SPOTLIGHT ON… Fantasy: Narrelle Harris

Narrelle Harris

 

Describe yourself in one word:
Ebullient.

What is your background with regard to writing?
I think I wrote my first stories when I was in primary school, and I’ve written stories ever since. I went into fanfic for a while, 30 years ago, and the community taught me a lot. Then I got my first book published ten years ago! I’ve had six books published since then, and a number of short erotica stories, so the track record is going well.

When did you first begin writing with a view of embarking on a career as a published author?
I think the idea was always there, that I wanted to share my writing with a larger audience. I suppose the idea really crystallised when I got restless writing with other people’s characters in fanfic and started writing my own original fiction. Fanfic has fanzines; original fiction needed publishers.

Tell us about the first book you wrote
The first one I wrote was Fly By Night, which is actually two novellas. I wanted to write an adventure story with two protagonists that happened to be gay. That was picked up by Homosapien Press in Canberra in 2004, and were the first stories set in the locales in which I lived. I still have a soft spot for my heroes, Milo and Frank, and I’d like to do another book with them some day.

What is your writing routine?
It depends on my day job at the time. When I have traditional employment, I work a couple of nights a week at my writing space – I just sit down and get into it. I don’t have time to shilly-shally. These days I work part time, so I have two whole days a week to write. I used to just write and see where the muse took me, but these days I’m more likely to draft at least a basic outline to keep the story on track. It’s more time efficient that way.

Favourite snack whilst writing?
Coffee and chocolate biscuits!

If you weren’t writing, what would you be doing?
Acting, possibly; provided I could get over my habitual first night stage fright, which is one of the reasons I stopped acting.

What piqued your interest in the sci-fi/paranormal genre?
I’ve always liked stories that talked about the fantastical and people outside the mainstream. Maybe I identified with those characters, because we moved a lot (Dad being in the air force). As a result I was always the outsider trying to find a way to fit in. My father read a lot of SF, so that was a good introduction too.

One thing you’d like readers to know about the sci-fi/paranormal genre:
It looks like it’s about technology and monsters, but it’s actually all about being human.

Biggest accomplishment to date:
Every book published is an accomplishment. Every single one. Though I am particularly chuffed that my foray into romance and erotica has gone so well. That genre is deceptively difficult to write.

What’s next for you?
I have so many plans!! I’m working on my online multimedia project, Kitty and Cadaver, about a rock band that saves the world from mosnters using music as magic. That’s going online with updates every Monday. I have plans for the third Gary and Lissa vampire novel, but I also have notes for a number of erotica stories for the series being published by Clan Destine Press.

 

Confessions of an Author:

Is there something we’d be shocked to know about you?
For those who have met me at events, probably that I can be plagued with self doubt. I deal with it by ignoring it.

What do you find easiest to write? And, the hardest?
That’s really diffiuclt to say, because it depends on the story. Broadly, I like writing dialogue and I find it more challenging to get tight plots together. A lot of that is still done after the writing, where I get to tighten things up after I see what the whole thing looks like.

Favourite travel experience?
All of them. Can I say that? I travel a lot and there’s always something to get out of the experience. It’s all rewarding, and it all teaches you something or sparks and idea. I’ve never met a destination I didn’t like. If you’re talking modes of transport, though, train beats everything else hands down.

Favourite fictional character:
That’s too hard. I’ve been a Sherlock Holmes fan for 25 years, but it’s the Holmes/Watson dynamic rather than either character alone I love. I guess my favourite individual character is Lucy Pevensy (Narnia series), I think. Or maybe Cordelia Naismith (The Vorkosigan saga) – she’s kickass.

Number one thing to do on your bucket list:
To live in London for a while to research and write a book. I have sketchy plans for that, but money is an issue at this stage. I’m saving up!

Milk or dark chocolate?
Dark!

Red, white, bubbly?
Bubbles!

Salty or sweet?
Sweet, much to the ruin of my non-existant athletic career.

Beach or mountains?
Mountains, as long as I can look at them rather than climb them.

Give or receive?
Give, most definitely. It’s a lot of fun.

 

Find Narrelle online:
Website and Kitty and Cadaver
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
GoodReads