Hi Louise, welcome to Café Cala,
I’m delighted to have you visit Café Cala. You are making such a splash with your Crafters’ Club Series and I know my grandchildren love them. I’ve been making a raspberry and yoghurt loaf this morning. Would you like tea or coffee with yours?
Hi Maggie, thanks so much for having me. I’m delighted to hear your grandchildren are enjoying the books. Your baking sounds delicious! I’ll have a green tea, thank you.
1 Where did you get the idea for The Crafters’ Club books?
The idea for the Crafters’ Club formulated when I was trying to get my eldest child interested in fiction. Whilst he could read well, he was reluctant to read fiction and I was frustrated, thinking he was missing out on such a magical world. So I decided to put my women’s fiction on hold and write a book for him. At the time his two interests were Minecraft and aviation and I thought Minecraft would be an interesting place to set an adven
ture. I wasn’t aware at that stage that 100 million people play the game and that my readership could span so far beyond my own son.
One book led to another and so far seven books are available in the series. Book Seven, The Secret, has just been released and books eight and nine are in production and planned for release later this year.
2 What have you found most rewarding about your writing?
In addition to seeing my eldest child now devouring The Wimpy Kid series, Andy Griffith and a number of other fiction titles is certainly a highlight. However the most rewarding are the messages I have been receiving from parents of reluctant readers. For many, the Crafters’ Club have been the first books they’ve read by choice, and they are re-reading them!
3 How did you start writing?
I started writing in 2003 when my husband and I paused for a break on a trip around Australia. I’d always wanted to write fiction and had dabbled a bit, but it was during that trip I formulated my first full length novel. It was romantic suspense and is now buried at the bottom of a very deep drawer!
4 What would you say has helped you most?
The writing community and writers I’ve been lucky enough to meet on the Sunshine Coast have definitely been a huge help.
5 What are you working on at the moment?
I’m currently finalising book 8 of The Crafters’ Club, The Promise and have just sent the first book of my new series, The Secret World of Curly Jones, to beta readers. Curly Jones is aimed at 6-10 year olds. I’m also trying to do final edits of my second women’s fiction novel, Rainbow Bay.
6 What advice would you offer aspiring writers?
To write, write, write! And surround yourself with other people who write. Online and in-real life writer friends make a huge difference. They are supportive, interesting and I think a must.
7 Which authors do you enjoy reading?
I have a huge list of favourite authors. I’ve just had a few days to myself in Fiji where I devoured two Kristin Hannah novels which were excellent. I also loves anything by Erica James, Liane Moriarty, Diane Blacklock, Sarah Belle, Kylie Kaden, and of course your own stories. Writing for children, and having children, also has me reading Roald Dahl, Andy Griffiths, Jeff Kinney, Brian Falkner, James Phelan and many others.
You can purchase the Crafters’ Club books at most bookstores, or via www.thecraftersclub.com – links to Amazon and other online purchases are available at the Crafters’ Club website.
Website: www.thecraftersclub.com
You can also contact Louise on
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/louiseguy.writer
