Today, we get to chat with an author who is launching her debut novel this month… like this week… like Wednesday to be exact! Awesome. But that’s not all. The book is being adapted into a feature film. So, sit back with a cup of tea, mulled cider, or whatever November beverage is your favorite, and enjoy.

Let’s Meet the Author

Nikki Brooke, a science fiction author and scriptwriter from Australia, champions bisexual representation in books and films. A proud bisexual herself, Nikki challenges stereotypes, drawing from her own journey of self-discovery. Refusing to be confined by societal expectations, Nikki embraces the complexity of her identity, breaking down misconceptions and defying conventional beliefs about bisexuality with each stroke of her pen.

Nikki’s debut dystopian novel, “Plagued Lands,” is due for release November 2024 and a film adaption is in the works with Crow Knight Films. This dystopian masterpiece promises to captivate audiences with its stark portrayal of a future built on deception and greed. Through her work, Nikki endeavors to pave the way for a more inclusive and diverse literary and film landscape.

With her boundless creativity and unwavering commitment to authenticity, Nikki Brooke stands as a trailblazer in the world of storytelling, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of audiences everywhere.

Let’s Get Started

Thank you so much for joining me during your super busy month, Nikki! I’ve been looking forward to our chat.

Then came the announcement of the film adaptation and enticing invitation to follow the project through your beautiful website. And lastly, I was super impressed when the gorgeous cover and poster art appeared. You even have a nice swag package with character art to go with the purchase of your book. (There are still a couple days left to get in a preorder! I got my copy!!) And now you have a launch party in three days!

How does it feel to be on the cusp after this incredible journey?

NB. Wow! What an introduction! Thank you so much for your kind words. As you alluded to, a lot of work has gone into this launch. It’s my debut novel and a dream I’ve had since I was 8yo, so I wanted it to be a big deal. I feel a bit like I’m on the edge of a cliff, but whether there is water or rocks at the bottom is yet to be determined. It’s exhilarating and scary at the same time. But mostly, I’m really proud of what I’ve accomplished so far. It’s taken a lot of courage and I’ve had to overcome depression, anxiety and a lot of negative beliefs to be here today.

DLL. That is incredible! To fulfill a dream you’ve had since you were eight… I can only imagine the highs and lows, especially when struggling with the challenges of depression. I’ll go a little Aussie and say… Good on ya!

I couldn’t help tapping  into my Aussie vibe with a bit of imagery. 😉 Can you share how you got started as a writer and who or what were your biggest inspirations?

NB. I wrote my first book at 8, it was a fantasy story about 5 pages long and illustrated which I bound myself. I still have it, haha. And since then, I’ve wanted to tell stories. However, I wouldn’t admit it then because I was such a slow reader and I was embarrassed. I read Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson which was the first story that made me cry (it still makes me cry) and from then on, I was a bookworm. 

I got a diploma in Professional Writing in Editing after High School and thought I was on my way. But then crippling depression and anxiety stopped me from pursuing my dreams. It was only a few years ago after meeting a life coach that I started to believe in myself and my writing skills. 

As a teen John Marsden, Sheryl Jordan, and R.L. Stine were my inspirations. Today lots of indie authors inspire me, like Alice Hanov, Nikky Lee, and Ash Oldfield, as well as traditionally published authors, Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff, and C.S. Pacat.

DLL. Thank you so much for sharing your journey. So inspiring. And thanks for the great additions to my TBR. I have not read any of these authors but Jay Kristoff. I still need to finish the very long Empire of the Vampire…

When did making the film come into play and how did that project roll into the novel debut? I find it fascinating how the two projects seem to be simultaneous, and it’s not often an author has such an exciting prospect for their very first novel, at least in my frame of reference. It also seems so monumental. I would love to hear the story.

NB. I was approached by a producer after my other novel (unpublished) was listed as a finalist in two different cinematic book competitions. He liked the concept of Plagued Lands better for a lower budget film so we decided to adapt it instead of the other book. 

Because it’s an independent film, I get a lot of creative input and it’s been wonderful going through the process of writing my very first feature film script! It’s been a whirlwind of ups and downs doing both the film and book together, and ‌I haven’t had a lot of sleep this year, haha. 

DLL. Wow! When would you have time to sleep? And who needs it when there are so many creative to-dos on your list. It’s awesome watching you check them off, which highlights again how momentous Wednesday will be.

What advice do you have for indie authors with the same aspirations?

NB. Because self-doubt was my biggest barrier, I will always encourage authors to believe in themselves and to believe their big dreams are achievable. Be brave and share your stories. And secondly, always continue to hone your craft. Read new releases in your genre so you know current readers’ expectations, but also read books in other genres and periods to find things you might want to experiment with. Take courses, go to conferences, get feedback on your writing, etc etc.

How did you find and build your connections/collaborations for the book and film? Can you tell us about Crow Knight Films? Has filming started and where will it be shot? Any other juicy details? 🙂

NB. The juicy news is that I dumped the original producer who approached me… let’s say due to ‘creative differences’ which I cannot elaborate on. I had already founded Crow Knight Films to produce alongside him, but now I am in talks with other producers and investors. So the project is still pushing forward. Although I don’t regret firing the producer, it has been a setback, so filming will still be a while off, unfortunately.

DLL. A great example of taking the bumpy risks that keep you in the driver’s seat and ending the ride where you need to be. I love it! I look forward to following you to the finish line.

I would love to hear about the artists who designed your covers, character art, and promotional materials. Can you share any tips or advice on seeking art collaborations?

NB. Oooh, I love my cover! It was designed by Alan and Ian at The Book Designers. They were fabulous to work with. They asked a lot of questions and got me to provide examples of covers I liked.

I found these designers by looking at other books with covers I love. The Book Designers also did The Head, the Heart, and the Heir by Alice Hanov which I adore! So it was a no-brainer to go with them. I suggest researching artists of covers you like and finding someone who can produce something similar within your budget.

For my character art, I found a digital artist on Fiverr. I liked the style of the work she displayed and she can draw from scratch without using AI. I started with a trial character but ended up commissioning her to do 9 different designs. I was really happy with the results.

And some of the designs in my promotional material I created myself using Canva. I also like to draw, so I’m hoping I can produce something good enough to give to people at a later stage.

DLL. I really like the color and lighting the artist uses for your characters. Thank you for these great tips. And I saw that The Book Designers features Plagued Lands on their home page. Awesome!

Can you talk about the technical process for your debut? Now that you can look back, what are your best tips and what might you do differently or avoid next time?

NB. I learned a lot from my editor for this book. There’s not a lot I’d necessarily do differently, but thanks to her I’m more aware of the importance of high stakes than I was before writing Plagued Lands. I was a little too kind on my characters in the first draft. And each problem Martina faced was solved before she moved onto the next problem. Everything tied up nicely, but it meant it lacked tension and didn’t hold the readers’ attention. So there were some big rewrites, and I don’t think my future stories will require as much now I’ve learned that. 

DLL. This is so great to share with new writers. It’s a common learning curve. Thank you!

Can you highlight the writing/publishing tools/resources you can’t live without, and how you discovered them?

NB. Scrivener!! I love it so much. I generally consider myself a fairly organised person, but I never felt it while using Word to draft with. Now I have Scrivener, it’s easy to find all my notes, research, and details. It’s easier to plot my novel due to the text and folder structure, plus the corkboard and outline views – oh and being able to label/categorise scenes. I also find it’s amazing for setting targets. And the cost is reasonable. There is a steep learning curve when you first start using it, but it’s worth it. In case you’re wondering, no I don’t work for Scrivener, haha, I’m just a big fan. I found out about it through another author mentioning it online, I think it was Victoria Aveyard.

Another one I can’t live without is The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi. It’s easy to get repetitive when describing emotions, and this book helps to mix it up a bit. It gives you a list of emotions, their physical signals, internal sensations, mental responses, and more.

DLL. Ooh. I’m getting that book! Thanks! I know how awesome Scrivner is supposed to be, but I’m so comfortable in MS Word. Still, Word is not the best for storyboarding or managing multiple parts of a project. I seem to live and breathe in my draft manuscripts, discovering the story as I write them, and I haven’t found that freedom in Scrivener, as ironic as that is since these platforms are meant to provide creative freedom. It’s clear you’ve discovered that. I keep wanting to try it again on the next project, especially when someone raves about how cool it is.

NB: I would say it’s probably not as useful for people who are pantsers or can keep all the details in their heads. I like to plot and have a terrible memory for details, which is why it works so well for me. If you feel comfortable in Word, then keep at it.

Now, let’s talk about Plagued Lands. Elements of the plot remind me of a favorite classic movie, Logan’s Run. I do love a good dystopian tale! How would you describe Plagued Lands if someone stopped you on the street and wanted to know about your book?

