We recently caught up with author C.J. Archer in an exclusive interview. C.J. told us about her background in writing and indie publishing, about her book series entitled The Ministry of Curiosities, and also shared some key tips for writing successful stories. Read on to learn what the prolific author had to say.
Welcome to e-Books India, C.J.! We’re very excited to have you join us for this interview! Can you start off by telling us about your background? Where are you from? How did you become an author?
Thank you. I love connecting with readers from around the world.
I live in Melbourne, Australia, where we’re currently heading into summer. I’ve always been an avid reader, and can’t remember ever not having a book on the go. I wanted to write from a young age, and dabbled in poetry as a teenager. It was terrible! Truly awful stuff, but it gave me the writing bug and I haven’t looked back. I moved onto short stories and had some fiction published in women’s magazines here in Australia as well as Great Britain. I wrote novels too, and while I didn’t know what I was doing, it didn’t matter. I’d caught the bug and I loved putting my ideas onto paper and seeing my characters come to life. I kept practicing and with the encouragement of my critique partners, I began writing historical novels, my true love. That’s when my style really hit its stride.
I secured an agent in the US, but it wasn’t a good time in the publishing industry. Editors were being laid off and new authors struggled to get noticed. Frustrated and unhappy, I started reading about publishing directly to the Kindle, bypassing the publishing slush pile. I decided I had nothing to lose, so in January 2011, I released my first novel, quickly followed by two more. I haven’t looked back. Amazon Publishing’s romance imprint re-published 3 of my historical romance novels, and I continued to write and release fantasy novels on my own. I now have 25 titles to my name. It’s been a fun, hectic ride, and as I approach the end of my 5th year of indie publishing, I feel as though I’ve been very blessed. I chat to fans all over the world, and am able to write the books I enjoy, and release them when I want. I’m my own boss with my own schedule, and I get to keep most of the profits.
What types of books do you write?
I write historical fantasy novels, set in the Victorian era in England. It’s an exciting time period with lots of industrial and social changes occurring, but it’s also a very atmospheric age. I love the moody, dim lighting of the gas lit streets, the gorgeous dresses, the gentlemanly men. As a writer, it’s interesting to explore the different lifestyles of the upper and lower classes, while throwing something ghostly into the mix. I love it!
One of your most recent books is Beyond The Grave, which is the third instalment in The Ministry of Curiosities series. Can you please give us an overview of The Ministry of Curiosities concept and tell us a bit about Beyond The Grave?
The Ministry of Curiosities is a secretive agency in England whose leader is an enigmatic and mysterious figure. The books are essentially about Charlie, a necromancer (a person who can raise the dead) who was thrown out of her home by her father when she was 13 after raising the spirit of her dead mother. Her father (a vicar) was appalled and scared of her, so he banished her. She lived on the streets for five years disguised as a boy, and never used her necromancy again until, at aged 18, she’s thrown into jail with men who want to abuse her. To escape, she raises a body, but this event triggers some traps that have been set by people who are searching for her – the last known necromancer alive. Lincoln, the leader of the Ministry of Curiosities, captures Charlie and locks her away in his mansion. Although he claims to want to save her from the people who want to use her necromancy for evil, she’s never quite sure if she can trust him. The books are a mix of fantasy, history, mystery, adventure, and romance, and they’re suitable for older teenagers as well as adults.
Are you working on any other books(s)? If so, can you please tell us what we can expect to see from you in the future?
I have 6 Ministry of Curiosities books planned, with book 4, GRAVE EXPECTATIONS, due out in February 2016. There may be more beyond the six, but I haven’t decided. We’ll see!
What things inspire your writing?
I’m inspired by stories in the media, by music, other books and movies.
What other things do you like to get up to when you’re not writing?
I spend a lot of time writing (I love it so much!) but I also read a lot, watch TV (Game of Thrones is my current favourite), and enjoy going out with friends and family. I have two children who take up a lot of my spare time, between taking them to sports practices and family holidays. We love to travel, and want to see as much of Australia as we can.
From your experiences as a published author, could you please share 2-3 important lessons you’ve learnt to help beginner authors who are new to writing and publishing?
There is so much advice out there, but the only thing that really matters is to write a darn good story. Not an average one, but something that keeps readers turning the pages to see what’s going to happen next. To do that, you need to do 2 things, in my opinion:
- Practice your craft (ie, write, write, write) until you can turn a unique phrase, get the pacing just right, and develop interesting characters and put them in interesting situations.
- Learn what readers enjoy reading in your chosen genre. To do that, read a lot, and study the bestseller lists. What did you like about them? What did you dislike?
It took me years to accomplish point number one, and I’m still learning, still honing my craft, still trying to figure out what readers like most. I wrote for 15 years before I published my first book, but I never stopped writing in all that time. I never gave up because I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life. You have to want to be an author so badly, otherwise do something else. Being a novelist is not a get-rich quick scheme. To be successful, you have to be prepared to put in the time and effort, and to do that, you have to love it.
How can people find out more about you?
My website has all the latest information about my books, including a list of them all: www.cjarcher.com.
I can be contacted through email at cj@cjarcher.com or followed on social media:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CJArcherAuthorPage
Twitter: www.twitter.com/cj_archer
Tumblr: https://freakhouseresidents.tumblr.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorcjarcher/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cjarcher/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4615377.C_J_Archer
Thank you!
CJ
[author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://writingtipsoasis.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/hv1.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Hiten Vyas is the Founder and Managing Editor of eBooks India. He is also a prolific eBook writer with over 25 titles to his name.[/author_info] [/author]