Yes, I am the organiser of this event! But I am also an author first and foremost. So read about my inspirations…my work…and then try to figure out why I’ve decided to organise such a massive, badass event!
What is the first thing people should know about you? I write…a lot. Like, a lot. All the time. And most of my books aren’t short!
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. I’m not known for any one genre or trope because I write everything. However, I have tried to separate some of my books so that I write thrillers and sci-fi as S. M. Lynch and romantic suspense and sub-genres as Sarah Michelle Lynch.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? My siblings call me Sally.
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. I wish more people would read the entire Sub Rosa series and not just the first three. The others are also so important (although I am told that once you’ve read all 7, the hangover might be a bitch).
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? Who asks these stupid questions? Oh yeah… me. Haha! Erm, could not possibly say! Because I am an eclectic writer, I am an eclectic reader of wide-ranging tastes. Fave of recent years would probably be All Souls by Deborah Harkness (I’ve re-read these which is rare for me). It is well documented that I have a thing about the Brontes, but also in school, I used to get really high marks for essays on feminist fiction. The late great Fay Weldon springs to mind.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? Never.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Not at all. When I started writing over 10 years ago, I wrote along to a lot of music. Now, nope. I need absolute silence. Which is odd, I know. Especially when I hear a certain song on the radio from the early days and it takes me right back to writing a particular book. I especially associate John Legend with Jules and Warrick in Angel Avenue. “Cos all of me, loves all of you…”
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? Organised chaos. I have to be able to access anything at any time. Even if it’s messy I know where everything is and brave is the person who moves a single thing out of place. But nor am I one of those writers who has stacks of crap everywhere lol.
Who or what inspires you as a writer? Everything. Everyone. Life. Love. All that in between.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? I’m that rare extrovert, but I am also a HSP. Which means if I’m quiet, it’s because something has caught my attention and it’s being processed at speeds most others cannot comprehend. I discuss my HSP-ness in The Thistlewick Duology.
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes? There will always be something for everyone.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Bloody soak up every second. As hard as it might be, sometimes I’d love to be that again. Being fresh is a blessing. Those first few books you write may not be as good as the next ones, but they will mean more to you than the rest put together.
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? Somewhere quiet, remote, warm and green.
If you could live inside any fictional world, where would that be? Definitely Mordor. I’d be able to do as I please without getting in trouble.
Your favourite place to read and/or write? Read on the beach or in the conservatory; write at my desk. (Fellow authors, if you still write on the sofa or in bed, tut tut. Listen to someone who’s written 50 books.) You not only concentrate better at your desk, you save yourself a back operation.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? If he’s like thousands of years old, and I’m me and I get to live that long, the list of books I might write in that time is actually quite a terrifying prospect…. let’s hope they don’t invent the cure to everlasting life!
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? I couldn’t possibly say; they weren’t very nice! That saying never meet your heroes is sometimes very true! (Ask my MIL who met Shatner)
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? Always a writer. Never anything else. I knew I’d do this from about the age of 8.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? Do you really think anyone would dare? (They have.) But my trajectory is unstoppable.
Who is your biggest cheerleader? Husband.
BONUS Q. Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet! I plotted Loath to Love (coming soon) one afternoon while I was on holiday. It’s turned out pretty much as planned!
Our event is about inspiration for all! Keep in touch:
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? I’m an extremely fussy eater so never expect me to say yes to a meal out lol!
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. Romantic suspense.
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. Broken is my only book baby so far, but I’d love for more people to read it. So far, (as far as I know) no one has seen the twist coming & I’d love to find a reader who does!
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? Jane Eyre or The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I just love the classic style of writing & the feminist elements of the stories.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? 100% My writing playlist is an absolute necessity.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? I write on the couch so there are times I’m surrounded by children & toys, but for the most part, I keep it tidy.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? Somewhere in between. I’m really shy & quiet when I first meet people & I’m not great in crowds, but once I get to know people or feel comfortable enough, I never shut up!
