Interview With Philippa Ballantine and Tee Morris, Co-Authors Of The Janus Affair

I have a treat for you guys today. I’m here with Tee Morris and Philippa Ballantine, the husband and wife team behind the fantastic Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series! Their latest book in this steampunk series, The Janus Affair, was listed as one of my best science fiction books of 2012.

Thanks for being here you two! First I’d like to open with the question that’s foremost on my mind–what were the challenges of working on a series with your significant other?

Philippa responds:

I was never too worried because Tee and I worked together on projects long before we became a couple. I guess the hardest thing is knowing when its OK not to win.

Tee responds:

My biggest fear was losing Pip. I know — say what, but that was what happened with my one and only previous writing partner. Lisa Lee and I were never involved outside of writing, but somewhere between her first and second year at university, Lisa lost interest in me as a writing partner and as a friend. It’s still a mystery as to exactly why we stopped writing together but I was worried something like that would happen again. A few people approached me to write with them, but I was really uncomfortable with it. When Pip and I sat down and started writing together, though, it was a very different experience. We built a lot of trust over the year in working on Phoenix Rising, and that trust really solidified during The Janus Affair.

I’m interested in learning more about your collaboration process. What does a typical writing day look like for the two of you?

Philippa responds:

It really depends where on the cycle we are. If we are in first draft, we usually talk about the book, bouncing ideas for plot and characters off each other. I usually work on the Eliza chapters while Tee works on the Wellington one. Once we’ve each done a chapter, we edit each others work.

Tee responds:

With me working a full time job, I have to get windows of opportunity to create; and in 2013 it will be a second challenge as I’ll be working on my first solo title. A typical day is me coming home, getting in time with my family, and then — once the daughter is down and out for the night — I head into the studio to write unless I have a podcast in the works. I always try to clock in 1000-2000 words a night, but some nights, I need a night off. Pip and I, when in edits, do follow a harder regimen.

Both of you have a rather extensive background in fantasy. What brought you to steampunk?

Philippa responds:

History. My first published novel was set in Tudor England, with Shakespeare and fairies. I have always loved the past, and steampunk means you can work there, but give it fun twists and turns.

Tee responds:

I’ve been itching to get into this genre since first introduced to it. At first it was going to be something similar to The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but I wanted it to be something original and fun. When I told Pip about the idea, we started adding to the concept and when we were done that first night of brainstorming, we not only had the Ministry realized, we also had Agents Books and Braun and the Archives.

I enjoyed the chemistry between agents “Welly” and “Miss Braun.” How much do the main characters draw upon your own personalities and personal chemistry, and what’s your best advice for writing characters?

Philippa responds:

Well, there are certainly parts of me in Eliza. She is from New Zealand as I am, and we both share a true love of that country. However, Eliza is far braver and a little more impulsive than I am. Eliza probably draws more from one of my school friends who was always getting me in trouble. The one thing we do share is the dialogue. Tee and I often spend time talking to each other in a similar manner.

Tee responds:

Wellington tends to draw from that side of me who wishes he were better read. I’ve always loved writing, always loved reading; but I am not as well-read as I’d like to be. Wellington is whip-smart and tends to be the academic I wish I could have been. Something we both share is a sense of duty, not only to a cause but to the people around him. He’s a good guy; and he needs a lady like Eliza.

The Janus Affair is set in Victorian-era London, though with that era’s steampunk equivalents of modern technology. How much did you know about the era before embarking on the novel, and how did you go about researching it?

Philippa responds:

Before becoming a librarian I was a librarian, and I could easily spend my whole life researching. We did do a lot of research. If however, in terms of the story, the history needs to be bent, then we do that. For example, Douglas Sheppard, Kate Sheppard’s son, was in reality much younger than he is in our book. Neither was he a world famous explorer. We had a historian pick up on that, but it was a deliberate choice. Douglas was in a perfect place to make an excellent romantic foil for Wellington. So while we love history, and try and stick as close to it as possible, we do bend it. However, we are writing steampunk, not pure historical fiction.

Tee responds:

My strength was not 19^th Century but 16^th Century as I was a fan of Tudor history. I also picked up a lot of history and trivia on 18^th Century pirates and piracy, but the Victorian/Edwardian era was an age I appreciated in passing. When I started Phoenix Rising, I knew I had to start digging into the culture, the fashion, and the history; and I did. It’s an unexpected perk in being a writer — if you don’t know something, you do a little research, ask a few questions, and build up your personal library on a few resources.

We hear a lot about good writing advice. What’s the worst writing advice you commonly hear?

Philippa responds:

I have a personal dislike for folk that say ‘You must’ do anything to do with writing. I think part of learning to be a writer is learning what works for you. By all means listen to people, try out their advice, but do not beat yourself up if your method is different.

Tee responds:

“Write what you know.” If I did that, I would be very limited in what I would write. You don’t know something? Research it. Push yourself. Challenge yourself. Write something you don’t know a lot about, educate yourself, and make it sing. Make it solid. By pushing your own limits, you grow as a writer.

