Writing

I get it. I really do. You read fiction for escapism, not realism. You yearn for justice and a world that rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked. Where the good guys are guaranteed a win and the bad guys get their just desserts.

I don’t write that sort of book. You won’t turn the last page and find a happy ending, wrapped up neatly with a pretty bow, just for the sake of it. But nor do I write a sad ending just for the shock factor or to subvert expectations.

Welcome to my world. Here’s what you’ll find if you choose to stay.

“Oh, that’s dark.”

Forgotten Skye, my upcoming novel in my YA romantasy series, The Ruined Skye Trilogy, is an example of me unleashing my full darkness on the world.

It’s perfect if you love:

• a FMC who stabs first and asks questions later
• flawed, messy characters
• an eerie setting where the Isle of Skye feels like a character in its own right
• charismatic villains
• an ending that hurts in the best way

It’s NOT perfect if you love:

• a happy ever after
• redemption for the villain
• a comfort read

Case in point: Mirrordom

I don’t write cosy fantasy. I write books that challenge the perception of who is really good. In The Mirrordom Legends, I have the perfect playground to explore that question. In this world, everyone is born Good, with all the constraints and stereotypes that brings to mind. But everyone has a Mirror twin, with no limitations on how they can and cannot act. The entire series asks the question what really makes us good? Who decides the standard for goodness? What happens when a Good person does something terrible?

There are no easy answers. And no redemption. (Unless we’re talking about Cobalt. And even then I haven’t quite decided.)

What will the future hold for Cobalt? Find out when Quiver and Arrow releases later this year.

Exceptions to every self-imposed rule

It’s quite hard to talk all things ending without giving away massive spoilers. However, I will say if you are looking for something a little gentler among my books, The Boy With Wings For Hands probably* won’t wreck you emotionally. It’s due out this year.

Something for everyone?

For me, creativity means experimentation. Having the privilege and the freedom to try new things.

One of my novels, Funeral For A Robot, comes out this year and, in it, I do something I’ve never done before. There are two different endings and it’s up to the reader whether they want to read the second one or not.

I also like this idea because it gives the reader a sense of agency. You get to decide whether you want to turn the page and gamble with your emotions. You get to decide if the lure of the unknown beckons you onwards.

I’m so grateful to Fire and Ice YA for giving me the creative freedom to do something bizarre.

So what will you get from my books?

I know I’m in the minority when I believe that some happy endings are an insult to the characters and the reader. Equally, so can be an ending where everyone dies. Unless handled carefully, both of those opposites can feel like a cop-out. (Note: I am in no way saying this kind of writing and the readers who enjoy it are “wrong”. These are my personal opinions and I’m sharing them with you so you can make an informed decision about the books I write.)

For me, the sweet spot lies somewhere in the middle. An ending where survival comes at a steep price. Where the main characters get what they wanted, but it wasn’t what they expected. Where the story surprises you with one final, lingering twist.

In other words, if you pick up one of my books, you can expect:

• Endings that feel more like a gut-punch than a cosy hug
• Relatable villains, who may or may not be alive and thriving at the end of the book
• A rollercoaster of emotions, culminating in an ending that will make you feel something. (And if that something is that you want to hurl the book across the room, stamp on it eight times, burn it with fire and then come and have stern words with me, then I consider that a job well done.)

If you’re a reader, what do you prefer when it comes to endings? If you’re an author, what do you find most satisfying to write?

*Disclaimer: there are no absolute guarantees you won’t be wrecked emotionally by my books.

Further disclaimer: all thoughts above are my own opinions. I mean no disrespect to any other reader or author who loves happy endings – and my post is not intended as an attempt to convince you to read anything that makes you uncomfortable or unhappy. Look after yourself, first and foremost.

As authors, we sometimes write about things that we don’t necessarily agree with. So our search history can range from bloodthirsty to bizarre (it’s just research, we swear!)

I thought it would be fun to share some of the more weird questions I’ve asked Google in the name of writerly research.

What do you call the chairs they use in nursing homes?

I wanted to know if those special covered, urine-repellent chairs had a name. I still don’t know. I tend to make the mistake of asking Google direct questions, rather than just chucking keywords at it. As a result, I’m so specific it doesn’t understand me.

Another word for… insert whatever word we need a synonym for rather than just reaching for a thesaurus…

Honestly, I’ve lost count of all the times I’ve asked Google for synonyms. I do have a thesaurus as well. I just never use it.

How to throw a javelin.

One of the characters in my latest novel is a highly-proficient thrower of the javelin. Thanks to Google, I now have a basic knowledge of how to stand and how to best throw the spear.