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Don’t give up & enjoy the journey. Write the story you want to write not what is expected. It’s a hard slog this publishing/marketing thing, but be proud of every milestone you achieve – the smallest wins matter.
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? A cruise to anywhere. Even though I can’t swim & hate water, I adore cruises.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? Ha! At the rate I’m going, 3 at the most lol, but I’d like to think a lot more!
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? David Boreanaz & a bunch of other Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel cast members.
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? A mechanic & with all the car trouble I’ve had over the years, I wish I had!
Who is your biggest cheerleader? My mum & best friend.
Thank you so much for your time, Kerry! To find out more click the pic!
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? I hate making decisions and I’m the queen of procrastination.
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. I write dark romance.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? I’d love to go live in a converted van for a while and travel the world.
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. Ronan. He’s book 2 in the series, but I just don’t feel like he gets the love he so deserves. I loved writing his story (I loved them all) but I had to dig deep with Ronan.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? I have too many favourite books (how can you pick just one).
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? None of them made me feel like I’d never write again, but the book that broke me was Rory’s Last Act. I sobbed writing this book, literal tears. If you’ve read the series you’ll know why.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Music is almost everything. I definitely can’t write unless there is noise. I find the silence deafening.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? It starts out tidy, everything has a place. But about an hour in it turns to complete carnage.
Who or what inspires you as a writer? My readers. Knowing that for a few hundred pages they got an escape from their reality. Knowing that they love my characters as much as I do.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? Introvert. Until I’m comfortable, then you see the weird side of me.
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes? People’s desire to live in another world for a while.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? I have 2 bits of advice. 1. Write the story you want to read. It is so tempting to write what you think others want to read, but it’s your story. Make sure you love it and the right people will find you. 2. Stay true to yourself, don’t be forced to follow the narrative. Forge your own path.
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? Barcelona and New York.
Your favourite place to read and/or write? Read on the sofa, or in my bed. Writing: my office, or would you believe, on my sitting-room floor.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? Ha ha, when I’m his age I can only hope I’d have written my own mini library.
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? A fighter pilot. Then an author.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? It’s not my full-time job (Sadly).
Who is your biggest cheerleader? There are a few amazing ladies who cheer me on daily (sometimes hourly). Without them I’d still be procrastinating in front of the TV or with my kindle in my hand.
BONUS QUESTION: Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet! Some of my characters are loosely based around a couple of people. And I’ll never tell you who!
Thank you so much for your time, Toni! Connect with the author…
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? I’m a 62 year old second-chance author. After a 26-year break, I returned to writing to find the writing world had changed and self-publishing was now a proper thing to do. I’m really enjoying being able to get my work out there and writing once more.
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. My books are Urban Fantasy, though I’m currently writing a Paranormal Reverse Harem Romance. I also write Science Fiction and Fantasy.
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. Living in Shadows – this is book 2 of my Donati Chronicles – I get a lot of people reading book 1 Of Blood and Shadows, but not so many go on to read Book 2.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? Ooh, always a hard one to answer! I have many, but my old favourite is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I have read this nearly every year since I was a child. I love Jane’s ability to survive in whichever situation she finds herself in and the insight into the lives of the characters.
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? Another hard one, but I love Scotland. We’ve had many holidays there and am hoping to go again this year. I have Scottish ancestry, so it always feels like coming home when I’m there.
Your favourite place to read and/or write? My local café Planet Coffee is a great place to write. It’s full of comfy sofas, the staff are great and there’s a lot of people-watching to be done. Then switch off and write to my heart’s content.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? Good question – hmm, lots!
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? An author.
Who is your biggest cheerleader? My husband – he’s an author as well, and we met when I ran a writer’s workshop nearly 30 years ago now.
BONUS Q. Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet! My Donati Chronicles, book 3 Out of the Shadows will end with a wedding! – but it’s not strictly speaking a romance novel.