Do either of you need any vices to write?

Philippa responds:

I don’t know if it is a vice, but it certainly helps to have a cat sitting next to me.

Tee responds:

I like having music when I write. I need it for inspiration, for mood, or simply to give me a moment where I check out, enjoy an interlude, and then return with a recharged perspective.

During your careers, what have you learned about the business side of writing?

Philippa responds:

There is a real difference to the craft of writing and the business of writing. Emphasis should always be on the business. You have to learn to separate the craft from it. You can’t afford to hold grudges, or dwell too much on failures. That will only pull you down.

Tee responds:

When it comes to marketing, it is a good idea to have a plan and to know how you want to promote your work. You will also need to know HOW to market your work and what not to do. For example, I got followed by an author on Twitter, returned the follow, only to have him spam me with the Direct Message: FREE #Kindle promo put [TITLE] in #Amazon This week: $0.99 Pass it on? [BOOK URL] I immediately went to his page to discover his Twitter stream was THE SAME MESSAGE he DMed me with.

Writers have to know marketing. It has become part of the craft, part of the business in being a writer.

Where do you think the speculative fiction field is headed?

Philippa responds:

That is an intriguing question. Paranormal romance will continue to be hot, and I suspect vampires will never go away. Epic fantasy and steampunk still have a way to go.

Tee responds:

I am still trying to figure out how I got here! Where do I think the genre is headed? Hard to say — but as Pip said, I think steampunk still has a way to go. It’s on the cusp of going mainstream, and when it does I hope we are along for the ride!

Where do you think publishing itself is headed?

Philippa responds:

I think there will be more and more authors making a living as hybrids—selling both from New York publishing, and as independent artists. I think publishing houses are very good as producing books, but there is also room for books that they might not think of as worthwhile investments. Authors will be able to self publish stories under their own names, and find markets for them in the ebook realm.

Tee responds:

Perhaps the only thing that is more confusing than trying to figure out where science fiction is headed, is asking where publishing is headed. The publishing industry is at a crossroads, and there are some houses who have got a solid plan on what direction they want to take while others are still throwing things at the wall and seeing what sticks. I think authors need to shed a lot of discomfort and misgivings on self-publishing and consider what to do to understand running a business because while writing is still an art form, it is also very much a small business. You are the CEO of your brand and you need to have a plan.

What’s the hardest part about writing a series, and your latest series–the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences –in particular?

Philippa responds:

Not wanting to stop! We have ideas for so many more books and spin offs!

Tee responds:

Raising the bar for ourselves. I thought it was pretty high in Book 2. Then we write Book 3. Now, in 2013, we’re looking ahead to Book 4. Holy cow….

Where else would the two of you like to take your writing before all is said and done?

Philippa responds:

I would love to explore more of history. I am currently developing two new series, one set in Manassas, VA in the 1860s and another in London in the 1920s.

Tee responds:

I have to finish my solo novel first before I can really answer that, and I know that I am on my way to doing that in the new year. I do need to make more time for my writing, and some days that is easy to do. It’s a matter of discipline and commitment.

Is there anything we haven’t yet touched on that you think is important in a discussion of writing overall?

Philippa responds:

I think the real reason that people do not succeed at being a writer is because they give up. As long as you keep going, keep writing, you will get better and better.

Tee responds:

As writers, you get a lot of advice, good and bad. What is paramount is to tell a good story. Believe in your work, and believe in your story. You do that, and then you can move forward in whatever direction you see for yourself, but take the advice with a grain of salt. There’s no magic formula for success.

And one more thing: Don’t be a jerk. Treat others with respect. You’re going to meet jerks in this industry, and the best thing to do is distance yourself from them. You don’t need that toxic waste in your travels. You’re better off without it.

Last question. What is your favorite pie? 🙂

Philippa responds:

Oh, that is THE hardest question. I think it would have to be peach…

Tee responds:

Pumpkin. One reason I hate the end of Christmas so much. I do love me a good pumpkin pie.

Thanks again Philippa and Tee for being gracious enough to give this interview. The two of you make an amazing team, and I look forward to reading many more books from the both of you! Your insights into the science fiction field, and publishing industry itself, were great, and I learned a lot! I look forward to reading more from the two of you for years to come. Great choice of pie by the way.

Readers: Comments, questions? Sound off below.

Philippa Ballantine is also the author of the Books of the Order series with Ace- Geist, Spectyr and Wrayth and Harbinger coming in 2013. In addition she is also the author of the Shifted World series with Pyr Books, with the first book Hunter and Fox released in June 2012, and the second Kindred and Wings scheduled for a 2013 release.

Tee Morris is a co-founder of Podiobooks.com and he has authored and produced numerous podcast titles, including the Parsec-winning The Case of the Singing Sword: A Billibub Baddings Mystery and Tales from the Archives: Volumes 1 & 2.With his diverse background in Science Fiction, writing, and Social Media, Tee has hosted presentations at venues across the country and around the world including The Library of Congress, BlogWorld, CREATE South, and Te Papa Tongawera.