Today I am very fortunate to be interviewing first time trade author, Dee White (and author pal!!), who took ten years and 22 drafts to write her first trade-published novel 'Letters To Leonardo'. However, don't be fooled. The book is not jsut a compilation of letters, but an actual STORY!!
1. Why did 'Letters to Leonard' need 20 drafts?
The story changes direction a lot as I developed the characters more and they started to control their own destinies. Also, I had a lot of trouble coming up with an ending that wasn't predictable or cliched
2. The book took you 10 years to write. What was it like working on your first trade-published novel for ten years, editing, doing 22 drafts, and then, when it was accepted, having an editor come in and take it apart again?
Actually, the editor didn't take it apart. She was actually very kind - she left things pretty much as they were, but showed me how to enhance it by developing characters more and looking at cause and effect.
3. How does it feel, now be having a first trade novel JUST released two days ago?
VERY VERY VERY EXCITING! Did you get that. It's VERY EXCITING:-)
4. What are your current/next writing projects?
I have just completed Cleopatra's Cat, which was the original 'follow up' novel to Letters to Leonardo. Am currently working on an adult novel and a thriller YA trilogy.
5. Where do you see your writing career in 10 years' time?
