I’m deep in writing mode at the moment but I don’t want to neglect this blog, so here’s a quick post from a segment I was recently asked to do for LitPick called ‘Six Minutes With An Author’. To be honest, I’m not sure about the ‘six minutes’ part – whether that’s how long it’s meant to take to read (it doesn’t), or if that’s how long it should have taken me to answer the questions (also incorrect)… In fact, I think it’s simply because there were six questions in total. But regardless of the reason, I had fun with the interview and want to share it with you!

You can find the entire article by clicking here, or you can continue reading below for my answers to their questions…

SIX MINUTES WITH LYNETTE NONI:

Today LitPick is joined by young Australian author Lynette Noni! Lynette is the author of AKARNAE, the first book of five in the YA fantasy series, The Medoran Chronicles! Lynette is a lover of chocolate and Disney, but not necessarily in that order!

How did you get started writing?

I started writing about five years ago, just after I finished my university degree. The YA market was booming at that time and while I was reading some wonderful books, I was hungry for a particular story that I just couldn’t find anywhere. So, on a random whim, I guess I just decided to try and write the book I wanted to read. AKARNAE was a result of that.

Who influenced you?

No one specifically influenced me. It was more that I was searching for a story that had all my favourite elements rolled into one wondrous book. I couldn’t find it anywhere, so I thought, “Why not see if I can create it?”

Do you have a favorite book/subject/character/setting?

I love reading – especially the YA genre. There are just so many possibilities in it! But a few things I consistently appreciate are a good, strong protagonist (not a wallflower!), some awesome and lovable secondary characters, and a beautiful world that I can escape into (and never want to leave).

What advice do you have for someone who wants to be an author?

As cliché as it sounds, if writing is something you’re passionate about, then never give up! The publishing industry is extremely challenging to break into, and it’s so very subjective. You will likely face rejection, so you have to decide whether it’s worth it or not. If it is, then don’t give up hope, because all it takes is one ‘yes’ for your dreams to come true – and I’m living proof of that!

Where is your favorite place to write?

At home, in comfy clothes, with total silence (because I get distracted too easily).

What else would you like to tell us?

Writing is a wonderful and terrifying responsibility. As an author, I have the tremendous honour of creating beauty and sharing it with people of all ages, all over the world. So, to my readers, I’d just like to say thank you for trusting me with your time—and maybe even your heart—and for connecting with my stories and characters in ways I never dreamed possible.

Lynette, thank you for joining LitPick for six minutes! We’re looking forward to the next four books in the series!

Well, that was fun, right? Just a reminder for anyone interested, AKARNAE, is now available from all good bookstores Australia-wide or with free international shipping from www.akarnae.com – you can also check out the first few chapters for free on that site too! (And it’s also available as an e-book from all the usual online retailers.)