Photo: DJ Bowman-Smith captures readers’ imaginations with her diverse storytelling talent and creative insights.
A Journey Through Literature
DJ Bowman-Smith shares her journey from hairdressing to becoming a multi-genre author, writing paranormal fiction, dark fantasy, and children’s books.
DJ Bowman-Smith, a captivating voice in the literary world, has seamlessly journeyed through various creative landscapes, from the vibrant corridors of a hair salon to the enchanting realms of witchcraft and fantasy. As an accomplished author, Bowman-Smith has inspired countless readers with her unique blend of humour, magic, and mature themes. Her paranormal women’s fiction series, The Mid Witch, has carved a special place in the hearts of readers, with a protagonist navigating the tumultuous seas of menopause, an empty nest, and newfound magical abilities. This series delights with its comedic touch and authentic portrayal of mature women, allowing readers to connect with the heroine’s journey.
Her ambition doesn’t stop there. In the mesmerising dark fantasy series Crystal Bound, Bowman-Smith crafts a multi-character saga reminiscent of the epic narratives found in Game of Thrones. Balancing these intricate storytelling threads demonstrates her prowess as a storyteller, seamlessly weaving together diverse perspectives and worlds. Not content with enchanting adults alone, Bowman-Smith also writes for children under the pen name Tiger Molly. Her beautifully illustrated chapter books have captivated the imaginations of younger readers, showcasing her artistic talents through her self-designed covers and illustrations.
Despite the demands of a successful podcast, The Words & Pictures Podcast, that introduced her to the fascinating stories of authors worldwide, Bowman-Smith made the bold decision to focus her energies entirely on her writing craft. Her decision to embrace the full potential of her storytelling showcases a dedication that aspiring authors can look towards with admiration.
DJ Bowman-Smith‘s literary journey is a testament to the transformative power of creativity at any stage of life. Her work is not only a celebration of storytelling in its many forms but also a beacon of encouragement for those who aspire to follow their creative paths. We are thrilled to feature this engaging interview in Reader’s House magazine, offering insights into the inspiring mind of DJ Bowman-Smith, an author whose literary presence continues to shine ever brighter.
DJ Bowman-Smith captivates readers with her creativity, humor, and skillful storytelling, making her a remarkable force in the literary world.
What inspired you to transition from hairdressing and teaching into writing, and how did those experiences shape your storytelling?
Looking back – and hindsight is a wonderful thing – I see I was always writing. The urge to tell stories and make things up was ever with me. I began writing into notebooks. Then I had an awful Brother typewriter that I dragged around the world with me when I was a hairdresser on the cruise ships. After I gave up hairdressing and took a degree to become a teacher, computers made the entire process more accessible. For a long time, I wrote and never called myself a writer. Slowly, it became my main interest and passion. Until I realised it was time to change careers again.
How do you balance humour, magic, and mature themes in your paranormal women’s fiction series, The Mid Witch?
Ha ha, I don’t actually know the answer to this question. If there is a balance, I’m glad. I think on the whole the trick to writing humour happens in the editing stage. Getting the flow of language so that Lilly, the main character, feels real and making the funny episodes feel natural. My primary aim with the Mid Witch books is to give a voice to mature women. So that they feel seen. I guess it all comes back to that old saying — write the book you would like to read. As an older woman myself, I wanted a mature heroine I could believe in.
“The urge to tell stories and make things up was ever with me.” – DJ Bowman-Smith
What were the challenges of writing from multiple perspectives in your dark fantasy series Crystal Bound, and how did you tackle them?
Writing anything from multi points of view can get confusing. I kept an index of each character, what they did and their various traits as well as what they did when. Even with the Mid Witch books – that have few characters and are all told from the main characters POV I keep a careful tally of places, animals, magic, and side characters. These are also useful for my editor.
Can you share your process for illustrating your book covers and how being an artist enhances your storytelling?
I think visually. So I have a clear idea how my characters and the worlds they inhabit look. This is useful for the creative process, but it is important not to over describe anything as each reader has their own imagination and it is best to give enough information to fire a reader’s inner eye and no more.
When I’m planning a book cover, I will begin by looking closely at what is fashionable in the genre and go from there. I’ll make a mood board and rough sketches. Spend a lot of time choosing the right images and purchase the rights – I mostly use Shutterstock. Then I will manipulate the images on a graphic tablet with Photoshop. For my children’s books, I only use my artwork.
How did writing under the pen name Tiger Molly for children differ from creating your adult fiction works?
I began writing children’s books. Writing for adults came much later. My den has a whole shelf dedicated to the kidlit I hope to find the time for one day. I also have two half-finished picture books on my graphic tablet. The writing process does not differ from writing adult fiction. I don’t find one easier than the other.
As an independent author, children’s books are very hard to market. Primary age children cannot be reached over social media. So sales are very poor. I believe the only way they could ever gain traction is if they were picked up by a traditional publisher.
What led to your decision to end The Words & Pictures Podcast, and how has that decision benefited your writing journey?
The Words and Pictures Podcast was so much fun to do. I loved the interview part as it is always fascinating to chat with other authors and people in the book business. However, editing sound files and the whole plethora of admin to keep the podcast afloat proved to be a real time drain. So after a good hard think, I decided to just concentrate on my writing. In the end, there is only so much you can do in a day.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors who may be juggling multiple creative pursuits or starting their writing careers later in life?
My advice (laughs) would be to not start too many things at once. Work through so that projects get finished before starting something new. I’m not saying only have one project at once because it refreshes the mind to do different things – just not too many.
And if you’re starting later in life? Don’t worry. We oldies have a lot of life experience that we bring to the page, so go for it!
Where can we find you?
Hop to my website to find the books and social media links.