NB. I absolutely love Logan’s Run!! What a classic! I’ve probably been subconsciously inspired by it. The Plagued Lands story and concept is completely different, but it does have a similar vibe in the sense that the people in charge are lying to the citizens and the main character has to figure out the truth.

I often compare it to The Hunger Games, because that’s the most famous comparable dystopian right now and it definitely influenced the writing style of Plagued Lands. And it’s a good benchmark because most people have heard of it, although it also has comparisons to Want by Cindy Pon and Legend by Marie Lu. But Plagued Lands does have a unique setting plus a bisexual main character.

Plagued Lands is a young adult dystopian. In the future, cities surrounded by glass bubbles promise safety from deadly diseases. But a resilient teen uncovers a dark secret kept from the people. Now she risks her health to expose the truth and save her little brother.

DLL. I’m always showing my age with my movie references. LOL. Though I love the Hunger Games Movies, too! I can’t wait to read Martina’s story.

NB. Seriously, I need to reiterate that I LOVE Logan’s Run!! It was one of my Dad’s favourite films and I remember watching it with him when I was little. It was true daddy-daughter bonding. That film, coupled with the original Star Wars, were the films that got me into Science Fiction.

What characters or character traits were the most compelling to write and why?

NB. Martina is just a touch gruff and I love that about her. She’s flawed and imperfect, which makes her more relatable.

DLL. Super compelling! All my characters channel some part of me, so I totally dig it when traits we relate to as authors spill into our characters, which in turn makes them relatable to readers.

What inspired the setting and what elements were the most fun to get lost in?

NB. It’s set in a futuristic Texas. There are hints as to which city in the book, but a big hint is that I used to live in Austin. The bubble cities were inspired by a Sunday morning drive. Weird, I know. But I had to be up early on a Sunday, and the streets were empty, except for one guy who leisurely strolled across the road. It seemed out of place when the streets were so empty and it made me wonder in what other situation would it be strange to see someone outside. That’s when I came up with the concept of people living in semi-sterile bubble cities who don’t venture outside unless they’re wearing hazmat suits. 

Many people have thought Plagued Lands was inspired by Covid, but in truth, this Sunday morning inspiration hit me several years before Covid was ever heard of. But I started writing it in 2020 because the pandemic felt like a sign this story should be written.

The most fun part is Martina experiencing things she never has before. I don’t want to give too much away but one thing that was fun was figuring out how to describe a lizard if you’ve never seen one before. And she has a few other innocent encounters with animals too. And the decontamination process for re-entering the city is fascinating. I love what I came up with.

DLL. The Texas choice is such a great story! And aren’t those quirky plot details the most joy during the writing process… all that amazing research put into action? 

This is the start of the series. Can you share a glimpse into future installments? Will they also come to the screen?

NB. Yep, I’ve planned for Plagued Lands to be a trilogy. I’m writing book two now and have most of book three plotted out too. I certainly know how it all ends. Hopefully, we can make all three into films, however, it will depend on the success of the first film. 

And some juicy gossip—which I haven’t officially announced yet, so you’re getting a scoop—is that I am also writing a prequel novella. It will have Martina’s backstory. I’m hoping to release it early next year.

DLL. Ooh. This is so exciting! Thank you for sharing your prequel on our Spotlight!

I love hearing about a writer’s daily life and how and where writing and creativity fit in. Can you share how you balance life with writing and the business of being an author?

NB. I’m not sure there is much balance, haha. Writing has to fit around my day job. Many people are surprised to hear I’m also a finance business partner (a type of accountant/analyst), so I’m both creative and analytical, which is rare. Although writing is my bigger passion, I still love my finance job, and it’s even better because I work for a wonderful charity. But it does mean my time is stretched between the two.

I find writing sprints work really well for drafting. In a twenty-minute sprint, I can write 300 to 500 words and I can usually find a few times a week to do that. This year it’s been harder because I’ve been more focussed on the business side of writing and publishing, which includes marketing and administration tasks. I don’t love that side of being an author, but it’s necessary for people to be able to find my book. That’s the goal and I love it when I hear Plagued Lands is now someone’s new favourite book (which one advanced reader told me, eeee!). But I’m sure now that I’ve published one book (or almost published) it will be easier going forward and I can focus more on writing again. Yay! I can’t wait to get stuck into the next Plagued Lands installment.

DLL. Awesome on the writing sprints! Those really add up. I’m wondering if being analytical is a beneficial trait to have when it comes to writing sci-fi. Hmmm.

Do you have a favorite work setting, a place you escape to that inspires your creativity?

