About Marlow Kelly:
After being thrown out of England for refusing to drink tea, Marlow Kelly made her way to Canada where she found love, a home and a pug named Max. She also discovered her love of storytelling. Encouraged by her husband, children and let’s not forget Max, she started putting her ideas to paper. Her need to write about strong women in crisis drives her stories and her curiosity regarding the lives and loves of historical figures are the inspiration for her characters. You can visit Marlow at www.marlowkelly.com.
What inspires you to write?
Stories have always been a part of my psyche. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t imagining characters that had their own adventures. The idea of writing them down had always been in the back of my mind. It wasn’t until I reached my…middle years that I realized I didn’t have an unlimited amount of time. If I wanted to write about the characters in my head I had to sit down and do the hard work of crafting my stories so others might want to read them.
Tell us about your writing process.
This is a tough question. I struggle with the plotting process.
If I do an in depth outline then as far as my creative mind is concerned the story has already been told and I don’t want to tell it anymore.
If I don’t outline the plot then the story gets lost and I don’t hit the necessary plot points in the story arc and I end up with a rambling mess.
I think the answer for me lies somewhere in the middle. This is a process I’m experimenting with. I think I need to do a very rough simplistic outline that leaves room for me to discover the characters.
I’m hoping to figure out the plotting process soon as this is my third attempt at my current WIP. I want to put the story aside but the characters won’t let me. Added to that I have other characters in my head that want me to tell their stories.
For Fiction Writers: Do you listen (or talk to) to your characters?
I’m not sure if I listen or talk to my characters. I just get to know them bit by bit as their stories unfold. Discovering the characters as I write is part of the joy of creating.
What advice would you give other writers?
For me, writing is all about learning, and learning how to write was a great challenge. I wrote three novellas, the Honour, Love and Courage Series, because I wanted to understand how to rewrite and edit my work. And novella length pieces were the perfect format for this process.
The most important thing I discovered is how vital it is to hear your work aloud. Errors tend to be overlooked if you miss this step. I understand not everyone can sit at their computer and talk to themselves, but there are programs that read the words for you while you follow along. (Use ear buds if you don’t want anyone else to hear.)
I recommend Natural Ereader Free. Here’s the link: http://www.naturalreaders.com/download.php
How did you decide how to publish your books?
To be honest, when I wrote my three experimental novellas I expected to self-publish, but a friend recommended The Wild Rose Press. I decided to submit my work in the hopes that I could learn more from working with an editor.
In December 2013 they signed the first book, A Woman of Honour. The second Novella, A Woman of Love, will be released 4th March 2015, and I’ve just signed a contract for the third book, A Woman of Courage.
I have to say I’m extremely happy to work with TWRP.
What do you think about the future of book publishing?
Another toughie, I think self-publishing has turned the industry on its head, and that’s not a bad thing. Although most authors won’t get rich, self-publishing makes it possible for many writers to earn a living doing something they love. That’s so much harder with a traditional publisher. Once an author reaches a certain level where they have a loyal readership, and they understand the editing and promotion process, why would they give a large percentage of their royalties to a traditional publisher? I read more and more about successful writers leaving their publishers, and the reason they give is nearly always money.
What do you use?: Professional Editor, Professional Cover Designer, Beta Readers
What genres do you write?: Historical Romance
What formats are your books in?: eBook
Website(s)
Marlow Kelly Home Page Link
Link To Marlow Kelly Page On Amazon
Enjoyed Marlow. We came on board TWRP right at the same time it looks like. I also learned about TWRP from a writer friend here with them. Good interview. Good luck.