Q & A with Rosie Schonell
Rosie Schonell has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master's in Special Education. She has taught English at all school levels and specialized in teaching students with learning difficulties.
She lives with her husband and adult children, spending time between Balmain and the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia..
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WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A WRITER?
I’ve always wanted to write books, but life was so busy, and it just seemed like such a tall
mountain to climb. As the years went by, and the demands of parenthood eased, I thought
it’s now or never. I’m happy to say that writing, for me, has now become a place where I like
to escape.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THEMES OR MESSAGES YOU WANT TO CONVEY IN YOUR NOVEL?
There are a few subtle messages embedded in my novel, such as what makes a good friend,
how helping others makes you feel good, and that girls can do anything. However, the two
main messages I want my readers to take away from my book is that facing your fears in life
is empowering and that academic grades are not the only measure of who you are.
WHAT IS YOUR SCHEDULE LIKE WHEN WRITING A BOOK?
I tend to fit my writing around the busyness of life, so I don’t stick to a timetable. I look
forward to days when I have cleared my to-do list and know I will be able to sit down to
write, hopefully undisturbed. Otherwise, it’s a couple of hours here and there. I love reading
over chapters late at night when the house and the outside world are asleep, and all is
quiet.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BEST AND WORST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED AS A WRITER?
The best advice that I have received was to do some courses to learn the craft of writing. I
found this helpful in understanding POV and how to write dialogue. Another great piece of
advice was that you must enjoy what you are writing, as it’s a very long road, and you have to
be prepared to stay the course. The worst advice was when someone said it will probably
only take you a few weeks to write your novel.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NEXT?
I have the outline of a sequel up my sleeve, but at the moment, my imagination is full of
possibilities. One day I might turn my mind to adult crime fiction, but at the moment I really
enjoy writing for the middle grade/YA audience.
Wings ePress novel:
Breaking School Rules is Easy
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