It's Monday! And the first interview for the series, Get the Spill on! I've posted this a little later than I would have liked, but, it's been one of those days today where time has been scarce. Anyway, enough of my rambling, because today I have the pleasure of introducing our first ever interviewee, fellow author, Tabatha Stirling, AKA, Alex Mitchell.
Tabitha! Welcome to Writers Spill. How are you today?
Hello, Stacey. I feel very honoured to be your first interviewee. I am feeling pretty chipper, underlined by the bone-tired hysteria that comes with having a newborn :)
Let me tell you, I know the feeling! Keeping you awake all night?
Yes, but worth every minute. Oh! Those smiles =) She's going into a nunnery when she's twelve and won't come out until thirty-six!
Ha! Well, congratulations on your bundle of joy. First of all, tell me, who is Tabatha Stirling, and who is Alex Mitchell?
Tabatha Stirling is a fly by the seat of her silk pants, there's a deadline? What deadline? sort of girl. Alex Mitchell pretends otherwise.
Could you tell our readers a bit more about yourself?
Ah! The loaded question. How much do I tell before I frighten them all off? Should I speak about the snake act in Amsterdam? Should I talk about my time with the M15? The expulsion from Canada in the 90's? Some of that is actually true. However, I was brought up in the South of England boarding school, and the Cayman Islands. My father was Naval and adulterous. My mother beautiful and neurotic. I've a very torrid history. It reads like a Greek Tragedy. Three Acts of madness, death and a few comics aside.
Wow! That all sounds very intriguing, to say the least! I wasn't going to bring up the snake act in Amsterdam, but, I'm curious...care to elaborate?
Ha Ha! That is not quite as true as the other stuff :D
Damn! Well, it could make for a good story one day! Speaking of stories, could you tell us a bit more about yourself as an author?
I've been writing stories before I could actually write. I would just make them up in my head. It's all I've ever wanted to do. And it is my talent. I had a very unsupportive family so I've had to fight for my own self-doubt and negative belief for a long time. When I met my husband, who is a very talented actor and director, he read some of my stuff and asked me a question....can you give up writing? If not, then commit to it. Because you are good enough. But you have to commit. So, I committed and my writing and my confidence have both improved. I love being a writer but I find the actual writing part very hard. I have the attention span of a water rat called Poot, and get distracted very easily....Look! Bees!....That sort of thing. I break into the Charleston when confused and often hear white noise in my head when discussing money matters. But, I can't give up. I think about writing constantly. And I have tens of ideas daily. So, I just have to be a big girl about it and tie myself to the chair.
That's a shame about your family, but your husband sounds very supportive. It's always good to have the support of a spouse. And I wouldn't worry about the attention span. It's my belief that most writers suffer with this, myself included! But, you have the right attitude, which is always a positive, even if it does mean tying yourself to a chair and dealing with the attention span of a water rat called Poot! :) Could you tell us when you first started taking writing seriously, and what was the first manuscript you completed?
The first manuscript was my novella, Three Months of Chaos, which is a sort-of memoir about my time in a squat, copious amounts of drugs and trying to be beautiful at a very ugly time. I have also written Blood On The Banana Leaf, a fictional account of modern day slavery in Singapore, but that is in the final editing stages. I have always taken writing seriously. I always knew I was a writer even after rejections. But, I think the seminal point was when I was shortlisted for the BBC Talent sitcom script competition. That really boosted my confidence.
Wow. That's a fantastic achievement. Well done!
"Blush blush* Thank you :)
Now, would you be so very kind to share with us any published pieces you have? And tell us a bit about them.
Well, I have quite a bit of flash fiction, poetry and short stories that have been published in literary mags this year and last. As far as longer projects - I'm still unsure whether to go for traditional publishers or self-publish. Self-publishing is so different now and is losing its rather dodgy image. Thankfully. The wisht and the hoo of it is that I am finishing off my supernatural fantasy novel, Botanical Malice, first, because I think that seems to be what publishers are screaming for. A fantasy trilogy with a strong female lead (whatever that is) that can be made into a film. Think. Hunger Games. And I'm really loving writing it. Such fun.
