JP MCDONALD “You can take control of your path but always be open to advice, celebrate the wins and knuckle down for the difficult times, leaning on a network to provide inspiration and support.”

With Kelly’s Writerly Q&A on a roll, I’m pleased to feature Sydney author JP McDonald on the publication day of his debut novel, The Invisible Tether.

JP has a fresh perspective on self-publishing, you won’t want to miss reading about. He’s a music lover and overall talented creative human with super determination and a growing following on Instagram.

Hi JP, thanks for taking the time to answer some writerly questions. First of all, congratulations on the release of your debut novel. Can you tell me about, The Invisible Tether?

The Invisible Tether is a novel about a group of university friends who take a trip to tropical North Queensland. After chaos ensues during their flight they end up stranded in the bush. They try to find answers by banding together, showing that there is more to them than meets the eye. There are sci-fi overtones wrapped up in a fast-paced adventure.

I love reading novels set in Australia, and Far North Queensland is one of my favourite places to visit! What prompted you to write this story?

It was actually an assignment prompt that I received in English while still at high school. I suppose the real question is - why did I continue to write a story that I conceived when I was quite young? Over the years a lot changed, themes emerged that all relate to concerns of the present day; humanity, the abuse of power, youthful revolts, and it was a story that ended up feeling important enough to release.

I admire your determination and foresight in sculpting a timeless novel. How long did it take you to write?

I finished the first complete draft of the story when I was 23, so it took me about 6 years at that point. But it has endured several rewrites over the last decade, with a determined and focused push over the last seven months.

That sounds familiar. I’ve been working on various novels for over a decade now too. Let’s talk about self-publishing, was that always the plan?

I decided on the self-publishing route due to a couple of reasons. I wasn’t sure my delicate, sensitive musician self could handle too much rejection. I would essentially be confined to a corner with an acoustic guitar singing sombre songs about broken dreams! Also, it’s probably not a book that is written for what is popular in the current market. Although it has dystopian themes, it is a little unique and as a result, I thought it would be better not to be confined by what might be ‘popular.’ I just wanted the story to be what it was in a genuine, and truthful way. 

I really love your view of self-publishing. Rejection is hard on the soul, and having full control of how your novel is presented will make it so authentic. Any tips for querying writers who might be ready to take matters into their own hands and self-publish?

First and foremost there is a lot of work to be done, including hidden elements that you might not expect. So try to be as thorough as you can with understanding every little part that you need to consider. It’s important to know that going in. Secondly, it really is helpful that you are mentored or have contact with someone who has been through the process before, if not to point you in the right direction but just to reassure you as you tick off each step.

I agree. Finding a mentor can be so beneficial. My writing only started getting published after I found the support I needed. When did you become a writer?

I suppose it was quite early in a sense. I think like everyone I started off with poetry and songs. All throughout high school, I journaled out some thoughts and feelings by writing out songs in a tangible ‘songbook’ that had several volumes. After reading various novels and series, I was interested in crafting longer stories. So as well as songs I started to use my creativity to create longer-form stories, of which I was able to explore deeper themes and more complex ideas.

One of your Instagram posts mentioned how music helped you understand the construction of stories. It’s interesting how we don’t always think of songs that way but each one does tell a story. What does your typical day of writing look like?

There is no typical day really. In a society that doesn’t often value creativity with its deserved monetary value, often authors are forced to label their writing passion as a ‘hobby.’ In essence, we need to pay the bills and work a job that often diminishes the ability to write, be present around the house and look after a family; just so much that is necessary to function as an adult. But it means that whatever free time comes our way is often spent honing our craft, or dreaming up these scenarios and ideas for (hopefully) lots of different people to enjoy. So now, my writing time is when my daughter goes to bed or when she is watching a terrible show which gives me the green light to write on my phone! We all do the best we can, but one day it would be nice to be able to spend six hours a day of focused time just writing!

What I’ve found is that being busy keeps me hungry for that moment when I find the time to read or write. What kinds of books do you like to read?

I’ve got quite eclectic taste at times. My favourite types incorporate some elements pertaining to the sci-fi genre, however I’m a big fan of time travel. I also have a deep respect for authors that incorporate a fast-paced story but have moments of introspective thought where a reader can learn or appreciate the beauty of the world through words.

It’s great to read widely, and most writers appreciate it when an author has arranged the twenty-six letters of the alphabet in a magical way. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

A simple little phrase that resonated with me was that “everyone has a story tell.” It’s really important not to lose hope with various rejections that might come your way. You can take control of your path but always be open to advice, celebrate the wins and knuckle down for the difficult times leaning on a network to provide inspiration and support.

Great advice! It’s a long road which is why it’s important to enjoy the journey. So, what can we expect from you next?

I’m going to savour the moments over the next few months. Appreciate the achievement of releasing my debut book, take advice and feedback, try to improve and hone my craft for other projects that will come thereafter. I’m currently writing a duology series that is layered with lots of different sci-fi and fantasy elements. The style of my next novel is quite different, even though it is loosely within the confines of the sci-fi genre, it has multiple POV’s, the writing style is different, it contains multiple tropes that are popular within the market, and it will contain some spicy scenes that I want to explore in an off-world setting. This one will be complicated, but it’s a lot of fun to write!

Sounds awesome! I love that you’ve already got the next one in the works. I predict that you have many books in you and wish you every success. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on writing with me, it’s been inspirational! I look forward to reading your debut novel and will be interested to see how long it takes you to write your second. I think it will be much quicker.

That brings me to the end of this interview. Thanks for reading!

Kelly