Authors are listed alphabetically by LAST name beginning with Y
*All the information/websites/links were current AT THE TIME OF INITIAL POSTING. As time passes, please be aware that the links provided might no longer be active.
Tristra Newyear Yeager
Your Name: Tristra Newyear Yeager
Pseudonym: T. Newyear
Genre(s) of your work: Oh my! Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Historical Fiction, and Literary Fiction. I write all over the place! And I can’t seem to escape my past, so I also write academic stuff.
Titles/Year of Published Work(s):
In reverse chronological order:
2023-24 Starfall: A Tale in Two Eras
2018: The Tomb and The Stone: A Historical Fantasy of 19th-Century Russia (I’m re-covering and rereleasing them this year)
…and in 2010 I wrote a doctoral dissertation about grassroots theater in Siberia.
Bio:
I’m a native Midwesterner who wound up traveling the world and living all over, particularly Eastern Europe, Russia, and Central Asia. I’ve worked as a journalist and got a PhD, but I also had a parallel career in the music industry, which is where I wound up. I’ve spent the last several years working in media relations, music, and technology—and doing a lot of writing as part of my job.
At some point, I got it into my head to start writing fiction, after my first son was born. I began working on a fantasy project that is still a WIP a decade later. I wrote about 400,000 words and then tossed it out and started over, then other books intervened. That writing adventure, however, got me into a regular habit of writing for myself and I became seriously hooked.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I’m a messy, sloppy author who’s all over the place when it comes to genre. I like to experiment and see what happens, and I love to take a convention and flip it on its head. I purposefully mix genres because that’s what the stories demand.
I also love trying to find the sweet spot between literary depth and formal experimentation, and the sheer pleasure that a good “genre novel” can bring. It’s a challenge to use the structure of genre, with its strong emphasis on plot and pacing, to push along more philosophical musings and very complex characters. Whatever I write, I want it to be highly emotional and quirky—I love strange twists and fantastic scenarios and I want to move people.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
Writing has given me so much joy and so much satisfaction. It’s allowed me to find space to build my own inner life in the midst of professional and family demands, and it’s allowed me to explore topics that challenge me in a way that’s exciting and creative. It’s brought me closer to wonderful friends and helped me forge meaningful new relationships. And making beautiful books is so much fun!
Who are your favorite authors and why?
How much time ya got? I am a lifelong voracious reader, so the list is very, very long. I adore classic fantasy, especially C.S. Lewis (the guy knew how to write joy!) and Michael Ende (The Neverending Story) and Ursula Leguin. I also love literature, from ancient Greece and Rome to post-modern novels by Jeanette Winterson, Krista Wolf, Italo Calvino, and Milorad Pavic, to name a few favorites from my younger years. And of course, I love Russian literature, especially early 20th-century writers like Mikhail Bulgakov and Daniiil Kharms.
More recently, I’ve been curious about genre, and I’ve read a bunch of mysteries and fantasy/romantasy, with Jacqueline Carey being among my favorites. I also adore the weird world of writers like Terry Miles, whose podcast Tanis is dark and strange and utterly entrancing. I’ve been buying and reading more indie fiction authors, too, to support our community.
I’m a big history buff, so I read a ton of non-fiction as well, both for research and just for fun.
In short, I love any story that fires my imagination, moves my heart, or changes my perspective on what I thought I knew.
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
I work in the music industry, so you’re asking someone who has a strong bias toward audio. I think audiobooks are being supported pretty massively by big platforms like Spotify, and I see them continuing to grow in popularity in the short term. They are one of the fastest growing book formats right now.
That said, I don’t know if audio books (or ebooks) in their current state are the future, though. I am curious what new approaches we might take to stories that are spoken, that might play more with the beautiful fluidity of digital media. Things are kinda boring right now digital format-wise, truth be told, even with developments like AI voices, and I wonder how we could make long-form audio narratives more interesting and interactive.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
My favorite marketing tool is conversation, online or in person. I have made most of my revenue that way. For my kind of slightly odd book, it’s honestly the only way to find readers. It’s slow, and that’s frustrating, but it’s also ridiculously rewarding on a human level. I have met so many amazing people thanks to my writing, people who inspire me and have become my friends. I’ve had people bring me boxes of old research materials, play me their musical compositions, all sorts of fun interactions.