Wow. That sounds interesting. Would you be able to share a bit more of the story line? Or are you keeping that under wraps for now?
Well, it's nothing like the Hunger Games for starters :) I've a fascination with botanical things. Flowers can be so beautiful, so cruel and so deadly. Very like people, actually. I was walking in the country with a friend a few years ago and we saw these huge nettles, thistles and some monstrous ivy. I began to think about botanical assassins and my three botanical golems were born. Every character in the story has a flower in their name and each has a specific meaning. Rue Macarbre is my MC. Rue means protection and Macarbre is a play on macabre and arbre - which, is French for tree. The Mac is because the first book is set in Edinburgh, Scotland. The second book is set in Botanika, the flora hell dimension and the third....I have absolutely no idea yet :D
Sounds brill! A very unique concept.
Thank you. I'm not sure there is anything out there like Botanical Malice. I loved doing the cover, as well.
I may have to agree with you there. I haven't come across anything similar! And I'm glad you brought up the cover, because that leads me to my next question. You also design book covers, is that correct?
Yes! I love it. I find it much easier than writing and can focus for much longer - hours, actually. I studied fine art and English for my first degree and specialised in stained glass. I love design and colour. I have a real colour fetish. And a font fetish. Don't get me started on fonts and typography. I'm a total geek. Will just go on and on and on :) I design free covers for members of my writers group, 'Write and Rant'. Probably my favourite group chock full of madness, lots of support and some very talented writers. You can nip to tabathadesign.tumblr.com to see more of my designs. I've just finished the first design for an anthology that I'm part of. 'Gifts From The Dark'. A very eclectic sheaf of the noir, the horrific, the dreadful and the plain Eeeeeeeek! It comes out in October, I believe.
I'm very much looking forward to the Anthology, and will be doing a blog post on it as soon as it's out, seen as though I am part of that lovely group of madness! Another question on the book covers, is it just members of the writing group you design for, or do you offer a paid/free service to other authors that may require your talents?
I'll design for anybody, but I offer free for people I know. Once I have an idea the actual cover design for an eBook cover takes about 2 days. A print cover maybe 3-4. If I don't know you (or we haven't been introduced) then it's 50 quid for an eBook cover and 70 for a print cover. I can't find the pounds sign on my American laptop :D
I find real joy in creating cover images. That's why I do so much for free. That, and I'm a complete pushover.
That's very kind of you, pushover or no pushover! Let's rewind to the writing, though. Could you share what ambitions you have for your career as an author?
Honestly, I want it all. I want a three-book deal, film rights to be bought, TV interviews, fame, the works. I never thought I did, in fact, I didn't for a long time but now with an increasing family and security becoming a must - then yes. I'm going for the Big Time :) But, considering I've been writing for 20 years without the Big Time, I think it's safe to say that I write because I love it, because I have to, because God! Help humanity if I don't! :)
Keep on writing and one day you might just hit the Big Time! I will be rooting for you! Are there any authors, or novels in-particular that inspire you?
This is the question I dread. I am a book doxy. I accommodate most of them for cheap, anywhere I can. I adore reading. I am a voracious reader, a avaricious reader, a "I'll make it worth your while" reader. I'm a bed reader, a train reader, a "rocking the baby to sleep" reader. I only recently (8 years ago) got into fantasy. I've now read Songs of Fire and Ice, the whole series, twice. I admire and love to bits, Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss, Peter V Brett, Vitoria Schwab. From liteary fiction I have read and re-read Somerset Maugham, Simone de Beauvoir, Lesley Glaister, Jean Rhys, Doris Lessing, Paul Theroux, Hemmingway. And dark crime fiction, which I LOVE, Denise Mina, Stuart McBride, early Val Macdermid. Honestly, this is the toughest question ever. I have so many great loves in literature. I forgot Dumas and Ford Maddox Ford, E.M Forster....I'm getting anxious now :D
That's a broad range of literature! Although, I'm the same. There is no stand alone book or author for me. So, besides writing, reading, designing book covers and being a mother, do you have any other hobbies or interests?
