Name: Carol March
Pen Name
Author Ellen Mae Franklin
I write under the middle names of my 3 children in ages from the eldest to the youngest and have been fortunate that when they are put together, it creates such a lovely ringing tone to a fantasy author.
Age: 54
Lilian: What’s your star sign? Libran - September 23 - October 22
Balance, Justice, Truth, Beauty, Perfection
Lilian: Where are you from? I live in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Tell me a little about yourself?
I am many things. Like most indie writers, a mother and now a grandmother, someone who is overly passionate about fantasy, whether it be reading or creating. It is important for me to create and this leads me to jumping about the place when the mood suits, I like to garden and cook, I make handcrafted bookmarks and I am a social mavern at times. Reading when in those quiet moments and writing in between.
Lilian: Tell us your latest news and current projects.
I should ask if you have all day but that might very well empty the room, so I will do the best I can in a few short sentences.
I am currently working on two different books for two separate book series I involved in. One is for the Tarkeenia Series – Book 4 and it is called / A Fighting Chance.
The second is for a series that I co-write with a UK writer called / Maub the Dreamer and it is Book 3 in The Un-named Chronicles.
Outside of the immediate writing world I am involved in a few online promotional events and am busily organising an exhibition for my local library where I will display 25 handcrafted metal and bead bookmarks, alongside my own books.
Then there is Comic Con where I wish to participate in 2016 for the Adelaide event. Work needs to commence for the promotional and merchandising side of things for it.
Oh and I will be taking a big holiday overseas next year also and the planning for this need to be executed just so.
Are you a heels lady or boots?
I am neither. I like flats and loving my feet the way I do they have to be comfortable firstly.
Lilian: When and why did you begin writing?
I don’t have a solid date on for this question for I went from reading extensively in my chosen genre to writing. 17 years ago a story for a large epic series appeared, it was vague but over the years the storyline developed and 5 years ago I began its creation onto paper. So for the past 5 years I have been writing seriously and to date have published 6 books.
Lilian: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I did not think of myself as a writer, not truly one until I had published 3 books or so. There was so much to learn before then and my confidence needed to reach a certain level before I was able to think in this vein. I am still learning, tricks of the self-publishing trade and networking.
Lilian: How did you come up with the title?
I do not find creating Titles hard at all. Once may approach me (so to speak) before I begin writing or it will appear somewhere in the first book if I am working on a series or along the way. I do not stress about the title of any book or story. It will happen and I think if you leave yourself open to that approach you won’t have any problems.
Lilian: What inspired you to write your first book?
If you want the truth I will have to say personal trauma. No details will be given of course, but in a very dark place I suppose I needed a lifeline and writing became my saviour. Nothing overly special or miraculous, I just needed to escape,
Lilian: Do you have a specific writing style?
I am pretty sure I do but I can’t put a name on it. I suppose my style comes from all those years of reading some exceptional traditional authors in the fantasy genre and because I loved what I read, my writing reflected that because it made sense to me.
Lilian: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
There are some stories that are written with an inside message, cryptic, only there for the author’s amusement and then there are stories just written for pure pleasure. To speak of the Tarkeenia Series there is a message that pops up every now and then. The message I have to say is – curiosity and the consequences it brings if you act upon it.
Lilian: How much of the book is realistic?
There is very little realism in any of my books and if we speak again on The Tarkeenia Series. The only reality found in high fantasy are about general points of interest that needs to be verified around landscapes and vegetation perhaps.
Lilian: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Not that I can be sure on. My characters and storyline are all fictitious but I am sure that personal life experience plays a part in any writer’s life. We draw on emotion and what we know which comes from life experiences.
Lilian: What books have most influenced your life most?
From early childhood, any book written by Enid Blyton and to date an amazing array of authors. Stephen Donaldson in my early adult years reflects a series of fantasy books that is like a bible in this genre. His works are complex and filled with such imaginings that I re-read the Chronicles of Thomas the Unbeliever every few years. It seems to keep me grounded in this amazing genre.
Lilian: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
A few years ago I stumbled upon an author that left me in awe for his new approach to fantasy. Joe Abercrombie is his name and the books he creates are gritty and violent. His grasp on character development and dialogue is truly inspiring.
Lilian: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
You can seriously ask me to choose just one. I will tell you
Joe Abercrombie for his gift with characters. Robert Jordon for his skill in storytelling throughout a long series. Stephen Donaldson for the creativity that is displayed in the imaginings of the world of fantasy and George Martin for intrigue.
