. At the point when it came to picking a profession I selected something which paid well and became an accountant. At the point when I could afford to stop work for a couple of years break, I went to Art School. After retiring I became a writer.
When did you first WANT to write a book?
I have three children. With every one, there were difficulties in birth and that, along with what I learned from other women, made me need to write a book to caution expectant moms of the things that can turn out badly. Not at all to frighten anybody, but so if it happened they would realize they were in good company, and help could be accessible. It was my first submission, and it was turned down!
When did you take a step to start writing?
I started in 2011, writing a film script. Not long after I was write short – and primarily silly – stories on the Google Plus platform. Readers let me know they enjoyed my writing so that encouraged me! Before long, I discovered the NANOWRIMO project which urges you to write 50,000 words in the period of November. I chose to test myself and found I could do the amount easily.
How long did it take you to complete your first book from the first idea to release?
Sinister Sisterhood, a dark satire, wasn’t my first novel however it was first to be published (in 2020). It started as a short story on Google Plus, called Beryl The Badass Bookkeeper. I concluded it would be good to have an entire group of badass ladies. At around a similar time, I read about the killing of Cecil the Lion, by a prize tracker. This gave my ladies their objective, while perhaps not exactly their singular objectives, thus the story was created. It was published by BAD PRESS iNK, who were looking for ‘niche’ books.
How long did it take you to complete your latest book from the first idea to release?
Psychological thriller, The Ice Maiden, is my third distributed novel. The first draft was written in around six weeks, in 2018. I like to write first drafts and let them stew for a long time since I can get see every one of the issues much better from a distance. It might have been released but but conditions – particularly Coronavirus – plotted against me.
Focusing on your latest release. What made you want to write The Ice Maiden?
I’ve read a couple of books written in first person which didn’t exactly work for me as a reader. I wanted the readers of The Ice Mainde to occupy the head of Maddie, the hero. She doesn’t think in entire sentences. Her thoughts pour out in a more natural manner. The reader hears and sees what Maddie does. I’m excited when readers let me know they feel like they feel they are her!
What were your biggest challenges with writing The Ice Maiden?
The biggest challenge was not with the writing, but rather whether readers would take to it. I was truly holding my breathing when I originally sent it out to be read.
Who or what inspired you when creating your Protagonist?
I need to give my daughter some credit there. Like Maddie, she completed a Maths degree, and I may have used the title of her dissertation… .
Who or what inspired you when creating your Antagonist?
I had a dream which became the ending and had to work out how to write the story so I would arrive at the ending. The antagonist was a product of that.
What is the inciting incident of The Ice Maiden?
While Maddie is at university, her mother dies unexpectedly and she is thrown into turmoil when she discovers that the man she thought was her father, isn’t her biological father. Her investigation sets off a chain reaction.
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What is the main conflict of The Ice Maiden?
Someone is trying to kill Maddie, but she isn’t aware of it until things escalate.
Did you plot The Ice Maiden in advance, or fly by the seat of your pants and write freely?
I’m regularly a pantser, but because of the idea behind this story, I definitely knew the end so I needed to work out the manner by which I arrived there. That was by imagining Maddie’s perspective and working out the things she would need to go through to get to the end.
Did you get support with editing, and how much editing did The Ice Maiden need?
Yes. I’m in an author group at Question Mark Press and they provided an editor to go through it. There were no significant changes but my grammar is atrocious, so I expect there was quite a bit of work to do there!
What is the first piece of writing advice you would give to anyone inspired to write a story?
Writing short stories can be a decent beginning. It helped me. It zeros in the mind on the start, middle and end which clearly are the foundations.
And, finally, are your proud of your accomplishment? Was it worth the effort?
I’m not sure proud is the right word, but I’m pleased I did it.
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