Writing the Danger

 

 

 

I’d like to give a warm welcome to award-winning, multi-published author Danielle Ackley-McPhail.

 

 

 

Award-winning author Danielle Ackley-McPhail has worked both sides of the publishing industry for nearly fifteen years. Her works include the urban fantasies; Yesterday’s Dreams, its sequel, Tomorrow’s Memories (Mundania Press), and the upcoming novella, The Halfling’s Court: A Bad-Ass Faerie Tale (Marietta Publishing), the anthologies, Bad-Ass Faeries, Bad-Ass Faeries 2: Just Plain Bad (Marietta Publishing), and No Longer Dreams, (Lite Circle Books), all of which she co-edited, and contributions to numerous anthologies and collections, including Dark Furies (Die Monster Die! Books), Breach the Hull, (Marietta Publishing), Space Pirates (Flying Pen Press), and the upcoming science fiction anthologies So It Begins (Marietta Publishing) and Barbarians at the Jumpgate (Padwolf Publishing).

Her non-fiction works include a chapter on writer’s groups for Dragon Moon Press’s The Complete Fantasy Writer’s Guide: The Author’s Grimoire, a chapter in their upcoming Elements of Fantasy: Magic, a chapter on self-Promotions in Marietta Publishing’s Profitable Publishing, and a standing column, If We’d Words Enough and Time, for the sadly defunct website, Fictionauts, and two chapters in the upcoming The Complete Guide to Writing Paranormal, also by Dragon Moon Press.

 

She is a member of the Garden State Horror Writers, the electronic publishing organization EPIC, and Broad Universe, a writer’s organization focusing on promoting the works of women authors in the speculative genres.

 

Danielle lives somewhere in New Jersey with husband and fellow writer, Mike McPhail, mother-in-law Teresa, and three extremely spoiled cats.

 

I’d like to discuss the origins, the process and the early days of your writing.

 

 

 

 

 

Where do you think your writing comes from?

 

 

I have always had a very, very active imagination. Part of that, some would say, is my Irish heritage (goodness knows it gets blamed for nearly everything else about me too…from temper to temptation). I’d have to say that there are at least two other contributors: First, my mom always encouraged me to read voraciously. I didn’t exactly have my own card at first, but from the time I could read I was checking out a grocery sack worth of books on about a weekly basis…and I’m not talking these wimpy little plastic bags. I’m talking the huge, environmentally unfriendly paper sacks. That lead to a dissatisfaction when the stories ended (or ended other than the way I’d wished they would). To combat that dissatisfaction I would often “write” continuations of my favorite tales as I was lying in bed trying to sleep at night. Not something I recommend, by the way…great for the imagination…horrible for a good night’s sleep.

 

Second was the fact that I lived in a brand new housing development with relatively few friends and all my siblings were at minimum five years older than me. That left me plenty of time to entertain myself (more reading and playing pretend).

 

All of that got my brains going. But it wasn’t until school that I found the outlet for all that percolating creativity.

 

When and why did you begin writing?

 

 

As with most kids, I didn’t even consider writing formally when I was younger. It was required though, for school. That’s where most of my early writing came out of. Assignments. Of course, about the age of about twelve or thirteen I discovered poetry and in the early years that’s most of what I did. It was easy, quick and gratifying. It was also often deeper than a thirteen-year-old should have come up with. Some of it’s still getting published today, when I brush them off now and then. I think I focused mostly on poetry because first, I was restricted to pen and paper or typewriter. And second, it was less of a commitment. I just didn’t have much focus when I was younger. I would do a few short stories, and I tried one novel that I started when I was quite young and continued all the way into college, but even I wouldn’t want to decipher the mostly handwritten mess. It wasn’t until I graduated from college that I got serious about writing. I was disappointed I didn’t do it anymore, once I no longer had grades and assignments as a motivator. So I asked a co-worker to give me an assignment. It was a step, but it fizzled. She just didn’t have the mindset of a writer so it didn’t work out well, but it did motivate me to find an online writer’s site and that was the beginning of everything. Volunteering for that site got me back into serious writing, and socializing with fellow volunteers actually sparked the idea for my first novel (it was just a short story then, but hey, we all have to start somewhere.) I’ve been going like a run-away train every since.

