IndieView with Thea Atkinson, author of, Formed of Clay

“My approach is that of discovery. I want to write what I want to read. So I sully forth trying to tell myself a story—one that I really want to hear. I always fall short, but really, that’s what propels me.”

Thea Atkinson 3 July 2011

The Back Flap

More than anything, young Sentu wants to learn the new letters of Pharaoh Menes’s court. Born of lowly fellahin stock, he believes his acceptance into the priesthood for study must surely be a miracle of his ka–only those borne of a higher caste are afforded such privilege. Or so he believes.

He soon learns that not all is as holy as it appears in the privileged world of Egyptian scribes and priests. The acolytes suffer under the tutelage of Hozat, the High Priest: ritual sacrifices involve more than mere beasts, they involve anyone who stands in Hozat’s way to ultimate power.

Though Sentu is at first spared much of the darkest of Hozat’s secrets, he soon realizes he cannot escape the fate of his ka forever. When Pharaoh conquers Nubia and takes hostage that land’s powerful sorceress, Sentu’s own world crashes around him, and he has to discover whether justice is more important than forgiveness.

Formed of Clay is a study of betrayal and absolution within the rich world of ancient Egyptian mythology.

About the Book

What is the book about?

The theme? Betrayal and absolution. Redemption. Those things play out a lot in my fiction

When did you start writing the book?

The first draft was back in 2000, I think, and it’s part of a much larger work: a series that will eventually find its way into ebook format.

How long did it take you to write it?

It took about 6 months from start to finish, as it’s a novella, so I could manage it in a short time

Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?

The research. I had to get all the ‘bit’s right.

What came easily?

The research. I love mythology.

Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?

For shame, but my brothers (or bits of them) are in almost every character I write. Don’t tell them that though, they will want money.

We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?

Every author I’ve read has influenced me in some way, but I admire Alice Munro and Annie Proulx and Anita Shreve and Donna Morrissey

Do you have a target reader?

Yes. Anyone. Ha. Seriously, I wish I knew who it was. I know who it isn’t, but not who it is. It’s not a person who likes fluff and only fluff reading. I like fluff sometimes, but not all the time. It’s not someone who only reads horror or fantasy or YA. My reader likes multiple genres and enjoys character driven stories. Who is that? I have no idea. Sad, isn’t it?

About Writing

Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?

Not really. My approach is that of discovery. I want to write what I want to read. So I sully forth trying to tell myself a story—one that I really want to hear. I always fall short, but really, that’s what propels me. I want to know about the characters and what motivates them…what brings them to the ends they end at, and what will they do once they get there.

When I’m writing, it’s about 2000 words a day. But sometimes I need to incubate and process. I often write before I research and then discover that the research is bang on to what I’ve written. That’s always a surprise, and it’s how I know that I’m tapping into something like an Akashic record of tales somewhere in the ether. (too airy fairy for you?)

Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just Chapter headings and a couple of sentences?

Yes. But my outlines are very brief. Just notes really about an idea from scenes. A real skeleton affair. Not even a skeleton, really. Kind of like a half there framework. A couple of bones. Small bits of sentences. I couldn’t call it an outline. Nope. Don’t outline.

Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?

Always when I’m done. Always.

Did you hire a professional editor?

Hmmm. No. I have a few really good critique partners and we help each other out there.

Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?

HO Yeah! Tool, A Perfect Circle, Dave Matthews Band, Incubus, oh so so many. I LOVE music. In fact, my other hobby is snapping pics of musicians doin’ their thang.

About Publishing

Did you submit your work to Agents?

Yes. If fact, I have an agent. I had one long before I went indie.

What made you decide to go Indie? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?

My novels don’t fit into the typical or traditional model.  It seems every review I receive, though postitive, mentions that they would never know what bookshelf to find my writing on. And that’s the ultimate reason: I just got tired of waiting to find the niche. Mind you, now it’s a struggle because I’m still trying to find a way to market them.

Did you get your book cover professionally done or did it you do it yourself?

Alas, I’m a poor gal and had to do them myself. I hope someday to afford a great cover artist.

Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?

Winging it. And it shows in my sales. Anyone have any advice? See below :).

Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?

Write every day.  Study other writers.  Pay it forward whenever you can.  Always assume your writing needs to be edited and then accept with grace the comments others give you because every comment can help improve the work in some way even if you don’t agree with it. Then study some marketing. That’s a big deal.

About You

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in a rural area in Nova Scotia. It was a place full of fog and salty air and people fishing off the ends of wharves. When I was a kid we’d walk an hour to go fishing, but we never owned poles. We scrounged Popsicle sticks to wrap the line around and we’d find rusty old hooks on the wharf and old nails for weight. Even with such shoddy gear, we’d always catch a flounder or two.

Where do you live now?

Grin. Same place but a 15 minute drive from the old homestead. I hope I never have to move.

What would you like readers to know about you?

The simple truth is that I was brought up in a community on the tip of the province, which meant almost everything in my life had something to do with water.  I lived in a fishing community even though my father was a brick layer, I worked in fish plants from the time I was 14 until I was in my 20s. My mom was a floor lady in a fishplant. I married a fisherman.

I can tell you that I intimately understand back breaking labor because of the hours I spent hunched over a filleting machine or a fish trough. I understand what it’s like to wear bread bags over socks before putting feet into rubber boots because there’s so much water at the plant, that there’s no guarantee it won’t splash over the top and get your feet soaked.

I can tell you what it’s like to slit the belly of a herring over and over again, looking at the clock, telling yourself you won’t look again for at least another hour, and then when at last you think enough time has gone by you discover only 10 minutes have passed.

I will admit that for me: It was all a little slice of heaven.

I took some computer programming training early in my career but I ended up as a teacher at a local community college teaching writing because I also spent some time as a freelancer.  My writing is heavily influenced by the fact that I live so close to water, but also, because as the only sister to three brothers in a neighborhood full of boys, I tend to write about relationships.  It always intrigued me to watch how the boys reacted to people.

What are you working on now?

The first book in the Flesh of the Gods series. The prequel is Formed of Clay.

End of Interview

You can buy Formed of Clay from Amazon, BN, Smashwords and Itunes. You can find Thea here at her website or follow her here on Twitter.