As an indie author, I am, as regular readers will be aware, a bit of an advocate for indie novelists. While my reviews may entertain, and hopefully even point some of you in the direction of books which you will love and cherish but would have escaped your notice otherwise, authors themselves fascinate me almost as much as the books they write, and once in a while I can even get them to answer a few questions for me… Today I am firing questions at Madeleine Holly-Rosing, who writes in the medium of that most 21st century of artforms Graphic novels. But first a bit of an introduction…

A TV, feature film and comic book writer, Madeleine is the writer/creator of the steampunk supernatural series Boston Metaphysical Society (graphic novels and prose) and is the winner of the Sloan Fellowship  for screenwriting, and the Gold Aurora and Bronze Telly for a PSA produced by Women In Film. She also won numerous awards while completing the UCLA MFA Program in Screenwriting. Having run a number of successful crowdfunding campaigns for her comic, Boston Metaphysical Society, Madeleine has guest lectured at Scriptwriters Network and Dreamworks Animation. She has also published the book, Kickstarter for the Independent Creator.

Other comic projects include the short story, The Scout which is part of The 4^th Monkey anthology, The Sanctuary (The Edgar Allan Poe Chronicles anthology), The Marriage Counselor ( The Cthulhu is Hard to Spell anthology) and the upcoming The Airship Pirate which will be part of  The Rum Row anthology. She is currently writing a four issue mini-series for SFC Comics/Evoluzione Publishing.

She also has an anthology of short stories and novellas called Boston Metaphysical Society: Prelude . The Boston Metaphysical Society short story, Here Abide Monsters, is part of the Some Time Later anthology from Thinking Ink Press and The Underground which is part of the Next Stop on the #13 anthology from Drake & McTrowell Publishing.  Her first novel, Boston Metaphysical Society: A Storm of Secrets, was released in late 2018.

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What do you feel drives you to be a writer?

I want to tell stories. All of these ideas get caught up in my head and I want to get them out. LOL

How would you describe your next novel/graphic novel to someone who has never read anything you have written before?

It is an alternate history paranormal thriller with steampunk elements.

Where, when and how do you do the majority of your writing?

At my desk, in my office. Usually in the afternoon.

What was the first book/author you really connected to, that made you want to write yourself?

That’s a tough one. I read a lot as a kid and loved Andre Norton and Ursula Le Guin so I’d probably say them. Though I also read Edgar Rice Burroughs, Ray Bradbury, and Asimov amongst others. However, I always wanted to write or tell my stories. I did a lot of creative writing as a kid.

 If you could have been any other author what book do you wish you had written. And what would you have changed about it…?

Cordelia’s Honor by Lois McMaster Bujold.  I don’t think I would change a thing.  Her characters are so rich and flawed that I hope to someday write as well as she does.

What’s the favourite / most unexpected reaction you have had to one of your novel/graphic novel?

What fascinates me is how different people react or identify with certain characters.  I really love that.

Which main character of your novel/graphic novel do you connect with most, or would most want to be?

Many people think that I identify with Caitlin because she is a woman, but I really like Granville Woods, who is a historical figure and a contemporary of Tesla and Bell. He is a big part of the original graphic novel series and is featured with Tesla in our standalone story, The Scourge of the Mechanical Men. He is often the smartest person in the room, but also has a great deal of honour and compassion.

What’s your favourite / worst, form of procrastination?

Social Media. It is the bane of my existence.

What genre, other than the one you usually write in, would you most like to try your hand at?

Straight science fiction. I’ve actually written some scifi short stories though most of my work has been paranormal and/or steampunk with some scifi elements.

Which writers do you think most inspire your own writing?

Lois McMaster Bujold and N.K. Jemisin. They are both masters in their own way.

What’s the worst thing you have ever done to one of your characters?

Killed them. Badly.

What one piece of advice would you give anyone who wanted to write?

Study your craft. Practice, practice, practice. And find a good class or writers group that provides constructive, yet positive feedback.

What do you love most about writing?

Creating new worlds and meeting fans.

What do you hate most about writing?

I don’t hate the writing so much as having to deal with organizing the promotion side of it all. I’m actually reasonably good at marketing, but it takes away from writing. Though yes, there is a lot of writing and creativity involved with marketing, there is also the nuts and bolts about learning how to post, tweet, and run ads well.

What’s the oddest question anyone has ever asked you about one of your books?

I don’t remember any particular question, but a few people have assumed that I believe in ghosts or have had metaphysical experiences of my own. The answer to that is no. I love to tell stories and read stories about the supernatural, but that doesn’t mean I believe in it.

Thank you, Madeleine…

Finally just to add, Madeleine, is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for the next standalone graphic novel, Boston Metaphysical Society: The Spirit of Rebellion.   Kickstarter Link: http://kck.st/2FS2zRo  So if you want to get in on the ground floor and get all sorts of fun unique Kickstarter exclusive extras have a click on the video below…

And if you want to connect with Madeleine on social media and learn more here are the procrastination links Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BostonMetaphysicalSocietyComic/

Twitter: Http://www.twitter.com/mhollyrosing

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/mcholly1