An interview with

short story, flash and young adult novel writer Rebecca Emin

Rebecca with some of her work

It’s difficult to recall precisely how I met Rebecca Emin… other than to say it was definitely online. It might have been Twitter – we’re both enthusiastic tweeps, Facebook, we’re both in the Ether Books stable, we pop up at places like Good Reads and we both blog – Rebecca at Ramblings of a Rusty Writer. We have a number of mutual writing chums. In many ways I’m surprised we didn’t meet earlier. Suffice to say I’m delighted that we did hook up. Rebecca is one of the most generous and supportive writers around. You can find out what she’s up to in these various locations by clicking on the relevant link.

Rebecca is a prolific short story and flash fiction writer, but she’s here today to celebrate the launch of her young adult novel New Beginnings. It’s an engaging story with an important message. You can buy it on Amazon here or here. And you might want to read my review. I gifted this book to a couple of my just-thirteen-year-old son’s friends, and both (girls) said they thoroughly enjoyed it.

So, please, give a big warm welcome to Rebecca Emin.

Tell us a little about yourself, Rebecca. Why do you write?

This is actually the question I found the hardest to answer. It’s like saying to someone ‘why do you breathe?’  I have all these ideas in my head and they sit in there, buzzing around until I write them down.  There’s no way I could not write, and particularly now, it’s not something I could give up.

You’ve written short stories, with a not- inconsiderable degree of success. What made you decide to write a young adult novel?

Funnily enough I wrote the first draft of my novel first. When the manuscript was being left to rest, I started to write short stories and flash fiction. It has surprised me really as although I get a great deal of satisfaction from completing a novel, I think I get more pleasure from writing short stories and especially flash fiction. This has been a learning curve; in early 2009 I was completely unaware of the term ‘flash fiction’ and it is now my favourite form.

The overriding theme of New Beginnings is a very important one – bullying and how to deal with it. What inspired you to cover this topic? Personal experience?

I have been bullied on a number of occasions, but most notably when I started at senior school. I didn’t tell anyone (outside of school) about it for a long time but as I have got older, I have mentioned it to a few people and most of them have had experience of bullying in one way or another. I realised it is a common problem and therefore decided to write about it because of that. If I can help one person who is being bullied, I will be happy. That is also why I am donating 10% of any profits I make to the charity BullyingUK.

The bully, Molly, is portrayed sympathetically. Did you find this hard?

This is an interesting question because early last year I met up with a bunch of school friends, and someone who had no idea about what I had been through, let slip what had happened to the girl who bullied me before I got to know her. It was when this happened that the ending clicked into place, I was determined to show, especially for younger readers, that bullies are most likely not picking on them because of any fault of theirs. There can be a lot more to it than that.

I found the portrayal of first love, those early stirrings of sexual feeling, poignant and very believable. Were the scenes between Nathan and Sam fun to write, or difficult?

I found it incredibly easy to write these scenes. I just thought back to my early childhood crushes and took it from there.

Your lead, Sam, is a theatrical; she loves singing and acting, and it is clear that your knowledge of this world is extensive. Research or personal experience?

I love theatre and especially musical theatre. I guess I let Sam experience some of the things I used to dream of doing. As for the ‘celeb appearance’ I have met that particular person several times and he was the natural choice to include as he is always very generous with his time, and I think he would do what he did in the book if he could.

I am trying to not give away too much here, as I am sure many people who read this will not have read the book yet!

You have three small children. How do you manage your time?

There is generally a little bit of panic, many lists, and a great sense of underachievement if I am honest.

What do your children make of your writing?

They are typical children in that their opinions change like the weather. One day they are taking my book in for ‘speaking and listening’ and telling all their friends I am an author. The next I get told off for ‘working’ too much.   I hope they will be proud of me when they get older.

And what’s next for you? Your writing ambitions?

For the first part of 2012 I have decided to concentrate on short stories. I’d quite like to put together a collection of short stories for children, and I also want to write more stories for adults. I am currently finding out about various magazine markets for fiction, as well as planning to submit more stories to Ether Books.

I am currently trying to find a publisher for my second novel, so I would like to get that sorted out one way or another as well.

And finally, a daft question I ask everyone here. Coffee or tea? Beer or wine? Marmite or Bovril? Dark chocolate or Milk? High heels or flatties? Blusher or mascara? Last two for the girls only!

Coffee mostly, but I do like Earl Grey tea at times.

Wine, although I don’t drink very much to be honest. Half a glass goes straight to my head now!

I love marmite!

I always wear flat shoes (I am 5’10 and my husband is 5’6!). I always think I would find it hard to walk in heels.

As for the make-up, mascara.

Thank you for having me over on your blog, and for the interesting questions!!

And thanks to you, Rebecca and good luck with that book.

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