Clare London the person:
1. What three words do you think describe you as a human being?
Imaginative, witty, driven.
2. How do you think others would describe you?
Imaginative, witty, annoyingly-driven!
3. Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.
That has to be my family, my husband and two teenage sons. Both I and my husband come from small families so we're all the more wrapped up in each other's business. Our house is Chaos City most of the time, and full of complete rubbish, though so much of it has memories of places we've been, things we've all done, that we can't bear to throw anything out! That's when you can specifically find anything, that is...
4. Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.
I don't mind animals at all, but I've never really wanted to own any of my own. I have goldfish and they're not the most interesting of pets, I must confess! The most dramatic thing that ever happened was with one of our first ones, called Lucky by my younger son. Within the first week of life in its new tank in our lounge, it leapt out of the top and died on the carpet! Should have called it Unlucky, he said, with all seriousness.
5. What is your most precious memory?
Difficult to choose one, I must say. On a family level, it'd be the birth of my first son, a golden time. On a personal level, there's a ‘greatest hits' list of them, from meeting my husband when we were teenagers, qualifying as an accountant, winning a minor sports trophy at University, watching the boys in school plays, singing (just the once!) with a live jazz band, to getting published...
6. What is your most embarrassing memory?
Argh... so many! The most recent was at work where I answered the phone to a new customer, needed to take down their details, and asked in my brightest ‘customer service' voice if they were a Miss or Mrs. Deathly silence, then they explained they were a man. I don't think I completed the sale ^__^
7. If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing with your life?
I expect I'd be what I still am now, an accountant / mother / wife / chauffeur to the sons / Japanese pencilboard art collector / very poor cook etc
Seriously, I enjoy the commercial side of accountancy, and having a ‘trade' has allowed me to work in all kinds of industries. I'm senior enough now to be able to relax a bit on the technical side and try to bring some flair to a job that's traditionally seen as deathly boring. And of course, it keeps us in food and board! So I'd be happy enough if I weren't a writer - but maybe not as imaginative!
8. In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.
If Clare had been writing this obituary herself, she'd have spent hours of anguish over the right adjective to use, and eventually described herself as nothing but the cabaret in life. And she wouldn't have minded that role. But underneath that was a fierce, confused melting pot of desire and drama and devotion and doggedness, wanting things to be right and fair, occasionally despairing in human nature at the same time as finding delight in the smallest gestures of it. And too much alliteration. And relentless self-editing. And the need to find humor in everything.
That was a little spooky - but it was enlightening for me!
Clare London the writer:
9. Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a "real" writer?
I had to be formally published before I felt that. When my first short story was chosen for a local anthology, I saw my name in print and that was the first buzz. When I first got enthusiastic feedback for my fanfiction, I felt my writing was getting better. Then when I finally had a book cover with my name on and published stories inside it - I could say I was ‘an author'!!
10. What is going on with your writing these days?
I'm thrilled about the release of The Gold Warrior at Dreamspinner Press, and I'm just finishing off the sequel to it for publication later in the year. It'll be called The Twisted Brand. I really enjoy immersing myself in the lives of Maen and Dax, and a second book has let me delve further into their characters and their story. There'll be more battles, more warriors and Mistresses, more about their illicit but passionate love affair, more deception and desire and dastardly deeds - what more can we want? But seriously, I'm also keen to release some more contemporary fiction in 2008, I'm hoping some more of my work in that field will be accepted.
11. What are your future goals for your writing?
Over the next couple of years, I'd like to build a reputation with readers for reliably good, entertaining, enthralling fiction. I want to spend more time on my writing, to improve on my particular weak spots, and to work all the ideas I have into quality fiction.
12. Can you describe a typical writing day for you?
No such thing! A usual day is a few snatched hours around the working day, particularly in the evening when the rest of the family are occupied. An ideal day is when I have the time to myself - I had some time like this at Christmas when I ‘hid' away in my sister's house while she was on holiday! - and then I can set up with the coffee and snacks I need, a comfortable position at the keyboard, and let the Muse have free rein.
13. Why do you write?
Because the words ask me to! *lol*
I write to express the thoughts and scenes in my imagination, and to share them with others. I write because I love words and language and dialogue, and because I like the feeling of situations taking shape with my characters. I write because I like to read, and the more the better!
14. What writer most inspires you? Why?
That's an impossible question for one single writer - I read many, according to what mood I'm in and also what type of fiction I'm writing myself. I love tightly written thrillers, I like character-driven novels, I admire any writer who can make me care about the hero/heroine and who makes me remember scenes and emotions long after the last page.
15. How do you define your writing?
As entertainment - as communication - as sharing.
16. In one sentence-what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?
That they enjoyed it - and still do!
Clare London the details:
17. Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?
My website is http://darkpearldiva.com/
My blog is http://claredivatoo.livejournal.com/
18. Is there a place where readers can reach you?
Mail me on clarelondon11@yahoo.co.uk or clarelondon11@hotmail.com.
I'm on MySpace too, www.myspace.com/clarelondon
and Authorsden, www.authorsden.com/clarelondon
19. Can you list all your book titles so people can look for them?
Gladly!
At Dreamspinner Press (http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/) :
The Gold Warrior (novel)
Special Offer (short story in the Mr Right Now Anthology)
Ghost of Christmas yet to Come (Short story)
At Eternal Press (http://www.eternalpress.com.au/) :
Masquerade (anthology of my short stories)
Secret Santa (short story)
Just Like Scrooge (short story)
20. For new readers-what can they expect when they read your book(s)?
I want to excite them, to engage their emotions, to introduce them to my characters, to include them in the unfolding story, to make them laugh and love and lust - and want to read more! ^__^
In conclusion:
21. Take as much space as necessary to speak to our readers-what would you like them to know about you and your writing?
I'd like them to know that I care a great deal about fiction and producing good quality, exciting work - but that I want it to be fun for both writer and reader, as well. That I don't necessarily think plots and character have to be emotionally ‘black' or ‘white' - and that writing should reflect the complexity and mystery and contradiction of life, as well as its drama and romance.
I'd like them to find my work enjoyable and to feel it was good value, too.
Oh, and that I'm not as pretentious as I sometimes sound! *lol*
Thanks for the opportunity to chat!
