Write On! interviews author Rebecca Seaton

Rebecca says, “I was born in Bracknell, Berkshire but have lived in Dagenham for the last 25 years. I teach locally and currently work with children with social, emotional and mental health needs. Reading has always been one of my favourite things to do and I spent a lot of time in libraries, growing up. I usually write fantasy, as I love escaping to magical worlds and it’s great fun to write my own. In 2017-18, I came second place in the Pen to Print Book Challenge with my YA fantasy novel, A Silent Song. This enabled me to get my book out in the world and this led to other opportunities, like writing for Write On! and attending local writing events.”

WO: How would you describe your writing to someone new to it?

RS: YA fantasy with strong, often stroppy, female leads. Work with an emphasis on redemption and belonging.

WO: Can you tell us a bit about your latest project?

RS: I’m currently working on a new fantasy trilogy. I’ve completed the first book, The Prophet’s Grace, and am working on the second, The Armourer’s Faith. Lydia, the heroine of the first book, has had a dramatic fall from grace prior to the book’s opening. When she regains her prophetic powers, she has a chance to save the kingdom and herself, but it won’t be easy.

WO: What inspired you to write in the first place, and what inspires you now?

RS: My parents inspired me by surrounding me with books when I was young. They also read and discussed books a lot, which got me interested in writing. When I was seven, I told my headteacher I was going to be an ‘arthur’! Now, my Christian faith and the children I work with inspire me to tell redemptive stories; we can always rewrite our own narrative. I enjoy writing about characters who have made poor choices but find interesting ways back to belonging.

WO: Recently, Write On! has explored the theme of ‘Realities And Perspectives’. With that in mind, we have two questions for you. Do you always write realistically, or aim for alternative realities? Can you always confidently write from someone else’s perspective?

RS: One of the best things about writing fantasy is the world-building, so I spend a lot of time on the alternate realities my characters inhabit. That said, it’s never that far from our world: my characters still grow up, learn to deal with friendships, families and romance, try and fail at different paths until they find their fit; all the things we all do, but with magic!

I think it’s possible to write from different perspectives, as there’s always something we can relate to in ourselves. The hero in the last part of my trilogy is the commander of the army and is very close to the king. I’m female and would be terrible in anything military so, in some ways, this is a hard hero for me to write. But as an assistant headteacher who’s worked under different headteachers over the years, I think I have a good grasp of what the relationship between two leaders, or a leader and their second, looks like, so will be drawing on that.

WO: What one piece of advice would you give an aspiring writer?

RS: Enjoy the process. Have aims, but don’t be so fixed on a particular idea of success that you lose the sheer joy of it.

WO: Question from Twitter user: @lisalovesbooksx how do you balance your day job with your writing?

RS: With difficulty! Most of my writing happens at weekends and holidays, although I sometimes write in the evenings. It helps that a lot of my work colleagues are genuinely interested in my writing. That spurs me on.

WO: Can you tell us anything about future projects?

RS: Once I’ve finished The Armourer’s Faith, I intend to round the trilogy off with The Captain’s Courage. I’ve also begun trying my hand at flash fiction. This is very new to me, but I’d like to publish some at some point.

WO: Lastly, if you could choose one fictional animal/creature to be a pet or companion, who would it be and why?

RS: Definitely Shadowfax. I used to go riding regularly and I’d have great adventures with Gandalf’s horse.

You can find out more about Rebecca Seaton here: rebeccaseatonauthor.wixsite.com/mysite and connect with them on X: @Bectacular40 or on her Facebook author page: Rebecca Lucy Seaton Author.

A Silent Song is available to buy from Amazon: A Silent Song eBook : Seaton, Rebecca: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

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Issue 19 of Write On! is out now and you can read it online here. Find it in libraries and other outlets. You can find previous editions of our magazines here. 

You can hear great new ideas, creative work and writing tips on Write On! Audio. Find us on all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Google Podcasts and Spotify. Type Pen to Print into your browser and look for our logo, or find us on Podcasters.Spotify.com.

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