Rachel-Goodman

Rachel Goodman

Rachel published her first book at the end of December 2019, a hard-worked-on goal since 2017. She always loved writing long, colourful stories at school and had an urge to someday publish a book. It wasn’t until 2017 when she walked the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain, that she re-discovered her desire to put pen to paper and Just a mum-On the Camino de Santiago was born.

Rachel also completed a Diploma in Creative Writing from Te Auaha Polytechnic, Wellington, in 2018. She hopes that Just a mum becomes a series of books, meaning her adventures continue!
Her writing style is chatty and friendly. A mate sitting down with you, with a cuppa, having a natter. Honest, funny and self-deprecating is the tone of her writing.

Visit Rachel's website for more info
Do you try to be more original, or to deliver to readers what they want?
I write what is true, for me. I would never change the story to make it more marketable or what I think people want to read. In my book, I have written about things that certainly, people won’t want to know about! (IE: popping blisters) I think if I stopped doing that, then I would lose my credibility.
What was the first book that made you cry?
I think it was Flowers in the Attic by Virginia Andrews. I realised I was not a kid anymore
If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?
I would tell myself to keep writing! I loved the sound of my mother tapping away on the typewriter as she documented Dad’s committee notes. It’s a soothing sound to me. And, I just adored writing at school, right through to college. Most times, I had trouble finishing my stories. I just kept them going past the word limit. But I don’t know why I never continued after school years… If only I had a typewriter with me as I finished high school, I may have kept on. My advice to myself would be, get a typewriter or laptop and keep writing a little everyday. Use the muscle. You DO have something to say.
Have you googled yourself? Did you find out anything interesting?

There is a Rachel Goodman living in the USA, who is also an Author. Her website is RachelGoodmanBooks.com so I won’t be able to use that! My article in the NZ Herald was the 9th search listing that came up! Yay!

How did publishing your first book change your writing process?

I realised pretty quickly, that I am an impatient writer. I think and write too fast for my fingers and made many, many mistakes. I came to understand that there is so much more to writing a book and you just can’t write thoughts and stuff down and leave it that way. It’s a great idea to walk away for a while and leave the manuscript to simmer, like a casserole, until the meaty stuff is much tastier. Then add this and that, remove the fat and get others to taste it, seeing what you cant see as you have eaten too much of it and need an independent mouth. I will approach the next book with so much more care and take more time.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

I have one in my head percolating at the moment about the horrors of turning 50 years of age and a half-written comedic play about a reunion of old girlfriends who used to do jazzercise together in the 80’s…

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?

As I am new to the game, any feedback is taken on board and welcomed. I am a sponge. And people are entitled to their opinions, as long as they don’t get too personal.

ALL BOOKS BY RACHEL: