The youngest of five children, Danielle Ackley-McPhail began devouring books at a very young age and eventually developed the talent for telling tales of her own. With a Bachelors in both English and Communications, she has worked in the publishing industry for the past seven years. She is currently employed as a Production Manager for Random House. With this, her first novel, she explores the rich mythology of her Celtic heritage and her own longtime fascination with fantasy. Danielle lives in New York with Mike, her husband of ten year, mother-in-law Teresa, and four extremely spoiled cats.
Questions and Answers
What was your first professional sale? How did it feel when you received the acceptance?
My first professional sale was my novel, Yesterday's Dreams, which is published by a small-press called Vivisphere Publishing. Truthfully, it felt like a dream. The entire path I took to getting published was so surreal.
I began writing Yesterday's Dreams when I was a volunteer on the Amazing Instant Novelist site on AOL. Taking advantage of the free web space offered by the server, I created a home page so those who were interested could track the progress of my story.
At a certain point I had about six chapters on the site when one day I received an email via the "contact the author" link: it was a man representing himself as an agent for several publishers and he was interested in the manuscript once it was completed.
It took me two more years, but finally the book was done. On the off chance that he remembered me I sent him an email. Six months later I had a signed contract.
What are you currently working on?
The project that takes up all of my time now is Tomorrow's Memories, the sequel to Yesterday's Dreams. It picks up the timeline just before the last book left off and runs from there. All of the same characters we have come to love and loathe are back, plus several more to carry the story along. Where the first book was more character-driven with key points of action, this next book is more evenly dispersed between the two.
Is writing your full time occupation, if not what is?
No, unfortunately it doesn't yet pay the bills. For my day job I am a production manager with Random House, in NY (and before I get a zillion emailed queries, no, that does not mean I can help anyone get published... I wish I could, but I am only a lowly production person, not acquisitions : ) Basically I am responsible for getting more books on the shelves when that hot new title sells out the minute it's in the stores.
If you could give one piece of advice to a would-be author, what would it be?
Be ready to work, your job isn't over once you turn over the manuscript. You have to be prepared to promote your book if you want it to get anywhere, because though in theory the publisher is working on this as well, unless you have a major house behind you, it is not likely the publisher is going to be able to devote major time or money ensuring there is public interest in your work. The only way to be sure it is getting done is to get out there yourself. If you are lucky and you do have a publisher taking an active interest, your efforts aren't wasted because every bit helps, if you don't have a publisher that takes an active interest the work you put in will be vital. Networking and the net will become your best friends.
When did you first decide that you wanted to be an author?
I have been an avid reader since I was five, and I have been writing poetry and stories since I was twelve years old. I don't think it was ever a conscious decision; it is just a natural aspect of who I am.
When did you first feel that you were an author?
In October of 2001, when I received the first ever printed copy of my work, is when I considered myself an author, before that I was just a writer. For me the only distinction is publication.
Do you have a favourite place to write?
I can't say I have a favorite place, pretty much I will write anywhere. In fact, just recently my husband gifted me with a PDA and now I am really unstoppable. I write on the train, in bed, on the couch. I even caught myself trying to write while I was walking to work the other day!
Do you enjoy book signings/conventions?
For the most part I would have to say yes, though I have only begun the circuit and I must say my efforts to date have been jinxed (my first major convention and there was a mix-up with the books... they never arrived so I autographed color flyers during my signing and told anyone that took one that if they ordered the book and mailed it to me they would get back an autograph. I wish I could say I had to return a lot of books to customers, but the unfortunately the ploy didn't work :)
Why do you like SF/F/H?
I think the main reason I prefer SF or F is
1) the fantastic element of entering a world that is not like the one I live in, and
2) the genres seem more noble to me... and before you say "huh?!" what I mean by that is the storylines for the most part (at least in what I read) is always about more than just the character and their own angst. The character is the focus, but the goal impacts more than just their small nook of the world.
Is there anything more that can be done with Wizards, Elves and Dragons?
I think that anything out there can be revived and refreshed... at least I hope so since a major element of my book are the Sidhe... Celtic elves.
What influences the names of people and places in your work?
Since the mythology base that I am working from is Celtic, for about half of my characters I have tried to use either "traditional" Irish name or names taken from the Celtic myths I have researched. For all of my other characters I either use friend and family names where they feel right, or I just let inspiration name the character. So far this has worked pretty well.
Do you use myths and ancient religions for inspiration?
:) Why yes ;) As mentioned, my novel Yesterday's Dreams relies heavily on Celtic myth, but even if it didn't, I have always included some element of myth cycles from around the world in my writing because I love the added significance you get from a well-placed reference.
Do You Always know a Story's Ending When You Begin Writing?
Nope... never, in fact, unless the ending is the idea I got and I have to work backwards to get the story. I get little gems of ideas and then I just let them run me all over until all of a sudden I have a story. I never know where it is going to take me when I start, but it is most definitely one heck of a journey by the time I'm done.
What's the most memorable thing said in a review of your work?
Oh, this is an easy one. Dan Cragg, co-author of the Starfist series, wrote in a review of my book Yesterday's Dreams, on Amazon.com:
"It's also an auspicious beginning for this new writer who seems to have sprung among us like Athena from the head of Zeus, fully armored and wise in the ways of literature."I don't know about you, but that definitely made my hat size grow a few notches... well, at least for a little while :)
Have you won any awards for your writing?
Well, I haven't officially won anything yet, but I have recently discovered that I am nominated for next year's Compton Crook Award, which is given out each year by the Baltimore Science Fiction Society at their Balticon convention.
Many Thanks, Danielle!
Relevant Links
Danielle Ackley-McPhail Main Bibliography
Danielle Ackley-McPhail at Author's Den
Vivisphere