Dangerous Minds: Ngaire meets New York teacher and YA writer, Matt Posner

Hello everyone! Well, Easter Sunday … what did you do? Relax, chit-chat with the family, a walk in the country ... Me, I cleaned my car. The first time in … oh, about a year. 

Yes, it was filthy. Absolutely disgusting. The collection of unidentifiable organic matter was mind boggling. The assortment of lollipop sticks and a  blobs of chewing gum added to the pile. I lost a 10 euro note up the hoover and nearly my driver’s licence – naughty Henry!

I did, however, get round to cleaning the dog pee off the carpet in the boot (trunk); it had been there for 3 weeks. And you know it didn’t smell. Don’t ask how I know that … '

Anyway, that's enough of that - on the show this morning, flying in on the overnight Jumbo, is New York YA and Sex Education writer, Matt Posner.

Matt Posner auditions for "The Sopranos"

Hi Matt.

Hi Ngaire...nice to meet you...

Tell us about yourself. Where were you born and where do you call home?

Well, I was born in Glens Falls, New York. I grew up mostly in Miami, Florida and have ties to North Carolina, but I am now firmly settled in New York City.

The world's greatest hot dogs - (with the exception of that
shop in Underwood, near Nottingham, 
that uses home made chilli made out
of chillis and serves it up in a tin foil wrapper.) 

So, when did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I started writing as soon as I was young enough to do so. I have poems and plays from elementary school days. However, my decision to be a novelist was made at age 13 as part of a 7th grade "Gifted" class. 

I wrote a novella for that class (about 80 pages) and started a full-length novel the following year. That novel wound up being my practice piece till I was 21 -- it was an epic fantasy.

Do you have a day job as well? If so, please tell us about it.

I'm a teacher. I was a college professor for a while, but that's a lousy job these days in terms of pay, benefits, and security, so I retrained for high school, and that's what I'll do for the foreseeable future.  

Working in a Brooklyn school is very draining. The positives are about the kids and the colleagues who give much energy with their wonderful personalities. 

Classic NY School Picture - Dangerous Minds

The negatives are the Department of Education, the Mayor, and the politicians nationwide who are promulgating the myth that teachers are incompetent and that unions protect the jobs of the undeserving. It's bullshit.

(It can't be all bad, Matt. There's a plus side to everything...especially if she's one of your colleagues - Ed)

"Bad Teacher Car Wash Sequence"

That's enough from you, Wiz! (Sorry, N! :-(  ) Matt, tell us more about your young adult fantasy series, School of the Ages.   

America's greatest magic school is New York City's School of the Ages... Growing up magical... is hard. It's a dark urban fantasy series with more realistic magic, mostly mental, linked to real-world occultism and paranormal events, focused on incorporating multiple cultures. 

School of the Ages is located on a hidden island in New York Harbor and is half traditional magic students and half Cabala students who are mainly Chasidic. 

Nice Matt Posner cover

"They can be friends, these two schools, but they clash a lot, too. School of the Ages can also shift in time and space, which provides the plot for the first book, and the upcoming fourth also. The first book has a lot of Jewish content...the fourth will have a lot of Hindu content."

Is anything in your books based on real life experiences or is it all purely imagination?

Well, I don't work at a magic school, but I went to school, and I remember those feelings. I remember being intense, and I remember being different, and I use those memories to craft my characters. I have incorporated personal experience in certain ways. 

I worked at yeshiva high schools for several years during the earlier drafting of The Ghost in the Crystal, and was motivated to adapt the amazing culture of Orthodox Judaism into my books in order to share my intrigue with readers.  

Similarly, having worked as a teacher with students who have learning disability, I wanted to have a learning-disabled magic student in my second book:  thus Level Three, who has Asperger's Syndrome. 

Overall, I love to use places I have visited as settings for scenes, which is why the books have such a strong New York theme, and the third novel, The War Against Love, is so firmly rooted in cool places in Europe like Paris, Prague, and Hamburg. 

Magnificent Paris from the air

In book four, Simon Myth, you get a heavy dose of Indian culture, ancient and modern, when Simon joins with his family in Mumbai (Bombay) India to face villains there, but is diverted into the land of the Mahabharata.

You have written a non-fiction book aimed at teenagers called Teen Guide to Sex and Relationships. What spurred you on to write in this genre? Did you feel many teenagers were unaware about the sexual aspects of growing up and matters concerning first relationships in teen-hood?

