The Silver Coin by Josephine Maughan

​Congratulations. Your short story was a finalist in this year’s Beyond the Expectations (an anthology of NZ intermediate school writing). Tell us about your story. What inspired it? 
I combined and reworked two story ideas that hadn't worked out previously. It is a story about twin brothers, set in the Victorian era in New Zealand and London. Dramatic events happen to them at the same time, with a strange supernatural link. I have an ancestor who was a sea captain, who drowned while on night watch off the coast of Wellington in around 1850. This inspired me to write about the sea captain in the story. I am also really interested in Greek and Roman mythology. That's what gave me the idea of using Castor and Pollux, the mythological twins. They were also the patrons of sailors, in the form of the Gemini constellation and St Elmo's fire.

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You’re a student in your spare time. So tell us really, how important are writing competitions?
I love writing competitions, because it really inspires me to get writing. It is really important to me. Last year I got my story published, so this year I wanted to do even better.

What is your opinion on receiving feedback? 
I really liked getting feedback. It is really good to see what accomplished adult writers think of my writing. It was really helpful to see what strengths they saw, so I can use similar devices in future stories.

Name the writer (dead or alive) who you would most like to have dinner with and tell us what you would like to ask them?
J.K Rowling, because she was rejected but then had such huge success. I would like to talk with her about all the different myths and legends and her research on magic. I saw a documentary about her research which was really interesting.

Tell us about your work in progress. 
I have got a few ideas I am working on. I want to write a story set in Scotland with mythical wolf-like creatures.

YA fiction, of all the genres, is addressing the real issues. Discuss your favourite genre.
I like mysteries that have a supernatural theme.

Where do you see your writing taking you in the future?
I am going to keep writing, but I am not sure if I will be able to do it full time. I might become a journalist, or work in publishing or tutoring at university.

Anything else you would like to say about being a writer? 
Ideas can come from the craziest places. You really need to do non-fiction research if you want to get a sound background for your stories, to make it seem more realistic - even if you story is about fairies and dragons!

Thank you so much for your answers and we hope you keep writing.