Today I welcome Alice Archer to the blog to answer a few questions
for Interview³.
1) Tell us 3 fun facts about your writing history
When I was a kid, if I told my mother I was bored, she’d suggest that I write a poem or read the dictionary. For my thirteenth birthday, a friend of the family gave me a diary, and that was the first of many, many journals I’ve filled over the years. Even though I’m a professional editor, I almost never remember to spell the word acknowledgments correctly.
2) Describe your writing style in 3 words
Intense. Lyrical. Emotional.
3) Name 3 of your literary influences
Roald Dahl’s children’s books. I wore out Cher’s Greatest Hits album as a teenager, captivated by the stories told in the songs. The male-male romance genre, for surprising me enough to want to join in.
4) Share your 3 favourite books
Nancy Lemann’s Lives of the Saints – a weird, lovely book that makes me nostalgic about the U. S. South, where I grew up, even though I never totally fit in there. Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine – because the writing makes me feel drunk. Amy Lane’s Clear Water – one of my favorite male/male romances.
5) What are your 3 essential writing tools?
I use three software programs to write novels: Scrivener, tweaked to work the way I want it to; Word for Mac, for the one-line-per-chapter synopsis that allows me to see the whole story at a glance; and Excel spreadsheets, for tracking writing times and word counts.
6) Where are your 3 favourite places to write?
My perfect orange armchair from West Elm, or my couch, situated to give me a view of trees. If I write when I’m not at home, the main things I need are to not sit at a desk, and to have a view of nature, which relaxes and inspires me. Ultimately, though, putting in the writing time is more important than where I do it.
7) Name 3 items on your writing wish list
Local writing buddies. Trying out self-publishing. Having all my books about writing in one place (right now they’re in Washington State, Virginia, and Tennessee).
8) What are your top 3 tips for aspiring writers?
I don’t have anything revolutionary to offer, but I stand by the basics, which I’m sure you’ve heard before: Set specific, meaningful writing goals. Write, write, and write some more. Experiment to find out what works for you. Those three tips will take you anywhere you want to go. I’m sure of it.
9) Tell us 3 of your writing plans for the year ahead
First, I’ll finish the novel I’m currently writing. Also, since I learn so much about the publishing industry in my job (which I love) as an executive at a publishing firm, I plan to apply what I learn to my own writing career. I’ll attend a few writing/publishing conferences, including the Smarter Artist Summit in February, which I’m really looking forward to.
10) Tell us about your latest release
Everyday History, a contemporary male/male romance, tells the story of Ruben, a headstrong young man, who woos, wins, then walks away from an older man, Henry. The articles Henry subsequently writes about their time together compel Ruben to rethink his decision. The themes running through the story include separation, getting lost, growing up, the memories embedded in our belongings, and the pain of believing it's too late to change your mind. Because I write for myself first, the story has a happy ending.
Alice Archer
Dreamspinner Press
29 June 2016
Contemporary M/M Romance Novel
Word Count: 90,116
Heat Rating: 3 – Some sexual content
Age Range: Adult
If you woo, win, and walk away, a second chance is going to cost you.
Headstrong Ruben Harper has yet to meet an obstacle he can’t convert to a speed bump. He’s used to getting what he wants from girls, but when he develops a fascination for a man, his wooing skills require an upgrade. After months of persuasion, he scores a dinner date with Henry Normand that morphs into an intense weekend. The unexpected depth of their connection scares Ruben into fleeing.
Shy, cautious Henry, Ruben’s former high school history teacher, suspects he needs a wake-up call, and Ruben appears to be his siren. But when Ruben bolts, Henry is left struggling to find closure. Inspired by his conversations with Ruben, Henry begins to write articles about the memories stored in everyday objects. The articles seduce Ruben with details from their weekend together and trigger feelings too strong to avoid. As Henry’s snowballing fame takes him out of town and further out of touch, Ruben stretches to close the gaps that separate them.
Alice Archer has messed about with words professionally for many years as an editor and writing coach. After living in more than eighty places and cobbling together a portable lifestyle, she has a lot of story material to sort through. It has reassured her to discover that even though cultural differences get people into a peck of trouble when they’re falling in love, the human heart can find its way in any language.
Fun interview!
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Thanks. Glad you enjoyed it.
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