Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a 19-year-old writer from Scotland, and I published my first book a few months after leaving school.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The book is called The Game Begins, and was inspired by my final year at school. It wasn’t an easy time for me, and writing was a coping mechanism, so the two merged together and became a story about a 17-year-old who was going through that same confusing time, but with a few extra hurdles thrown in her path because I’d asked myself what if things had been worse.
The character of Sam Beckett was one which I’d written about before, and when I had the idea for the plot, there was nobody else I could put in the place of protagonist. I vaguely knew her backstory, so having that ready-made character made things a bit easier for me.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Planning a chapter or scene in my head before I write it down. I used to do it subconsciously, but now if I get stuck on a scene, I’ll try and work through it in my head before spending days staring at my computer screen.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
JK Rowling, because she was so determined to get her books out there that she didn’t let the rejections or her being unemployed stop her.
What are you working on now?
A sequel to The Game Begins, and then I’m moving on to something completely unrelated- or I’ll go on holiday for a bit. The sequel’s taken far longer than I expected it would, and has involved double the stress and frustration than the first.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My blog, because it’s let me connect with other writers and share my writing experiences and I think it makes me more approachable than someone who just has a website dedicated to selling their books.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing, and don’t look back at your first draft until you’ve finished it or else you’ll never get past the first few chapters.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Your writing only seems boring because you wrote it and have read it a 1000 times. Someone who picks it up for the first time won’t have that problem.
What are you reading now?
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, because I wanted to reread it before the Netflix series came out. Needless to say, I failed.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Finished Book 2, and started a third.
What is your favorite book of all time?
My favourite book because of the plot would probably have to be Atonement by Ian McEwan, although a close second would be The Selection series, by Kiera Cass.
The book I’d choose because I don’t get bored rereading it would be Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Or just any Harry Potter book.
Author Websites and Profiles
Rebecca Howie Website
Rebecca Howie Amazon Profile
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