Yes. I'm a gamer. I used to have my own guild on World of Warcraft, but recently prefer the stately and zen pace of Minecraft and Skyrim on the Xbox 360. I hardly get any time though with the baby. Oh! I'm also a baker. I bake my own bread, biscuits, shortbread, and sell cupcakes to the café down the road. I love baths and recently become possessive and clingy about sleep :)
Also, I never say no to a bloody good burgundy, red or white, or an icy and unforgiving gin martini. 2 olives, shaken. Damn, I've had some naughty times filled with too many of those.
Ha ha! You'll have to bake me a cake some day. And I have a smile on my face because I play World of Warcraft. Now, before I start asking what levels your characters are, I better ask a question to do with writing! How do you handle the dreaded writers block?
I don't get writers block. I get "Tabatha is being a lazy sod" block. The only time I can't write is when I'm having a depressive episode. These really floor me. Can't do anything then really except the basics. Gah!
Ugh, don't you hate that? Speaking of hate, what do you think is the hardest part of writing?
About 40 pages in, when the initial euphoria has worn off and the hard slog of the middle part has started. That's when Facebook comes in really useful. NOT :)
The other part is trying to find the time as a mother. You can be a great mother and slow writer or an absent mother or a prolific writer, but I don't believe you can do both. Let me be more specific. I can't. Being a present mother is more important. Probably because my own was always locking her door for days at a time. I guess we learn from our childhoods.
I know how that is. Time is scarce as a parent. And....what is the easiest part of writing?
The title. It's odd for me, but when I've finished something written, long or short, i completely lose ownership of it. It's as if somebody else wrote it and i had nothing to do with it *lose*
Why do you think that happens? It's your story. You own it!
I think, once it's out - it's out. I can't remember much of it. Can't ever quote anything at all. I re-read stuff and think "I wrote that? Wow! It's quite good, or, OMG, that's bloody atrocious'. I get bored easily and once something is finished - it's on to the next thing. I'm not a great detail person. But I'm a great ideas person :)
But I think it's good to be that way. Better than staying forever stuck on one story, unable to move on from it! Back to Botanical Malice, what celebrity would you want to see playing your MC and why?
Blimey. You've actually stumped me. I have not thought about that at all. Let's see. " goes to internet*
Haha! No pressure, we can move onto the next question while you think of that one! What advice would you give to your younger self?
DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR FATHER. You are not mediocre. You are, in fact, incredible
And while we're on the topic of advice, do you have any for budding authors?
Well, I think that if you write - you are a writer. So all aspiring authors, budding writers and the like, you are writers. So hold the dream, feel the words, dance the creative and do it. In secret, in bars, in the bathroom, while baking. Everywhere. It is definitely a craft and onerous as it may sound, you do get better with practice. A note on rejections, by individual or industry - they hurt like hell, they do feel personal and i have a skin the thinness of a gauzy water nymph. So, feel the sting, nurse those wounds, eat a lot of chocolate, drown yourself in rum, join a band of pirates, go-go dance in a club and then sit down and write some more.
That was truly inspiring as well as humorous :)
:D
Now, spill me one of your most embarrassing moments.
You want a soft one or a hard one?
As hard as you like....spill it!
Being interrupted by security whilst having a rather boisterous liaison on the Directors Boardroom table at Saatchi HQ :)
Haha! Brilliant. You've set the bar high with that one.
That's not even the MOST embarrassing.
Well, you can spill the most embarrassing when I'm interviewing you about your best selling novel, deal?
Deal :)
Great! Tabatha, thank you very much for joining me on the Writers Spill, It's been a pleasure.
I have had the most wonderful time. Thank you, Stacey. And good luck with the new blog. I have a feeling it's going to go very well.
That was Tabatha Stirling, AKA, Alex Mitchell! I hope you all enjoyed the blog. Next week, I will be interviewing a bestselling crime author. So, tune in next Monday for that!
If you would like to know more about Tabatha Stirling, or to contact her, see the links below.
