Welcome to the 5 Questions Series. Each week, I’ll ask five questions of some of my favorite authors, editors, publishers, and other industry professionals. This week, I’m talking with Alicia Gael.
Before anything else—wow! Rave reviews and so much buzz on your recent release. Can you talk a little about what your book is about?
First off, I want to thank you for interviewing me. I always look forward to reading your Patreon page and blog, and I’m thrilled to now be in it.
Let’s see, Murder on Castaway Island is a modern day, sapphic reimagining of Agatha Christie’s, And Then There Were None. A group of very diverse women and non-binary people are lured to a remote, private island. Someone in the group is a killer, out for revenge. There’s also a bit of a romance between two of the characters.
You went through the GCLS Writing Academy. Can you talk about your experience there and how it affected your path to publication?
I finished WA 1 and I’m in WA 2 now, and I signed up for WA 3 in the fall. I can’t recommend it enough. Everyone should do it, even those who have already published a book. I’ve learned so much about writing, editing, and marketing, and it’s certainly helped build my confidence and chip away at the imposter syndrome I have. But more importantly it’s the sense of community you get from it. I’ve met some wonderful people and I think my “pod,” Kate Pringle, Mila McKay, Clare “Lana” Donniere and I will be friends for life. (I hope they feel the same way.)
What are you working on right now?
I submitted my second novel, Murder, Mayhem & Sex on the Beach, to the publisher (Bella Books,) and I’m waiting for an editor to be assigned. It’s a light-hearted blend of romance and suspense. It’s also the first sex scenes I’ve written so I’m a little nervous about it.
Do you have any advice for writers who are struggling to finish their novel?
LOL. If I had any I’d give it to myself, I’m struggling with my third novel, after talking with Kimberly Cooper Griffin, my Writing Academy mentor, I think I’m going to revamp the whole thing.
As for advice, I would recommend participating in NaNoWriMo in November. It forces you to write everyday, and by the end you have 50,000 words, which for me is a first draft.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
Hmmm, flying? Invisibility? Time travel? What I’d really like is have a transporter (a la Star Trek,) and beam myself anywhere, to any time, past or future.
Bonus question: Have you ever taken a picture of a weird bird?
It’s not really a weird bird, but a bird doing something weird. I was kayaking and came upon a pod of pelicans, so I started taking pictures.
Alicia Gael can be found on the web here.
Finnian Burnett 