Featured Author: Maggie Abbott

[Tawdra Kandle]

Tell us about your latest book. 

The Acid King is my first novel.  I self- published it originally, and now I have a new digital publisher, www.escsargot-books com who have given me the edit and exciting new cover that I was looking for. 

Where did the idea for the book come from?

I was shocked to discover, by a twist of fate, that my close friend of two years was in fact the infamous Acid King, known to the newspapers as Mister X, who had set up the drug bust 18 years earlier in London which put my friends Mick Jagger and Keith Richards in prison.  The two significant situations became the idea for a fictional story about it all.

Who and what inspire you to write? 

I love reading, always have a book in my hand, and I read thousands of screenplays when I was a movie agent, so vivid stories and provocative characters have always inspired my imagination.

Each author has his or her own inspiring journey. How did you begin writing?

I lived in Australia for years, then Rome and New York, and wrote regular long and graphic letters home.  I write journals, and have written a few scripts and treatments in the past.  But I always knew that novels were my aim, and started my first when I moved to Palm Springs from Los Angeles, to escape the action and find seclusion to write.

What has been the most pleasant surprise about writing? How about an unexpected down side? 

I get such a pleasure from actually writing because my characters pull me in, with their relationships and actions.  There's no downside for me in the actual writing – that comes when I've tried to find an editor, who wants too much money, or an agent who's not interested in an unknown writer.

Do you have any writing rituals? 

Yes, I always write detailed backgrounds of my characters and how they intersect.  And I work the story outline thoroughly.

Do you write your books in order? 

No, I was writing my first two novels at the same time, though the second one was originally a screenplay..

What is on your writing playlist for this book? 

“Wild Horse” and “Waiting on a Friend” – both by the Rolling Stones of course.

Any favorite writing snacks? 

I'm not very consistent, I like nuts and corn chips, but mostly when my writing is flowing I forget to eat at all.

What advice would you give writers who aspire to be published? 

I don't feel that privileged to give advice.  But I will say that anyone who wants to write should seek to entertain themselves, dig into their own personal experiences for stories and characters, and not be driven to become either rich or famous from writing.

Are you working on anything new right now? 

Yes, my third novel, which is set in a small village on the North East Coast of  Australia, where I lived for a couple of years at the end of the 80's in an old church on the rainforest ridge, and met some artists and musicians, wonderful people who enjoyed a simple life.

Who is your favorite character in your current book? 

The protaganist, a driven Hollywood producer, who turns up in the village and looks like he will ruin their perfectly safe existence, but in fact transforms them without intending to.

What is your favorite book of all time? 

I can't say I have one favorite because I love them all.  I can remember how influenced I was in my teens when I first read “Dodsworth” by Sinclair Lewis It was an insight into an American business lifetyle that thoroughly intrigued me, and made me want to know more.

Tell us in one sentence why we should read your book. 

It's a good read for one thing, and reveals some amusing insights into British rock and roll people when they're not being stars on  stage, and into events push them into unexpected conflicts as they face the truth of their past.

[J B McCauley]

I am reading this book at the moment. Having written a book in the modern world of House Music this look back at the Rock Era of the Seventies and how it affected people long after the events is brilliant. I am loving it!!

[Gloria Janek]

This book looks great! It's definitely going on my list :)