Lilian: What book are you reading now?
I usually have 2 or 3 on the go at once. Currently I am reading The Poisoned Crown (a historical fictional book of the French Royal family in 1300AD).
Then there is the 13th book / Towers of Midnight of Robert Jordan’s epic from The Wheel of Time.
Pen Name
Author Ellen Mae Franklin
I write under the middle names of my 3 children in ages from the eldest to the youngest and have been fortunate that when they are put together, it creates such a lovely ringing tone to a fantasy author.
Age: 54
Lilian: What’s your star sign? Libran - September 23 - October 22
Balance, Justice, Truth, Beauty, Perfection
Lilian: Where are you from? I live in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Tell me a little about yourself?
I am many things. Like most indie writers, a mother and now a grandmother, someone who is overly passionate about fantasy, whether it be reading or creating. It is important for me to create and this leads me to jumping about the place when the mood suits, I like to garden and cook, I make handcrafted bookmarks and I am a social mavern at times. Reading when in those quiet moments and writing in between.
Lilian: Tell us your latest news and current projects.
I should ask if you have all day but that might very well empty the room, so I will do the best I can in a few short sentences.
I am currently working on two different books for two separate book series I involved in. One is for the Tarkeenia Series – Book 4 and it is called / A Fighting Chance.
The second is for a series that I co-write with a UK writer called / Maub the Dreamer and it is Book 3 in The Un-named Chronicles.
Outside of the immediate writing world I am involved in a few online promotional events and am busily organising an exhibition for my local library where I will display 25 handcrafted metal and bead bookmarks, alongside my own books.
Then there is Comic Con where I wish to participate in 2016 for the Adelaide event. Work needs to commence for the promotional and merchandising side of things for it.
Oh and I will be taking a big holiday overseas next year also and the planning for this need to be executed just so.
Are you a heels lady or boots?
I am neither. I like flats and loving my feet the way I do they have to be comfortable firstly.
Lilian: When and why did you begin writing?
I don’t have a solid date on for this question for I went from reading extensively in my chosen genre to writing. 17 years ago a story for a large epic series appeared, it was vague but over the years the storyline developed and 5 years ago I began its creation onto paper. So for the past 5 years I have been writing seriously and to date have published 6 books.
Lilian: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I did not think of myself as a writer, not truly one until I had published 3 books or so. There was so much to learn before then and my confidence needed to reach a certain level before I was able to think in this vein. I am still learning, tricks of the self-publishing trade and networking.
Lilian: How did you come up with the title?
I do not find creating Titles hard at all. Once may approach me (so to speak) before I begin writing or it will appear somewhere in the first book if I am working on a series or along the way. I do not stress about the title of any book or story. It will happen and I think if you leave yourself open to that approach you won’t have any problems.
Lilian: What inspired you to write your first book?
If you want the truth I will have to say personal trauma. No details will be given of course, but in a very dark place I suppose I needed a lifeline and writing became my saviour. Nothing overly special or miraculous, I just needed to escape,
Lilian: Do you have a specific writing style?
I am pretty sure I do but I can’t put a name on it. I suppose my style comes from all those years of reading some exceptional traditional authors in the fantasy genre and because I loved what I read, my writing reflected that because it made sense to me.
Lilian: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
There are some stories that are written with an inside message, cryptic, only there for the author’s amusement and then there are stories just written for pure pleasure. To speak of the Tarkeenia Series there is a message that pops up every now and then. The message I have to say is – curiosity and the consequences it brings if you act upon it.
Lilian: How much of the book is realistic?
There is very little realism in any of my books and if we speak again on The Tarkeenia Series. The only reality found in high fantasy are about general points of interest that needs to be verified around landscapes and vegetation perhaps.
Lilian: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Not that I can be sure on. My characters and storyline are all fictitious but I am sure that personal life experience plays a part in any writer’s life. We draw on emotion and what we know which comes from life experiences.
Lilian: What books have most influenced your life most?
From early childhood, any book written by Enid Blyton and to date an amazing array of authors. Stephen Donaldson in my early adult years reflects a series of fantasy books that is like a bible in this genre. His works are complex and filled with such imaginings that I re-read the Chronicles of Thomas the Unbeliever every few years. It seems to keep me grounded in this amazing genre.
