As a newbie to the Indie-author scene, it can be pretty daunting to come across someone like JT Lawrence. Janita Thiele Lawrence is a Joburg based author – and mother of 3. Not only does she write, she is also owns a book dealership, Pulp Books.  Janita and I frequent the same online writers group and I’m always just in plain awe of how hard she works and how driven she is. When Janita asked who in the group would be keen to read her new novel, I signed up. Mainly, I just had to know what her writing was like. And WOW – I didn’t just read Grey Magic, I gobbled it up over a weekend and fell in love with a female witch! Seriously, I have not had this hard a crush on a paranormal character since Edward in the Twilight series.

After reading Grey Magic, I knew I just had to get to know JT better. I invited her to be interviewed for my blog, and as always, it’s a treat to talk to other writers about their work.

CP: I loved GREY MAGIC so much! What inspired the story?

JT: I’m so glad! I’ve always loved the idea of everyday magic, and am fascinated by modern-day witches (and horrified by stories of witch hunts, past and present). I wrote a short story to explore the idea of a witch who lives by her own set of morals, who isn’t dictated to by others, and enjoyed it so much that it turned into a novel.

CP: Raven is such a chaotic and complicated mess, with the best of intentions, and yet…she constantly finds herself in trouble (from all sides), in what way can you identify with Raven?

JT: Like Raven, I try to live by my own rules and subvert the status quo when it’s not working for me. Forging a career in indie publishing is part of that disruption: when I realised that gatekeepers were keeping me from my dream job of being an author, I decided to make my own way through the porthole. Regarding Raven being a hot mess, well, life is chaotic and complicated, isn’t it? And I wouldn’t have it any other way!

CP: I loved the plot line of the connection between Raven’s grandmother, who was also a witch and th e priest – will there be a second book exploring that?

JT: I’m planning a 5-book series for Grey Magic, a book for each element. I have a feeling we’ll definitely be revisiting their relationship.

CP: What scene in the book did you have the most satisfaction writing?

JT: The ending! It was a such a relief that (most) people survived. I also loved writing the Viking and Medieval past lives. I’d never tried writing any kind of historical fiction before and I really enjoyed it.

CP: Tell me about how you did your research for the book?

JT: I read loads of books on witches, and the history and practice of witchcraft. The most interesting of all was ‘The Spiral Dance’ by Starhawk which I found absolutely fascinating. I identified with so much in the book, especially her special brand of feminism, which is inherent to neopagan beliefs.

CP: Do have a book playlist, like some authors do?

JT: I listen to white noise while I write, for minimum distraction. Rain or thunderstorms, depending on my mood.

CP: So do I! This one is my favourite:

CP: How does it feel, knowing your book is such a sensation on Amazon?

JT: It’s wonderful! When Amazon chose it as a Hot New Release I was absolutely thrilled. Still kind of pinching myself now as it continues to sell. Talk about everyday magic!

CP: When you are not writing, what kind of books do you like reading?

JT: I read everything. I especially love books that feed my brain: interesting facts, new perspectives, or just plain delicious storylines.

CP: Tell  me about the cover design (I know there’s a story behind this).

JT: Last year I was completely over committed: I tend to set almost near impossible deadlines so that I can meet my ambitious publishing schedule. I also run a business and have three kids under 5! So I had a deadline and a new baby and serious sleep-dep so my secret weapon (my husband) offered to design the cover for me. He’s a talented man!

CP: Any new projects on the horizon?

JT: I’m relaunching my futuristic thriller, ‘Why You Were Taken’, at the end of the month, then releasing the sequel, ‘How We Found You’, in May. The SABC has optioned it for a radio serial so I’ll be working on that, too. I’m busy planning the third book in the series and I’m starting to get excited/terrified, as I always do before a first draft. As for Raven Kane, I’d like to write four more in the series, a book for each element (and there are five in wicca).

GET A FREE COPY OF  HER BOOK ‘WHY YOU WERE TAKEN’

You can visit JT Lawrence’s website here – and take advantage of her free book offer!

CP: If you could be stuck in a lift with any author, who would it be? What would you dare ask?

JT: This is such a tough one! I guess it would have to be JK Rowling because I just admire her so much. I would ask her what her One True Thing is.

CP: Thank you for taking the time to chat to me! It was lovely getting to know you.

Reader, you can also stalk JT Lawrence on Facebook. I do 🙂 And if you want to get your hands on a copy of Grey Magic, check out Amazon.com here.

I chatted to South Africa’s first RITA nominee, Romy Summer about her short listed book, Not a Fairytale. She also indulged me, and answered some other questions about being a writer.

1. When did you realise that you are romance writer?

I wrote my first ‘practice’ novel many years ago after doing a writing cousre, and showed it to my

first critique partner, Mandy Verbaan. She was a loud and proud romance reader who told me I “had

a voice for Romance”. So I went off to the second hand book store and bought a pile of romance

novels to find out what she meant – and I promptly fell in love with the genre!

2. Do you recall the first story you ever wrote?

The same story I mentioned above, that ‘practice novel’, was more women’s fiction than romance. It

featured the interwoven stories of two very different women whose lives only crossed at the very

end. My writing at that stage was awful. I had no concept of character development or rising action

or conflict – but there’s still a gem of an idea in that story which I might one day explore!

The biggest achievement of that first story though was actually seeing it through to the end. Until

that moment I’d been a serial starter. I’d learned to play piano and guitar (can’t play a note of

either!), done tap dancing, ballet, figure skating, calligraphy, and a host of other hobbies I no longer

even remember – but writing was the first thing that I saw through to the end. And ten years later

I’m still obsessed with it!