I got the idea to write Teen Guide because as a teacher, I can't talk about these issues to students with whom I work. There are legal and ethical obstacles to doing that; it's pretty much excluded from my job description. All this said, I wanted to do something to help young people through an intensely challenging period of changing options, higher stakes, and sometimes life-changing risks.

There is information in Teen Guide that even adult readers have told me they didn't know before! We tried to be comprehensive while brief so that we could meet as many different needs as possible. I can't say what any particular teen knows or doesn't know, but I am sure there are a lot of questions. 

Classic Hale and Pace Sauna/Sex Education Sketch

The question and answer format of the book allows readers to skip directly to the topics they want to know more about. Also, since it is an advice book, my co-author Jess C. Scott and I provide ideas to help teens interpret situations and make decisions about to handle them.  Hear us discuss and read from the book here 

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/webbweaverbooks/2012/12/20/webbweaver-books-proudly-presents-authors-matt-posner-andj.

Are you traditionally published or self-published? And has your publishing experience  been what you expected it to be? Would you change anything?

I started out as a self-published author in November 2010, and I still consider that to be my identity. The first few books of School of the Ages are traditionally published in India, with edited content and different covers, but we will have to watch together and see what happens there.

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?

Advertising DOES NOT work; readers are resistant to advertisements because they have saturated the market, and the usual book ad is a kind of "look at me! look at me!" experience that turns people off. 

"We know that 50% of our advertising works. We just don't know which 50%!" (Clever bloke at detergent and utilities conglomerate, Unilever. Or Proctor and Gamble, and that - Ed.)

I follow the business philosophy of my writing partner Jess C. Scott which is to keep putting out material, diversify genres (more of that to come), and let the work sell itself over time. I would love to make good money as an author, but I have a full-time job in teaching which is very demanding, so I focus on that. The traditional advice given to indies like me is to make your work as professional-looking as possible, to write a blog, and to promote with twitter. I don't think twitter works unless you are already successful and are announcing new products to people who want to know about them. I'd like to explore some web optimization tools, too. Overall, though, my strategy is to meet people and co-promote with them. I genuinely like meeting people and doing interviews like this one, and I really like the fact that social networking has all these small networks of friends and partners that I can enter and connect to, finding genuine and cool individuals like you whom I can host, who will host me, and whom I will introduce to each other for more of the same.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

Not anymore. In my view, writer's block comes from two sources.  One source is trying to write without having planned out what you are going to write. 

Another source of writer's block is lack of confidence in what you are doing. If you want to get rid of writer's block, there are three solutions, all derived from what I said above.

a)      Make an outline of the project you are working on. Give yourself up to a week to add to it a little at a time. You can always discard parts of it later; the outline is there to get your creative energy flowing.

b)      Tell your subconscious, "Subconscious, solve the following creative problem." Then do something else for a while, such as sleep or watch TV. Repeat this process as needed until you find the solution to your problem.

c)      Work on another project. Change projects as needed; while you advance in one, another will become unstuck.

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult?

Hundreds of books have been fundamental to my development. I list different ones in different interviews, but I always mention Tolkien and Jane Austen and I usually mention Colin Wilson. 

What project are you working on now and do you have a new book coming out soon?

I am trying to finalize School of the Ages 4:  Simon Myth, in time for a June or July publication date. 


A cover reveal event should occur some time this month:  Mande Matthews and I are working on the cover. A villain drawn from Indian mythology -- a rakshas, or demon-wizard -- provides the 21st-century threat, but before he can deal with this, Simon Myth gets lost in time and winds up in ancient India, where he receives guidance and training the heroes of the Indian epic Mahabharata -- the Pandava brothers.

When you’re writing, do you shut-off all social networks?

No. More's the pity. I do write in notebooks in odd places where there is no social networking, but if I am at my computer, Facebook, Gmail, and Twitter are generally open.

Tell us one of your favourite quotes …

"How can we give and accept care with strong-back, soft front compassion, moving past fear into a place of genuine tenderness? I believe it comes about when we can be truly transparent, seeing the world clearly — and letting the world see into us." (Roshi Joan Halifax).

