GENRE: Nature Writing
BLURB:
Here is a nest egg of memories and anecdotes teased from a life uplifted by an appreciation of the natural world.
Memories of childhood in rural England, raising a family in Orkney and Lincolnshire, and retirement in Northern Scotland are threaded together into a broad tapestry of the natural year. These experiences meet with a view of Earth's uncertain future to illustrate the necessity for respect of all lifeforms and shares a passion for the wellbeing of this planet with all generations.
Child of the Earth is a source of inspiration and delight - a literary garland of hope.
Excerpt:
Growing against the friendly grey stone wall of our garden is a perfect Mothers’ Day gift of 2013. Dog roses. They are new but already showing great promise. The rose, in all its forms, has always pleased me – except, perhaps, for the poor blue rose which no one has been able to perfect. No matter how intricate a breeding program is set up, it is a sad reflection on human intervention in the natural world. Not as sad as hunting animals to extinction but, even so, it makes one ponder.
Author Interview:
Author Interview:
First I want to say thank you for taking the time to chat
with me!
Where
do you get your ideas?
I have always been inspired by the natural world - I have so much to say about it! When I’m out of doors, or even watching through a window, I wish that I could share with others what it is I observe.
I have always been inspired by the natural world - I have so much to say about it! When I’m out of doors, or even watching through a window, I wish that I could share with others what it is I observe.
What
is your writing process like?
I need a deadline! And I need a plan, but I need to have flexibility within the plan - but not with the deadline! Then I gather together all the relevant information and accounts and sort them into chapters. For Child of the Earth, the chapters are month by month. I find that, once I start writing, I find I want to include even more and I go on to research what it is I want to add.
I need a deadline! And I need a plan, but I need to have flexibility within the plan - but not with the deadline! Then I gather together all the relevant information and accounts and sort them into chapters. For Child of the Earth, the chapters are month by month. I find that, once I start writing, I find I want to include even more and I go on to research what it is I want to add.
What
advice do you have for writers?
Write for the love of writing and your subject matter! Don’t do it for the money!
Once you’ve decided what it is you want to write, have a plan but don’t be rigid with it. Know what it is you want to communicate with the reader, and apply an inclusive method - your writing never wants to exclude!
Write for the love of writing and your subject matter! Don’t do it for the money!
Once you’ve decided what it is you want to write, have a plan but don’t be rigid with it. Know what it is you want to communicate with the reader, and apply an inclusive method - your writing never wants to exclude!
What is the
first book that made you cry?
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
I can’t remember now which part made me cry, but I do remember I couldn’t read on for tears.
The Pearl by John Steinbeck
I can’t remember now which part made me cry, but I do remember I couldn’t read on for tears.
Do you find
it easier to write character and dialogue for the opposite sex because you are
the opposite sex? (A woman writing a man’s part and dialogue for example).
Most of Child of the Earth is nonfiction, but it does include short stories. In these, I’ve used both male and female voices, and I don’t really find it any easier (or more difficult!) to use one or the other.
Most of Child of the Earth is nonfiction, but it does include short stories. In these, I’ve used both male and female voices, and I don’t really find it any easier (or more difficult!) to use one or the other.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
I never get writer’s block, as such, but I often have to put writing on hold to get on with other things.
I never get writer’s block, as such, but I often have to put writing on hold to get on with other things.
Have you ever gotten reader’s
block?
Oh yes! I find it very frustrating, but it happens sometimes - especially when the text contains too many statistics.
Oh yes! I find it very frustrating, but it happens sometimes - especially when the text contains too many statistics.
How did
publishing your first book change your process of writing, if at all?
That’s a really interesting question! I was pleased with my first book, but when I read it back, holding it in my hand, I thought there were things there which I would have put differently. I realized that my writing style should play second fiddle to the importance and message of the text. The style in my new book is still very much my own, but I didn’t allow it to dictate, as I had in my first book.
That’s a really interesting question! I was pleased with my first book, but when I read it back, holding it in my hand, I thought there were things there which I would have put differently. I realized that my writing style should play second fiddle to the importance and message of the text. The style in my new book is still very much my own, but I didn’t allow it to dictate, as I had in my first book.
What kind of
research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a
book?
Most of the research is done as I’m writing. I use past journals, diaries, nature writing by others, and the internet. Before I start to write, I check the facts of the material I’ve collated, daub red ink everywhere, and often add to it according to what I’ve just found. I find my discipline in getting out my message leads to a flow that allows for research and writing to run side by side.
Most of the research is done as I’m writing. I use past journals, diaries, nature writing by others, and the internet. Before I start to write, I check the facts of the material I’ve collated, daub red ink everywhere, and often add to it according to what I’ve just found. I find my discipline in getting out my message leads to a flow that allows for research and writing to run side by side.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Author Biography:
Susan Crow
Susan grew up in the Isle of Axholme, which inspired the Crowvus best-seller, Child of the Isle. She has a deep love of nature which is apparent in all her writing from the poems she has had published in various anthologies, to her 2020 release, Child of the Earth.
Susan released Rosie Jane and the Swodgerump as part of the John O’Groats Book Festival. This story was written and inspired by raising her six children in Orkney. After moving to England for a while, Susan finally returned to North Scotland in 2009, and continues to write her monthly blogs, What’s It Like Up There?
Her latest book, Child of the Earth, is a nature companion, drawn from her own experiences throughout her life. It provides a colourful telling of Susan’s encounters with nature, told with a style which makes it accessible to all readers.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.susancrowauthor.com/
Publisher: https://www.crowvus.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stempertoncrow
Blog: https://susancrowauthor.blogspot.com/
Child of the Earth Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086P6PM5W/
Child of the Earth Crowvus Shop: https://www.crowvus.com/shop
GIVEAWAY
15 comments:
Thanks for hosting!
Thanks for hosting!
Sounds like a great read, thanks for sharing and for the giveaway.
Thank you very much for hosting me on your blog.
What character was the most fun to write?
Sounds like a good read
Sounds very sweet Susan! What was your favorite part about writing your book?
Sounds like a good book.
I have never read anything quite like this before and must say I am intrigued.
The art work is lovely too.
I appreciate getting to hear about a book new to me. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the giveaway.
Have you read any good books in quarantine. Congrats on the release.
Susan Crow's books all looked to be good reads. I saw them on Goodredas and I will read them soon.
I hope your book is a success. It sounds like a good read.
Thanks for all the lovely comments!
Difficult to say what was my favourite part of writing "Child Of The Earth" - I genuinely enjoyed it all - that may seem a bit self indulgent - but my aim is to connect with people everywhere who share the same passion as mine for the natural world, or have an interest in it which they want to develop, or want to use my book as a resource for kindling an interest in others. My view is that the planet will be in safer hands when we ensure the new generation are able to connect with the natural world.
My daughter, Clemency, did the artwork. I will pass on your appreciation.
For books in quarantine, if you enjoy historical fiction, you might like to try "Beneath Black Clouds And White" by Virginia Crow, Clemency's older sister. I'm keeping it in the family!
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