Title: Silently Still
Author: Julieanne Lynch
Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Young Adult Coming of Age
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: May 19 2015
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
Everyone is entitled to making their own choices in life,
but a decision can make or break you. For Jacinta Kelly, hers came in the form
of running away from everything that reminded her of her roots.
Living in rural Ireland was hard enough, but living with her
mother’s mental illness and her obsession with her garden took its toll. One
winter, the world as she knows it changes. Jacinta becomes aware of her own
mortality, and how fragile her existence truly is.
Alone and frightened; to live or die, the choice is hers.
Ever since the social workers came to the house, Rosemarie was like a ticking time bomb. No matter how many times Jacinta tried to talk sense into her, her mother tried to convince her that they were being watched. That they were targets and only time would reveal the true extent of what the government wanted.
How someone could spiral so out of control in such a manner seemed unbelievable, but it was happening right before Jacinta’s eyes. The woman she saw was no longer a replica of who she once was. She had become an entirely different person. A shell that hid secrets, embarked on the oddest rituals, her paranoia destroying what was left of her relationship with her daughter.
Jacinta put the blade away, wiped the excess blood, and covered the wound with some gauze and tape to make sure there were no leakages. She glanced out the window and saw her mother digging yet another hole. The March sun shone down on her, highlighting the natural copper tones in her hair, making her look pretty, but her hands and arms were a mess. Scratches, small wounds, discoloured skin–a mess that made her look much older than she was.
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Julieanne
Lynch–Silently Still
Where
were you born and where do you call home?
I was born in Enniskillen,
Northern Ireland, and I call Northern Ireland home, even though I spent my
younger years in London, UK.
What or
who inspired you to write? And how long
have you been writing?
When I
was sixteen, I used to take extra English and my tutor at the time noticed my
love of literature. He gave me a limited edition of Great Expectations and told
me to follow my dreams. I owe much of my gratitude to him- Joe Rice. His belief
in me and my abilities has been something that has encouraged and inspired me,
especially when I hit moments of self doubt. He passed away earlier this year
and his death has left a profound emptiness, but I dedicated my latest novel to
him and that gives me great comfort. And I’ve been writing ever since.
When did
you first consider yourself a writer?
When I signed my first publishing
deal back in 2011, I knew then that I was very serious about my career.
What is
the name of your most recent book and if you had to sum it up in 30 or less
words, what would you say?
My most recent book is SILENTLY
STILL, and to sum it up in 30 words, hmmm:
A gripping tale about loss,
grief, love and hope. Even in our darkest of hours, love and strength can help
us through anything. Even when we don’t see it.
I love
reading the warnings on the blurbs for many books. If you could write a warning
label for yourself as a person or an author, what would it say?
Unpredictable, slightly snarky,
but lovely and makes great tea.
Do your
characters try to make like bunnies and create ever more convoluted plots for
you? Or do you have to coax them out of your characters?
Yes! All the time, which often
has me going way off course from my original outline, creating a whole new
subplot, but mostly, these little subplots only add a new dimension to the
original storyline. I love it.
Have you
based any of your characters on someone you know, or real events in your own
life?
In Silently Still, I do base some
of Jacinta’s darkness–her journey on much of my own struggles with depression
and self mutilation. Although the circumstances that surround her ordeal are
much different to my own. I do, however draw on my own experience and use it as
a catalyst for the story.
How did
you come up with the title?
The title is a prevalent theme
and motif throughout the whole book. From the location, to the struggles my
protagonist enters in her silent battle with a mentally ill mother, right
through to her silent release when letting her darkness consume her. It really
is a very moving story.
Is there
a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Absolutely. Whilst some of the
themes may be construed as dark and quite unsettling, being a mother of two
teens, I see firsthand the struggles they face on a daily basis. From low self
esteem, to playground bullies, to having their hearts broken from first time
love/crushes. So within the pages of Silently Still, we are shown how far our
struggles can take us, giving us a choice, some choice’s not being the best -
but they’re the best of a bad bunch at the time. Hope and courage are two
reoccurring messages I want my readers to grasp. Without both we can easily
allow our burdens to control our lives.
Do you
have plans for a new book? Is this book
part of a series?
This novel is a stand alone,
although I’ve had some reader request a novella to follow the story of my
characters. So I am considering that. But right now I am working on a
ghost/thriller, Beneath the Lighthouse. It’s a fun and creepy ready.
How did
you come up with the title and cover design?
The title I knew from the get go.
