Q&A With Nicole France, Award-Winning Author
Please welcome Author Nicole France, to our Featured Q&A series at Writer’s Fun Zone. She is the First Place Winner of the 2016 Genre Novelist 1st Chapter Contest, I sponsored (Beth Barany) in conjunction with the 2016 San Mateo County Fair Literary Arts Stage. Nicole’s story, “The Hybrid Chase,” along with all the winners, is featured in the book, Carry The Light. I really enjoyed his tale!
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If you’d like to be considered for an interview, check out our guidelines here.
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ABOUT NICOLE FRANCE
I am a Registered Nurse from Newcastle, Australia. I am also currently studying Paramedicine. I began writing after a brain injury and have been captivated ever since.
On to our interview!
1. Tell us who you are and what inspires you to write.
I am a nurse from Newcastle, Australia. I began writing at 16 after a head injury from a horse riding accident. I spent a great deal of time in hospital so creative writing became my escape. Since then, my relief over recovering has motivated me to continue. I am also a big fan of young adult fiction, particularly fantasy, and reading stories from brilliant imaginations also inspires me.
2. How did you get to this place in your life? Share your story!
I have always loved writing, journaling and reading. After the accident, that love grew and became something I needed to do. Once I recovered from the head injury I went to University and completed my nursing degree to help others the way I had been helped during my time of need. I have recently gone back to continue studies in Paramedicine. Writing has always been the passion that grounds me (and takes up probably a little too much of my time!)
3. What are you most passionate about?
My mission in life is to help others after what I went through, but with regards to writing I do it because I want to become completely immersed in a story. I want others to be able to share the experience with my characters and feel like they, too, could find themselves unable to tear themselves away from the page.
4. Can you tell us a little bit about your writing process, routine, and/or rituals around your writing?
In the beginning I would have my computer at my bedside and do nothing but write. Since then, I unfortunately don’t have the time to dedicate every minute to the writing process. Now I dedicate around one hour every day – either before or after my shift – to developing my storylines and continuing chapters. I often write short stories involving my characters that I don’t intend to put into the book to get to know them better. It also helps me to focus on what really needs to be included and what is just meaningless fluff!
5. What are a few challenges you faced in creating, marketing, or publishing your creative work? And your solutions to them.
My challenges in creating work mostly revolve around time management. It’s feast or famine. I would either leave the book for weeks at a time or I would dedicate every spare moment to writing, forgetting social activities and taking out the garbage! I eventually had to settle on allowing a smaller allotment of time per day to my writing, which has worked well to ensure I don’t become caught-up or lose track entirely. I have also joined several creative writing websites where authors can share pieces of work and have them reviewed by fellow readers which helps with plots and character development.
6. What do you wish you had known before you started writing fiction?
I wish I had known that writing a story is so much more captivating than reading one! I used to get caught up in reading a series when I was younger and have discovered that writing one is far more engrossing! Perhaps, if I had known, I might have pursued a career in writing – but then again I love having writing as a hobby and a passion.
7. What’s next for you in your creative work?
I would like to continue with several of the stories I have been working on, mostly The Hybrid Chase. I am still taken by young adult fiction and the added curve-ball of science fiction is intriguing for me. My aim is to simply finish my work and to have someone else read it.
8. Is there anything else you wished I’d asked? Please share!
I think I would just like to say that I am shocked and taken aback by the results of this competition and I am incredibly grateful for the chance to have other people view my work.
About The Hybrid Chase
Emma was raised in an Intelligence Agency. When her parents defected to save her younger sister, she found she had a purpose in life outside of killing. When agents come for revenge, however, she has to embrace her heritage and discover exactly what it will take to save her sister and herself.
To connect with Nicole France
Twitter: @nicolefrance2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nicole-France-Author-324677457605034/
Instagram: nicole.france
