SPOTLIGHT ON… Escape Publishing: Ainslie Paton

Ainslie Paton

Describe yourself in one word:
Watcher

What is your background with regard to writing?
Communications Degree with journalism, creative writing and television production majors, but that was a looog time ago.  I’ve earned a living as a corporate copywriter and public relations consultant for many years with writing as my key work tool.

When did you first begin writing with a view of embarking on a career as a published author?
I never banked on being a published author.  My first attempt at fiction was two years ago.  I wrote to see if I could spit a readable narrative out and make some friends laugh.  Nothing was certain.  Kept at it and self published in late 2011.  First traditionally published novel came out in November 2012.

What is your writing routine?
Snatch time from the day job as often as possible.  Write at night and weekends and in my head every other spare minute.

Favourite snack whilst writing?
Coffee.  Always coffee.

If you weren’t writing, what would you be doing?
Earning more money!!!  I’d be more firmly firing on all cylinders on my day job, which I love, just not as much as I love to write without a brief and be my own narrator.

One thing you’d like readers to know about the romance genre:
It’s an enormous canon of work.  There is something for everyone from the sweet to the bawdy, from literary to fan fiction and all stops via fantasy, sci-fi, historical, contemporary and as yet not invented sub genres.  It’s an escape with heart.  It’s reaffirmation, it’s walk on the wild side.  It’s respite and entertainment.  What more could you want?

The one book that you’ve read over and over is…
Both Twilight and Fifty Shades – to try to work out what made them so popular.

Favourite fictional character:
That’s a great question.  I’m fickle.  Right now I’m very partial to Breaking Bad’s Walter White and Game of Thrones’ Tyrion Lannister, with a dose of True Blood’s Jason Stackhouse, Dexter and almost any James Spader character.  I like them bad, funny and surprising.

Number one thing to do on your bucket list:
Make a bucket list.

What book has changed your opinion/stance on something important to you, and why?
That tends to be a non-fiction thing for me.  I’d have to say Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion.  Provides a very different spin to the mystery of religion.

Biggest accomplishment to date:
Surviving this interview.  Oddly, it’s recovering from an injury the surgeon thought I wouldn’t.  He bet on a limp.  I had other ideas.

What’s next for you?
Hopefully more of the same.  Juggling work and writing, wishing I could juggle less and still buy the cat food.  It’s a lucky life and I’m grateful for it.

If you could offer just one piece of advice to aspiring authors, what would it be?
Think about why you want to write.  If it’s to be published, do your research into the industry, both traditional and self-publishing so the process doesn’t catch you by surprise and spoil the fantasy.  If it’s to make money, researching the pitfalls will help you get a realistic picture of bank balance impact.  If it’s to create, to be a storyteller, then start and keep on reading and writing and enjoying both until the day you don’t.

 

Find Ainslie online:

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter