Writers and writing: Ruth Wheeler

Six years ago, Ruth Wheeler’s first novel All Aliens Like Burgers, a comic cosmic yarn in the tradition of the Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy and Red Dwarf, came into orbit.
In 2011, All Aliens Like Burgers was released as an audiobook, narrated by actress Debbie Chazen (Doctor Who, Mine All Mine, The Smoking Room, Tittybangbang, Psychoville).

In time, All Aliens… formed the first part of the ‘Truxxe’ trilogy, chronicling the otherworldly adventures of everyman Tom Bowler (think Arthur Dent meets Halo Jones).

In promoting the Truxxe trilogy, Ruth has immersed herself into the world of sci-fi and comic conventions, which inspired her latest novel, The Extreme Autograph Hunters, which dipps into the realms of time travel.

I chatted with Ruth about her books, her inspirations, the pros and cons of social media as a promotional tool, getting to grips with crowdfunding via Kickstarter, and much more. Here’s what she had to say about her journey so far!

Tell us a little about your current book.

 

My most recently published book, The Extreme Autograph Hunters, is essentially a road trip through time. The protagonists discover a real working time machine at a science fiction convention and use it primarily collect autographs from their heroes throughout history. It does not take long for the friends to realise that they have got more than they bargained for as their quest unfolds into something bigger. It is a humorous story of friendship, fandom, adventure and even a little romance.

What else have you written so far?

I have written a science fiction series called The Truxxe Trilogy which comprises All Aliens Like Burgers, Do Aliens Read Sci-fi? and When Aliens Play Trumps. The books follow the adventures of Tom Bowler, an Earthling who unwittingly finds himself a job at an inter-stellar service station on a planetoid which holds many secrets and conspiracies.

I have also written a one act play called Revolution which is set in a dystopian future Britain. The play was performed in Berkshire in November 2014.

I am in the process of writing some poetry for performance also.

Where can we buy or see them?

You can purchase the trilogy and my latest novel from www.truxxe.com. All books are signed and dedicated at no extra cost and are despatched within two weeks of ordering. You can also purchase the unabridged audiobook of All Aliens Like Burgers which is read by actress Debbie Chazen. I am also touring all of my work at various book signings, details of which can be found on my website.

Above: Debbie Chazen, actress and reader of the audiobook edition of “All Aliens Like Burgers” has an in-studio chat with the author of the book, Ruth Wheeler.

When did you decide to become a writer?

I have always written for fun, but I began my first novel about ten years ago and never looked back.

Which writers inspire you?

JK Rowling, Douglas Adams, Rob Grant, Neil Brown, Terry Pratchett, Robert Rankin and many others.

What drives you to write?

I am constantly having ideas and they build up so I feel the need to write them down. I have a huge backlog at the moment for all sorts of stories – novels, scripts, poems.

What made you decide to sit down and actually start something?

I was inspired to write All Aliens Like Burgers on visiting a service station off the M5 on the way back from my yearly trip to Newquay. A service station in space to cater for all – why not? I thought and the ideas flowed from there for all of the characters, creatures, stories and adventures.

What time of day do you write best?

I’m certainly not a morning person. By the time I’ve got everything done including cleaning, gymming and procrastinating, it’s usually about 3pm. Some writers work better in the evenings with a glass of wine. I love a glass of wine or three of an evening, but not while I’m writing. So… I would definitely say that the best time to write, for me, is the afternoon.

How do you juggle life around your writing?

It’s not easy. I have, in recent months, taken a part time job which is rather demanding but very enjoyable. This takes up three days of my working week. Also I have family duties at the weekend and I spend some weekends at book signings and the remaining days I often use up simply promoting the books that have already been published and working on my website. So these days there isn’t an awful lot of time left for actual writing, but that’s the way it is with a job in the creative industry, I suppose. When I do have the opportunity to sit down and write though, I go for it and the hours fly by. It’s the best kind of escapism.

Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

I usually have an idea and a goal and a vague idea of how I’m going to get there and the obstacles that the characters will face along the way. The characters then fill in the rest and I go along with the ride! Sometimes I get stuck, so I go and write something else and then come back to it. There’s no point in forcing it as it just doesn’t work and I wouldn’t be happy with it. It has to be right.

What software or apps do you use to write your manuscripts?

Just Microsoft Word. And I have lots of ideas jotted down on my iPhone’s Notes app. I look through it for inspiration.

What are you working on at the minute?

I have written a 78k word novel which, to me, seems quite unfinished. I have written THE END at the end, but I’m not happy with it yet. It doesn’t know whether it wants to be a comedy or a thriller or both and I need to be in the right frame of mind in order to finish it and for me to be happy with it. It’s a new challenge for me as it’s a bit darker and more complex than my other stories. It’s called Belisha Beacon and Tabitha Turner.

I am also working on an idea I have for a TV series, but am currently writing it in novel form to see where it takes me. It might end up as an anthology. It’s rather episodic. I have a lot of ideas which are going into it. I’m quite excited about it. It’s working title is Class of 2016 and it’s set in heaven. Well not all of it, but heaven is what links all of the stories. It’s hard to say anything more without giving anything away.

What genre are your books?

Humorous SF.

What draws you to this genre?

It’s what I enjoy reading, so it’s what I enjoy writing about the most.

Your first three novels formed a trilogy. What are your thoughts on writing a book series?

