Writer | Filmmaker | Podcaster
Ashley Good likes to stay busy. She is a writer and independent filmmaker, which she produces through her production company, Black Frames Communications.
Her first novel, MARY & THE ALIEN, is set to be released in summer of 2020.
Ashley is also the host of the podcast, READY, SET and is the Director of the annual Foggy Isle Film Festival.
She drinks a lot of coffee.
I had so much fun speaking with host Joyce Kline on CineVic’s podcast, Push In! The entire interview is available here. If you like the show, please give them a follow/positive review and share it with your friends!
Thank you so much to Joanna Vandervlugt for featuring me on her podcast, The Dressing Room! Listen to the podcast on your favourite podcast player. Here is the original Anchor.FM link.
Thank you to The Indie View for interviewing me about MARY & THE ALIEN! I really appreciate your help promoting this book.
Click here for the entire interview at TheIndieView.com.
What is the book about?
Mary & the Alien tells the story of Mary, a nine-year-old girl in 1947, whose life is upended when she discovers a crashed spaceship. Although it has sci-fi elements, the story is primarily character driven and deals with fairly heavy subject matter (similar to the film, Pan’s Labyrinth).
When did you start writing the book?
April 2020, at the start of the Covid-19 lock-downs. The novel is based on one of my screenplays though, so I wasn’t starting from scratch.
How long did it take you to write it?
The novel took two months, while the screenplay took six.
Where did you get the idea from?
Mary & the Alien is based off of a feature length screenplay that I had written, which took place in New Mexico. Making the novel take place in Canada was my tongue in cheek way of poking fun at how Canadian cities always fill in for American cities in movies. My writing is typically comedic with horror elements; Mary & the Alien was my first attempt at writing something serious. While it still has comedic moments, the overall tone of the book is quite dark.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
It was tricky to research which technology existed in 1947 and if it was readily available to consumers, or if it would have been too expensive. I wanted the story to be as historically accurate as possible.
What came easily?
Writing dialogue is my strong suit. It was fun to write banter between characters with historically accurate slang and insults.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
All of the characters are entirely fictitious.
Do you have a target reader?
Older kids and young teens who struggle to fit in or that may be dealing with things at home.
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
As this was my first novel, it wouldn’t be fair to say that I have nailed down my process yet. Although for screenplays, I start with an initial concept and build from there. Once I get a story idea in my head, I try to make myself write daily until it is complete.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I outline my entire story in point form, and then grow it from there. I tend to write linearly though, once I get started.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
Both.
Did you hire a professional editor?
Yes.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
It needs to be music that I know very well, or that has no lyrics, otherwise I will start typing what I am listening to. My go to background music is assorted vaporwave/mallsoft playlists.
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
As an independent filmmaker, self-publishing felt like a natural fit. I enjoy having complete creative control and also want to ensure that I continue owning the complete rights to all of my projects. Truth be told, I worked in self-publishing years ago, so I have a pretty solid understanding of what to do/what not to do.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I hired an artist, Chorong Kim, to create the art work.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
Absolutely. Authors should have a marketing plan in mind before they even finish their book. It doesn’t matter how great your story is – people can’t read what they don’t know about.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Do your research! There is no reason to spend $1000s on self-publishing your book when many of the steps can be done on your own (and often for free). Also, be confident in your writing. As an indie author, you need to be your own biggest cheerleader.
Where did you grow up?
In a tiny town of about 2000 people in British Columbia, Canada.
Where do you live now?
In a much larger city in British Columbia.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I am also a filmmaker, as well as the director of a macabre-themed short film festival, Foggy Isle Film Festival, in Victoria, British Columbia.
What are you working on now?
I am working on my second young adult novel, Just Add Water, which is set in the 1990s.
Thank you to Indies Today for this review of MARY & THE ALIEN!
Originally posted at indiestoday.com:
Mary Louise Schmidt is an adventurous nine year old child stuck in an unfortunate situation. Having lost her father to illness years earlier, Mary has become a protective older sister to her four year old brother George. Their mother, maybe having succumbed to grief of maybe just a terrible human, has basically given up on the role of an attentive mother. Her second husband is physically and verbally abusive to the whole family. So it comes as no surprise when Mary leaves home. Camping in the forest is a welcome reprieve from abuse and neglect. While roughing it, Mary makes the discovery of a lifetime—a crashed alien ship! When Mary comes to the aid of an alien survivor, an unlikely friendship develops that changes Mary forever.
Mary & the Alien is a melancholy story that provides a measure of hope to kids who find themselves the victims of abuse or bullying. The story takes place decades ago, but the problems little Mary is confronted with are just as pertinent today. Throughout the narrative, Ashley Good does an amazing job capturing the innocence and intuition of youth. The heartfelt dialogue between George and Mary is as heartwarming as the string of abuse from the stepfather and school bullies is distressing. There are moments of gravity, like eviscerating an enemy with an alien ray gun, balanced out with moments of tenderness, like the concern from a kind-hearted teacher. The story has a dark vibe, but ultimately ends beautifully. If you’ve ever struggled to find a place in your own life, let Mary & the Alien be your escape!
