Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am proud to say that I grew up in Memphis, TN, yet now divide my time between Malibu and Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA. I have written three books: two that were published by Vinspire Publishing and the third is a book I am putting the final touches to. My first book is a paranormal mystery written in two time periods, which fit together like pieces of a puzzle and take the reader on a suspenseful journey, and my second book is fiction set on the western coast of Ireland titled, “Dancing to an Irish Reel.”
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
“Dancing to an Irish Reel” was inspired from the year I spent living in rural Ireland. It was a pivotal, eye-opening year for me, and although I worked in Galway City, I lived in the region of Connemara, which is where Irish is spoken as a first language and the old ways are still kept. It was so vastly different from everything I knew in America, and I was so spell-bound by Ireland and its social mores and subtle culture, that I wanted to write about it, so that readers would gather a sense of the wonder of the place. Ireland’s people are their most salient characteristic. I found them humorous, soulful, respectful of nature and each other; they are a culture well worth writing about and hopefully readers will feel the same.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always write first thing in the morning, coffee in hand, which I keep coming. I treat it as a full-time job when I am immersed in the writing of a book. I also contribute to magazines and my trick is to follow the thread of inspiration when an idea comes to me, by this I mean I drop whatever else is going on and commit to sitting at my desk until the job is done. I’ve found if I don’t move when the inspiration to tell a story hits, then it’s hard to get it back.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
All the books that have inspired me are fiction. “The Prince of Tides” and “South if Broad” by Pat Conroy come to mind because they are incredibly well crafted stories with lyrical language at their core. And both have a strong sense of place, which the story seems to revolve around the setting. I like the idea of culture and social mores as a defining characteristic of the characters. They explain much of a characters mind frame and motivation.
What are you working on now?
I’ve almost lost count, but I have just completed another run-through of my third novel, which is a Southern family saga set in 1970’s Memphis. It is a cause and effect story about how tragedy can play out in a dysfunctional family and effect everyone differently according to who they are. And it is about keeping up appearances along with a good dose of denial, although all that glitters is definitely not gold.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I rely heavily on Twitter, Facebook and Google+. I also like to keep writing and posting on magazine sites online. I like a site called Books go Social, and I am thrilled to come across you!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
I think it’s very important to continuously read, and if you are brave enough to go outside of the comfort zone of your favorite genre, more’s the better. Aiming to broaden your vocabulary is an endless pursuit, but one that gives you the keys to the kingdom. And when you tell a story, remember it is best told in your own voice according to who you are and how you see things. Readers love to learn of a different vantage point than their own, so it is an authors job to give it to them.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A writer’s career is a marathon, not a sprint. Dawn Carrington of Vinspire Publishing was the first to tell me this.
What are you reading now?
“Untying the Moon” by Ellen Malphrus. She is a poet and it shows in this, her first novel.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I think I’ll continue setting books in the American South for a while because there is so much to divulge about the region and its people. Many say the South is the last romantic place in America.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
“The Secret History” by Donna Tarrt, “Pat Conroy’s “The Prince of Tides” and “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles.
Author Websites and Profiles
Claire Fullerton Website
Claire Fullerton Amazon Profile
Claire Fullerton Author Profile on Smashwords
Claire Fullerton’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Twitter Account
Pinterest Account
Claire Fullerton is a post from Awesome Gang