Lilian: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
A few years ago I stumbled upon an author that left me in awe for his new approach to fantasy. Joe Abercrombie is his name and the books he creates are gritty and violent. His grasp on character development and dialogue is truly inspiring.
Lilian: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
You can seriously ask me to choose just one. I will tell you
Joe Abercrombie for his gift with characters. Robert Jordon for his skill in storytelling throughout a long series. Stephen Donaldson for the creativity that is displayed in the imaginings of the world of fantasy and George Martin for intrigue.
Lilian: What book are you reading now?
I usually have 2 or 3 on the go at once. Currently I am reading The Poisoned Crown (a historical fictional book of the French Royal family in 1300AD).
Then there is the 13th book / Towers of Midnight of Robert Jordan’s epic from The Wheel of Time.
Lilian: Do you see writing as a career?
A career in writing is a pearler of an idea and one each writer aspires to. But I believe it is muddy waters for there is way to much pollution from other indie authors who books have little quality and story in them. It makes a writing career very hard, for marketing is like pushing shit uphill so I am content to write for the absolute love of telling a story. If something more comes of that then I consider myself lucky or blessed.
Lilian: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
For a lame pun I will just answer, good editing. But on a serious note, there is not a single thing I ever wish to change in my books. I think very carefully before I write.
Lilian: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Either finding the time necessary for someone as slow as myself in the writing process or the personal motivation. No matter how much I love writing I am obviously lazy by nature.
Lilian: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
This excerpt is from Maub’s Dreaming
She sat with her back against the wall, a little girl whose father was Un-named and her mother a werewolf, who could fault the puzzled look she gave the wolf next to her. She held out a small hand and if it had been anyone else it may have been bitten off. Maub was just over six months old, but with the blood of a werewolf running through her veins she was equivalent to a five-year old girl.
“I had a dream Star.” Maub spoke out loud although it wasn’t necessary.
The wolf licked the palm of her hand and as he did with her mother, they mind linked. All living creatures dream
She smiled at him, a coy silent understanding and she giggled. Picking a stone, one from the seven that she had gathered on their morning walk Maub placed it on the ground in front of her. Then she picked up another, slightly bluish in colour and began to form a pattern. There was a certainty to it’s placing for she looked at the stone for a short while, caught up in the magic of it all, Star for the moment was forgotten.
Slowly and with great deliberation Maub layered the stones into a pyramid and when she had finished the little girl stood and clapped her hands in joy. Star snorted, an odd sound coming from a wolf and equivalent of a human vexed.
“In my dream I saw this.” Maub ran her hand over her beautiful stone handiwork. “But it was so very different than this. Seven colours, shining so brightly that I thought I would go blind and when I touched the first one it went black, dull like these stones, each of them. What does it mean Star?”
The wolf snorted again and playfully nudged her shoulder with his snout. He licked at her ear affectionately. “How does a wolf know man dreams? We care only for the hunt and full bellies. It must be a cub’s fancy.”
“Do you think because if felt different from other dreams.”
“Speak to your mother of such things for I have no time to listen to the musings of mans dreams.” Star lifted his head and looked down into the valley from where they sat.
It was a place of refuge and one that had served them well. There were deep caves, warm and dry in the mountains, not even the coming winter would be enough to worry the pack but he worried all the same. It was men and magic that weighed heavily on the pack leader for strange things were a foot. His scouts had come back with tales of dark storms across the plains beyond and of armies in the home of her husband. He had vanished so they sensed and that was another concern, for each day passing Ostranda grew more impatient.
Maub was dark like her father Krad and yet, it was Thgil, her aunt that she took after. No one had guessed it yet, not even Maub herself for she was too young, but her dream of the shining stones was a portent of unimaginable significance to the Un-named’s survival. She stood and looked at the pile of stones, then at Star who was carefully picking his way through the rocky outcrop to join the other wolves in the hunt. With a sigh Maub looked back at the pile of rocks, a dull as they were in her dream and in frustration she kicked them, sending the pyramid toppling.
“Star.” She called out to the fading wolf. “Can I come? Please!” But she got no answer: hunting was no place for a cub and especially with one who only had two legs.
Lilian: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
No the content that lies within my books comes purely from imagination. As far as marketing is concerned I have yet to become involved in participating in events outside of the writing room.
Lilian: Who designed the covers?