For her flash fiction, click here
For book cover designs, click here
She can also be found here, at Goodreads.
Tabitha! Welcome to Writers Spill. How are you today?
Hello, Stacey. I feel very honoured to be your first interviewee. I am feeling pretty chipper, underlined by the bone-tired hysteria that comes with having a newborn :)
Let me tell you, I know the feeling! Keeping you awake all night?
Yes, but worth every minute. Oh! Those smiles =) She's going into a nunnery when she's twelve and won't come out until thirty-six!
Ha! Well, congratulations on your bundle of joy. First of all, tell me, who is Tabatha Stirling, and who is Alex Mitchell?
Tabatha Stirling is a fly by the seat of her silk pants, there's a deadline? What deadline? sort of girl. Alex Mitchell pretends otherwise.
Could you tell our readers a bit more about yourself?
Ah! The loaded question. How much do I tell before I frighten them all off? Should I speak about the snake act in Amsterdam? Should I talk about my time with the M15? The expulsion from Canada in the 90's? Some of that is actually true. However, I was brought up in the South of England boarding school, and the Cayman Islands. My father was Naval and adulterous. My mother beautiful and neurotic. I've a very torrid history. It reads like a Greek Tragedy. Three Acts of madness, death and a few comics aside.
Wow! That all sounds very intriguing, to say the least! I wasn't going to bring up the snake act in Amsterdam, but, I'm curious...care to elaborate?
Ha Ha! That is not quite as true as the other stuff :D
Damn! Well, it could make for a good story one day! Speaking of stories, could you tell us a bit more about yourself as an author?
I've been writing stories before I could actually write. I would just make them up in my head. It's all I've ever wanted to do. And it is my talent. I had a very unsupportive family so I've had to fight for my own self-doubt and negative belief for a long time. When I met my husband, who is a very talented actor and director, he read some of my stuff and asked me a question....can you give up writing? If not, then commit to it. Because you are good enough. But you have to commit. So, I committed and my writing and my confidence have both improved. I love being a writer but I find the actual writing part very hard. I have the attention span of a water rat called Poot, and get distracted very easily....Look! Bees!....That sort of thing. I break into the Charleston when confused and often hear white noise in my head when discussing money matters. But, I can't give up. I think about writing constantly. And I have tens of ideas daily. So, I just have to be a big girl about it and tie myself to the chair.
That's a shame about your family, but your husband sounds very supportive. It's always good to have the support of a spouse. And I wouldn't worry about the attention span. It's my belief that most writers suffer with this, myself included! But, you have the right attitude, which is always a positive, even if it does mean tying yourself to a chair and dealing with the attention span of a water rat called Poot! :) Could you tell us when you first started taking writing seriously, and what was the first manuscript you completed?
The first manuscript was my novella, Three Months of Chaos, which is a sort-of memoir about my time in a squat, copious amounts of drugs and trying to be beautiful at a very ugly time. I have also written Blood On The Banana Leaf, a fictional account of modern day slavery in Singapore, but that is in the final editing stages. I have always taken writing seriously. I always knew I was a writer even after rejections. But, I think the seminal point was when I was shortlisted for the BBC Talent sitcom script competition. That really boosted my confidence.
Wow. That's a fantastic achievement. Well done!
"Blush blush* Thank you :)
Now, would you be so very kind to share with us any published pieces you have? And tell us a bit about them.
Well, I have quite a bit of flash fiction, poetry and short stories that have been published in literary mags this year and last. As far as longer projects - I'm still unsure whether to go for traditional publishers or self-publish. Self-publishing is so different now and is losing its rather dodgy image. Thankfully. The wisht and the hoo of it is that I am finishing off my supernatural fantasy novel, Botanical Malice, first, because I think that seems to be what publishers are screaming for. A fantasy trilogy with a strong female lead (whatever that is) that can be made into a film. Think. Hunger Games. And I'm really loving writing it. Such fun.
Wow. That sounds interesting. Would you be able to share a bit more of the story line? Or are you keeping that under wraps for now?