If you’re a writer, what’s the most obscure thing you’ve ever Googled?

When I set up my Instagram page, I did it to document my attempts to get City and Shadow published. I wanted to share the highs and lows, whether that was for myself to look back on later or for other aspiring authors to learn from my (multiple) mistakes.

In a similar vein, I wanted to write a series of blog posts on what’s actually involved in writing a book, from the initial idea to holding the finished copy.

The actual writing

City and Shadow started life off as a couple of notes written on my phone. I’d always loved the word “City” as a name and I thought it would be cool to have a protagonist called that. I was re-reading the old notes for story ideas when I came across that one – and combined it with another one along the lines of “What would happen if everyone had a dark, Mirror-self that was only capable of doing bad things?” Rough, eh?

The writing started in Spring 2023 and didn’t stop until the summer. It seemed to be quite a fast process, and, unusually for me, I didn’t struggle hitting the accepted word count for YA fiction (I’m usually pithier than an orange that’s full of pith). I lost myself in Mirrorworld and even started dreaming of my characters.

The editing process

I let the story sit for a while (okay, not very long) before editing and editing and editing and editing. And editing some more. I asked beta readers for their opinions, sending my work off to strangers in the hopes I’d get some honest feedback (which I did.) I had a wonderful beta reader from across the pond who called out every little inconsistency (of which there were many) and really helped me tighten up the prose.

Agent or publisher?

Then I had to decide whether to look for an agent or try and get it published myself. In the end, I set myself a deadline of September 2023 and, if I didn’t have a publishing offer by that time, I’d go down the agent route.

I kept disgustingly detailed spreadsheets of who I’d submitted to and when, when they’d rejected me and who I would submit to next. This let me see at a glance how many times my baby manuscript had been rejected.

And, much to my delight, by August 2023, I had an offer from a publisher I’d been absolutely dying to work with.

Researching

There are so many amazing resources out there for aspiring authors. I especially found this blog post by Jane Friedman very helpful, along with this one by Lisa Tenor. Both deal with navigating publishing contracts. I also joined the Society of Authors, who have been invaluable and tireless in sharing advice, resources and expertise.

What’s next?

City and Shadow is due to come out in Summer 2024 – and there’s still a mountain of work to be done before then.

The book is yet to go through a detailed edit – and I’ll actually get a team of editors to help me with this, instead of me going through it on my own with a red pen second-guessing myself.

We’ll also be talking covers and picking one that really encapsulates the heart of the book. This means I’ll get to work closely with some amazing and talented designers.

I’m also planning promotional activities as we speak, including getting my book into local book shops, my local library and, maybe (if I overcome my chronic shyness and introversion) doing some kind of book tour.

Stay tuned for Part Two!

The logical thing to do when writing a trilogy is start at the beginning, right?

And yet I started the Mirrorworld stories by writing slap, bang in the middle of the planned trilogy (the planned trilogy that my publisher knows nothing about yet. Unless they read this blog. Which is unlikely because I get less than two hits per day.)

You see the characters in City and Shadow, my upcoming debut novel, decided their story didn’t want to end there. And two characters in particularly wouldn’t let me rest until I’d put their stories down on paper. And, unfortunately, those stories took place several years before the events of City and Shadow. Leaving me with the problem: do I call it a sequel? Do I turn it all into a trilogy and pretend that was my plan all along (full disclosure: it wasn’t. In fact, I do recall telling a beta reader with unwavering conviction that I definitely wasn’t writing any more Mirrorworld stories any time soon as, and I quote, “I don’t see what else can be done there.”)?

Fast forward to today… and I’ve just finished the (very rough) first draft of Venom and Blaze. (It’s a working title. But I’m so in love with it. And in love with the story. It’s very dark. I think you’ll like it.)

Venom and Blaze is one of those stories that just wouldn’t let me drop it until I’d finished. I wrote it on holiday with my mother. I wrote it on my lunch break at my day job. I wrote it whenever I could and, whenever I couldn’t, I was thinking about writing it. And now it’s written. And, once I’ve let it sit for a while, I’ll edit it. Then casually tell my publisher about it and see where it goes.

“That’s all very well,” I can hear you thinking. “But you said a sequel. So where does the third one come in?”

Well, turns out I was wrong. There definitely is more to be done in Mirrorworld. I still have no idea if I’m writing a trilogy, or a standalone story that just happens to have sequel and a prequel. But something is happening at Roz MacLaren HQ. And, while I absolutely can’t share any details yet, I can promise you it’s going to be a wild ride. Are you ready for it?