Thank you so much for your time, Carol! To connect with the author, please visit this link
If you want to meet Carol amongst others, click the graphic below! Authors at the Armouries is about inspiration for all!
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? That I am shy. I am not one to join a conversation, so please do not think that I am rude.
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. MC. I do a mixture of tropes.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? That I am fiercely loyal to those I care about.
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. This Time Around. It is a sweet second-chance story set in the UK. I loved writing Liam and Penny’s book.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? Shade: The Last riders MC by Jamie Begley. I loved how she wrote his character, so complex, so demanding yet sweet, cunning and vindictive.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? Nope, I am too scared to write a heartbreaker.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Yes. I have to have music playing when I write, also ice hockey games.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? Tidy. I get stressed it if is messed up.
Who or what inspires you as a writer? My family. They are my rock, my biggest supporters.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? I am an introvert; it takes me some time to get used to people to feel comfortable about them.
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes? The love of reading.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Do you. Do not compare yourself to other authors. Every author works with their own styles, and they do what works for them.
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? Any place hot and sunny. I love Miami.
If you could live inside any fictional world, where would that be? Rosemary Beach.
Your favourite place to read and/or write? In the corner of my corner unit. All cwtched up with a blanket and a cup of tea.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? 70+ hopefully.
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? Michael Sheen. (His parents still live in my town, and he visits from time to time)
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? A choreographer.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? All the time. Mainly from family.
Who is your biggest cheerleader? My husband. He is always there when I need him for support.
Thank you so much for your time, Amy! To find out more, visit:-
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? I talk utter nonsense if I’m nervous.
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. I’d say paranormal romance, but I also write contemporary and psychological suspense at times.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? I think people know everything about me – I’m an open book!
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. Royal Rebellion my time-travel romance duo. It’s really different. A fae princess ends up having to travel to earth to save her twin sister. Sometimes I don’t know how my mind comes up with these things.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? The Witching Hour by Anne Rice. It has a book within a book and is such an incredible story (first in a trilogy). They’ve just made (or are making) a TV series of it.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? None that I’d never write again, but my suspense books take me a long time to write due to the darkness in them and there are years between releases or it would be too much. BULLIED was very loosely based on eighteen months of terror at the hands of a group of teens who decided to bully my son (and extended it to us by smashing our car windscreens etc). It was cathartic to work out my frustrations through my fiction, but also left me extremely drained.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Yes and no. I don’t write to music. I need quiet. But I can hear a song and it can inspire me to write a scene. Taylor Swift is amazing for that.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? It’s extremely tidy to the annoyance of my other half, as I tend to write sitting on the sofa and not at my desk. The coffee table is strewn with everything that should be upstairs!
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Get the book written and edited before you start announcing its actual release date. I get it, you’re excited, you want to tell people, but many times when a new author’s book goes to an editor it needs a developmental one and can take a LONG time before it’s actually ready for release. Be developing your social media, your newsletter, and dropping sneak peeks to get readers excited while you get it finished.
If you could live inside any fictional world, where would that be? Gnarly Fell. I invented my ideal place to live lol. I mean a cupcake café/bookshop. Yes please!
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? I think I might be that old lol! I’ve written over seventy books so far. I’m in my early fifties now.
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? Miss World hahahahaha. My grandma used to let me wear her long nightgown as a ball gown and interview me. Basically I’m obsessed with crowns and tiaras!
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? No, which is very wise of people to not have said that to me!
BONUS QUESTION: Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet! I’ve just revealed in book 6 of my Sucking Dead series, Just My Suck, who the mystery ice-cream man is… readers will find out on 12 Jan.
Thank you so much for your time, Andie! To find out more, discover Andie on….
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? Godblind by Anna Stephens. It’s an amazing book – the entire series is great. Dark and gritty with amazing world building and characters. I can’t recommend it enough.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? I haven’t written it yet, but I have an idea and every time I think about the characters and their journey it makes my heart ache. I know it’ll be a tough one to write.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Definitely! I have to have a playlist on in the background otherwise I struggle to get words onto the page.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? A mess. I can’t find anything I need.
Who or what inspires you as a writer? People and places. I find mannerisms and conversations tend to inspire my characters. Most of my main characters have traits that I’ve been around in my life. I also get inspired by places. Sometimes I see a location on a drive or a walk and I find myself thinking about how it would be the perfect place for a scene.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? Introvert! It takes a lot to get me out of my shell. Writing was a way to be a little more extroverted and I feel like I’m getting better at being more out there but in my soul, I love being left in a cosy corner with a book. I’ll probably be under my table at the signing.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Write the story you want to read. Don’t worry about thinking that it might have been done a million times already. Your twist and take on it will be unique. Write and keep writing even if it’s just a sentence a day.
Your favourite place to read and/or write? My favourite place to read is tucked up in bed, first thing in the morning. I get up super early so it’s still dark and the house is quiet. I find it easy to get carried away into a different world while still being cosy in the blankets.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? I left my job as a postdoctoral research assistant to write full time. That caused a lot of my friends to raise an eyebrow and ask some questions. But I’m happier doing what I do now and I think that’s what is most important.
Who is your biggest cheerleader? My family. Without a doubt they have had more faith in me than I’ve had in myself at times. I can’t thank them enough for the amount of unwavering support they give me.
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? I’m a hugger.
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. Romance: contemporary, sports, rock stars, suspense, BDSM.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? I can touch my nose with my tongue.
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. Undeniable… It finishes my The Fated Series and ties up all the loose ends.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? Driven by Kristy Bromberg… it led me back to Romance as a genre. Whenever I’m in a book funk this is the book I turn to. I was also lucky enough to be chosen to write Deception in this world.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? I’m writing it now. Twisted Oath is dark romance. The story has been difficult to write, but the story won’t leave me. I know it needs to be told.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? YES! I have a playlist for every book.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? Both, depending on the day.
Who or what inspires you as a writer? Life… Every book I write has something in it that I’ve personally lived through or experienced with family or friends. But life requires a happy ending, and this is what I aim to give all of my readers.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? Extrovert… until I want to be an introvert.
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes? Being able to pick up a good book and to lose yourself within its pages.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Just write the damn story. You can sort out everything else after that first draft.
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? Italy.
If you could live inside any fictional world, where would that be? The Driven world.
Your favourite place to read and/or write? My conservatory.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? Thousands!
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? E. L. James… Paul McCartney
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? An author.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? I have a “proper job” – I work forty hours a week running my own early years business as I’m a pre-school teacher.
Who is your biggest cheerleader? My husband.
BONUS Q. Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet! My very popular Default Distraction series will have another story coming out soon.
Thank you so much for your time, Andrea!
To meet Andrea and over 100 other authors at our event, get your tickets now! Click here
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. Spicy contemporary romance.
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. Love Always, Peyton. It shows how much the characters grow within the two books. They’re such a beautiful couple and their story is raw and real.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? Promise Me. I wrote the book in 30 days, I felt heavy once I finished and as if the weight would never lift. But it did, and it is still to date one of my best sellers.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Yes. Music has always been an important part of my life and music just feels right when I am writing.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? Tidy… most of the time
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? I’m a bit of both, I love to be home with my family but I do enjoy going out occasionally
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Go for it. Open your computer or laptop and just write. Listen to your characters and don’t let anything hold you back.
If you could live inside any fictional world, where would that be? Mystic Falls….
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? I wanted to be a vet.
Who is your biggest cheerleader? My husband. Always and forever.
Thank you so much for your time, Ashlee! To explore the author’s library click here
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? What you see is what you get. I’m a pretty laid back, no-drama kinda gal. There’s no mask I hide behind. I usually say it as I see it but try to do so in a way that doesn’t cause trouble or hurt people’s feelings. I don’t suffer fools lightly, and I can’t stand liars. I can usually sniff them out! I’m a really good judge of character and can generally suss out if someone is my kinda person within half an hour of meeting them. That’s more than one thing isn’t it… Sorry. Lol.