NB. I have a desk at home, but I also use it for my finance job, so it gets a bit boring and can block creativity. Therefore, I love to go to cafes to write. Of course, I think I look like one of those mysterious authors in a dark corner of a cafe, but everyone does it these days, so it’s not so mysterious anymore, haha. 

I like the happy vibes in cafes. It’s always best if it’s one with acoustics where you can’t really hear what people are saying too much, or else it interrupts my concentration. Although, I have heard listening in on people’s conversations can be a great way to learn writing dialogue and I have been guilty of that occasionally.

I also love traveling and feel inspired when I take a trip. I often take my computer with me, or at least a portable keyboard that allows me to write on my phone. I’m heading to Sri Lanka in a few weeks, so I’m sure to get a burst of inspiration there.

DLL. Fabulous! I can see how utilizing the day job location for writing might stifle creativity. This is why I enjoy asking about creative spaces–learning about so many fantastic ideas and processes. I love the coffee shop idea, and your super tip on listening into conversations for dialog ideas. And yes, there is so much to getting out in the “wild” for inspiration. Traveling is the bomb. That’s how you and I struck up our conversation. We’ve traveled (or in your case lived) in each other’s countries. I’ll say officially how much I love Australia… in case no one has picked up on that yet. 😉

I reached back into my 2018 photos and grabbed my favorite Melbourne shots. I stayed at a mini farm in a suburb called Hurstbridge, Nullimbuk Shire. We explored art at beautiful Montsalvat in Eltham and took a train into the city, naturally. I adored tea at the Hopetoun Tea Room and exploring the Bourke Street Mall.

What other travel experiences have inspired you?

NB. Yes!! That is how we connected which is so cool! It’s so nice to hear you enjoyed Australia. Obviously, Texas inspired me, hence setting my book there. I have taken a lot of inspiration from travelling through Egypt and Greece with all the rich history and mythology. But I think everywhere I’ve been has inspired me a little and even places I haven’t been to but want to go. One of my other books, The Huxian Fox, which I hope to release next year (not part of the Plagued Lands trilogy) has mythology from China and Greece throughout it, and I haven’t been to China yet. It’s a space opera where the characters visit lots of planets, and the descriptions of many of those places were inspired by real places I’ve visited, like the Wadi Rum desert, English pubs, Greek temples, Angkor Wat temples and even Melbourne when I grew up.

DLL. Fantastic! Is this another reveal? It sounds amazing and I can’t wait for more.

Can you share your favorite productivity techniques, tools, or resources?

NB. Like I said earlier, my biggest barrier is my mental health, so when it’s bad, I love to put on a guided meditation that boosts my energy (you’ll feel energised instead of relaxed by this meditation). It’s called, 6 Minutes of Courage, Confidence, and Positive Energy by Kenneth Soares and you can listen on Insight Timer which is free. It’s a great way to start the day or a writing sprint.

And writing sprints is the next one. Setting your timer for 20 minutes and you’re not allowed to do anything but write for that period. No looking at your phone. Anything that needs researching needs to wait until after (I make a note to come back to it in those instances). No using the thesaurus (again, make a note and move on). Just write. What I write might not be great sometimes, but it’s better than nothing, and it helps me to think up more ideas.

I also found that I work well with setting goals. It’s probably my analytical brain kicking in. Some people can write 10,000 words in a day. I know I’m not one of them. So I set goals more like 10,000 words in the month, or 40,000 in the month, depending on what else I have going on in that month. I did the 50k in a month for Nano one year, and it was hard. I don’t think I’ll stretch myself that much again, but I was glad I did it. Other potential goals are creating 4 social media posts and scheduling them, or something like that.

DLL. So many encouraging ideas! Thank you! And I’ll add my plug here on the benefits of meditation.

I’m trying for 50,000 words this National Novel Writing Month, but I’m running into so many obstacles with another really full schedule. Still, it’s early. I’ve got 7,000 words down and should pat myself on the back, eh?

NB. Well done on your 7k and best wishes for the rest of the month. It is tough but also feels amazing when you smash out 50,000 words!

This has been so much fun, Nikki! Thanks again for visiting my blog. Any last advice you would like to share?

NB. Thank you so much for having me!! It’s been a real pleasure and you’re an amazing interviewer! My last advice is to reiterate that writers need to believe in themselves and their dreams. You can do it!

DLL. Awe, thanks, Nikki! I can’t wait to check in with you a year from now and discover the latest on Plagued Lands.

You can follow Nikki on her website and newsletter, Instagram, Facebook, Facebook Fan Page, TikTok, and Goodreads.