OZYA Archives - Page 3 of 4

#LoveOzYA Interview: Christopher Currie

Jun 10, 2016

I love Aussie YA. I love reading books from authors that live in the same country as me, that know things that people out of Australia might be so confused about. I love how sometimes they can incorporate this into their book and it is fabulous.

So in saying that, I have decided to start a new feature on Angel Reads spotlighting Australian YA Authors. Each Friday for the next couple of months, I am going to interview an OZYA Author. I thought it would be a fun way to share my love for Australian Young Adult authors with not only fellow Aussies, but everyone around the world. I want more Australian YA books to be read, because they are amazing.

First week I interview Sarah Ayoub, then Fleur Ferris, followed by Will Kostakis, then Shivaun Plozza, and Gabrielle Tozer, followed by Jay Kristoff and Kylie Fornasier. A.J Betts was next and then last week we had Megan Jacobson.

This week we have Christopher Currie author of young adult novel Clancy of the Undertow (2014, Text Publishing).

Hi Christopher, and welcome to Angel Reads. First can you introduce yourself to everyone? Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hello, my name is Chris. I’m a 34 year-old writer from Brisbane. I grew up in a small country town called Warwick. I work at the wonderful Avid Reader Bookshop as its social media manager (and sell books to people as well!).

What has your writing journey been like? Where did you start? Why?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, but never gave it serious thought as a vocation until I left school. I completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Creative Writing at Queensland Institute of Technology (QUT) and have been plugging away ever since. My parents are both big readers, and they instilled in me the same love. In fact, I was just in a suburban library today to do some work, and remembered again how wonderful they are!

I don’t have much occasion to go to libraries these days (as I’m surrounded by books at work anyway!) but when I was little I feel like I checked out nearly every book from the Warwick Council Library. I was very lucky that my parents didn’t really tell me what I could and couldn’t read. This was so important in teaching me the pleasure of the written word in all its forms, I think.

What was the process of getting your first book published?

A long one! I submitted what would eventually become my first novel, The Ottoman Motel (an adult literary mystery story), to Text Publishing through an informal callout they sent out in 2009 (side note: be nice to everyone in the industry; this came about because I heard about it from a friend of a friend). The book went through three major rewrites and some rigorous editing before it was published in 2011. This process was a real eye-opener for me. It was painful, yes, but getting to work with a professional editor was an insanely useful experience.

Was it different when getting your subsequent books published?

Text Publishing are wonderful, because they really believe in developing a relationship with an author, one that (thankfully for me) doesn’t simply rely on a certain number of book sales to continue. Despite promising at least three other adult fiction manuscripts to my editor, I ended up writing the first draft of a YA novel, Clancy of the Undertow.

My editor, to her credit, took the project on (thankfully Text have a burgeoning YA arm of their business) and it went from there. I had to basically double the word count from the original version, but the whole process was much quicker the second time around!

You are an OZYA author, what are some of your favourite Aussie YA books?

I adored booked by Victor Kelleher when I was growing up, which perhaps betrays my age somewhat, and then when I got a little writers such as Sonya Hartnett (her novel Of a Boy was a huge inspiration to me when writing my first book). As I mentioned, I tended to read quite widely so I’m not sure all of what I read was “age appropriate”.

I’ve tried to read more contemporary Oz YA since my book has come out (Avid Reader recently moved its kids and YA books into a new shop so I am far less aware of that side of publishing now!) and I’ve been really pleased that so much of it is so good! I loved Fleur Ferris’ Risk and Trinity Doyle’s Pieces of Sky and am just about to start Dave Burton’s How to be Happy.

Thank you Christopher for joining me today. You can find Christopher at @furioushorses on twitter, his website and don’t forget to add his books to your goodreads.

Clancy of the Undertow by Christopher Currie

Pages: 282
Publish date: November 16th 2015
Publisher: Text Publishing
ISBN: 1925240401
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Dymocks

In a dead-end town like Barwen a girl has only got to be a little different to feel like a freak. And Clancy, a typical sixteen-year-old misfit with a moderately dysfunctional family, a genuine interest in Nature Club and a major crush on the local hot girl, is packing a capital F.

As the summer begins, Clancy’s dad is involved in a road smash that kills two local teenagers. While the family is dealing with the reaction of a hostile town, Clancy meets someone who could possibly—at last—become a friend. Not only that, the unattainable Sasha starts to show what may be a romantic interest.

