It gives me great pleasure today to interview my new favourite children's book author, Alison DeLory. I must admit, I'm a bit biased as Alison and I have known each other for years, both did public relations at Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax, NS (where she now teaches) and even shared an office during a PR co-op work term! Her first children's book was Lunar Lifter and she is now celebrating the recent launch of her second, Scotia Sinker. As Alison explores this new genre, she continues her work as a university professor, freelance writer, editor and communications consultant.
Here's a look into Alison's writing life:
Here's a look into Alison's writing life:
 |
| Alison DeLory, author, editor, teacher |
Tell us a little bit about your new book, Scotia Sinker
In Scotia Sinker, Cameron, 10, and Erin, 6,
take a new adventure in their gigantic cardboard box —transforming it with
their "magic" markers into a small submarine that plunges them into
the Atlantic Ocean. They're pulled far from home and become disoriented. They need
to be brave and enlist the help of some merpeople to find their way home. All
the while they're outrunning Lydia, a great white shark whose character is based
on a real shark that's been tracked swimming through the North Atlantic for the
past two years. Scotia Sinker is the
sequel to my 2012 book Lunar Lifter.
Both are middle grade (early chapter) fiction.
Where do you get your
inspiration when writing?
My inspiration comes mainly from living — watching, listening,
reading, thinking and talking. I also do school visits. When the kids laugh,
make connections, or ask questions it inspires me. When I'm in the process of
writing I'm inspired watching the words pile up, and even more so in those
glorious moments when ideas are racing off my fingertips before I even knew
they were in my head. I like when my characters surprise me.
What’s your favorite genre
to read and why?
For pleasure I usually read contemporary and literary
fiction. I'm a big proponent of supporting local so read books by Nova Scotia
authors. Plus I read a ton of news. Right now I'm teaching a course in creative
non-fiction so reading widely in that genre and loving it, too. I'm captivated
by well-drawn, three-dimensional characters — anyone from Max in Where the Wild
Things Are to Gatsby. Plots are secondary for me but I do like a sense of
foreboding. There should be tension.
Are you traditionally
published or self-published? Why did you choose that path?
I've published two books and a young adult story each time
using a different model: hybrid, traditional, self. This new book, Scotia
Sinker, I self-published under my new label Sketch Publishing but I had help.
My writing group and several friends were beta readers, plus I work-shopped the
manuscript with a grade 3 class. Then I hired a copy-editor and later a
proofreader. My closest relationship was with Joel
Duggan, my illustrator. He designed a beautiful cover and provided four
interior illustrations. I have a background in laying out newspapers and
magazines so was able to format the text myself for upload.
Do you have any helpful
tips for other authors when it comes to marketing and publicity?
Marketing and publicity start long before a book is
published. It's all about relationships and those are cultivated over time. You
must give support to later receive it. This means going to book signings and
readings, reviewing books, attending industry events like awards, joining local
writers' associations or writing groups, and then enthusiastically sharing all
this activity on multiple social media platforms. Luckily none of that feels
like work to me.
How did you become a
writer?
I have degrees in journalism and public relations, and a master
of public relations. I was a journalist and in-house communications specialist for
many years before I started writing fiction. I took a creative writing course
in 2008 on a lark and found I enjoyed it and had some aptitude for it. Two
years later I joined a poetry collective at my university and that was life
altering. I'm always looking for new challenges and in this vein wrote and
performed a spoken word piece as part of a writing mentorship program. It was light
years outside of my comfort zone but I keep pushing and occasionally find my
groove.
What does your writing
process look like?
Fits and starts. I write a lot in a short period of time
then not at all while I'm busy editing or teaching.
What are you
currently working on?
I'm seeking a new project. Have any ideas? My training makes
it easier for me to write nonfiction but I'm not afraid of fiction.
What do you do when
you’re not writing?
I parent my two boys, teach in the Department of
Communication Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University, write freelance copy
and articles for websites and print publications, spend as much time as I can
being active outdoors, volunteer in my community, sing, and spend probably too
much time on Netflix, Facebook and Twitter.
If you'd like to learn more about Alison and her writing or order copies of her books (if you're in Canada), visit alisondelory.com/sketchpublishing. If you're outside of Canada you can pick up a copy of Scotia Sinker on Amazon. You can follow her on Twitter @aldelory or join her on Goodreads.
If you’d like to receive my newsletter,
book launch announcements or information on upcoming writing retreats, go ahead
and sign up for my newsletter. When you sign up you’ll also receive a free copy
of my ebook, 10 Steps to a Successful PR Campaign – a Do-it-Yourself Guide forAuthors.
Comments