Well, it's nothing like the Hunger Games for starters :) I've a fascination with botanical things. Flowers can be so beautiful, so cruel and so deadly. Very like people, actually. I was walking in the country with a friend a few years ago and we saw these huge nettles, thistles and some monstrous ivy. I began to think about botanical assassins and my three botanical golems were born. Every character in the story has a flower in their name and each has a specific meaning. Rue Macarbre is my MC. Rue means protection and Macarbre is a play on macabre and arbre - which, is French for tree. The Mac is because the first book is set in Edinburgh, Scotland. The second book is set in Botanika, the flora hell dimension and the third....I have absolutely no idea yet :D
Sounds brill! A very unique concept.
Thank you. I'm not sure there is anything out there like Botanical Malice. I loved doing the cover, as well.
I may have to agree with you there. I haven't come across anything similar! And I'm glad you brought up the cover, because that leads me to my next question. You also design book covers, is that correct?
Yes! I love it. I find it much easier than writing and can focus for much longer - hours, actually. I studied fine art and English for my first degree and specialised in stained glass. I love design and colour. I have a real colour fetish. And a font fetish. Don't get me started on fonts and typography. I'm a total geek. Will just go on and on and on :) I design free covers for members of my writers group, 'Write and Rant'. Probably my favourite group chock full of madness, lots of support and some very talented writers. You can nip to tabathadesign.tumblr.com to see more of my designs. I've just finished the first design for an anthology that I'm part of. 'Gifts From The Dark'. A very eclectic sheaf of the noir, the horrific, the dreadful and the plain Eeeeeeeek! It comes out in October, I believe.
I'm very much looking forward to the Anthology, and will be doing a blog post on it as soon as it's out, seen as though I am part of that lovely group of madness! Another question on the book covers, is it just members of the writing group you design for, or do you offer a paid/free service to other authors that may require your talents?
I'll design for anybody, but I offer free for people I know. Once I have an idea the actual cover design for an eBook cover takes about 2 days. A print cover maybe 3-4. If I don't know you (or we haven't been introduced) then it's 50 quid for an eBook cover and 70 for a print cover. I can't find the pounds sign on my American laptop :D
I find real joy in creating cover images. That's why I do so much for free. That, and I'm a complete pushover.
That's very kind of you, pushover or no pushover! Let's rewind to the writing, though. Could you share what ambitions you have for your career as an author?
Honestly, I want it all. I want a three-book deal, film rights to be bought, TV interviews, fame, the works. I never thought I did, in fact, I didn't for a long time but now with an increasing family and security becoming a must - then yes. I'm going for the Big Time :) But, considering I've been writing for 20 years without the Big Time, I think it's safe to say that I write because I love it, because I have to, because God! Help humanity if I don't! :)
Keep on writing and one day you might just hit the Big Time! I will be rooting for you! Are there any authors, or novels in-particular that inspire you?
This is the question I dread. I am a book doxy. I accommodate most of them for cheap, anywhere I can. I adore reading. I am a voracious reader, a avaricious reader, a "I'll make it worth your while" reader. I'm a bed reader, a train reader, a "rocking the baby to sleep" reader. I only recently (8 years ago) got into fantasy. I've now read Songs of Fire and Ice, the whole series, twice. I admire and love to bits, Joe Abercrombie, Patrick Rothfuss, Peter V Brett, Vitoria Schwab. From liteary fiction I have read and re-read Somerset Maugham, Simone de Beauvoir, Lesley Glaister, Jean Rhys, Doris Lessing, Paul Theroux, Hemmingway. And dark crime fiction, which I LOVE, Denise Mina, Stuart McBride, early Val Macdermid. Honestly, this is the toughest question ever. I have so many great loves in literature. I forgot Dumas and Ford Maddox Ford, E.M Forster....I'm getting anxious now :D
That's a broad range of literature! Although, I'm the same. There is no stand alone book or author for me. So, besides writing, reading, designing book covers and being a mother, do you have any other hobbies or interests?
