How do you develop your plot and characters?
In all honesty, I’m not very organised about it. I am a ‘pantser’, that is, I don’t do a lot of planning ahead. Instead, I start with an idea for a murder and the rest somehow follows from there. With A Little Bird Told Me, the first book in the Elderwick Mysteries series, the characters appeared almost fully formed. They’re not based on people I know, rather they’re the kind of people I’d like to have as friends and neighbours. What’s fun with writing a book without a great deal of preparation is that you never quite know where it’s going to take you. Many is the time a character has said or done something that has surprised me, and I love that.
Do you prefer ebooks, printed books, or audiobooks most of the time?
While I love to be in a home surrounded by real books, I don’t buy many anymore. My primary motivation for switching to ebooks, was that with my Kindle in my bag, I am never without a book to read. I would go on holiday and struggle to fit enough books in my suitcase – not to mention going way over the weight limit – but that’s not a problem with the hundreds of books on my Kindle. I also like to read in bed and it’s much easier to hold an ebook. Not to mention, an ebook hurts less than a hardback when I inevitably drop it on my face. I have to admit, I’ve never listened to an audiobook; I feel like I wouldn’t get the same satisfaction as reading the words and creating the voices for myself.
Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym, and why or why not?
I have considered it and have, in fact, done so. Keeping the same initials, I was Rebecca Grice – Rebecca after my best friend, and Grice after my then headmaster – when I entered some writing competitions aged 16. I really don’t know why I felt the need to use a pseudonym, but then, I was 16, so maybe that’s explanation in itself! I felt very daft when I won and my teacher outed me to the local papers. After leaving school, there was a long gap before I started writing again in 2020 and now, I only use my real name.
How long did it take you to write this book?
A Little Bird Told Me is the first book I ever wrote, and it was a steep learning curve. It took about a year to get a reasonable initial draft. Despite being a voracious reader, I had no real idea about how to create a narrative arc, story beats, or how to find ‘my voice’. Even though I have five books under my belt now, I’m still learning every day.
If you’re planning a sequel, can you share a tiny bit about your plans for it?
I have three more books in the Elderwick Mysteries series already written, and I’m very excited about them all. My fictional East Yorkshire village of Elderwick is having a rather unlucky run of murders. I adore my core cast of characters – Laurel, Maggie, and Albert – and have enjoyed pitting their wits against a variety of killers. In each book, there are newcomers to the village, and almost everyone has at least one secret they’re keeping under wraps. Much like life in real villages, everyone knows everyone else’s business, or at least they think they do, and the path of the amateur sleuth is never smooth. Book two, A Turn-up for the Books, is a locked room mystery. It was a lot of fun to write and I hope it will be an enjoyable puzzle for readers.
What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
Having been there so recently myself, I think the best pieces of advice are as follows:
- Just write. Keep writing. Practice writing. Write some more. Don’t worry if your spelling isn’t great.
- Read. As much as possible and read some books with your ‘writer’ hat on – ie. pay attention to what the writer is doing: how they progress the plot; how they craft their characters; how they tell the story.What do you do to get inside your character’s heads?
Outside of being a writer, I’m a clinical psychologist which has helped immensely with the challenge of creating authentic, complex, and interesting characters for my books—they’re all entirely fictional and never based on people with whom I’ve worked. When writing, it’s vital to know your characters well, really well. A great way of getting in their heads is to learn about them, to know their likes and dislikes, their background, their family and friends, their career, their favourite book… Once you know them, it’s easier to know how they would react in almost any given situation. And you must always allow them to be true to themselves. Don’t change a character’s ‘character’ to fit the plot.
What books do you enjoy reading?
I like to read widely because you never know what gems you might discover. In terms of genres, those I enjoy most include crime, psychological thrillers, dystopian, and some fantasy. In non-fiction, I am partial to reading about life in other parts of the world. At the moment, I’m especially fascinated by Japan and Alaska. I read books by traditionally published authors and indie writers and have come across some amazing talents in both spheres.
What’s your favorite and least favorite part of publishing?
As a writer, my favourite part is everything up to the book being published, which I admit is maybe a strange thing to say. I love writing. It can be stressful, but there’s nothing like the incredible sense of satisfaction I get from creating a story. Then there’s the excitement of working on it with my beta readers, seeing each new book cover that my publisher has for me, and of anticipating publication day. However, I’m not such a fan of the after-publication bit when the book is out in the world. At that point, I became a bag of nerves, constantly checking reviews, Amazon rankings, and the number of Likes on social media. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with the perceived pressure to self-promote, and it’s a tough market out there.
What’s your favorite writing snack or drink?
One day maybe I’ll be able to say chilled champagne and smoked salmon sandwiches, but for now I’ll have to settle for a bar of chocolate and a glass of ice-cold fruit squash… it’s a glamorous life I lead!
A Little Bird Told Me and A Turn-up for the Books are available from Amazon: geni.us/ALittleBird
You can follow me on Twitter @RachaelGray_psy and Facebook RachaelGray_Psy
Check out my website and sign up to my mailing list for book news, offers, and competitions: https://welcometoelderwick.godaddysites.com/