In short, this is the summer when Clancy has to figure out who the hell she is.

***

Thank you Chistopher for joining me at Angel Reads. That is it for this week’s #LoveOZYA Interview. What did you think of Christopher and his books? Let’s Chat!

Come back next week for some more Aussie fun. If you want to know more about the #LoveOZYA movement check out the website for all the details. Also if you have any Australian YA authors that you would like to see me interview, just let me know and I can see what I can do.

#LoveOZYA Interview: A.J. Betts

May 27, 2016

First week I interview Sarah Ayoub, then Fleur Ferris, followed by Will Kostakis, then Shivaun Plozza, and Gabrielle Tozer, followed by Jay Kristoff, then Kylie Fornasier. This week we have A.J Betts author of Shutterspeed (2008, Fremantle Press), Wavelength (2010, Fremantle Press) and Zac and Mia (2013, Text Publishing).

Hi AJ Betts, and welcome to Angel Reads. First can you introduce yourself to everyone? Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi there. I’m an author and teacher who lives in Perth. I love cycling, travelling, bushwalking and living by the sea.

What has your writing journey been like? Where did you start? Why?

Writing was always a passion of mine. As a young adult, my main interest was poetry, and I had a number of poems published in my early twenties. My first novel, Shutterspeed, evolved out of a short story I’d been working on. I had the idea in 2000, and it was published in 2008.

What was the process of getting your first book published?

I entered Shutterspeed into a major writing competition, which I received excellent feedback and encouragement from. On the judges’ advice, I sent the manuscript to Fremantle Press, and it was fortunately picked up by them. I guess my story is quite straightforward and positive, compared to most

Was it different when getting your next books published?

Every book has a different process, in terms of writing and publication. My next novel, Wavelength, was also sent to Fremantle Press. My third, Zac & Mia, was entered in the Text Prize as an unpublished manuscript. I’ve never been contracted to write work, and I don’t want to. I still prefer to write independently and privately, then seek the best avenue for the manuscript. While it may be easier to be published now (as a previously-published author) I think the process is equally tough. Each novel should be viewed as a complete work in the best version it can be, rather than an extension of a writer’s oeuvre.

What was the difference between getting your books published here in Australia and internationally?

They’re very different, and I have less power/involvement in the publishing process overseas (as it’s handled by my rights manger at Text Publishing). Every country makes their own choices about their intended market, and will package the novel accordingly, including some alterations to the manuscript.

You are an OZYA author, what are some of your favourite Aussie YA books?

At the moment, anything by Fiona Wood, Vikki Wakefield, Julia Lawrinson and Cath Crowley.

I have read Zac and Mia and really loved it. You can find A.J. Betts at @a_j_betts on Twitter, ajbetts.com and you can add her books to your goodreads.

Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts

Pages: 310
Publish date: July 24th 2013
Publisher: Text Publishing
ISBN: 9781922147257
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Dymocks

“When I was little I believed in Jesus and Santa, spontaneous combustion, and the Loch Ness monster. Now I believe in science, statistics, and antibiotics.”

So says seventeen-year-old Zac Meier during a long, grueling leukemia treatment in Perth, Australia. A loud blast of Lady Gaga alerts him to the presence of Mia, the angry, not-at-all-stoic cancer patient in the room next door. Once released, the two near-strangers can’t forget each other, even as they desperately try to resume normal lives. The story of their mysterious connection drives this unflinchingly tough, tender novel told in two voices.

***

Thank you A.J. for joining me at Angel Reads. That is it for this week’s #LoveOZYA Interview. What did you think of A.J and her books?

Come back next week for some more Aussie fun. If you want to know more about the #LoveOZYA movement check out the website for all the details.

#LoveOzYA Interview: Jay Kristoff

May 6, 2016

First week I interview Sarah Ayoub, then Fleur Ferris, followed by Will Kostakis, then Shivaun Plozza and last weeks guest being Gabrielle Tozer. This week we have none other than Jay Kristoff!

Jay is the author of The Lotus War Series (Pan MacMillian Aus, 2012), The Nevernight Chronicle triology (Harper Voyager, 2016), LIFEL1K3 (2018) and co author of The Illuminae Files (Allen and Unwin, 2015) and the Andromeda Cycle (2018).

