NOTE: Contains UK spelling, idioms, sense of humour and punctuation! (Meier Writers) In what genre(s) do you write? (J.S. Watts) I like to mix up the genres where I can, but broadly my writing covers horror, fantasy, science fiction, magic realism, literary fiction and poetry or a combination of all or some. In summary, much, but not all by any means, of my writing has a speculative edge to it. (MW) What’s the favorite book you’ve read? (JS) I have way too many to list, but I adore anything by Ray Bradbury, John Wyndham, Roger Zelazny, Terry Pratchett, Sylvia Plath, Charles Causley, Rosemary Sutcliffe, Alice Oswald… I could go on, but you get the picture why I can’t identify just one favourite book. (MW) What’s the favorite book you’ve written? (JS) In terms of individual books, that’s a bit like asking which of your children you love most. I don’t think I can answer that, and even if I could, I really shouldn’t. I love all six of my published books: the novels and the poetry collections. I love the completed novel manuscript now sitting with my publisher and I even love the novel I’m working on, mostly, when it behaves itself. (MW) Would you pinpoint the biggest challenge you faced as an author? (JS) I shall have to say getting published, because, as a traditionally published writer, that’s the thing over which I have least control. (MW) Who has been most instrumental in your publishing career? (JS) I’m going to pass on this question: one, because I honestly don’t know and two, because if I start randomly quoting individual names I unfairly exclude others. (MW) Tell me your views on the dreaded Writers’ Block. (JS) So far, I haven’t really experienced it, so I don’t want to comment in case I do. It would seem like pushing my luck. (MW) What keeps you away from writing? (JS) Other stuff. (MW) What do you do with the bulk of your day? (JS) I consider myself first and foremost a writer. I gave up the day job to become one, but I still need to take on consultancy and other work, including writing workshops and paid performances, to keep the cat in his cat food of choice. Days can, therefore, be very varied. (MW) What are common traps new writers should avoid? (JS) Seeking publication too early. Not editing their own work sufficiently. (MW) How can writers help each other? (JS) Promoting one another, buying others’ books, working together, generally being nice.
That's all this time around. We'll have more from J.S. Watts through the week, and hopefully when she has time to join us again.