Author Spotlight: Lindsey Kinsella

It’s a December Author Spotlight Flood! Clearing out my backlog and getting these authors into the spotlight.

• a Scottish writer and debut science fiction author writing about dinosaurs!

Readers, thanks for checking out another Author Spotlight Interview. Let’s give a good, hearty welcome to this week’s guest!

Lindsey Kinsella is a Scottish writer and the debut author of the science fiction novel The Lazarus Taxa.

While a qualified and experienced naval architect and an avid car enthusiast, he’s always reserved a space in his life for a deep fascination with paleontology.

This drove his writing process as he strove to write tales of the rich and complex history of life on Earth.

Lindsey, thanks for agreeing to be here today. Most author spotlight interviews start off with the boring stuff, but I know what readers REALLY want to know.

If you could have any pet (real/fantasy/no-allergies/no worries about feeding it) what would it be?

I like that question! Naturally, being somewhat of a paleontology geek, I’d love an extinct animal of some kind. On the assumption that it would be suitably trainable, I’d have a Quetzalcoatlus. For those who aren’t familiar, that was a real-life, flying reptile that stood as tall as a giraffe and, honestly, I can’t think of a cooler way to get around than riding a massive
pterosaur.

WHOA! I’m on board for a pet quetzalcoatlus!

What do you write? And how did you get started?

My only published novel is science fiction, although my current project is more of a fantasy book.

My initial drive to write was based on a personal frustration at the lack of popular media representation of natural history. Not just in terms of the amount of representation, but the lack of variety in what is out there. I wanted to show the prehistoric wonders that people were missing. As it happens, I’ve always had a knack for storytelling, so a novel was the logical way to do this.

You’re far from the only person to write for the child (or adult) they were.

What do you like to read?

Traditionally horror was my go-to, but in recent years I’ve begun to read more fantasy and sci-fi. I don’t really have a genre though, what I look for is originality—I like to read something which feels fresh.

Reading too long in one genre can sometimes take away that fresh feeling. I’ve found that new worlds to explore help that newness last longer.

Name one commonly accepted piece of writing advice that doesn’t work for you

Read more!

It’s by far the most common piece of writing advice I’ve seen. I’m sure that’s sound advice and makes complete sense, but ever since I started writing I can never find the time! With a full-time job, two kids, a side venture in events management, and a hobby (okay, addiction to) restoring old cars, whatever free time is left is now occupied by writing. I’ve made a few exceptions, but I certainly read much less than before.

I definitely have to save most of my reading for times when a draft is resting or in the hands of critiquers.

Name one commonly accepted piece of writing advice they can pry out of your cold, dead hands

Hire an editor.

Honestly, I underestimated how important an editor would be when writing at first. I hadn’t really planned on using one, but I was persuaded by other independent writers online. The results were incredible, with what seemed like only minor tweaks the book was transformed.

Especially if you’re self-published, it can be invaluable.

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Shameless Self-Promotion time!

The Lazarus Taxa

68 million years in the past. Deep time: the true final frontier. But all is not as it seems. Which should be feared most? The dinosaurs… or the people?

The Lazarus Taxa follows the first scientific expedition through time to the Late Cretaceous, where a dark conspiracy soon begins to unravel.

Check out Lindsey Kinsella across the web!

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