On Being a Part-Time Writer with a Full-Time Heart

I have three jobs other than writing: editing newspapers and magazines, proof-reading, and teaching English. I'm also a mum. I love all my jobs- there's not one I'd rather do over another...

But I'd love more time to write. A 30-hour day would about do the trick!

I get ideas all the time- travelling on the city underground, on a bus, walking down the street, even (sorry!) when listening to a student talk in class. My characters pop up on their own 'timetable,' not mine. But that means I'm not always able to open my laptop to write it down. Which means I have to wait till I get home or the kids go to bed (or are set up in front of cartoons!). Luckily, my characters tend to be patient and ideas don't get lost in the waiting. 

I do feel sorry for my family, though. Because sometimes I HAVE to write- that warm, exciting, 'you've got something, there, Kate!' feeling takes over and off fly my fingers over the keys for the next few hours. A huge shout out to my family for living without mum/wife during those times. I do feel guilty. I promise that I'll take a break before I start my next book- dedicate that 'empty time' 100% to my kids and husband. But it's 12 years and counting and the inspiration has yet to dry up!

It's about balance. And it means that sometimes my characters, plot, books and marketing have to take a back seat. However frustrating that is.

INTERVIEW WITH THE EDITOR OF BLOOD OMEN 4 (Georgian version)

      Giorgi (George) Muzashvili is 17. He's always been one of my most dedicated and informed fans and after extensive conversations with him, and after he won the cover design competition for book 4, I decided to give him the chance to take on his first job as an editor/proofreader by looking through the final translated (Georgian) text prior to printing. I was nervous about it because I know it's a big responsibility for someone as young as him to take on, especially when school work needs to be taken into account. We decided on a summer schedule and Giorgi worked diligently and professionally, meeting the deadline and being on-hand at all times to talk me and the Layout Guy (Misha) through the final changes before printing. In short, I've no regrets and I'll be asking him to edit my work in future when he has time! And I've no doubt he is destined for great things, be it through his own writing or by helping other authors to get theirs just right. Read Giorgi's version of the story below.

      First, you’re a fan of the Blood Omen Saga. How did that happen?

      I found about this saga back in 2014, when Sulakauri’s Publishing House announced in July that they were going to translate the first book of Blood Omen for Halloween. I was happy to hear it because the only contemporary vampire book that we had in Georgian at the time was Twilight. Then my friend told me about the book once it was published: he said he was totally obsessed with it and I naturally got more intrigued. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get my own copy for another two years, when I won it as a prize for making a vampire short (movie).  When I started to read, the first thing I noticed was that it was a very unusual story- very realistic. Then I read the second and third book that year and I absolutely fell in love with them! This book is like a “surprise box” – you can never guess what will happen or when. And the characters: they’re not perfect and that’s one of the reasons the book is so realistic- absolutely perfect people (as well as vampires) just don't exist. An interesting fact is that the Blood Omen vampires aren’t immortal. There's so much more to say about it, but I'd rather stop here. Suffice to say, the Blood Omen Saga is my life favourite in this genre, and not only in this genre.

      Tell us something about the latest book (Blood Omen 4). What made it different from the others? What did you like best/least?

      It's my favourite part of the saga so far. It was fantastic- I couldn’t have been more excited when I finished it. I started reading in May, a very busy period of exam preparation. I started slow because I wanted to edit gradually, but I couldn’t: once I started reading, it pulled me straight in! I was reading every moment, wherever I could, for two days almost non-stop, and when I finished, I was sitting speechless for ages. Of course, the previous books were just as amazing as this one, but the fourth was so much more, somehow...It completely changed my attitude towards the characters- for example, I'd been “Team Danti” for more than a year and in those two days, I converted to “Team Duart”. Also, we know that Blood Omen is made up of many genres- mythology, fantasy, romance, etc. But in this book we also get to see some elements of Sci-Fi . In a way, the 4th book reminded me a little of True Blood as well. Well…I can’t express my feelings about this book fully but, that’s it.

      How did you come up with the design for the cover of book 4?

      When the cover competition was announced on the Blood Omen Saga facebook page, I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I started re-reading the previous books looking for inspiration and it came to me when I was reading book 2, you know, that dream scene where Stuart and Dea meet each other? I started thinking [spoiler here – book 3]: what if Apophis was raised? At the end of book 3 (Fulfilment), we leave Dea in the Temple alone, just before the Awakening, and the image of Dea and a snake (the Apophi symbol) popped into my mind- the two facing each other against a background of the moon – we know that vampires hate the sun and the moon is its opposing force.

      Tell us about the editing process. What were the best and worst/hardest things about editing such a big book?

      I had a lot of 'best' moments connected with the editing process- the research, for example. I even went to the library to make sure that some details were right! I spent around 3 hours a day editing, making it part of my daily routine in the summer, and I really enjoyed it. There was no 'worst' thing about this editing job, though I will say it was hands down the biggest responsibility that I've had in my life to date- it was my first step into the publishing world, so I was quite nervous about it.

