Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you get into writing?
I’ve wanted to write for as long as I can remember. I think I penned my first story when I was ten, perhaps eleven and never stopped. I was inspired by Star Wars and developed a love of science-fiction, fantasy genres ever since.
What inspired you to write your book?
In the case of The Hanging, I wanted to try a completely different genre and historical fiction or westerns seemed to be something challenging. I wanted to test myself.
What theme or message do you hope readers will take away from your book?
Well I hope they are entertained, that the characters grab them and they’re interested in seeing what else in store for these folks down the line.
What drew you into this particular genre?
It is a genre that’s very different from the science fiction and fantasy I write, but then again, also very similar because there is a lot of world building involved and adventure is a main staple of the genre like sci-fic and fantasy. After all, so many of our great science fiction shows started out with elements present in western films.
If you could sit down with any character in your book, what would you ask them and why?
I would probably sit down and ask what it is like for Holly Davis to be independent woman in the 1880s, trying to make her way in a man’s world, while staying through to herself.
What social media site has been the most helpful in developing your readership?
I’m finding Facebook is the best so far, but I’m not used to the marketing aspects so for now it seems to be the platform that gives me access to reach my audience directly.
What advice would you give to aspiring or just starting authors out there?
Write for yourself and no one else. Even if you never became rich and famous, or become a best-selling novelist, doing what you love will still make you soar.
What does the future hold in store for you? Any new books/projects on the horizon?
I have just finished a new fantasy novel called the Patient, it’s currently sitting with an editor. I’m working on the third installment of my Mimosa western series, and then I’ll be completing a science-fiction novel that’s been sitting dormant for too long, and writing a sequel to a book I co-authored with a friend called Savage World.
About the Author
Born in a village in Malaysia and delivered by underpaid midwife, and Ann, an irritable new mother (who wouldn’t be after 48 hours in labour?), X was named by a deranged grandmother with too much creativity for her own good. Once out of her pain-induced stupor, Ann decided to give her new daughter a proper middle name to avoid the risk of being put into a home later in life.
And so, she was called Linda.
Linda was an unremarkable child, save a few notable incidents, the discovery that a pot lid is not a substitute for Wonder Woman’s tiara (five stitches), four-year old don’t need to shave (no stitches but lots of toilet paper) and utility truck drivers are not necessarily qualified operators of their vehicles (seventy stitches).
At eight, Linda received religious enlightenment when she saw Star Wars at the Odeon Theatre and hence began her writing career.
For many years, the cages of various pets in the Thackeray household were littered with pages from Linda’s scribblings. Subjects usually ranged from whatever science fiction show was on television or at the movies. There was lots of Star Wars.
At 17, Linda moved to Sydney, Australia and was disappointed it was not occupied by Paul Hogan types with big knives and croc skin jackets but pot-bellied blokes with zinc cream and terry towel hats. Linda’s father (also known as that bloke who buys me stuff to piss mum off when she’s mad at him) settled in the town of Young, a community of 6000 people with no movie theatre.
Linda survived this period in the wilderness by raising kangaroos and writing original works but eventually got saddled down with the necessities of life and though she continued to write, work came first. Work, HBO, comic books and rent. It’s a kaleidoscope.
Even the kangaroos left out of boredom.
In 2014, Linda decided to start writing seriously again. Mostly because Australia’s strict gun laws make it very difficult to ‘go postal’ in the workplace. Moving to Woy Woy, which is Aboriginal for ‘Big Water’, she’s dipped her toes into the Indie pool and found she needs a pedicure. Her books are labours of love and championed by her friends on Facebook.
Eventually Creativia Publishers, appalled by Linda’s inability to conduct any marketing, offered to publish her books out of sheer exasperation.
Supported by two cats named Newt and Humphrey, she spends her days trying to write novels while having unclean thoughts about Michael Fassbender and Jason Statham, sometimes together.
Author Page: https://www.lthackeray.com/
Amazon Central Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Thackeray/e/B00NE63G76/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Scribee31oz/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Scribe31oz
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8331182.Linda_Thackeray
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