I have found giveaways to be less than ideal for my work. People need to actively choose books like mine. If you’re not squarely in a genre, if your work tries out weird things and blends different approaches, you’ll get a lot of confused and even angry giveaway readers letting you know you’re disappointed them. This is unfortunate, and the internet can be a cold and cruel place, but it’s instructive. I try first and foremost to be strategic and to keep my ultimate goal in mind: to connect with readers deeply.
More generally, if I can rant a second, I don’t think we should give too many free samples or do too many steep discounts. People don’t value what they get for nothing. If we authors don’t value our writing, who will? Pour your heart into your writing and don’t sell your work short.
That said, if you feel like you’ve hit the genre mark well and you’ve got a series, try the giveaway strategy with your first book; it works well for some authors. Just remember your own worth and don’t undersell or underprice yourself!
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
It all depends. Is a difficult topic being exploited or explored? Does the writing help us cope by walking us thoughtfully through suffering or by observing a dynamic that will help us make meaning? Or does it use pain or violence or sexuality in a dissociative or salacious or malicious way?
Life is very complex. Even horrible things and disgusting people need to be understood at times, if only to undermine their influence. Every writer needs to decide for herself where the boundaries lie, but we all need to know there are boundaries, for each of us. You can write amazing things once you see that.
What is your opinion of Trigger Warnings?
In a perfect world, a reader would approach a book with the clear knowledge that it might challenge her and just see what happens. Good things can come from that. We can struggle with certain books at one point in our life, only to discover their power and beauty at a different moment. One huge example for me personally: Faulkner. The first time I encounter As I Lay Dying, I hated every minute of it. The next time I read it, a few years later, I cried with amazement and finished it in a matter of hours. That revelation changed how I view stories and literature.
We don’t live in an ideal world, however. There’s this unspoken but sad assumption that authors owe readers satisfaction, as if they were our customers, not our conversants, our co-creators of another world. There’s also this weird belief that representation is approval, and that discomfort is a signal of harm. That is a very shallow understanding of what stories do, and it makes it hard to talk about many worthwhile but difficult subjects.
That said, people’s pain is real and I don’t mind helping them navigate or avoid unnecessary pain, if that’s what they need. I am fine warning people, but for the love of all that’s holy, readers need to take the time to read these warnings! Sometimes, even when you warn folks explicitly, they overlook said warnings and then get upset when they encounter what’s written on the tin.
Do you find that you sell better in person (at events) or through social media (like a personal blog, website, or Amazon)?
I can sell in person or direct from my website far better than via platforms. I am interested in other people, and I love to feed their curiosity. It’s hard to do that on social media; I hate talking to the void and I hate the kind of cold-blooded self-promotion most algorithms demand from a body.
Genre: Cosy mystery and romantic comedy – a bit of a mashup!
Titles/year of published work:
Sophie Sayers Village Mystery Series
1st five of planned series of seven published so far:
Best Murder in Show 2017
Trick or Murder? 2017
Murder in the Manger 2017
Murder by the Book 2018
Springtime for Murder 2018
Still to come:
Murder Your Darlings 2019
Murder Lost and Found 2020
Plus 1st in new series, Secrets at St Bride’s, will be published later 2019
Also three collections of short stories:
Quick Change (2014), Stocking Fillers (2014), Marry in Haste (2015)
Bio:
After a busy career in journalism, PR, marketing and charity administration, Debbie Young writes full-time in her Victorian cottage in the heart of the English Cotswolds region, where she has lived for most of her adult life. Her warm, witty novels are inspired by the rural community around her, where she plays an active part in village life, including running the annual Hawkesbury Upton Literature Festival. She is also UK ambassador for the Alliance of Independent Authors for which she also co-writes guidebooks for authors, including How to Get Your Selfpublished Book into Bookstores. She also enjoys travel in the family camper van with her Scottish husband and their teenage daughter.
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I wanted to write the kind of books I like to read – warm, witty upbeat stories with a healthy mix of mystery, gentle romance and comedy, all set in appealing communities such as an English village or a girls’ boarding school.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
I’ve always written fiction for pleasure and my love of writing just about anything enabled me to find jobs that included a strong writing element e.g. marketing and PR. I’m now very much enjoying writing fiction full-time as my career – something that I don’t think would have been possible when I was a new graduate. Modern technology – digital publishing, print-on-demand and online retailing – have made writing fiction now a viable career for many people, and that is absolutely life-changing!
