Can you tell our readers a little something about the piece that you have had published in Fields of Words?
The first of my pieces to feature in ‘Fields of Words’ is the poem ‘The Crow People’. It was inspired by Quentin Blake’s book, ‘The Life of Birds’, which features illustrations of numerous anthropomorphic avian species. ‘Exit Fragments’ is my second piece to feature and is a work of fiction inspired by my fascination for the Arctic.
When it comes to writing, what is your preferred genre?
On the whole, I tend to write dramatic fiction, but there is usually a tendency for speculative or fantastic elements to creep in!I
Why do you write? Who or what inspires you?
I write as a way to explore my imagination; I’m constantly conjuring up new worlds and new characters in my head and I need write them down before I lose them.
As a writer it is also important to be a reader. What are you reading right now? What are some of your favourite books?
Currently, I’m reading ‘The Eyre Affair’ by Jasper Fforde. My favourite books include ‘Cloud Atlas’ by David Mitchell, Emily Bronte’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ and anything by J.R.R. Tolkien, Iain Banks or Neil Gaiman.
Which of the Open University creative writing course have you taken, and what are your thoughts about them? Any advice for future students?
I have taken both A174 and A215. My advice for future students is to write lots – even if some of what you produce isn’t your best work, it could still be useful for drawing ideas from in the future. Don’t throw anything away; I’ve still got everything I’ve written since I was three years old.
Tell us one interesting fact about yourself!
I like to run around the countryside with a cloak and a sword in my spare time.
Five Favourite Things. Tell us your favourite meal, movie, song, colour and place!
Meal: Venison steak. Movie: Pan’s Labyrinth. Song: ‘Rainy Night House’ by Joni Mitchell. Colour: Indigo. Place: Lochinver, Sutherland.
Share with us what you are currently working on.
I’m currently working on a collection of poetry.
Facebook Page- http://www.facebook.com/alexandra.hepburn.writer
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/a_k_hepburn
Website – http://lastfallingstar.tumblr.com