I moment I saw Tory Island from the cliffs of Gweedore, the words Silently
Still just wouldn’t leave my mind. The cover itself has the theme of the
flowers and rain that are present within the pages of the book. My cover
artist, Joseph Thomas James, did an amazing job at conveying what I wanted.
Who
designed the cover of your book?
Joseph Thomas James, (aka. Joseph
Eastwood) who just so happens to be a wonderful friend of mine.
Where do
you see yourself in five (5) years?
Still writing, but hopefully a
household name (one can dream, eh?) And still up to my neck in dirty uniforms,
cleaning runny noses and being a busy mother of a crazy bunch.
If you
could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
The South of France. I love
Grasse, Nice, Cannes–to me it is just perfection and my family and I can never
get enough of the southern French sun.
Is there
an Author that you would really like to meet?
I would love to meet Anne Rice
one day. I think she is just a wonderful author, a perfect example of where
hard work can lead us, as well as being an advocate for the Indie community.
Are you
a self-published (Indie) Author or big traditional published?
I am self-published.
What can
we expect from you in the future? ie
More books of the same genre? Books of a different genre?
In the future you can expect a
lot more books. I tend to write the kind of stories I wish to read and because
of my varied taste, I like to write in various genres. I had my first
contemporary romance, Unbreak Me, ready, as well as my paranormal novel, Storm
of Edge and Beneath the Lighthouse to publish. I also have my first crime
thriller, Stone Cold near complete and a graphic novel, based on my character
Antoine Vilniv from The Shadow World series to come out.
Of course, this is all whilst my
Shadow World series is adapted for film - which is another exciting venture for
me.
What was
your favourite chapter (or part) to write and why?
Chapter 33 was a very hard part
to write, but I enjoyed it the most because it drew all my emotions out. Not
one part of my soul was left intact once those pages were written and I take
great joy when I read it over and over again. Of course, I cry each time, but
that’s the beauty of it. It just reminds me of how strong the scene is.
What do
you do to unwind and relax?
I’m addicted to Netflix and can’t
get enough of my favourite shows or finding new ones to obsess over. I also
love nice food, good wine and the odd night out dancing. But mostly, I love to
unwind with my feet up, no noise, only the sound of me munching on my favourite
snacks.
Have you
ever read a book more than once?
Yes, The Color Purple by Alice
Walker. That book gets me every time and I swear when I think some of the
scenes won’t tug at my heart again, I fail. It’s such a profound read, I am
sure it has served as a catalyst for my own style of writing.
What
book are you currently reading and in what format (ebook/paperback/hardcover)?
Prince Lestat by Anne Rice, in
paperback.
Are
there any new Authors that have seized your interest and why?
Amy Hale. Her new book Shadows of Jane has really captured my interest and
I can’t wait to read it.
Do you
have any advice for other writers?
Read as
much as you can, preferably in the genre you wish to write.
Join
writing clubs, join a book club. Write every day, regardless of whether you are
in the mood or not. You can be amazed at how wonderful a few lines can make you
feel. But never force it. Allow your characters to speak to you.
Take
time out. Remember to unwind: watch a film, eat a nice meal, and enjoy the
company of those you love.
Don’t
over analyse what you’ve written. Write the kind of books you want to read.
Don’t allow other’s negativity to influence how you see yourself or your work.
Be the
best representation of your work and above all else, enjoy the journey.
What are
your pet peeves?
Bad
manners, bad body odour, queues & bigots.
White
wine or red?
White
Coffee
or tea?
Coffee
What are
4 things you never leave home without?
Phone
Lipgloss
Hand Santizer
Chocolate
Laptop
or desktop for writing?
Laptop
Where
and when do you prefer to do your writing?
I have a nice big office, so I am
lucky and I prefer to write during the day now. I used to write at night, but
since my husband works away all week, I’m home alone with five kiddies who need
a mother who functions, and not a coffee stinking zombie.
If you
were deserted on an island, who are 3 famous people you would want with you?
Hmmm:
Chace Crawford
Graham Norton
Pink
One of your favourite quotes -
“But
I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.” ~ William
Butler Yeats
List 3
of your all-time favourite books?
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Interview with the Vampire by
Anne Rice
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
List 3
of your all-time favourite movies?
The Shining
Deliverance
Beautiful Creatures
What is
a movie or TV show that you watched recently and really enjoyed?
I am loving The Affair. It is
sexy, sultry, captivating and utterly intriguing.
Please
also list all books written if you would like them included as “Other Works By
…” at the bottom of the post.
Other
works by Julieanne:
Within the Shadows
Escaping Shadows
The Curse of the Rose
Bitter Kisses
An Early Winter
Blog A
Novelists Ramblings
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