      How did you edit? How long did it take?

      I had no experience editing, so when I got the text, I started thinking how to go about editing it. I decided to read the full text all the way through, then, when I finished it, I started reading carefully page-by-page. I worked in the mornings, when my brain was fresh. I would typically edit 5-6 pages a day and read through them again the following day. Editing took about two months in all (I had the text for three months but because of my exams, I wasn't able to start editing right away).

What skills are needed to be a good Editor/Proof-reader?

      The first thing is to be a “word master,” as I call it, when you can interpret a text in many different ways. The second thing is a sharp eye, of course- being able to spot mistakes quickly. If you haven’t either of these skills, you can work on yourself to get them.

      Is it something you would consider as a career? Why (not)?

      Sure. If I wasn’t considering it, I wouldn’t have edited Blood Omen 4! It was a good first challenge for me- to make sure I really wanted to get into editing as a profession.

     How does it feel to have your name on a book at just 17?

     I can’t express the feeling in words. I almost cried when I saw it. I felt like I was in a dream.

Giorgi with Translator Ana Chichinadze and Author Katie Ruth Davies

      Some people might think you were too young to take on such responsibility, that inexperience is a disadvantage. What would you say to them?

      It doesn’t matter how old you are: if you want to do something, there is no perfect time for it or any point waiting for the right time, like when you're "grown up," for example. You simply have to work on yourself and start doing it, then you’ll get some experience which will help you to move towards your goals. If everyone always looked for people with a lot of experience, then no-one would ever find a job! Everyone starts from inexperience. I believe it's worth taking a risk and working hard to make yourself better at what you love to do.

      You’re writing your own book. Tell us a little about it. What are your hopes for that book?

      Me and my friend just finished the first draft a few months ago and we’re editing it right now. It’s a fantasy novel about vampires and witches, with mythological elements and religious allegories. We want to publish it, of course, but we’re not in a hurry. It’s something new in Georgian literature and we hope the Georgian reader will like  it. 

The two Giorgis- aspiring writers!

      What are your plans for the future?

      I’m a school-leaver this year, so I’m preparing for the national exams. Then I want to go to uni (probably Ilia State University, not sure yet). But I’ll definitely keep going with my editing work and when I have enough experience, I’ll start translating books as well. 

      Want to know more? Leave a comment or question below!

BOOK 4 LAUNCHED IN GEORGIAN!

Check out the story here!

It was a huge honour and great pleasure to meet my fans on Halloween weekend and celebrate the launch of my 4th book of the Blood Omen Saga in Georgian. Facepaint, music, prizes and cakes! And a special SPOILER interview with Stuart- the Georgian fans have no idea how big and bad the Blood Omen world is about to get!! 

With Georgian Editor Giorgi Muzashvili and Translator Ana Chichinadze

Black Sea Sound- set for stardom!

Halloween is Coming!

The best time of year- you can feel the supernatural in the air and it's truly time to PARTY! This year I'm torn, though: is my theme vampires or demons? Hmm... maybe I'll meet in the middle and do ZOMBIES!!! 😃

In any case, I'm getting my goodie box together (and my body parts, skulls and bloody weapons...)

Meeting the Fans Feb-Oct 2017

Check out some of my many book presentations in Georgia this year! More to come!

Chiatura School No1

Chiatura School No7

Chiatura - Lizi & Shorena

Tbilisi School No108

Martyopi School No1

Tbilisi, School No64

Chokhatauri, Guria, Library

Kutaisi, Biblus

Kvirike, Kobuleti

Kvirike, Kobuleti

Gori

Kutaisi, Biblus

Tbilisi, Wendy's

Tbilisi, Ecole Francais du Caucase

Tbilisi, School No108

Tbilisi, School No108

Rustavi, English Today Language Centre

Tbilisi School No11

Didube, Tbilisi

Rustaveli Metro, Tbilisi

Tbilisi, Biblus Gallery

Mukhrani School No1

Interview with Theodore Trout, Director

Another honour for me at this year’s International Vampire Film & Arts Festival (ivfaf) was to meet Theodore Trout, humble director, actor, scriptwriter and lover of all things animated! Find out more about him below.

When you were young, what did you want to be ‘when you grew up’? 

Dracula!

Tell us about your film-making background. How did you get into it?
I graduated from the Vancouver Film School Classical Animation Program and worked on Saturday morning cartoons for various companies (International Rocketship, a.k.a. cartoons, etc.) in Vancouver prior to my aneurysm in 1997. The resultant Traumatic Brain Injury forced me into early retirement. Bored one day, I answered an ad in the Victoria Entertainment Weekly for “Vampire Mods and Werewolf Rockers” to appear in a locally made low-budget horror film. I appeared subsequently in four direct-to-disc features directed by Brian Clement:

 Exhumed (2003) 
 The Dead Inside (2005) 
Meat Market 3 (2006) 
and Dark Paradox (2007) 

before Clement absconded to Toronto where he now authors sci-fi novels.