 

 

 

How do you come up with your ideas and settings?

 

 

I mentioned my overdeveloped creativity, yes? Actually, there is no one specific answer to this. Anything can spark an idea. Something someone has said, a picture I’ve seen, a news report or documentary…three drops of water on a marble sink (yes…I am serious here, the story is called Ruby Red and was published in Issue 2 of Trails of Indiscretion Magazine and will appear in their Best of anthology…some day). Sometimes I have an idea for a scene or even just a description, and then I have to find my way to the story itself. Mostly I get a kernel of an idea and then that gets expanded when I am doing research for aspects of that story. Of course, I must say, sometimes the ideas just pop right into being out of nowhere, such as the concept for my upcoming novel, Blood Will Tell, www.bloodwilltell.com, co-written with Jeffrey Lyman, www.jdlyman.com. I don’t want to talk too much about what that idea is, but it is a very different approach to vampires that even my friends that read the subgenre have never encountered before.

 

Once I have a framework in place I draw on a variety of sources to fill out a story: people I know, unique people I’ve seen on my daily commute, local landmarks if I’m writing about an actual place. Of course, a lot of stuff I make up wholecloth…it just flows from some divine inspiration.

 

What is your process? Do you have any rituals? Do you adhere to a writing schedule?

 

 

I am very unstructured and unconventional. I believe the term for the way I write (which is actually kind of common) is organic. I get a few ideas and run with them. Those ideas or research spawn other ideas and I run with those and as I go along I double back and link things together were ends are left dangling. I don’t generally write a novel in the order it ultimately gets published in, but short stories I pretty much do.  As for ritual, I like to write in a dark room without distraction, no light but my monitor, and music in the background, preferably folk/Celtic instrumentals or sung in a language I don’t understand so my brain doesn’t try and focus on what’s being sung.

 

I don’t adhere to a schedule because my process is so unstructured my former English teachers would likely cringe if it weren’t for the fact that I actually did something with what they tried to teach me. I write as I am inspired, when I am inspired. Most consistently when there is a deadline, of course, and a set theme I need to write on, and of course, when I already have a project going I write most chances I get (when I’m not reading or working) until the work is done. 

 

 

What motivates Danielle Ackley-McPhail?

 

I love. LOVE. Layers and depth of meaning, even if I am the only one that gets the reference. I love mythology and poetic language (admittedly too much, at times). I love character-driven stories where the plot is what happens when you are getting to know who everyone is. And I love those moments of absolute epiphany where I couldn’t possibly know where things are going and yet they come together with such brilliance that I can’t claim credit.

 

Tell us about the early days in your writing career. What was the first piece you wrote? What inspired you?

 

 

The first thing I can ever specifically remember writing was in the fifth grade. Of course, writing is a loose term for it. What we were supposed to do was write a short story about how to cook a turkey, which we would then be required to read aloud to the class. Fortunate—and unfortunate—for me, though I was usually first for many things (my name beginning with A) I did not go first for this particular assignment. That lead to me realizing my mistake, because you see, instead of writing a fictional story about catching and cooking a Thanksgiving turkey, I’d simply written down what I thought the steps were. When it was my turn I was too embarrassed to reveal my mistake (I was not very popular and caught enough teasing as it was) so instead of reading what I had written I rattled off something on the spot that was much more appropriate to the assignment. I even had the brilliant notion to name my farmer after the teacher (I thought it was a nice touch, and it actually got me a laugh). I did such a good job of BSing my way through the gaff that I got a B+ for the assignment (my one flaw being that it take considerably more than just a few minutes to cook a full turkey, complete with stuffing). And then…the unfortunate part; when all was said and done and I escaped in relief to my assigned seat…yes, I’m sure you’ve guessed it…the teacher starts walking around the room. Collecting the papers. And thus magically a B+ is transformed to an F. :::sigh::: Maybe my first, but not my last, though the others were all for math-related deficiencies J From that point on the B’s remained in their rightful form…or transcended to A’s and writing dug in it’s roots and hasn’t since let me loose.

