I was born and raised
in the lovely historic market town of Bury St Edmunds, where I live still with
my daughter. I'm typical Cancer, in that although I like to visit new places
and see new things, I'm always very pleased to get home again.
Are you a traditionally publisdhe/indie/hybrid author?
My first book was
small press but I found that really wasn’t working for me, so the six books
since then have been indie.
What was the last book you released?
How long have you been writing?
Ever since I was old
enough to pick up a pencil really, but seriously writing novels since 2005. My first book was published in 2014.
What is the most challenging thing about writing for you?
Finding time to write
for a start.
I have a very busy life and am a shocking procrastinator as well,
so actually getting myself sat down in front of my laptop is a challenge.
Once
the book is published, promoting and marketing – I really struggle with these.
Being naturally not a pushy person, I find it incredibly hard to put myself out
there and promote my books.
And what is the best thing about writing?
The beginning, when a
whole world of possibility lies before you, full of characters and plot and
twists and turns. I love that feeling, that anything, literally anything, could
happen.
Then after publication holding my book in my hands. There’s no greater
feeling.
I also love any feedback I get from readers, when someone takes the
time to write a review or even contact me to say how much they enjoyed one of
my books, that’s pretty special.
Where is your favourite writing spot?
My little desk in the
corner of the lounge. It’s the only place in the house that’s truly “my spot”
apart from my bed. No one else goes near it and all my writing tools are there.
When I sit down at my desk, it’s as if I’m sending a signal to my imagination
that it’s time to wake up and shake up.
What do you do during times of self-doubt or (goodness forbid) if “writer’s block” strikes?
I don’t tend to
suffer from writer’s block.
Time to write is so rare that when I do finally sit
down to create, the words have been building up in my mind to such an extent
it’s like the floodgates opening and they pour from my imagination.
As to
self-doubt, I think we all suffer from that to some degree or other, I just try
to block out the negative thoughts and concentrate on all the positive things
people have said about my books.
What is the most frivolous thing you’ve purchased with your royalties?
Nothing, literally
nothing. I haven’t spent a penny of my royalties in the four years I’ve been receiving
them. They go into a separate bank account every month and I pretend that
they’re not there.
The plan is for them to be a little extra for when I retire.
You never know, by the time that happens there may be enough saved up for a
weekend away somewhere.
What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t take advice.
No, only kidding, although sometimes I think it is easy to get bogged down in
well-meaning and not so well-meaning advice.
You should learn to listen to the knowledge
that experienced authors pass on and turn a blind eye to those writers who are at
the same stage of the journey as you, but think they have the right to tell you
how it’s done.
Every author is different, and we all write in different ways.
For example, I never plan or plot out my books and I don’t have time to write
every day, so according to some “experts” that means I’m not a proper writer, but
with eight books out there I beg to differ on that score.
Someone once told me
to write from the heart and the gut and everything else can be fixed in the
edits, and I think that’s probably the best thing you can do.
Do you prefer tea/coffee/hot chocolate?
Tea first thing in
the morning, I like it strong and unsweetened to kick start my brain.
If I’m
writing that day, then a coffee mid-morning to reboot my flagging energy.
Hot
chocolate is only for treats or on the snowiest days in the middle of winter
when I have time to make it properly and savour it.
Is there anything you’d like to add…?
Being a writer is
such a hard road to take, it’s thankless and soul destroying and can be
incredibly lonely.
You need to develop a hide like a rhino and tunnel vision
tenacity to ignore the negatives and focus on the positive.
It is so much
easier if you’re not doing it alone.
No matter what you feel about social media
it can be a warm, supportive and helpful place, but it’s one of those
situations where as you sow, so shall you reap.
You can’t expect help and
support unless you give it in return. Don’t be one of those authors who are all
about themselves. Connect with others, interact with them, support them, and
offer assistance where needed, and don’t just restrict it to other authors.
Readers span all walks of life and you never know where your biggest potential
fans could be.
