Are there any books or authors that inspired you to become a writer?
Meeting the children’s author SF Said, and reading his novels to children, made me envious of the way his writing had an effect. The man himself was smart and funny; his novels transported even the most hardened anti-readers to another world. I wanted to do the same with my words. I write adult novels, but try always to create the SF Said effect. My favourite writer, as an adult, is Susan Hill. I love her sparse prose and ability to weave complex yet believable stories. The way she uses location and landscape is subtle yet immersive. I try to do that in my novels.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
As I set my novels locally, some of my readers are local people. They love to come up to me in the street and chat about the locations of my books, and whether there’s any truth to the stories. Many were disappointed when they discovered there was no Seaview House (my debut). My sixth novel, Cemetery Lodge, out on November 8th, features a cemetery and dilapidated chapel not unlike the one in my home town. I’m hoping my local readers will be happy with this! Social Media helps me stay connected with readers from across the world. Sometimes they send photos of my novels in far-flung locations like The Maldives and Ontario.
What advice would you give to a writer working on their first book?
For me, the moment of transformation in my writing was when I enrolled on an MA creative writing course. Before that, I was keen but unskilled. That sort of studying isn’t for everyone, but I needed it. I had come from a background of teaching and science: I knew nothing about the craft of writing. For me, another important factor in uplevelling my writing in the early day was working with a professional editor. I have a fantastic one, who works for Bloodhound Books, my publisher. Her advice has been invaluable.
To you, are the most important elements of good writing?
Setting is everything. Good writing needs to be immersive. I love to be plunged into the landscape, ready for the story to unfold. I don’t like over-written, clunked-up prose. Give me brush-strokes, not pages of description!
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books? What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I’ve put these two answers together because they relate to one another. When I’m not writing, I love to walk in the landscape. I’m also a local history fanatic, and get obsessed with old buildings and their stories. Hence, the ideas for my books arise from my hobbies.
Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?
For new writers, I would suggest connections. Though you write alone, the sooner you can share your work with other people, the better. It’s very hard to hear how your work sounds, because you already know everything about it. Professional editors are also invaluable. They have years of experience and will tell you exactly how your words are coming across. A developmental edit is a must for every writer who is interested in getting published. If you want to improve your writing for its own sake, read widely and find out why you enjoy words so much, then transfer this to your own writing.
What are common traps for new authors?
I thought the main work for me, as a new writer, was getting down the 80k+ word structure of a novel. That’s the easy bit, as it turns out. I’d never heard of editing, and when I first sent off a novel for a structural edit, I was surprised at how little I knew about the process of becoming a published writer. That is when I realised I needed further study and took a course.
How long have you been writing or when did you start?
I started writing when I left teaching, at the end of 2019. Before that, I’d written Christmas show and plays and bits of text for use in my job, but nothing big. I was 56 when my first novel was published, at the end of my MA, in 2022. To date, I have six novels published with Bloodhound Books.
What book are you reading at the moment?
I’m currently reading out of my favourite genre. I’m reading a book called Starling House by Alix E. Harrow. The title drew me in because it sounded something like one I might use. It’s actually a YA type retelling of Beauty-and-the Beast, and I’m loving it!
Hope I’ve got the format correct.
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Link to Cemetery Lodge (will change on publication day): amzn.to/3XTrY3r
Links to my other books:
geni.us/The Cottage