Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Hi, I’m Emma Rose Millar, I’m a single mom of a very energetic seven-year-old boy, and I work part time as a sign language interpreter. I’ve always loved writing, and as a child, used to spend endless hours shut away in my bedroom, writing stories; it was how I felt I could best express myself. I lost confidence somewhere along the way though and stopped writing altogether. When I was pregnant with my son, aged thirty-seven, my dad bought me a laptop and said, “I think you should write a book.” I’d been through a really tough couple of years, so I thought writing might help. I didn’t start writing again with the intention of having a book published; I only wanted to do a bit of creative writing, and when I sat and read my story back, I couldn’t quite believe I’d written it.
My first novel was called Strains from an Aeolian Harp, a dark tale of opium addiction and obsession set in 1920s Britain. Life was pretty grim for me at that time and I think that was reflected in the novel. It was published in 2012, but I am hoping to rewrite it, once I have finished my current work in progress.
My second novel was Five Guns Blazing, a much more upbeat tale based on the true story of pirates Anne Bonny, Mary Read and John, ‘Calico Jack’ Rackham. It follows the life of a pauper from the backstreets of London, who is transported to the colonies and falls into the clutches of treacherous outlaws. I loved writing the novel; it’s a roller-coaster ride from start to finish, and even I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next! Five Guns Blazing went on to be published by Crooked Cat Books and to win one of the Chaucer Awards for Historical Fiction in 2014.
My third novel, The Women Friends: Selina, was inspired by a painting by Gustav Klimt and tells the story of one of his models, Selina, caught up in the bohemian world of fin de sièclele Vienna. Amidst sinister developments in the Capital, Selina must choose between remaining true to herself and helping a young Roma man escape from the Nazis. The Women Friends: Selina, was also published by Crooked Cat Books, and was shortlisted for the Goethe Award for Late Historical Fiction in 2016.
When I’m not writing, I love keeping active. I enjoy swimming, yoga and ice-skating, and I’ve recently joined a family running club. I’m also a huge fan of live comedy and live music, especially blues, reggae and ska. I also help run an on-line support group for parents looking after children with autism and ADHD.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book, The Women Friends: Selina was inspired by Gustav Klimt’s glorious masterpiece of the same name. Klimt painted one of the women nude, and the other clothed, surrounded by Oriental motifs and birds: the phoenix, the raven and the red-eyed swan. Nothing is known about the two women in the painting but it is thought that they were a real couple. I wanted to write a fictional story about events in early twentieth century Vienna, leading up to World War II, told through their eyes.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Two of my books were co-written, which adds a whole new dynamic to the writing process. Working with other authors from different cultural backgrounds has added much greater depth to my storytelling. Together we have achieved things I could never have managed alone.
My other habit was born out of necessity really. I get so little time to write that I have to grab chances whenever I can. Getting my hair done, sitting on the sidelines while my son’s at judo, and finding myself stuck in traffic on the bus all give me half an hour here and there to do a bit of writing. Eventually, somehow, I manage to create a complete novel.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I did an Open University degree some time ago in Humanities with English Literature, so I’ve read a quite a lot of the classics – Wilkie Collins, the Bronte sisters, Jane Austen, etc. I think this has had a huge impact on my writing. These days, I mostly read historical fiction, my favourite authors being Sarah Waters, Joanne Harris and Alice Walker.
Harold Courlander’s book, The African, was inspirational for both of us while we were writing Five Guns Blazing.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on my fourth novel, Delirium, a dark, Gothic tale about a bogus Victorian spirit medium. Of everything I’ve written, I think this is my favourite. The story’s got plenty of drama, lots of twists and turns , and a central character who is getting more and more sinister every minute. I’m very excited about it.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still trying different things. There are so many promotional sites out there now, and indeed so many books to compete with, making yours stand out from the rest is much harder than writing a novel!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Make sure you get a good editor, and develop a positive working relationship with them. The editor is your friend. Keep an open mind and he or she can help you greatly improve your manuscript. Also, writing the novel is the easy part. Once that’s finished, be prepared to throw yourself into marketing your book. It’s been a very steep learning curve for me.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Writing is a marathon, not a sprint. Most of us won’t achieve overnight success; it takes an incredible amount of hard work, but keep plugging away at it, and don’t give up.
What are you reading now?
I’ve just started reading Daphne du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn. I didn’t see the television series, but I heard great things about it. Looking forward to a story of lawless vagabonds, smuggling and murder.
What’s next for you as a writer?
After I’ve finished Delirium, I shall be putting the finishing touches to the sequel to The Women Friends: Selina. The second novella is set in a concentration camp, so it will have a very different feel to my other books. There’s a lot of research to do, but I want to make sure I do justice to it.
What is your favorite book of all time?
It’s actually a short story, The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a deeply creepy tale about a woman prescribed a rest cure for what her husband describes as a ‘slight hysterical tendency.’ With nothing to stimulate her, she becomes obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in her room, and the ghostly figures she imagines are crawling around behind its patterns.
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Emma Rose Millar Website
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