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. Contemporary romance is my genre, although there are others that I would like to dabble in. I do have a very secret project in the pipeline that couldn’t be further from romance. I don’t really buy into the “trope” idea I don’t think. I don’t really plan like that. If it turns into an enemies-to-lovers story it’s just because that’s how the characters decide it’s going to play out. I’m very driven by my characters’ voices.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? Hmmm… I don’t know that there’s much. I’m quite an open book. I don’t really hide anything about myself. I guess I’m fairly private with my feelings, especially online, as I am a pretty stoic and “carry on regardless” kind of person. I don’t allow much to get me down, which is sometimes a good thing and sometimes a bad thing!
Perhaps people don’t know that I never, ever hold a grudge. Life is too short for all of that. I’ll be pissed off at you, but once it’s done it’s done. Oh… Not many people know I have a VERY short fuse. Lol. I can keep it in check in public, but behind closed doors is a different matter! And I don’t cry when reading. Only three books have ever made me shed a tear! But I have never ugly snotted over the written word.
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. Probably Too Good Girl. It’s definitely the book I am most proud of in regards to my actual writing—as in it’s definitely my writing at its best, even if the story isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It’s my marmite book, I reckon, but I wish more people would read it because I’d like them to see how it’s written.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? Gosh… One of my favourites is The Storyteller by Jodie Picoult. The plot was so unexpected, and I love how, as in a lot of her books, she writes about moral dilemmas that her characters must navigate. This one particularly stayed with me because it is one of the only books that has ever made me cry! I’m not a cold-hearted bitch, I promise! I just don’t seem to cry at books.
I also love Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. It was one of the first classics I ever read, and I think I read it twice, back-to-back.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? Firefly, which is my most recent release. I struggled massively with finishing it. Working out the plot nearly finished me off! I changed my mind and ran it by friends so many times! And even once I knew where I wanted to go, the words would not come. I was on a deadline, which I do NOT do well with, and I honestly almost threw it all away on a number of occasions. So in that sense, yes it nearly broke me!
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Yes. I have playlists for every story. I listen to music constantly. I am inspired emotionally by songs, and very often, whole scenes between my characters will play out in my mind whilst I’m listening to a song. That song will then go on repeat until I have finished writing the scene. All of my books, except Firefly, have songs attached to the chapters. So if you’re a reader who likes to get the whole experience, you can listen along!
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? Sometimes it’s really tidy; sometimes it’s a real mess. I am a funny one. I can’t bear mess. It drives me crackers. However, if things become too messy, I feel overwhelmed by it and can’t face doing anything about it. That is until it gets to the point where I literally cannot cope with it being messy anymore! I’m not sure if there is a name for people like me! Haha!
Who or what inspires you as a writer? Music. My imagination. Things I observe. People. Places. Stories I’ve read. All sorts really…
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? Apparently I’m an introverted extrovert (or an extroverted introvert, whichever way around it is!). I’m often confused for an extrovert because I’m really sociable. I’m often the life and soul in fact… I ‘play’ the extrovert really well. But I find myself having to explain my introversion. Unfortunately, most people don’t get it. Lol.
It depends who I’m with and where I am. Environment is a huge factor. The ambiance, the music, how loud or quiet it is and who is there. Other people are equal parts intriguing and exhausting to me. That includes my family and friends. I’ve just read this back and it sounds like I was lying about the whole mask thing. I’m not. I don’t hide behind my extroversion like it sounds!
