Ask the Author: Luccia Gray
Answered Questions (7)
Luccia Gray
Stephen King said it all: Read a lot and write a lot.
Read novels widely, outside your comfort zone. Read as a writer, thinking about how the novel engages the reader, or why it doesn't. What works well, what doesn't and what can you learn from the author.
Read books on writing by experts. My favourites are On Writing by King, and Save The Cat writes a novel by Jessica Brody, and The Miracle Morning for Writers by Hal Elrod and Steve Scott, but there are plenty of great books for writers. Read as many as you can.
Write every day, write blog posts, poems, flash fiction, short stories, novellas, novels, story outlines, ideas, letters, journals, just write!
Don't wait for inspiration. You want to write, so you must have plenty of ideas, write. Write every day, or as often as you can. If you're serious about writing and it's your passion, you have to find the time to do it. Get up an hour earlier, go to bed later, stop watching so much TV or scrolling through social media.
Make time to read and write. It's the only way to stop being an aspiring writer and become a good writer.
Any questions? Just ask!
Read novels widely, outside your comfort zone. Read as a writer, thinking about how the novel engages the reader, or why it doesn't. What works well, what doesn't and what can you learn from the author.
Read books on writing by experts. My favourites are On Writing by King, and Save The Cat writes a novel by Jessica Brody, and The Miracle Morning for Writers by Hal Elrod and Steve Scott, but there are plenty of great books for writers. Read as many as you can.
Write every day, write blog posts, poems, flash fiction, short stories, novellas, novels, story outlines, ideas, letters, journals, just write!
Don't wait for inspiration. You want to write, so you must have plenty of ideas, write. Write every day, or as often as you can. If you're serious about writing and it's your passion, you have to find the time to do it. Get up an hour earlier, go to bed later, stop watching so much TV or scrolling through social media.
Make time to read and write. It's the only way to stop being an aspiring writer and become a good writer.
Any questions? Just ask!
Luccia Gray
I have four major literary projects at the moment:
1- I'm busy writing Snow Moon at Eyre Hall, Book Five in The Eyre Hall Series, which is available for pre-order and will be published in Fenruary, 2022.
2- I'm also working with my editor on a contemporary, domestic thriller set mostly in England, with some scenes in Spain and Scotland.
3- I'm preparing a non-fiction series on Jane Eyre, but more about that soon.
4- I'm doing the final proofreads for a novel in Spanish which will be published in the coming months.
If you'd like to know more about any of my projects, just ask!
1- I'm busy writing Snow Moon at Eyre Hall, Book Five in The Eyre Hall Series, which is available for pre-order and will be published in Fenruary, 2022.
2- I'm also working with my editor on a contemporary, domestic thriller set mostly in England, with some scenes in Spain and Scotland.
3- I'm preparing a non-fiction series on Jane Eyre, but more about that soon.
4- I'm doing the final proofreads for a novel in Spanish which will be published in the coming months.
If you'd like to know more about any of my projects, just ask!
Luccia Gray
I agree with Edison, who is reported to have said, "Genius is one percent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration." I'm no genius, but I can't sit and wait for inspiration and once it comes, I can't let it take over my agenda, because it won't last and then what will I do? Wait for it to return?
I beieve in routines and hard work. I get up, do my morning routine, and sit and write for 90 minutes, then I have a short tea and stretching break and I go back for another 90 minutes. I make sure that happens at least twice a day and If I can do that 3 or 4 times a day, I'm overjoyed, but sometimes life gets in the way.
The more I write, the better I write, and the more I'm inspired to keep writing. It's that simple and that hard!
I beieve in routines and hard work. I get up, do my morning routine, and sit and write for 90 minutes, then I have a short tea and stretching break and I go back for another 90 minutes. I make sure that happens at least twice a day and If I can do that 3 or 4 times a day, I'm overjoyed, but sometimes life gets in the way.
The more I write, the better I write, and the more I'm inspired to keep writing. It's that simple and that hard!
Luccia Gray
If you have already read the original Eyre Hall Trilogy, you needn't read Blood Moon, All Hallows or Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall.
You should go straight to the fourth book in the series, Thunder Moon at Eyre Hall, Book 4 in the Eyre Hall Series, which will be published in October and will soon be available for pre-order.
However, if you'd like to read Blood Moon at Eyre Hall or the revised editions of All Hallows and Twelfth Night let me know in the comments or send me a PM.
If you still have any questions, just ask.
You should go straight to the fourth book in the series, Thunder Moon at Eyre Hall, Book 4 in the Eyre Hall Series, which will be published in October and will soon be available for pre-order.
However, if you'd like to read Blood Moon at Eyre Hall or the revised editions of All Hallows and Twelfth Night let me know in the comments or send me a PM.
