Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a first time author and whenever I’m asked the dreaded ‘tell us about yourself’ question, I’m completely stumped and never know what to say, so moving swiftly on……….
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The Little World of The Lindens. It was inspired by my dolls’ hosue, a 1976 Lundby Stockholm, by my own childhood and by my years working as a primary school teacher- that’s elementary school for our transatlanic cousins. So, I suppose you could say, it’s a kind of summing up of the thing that is me!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I’m not sure if it’s unusual, but chunks of dialgoue and random scenes come into my head while I’m doing things like washing up or hanging the laundry and I can hold them somewhere in my mind for days at a time or equally, rush off to the computer and take ten minutes here and there to write them down, in between chopping carrots for dinner or doing the vacuuming. As you can see, housework looms large in my life!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Almost too many to mention. I love all the classics of English literature. I love memoirs, biographies and social history, satire and humour. Some of my favourite authors are E.F. Benson, E.M Delafield, Miss Read, Robert Surtees and Saki. I’m also a huge fan of children’s books from the first sixty years or so of the twentieth century. Favourite authors there would be Elinor M Brent-Dyer, Jane Shaw, Sheila Stuart, Frank Richcards and Anthony Buckridge.
What are you working on now?
The second book in the Lindens series, Visitors at The Lindens. The first chapter is already posted on my website, if anybody wants a taster.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
To be honest, I haven’t really been writing long enough to answer that question fairly. Hopefully, it will be PRETTY-HOT.COM.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If you’re writing your first book and you get discouraged, just keep going. You can do it – and remember that you should write first and foremost for yourself, it should be something that you get enjoyment and fulfilment from, so don’t worry about whether people will like it or whether it fits into x, y or z genre. Just write what feels right to you – excuse the pun 🙂
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Winston Churchill’s words: “We must just KBO.” (keep buggering on).
What are you reading now?
My own books mostly as proof-reading is a never-ending task!
What’s next for you as a writer?
To keep going with the Lindens chronicles. The characters still have plenty of stories to share.
What is your favorite book of all time?
The Children’s Treasury of Literature in Colour published by Hamlyn in 1967. I received it as a Christmas present when I was five. It introduced me to Hans Christian Andersen, the Grimm brothers, J.M.Barrie, J.R.R Tolkein, Rudyard Kipling, Kenneth Grahame and Oscar Wilde among others. It still sits on my bookshelf.
Author Websites and Profiles
Angela Frewen Website
Angela Frewen Amazon Profile