Yes. I'm a gamer. I used to have my own guild on World of Warcraft, but recently prefer the stately and zen pace of Minecraft and Skyrim on the Xbox 360. I hardly get any time though with the baby. Oh! I'm also a baker. I bake my own bread, biscuits, shortbread, and sell cupcakes to the café down the road. I love baths and recently become possessive and clingy about sleep :)
Also, I never say no to a bloody good burgundy, red or white, or an icy and unforgiving gin martini. 2 olives, shaken. Damn, I've had some naughty times filled with too many of those.
Ha ha! You'll have to bake me a cake some day. And I have a smile on my face because I play World of Warcraft. Now, before I start asking what levels your characters are, I better ask a question to do with writing! How do you handle the dreaded writers block?
I don't get writers block. I get "Tabatha is being a lazy sod" block. The only time I can't write is when I'm having a depressive episode. These really floor me. Can't do anything then really except the basics. Gah!
Ugh, don't you hate that? Speaking of hate, what do you think is the hardest part of writing?
About 40 pages in, when the initial euphoria has worn off and the hard slog of the middle part has started. That's when Facebook comes in really useful. NOT :)
The other part is trying to find the time as a mother. You can be a great mother and slow writer or an absent mother or a prolific writer, but I don't believe you can do both. Let me be more specific. I can't. Being a present mother is more important. Probably because my own was always locking her door for days at a time. I guess we learn from our childhoods.
I know how that is. Time is scarce as a parent. And....what is the easiest part of writing?
The title. It's odd for me, but when I've finished something written, long or short, i completely lose ownership of it. It's as if somebody else wrote it and i had nothing to do with it *lose*
Why do you think that happens? It's your story. You own it!
I think, once it's out - it's out. I can't remember much of it. Can't ever quote anything at all. I re-read stuff and think "I wrote that? Wow! It's quite good, or, OMG, that's bloody atrocious'. I get bored easily and once something is finished - it's on to the next thing. I'm not a great detail person. But I'm a great ideas person :)
But I think it's good to be that way. Better than staying forever stuck on one story, unable to move on from it! Back to Botanical Malice, what celebrity would you want to see playing your MC and why?
Blimey. You've actually stumped me. I have not thought about that at all. Let's see. " goes to internet*
Haha! No pressure, we can move onto the next question while you think of that one! What advice would you give to your younger self?
DO NOT LISTEN TO YOUR FATHER. You are not mediocre. You are, in fact, incredible
And while we're on the topic of advice, do you have any for budding authors?
Well, I think that if you write - you are a writer. So all aspiring authors, budding writers and the like, you are writers. So hold the dream, feel the words, dance the creative and do it. In secret, in bars, in the bathroom, while baking. Everywhere. It is definitely a craft and onerous as it may sound, you do get better with practice. A note on rejections, by individual or industry - they hurt like hell, they do feel personal and i have a skin the thinness of a gauzy water nymph. So, feel the sting, nurse those wounds, eat a lot of chocolate, drown yourself in rum, join a band of pirates, go-go dance in a club and then sit down and write some more.
That was truly inspiring as well as humorous :)
:D
Now, spill me one of your most embarrassing moments.
You want a soft one or a hard one?
As hard as you like....spill it!
Being interrupted by security whilst having a rather boisterous liaison on the Directors Boardroom table at Saatchi HQ :)
Haha! Brilliant. You've set the bar high with that one.
That's not even the MOST embarrassing.
Well, you can spill the most embarrassing when I'm interviewing you about your best selling novel, deal?
Deal :)
Great! Tabatha, thank you very much for joining me on the Writers Spill, It's been a pleasure.
I have had the most wonderful time. Thank you, Stacey. And good luck with the new blog. I have a feeling it's going to go very well.
That was Tabatha Stirling, AKA, Alex Mitchell! I hope you all enjoyed the blog. Next week, I will be interviewing a bestselling crime author. So, tune in next Monday for that!
If you would like to know more about Tabatha Stirling, or to contact her, see the links below.
For her flash fiction, click here
For book cover designs, click here
She can also be found here, at Goodreads.