There’s a lovely introduction to this short story collection. Nicole Fitton asks if you would like to dive into her stories when you have a snippet of time, allowing yourself to be carried off by them. And I most certainly was. ‘Soaring’ is the name of the collection, and the word she uses to describe the way she feels when she writes. The stories certainly reflect that. In each of them I was so completely carried away on the wings of story it was as though I had read a much longer book.
Varied in tone, style, subject and character, the stories give you a wonderful opportunity to lose yourself in a well-crafted story. I particularly enjoyed the dabble into the witch trials that is epxlored in ‘A Moonless Sky’ and the shiver of magical realism that comes into ‘A Swan’s Path.’
I wanted to find out how Nicole came up with such interesting and varied stories, as well as her route to publication. Read on to find out more:
I think the thing that struck me most about your collection was just how varied the stories are. From witch trials to wedding dancing and everything in between, each of your stories felt like diving into very particular and wonderful worlds. Where do you get your ideas and how do you develop them so fully in so few words?
Thanks Sarah, yes you’re right, the worlds in my stories really are so different from each other. Mostly I think my ideas come from my inherent curiosity and overactive imagination, first though there has to be a spark – I call it my ‘What If moment’. I might see a newspaper article or overhear a conversation, or look at an amazing landscape and think what if… It’s at that point I start to put a few words down on paper and I see where it takes me. Working with tight word counts as I do with flash and shorts means that every single word has to really count. The flow is equally as important because I’m trying to push every word to its limit and make it look seamless. The sentence might say what I want it to say but if it doesn’t flow then I’ll keep reworking it until it sings. I think that’s one of the reasons I love short stories and flash fiction so much because it challenges me to say so much with so little.
Agatha Christie’s summer home. Nicole goes on a writing retreat there every year and some of the ‘Soaring’ stories were written here
There seemed to be repeated ideas of loss and connection that come up in different ways throughout your stories. Why do you think you are drawn in particular to these themes and ideas?
It’s a good observation Sarah. Although it was not a conscious decision you’re right, within Soaring both loss and connection do feature quite heavily. I think I’m drawn to them because they carry powerful and strong emotions that can add real depth of feeling to my writing. Maya Angelou said that people would forget what you say and what you’ve done, but they would never forget how you made them feel and that really sums it up for me. I know I’m an emotional writer both in my shorts and my novels so using the ideas of loss and connection within my writing helps me to really tap into and explore those themes from different perspectives. I want people not just to read my words but to feel them.
How do you find writing flash and short fiction as opposed to longer pieces?
They are such different beasts but equally satisfying. I like the immediate challenge that flash and short stories bring. I try to write every day, but working full time limits how much I can realistically achieve, so I tend to focus on a couple of pieces of flash during the week, and save longer pieces for the weekend. Of course it doesn’t always work like that, but the aspiration is there. When I write flash I have to be ruthless, every word has to have earned its place. With my novels I indulge myself and often write reams and reams in one sitting only to then give it the red pen treatment at a later date.The destination is the same for both types of fiction but the journey is very different.
At the book launch!
What was your route to publication?
My route to publication came through entering a short story competition. I remember becoming ever so excited when I heard that the publisher wanted to include my story in their anthology. I walked around with a silly grin on my face for weeks! Shortly after this the publisher put a shout out for authors to submit bodies of work for single author collections. I’d been writing short stories for many years at this point and felt I probably had enough for two books! The rest as they say is history. I’d encourage everyone to enter short story competitions. A lot of them give feedback and it’s a great way to help improve your writing.
What writing advice have you received or do you have to share with others?
My advice would be to be bold and be yourself. Don’t worry about where your story may fit, or if people are gonna like it. What you have to offer is unique and it’s a story only you can write, so yea be bold and be yourself. It took me a long time to be confident enough to take that advice but I’m so glad I did.
Nicole Fitton was born and raised in the not so leafy suburbs of South London. At various
times in her life, she has lived and worked in such glamorous locations as Notting Hill,
Manhattan, and Croydon before moving to the wilds of Devon over a decade ago with her
husband and three pretty amazing boys.
The majority of her career has been spent within globally music PR and marketing. Currently
she works within the UK healthcare industry. She writes mainly mystery thriller novels and
short stories. She has published two contemporary novels – All Tomorrow’s Parties and
Forbidden Colours and her short stories feature in a variety of anthologies. Soaring is her
first short story collection published by Chapeltown Books.
When not writing she likes to take long swims in cold places (Fjords & lakes), and can often
be found sharing secrets and treats with her trusty English Spaniel Spaniel Poppy.
Connect with Nicole:
Author Website: https://www.nicolefittonauthor.com/
Twitter: @MisoMiss
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/misomiss/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolefittonauthor/
times in her life, she has lived and worked in such glamorous locations as Notting Hill,
Manhattan, and Croydon before moving to the wilds of Devon over a decade ago with her
husband and three pretty amazing boys.
The majority of her career has been spent within globally music PR and marketing. Currently
she works within the UK healthcare industry. She writes mainly mystery thriller novels and
short stories. She has published two contemporary novels – All Tomorrow’s Parties and
Forbidden Colours and her short stories feature in a variety of anthologies. Soaring is her
first short story collection published by Chapeltown Books.
When not writing she likes to take long swims in cold places (Fjords & lakes), and can often
be found sharing secrets and treats with her trusty English Spaniel Spaniel Poppy.
Connect with Nicole:
Author Website: https://www.nicolefittonauthor.com/
Twitter: @MisoMiss
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/misomiss/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolefittonauthor/
Thanks so much for interviewing me Sarah – it was an absolute pleasure talking with you. 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing your book! Absolute pleasure.
Lovely interview. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for reading! Glad you enjoyed it.