Rachel Medhurt

Rachel Medhurst is sharing with us today. Her first book “Avoidables” is free on her website (http://www.rachelmedhurst.com/#!avoidables/cslk) and on Amazon where I got my copy) I love the premise of this book… so fitting for today’s society… though we may look a certain way, we are more than our external appearance. Enjoy!

1. Tell us about yourself. May include links to Facebook, twitter, blogs, websites, Amazon author page)

My name is Rachel and I grew up and live in England, near London. I’m a fan of history and actually live up the road from Anne Bolyn’s childhood castle. I’ve always had a vivid imagination and dream of myself as a bestselling author living in a lovely country home surrounded by fields and animals. Maybe one day I can buy Hever castle?

Website: http://www.rachelmedhurst.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writerrachelmedhurst
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/rachelmedhurst
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8137512.Rachel_Medhurst Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rachel-Medhurst/e/B00K52FWXS

2. How do you choose names for your characters?

I like to ask my readers if they have any ideas, but in general I tend to just have names pop into my head, which is random, but fun!
3.Do you talk about your book/characters as though they are real? – Yes, absolutely. I would class myself as an Avoidable (someone who isn’t perfect looking or acting) rather than a Perfect and always wish some of my characters could speak back to me.

4. Do you listen to music when you write or edit? What kind?

No, I don’t listen to music. I like complete silence. I sometimes wish I could concentrate with music on because it would be nice to have some background noise other than my dog barking at the television.

5. How long have you been writing?

Since I was very young. My nan even has a short tale I wrote when I was about six. When I was about ten, a friend and I would read a lot of American teen books and so we decided to write one between us. The funny thing was, we are British and it didn’t sound quite right. Was good fun though.

6. Tell us about when you realized you were ‘meant to be’ a writer.

When I was nineteen, I sat down after a heart break and just started writing this story. It grew and grew and I got so lost in the story, it was almost like therapy. I loved it so much that I found I couldn’t stop. And here I am, ten years later with four books out.

7. Do you have a muse?

Not really. I may be my own muse, but I’m not sure if that’s possible/allowed?
8.How do you improve as a writer? (Workshops, conferences, reading) – I read almost every single day. I also write almost every single day. I research the publishing world and speak to others writers. I love this whole world and I know that I will always improve.

9. Writing quirks or superstitions?

I have to write 1,000 words every time I sit to write. So when I get up in the morning, I sit and write 1,000 words, and I’m not allowed to come away or stop until I do it.

10. Tell us about your current work-in-progress.

I’m on book four of Avoidables, which is a fantasy romance dystopian novella series. Perfects are people that are gorgeous and they live in Upper Side. Avoidables are ugly, deformed, half breeds or have powers and they live in Lower Side. Hope is an Avoidable with one arm. Each novella is from a different characters point of view, and in book four, I’m in the mind of a female Perfect.

11. What book are you reading now?

I’m on book five of Diana Gabaldons Outlander series and I’m loving it!

12. What genre do you write in? What about POV?

I’m a little varied. My Deadliners series is paranormal/supernatural and it’s in third person POV. Avoidables is dystopian fantasy romance and is in first POV, but as mentioned in a previous answer, I am in different characters POV in each book. I’m a little strange and varied, but that’s how I work.

13. Tell us about writing preparation. Character Profiles? Outlines?

I don’t prep at all. I’m the type of writer that sits in front of a blank page and just writes. As the story unfolds I get as excited as reader would. I love how things happen, although it can be distracting when I have to stop to cry! 🙂

14. Do you know how your stories will end?

I might have an inkling sometimes, but not often.

15. Do you books have a message or theme? Or are they purely for entertainment?

When I was a young reader, I always loved books that gave me hope. All my books have an underlying message of hope. Avoidables is about discrimination and how people shouldn’t be judged because of how they look.

16. Do you have any favorite snacks or drinks that you eat/drink while writing?

I drink water when I write and I would eat chocolate all day if I allowed myself to, but I’m very disciplined so I don’t actually snack when writing.

17. Tell us about your other passions.

I love to paint and draw. I don’t give myself enough time to do it and I miss it. I once painted pictures of Disney characters faces copying the images on the sides of the video cases (this was before I owned a computer. Now I feel old!!) and making them bigger. I still have those paintings now!

18. What’s something interesting about you?

I have four tattoos. 🙂

19. Share a small sample(limit to one paragraph, please) of your writing… can be a WIP or already published.

‘She’s only got one arm,’ the man cried and backed away, bumping fast into the dancing crowd.

Everything had been going so well. I was lost in the music, swaying and thumping my good hand in the air. The man had looked over at me as I’d glanced up from the floor. He was handsome. As our gazes clashed, a grin spread over his clean shaven face. I let the corners of my lips sink into my cheeks as I circled my hips in a mating dance. He swayed over to me, but as I turned in a circle, his eyes locked onto my shoulder and that’s when he’d started shouting.

20. Anything you’d like to say to your current and future readers?

Thank you! I’m so grateful and humble. I love to hear from anyone that has read my books.

Thanks Rachel! We’re glad for your insight. Good luck with Book 4.
E&M