I did not set out to write a trilogy, but I felt that the characters and the worlds that I had created had a lot of scope and that I had a lot more stories to tell in the universe of Truxxe. I enjoyed writing the two further books although found that I had to constantly refer back through the trilogy in order to ensure that I followed the rules that I had set within the universe and that I did not contradict myself. Hiring someone to be a continuity editor definitely helped to keep me sane! I am pleased with the end result, but was equally as pleased to then write a stand-alone novel.

How do you create your characters?

They just seem to grow and develop as I write. I suppose that some of the protagonists have elements of my own personality. Others are characters that I wish to know or wish to be.

Do you have a favourite character and why?

I would like to go for a drink with Raphyl from the Truxxe Trilogy or Alistair and Jeremy from The Extreme Autograph Hunters. Raphyl is so laid back and chilled and nothing ever bothers him; I would like some of that to rub off on me. Alistair and Jeremy would make me laugh with their constant banter and their different views of the world. They’re both very geeky too and would be fun to meet at a convention!

Do you ever get writer’s block?

Yes, I think most writers do.

Any tips on how to get through it?

Step away from it, write something else and come back to it. Or, if your characters are facing two problems, perhaps the two problems can solve eachother. I have had that happen more than once. I’m afraid that I can’t think of any examples, however.

Who designed your book covers?

The fantastic artist Rob Hammond, who has also worked on official Doctor Who projects.

Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

I believe that the trilogy has a good, recognisable branding which I think that my readers like; the books look good on the shelf. The cover of the stand-alone novel hints at time travel and steampunk and works really well too.

How did you publish your current book and why?

I have gone down the traditional publishing route as well as self-publishing. For my latest novel I used crowd-funding. I chose this route because I wanted to get readers involved – I offered lots of different rewards for backers which included signed goodies, exclusive limited edition DVDs and even access to the launch party. It was a fun way of raising the money needed to print and promote The Extreme Autograph Hunters.

What advice would you give to writers considering using a platform such as Kickstarter to crowdfund their book?

It’s a great method of helping to raise both funding and awareness. But you can’t just sit back and let it happen – set a realistic amount (I chose £2k), offer lots of rewards and promote your campaign right until the final day. If you hit your target, then anything extra you raise is a bonus. If you don’t reach your target, then nobody loses out. But your backers will want you to reach your target – give them plenty of encouraging updates and thank them for their support every step of the way.

Example reward tiers to consider are: A nominal amount for the backer’s name to be printed in the back of the book; a higher tier for a physical copy and eBook; the opportunity to receive exclusive tickets to your launch party where backers will be able to meet you in person.

Where do you see publishing going in the future?

There seem to be a lot more high-quality self-published books around now as well as the option of ebooks. It’s a pity that book shops on the high street are becoming fewer and fewer, but literature events and groups are becoming more and more common and I think that there will always be people who like to own and collect physical books. As for the future of publishing itself, it’s hard to say. I suppose we shall have to wait and see!

How do you promote your books?

By personally turning up to events and book signings and by using my website and social media.

Do you have any advice for other authors on how to market their books?

There are a lot of writers and lots of competition out there, but I think you can do it without spending too much money. Set up a website where people can browse and purchase your books, perhaps write a blog, chat to people and meet other authors either in online forums or at events. Networking is very useful, but not always easy for shy, creative types, I know.

What are your views on social media for marketing?

It’s a cheap and easy way to reach new people. Simple, impersonal “please buy my book” statuses rarely work in my experience. Speak to people on a personal level. Remain cheerful, optimistic and approachable.

Which social network has worked best for you?

I have found Twitter and Facebook to be good places to chat about my work. It’s hard to say which works better, but I have been pleasantly surprised by both.

Any tips on what to do and what not to do?

Offer special discounts (e.g. 20% OFF days), don’t spam too much, talk about other things that interest you, engage people, be genuine.

What has your journey as a writer been like?

I’d like to think that I’m still only part way through that journey. I’ll tell you when I get to the end. I’m just enjoying the ride!

What struggles have you overcome as a writer?

It’s hard to support yourself solely by writing. I’m determined that this will happen one day of course.

What criticisms have helped you grow as a writer?

I have had some reviews that aren’t necessarily as good as others, but that’s just opinion and taste. You can’t please everyone and I think you just have to write how you need to write; if you’re not happy with it then your readers won’t be. I haven’t been too fairly criticised, I don’t think. Not to my knowledge anyway! I think writers flourish and grow the more that they write. Reading lots also helps too.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Just do it. Stop thinking about it and worrying whether or not you’ll get it right. Just start at the beginning and go for it.

What are your ambitions for your writing career?

Ideally I would like one of my books to be made into a film. Or I’d like to write for TV. That’s the dream.

How can readers discover more about you and you work?

Website: www.truxxe.com

Books are signed and dedicated at no extra cost and are despatched within two weeks.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truxxe/?fref=ts

Twitter: @missadventure79

Goodreads: Ruth Wheeler

Image credit: original artwork by Rob Hammond.

Author bio: James Gent is a freelance writer; passionate about pop culture, books & book people, and social media. He has contributed to several published anthologies including 1001 TV Series You Must Watch Before You Die, penned the group biography for the official Monty Python website, and is currently editing Me And The Starman, a tribute to David Bowie, to be published by Watching Books later this year. Follow James on Twitter, LinkedIn and WordPress.

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