For the love (and romance) of history...
- Mar 19, 2017
- 6 min read
Yvette Pratt has a very inspired jumping point from which to base her debut historical, fantasy romance series; being an aficionado of the past, she is an educated archaeologist! A love of history that is seasoned with her know how of research and ancient civilizations is a recipe for a writer that will leave you coming back for more. She took some time to give us a peek into her world.
You have a love of fantasy and romance but you also have an obvious passion for history. Between your debut as an author with the Moment in Time series bringing us a 12th century Scottish warrior and your studies in archaeology, you have a knack for the past. I can't help but see how Ceana was inspired by yourself - are there any sites in particular that you worked on that inspired a story or scene for you?
Unfortunately, I haven’t had many opportunities to do archaeological digs in the areas that I would love to. I still have a little more study to go before I can do that.
However, there is one place that I go regularly that inspired a scene from my book and that was the Springbrook Valley and the Firefly Hideaway (Mouses House). This spot inspired the setting for the Thorne siblings home.
It's a place that is magical and every time I go there I have a feeling that anything is truly possible.
(Photos of the Mouses House)
However, even though I didn’t get to dig there, the archaeological dig site in Rome and all of the Greek history that I have studied were the inspiration behind my next series. Additionally, in 2012 I was lucky enough to spend six months in Sweden where I was able to travel to the Arctic Circle at the very top of Sweden. This was the inspiration for my Viking Series. Maybe one day I will be as lucky as the women in my stories and I will find myself on such sites, discovering the answers behind a history long buried.
Archaeology is a form of scientific study, but imagination must play a role in what is found at these sites. What is it about a site that gets your creative juices flowing?
It’s not so much your imagination that plays a role in what is found, as it is your passion to uncover a question. For example, most site are founded by someone wishing to find out more about the civilization that lived there. The thing that I love about these sites, and the thing that gets my creative juices flowing is that when you uncover something from the site you are immediately filled with a feeling of awe. Just thinking about the people who had come before you and trying to understand what their lives held is a powerful feeling. For example, the feeling I got when I touched the walls of the Colosseum in Rome were overwhelming, just knowing that I was standing in the same place as someone nearly 2000years ago, seeing it for the first time is mind blowing. This is what I like to portray in my books. I would like nothing better than to travel back in time and visit these place, when they were bustling with Ancient life.
Are there any sites that would be an absolute dream for you to be able to participate in?
There are a few that I would love to participate in. Most are in Greece, the top being the site of Delphi and Pompeii. I love all of the Ancient History that can be found in Greece. I love the stories that each of these sites have to tell us about the people that live there. Especially Pompeii where life has been literally frozen in time.
Highlander at Heart was published last year and its sequel, Her Highland Hero, was recently released. In addition to starting a teaching position, an editing service for indie writers, and your family, you are one busy lady! Do you find the time that you have for writing to be energizing or exhausting?
I actually find writing to be energizing. Writing for me is much like reading. When I am feeling stressed or overwhelmed reading and writing ground me again. They let me center myself and allow me time to gather my thoughts and calm my world. I only wish I could do more of it.
Do you have any writing rituals, or a favourite spot to get into your groove?
Not really, the only ritual that I have is I need quiet. I find that I am unable to write when there is chaos around me. I also find that I tend to do my best writing at night time, when the world around me is still. This is when I feel like anything is possible.
Being a writer with an indie publishing house
brings with it a lot of personal work in promotion
and marketing. What are some tips you could sharethat may help an indie author just starting out?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. In this I mean make contact with other authors especially those from the same publishing house as you. Do as many takeovers as you can as this is where you will find a new audience to follow you. I found that I have had more success with my second book, than with my first as I have promoted the second one a lot more than I did my first one. A huge tip I can give you is for your first book, or any subsequent book thereafter do a release event. Have other authors come and promote their books and in turn they will help you promote yours.
You've started collaborating with other authors for some, I'm sure, fantastic upcoming projects. Has working under a joint effort changed your approach to your writing style?
Not really, I think it works for me because I am writing with authors who have a similar style to mine. However, in saying that I have learnt new processes in organizing my ideas, such as Scrivener. I have found thought that I am enjoying collaborating with other authors as your ideas grow quicker when you have someone to bounce ideas off of.
You've started publishing under a pseudonym, YM Zachery. What made you decide to make the switch?
I decided to write under a pseudonym for two reasons. One was the fact that soon I will be a teacher and I have heard from other teachers that parents don’t always like the idea of an author of my style teaching their kids. Which is fair enough. The second reason being that I am about to release a bio and I have kept all names out of it, so in order to have people take away the positives from it I took on a pseudonym so that my personal life can remain detached from my writing.
You're an avid reader. Who are some of your all-time favourite authors?
I have four all time favourites. Sherilyn Kenyon – Dark Hunters and League Series - she also writes under Kinley McGregor who I love. Johanna Lindsey, Julie Garwood, Janet Chapmen. However, since starting up as an indie author I'm happy to say that I have added a few new names to my all-time favourites. Alyssa Drake, Katherine Dempster, J.L Leslie, Rosie Chapel and Bey Tolentino just to name a few.
Finally, what exciting projects will be seeing from you in the future?
I am happy to announce that I have 5 new books in the works that I want released this year and then I have up to nine others to come in the future. The five that I have coming are a bio, a children’s book – who’s proceeds will be going to my best friend’s daughter who has leukemia, an anthology that I am part of – more information will be coming soon regarding this, my first demi-god book and the final installment of the Moment in Time series. I will be doing some cover reveals for two of the books later this month on Castles Dreams and Books page on Facebook. This is where you can also find out more information regarding any upcoming books.
Thank you to Yvette and you can find her books and editing services in the links! Check her out and give her some likes!
Comments