STORYTELLER - S.K.GREGORY
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Book Reviews
  • Services
  • About Me

Blaze by Ginger Lee Malacko

7/8/2015

 
Picture
Picture
Interview – Ginger Lee Malacko, Author of the KINDLED series


1. Give us a brief description of your series.

KINDLED is a two-part series that follows thirteen year old Nathan Coville on his journey from spoiled town champion to heroic angel warrior. Nathan falls to his death in a suspicious accident and is thrust into an invisible world of guardian angels. Through magic and mayhem, and with the help of a few unlikely friends, a demon plot is discovered, an evil army challenged, and a legend saved as Nathan fights to change his fate and protect the little brother he left behind.   


2. Where did the idea come from?

It actually started with the idea for a single scene that was playing in my head like a movie. I’ve always known that I wanted to write about courage and so I imagined a character brave enough to walk into an enemy stronghold, alone and unarmed, which Nathan does about two thirds of the way through SPARK. Most of my ideas spring from a feeling I want my characters to experience and my readers to share. All the people and places and situations in the book grow from those feelings and then it just becomes fun. Let’s make them fly. Let’s make them throw fire. Let’s put angel headquarters under a mountain. I also love a book based on the real, regular old world that we know, rather than a completely made up world. Reality with a little magic thrown in. That’s what I love to write. It makes me believe that magical things can and do happen even if we don’t always get to see them.  


3. Do you only write Young Adult/Children's books?

Well, I’ve been writing books for a while now and I can honestly say I have never once had the desire to write for “grownups”. I love writing for middle grade because I find kids of that age (8-14) are eager for darker stories, more complex characters, more serious dilemmas, and yet they still love magic and wonder and they’re hungry to learn. I love books that teach and inspire, even if they’re also fun and exciting. I would like to write a tale or two more specifically geared for young adults at some point, but middle grade is really where my heart is.


4. Who are your favorite authors ?

I love anyone who can make me LOVE their characters. Some of my favourites include Lois Lowry, Eoin Colfer, Ellen Potter, Margaret Haddix, Kenneth Oppel, Claire Legrand, Natalie Loyd…there are actually quite a lot of them. There are also a lot of authors out there I’m sure would be on my list if given the chance. I live in a very small town with a very small library and there are so many books on my radar I haven’t had the pleasure of reading quite yet. 


5. Do you have more books planned in the future?

So many. I’m working on a spy novel right now featuring a girl who gets mixed up with up the CIA and a global terrorist ring – and gets to travel to a few places in the world that I have been to myself. I’m super excited about it because it won’t be a book about a kid who somehow miraculously karate chops fully grown men or pilots a helicopter without lessons. Everything she does will be something a real kid could actually do. So there won’t be any magic in this one, but plenty of adventure and some cool spy tricks. I’m also very excited about the fact that my main character is painfully shy, as I was too, once upon a time. I want to tell my readers that you don’t have to be loud and bold to be brave and heroic.


6. What advice would you give a writer who is just starting out? 


a) Create your own brand. Writing the book is only part of the story. What most people don’t realize is that even if you’re lucky enough to get a contract with a traditional publisher, they really only promote best sellers. So while you’re working on the plot and swapping out adjectives, constantly be learning how to use social media, tap into online resources, get involved in the local book trade. Learn to be your own best advocate.

b) Edit, edit, edit! And then edit again. I have seen many good stories and characters get zero attention because the manuscript is so poorly edited. Don’t just look for spelling errors or sloppy grammar. Concentrate on consistency, flow, clarity, resolution. A writer jumps around his or her manuscript so much it can end up feeling choppy and then good writing can look like poor writing. Whether you’re self publishing or trying to catch the eye of an agent, you need good editing like you need the air you breathe.

c) Write what you love. Because no matter how great a concept you come up with or how well you think it fits in today’s market, you will not have the drive to finish it or promote it unless it’s precious to you. Writing and publishing is a whole lot of work and it’s not easy to keep the faith. Write for yourself first and the market second. 

Check out: http://gingermalacko.com/ 


C. Lee McKenzie
10/8/2015 01:35:18 pm

It's so interesting to see how someone takes a broad theme such as courage and creates a story about it. I agree 100% with his advice. Hope everyone reads this part.

OWO Pennsylvania link
25/2/2021 08:24:58 pm

Loved reading thhis thank you


Comments are closed.
    Picture

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Professional Reader

    Monthly Newsletter

    newsletter_jan.docx
    File Size: 1361 kb
    File Type: docx
    Download File

    newsletter_feb.docx
    File Size: 285 kb
    File Type: docx
    Download File

    newsletter_mar.docx
    File Size: 519 kb
    File Type: docx
    Download File

    newsletter_apr.docx
    File Size: 250 kb
    File Type: docx
    Download File

    newsletter_may.docx
    File Size: 296 kb
    File Type: docx
    Download File

    Lnewsletter_june.docx
    File Size: 559 kb
    File Type: docx
    Download File

    newsletter_july.docx
    File Size: 911 kb
    File Type: docx
    Download File

    newsletter_aug.docx
    File Size: 387 kb
    File Type: docx
    Download File

    newsletter_sept.docx
    File Size: 403 kb
    File Type: docx
    Download File

    About the Author:

    S. K. Gregory is an author, editor and blogger. She currently resides in Northern Ireland.

    “Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.” 
    ― Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
    Picture

    Archives

    September 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014

    Categories

    All
    Book
    Sarah Mallery
    Sewing

    RSS Feed

© 2015 S.K. Gregory

Proudly powered by Weebly
Photo used under Creative Commons from PlusLexia.com
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Book Reviews
  • Services
  • About Me