Cecily Paterson, the first interviewee in our ‘Spotlight on Australian authors’ series.

Until a year ago, I was isolated from other Christian authors. Since discovering several Facebook groups I’ve joined two specifically for Australian authors and book related people – Australasian Christian Writers and Christian Writers Downunder. Through them I’ve ‘met’ many Australian authors. I’ve learned heaps through the articles they post and I’ve also started reading their books to get a feel for the market.

I wanted to interview and show shine a spotlight on some of these people so you can get to know them and their writing too. As a follower of Jesus from Australia, I want to support authors from my own area. Christian fiction is dominated by North Americans. This is just the way it has been (for many reasons) but there are increasing numbers of novelists from other places and I want to do my part in encouraging them.

For my first ‘interview’ I chose someone someone I knew when I was about 20. My other reason for choosing Cecily is that we’ve recently reconnected and she is currently editing my first novel.

1) Could you tell us some of your background and how you got into writing?
My early life was all spent in Pakistan and my primary school was in the house opposite where Benazir Bhutto was being guarded under house arrest, and high school in the Himalayan mountains. I knew writing would be ‘my thing’ after I won a school-wide competition when I was 8 for a story about a Freddo frog that took me back in time. I always wanted to write fiction, but I knew I’d have to wait until I was ‘ready’, even though I didn’t know what that entailed.

2) What prompted your first book?
My first book was actually written on the request of the subject: a man who had an incredible childhood story to tell. I thought it sounded good, and I would do it, so he asked me, “How long will you take?” I ummed and aahhhed, and said, “About eighteen months I think.” The very next week I did a pregnancy test, and rang him back. “Um, I’m having a baby. I’ll have your book done in eight months.

My first novel was written after my fourth baby was born. Suddenly, I felt that the elusive ‘ready’ had arrived. “If I keep talking about being a writer, I’d better do something about it,” I said.

3) You’ve written in a variety of genres. What are they?
I’ve written biography, memoir and fiction for young teen girls.

4) Why write fiction for teenage girls?
It’s a longish story and involves me being bullied at boarding school, too many tears to recount, and an intense concern for girls of the same age suffering with friendship issues. I know the age, I know the feelings, and I think I have something to offer readers of that age.

5) You’ve chosen not to write Christian fiction – why did you go that route? Could you explain the variety of options facing Christians who write? What is the purpose of your writing?
I chose a broad audience because I want to write about the universals of friendships, relationships, emotions and decisions for girls between the ages of 10 to 14. We all suffer the same stuff: I want to be a friend, a voice, a beacon to help girls get through.

Steve Biddulph, of ‘Raising Boys’ and other books says that the ages from 10-14 are crucial years for girls – it is where they set their course and find who they are. However, it’s often also a forgotten or neglected stage, he says. I want to put stories out there that are hopeful but not cheesy, warmhearted but not trivial, and realistic but still ‘clean’. In all my stories I feature a ‘mentor’ figure for my main girl character, and a hint at something bigger than themselves – God.

6) Do you have a favorite book among the ones you’ve written -why?
I have a soft spot for Invisible, because I wrote it first, and because more people have written to me about it than the others. But I also love my Coco character in Love and Muddy Puddles – she’s a brat, but she learns valuable lessons in the end. I really gave her a hard time and made her suffer. If people ask me which series (Invisible/Invincible or Love and Muddy Puddles/Charlie Franks is A-OK) they should buy for their young girl reader, I say, ‘Does she prefer to cry or laugh?’ Invisible brings the tears, but Coco Franks will make you giggle. You can pick up a freebie copy of both of these, by the way. Links below.

7) You also edit and have started publishing. What has been the journey behind that?
Editing makes me some money, which I need, because being an author is pretty much living in poverty – or at least it is the way I’ve done it. I started out editing, after uni, and I enjoy it very much. I like bringing out the ‘gold’ in other people’s writing, and I especially like it when I get to ‘coach’ a writer to be a better storyteller – in other words, the writer listens, and works on it, and improves. That makes me feel very happy.
My publishing venture came about when I saw the illustrated Bible verses by Lorien Atwood, and said, “She needs a book. I could publish it!” Three months later, her first Bible colouring book arrived, and went like wildfire. (Seriously, check her art out at www.firewheelpress.com)

8) Are you hopeful about the future of Australian Christian authors? Why or why not?
I don’t know. I’m not hopeful about my own journey, as a broad-based writer. The industry is difficult to get into, and very few people seem to make a living from it (which is my aim). Christian writing seems like an even smaller niche. Writers have to be very flexible, very resilient and very hopeful. In fact, I’d say, ‘if you think you want to be a writer, but you can live with out it, you should probably pursue something different.’ My problem is that I don’t think I can live without (a) the craft and (b) the dream of having girls reading my stories, growing their courage, and finding their voice as a result.

9) How can we find out more? Where can we buy your books? And who are the ideal audience?
What a superb question!
The ideal audience for my fiction is 10-14 year old girls. I’ve been encouraged that more than a few adults have told me they enjoyed my stories too. I have a memoir for adults, on the topic of autism, that all ages might be interested in.  You can check me out (and my blog) at www.cecilypaterson.com. You can even purchase my books from there, if you want.  Of course, all my books are available on all the e-book platforms, Amazon, iBooks, Kobo etc.  Even better, join my mailing list by signing up at http://www.cecilypaterson.com/intheloop.

10) Are you working on something new at the moment?
Yes, of course. I have a new series I’m trying to find a publisher for, called ‘The Kangaroo Valley School series’. The first book is written, and the second is partway through. I’m also halfway through the third book in the Invisible series (published as ‘Being Jazmine’).

STAY IN TOUCH WITH CECILY
www.cecilypaterson.com
https://www.facebook.com/CecilyAnnePaterson/
Sign up at www.cecilypaterson.com/intheloop

Cecily has now produced an excellent video training course (partly free and partly paid) for those considering writing a memoir.

FREEBIES
Get a free copy of Love and Muddy Puddles here: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/mVgUS
Free copy of Invisible here: https://s.privy.com/GUFdSks
Get awesome bible colouring (including a free design) at www.firewheelpress.com