I used a site called Odesk to source a graphic designer and settled on a talented girl called Priscilla who is responsible for the end product of my book covers for the Tarkeenia Series. I procured the image and she manipulated the different colours I wanted and did the graphics for it. She is affordable and excellent in every area concerning our work together.
Lilian: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Feeling confident that the overall book is finished. I do not have any trouble writing for I do not believe in putting myself under pressure during the process. How can creativity be forced or expected to come to light just because you feel you have to have a dead line. There will never be quality in an piece of work this way.
Lilian: Do you remember the first book you read?
No I do not remember the title but it was definitely a book written by Enid Blyton, which by the way are all in my library still.
Lilian: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I am laughing at this question for if you truly knew me you would clap your hands for it is that I have the capacity to actually finish something for once that I started.
Lilian: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Yes that everyone you talk to who has written a book or two will have their own opinions about how to do it, their so called tips and advice about the process. I think you need to truly believe in what you are writing and gain confidence along the way. Do not stress over the so many other aspects which involve an Indie Author, the marketing side of selling books for that is not the true to key. Remember it is the right attitude and in particular Exposure! I can’t stress that enough for from Exposure sales will surely flow.
Have patience.
Lilian: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Yes, if you are new to High Fantasy remember that there are no definitive heroes or villains, for each character has a motive and reason for being in the story. I use different story threads to tell an overall complex story, so have patience and open you imagination.
Lilian: Other than writing do you have any hobbies?
There are all sorts of pleasures to be found in this world and I believe simple is the best. I love to read and sing, to garden and cook. When I save up enough dollars I travel. There is too much to see in this world to be happy in remaining ignorant and visiting other countries only helps in obtaining more life experiences for those lovely books I write.
Lilian: What makes you laugh/cry?
Movies and books, songs and sometimes places but who can tell when or what kind of emotion will be sparked from the stimulation of senses.
Lilian: Is there one person pass or present you would meet and why?
Of late I would love to sit across from the table while having a cuppa with the actor who plays Ragnar Lothbrok in the series Vikings. I found out that is an Aussie boy and I can’t believe his wonderful eyes, voice and persona that he has for this series. It would be amazing to see what he is like in his everyday life.
Lilian: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music?
For food it is Asia cooking and yep fried potatoes swamped in salt.
My favourite colour is brown.
In the music department I have to settle on Seattle grunge from the early 90’s
Lilian: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
Games of Thrones and Vikings at the moment. I love TV Series and am looking to some favourites coming back in the middle of this year – True Detective and Penny Dreadful.
Lilian: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
I would have probably pursued song writing and singing on a more professional level I guess
I just want to thank you Carol for taking the time out to be interviewed for my blog ~ Lilian
A career in writing is a pearler of an idea and one each writer aspires to. But I believe it is muddy waters for there is way to much pollution from other indie authors who books have little quality and story in them. It makes a writing career very hard, for marketing is like pushing shit uphill so I am content to write for the absolute love of telling a story. If something more comes of that then I consider myself lucky or blessed.
Lilian: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
For a lame pun I will just answer, good editing. But on a serious note, there is not a single thing I ever wish to change in my books. I think very carefully before I write.
Lilian: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Either finding the time necessary for someone as slow as myself in the writing process or the personal motivation. No matter how much I love writing I am obviously lazy by nature.
Lilian: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
This excerpt is from Maub’s Dreaming
She sat with her back against the wall, a little girl whose father was Un-named and her mother a werewolf, who could fault the puzzled look she gave the wolf next to her. She held out a small hand and if it had been anyone else it may have been bitten off. Maub was just over six months old, but with the blood of a werewolf running through her veins she was equivalent to a five-year old girl.
“I had a dream Star.” Maub spoke out loud although it wasn’t necessary.
The wolf licked the palm of her hand and as he did with her mother, they mind linked. All living creatures dream
She smiled at him, a coy silent understanding and she giggled. Picking a stone, one from the seven that she had gathered on their morning walk Maub placed it on the ground in front of her. Then she picked up another, slightly bluish in colour and began to form a pattern. There was a certainty to it’s placing for she looked at the stone for a short while, caught up in the magic of it all, Star for the moment was forgotten.
Slowly and with great deliberation Maub layered the stones into a pyramid and when she had finished the little girl stood and clapped her hands in joy. Star snorted, an odd sound coming from a wolf and equivalent of a human vexed.
