Hello and welcome to my blog, Author Interviews. My name is Fiona Mcvie.

 

Let’s get you introduced to everyone, shall we? Tell us your name. What is your age?

My name is M. J. Wright and I’m 41

Fiona: Where are you from?

Raymond Terrace, New South Wales, Australia

Fiona: A little about your self (ie,  your education, family life, etc.).

I have a very rare form of cerebral palsy which didn’t stop me from completing secondary school followed by business and accounting courses.  I think facing life with a disability teaches you to definitely approach everything from a different perspective.  My family are supportive of my writing.

Fiona: Tell us your latest news.

The Lost Child just released in May and I have a stand alone book Millie or Lily coming out in October.

Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?

In 1989.  I had Ross River Fever and was bedridden at the age of 12.  I couldn’t get to the tv so I had to entertain myself somehow.

Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I had won first place at the local show for a couple of years in the school composition competition but I didn’t consider myself a writer until at 17 another author validated my scribbles as important.

Fiona: What inspired you to write your first book?

I had a dream that I couldn’t shake.  It was 2 pm when I finally started typing and 6000 words flowed out instantly.

Fiona: How did you come up with the title?

It was because of the injuries the main character lives with and the whole premise of my world that if you’re not perfect then you must be broken and invisible.

Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style? Is there anything about your style or genre that you find particularly challenging?

I write blended fiction which means I don’t really care about genre.  It only becomes challenging when people try to categorise it for print.

Fiona: How much of the book is realistic and are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

As a writer, we draw on all the positive and negative experiences in our lives when writing.  In this case, I’d say 30 percent is loosely based on personal experience.

Fiona: To craft your works, do you have to travel? Before or during the process?

I would love to spend my two crunch weeks locked up in a hotel room at Coolum Beach but the reality of writing is that it’s not a get rich quick occupation.  I tend to to lock myself in my office and shut off the rest of the world.

Fiona: Who designed the covers?

I did using Canva.

Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

There’s always a message in the book whether it’s overt or an underlying theme.  In The Broken Child the two that stand out to me are ‘believe in yourself’ and ‘have the life you want to live not the one everyone else wants you to’.  With The Lost Child I think the message for me was ‘life and relationships are complicated and messy-don’t give up.’

Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?  Who is your favorite writer, and what is it about their work that really strikes you?

Megan Fall is not new to writing but has just released her first book to print.  She is fast becoming one of my favourite writers because of her grasp of the complexities that make a character realistic to the reader and her flexibility in switching genres yet remaining amazing.

Fiona: Outside of family members, name one entity that supported your commitment to become a published author.

Julie Ford.  A completely awesome woman who invested into my second book.  It’s not every day someone hands you $450 because they believe in you and your dreams.

Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?

No. I see writing as an integral part of my life.  The fact that people love what I write is still astonishing to me after all these years.

Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

I don’t think so.

Fiona: Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

That if you aren’t happy with your book then there’s a high chance that your readers won’t be either.  I have an awesome team of beta readers.

Fiona: If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

I have actually thought about this. Grant Gustin as Ethan, Joey King as Lia and Kenny Wormald as Fane.

Fiona: Any advice for other writers?

Write.  First draft is for the story-everythingafter that is about fixing your mistakes, expanding a scene and cutting unnecessary words.  Just get your story down.  Always read the fine print on anything you sign.

Fiona: Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Thank you.

Fiona: What book are you reading now?

I actually love wattpad so I read multiple books at once.  I’m reading Treasuring Maggie, Finding Diesel, Keeping Her, Legend of the vampire and Killian by Megan Fall. Diamond by Rebekah L. Thompson and multiple Harry Potter fanfics.

Fiona: Do you remember the first book you read?

I read a lot and I think the first serious book I read was Tolkien’s The Hobbit at age 11.  I read Tolkien and C. S. Lewis before tackling The Babysitters Club.

Fiona: What makes you laugh/cry?

A well constructed sentence with a twisted sense of humour.My husband’s jokes.

Fiona: Is there one person, past or present, you would love to meet? Why?

Diana Gabaldon.  I have been reading her Outlander series since I was 15 and I’d love to pick up any tips she has in world building since the one she has created is so vibrant.

Fiona: Do you have any hobbies?

I enjoy gardening when the weather is warm, sewing and crocheting. I also play lawn bowls.

Fiona: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?

I like superheroes, sci-fi/fantasy, historical movies/shows. Michael McIntyre, Mrs Brown’s Boys and Jeff Dunham for comedy.

Fiona: Favorite foods, colors,  music?

Chinese food, any shade of blue and my music tastes range from gospel all the way through to hard rock and club music.

Fiona: Imagine a future where you no longer write. What would you do?

I spent ten years of my life where I stopped writing due to copyright issues.  Let’s just say it wasn’t the best version of me.  I have no intention of returning to that place.

Fiona: You only have 24 hours to live how would you spend that time?

With my family making personal memories with them.

Fiona: What do you want written on your head stone?

To be honest I haven’t thought about it but something along the lines of ‘She wasn’t afraid to live.’

Fiona: Do you have a blog or website readers can visit for updates, events and special offers?

For my Amazon Page:https://www.amazon.com/default/e/B01M4RE0H2/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1?redirectedFromKindleDbs=true