Matt, whilst on holiday with your family to visit the temple of Lakshmi the Hindu Goddess of fortune and prosperity, you travel deep into a Khajuraho jungle. Unfortunately your mode of transport, the elephant, has decided to take it easy and has actioned a strike! What 4 books and 2 CDs did you bring along for the journey?

Mahabharata in English

The paintings of Belgian Surrealist Rene Magritte

The Lord of the Rings

Something by Andre Jute; 

James Asher Tigers of the Raj

The Best of The Beatles

...and where can fans of Matt Posner find out more?

http://schooloftheages.webs.com - my main base, Ngaire.

http://www.facebook.com/schooloftheages

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/schooloftheages

http://www.pinterest.com/mattposner

Youtube channel is schooloftheages  

Photos and Book Covers and other great stuff: http://schooloftheages.webs.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=14211101

Matt, it's been a pleasure to speak to you and I wish you the best of luck for the future.

It's been great, Ngaire. Thank you.

Fan Research: Prior interviews with Matt

http://mystiparker.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/interview-with-author-matt-posner.html

http://mhairisimpson.com/2011/11/the-authorhuman-interview-matt-posner-the-school-of-the-ages/

http://tonyhealey.com/2013/02/16/carnival-of-cryptids-interviews-matt-posner/

http://maryannbernal.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/an-interview-with-author-matt-posner.html
___________________________________________________

More information - including links - on Cauldron co-host, Ngaire Elder:

http://greenwizard62.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/an-interview-with-ngaire-victoria-elder.html

Ngaire Elder, Nicola Palmer and a bendy wand!!: Around the Cauldron

Ngaire Elder: Working by candlelit may conjure up quaint images from the Dickens era, but it isn’t much fun. Especially, when you have deadlines to meet and The Ed is breathing down your neck and waggling his bent wand at you!!!

Anyhow, by the grace of someone-who-cares-about-me, Senor ‘Leckie’ reappeared and brought a delightful glow to my lamps, and planted a huge, contented grin on my face. 

Living the dream has its downsides, of which there are many. But on a plus, where I live the sun fills the Spanish skies normally 300+ days of the year. 

Enough of my ramblings, today’s guest at the Wizard’s Cauldron is author, Nicola Palmer.

Oxford penmanship from Nicola Palmer

Nicola, is a marvellous writer. Her articulate and fresh writing style mixed with snippets of humour has created a popular series amongst the young and old alike (I’m a fan). 

Settle down Wizardwatchers and read what Nicola has to say about rotten reviews and hedgetrimming!

_____________________________

Hiya Nicola

Hiya Ngaire, how are you.

Not so bad. So, tell us a bit about yourself, Nicola?

Which bit hahahaha?  I studied Modern Languages at Exeter College, Oxford, with the intention of becoming a teacher.  I changed my mind!  I tried law and found it mind-numbingly boring.  I took another degree in Garden & Landscape Design and did a brickwork course.  We built gardens, we won awards, but after a few years my back and hips decided they’d had enough.  So here I am writing fantasy stories instead of building fantasy gardens!  (Of course, if anyone has questions about plants, or aspects of Medieval German, feel free to ask ...)

Nice place to study - Exeter College, Oxford

What genre do you write in? And what work are you doing at the minute?

I’m pretty sure I can only write for children - my brain doesn’t appreciate functioning in an adult manner.  The Alice Parker series is for ages 9-13, while my Christmas book was aimed at 7+.  I’m currently working on a book written from a boy’s perspective, which should be a refreshing change from Alice.  Assuming I can wriggle out of her head, and into his. (Book 4 in the Alice Parker Series – Alice Parker and the Sound of the Silent)

Book 4 of the Alice Parker Saga

What is your writing process? Do you follow a regular routine?

I’m afraid I don’t have a routine, and the story for any particular book does not appear in a logical fashion in a notebook.  Over a period of time, I accumulate ideas and attempt to make sense of them.  Sometimes what I think will be one book becomes two – in unrelated series, thankfully!  I also seem to work better late at night and into the early hours.

You have a number of titles published, did you suffer writers block with any on them?  If so, what did you do about it?

Book 2 in the Alice Parker series was difficult.  It’s a good idea to get away from your desk and see something different when the ideas just aren’t flowing.  Usually the inspiration comes when I least expect it – and if I don’t write it down there and then, it’s gone!

(Some beautiful covers here, Nicola. My compliments to the designer - ED)

What keeps you motivated to write?

