Interview With Amaleen Ison

This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Amaleen Ison, author of The Trouble With Nightingale, a paranormal urban fantasy released by Musa Publishing.  I met Amaleen three years ago through an online crit group.  I'm thrilled at the success she's achieved and very happy to welcome her to my blog.  

Hi Amaleen.  Let's jump right in.  I loved The Trouble With Nightingale. What inspired you to write Millie's story?

I’ve always loved writing occult and paranormal stories, but The Trouble with Nightingale actually developed from an anthology prompt about witches. Unfortunately, or fortunately, the story ran too long and veered from the original premise – as my stories so often do. When I realised I couldn’t sub to the anthology, I looked to other publishing markets and found Musa Publishing. They were prepared to print my novella as a solo publication, and that really appealed (of course :-).

I love when stories run long.  It opens so many possibilities.  Not only have you published Nightingale, but also several short stories. Can you tell us more about your journey to becoming published?

Like many people, I’d dreamt of writing a book for years. Never did anything about it until after my daughter was born. The thought of creating a novel she might one day read, love, and cherish ignited something in me.

I’m a tenacious woman once I set my mind to something, completely one tracked, and not afraid of hard work. I taught myself to write by reading mountains of craft books, and I joined an on-line critique group where I met you, Stephanie. :-) 

Most recently I joined an on-line writing community called Scribophile, and that’s when my writing really started to improve. They ran all sorts of short-story and flash competitions. My entries to those competitions eventually got published and gave me confidence to submit larger works to new markets.

The key to successful writing is reading (lots), learning craft, and seeking feedback.

Excellent advice.  What are you working on right now?

I’m currently editing a YA novel called Into Nearlight. It’s an urban fantasy romance set beneath the streets of London (yes, I said beneath), but despite its fantastical elements it predominantly explores family relationships. The families involved are dysfunctional to an extreme and generate wonderful conflict.

I remember falling in love with the earlier drafts of Into Nearlight.  I can’t wait to see the changes you’ve made.  Do you consider yourself a plotter or a pantser? Or a bit of both?

I create a structure to hang my stories on. The details, characters, and settings develop as I write. So I guess that makes me a bit of both. I’m too much of a control freak to leave my stories completely to chance. :-)

Do you have any special rituals you follow when you sit down to write?

Before I start writing I have to clear my email in-box and swing by Facebook, Goodreads, and Scribophile. Only then can I open up my current WIP.

I also need complete silence and a steaming cup of tea.

Thank you so much for sitting with me, Amaleen. One last question. If you were stranded

on a desert island with only three books, which books do you hope you'll have?

Would it be cheating to bring my Kindle pre-loaded with hundreds of books? (Sadly, yes :-) 

Yes, I thought so.

If I were stranded, I’d hope to have the next three books on my reading list: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi , Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles, and Easy by Tammara Webber. All three books come highly recommended by friends, so I can’t wait to read them.

Thank you again for chatting with me Amaleen.   

Ebook Giveaway:  The Trouble With Nightingale

Eighteen-year-old Millie Scrubbings must decide if she can stomach her responsibilities as Hell’s new Gatekeeper, or risk the denizens of Hell defiling her home turf.

When eighteen-year-old Millie Scrubbings moves to new digs on East London’s Nightingale Estate, she believes she’s finally closed the door on a childhood dictated by strangers. But overnight, her peaceful high-rise turns bonkers, and a series of grisly murders leaves Millie frightened and more helpless than ever.

Millie must accept her lead role in rescuing Nightingale from its descent into anarchy, or risk all Hell breaking loose.

Amaleen has generously offered to raffle off an ebook copy of The Trouble With Nightingale.  To enter the raffle, just make a comment on this post by 11:59 pm (EST) Tuesday, July 10th, and include your email.  I'll do the drawing Tuesday night, and announce the winner on Wednesday morning. 

Check out Amaleen’s website for great author interviews, book reviews and updates on her writing.  

Cheers all.  See you on Sunday.