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes? People will always want to hear stories, no matter how they are presented. Stories make the world go round. Stories are how we know about the past and how we get to imagine the future. Whether it be Mavis over the road telling the milkman how her dog escaped under the hedge that morning, laughing about how she had to run after him in her pyjamas; Grandad Jim regaling his grandsons with tales of his time captaining a merchant navy ship in WW2; or a lonely teenager scribbling poetry that tells of her troubled mind, stories connect us to one another and always will.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Just write. Write a story or a poem. Embellish a shopping list. Describe a scene you have witnessed or a picture you have seen. Write a letter to an imaginary friend. Just don’t stop writing. Write, write, write.
Don’t write for your dad, or your friend, or potential readers. Write for you. Write the stories you want to tell. Then, once people find your work and love it, write for yourself and those super fans. Don’t write for reluctant readers or to gain hard won 5-star reviews. You’ll never, ever please everyone so write to please those who love what you do—those who are the first to download your new book without even reading the blurb. You’ll be a unicorn author to someone. Write for them.
Listen to advice from other authors whilst remembering that you do not have to take the advice if it doesn’t work for you. Save money to get your work edited by someone who knows what they’re doing and so you can purchase a good quality cover for your book. Do not skimp on these two things.
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? The Yorkshire Dales. It’s my happy place. Don’t get me wrong, I love a golden beach, sunshine and a deep blue sea, but give me rolling hills and the sound of cows any day!
Your favourite place to read and/or write? I can read anywhere really. At the table, on the sofa, in bed. I’m not so good at reading in the car cos I get distracted by the scenery and sometimes a little car sick.
Writing… Usually not at my computer. Because I design book covers, the internet and images and things can pull me away from writing. If I sit elsewhere with my iPad instead, I’m less likely to start looking for pictures to add to pre-made covers because I don’t have Photoshop on my iPad.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? Not as many as you might think! I’m a very slow writer. And by that I mean it takes me forever to finish a book, not that I type slowly! If I know what’s going to happen, I can knock out the words quickly. But I am very busy with lots of other aspects of my life that I don’t always have time to sit and write for long periods of time. I generally release one book a year. That’s about my average I think, and I’m happy with that. How old is Gandalf? 24,000 years old apparently. So I guess I’ll have written 23,956 books!
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? Richard Attenborough. I used to work at a Showcase cinema. It was the busiest cinema in the UK at the time. When the film Chaplin was released, our cinema premiered it in the UK. Richard Attenborough directed the film so of course he was there. I was a supervisor and was in charge of the running of the concessions stand. We were having lots of work done on the building at the time and had scaffolding everywhere. There were plywood ramps leading up to the main entrance where the steps used to be and tarpaulin all over the place. I had painted a HUGE mural of Charlie Chaplin on the massive glass windows at the front, too.
Our general manager asked some of the staff to dress up as Chaplin and line the sides of the ramp where Richard and the other guests would enter. He asked me to be one of them and, since I was the supervisor, he also asked me to walk Richard down the spillway to his screen and then greet him after the film had finished. So as Richard arrived, he walked up the ramp and spotted me—the only female Chaplin—and leaned in to kiss my cheek. He whispered, “It’s not often I get to kiss a man!”
We shared a laugh and then I walked with him down to the screen. When the film was done, I greeted him. He linked arms with me, and my general manager walked at the other side of me. Halfway down the spillway, he turned to me and said, “How would you like to come back to Manchester with me?”
I glanced at my manager who said, “Sorry, she’s working.”
And that was that! See! A story that now connects you with me a little bit.
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? A teacher. Or a ballerina. Or an author. I’m now an author and a teacher!
Who is your biggest cheerleader? I have a very close-knit group of author friends who champion me at every turn, tell me to shut up when I’m having doubts about my abilities and give it to me straight when my writing isn’t good enough. And I think that’s what cheerleaders should be like.
My partner doesn’t like romance so he doesn’t read what I write, and I wouldn’t ever expect him to, but he does give me time and space to do it, so he cheers silently!
BONUS Q. Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet! One of my works in progress has a 15-year-old girl in it called Marcheline….
Thank you so much for your time, Eleanor! To find out more, click the image:
SML Literary Events 