 

Everything else is just a blur…too poems, papers, and stories to remember.

 

 

What do you read for pleasure? What’s the book sitting on top of your to read pile?

 

 

I read lots of stuff, but mostly speculative fiction…and…romance…which some might argue is also speculative fiction J basically anything with a good story. If I don’t have the brain cells or the time for heavy concentration I read romances, which are my junk food reading. Now, before anyone gets up in arms at my perceived slight…I call it junk food reading because let’s face it, most romances you don’t have to put a lot of brainpower into keeping details and clues straight. They are meant for light, happy distraction. The publishers like it that way. If I want more of a challenge I pick up science fiction or fantasy, most of which you can get lost if you don’t keep the details straight, since so much of it is made up.

 

As for what is on top of my pile now…well…I’m afraid I don’t have just one pile. Things waiting to be read around various available spaces in my house though are Deluge by Ann McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough and Beddle the Bard by JK Rowling.

 

What has influenced you the most in your writing career?

 

 

Mythology first, I would have to say, and then my author friends second. I can get the oddest ideas out of conversations with friends and often seemingly unrelated ideas at that. Also, many of my publishing opportunities were passed on to me by others. I write pretty good stuff on topic, say for themed anthologies and stuff like that. But what I do is try and come up with ideas that are the most unexpected avenue I could have taken for a theme. Such as a short story about vampires from the POV of a child…who doesn’t realize she is a vampire. Or a story about a mouse with a drinking problem (an assignment from a friend) only the problem is with someone else’s drinking. That kind of thing. I entered a contest once where the topic was Leaving. I’m pretty sure they meant that in the sense of “going away”. Instead I wrote a story about dryads waking up in the springtime as their trees were putting forth their leaves.

 

What’s on your desk right now?

 

 

Well…I have to admit, I’m at work, so a variety of office equipment…paperwork, a cat calendar, coffee mugs (both empty and not) and Puss, from Shrek. At home I don’t have a desk. I mostly write in the dark, on my bed, with my laptop actually on my lap. When I write on my husband’s computer though there is a bullshit button a motion-sensor activated Sully from Monsters Inc and photographs of me J

 

What’s in your future? What are you planning to do next?

 

 

Well, I already mentioned my vampire novel, Blood Will Tell. In addition to that I am working on The Halfling’s Court: A Bad-Ass Faerie Tale, a novella based on my biker faerie stories that appear in the Bad-Ass Faeries anthology series and planning out the third collection in that series, Bad-Ass Faeries 3: Battlefront, all of which are published or scheduled to be published by Marietta Publishing, www.mariettapublishing.com. I’m also assisting my husband, award-winning author and editor Mike McPhail, www.mcp-concepts.com, on So It Begins, the sequel to his anthology Breach the Hull, also published by Marietta Publishing. I have a lot of other projects in various stages of completion, but there are way too many to go into here.

 

 

Now I’d like to discuss Tomorrow Memories, your urban fantasy novel.

 

 

 What is the premise of book? Tell us a bit about the book.

 

 

Tomorrow’s Memories is book two in the Eternal Cycle series and sequel to my first novel, Yesterday’s Dreams. Both books are published by Mundania Press, www.mundania.com, though Yesterday’s Dreams was originally published by Vivisphere Publishing. Both books are basically urban fantasies based on Celtic mythology. Think Irish elves in New York City. You have Kara O’Keefe, a young, first-generation Irish American, who is trying to keep her family afloat in the face of financial ruin. Her father is battling a reoccurrence of cancer and it doesn’t look good. In her efforts to pay the bills Kara becomes desperate and decides to pawn an heirloom violin she was given by her grandfather. She doesn’t realize she is part Sidhe and the violin is magical. Maggie McCormick, one of Tuatha de Danaan, the Irish elves, lives in the city and has taken a vow to watch over her family. She guides Kara through the use of magic to the pawnshop Maggie owns where the guardian takes possession of the violin and gives Kara the money she needs to help her family. Unfortunately, as Kara was making her way to the pawnshop she came to the attention of an evil being that both covets her potential and bears a serious grudge against the Tuatha de Danaan. Both books are about the struggle of good against evil, with Kara caught between. It is about self-discovery, accountability, and building personal strength. And, of course, overcoming all that is evil.