3. Who was your favourite romance author while growing up?

I didn’t really read romances growing up (at least I didn’t think I did!) but I loved Georgette Heyer,

Mary Stewart – and of course the Sweet Valley High series!

4. You chair the Romance Writers Organisation of SA, how did that come about?

Mandy and I first tossed the idea of a romance writers group around over a Mugg & Bean breakfast.

When we started writing, it felt like we were the only two people in the whole country writing

Romance. Slowly we began to reach out to other writers, and along the way we experienced a fair

amount of disdain from writers in other genres. Having experienced first hand the generous support

of romance writers online and in other countries, we decided that South African romance writers

needed a safe place to hang out together, and so ROSA was born.

We started as an online Yahoo group with only a handful of members, then slowly more and more

romance writers came forward and joined, and now we’re a registered non-profit organisation

which the literary community is starting to take seriously. Because of course, Romance writers rock!

5. Describe the moment you heard you were nominated for the RITA.

The announcements were due to be made on a Friday, so I assumed shortlisted authors would be

notified on the Thursday. My kids were on school holidays and I’d taken the week off work to spend

time with them, so I spent that Thursday busy fetching and carrying kids. It stopped me from

obsessing over my inbox, and by the time I remembered what day it was I figured the silence meant I

hadn’t shortlisted. I shrugged it off and life carried on.

They next day we were all enjoying a lazy day at home, binge-watching Miss Fisher’s Murder

Mysteries, when I realised I hadn’t even looked at my cell phone in several hours. What if someone

from work had tried to contact me?

I had one missed call. From the States. I don’t know anyone in the States, at least no one who would

call me early on a Friday morning US time. I listened to the voice message already guessing what it

might be. It was Damon Suede, one of the RWA board members, calling me with the good news. I

was able to dance around the room, take it all in, then tell the kids to keep quiet so I could return

the call.

I remember pacing the front garden with the cell phone glued to my ear, managing to hold a very

rational, calm conversation with Damon while inside I was still screaming and dancing.

It was quite possibly one of the best days of my life so far!

6. Where did you get the idea of creating a character like Nina? And what do you love most

about her?

Nina was a very minor secondary character in my previous book To Catch a Star. Her hero, Dominic,

was also in the same book, but unlike Nina he wasn’t shy and retiring. He kept trying to write himself

a bigger part. So I realised of course he needed to get his own book.

But who would be a fitting heroine for a man who had every woman fall at his feet?

Then I realised that Nina, the voluptuous actress who hadn’t fallen for either Dom or his best friend

Christian (the hero of To Catch a Star) might be the one woman who would make him really work

for her heart.

What I love most about Nina is that she’s still just a normal girl behind the celebrity facade. She still

worries about what her Gran will think, finds high heels uncomfortable, and isn’t overly fond of

exercise. It’s this down-to- earth quality that makes Dom sit up and notice her. While he may have

been attracted to her looks at the beginning, it’s her willingness to get dirty and sweaty in order to

complete the challenge he sets her, which impresses him most.

7. What’s your favourite line / lines in the book?

I have quite a few moments in Not a Fairy Tale that make me smile, but perhaps my favourite is this

one:

8. Do you dream of fame?

Who doesn’t?! Actually, as much as I enjoy recognition for my writing, I’m in this for the money! If I

had to choose between fame and fortune, I’d definitely choose fortune.

9. Just tell me, did you have Alec Baldwin in mind when you wrote the character of Paul? 

Not at all. In fact, the actor I had in mind is probably Hollywood’s most confirmed bachelor:

Leonardo di Caprio. He even has Paul’s house in the Hollywood Hills and his hybrid car! (Though I’m

sure Mr di Caprio is much nicer in person than Paul)

10. The setting of the book is LA. As a South African writer, why did you choose a setting that

isn’t local?

It just seemed the right place to set this. She’s a Hollywood actress, he’s a Hollywood stuntman.

Where else would they live between movies? I could have changed the setting, but then it wouldn’t

have been the same story.

I feel bad that I haven’t yet set any of my books in South Africa, but I don’t seem to have any say in

the matter. The stories tell me where they’re set, rather than the other way around.

11. Much of the story circles around both Nina and Dom feeling unworthy of each other,

which is highly relatable to a reader (I think), did you purposefully choose this as a theme?

If so, Why?

I don’t think I purposefully chose that theme, though since it seems to recur in all my stories maybe

that says more about me than about my characters?

The one thing I wanted to get across in Not a Fairy Tale is that beauty is an illusion. Nina is a

successful, beautiful actress (I modeled her on Mila Kunis) yet she still battles with weight issues,

still feels inferior to others around her. It is 100% true that even the gorgeous models and actresses

we see in magazines and on TV can’t live up to the images that are presented of them!

I want women, especially younger women, to know that they are just as beautiful as the celebrities

they idolise. We’d all look gorgeous if we had a team of stylists and airbrushers turning us into

unrealistic versions of ourselves!

12. Nina and Dom get their happily ever after and they come full circle, what does HEA mean

to you? (Is it marriage? Is it a baby?)

For me, the HEA is finding a partner who will support you, and who will help you be the truest and

best version of yourself. That doesn’t always involve an exchange of rings, and for many people that

doesn’t include babies. It’s having a partner who loves you with all your flaws, and who has your

back.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Not a Fairytale, it was the prefect lazy weekend love story.

It was lovely getting to know you better, Romy!

Stalk Romy! Website. Facebook.