An Interview with Paula Vince

Paula Vince was born in Adelaide, South Australia. She has wanted to write fiction for as long as she can remember. Her novels, including fantasy adventure, romance and inspirational fiction, appeal to a wide range of readers. Her aim is always to leave readers feeling happy and inspired.

The Author - Paula Vince

Why did you decide to write?

Ever since I was a small girl, I've loved stories. I would dress up in costumes and walk around my neighbourhood holding a book in front of my nose, acting out the stories as I read them. I hated coming to the end of a good book. The depression and loneliness was intense because I'd grown attached to the characters. I'd plot anecdotes in my head about what would happen after the end of the book. Daydreaming about people in stories is still second nature to me. When I was fourteen years old, my English teacher wrote, "Your style of writing is fascinating, Paula" on one of my essays. That gave me a real buzz. I decided that I'd write my own books, so they wouldn't have to end until I wanted them too.

What is your favourite part of writing?

Definitely the characters. I think of them as my best friends and I'm never lonely, even when I spend hours by myself. When I wash the dishes or drive my car, I'm working out what is going to happen to them. It is great fun when people who have read my books discuss the characters with me as if they have made friends with them too.

Another aspect of writing I've learned to enjoy is playing around with words. There are many combinations of words which will say what you want to say but only one which will express it perfectly. I try to write descriptions which will put readers straight into the picture. I want people to know my characters so well that they can hear their voices in their heads as they read. It took some time for me to discover what an art there is to choosing the right words. You have to use them sparingly and never, ever over-describe.

Can you describe your process of writing?

First, I like to write each chapter of a novel straight off the top of my head onto paper. This is the 'creative' stage when I don't worry about the sense my work is making but concentrate on getting it down on paper. This stage is messy with volumes of paper everywhere.

Next, I type each finished chapter onto my computer, polishing and changing as I go. I call this the first edit and it gets plenty more after that! At least ten more from me, then more from my editor. Here is my most important tip. I have to keep the creative and polishing stages totally separate. Whenever I try to combine the two, I get upset because I start trying to criticise my work before it's ready!

You said earlier that you love the characters. Have you any favourite characters from your own books?

I love this question. There are several characters from the Quenarden series I've loved developing. I love the cocky arrogance of Tom Finnigan, and then there is Levi Harrison, my idea of a perfect man. And I have a great affection for Amber Embley, the thorny young heroine of The Castle of Light. I guess one of my personal favourites is Pedor Macaulay. I first intended him to be an embittered, sneaky sort of villain, but by the time I was halfway through The Prophecies he had become more to me than just the boy with the huge attitude problem. I understood the roots of his self-pity as he struggled with loneliness and alienation from the rest of his family. I decided he deserved a break. I tested his mettle in The Castle of Light and he came through just fine!

Do you base your characters on people you know?

Definitely not!

Andrew, my husband would like to think that all the heroes are based on him, but no. Everyone in my life is an individual, whether in the flesh or on paper. Besides, it'd be too hard if I tried to portray the traits of some of my real friends and family in novels.

How do you get your ideas?

It struck me one evening that most of movies I'd watched recently were either high adventure or romance stories, with not much overlap. Nothing bores me more than a wishy-washy romance with no zest in the plot to test the characters, or a gratuitously violent action story which moves too fast to leave room for character development. So I decided to have a go at writing a fantasy-romance-adventure series.

I try to make my themes meaningful, to boost readers' spirits, warm their hearts and give them something to remember. My favourites are courage, loyalty, compassion, responsibility, endurance, persistance and self-control. And my very favourite is love in all shapes and sizes from that between a father and his son to that between friends and lovers. There is nothing like the demands of a good adventure plot to draw these attributes out of my characters.

Which books made the biggest impact on you when you were growing up?

Laura Ingalls Wilder's Litte House series and L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables and everything else she ever wrote. However, my novels are nothing like any of these. As for individual books, my favourites for many years were Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird and Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone. I love to read the Bible. Jesus' whole life, the way he behaved and the things he said provide material enough for dozens of books. His whole life was a more dramatic and significant adventure than any I could dream up.

Do you have any hobbies apart from writing?

Definitely my children, Logan, Emma and Blake. We're a homeschooling family and I love to organise their study for them. Listening to easy-listening music, particularly from the '70s to '90s, long country drives, camping holidays, brisk walking, decorating my home.

What are the most important things you've learned along the way?

To accept the person I am and not try to be someone I'm not. To learn to make my so-called weaknesses into strengths. Ever since Primary School, I've been rebuked for being too quiet and dreamy. I've found a way to put these to good use and even please others with it.

Finally, to follow my dream and be determined to make it work. Whatever your dream, you know when the flame burns deep within your heart every day of your life. There are bound to be obstacles, but if it is truly your dream, you'll override them. If you have a burning passion for what you do, the world will miss something special if you don't do your best to share it.

Thanks very much to anyone who has enjoyed my stories enough to take the time to read this interview.

Have a listen to Paula's interview on Life FM Adelaide on 29th May 2009

Interview - Part One Interview - Part Two