Hi Jay, and welcome to Angel Reads. First can you introduce yourself to everyone? Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Jay. I’m the co-author of Illuminae, and author of The Lotus War and the upcoming Nevernight (aug 2016) and LIFEL1K3 (mid 2016). No, I do not sleep.

What has your writing journey been like? Where did you start? Why?

The trajectory has been wild one, but the journey itself is pretty stock. I wrote a book. Cold queried agents. Got rejected a lot. I wrote another book. Cold queried agents. Got an agent. Got a book deal. And that was it. So there was no secret handshake or magic moment or sacrifices to the Old Ones, just lots of writing and rejection. That’s par for the course in publishing. Rejection is good for the soul.

I started trying to get published about 2010. I’d always written for fun, but never imagined it might actually amount to anything. It was a hobby that, through a lot of work, became a paying gig. So, long, slightly uncomfortable hugs of thanks to everyone who buys my books!

What was the process of getting your first book published?

Well, after I signed with my agent, there was a round of internal edits, and then we went out on sub. Luckily, we had several houses interested, so the book went to auction. I wrote about the process here.

Stormdance was odd in that I signed a simultaneous deal with a US and UK publishing house. Which meant I had two editors, two rounds of copy edits, two rounds of proofing. I didn’t know better at the time, but this was kind of insane and I’d never do it again.

First book is a very steep learning curve. You’re a babe in the woods in so many respects. All you can do is trust your agent and write the best book you can. Jack Daniels helps. LOTS of Jack Daniels.

Was it different when getting your proceeding books published?

Definitely. Every book is a learning experience. I knew far more about publishing and marketing and the industry itself when Illuminae started gearing up for publication. So, I was far more intimately involved from a production standpoint as well as the actual writing. You’ve seen what works and what doesn’t in previous books, so you know what to ask for and what to aim for. Plus, you understand how much of a factor luck is in any book’s success, so you can relax a little (or get more uptight, depending on your personality.)

Again, Jack Daniels helps.

What was the difference between getting your books published here in Australia and internationally?

Australia tends to get a lot of its properties in conjunction with UK houses. So, on the Lotus War, Tor UK bought the rights and PanMac in Aus were part of that deal. Similarly, with Nevernight Harper Voyager in the UK bought the rights, so Harper here will be publishing the series in the ANZ market.

Illuminae was slightly different, in that Amie had such a great experience with Allen & Unwin on Starbound, she wanted them to get first slice. So we negotiated a separate deal from the UK. A&U are fantastic – couldn’t be happier with the work they’ve done on Illuminae.

Australia tends to take its cues from larger markets – the US has much larger budgets and a much larger population, so typically, Australian publishers will try to leverage that overseas buzz into their efforts here. Which makes perfect sense. We’re crafty little buggers down here, and Australian publishers do an incredible job with what is typically very scarce resources.

You are an OZYA author, what are some of your favourite Aussie YA books?

Ellie Marney’s Every series is simply brill – Ellie is auto-buy for me. Anything by Garth Nix, although I’ll always have a soft spot for Shade’s Children. Justine Larbalestier’s new book, My Sister Rosa is wonderfully chilling. The Starbound series by my co-author Amie Kaufman and her other partner in crime Meg Spooner is fantastic. I’ve just started reading Green Valentine by Lili Wilkinson and even though I suspect I am so NOT the target market, I’m loving it. Very bright, very funny.

You can find Jay at @misterkristoff on twitter, jaykristoff.com and add his books to your goodreads.

Nevernight

Pages: 400
Publish date: August 11th 2016
Publisher: Harper Voyager
ISBN: 0008180016
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.

Now, Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic—the Red Church. If she bests her fellow students in contests of steel, poison and the subtle arts, she’ll be inducted among the Blades of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the vengeance she desires. But a killer is loose within the Church’s halls, the bloody secrets of Mia’s past return to haunt her, and a plot to bring down the entire congregation is unfolding in the shadows she so loves.

Will she even survive to initiation, let alone have her revenge?

***

Thank you Jay for joining me at Angel Reads. That is it for this week’s #LoveOZYA Interview. What did you think of Jay and his books? I have seen Jay talk and have met him a couple of times now and he is quite the nice guy.

Come back next week for some more Aussie fun. If you want to know more about the #LoveOZYA movement check out the website for all the details.