The thought of going back to my previous career!  Who wants to work outside during the winter?

The fate of Oxford Borough Council gardening workers
this annus horribilis - especially since the tea shed was
one of the first victims of the cuts.

What do you do to relax, to get away from work and writing?

Go for a walk with the dog, do some gardening and eat chocolate.  I’d like to say that my cake-making hobby helps me relax, but it doesn’t really.  I usually lose my temper with the complicated ones!

Nicola demonstrates skilful stirring in some of her early handiwork. Allegedly.

Any advice for new writers starting out?

Broaden your shoulders.  Obtain the most brutal criticism possible and act on it!  Don’t be offended when you can’t please everyone.  Luckily, having worked as a designer, I know that anything creative is subjective, so you need to be prepared for the odd bit of negativity.  It’s the opinion of the majority that matters.  Just read a few slating reviews of famous authors to reassure yourself!

Has your self-publishing experience been what you expected it to be? Would you change anything?

It has been pretty much as I imagined.  I didn’t expect instant wealth, and that certainly hasn’t been the case!  The feedback has been a surprise, though.  I’m amazed (and delighted) that so many readers have enjoyed something that began as a bit of fun in my spare time. 

Who is the first person you would allow to read one of your completed novels?

My editor.  No one else can read it before it has had a thorough overhaul.

How would you react to a bad review of your book?

Or how do I?!  I make a mental note of the criticism and try to avoid it in the next book.  More often than not, the reviewer has only read the first book in the series and their queries would be resolved if they continued.  Occasionally people don’t notice the recommended age in the blurb, or even ‘for children’ in the title – there’s not a lot I can do about that! 

A delightful place to relax off the effects of a trollish
comment or two - Nicola's terrarium style garden retreat

How do you market your work? What routes have you found to work best for your genre?

As the months have passed, I'm afraid I do less and less to market my books.  I've come to the conclusion that my time is better spent writing than marketing.  If readers enjoy Book 1, they move on to the others.  I'm also conscious that too much advertising can irritate followers and potential readers. I think as writers of children's books we have a difficult job to reach our readership.  

Forums and Facebook don't reach young children, so I just do the occasional free day and a daily tweet if I remember!

 Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

A little of it is based on real experiences, but I'm not going to tell you which bits!  Obviously, I don't have magical abilities and I've never met a unicorn.  Yet ...

Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in anyway either growing up or as an adult?

As a child my favourite author was Enid Blyton - I still have shelves full of her books!  As an adult, I still enjoy children's books, but I also love the work of Sartre, Camus and Hugo.  I have to blame that on studying French.  I suspect those authors influence my writing in my slightly cynical view of the world and an obsession with anything grotesque or extraordinary!

Okay, Nicola, you were imprisoned in the Windmill Restaurant by the Mind Magician, and to ease your boredom and distract you from munching your way through the cake counter, Hugh the Mind Magician allows you to choose 3 books, 2 dvds and 1 cd from his collection …. What would you select?

‘The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe’ by C.S. Lewis, 

L’Homme qui Rit’ by Victor Hugo 

Read Victor Hugo's classic HERE

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. 

Dvds would have to be:

The Shining

‘Dinner for One.

CD: U2 – ‘Achtung Baby’ – (showing my age now!)

If Hugh had all these in his collection, I’d be very impressed.  And a little disturbed – if we shared the same interests, would that make me a weirdo too?

Hahahahahahahah...it probably would, Nicola! And finally, where can fans of Nicola Palmer find out more.

Fans new and old can find out about me and my work here! I'll be happy to see them....

http://facebook.com/AliceParkersAdventures

http://facebook.com/NicolaPalmerWriter

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alice-Parkers-Metamorphosis-ebook/dp/B006NOC7PI

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Parker-Magician-adventure-children-ebook/dp/B007QGB9HY

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Arcanum-adventure-children-Adventures-ebook/dp/B008WF7R2O

Amazon Author Page -  http://www.amazon.com/Nicola-Palmer/e/B006NWW246/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1362909565&sr=8-2-ent

Nicola, thank you for that. It has been an absolute pleasure to talk to you and I wish you every success with your new books.

Thank you Ngaire. I've really enjoyed it!

Contact:

Full contact details can be found HERE:

http://greenwizard62.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/an-interview-with-ngaire-victoria-elder.html

Millais' - "Ophelia"