If you still have any questions, just ask.
Luccia Gray
Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres. I've been meaning to read The Last Pilgrim, by Noelle Granger, for some time and I hope to read it this month.
The Last Kingdom is one of my favourite series on Netflix and I'm currently reading War Lord, the last novel in this fascinating series by author Bernard Cornwell.
I also read a lot of contemporary romance, and I've read a lot of good reviews about The Sight of You, by Holly Miller, so it's on my summer reading list, too!
I love contemporary thrillers, so The Other Emily, by Dean Koontz is also on my list.
Have you read any of these books? Let me know what you think.
I'm going to be busy with my book launch for Blood Moon at Eyre Hall, and looking after my grandson for a month, so I hope I get enough time to read these four books!
The Last Kingdom is one of my favourite series on Netflix and I'm currently reading War Lord, the last novel in this fascinating series by author Bernard Cornwell.
I also read a lot of contemporary romance, and I've read a lot of good reviews about The Sight of You, by Holly Miller, so it's on my summer reading list, too!
I love contemporary thrillers, so The Other Emily, by Dean Koontz is also on my list.
Have you read any of these books? Let me know what you think.
I'm going to be busy with my book launch for Blood Moon at Eyre Hall, and looking after my grandson for a month, so I hope I get enough time to read these four books!
Luccia Gray
Good afternoon Claire,
Thank you for asking and sorry for my belated reply.
That's a really hard question to answer! I once said in an interview that I'd love to spend an afternoon watching Charlotte Bronte, and listening to her, and other Victorian authors, just chatting about life and literature...
I've read her novels, biographies and letters, so I have the feeling I know her enough to imagine that Jane Eyre was her fantasy. Charlotte would have liked to be as daring as Jane, but I'm afraid Charlotte was a bird ensnared in a cage, who gained her freedom through writing about a strong, assertive, and determined young woman, who dared to think and behave independently.
I'm more interested in Jane than Charlotte, so I'd ask Charlotte about Jane Eyre's future:
How do you see Jane Eyre Rochester twenty-two years after her marriage?
Thank you for asking and sorry for my belated reply.
That's a really hard question to answer! I once said in an interview that I'd love to spend an afternoon watching Charlotte Bronte, and listening to her, and other Victorian authors, just chatting about life and literature...
I've read her novels, biographies and letters, so I have the feeling I know her enough to imagine that Jane Eyre was her fantasy. Charlotte would have liked to be as daring as Jane, but I'm afraid Charlotte was a bird ensnared in a cage, who gained her freedom through writing about a strong, assertive, and determined young woman, who dared to think and behave independently.
I'm more interested in Jane than Charlotte, so I'd ask Charlotte about Jane Eyre's future:
How do you see Jane Eyre Rochester twenty-two years after her marriage?
Luccia Gray
Writer's block, at least in my case, is related to a temporary insecurity or creative overload!
First, I try to calm down! I often take a short break from writing, for a day or two. I usually read or spend time with friends or family. I try not to think too much about my 'block'.
Then I go back and write. If I feel I cannot move the story on, I go for a walk and imagine a dialogue between the characters, or I ‘speak� to them myself about what could happen. Sometimes I go back and write the dialogue or the scene, even though I know it will not appear in the novel, but it helps me get back into the novel.
Surprisingly, I often dream with the characters and events, and I write it all down when I wake up, before I forget! There is a strong subconscious component in writing which helps me move my stories on. I love Michelangelo’s quote, ‘I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free�. I often feel that is just what I am doing. Words are an author’s marble, and I have to combine them in the perfect way to disclose, or set free, my angel, or story. The story is there already. My role is to write until I release it.
Finally, it also helps me to talk to someone about how I feel and try to work it out. In my case, it has to be someone who knows me well and understands my characters and story. It is usually my daughter, who is a great reader and plotter!
First, I try to calm down! I often take a short break from writing, for a day or two. I usually read or spend time with friends or family. I try not to think too much about my 'block'.
Then I go back and write. If I feel I cannot move the story on, I go for a walk and imagine a dialogue between the characters, or I ‘speak� to them myself about what could happen. Sometimes I go back and write the dialogue or the scene, even though I know it will not appear in the novel, but it helps me get back into the novel.
Surprisingly, I often dream with the characters and events, and I write it all down when I wake up, before I forget! There is a strong subconscious component in writing which helps me move my stories on. I love Michelangelo’s quote, ‘I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free�. I often feel that is just what I am doing. Words are an author’s marble, and I have to combine them in the perfect way to disclose, or set free, my angel, or story. The story is there already. My role is to write until I release it.
Finally, it also helps me to talk to someone about how I feel and try to work it out. In my case, it has to be someone who knows me well and understands my characters and story. It is usually my daughter, who is a great reader and plotter!
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