Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
My name is Carol M Mottershead and I Joan: Put on a happy face is my first book. Although I am new to authorship, I feel I have brought my life experiences into the writing of my book.
I have been an Entertainment Agent since 1998 and worked with a variety of interesting people along the way. Before that, in the early 80s, I was a Hypnotherapist for nearly seven years trained by Dr Peter L Goodwin of the Institute of Hypnosis and Parapsychology and reached Fellowship level within this organisation. Whilst with the Institute of Hypnosis and Parapsychology I, my mother and sister founded the Psychic Research and Investigation into Sensitive Medium, which became known as P.R.I.S.M. We set about studying all the different tools used by clairvoyant / psychics such as tarot cards, psi cards, numerology, hand analysis and so much more as well as investigating paranormal phenomena such as telepathy, mediumship, spirit et cetera.
I suppose like the female protagonist in my story I have the same pioneering attitude to life. If someone tells me ‘You can’t do it’ – I will do my utmost to find a way, haha! An example of that was when working as a hypnotherapist in the North East of England with my mother… Hypnotists were frowned upon by locals. It took quite some time to overcome the cynicism in the North East, but we did it. Later on I married a musician and we became founding members of the Stockton Music and Arts Collective and the Stockton Fringe Festival, which continues today, although S.M.A.C. has changed it’s name, to move in its new direction.
I turned to being an Entertainment Agent when my children were little, but I wanted to understand more of the entertainments I was becoming involved with. I’d already experienced being a Stage Hypnotist and a vocalist in a band and even a stand up comedian so decided to have-a-go at other skills performed by the acts I was to represent; as a result I’ve tried all sorts – circus skills, magic, balloon modelling, I’ve even been a clown… I’ve tried them all, although I did draw the line at stilt walking and fire performing!
I hope you enjoy reading my book – Happy Reading!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The name of my book is Joan – Put on a happy face. This is my first book, but after much research it is turning out not to be my last, for many of the characters in my book seem to want their own stories told!
What inspired my book is a strange question to answer for I don’t know why, but it was like Joan came alive..!
First off, my main job is that of an Entertainment Agent since 1998. In 2018 one branch of entertainment was being censored, namely, puppeteers known as Punch and Judy. One or two of my acts had received quite a number of cancellations and on one occasion had been asked to change the content of their show completely! Punch and Judy without Punch? It’s ridiculous!
The Punch & Judy Professor in question was none other than Professor Brian Llewellyn. He was invited onto a morning TV show ‘Good Morning Britain’ 28th July 2018 and it seemed the show had it’s own agenda – that of ‘domestic violence’. They introduced another guest to the show, Tricia Goddard who claimed that the puppet show condoned violence – not true at all!
Anyone who has ever listened to Judy’s words will tell you that she dislikes any form of violence or naughtiness… Judy always tells the audience to call her if Mr Punch is being naughty – everybody knows that!
‘It’s slapstick comedy’ the Professor replied, adding that ‘they’re only bits of wood after all!’
Only bits of wood?! The idea that Judy could be based on a real person started to brew in my brain. How would Judy otherwise known as Joan, Dame Joan to be precise, feel if she heard people talking about her puppets as just bits of wood?
Video of Interview courtesy of Professor Brian Llewellyn and BBC can be seen at https://youtu.be/1FNbzyDEDgs
– Happy Viewing!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I’ve really been writing long enough to get into any unusual writing habits, unless you call sitting at your keyboard in front of the PC intending to write the story in your head, only to find that something else comes out once you’re sitting at the keyboard lol! I’ve often wondered who’s written this story to be honest lol!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
As a child I loved to read Heidi and Black Beauty, as a got older I started to enjoy Mills & Boon stories (I know… a bit mushy! But they’re the sort of romance that most women hope to experience so they must have got something right!) Later on I loved reading books like Harry Potter, The Immortal Nicholas Flamel and Da Vinci Code, quite a variety really, but not so keen on dystopian writings… I like to believe in the future.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on books two and three of this trilogy that I find myself writing as a continuation from Joan, I’ve got the basic stories in my head but need to research some data for the book, but have been slightly side-tracked into finding ways to market the first book first, and found myself blogging for the first time ever haha! I could find myself with a series for more books if I carry on like this!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I always say ‘If it’s free it’s for me!’ So for me websites like pretty-hot.com are a great help – thank you guys and thank you to Dave Chesson of Publisher Rocket for introducing me to them. Publisher I’m hoping will help me find the right keywords and categories to market my book, but it’s a lot to learn. A new way of thinking and a bit distracting.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
DON’T DO IT! haha! No – I don’t mean that . If you have something you feel you just have to write, you just have to get out of your system, then write it! I wanted to go down the traditional route myself, find a literary agent who believes in my story as much as I do, someone who could see it’s potential for the TV series I kept seeing in my minds’ eye as I was writing, but they never came along. Then someone told me about KDP, and although I was a bit sceptical at first, I have found them to be really helpful, from learning how to upload my manuscript to answering any questions… they’re prompt to reply and have even been known to telephone me from US to UK to resolve a question… Marketing gets a bit sketchy, because there’s a LOT of self-promoting you have to do, which doesn’t suit everybody, but it’s upto you as a writer how much you want people to read your book or is it all about the money? Only you can decide.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Believe in yourself. Stay strong, Be positive and Put on your happy face haha!
What are you reading now?
The Necromancer by Michael Scott, it’s one of the series of books about the Immortal Nicholas Flamel and there’s lots in it! I’m also reading the new Cliff Richard book ‘The Dreamer’ that I was bought for Christmas, and another by Noddy Holder. I pretty much have a book in every room haha!
What’s next for you as a writer?
To set Joan Put on a happy face on her journey into the bookshops and get on with my second book, but learning how to use Rocket is my immediate challenge. haha!
What is your favorite book of all time?
My favourite book of all time… would have to be a book that I don’t mind reading time and time again, and I’m torn between Dr Dolittle, Heidi and The Golden Compass series I can read them over and over and enjoy them all each time .
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