“In my dream I saw this.” Maub ran her hand over her beautiful stone handiwork. “But it was so very different than this. Seven colours, shining so brightly that I thought I would go blind and when I touched the first one it went black, dull like these stones, each of them. What does it mean Star?”
The wolf snorted again and playfully nudged her shoulder with his snout. He licked at her ear affectionately. “How does a wolf know man dreams? We care only for the hunt and full bellies. It must be a cub’s fancy.”
“Do you think because if felt different from other dreams.”
“Speak to your mother of such things for I have no time to listen to the musings of mans dreams.” Star lifted his head and looked down into the valley from where they sat.
It was a place of refuge and one that had served them well. There were deep caves, warm and dry in the mountains, not even the coming winter would be enough to worry the pack but he worried all the same. It was men and magic that weighed heavily on the pack leader for strange things were a foot. His scouts had come back with tales of dark storms across the plains beyond and of armies in the home of her husband. He had vanished so they sensed and that was another concern, for each day passing Ostranda grew more impatient.
Maub was dark like her father Krad and yet, it was Thgil, her aunt that she took after. No one had guessed it yet, not even Maub herself for she was too young, but her dream of the shining stones was a portent of unimaginable significance to the Un-named’s survival. She stood and looked at the pile of stones, then at Star who was carefully picking his way through the rocky outcrop to join the other wolves in the hunt. With a sigh Maub looked back at the pile of rocks, a dull as they were in her dream and in frustration she kicked them, sending the pyramid toppling.
“Star.” She called out to the fading wolf. “Can I come? Please!” But she got no answer: hunting was no place for a cub and especially with one who only had two legs.
Lilian: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
No the content that lies within my books comes purely from imagination. As far as marketing is concerned I have yet to become involved in participating in events outside of the writing room.
Lilian: Who designed the covers?
I used a site called Odesk to source a graphic designer and settled on a talented girl called Priscilla who is responsible for the end product of my book covers for the Tarkeenia Series. I procured the image and she manipulated the different colours I wanted and did the graphics for it. She is affordable and excellent in every area concerning our work together.
Lilian: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Feeling confident that the overall book is finished. I do not have any trouble writing for I do not believe in putting myself under pressure during the process. How can creativity be forced or expected to come to light just because you feel you have to have a dead line. There will never be quality in an piece of work this way.
Lilian: Do you remember the first book you read?
No I do not remember the title but it was definitely a book written by Enid Blyton, which by the way are all in my library still.
Lilian: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
I am laughing at this question for if you truly knew me you would clap your hands for it is that I have the capacity to actually finish something for once that I started.
Lilian: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Yes that everyone you talk to who has written a book or two will have their own opinions about how to do it, their so called tips and advice about the process. I think you need to truly believe in what you are writing and gain confidence along the way. Do not stress over the so many other aspects which involve an Indie Author, the marketing side of selling books for that is not the true to key. Remember it is the right attitude and in particular Exposure! I can’t stress that enough for from Exposure sales will surely flow.
Have patience.
Lilian: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Yes, if you are new to High Fantasy remember that there are no definitive heroes or villains, for each character has a motive and reason for being in the story. I use different story threads to tell an overall complex story, so have patience and open you imagination.
Lilian: Other than writing do you have any hobbies?
There are all sorts of pleasures to be found in this world and I believe simple is the best. I love to read and sing, to garden and cook. When I save up enough dollars I travel. There is too much to see in this world to be happy in remaining ignorant and visiting other countries only helps in obtaining more life experiences for those lovely books I write.
Lilian: What makes you laugh/cry?
Movies and books, songs and sometimes places but who can tell when or what kind of emotion will be sparked from the stimulation of senses.
Lilian: Is there one person pass or present you would meet and why?
Of late I would love to sit across from the table while having a cuppa with the actor who plays Ragnar Lothbrok in the series Vikings. I found out that is an Aussie boy and I can’t believe his wonderful eyes, voice and persona that he has for this series. It would be amazing to see what he is like in his everyday life.
Lilian: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music?
For food it is Asia cooking and yep fried potatoes swamped in salt.
My favourite colour is brown.
In the music department I have to settle on Seattle grunge from the early 90’s
Lilian: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
Games of Thrones and Vikings at the moment. I love TV Series and am looking to some favourites coming back in the middle of this year – True Detective and Penny Dreadful.
Lilian: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
I would have probably pursued song writing and singing on a more professional level I guess
I just want to thank you Carol for taking the time out to be interviewed for my blog ~ Lilian