 

When we reach book two, Tomorrow’s Memories, there has already been a major battle over an attempt to capture Kara. Several elves have died and Kara’s father is mortally wounded. The second book is about getting him to the Tir na nOg, the Land of Youth, where he can be healed. Only it isn’t that simple. There are hard decisions to make, enemies to face, and heartache and danger to overcome.

 

 How did you come up with the idea?

 

 

This is one of those stories that came out of my discussions with fellow volunteers at the writer’s site I used to work at. One of my supervisors was telling us about his varied past and mentioned that he used to be a pawnbroker. That led to the idea for the short story that Yesterday’s Dreams grew out of. At first it was just a piece about how those things we value most form a connection with our souls so to lose that object and the dreams it represents would tear away a part of who you are. It was supposed to be about the desperation of giving up a part of yourself and the impact that could have on your life. I thought about a magical pawnbroker that would seek to protect such items until the person could reclaim them (originally the pawn broker was supposed to be evil and prey on such items, but you know…the story insisted on being written differently). Once I had that idea and started the story I wanted to tie it into my interest in Celtic mythology so I researched things that I thought would be relevant. Now the interesting thing is that I had already named my primary bad guy Olcas, which is Irish for evil. After that, when I was researching a book of Irish Mythology I ran across a myth about the witch-goddess Carman and her three sons: Calma, Dubh, and…Olcas! Of course, at that point I had to incorporate the myth, which transformed my stand-alone novel into a trilogy.

 

There were a lot of other elements that got added and adapted due to my research and things I discovered in actual trips to Ireland, but again…I’d write a book here just on those details if I’m not careful.

 

Did you know from the beginning how you would end the book? Are you a methodical plotter or do you let the book lead you?

 

 

I had no clue. I started and then wandered about until things came clear. Some stuff I knew was going to be there, other things got added as a result of research or specific paths that developed in the course of writing the book.

 

Is there a message in the book you’d like your readers to grasp?

 

 

Don’t give up, be strong and if you make a mistake, learn and move past it. We aren’t perfect, but we can try to be, otherwise the world becomes a bleak and bitter place not worth living in. We should care about more than just what fits within our personal space…

 

Where can we learn more about you?

 

 

Well…a web search on my name will turn up an awful lot about me and my books, which has the benefit of (mostly) being unbiased, but those that want the easy way out can visit my website at www.sidhenadaire.com J I’m also on Myspace and Live Journal and Facebook and…need I go on? Most of those are under Danielle Ackley-McPhail, ackleymcphail, or damcphail. I Think I spend more time maintaining promotional sites than I do writing!

 

Thank you very much, this interview was a lot of fun!

 

Thank you, Danielle, it’s been a pleasure. Now follow the links to find out more about Danielle Ackley-McPhail.

Thank you for reading and come back to see us again. May you have a happy, healthy 2009 and may all your dreams come true.

 

All the best,

Joyce Adair

 

A Bad-Ass Faeries Giveaway

 

Danielle Ackley-McPhail is giving away not one ebook of Bad-Ass Faeries, but two ebooks this Wednesday on Writing the Danger. Yes, that’s right; two people will receive a copy of Bad-Ass Faeries. All you need to do to enter is go to Danielle’s website, www.sidhenadaire.com,  then make a comment on Writing the Danger about what you liked best about Danielle’s site. You’ll be entered and Danielle will email the copies to the winners the next day.

Once again: January 7, 2009 go to Danielle’s site, look around, and then comment on Writing the Danger about what you liked best. You could have a copy of Bad-Ass Faeries by Thursday in your email.