Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
. I was born in Durham City in 1962. After moving to the Scottish Borders in 1998, I rekindled my love of art, becoming an artist, tutor and illustrator, before going on to study with the Open University as a mature student. Here, I gained a first class honours degree in the Humanities, with Literature and Art History, before going on to do a diploma in creative writing . I have written one novel so far, with two others in progress, and I’m doing a collaborative life writing project with a writer friend. My passions, which drive my writing, are an interest in human nature and psychology as well as a love of nature, and I spend my time writing, blogging, painting, gardening and volunteering in social care.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My debut novel is entitled On Turtle Beach. I often used to wonder how my sister and I would get on if we went on holiday together, just the two of us, and I asked other women how they felt about this situation too. Most seemed to flinch at the idea, coming from the premise that they and their sister were too different, were like chalk and cheese and would probably bicker or come to blows. I thought it would be great to explore this. Holidaying in Dalyan, Turkey, gave me my setting for the story, and the themes came in from there. I thoroughly enjoyed writing the novel and actually miss the two sister protagonists very much!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I always make sure my writing desk is free of dust before I sit down to write to kind of respect each session of writing and the progress I’m making.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Over time, I can easily say that Stephen King has been a huge inspiration, for his character development and structural shaping and suspense, even though I write womens fiction rather than horror or fantasy. His attention to detail is outstanding and he knows human nature so well – reading him frees me up in my own writing, which is quite an accolade to him I think.
I also love Margaret Atwood for her female characters and unique writing voice, as well as Ian McEwan for his psychological intensity. Zoe Heller’s ‘Notes on a Scandal’ is a true favourite of mine for the tone of the first person narrator and I dip into Emile Zola for social commentary and the sheer indulgence of his description. It was studying the nineteenth century novel with the OU which really stirred the first faint embers of wanting to be a writer.
What are you working on now?
Two more novels. One is set in the retail world of the 90s about a dark embittered woman with a past that returns to haunt her, while she struggles to keep her antagonist at work at bay. The other is a general fiction story about midlife crisis, with alternating points of view throughout, which I relish doing. I also am working on a collaborative life writing project with a writer friend where we share our lives and observations with one another as well as a memoir for creative people.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Oh this is so hard, because I’m still learning. I do love doing my blog, where I post once a week, while advertising my book at the same time. I have a facebook author page and a twitter author page…as for anything else, I’m still experimenting and gathering advice from writers facebook groups.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes…please don’t let all the information out there daunt you…there really is so much to sift through, but just start with the basics and above anything else, don’t let promotion and worrying about sales get in the way of your enjoying writing. Enjoying writing has to be the bottom line.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
For me it has to be a quote from Gandhi to apply to any creative person, whether it be a writer, artist or craftsman, bearing in mind how much competition there is out there and the self doubts that can be generated:
“Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it.”
What are you reading now?
I’ve just finished a book by psychologist, Dorothy Rowe, entitled:
‘My Dearest Enemy, My Dangerous Friend: making and breaking sibling bonds’
which has been wonderfully reassuring that I picked a valid and useful theme for my first novel about two sisters struggling to reconcile. It’s also been so useful for research concerning family conflicts and dynamics for my writing!
What’s next for you as a writer?
To finish novel number two, entitled ‘After Black’. I’m almost at the finishing line and I’m very happy with it. Here is a little taste of it for you:
”Recently widowed Janet returns to her beloved job at the store only to find her future happiness threatened by a feisty young woman she loathes. The mutual antagonism of the two women leads to challenges Janet could never have imagined.”
What is your favorite book of all time?
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte for it’s gothic drama, feminist themes, adventure and wonderful writing!
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