Margaret Tanner Brings
Readers Frontier
Australia
As part of her research she has visited the World
War 1 battlefields in France and Belgium, a truly poignant experience.
She
won the 2007 and 2009 Author of the Year at AussieAuthors.com. A Rose In-No-Man’s Land won an
un-published manuscript award. Her novel Frontier
Wife won the Best Historical Romance Novel at the 2010 Readers Favorite
Award, and another novel, Wild Oats
was a 2011 Finalist in the EPIC awards.
In
2012, an unpublished manuscript was short listed in English publisher,
ChocLit’s, Find an Australian Star, competition.
Margaret
is married with three grown up sons, and two gorgeous little granddaughters.
Outside
of her family and friends, writing is her passion.
Could
you please start by telling us a little about yourself?
I live in Australia, and I guess the best way to
describe my writing is to call it historical fiction with romantic elements. I
am multi-published with three different publishers, The Wild Rose Press,
Whiskey Creek Press and Books We Love Ltd.
Please
tell us your latest news!
My novel, A Rose
In No-Man’s Land, which is set against a background of World War I, has
recently been released by The Wild Rose Press.
Please
describe your writing environment.
I write my very first draft in long hand in a
notebook, so I can really do it anywhere that I happen to be. The only thing I
need is silence. I can’t work with noise. Even soft background music disturbs
my flow of words.
Do
you plan all your characters out before you start a story or do they develop as
you write?
I never plan anything. I have a vague idea about my
characters before I start, but they really evolve as the story progresses.
How
much research do you do for your books? Have you found any cool tidbits in your
research?
I do a lot of research for my books, and it helps that
I like history. I can’t stand inaccuracies in stories, so I try as hard as I
can not to have them in mine. There is
nothing worse, in my humble opinion, than to start reading a story then find
some historical aspect is incorrect. If that happens, I don’t finish the book,
and I never buy that author’s work again.
What
main genre do you write in?
Historical Romance, although it would be more accurate
to say, Historical Fiction with romantic elements.
What
are your hobbies?
Writing, reading and researching. Family time.
Do
you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I can’t remember a time when I haven’t written. At
first I used to write these pitiful, sad little ditties, then I graduated to
short stories, until I found my true love, writing novels.
What
is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants or a
combination of both?
I fly by the seat of my pants.
What
would be the best way for readers contact you? Do you have a website? Email
address? MySpace site? Blog? Message Board? Group?
My website is: http://www.margarettanner.com/
My email: mjljtanner@hotmail.com
What
type of book have you always wanted to write?
A best seller.
22 comments:
Hi Debbie,
Thank you so much for inviting me to Romancing The Hearts.
Regards
Margaret
Hi Margaret, Waving to you from the Pacific Northwest. I learn so much about Australia and its history from reading your books and your Romancing The Genres blog. Thank you for being so diligent in your research. I know when I read a novel by Margaret Tanner, the historical details are accurate.
Hi Margaret. I also love research. It's almost at much fun as creating the stories.
Thank you for dropping by Judith and for your flattering comments, you are too kind.
Regards
Margaret
Hi Ursula,
Yes, I agree, half the fun is the research, that is the reason why I write historicals.
Regards
Margaret
Margaret, fun to compare our two styles: totally opposite. You write your first draft longhand, fly by the seat of your pants and can't have any noise. The only longhand I do is to plot out my story on notebook paper first. The rest is done on the computer with television in the background. Bottom line: whatever works.
Barbara Barrett
Hi Margaret,
I can't believe you write your books out by hand first. I thought I was the only one who did that. lol.
Dani-Lyn
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate it.
We certainly are opposites in the way we write, but like you say, whatever works.
Hi Dani-Lyn,
Thanks, nice to mee up with you here. Well, just goes to show there are at least two of us who do our first draft in long hand. I thought I was the only one.
Regards
Margaret
Interesting post, Margaret! That you allow your characters the freedom to develop themselves as the story goes is a great method.
I'm with you on the research, it's vital.
We're sisters...you write the way I write! I never know what I'll end up crafting each morning...which is one of the appeals to our seat of the pants approach. Does this happen to you...when you find you have to do some extra research, the new information compels you to go back and adjust your previous work? Happens to me all the time, but I like that crazy process, too. Rolynn
I have to agree with silence as the best 'background' to writing. Although I do admit I occasionally put a CD I'm completely familiar with softly in the background. Otherwise, I get too wrapped up in the music and lose concentration.
Barb Bettis
Margaret, We may be continents apart but we have a lot in common!
I'm so happy to have you here Margaret! I hope you enjoy the week and please, come back and visit again.
Debbie
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Hi Debbie,
Thank you so much, I certainly would love to come back for a return visit.
Cheers
Margaret
Hi Paty,
That is so true, our outback and your old West are very similar.
Regards
Margaret
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for dropping by. Even a CD doesn't do it for me. Total silence I'm afraid it is for me.
Regards
Margaret
Hi Rolynn,
Thanks for dropping by, I am so much like you when it comes to writing I am wondering if we weren't siamese twins in a previous life.
Regards
Margaret
Hi Jerrie,
Thank you for dropping by. You are so right research, is absolutely vital.
Regards
Margaret
Wonderful interview, Margaret. I agree--research is half the fun of writing. And I agree--a bestseller is an excellent goal.
Hi John,
Thank you so much for dropping by I appreciate it.
I guess we would all love a best seller.
Regards
margaret
Love your answer to the question about what kind of book you've always wanted to write, Margaret!
I enjoyed the interview.
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