Who are your favourite authors and why?
I love Dorothy L Sayers for her intelligent approach to crimewriting, combining compelling characters, vivid sense of place and meticulous use of language with clever plot ideas.
George Orwell has been a huge influence on me because of his earnest political focus, his precise language and his sincerity.
I admire P G Wodehouse for his comic genius and inventive language – he makes it seem so effortless!
MC Beaton’s humour, wit and prolific output have made her a key role model for me.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
Bookstore chains are hidebound by the profit motive and need to please shareholders and others remote from the storefront. Small indie stores, where the proprietor is usually hands-on and dealing with customers and authors on a daily basis, are much more fun to visit, and I think they are more futureproof too, because they tend to make themselves more a pillar of the local community, adapting to local markets and needs and interests.
How much does personal experience play in your written work?
All my stories are triggered by real-life observations, whether a single short story sparked by overhearing a snippet of conversation between strangers, or a series of novels inspired by a community in which I have lived or worked. I am careful always to fictionalise everything though – real life is only the starting point!
What motivates you to complete your writing work?
A deadline to get an ms to a beta reader/editor/retail site.
Eagerness to have the current WIP out of the way so I can get on to the next one.
Readers asking me when the next book will be out!
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
I think censorship is the thin end of a dangerous wedge of excessive state control. Instead, I prefer there to be clear guidelines for labeling so that people can make an informed choice about what they want to read.
Matthew Bennett Young is a British author and has published in many forms (picture books, flash fiction, short stories and poetry) although his big passion is for picture books. Not only does he write but sometimes he illustrates as well. He is also an artist-educator and has been teaching his inspiring workshops all over the world. He currently resides in Montreal and is a member of ArtistInspire and Culture a L’Ecole. He believes all creativity is a form of expression and is essential for well-being, especially now, and it takes practice!
Why do you write in the genre that you do?
I love art and I love literature. Picture books combine both perfectly for me. I also enjoy creating a work that can have real meaning and significance for the reader in relatively little time. I’m also very interested in the way a picture book offers an opportunity for discussion/comment between adults and children.
How has writing changed/altered your life?
Made me more aware of my everyday life I think. Made me more open to reflection.
Who are your favorite authors and why?
All of those listed below produce(d) with a great sense of humour:
David McKee – fantastic wry humour often combined with social commentary. Brilliant story teller. Books I’m referring to in particular – Not Now Bernard & The Hill & the Rock
Robert Munsch – As above. Books – Paperbag Princess & The Mud Puddle & Murmel Murmel Murmel
Anthony Browne – again as above but his illustration is really powerful aswell. Books of his I particularly like – Look What I’ve Got & Piggybook
Do you believe that audiobooks are the wave of the future, more of a passing fad, or somewhere in between and why?
I listen to the radio a lot. I love to focus on the voice as often as I can so I think there should always be a place for audiobooks. Sometimes I just want to listen. I think it makes the book come alive in a different way. I have answered this from my own perspective. There are also many reasons why audiobooks might be preferable…. for people who have reading difficulties for example. Audiobooks may support learning to read and contribute to fluency.
What is your opinion of mainstream/corporate bookstores?
I think any bookstore is a good thing. I like to see bookstores in the community. Not sure what the purpose of this question is but I do like to see bookstores that feature local (Indie) authors so in that sense mainstream stores are a disappointment.
What have you found to be a good marketing tool? A bad one?
I’ve not been great at promoting myself. Something I really have to devote more time to. I have a website that needs updating! I think getting a publicist was a big step in the right direction. Need to do more! Should at least have an Instagram account and TikTok I think.
Do you believe writing should be censored – that some topics should remain taboo?
Yeah this is a challenging question (but it also feels like two separate questions). I think material should be sensitive to age certainly. I always think of comedy and how often there is such a fine line between humour and causing offense. I think ultimately I don’t agree with censorship (for an adult/academic audience) because you would remove the material that can be used for constructive discussion and possibly drive it underground etc. The question of whether something should be censored is an opportunity for review/critique and in that sense we can learn and consider more about why someone would want/choose to express themselves in that way or what they may be trying to achieve. What their context is I guess.
Where can people find you and your work?
If you google my full name Matthew Bennett Young or my website www.onewildword.org
Sue Rovens 