1. Why do you write novels?
My imagination has been running rampant since I was a tiny tot! Making up stories, creating characters and improvising dialogue is what I’ve been doing, in some form or other, on a daily basis, for as long as I can remember – I don’t know how to switch it off, and believe me, there have been times in my life when I have longed to! I have always gained a great deal of personal pleasure and comfort from this creativity, but writing books and getting published has somehow validated the many hours I have frittered away on this otherwise pointless pastime! It is a great joy and a huge privilege to now be able to share my stories with others.
2. Who inspired you?
There have been various sources of inspiration over the years. When I was about seven, I started reading The Garden Gang books, published by Ladybird and written by Jayne Fisher. I clearly remember that the copies I owned had a black and white photograph of her in the back – she was nine years old, and I think she remains the youngest person ever published by Ladybird. I was in awe of her and thought if she could write books and get published, then maybe I could too. Growing up watching Terry Wogan interview the likes of Barbara Taylor Bradford and Danielle Steel also made me long to follow in their footsteps – though few authors nowadays enjoy the riches bestowed upon novelists of their generation! But the person who really inspired me to have the courage to fulfil my dream is my good friend and fellow author Rebecca Netley. We got to know each other when she was making her first serious attempt to get published, and seeing her bravery and determination encouraged me to put my fears aside and give it a go too. Being able to share that journey with someone made all the difference, and I don’t think I would ever have had the nerve to set off on it without her egging me on!
3. What’s the essence of your style? The part, if removed, is not your voice anymore?
Gosh that’s a hard question to answer! I’m not sure! I think I delve into the emotional complexities of my characters and of the stories I’m telling. But in all honesty, I don’t set out with this in mind, it tends to be subconsciously done. I just follow where my characters lead – and I often don’t know where they’re going to take me!
4. What was your dance-around-the-kitchen moment in writing?
Can I be greedy and have two?! I think my first jaw-hits-the-floor-and-the-screeching-begins moment was when I received a full manuscript request just twenty-four hours after I’d sent my submission package to a handful of agents – never in my wildest dreams had I expected to get a hit that quickly. My second moment of ecstatic joy came a couple of months later when I received my first offer of representation – that was a magical moment!
5. What do you want to accomplish in your writing career?
Firstly, I would like to have a writing career – I really hope that I am still writing and being published in ten years’ time! But my ultimate ambition has always been to have one (or more!) of my books adapted for the screen – film or television, I’m not fussy – but unfortunately that is akin to winning the lottery!
6. Can you ever envisage not writing novels - running out of ideas or energy?
I suspect I won’t ever run out of ideas as I’m always being inspired by documentaries or podcasts or historical incidents and events that I read about. I think running out of energy and drive is more of a threat. Whilst it is undeniably a huge privilege to be published, it is a tough industry, and there’s a lot that is frustrating about it – and as simply ‘the author’, an awful lot of things are beyond your control. So, I think the greatest challenge is surviving all of that and maintaining the desire to carry on writing.
7. What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don’t let a lack of confidence hold you back.
8. Away from writing, what are your passions, and what do they mean to you?
This is where I reveal myself to be truly boring! I don’t do much! I used to adore acting, but having kids put paid to that, unfortunately – performing in a play was just too great a time commitment. The only am dram outlet I have now is when I get to read out extracts of my novels at book events! However, I do occasionally get the opportunity to go to the theatre and I love it – there is nothing as thrilling as a live professional production. I also gain a huge amount of pleasure from being out in the countryside on my daily dog walks. I’m a country girl born and bred, a farmer’s daughter, and that connection with the great outdoors grows ever stronger, and becomes more important to me, the older I get. My other passions are reading and history, always enjoyable, always enriching!
9. How would your best friend describe you?
Supportive and self-deprecatory.
10. What’s a significant question to ask you, that no other interview has to date, and what’s the answer, only for New2theScene?
Q: What would your dream writing assignment be?
A: Writing the screenplay of Georgette Heyer’s ‘The Grand Sophy’ or collaborating with someone like Shawn Ryan on a kick-ass action-packed TV drama series!