Why did you decide to make a vampire movie and why Dracula?
Clement and I had discussed making a Dracula film together, but with him suddenly out of the picture I was forced to take up the reins myself.
I had been fascinated with the character since being traumatized by Norman Welsh and Christopher Lee as a child, and following my experiences with death and resurrection (I basically died of a brain hemorrhage and was resuscitated as something less than my original self), I felt the story was fertile ground for my own personal allegory. I felt that despite my lack of professional acting credentials that I could bring a credibility to the role that no-one without a hole drilled in their skull could ever hope to.

How does a story go from idea to the screen? (And how long did Dracula Lord of the Damned take to make?) 

It took seven years from start to finish. Ian Case helped me edit my original rambling script into something more succinct and coherent, then I storyboarded every inch of the thing and shot it all for about $20,000 (CAN) on the cheapest camera I could find, hoping to emulate the primitive look of ‘Nosferatu’. This succeeded all too well, giving much of my film an almost unwatchably grainy quality, with much of the picture definition being unexpectedly lost in the ‘capture’ process.
I then spent several years laboriously treating every sequence with glow levels and After Effects to try to render it more watchable.
The final result is pretty unique looking, even if it’s not quite what I originally envisioned.

What was your role in the movie?
Script, storyboard, costume and production design, location scout.
Director, cameraman, driver, swamper, roadie, stuntman, actor.
Editing, post-production, animation, audio production and mixing.

Tell us about your character(s).
My Dracula is built on the idea that he’s a shape-changer and so mood-swingy that you can’t ever get a handle on who or what he really is.
He’s aristocratic, he’s psychotic, he’s inflamed, he’s aloof, all in the space of a few minutes. He is in total denial about his own vampirism and can’t look in the mirror, lest the Truth confront him. He has rationalised his immortality and ability to raise people from the dead as being Divine rather than Satanic in origin, and considers himself on a Holy Mission to bring the Gift of Eternal Life to Victorian London, like some kind of Undead Messiah. 

What was the biggest challenge and greatest joy in the movie-making process?
My own blissful ignorance.
The parts I enjoyed the most were all the field trips I made gathering location footage of trains and caves and waterfalls. Seeing the mountains up around Zeballos was a real high point.
The enthusiasm of the other participants in the process was often quite affecting.

Your movie was shown at the IVFAF 2017. How did that make you feel? 
Thoroughly validated as a film maker.
Not just another tepid reaction from a roomful of bemused onlookers; when I went to Transylvania, people GOT me.
It was great to be able to put it in front of an audience that genuinely appreciated what I had done, probably the most meaningful round of applause I’ll get for it.                         
                         See the latest trailer of Dracula: Lord of the Damned here.

Tell us your impressions of Transylvania. 
Like a dream come true, and I mean that literally. I loved the place and would love to return again next year, hopefully it will be possible for me. The people were great, the food was great, the medieval citadel of Sighisoara was fascinating and the view from Poenari was breath-taking.

Checking out the Dead in Sighisoara Cemetery

How do you feel now you've seen the real locations (as replicated in your film)?

Poenari held the most personal significance for me; I had created an imaginary ascent of the 1500 stairs as the opening of my film, based on the pictures I’d seen on the web of the castle on the crag overlooking the Arges River. This was a peak moment for me. I’d originally seen pictures of Poenari and had fantasized about someday seeing it for myself since I was doing research for my Dracula script, maybe ten years ago or so now. Many times in life I have daydreamed or visualized some future self attaining some impossible goal, but to find myself actually standing in Poenari after having had the wonderful experience I had at the festival, it really can’t be described: what an intense feeling of fulfillment it was. That, and I was buzzing on adrenaline due to the very real possibility of encountering hostile European brown bears at any moment.

Poenari Castle (Vlad Tepes Woz 'Ere). Source: http://touristinromania.net

What next for Dracula Lord of the Damned?
I guess I’ll keep promoting it on facebook through Halloween, then take a break for a month or so. I’m not getting much in the way of promotion from the distribution company, so it’s pretty much up to me to get it out there, I think I’ve got a year and a half to run on the contract.
After that, I guess it’ll just go up on YouTube. There have been rumblings from some quarters about reshooting it as a ‘real movie’, but so far nothing concrete. Holding my breath with fingers crossed!

Will you make more movies? What genre?
I’ve been trying to launch an animated stoner comedy for several years now. It’s based on the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers comics by Gilbert Shelton. Shelton has approved my script, and I’m storyboarding it out, but so far have been unable to raise the money to buy the option on the rights. Anybody with any spare change to contribute to such a project is invited to contact me!
I’m also working on a script for another gothic horror film that could be shot here in the Canadian Gulf Islands.

If you could be a vampire, what kind would you be?
Cruel, ruthless, aloof and brooding.

"The Unholy Three" - Vampariah director Matthew Abaya (see interview here), me, and Theodore Trout
at the International Vampire Film & Arts Festival 2017