Ask the Author: Hazel Prior
Answered Questions (22)
Hazel Prior
Dear Wendy
Your heartfelt message has given me such strong emotions. I am so very sorry for your illness. As somebody who has battled with health issues for 20 years, I really understand how exhausting that is, and having to care for somebody else at the same time is very, very challenging. You are amazing for managing it all. Thank you for sending such kind words about How The Penguins Saved Veronica. It's important for me to write stories that will inspire and uplift, and to know that it's worked in your case means so much to me. I wish Call Of The Penguins and Gone With The Penguins were published in the USA (is that where you are?) but it's out of my hands. I am delighted you have managed to source them and I hope they will bring you some joy and solace too.
Your heartfelt message has given me such strong emotions. I am so very sorry for your illness. As somebody who has battled with health issues for 20 years, I really understand how exhausting that is, and having to care for somebody else at the same time is very, very challenging. You are amazing for managing it all. Thank you for sending such kind words about How The Penguins Saved Veronica. It's important for me to write stories that will inspire and uplift, and to know that it's worked in your case means so much to me. I wish Call Of The Penguins and Gone With The Penguins were published in the USA (is that where you are?) but it's out of my hands. I am delighted you have managed to source them and I hope they will bring you some joy and solace too.
Hazel Prior
Dear Tina,
For some reason your answer has only just appeared in my inbox (I don't visit Goodreads very often, I'm afraid). I'm so very, very sorry to hear about your husband. What a tough time for you. I'm not surprised you have been finding it difficult to focus, and I hope you are being kind to yourself and taking the time you need. Just to let you know, The BBC People's War website I mentioned can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peop...
Sending you heartfelt sympathy and warmest wishes, Hazel
For some reason your answer has only just appeared in my inbox (I don't visit Goodreads very often, I'm afraid). I'm so very, very sorry to hear about your husband. What a tough time for you. I'm not surprised you have been finding it difficult to focus, and I hope you are being kind to yourself and taking the time you need. Just to let you know, The BBC People's War website I mentioned can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peop...
Sending you heartfelt sympathy and warmest wishes, Hazel
Hazel Prior
Hi Tina, and thanks for your message.
The research about Italian POWs in England was mainly from an eyewitness (my mother!) but also from the website BBC WW2 People's War. It's a brilliant website full of true stories of people who went through the war - I'd recommend it if you're interested. From here I found an account about Italian soldiers in N Africa as well, which I used for the book. I hope this helps.
The research about Italian POWs in England was mainly from an eyewitness (my mother!) but also from the website BBC WW2 People's War. It's a brilliant website full of true stories of people who went through the war - I'd recommend it if you're interested. From here I found an account about Italian soldiers in N Africa as well, which I used for the book. I hope this helps.
Hazel Prior
Hi Vickie
I'm so glad penguins are making you happy! I do find they have that effect, which is why I chose to write about them. I'm afraid I don't know about the availability of GWTP in the USA. So far it looks as if my US publishers are not going to publish it (perhaps because sales of HTPSV haven't been good enough?). I'm trying to find out from my UK publishers where you might be able to get hold of the last in the series, but haven't yet received a definitive answer. I'm so sorry not to be more help. I will update you if and when they let me know. Thank you so much for your support.
I'm so glad penguins are making you happy! I do find they have that effect, which is why I chose to write about them. I'm afraid I don't know about the availability of GWTP in the USA. So far it looks as if my US publishers are not going to publish it (perhaps because sales of HTPSV haven't been good enough?). I'm trying to find out from my UK publishers where you might be able to get hold of the last in the series, but haven't yet received a definitive answer. I'm so sorry not to be more help. I will update you if and when they let me know. Thank you so much for your support.
Hazel Prior
Hi Kel, and sorry I've only just seen this message! I hope you received my answers by email though, and hope you had a wonderful time with your book club. There is a lot more about T & P in Call Of The Penguins, so I don't want to give too much away! And the third in the trilogy will be published later this year...
Hazel Prior
Oh my goodness! I have only just seen this question and I have noticed it was posted a year ago! I don't know how that happened and I'm so very sorry. And (obviously!) so very happy that you love the penguin books. I hope you enjoyed E&THM too, although I understand it's a very different sort of book. I've now written another, as you might have seen. It's called LIFE AND OTTER MIRACLES and will be out in the UK in September. Fingers crossed you'll like that one too. I loved writing it. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and support. It does mean A LOT to me. And many apologies agin for the ridiculous delay in replying.
Hazel Prior
I hope you'll get the chance! I only do what my publishers tell me, but I will try and encourage them to put it into print! I actually read only real books myself, too! Glad you enjoy Eileen. She's one of my favourite characters.
Hazel Prior
Hello Norma
Firstly, massive apologies! I see you posted this three months ago!!! I am sorry I have not kept up to date with my Goodreads account at all and I completely missed your lovely message. How happy I am that you have enjoyed Veronica's adventures with the penguins! And it's wonderful that you've got all your friends reading my books too. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Writing has been tough recently with all these terrible world events going on, but your words have given me so much encouragement. Stay well, and I hope the next book will keep you entertained too!
Firstly, massive apologies! I see you posted this three months ago!!! I am sorry I have not kept up to date with my Goodreads account at all and I completely missed your lovely message. How happy I am that you have enjoyed Veronica's adventures with the penguins! And it's wonderful that you've got all your friends reading my books too. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Writing has been tough recently with all these terrible world events going on, but your words have given me so much encouragement. Stay well, and I hope the next book will keep you entertained too!
Hazel Prior
Hello Fran. Wow, thank you! What a lovely, heart-warming message! I am overjoyed that you loved my debut novel. I still often think of Dan, Ellie, Ed and Phineas, and wonder what they are doing. Unfortunately I can't get away with writing a sequel unless the sales for E&THM are huge and at the moment they're not (sob!). My hands are tied by what my publishers want and, of course, they're looking for novels that sell well. Having said that, I may be lightly referring to some of those beloved characters in a future book. So watch this space!
Hazel Prior
Hello Dolores, and I'm so sorry to be absolutely AGES replying to this. My Goodreads account has gone a bit rusty and I've only just seen your message. Yes, there was a story about Eileen and Veronica which I put up on my website for a short while, and it was also available with the kindle edition of Away With The Penguins over the festive season. Unfortunately it's been taken down now because it was a Christmas special. I will ask my publishers if we can make it available again for this next Christmas!
Hazel Prior
Hi Marty! Thank you for your question. Now that I've studied Antarctica I would dearly love to experience the place myself, although I'd probably go in the summer and just to the islands, like Veronica did. Unfortunately, travelling long-distance is bad for the planet, so I would need a good reason (as well as lots of money!) to do it. But I do support WWF who do much to preserve the environment, and have 'adopted a penguin' through them. I firmly believe that every little helps. Warmest wishes to you and yours, Hazel.
Hazel Prior
Hi Desiree. So glad you loved it! I combined a few different inspirations to write this book. First: penguins! I have a friend who is obsessed with them and she put this idea into my head. I realised penguins are charming and funny but also have a lot to teach us about resilience and determination. Second: environmental issues. I just love the natural world and I'm concerned about the state of the planet. Third: older people. I've met so many women in their eighties and nineties who are still embracing adventures. I admire their unstoppable spirit and I wanted to give a message of hope for us all in later life.
Hazel Prior
Hi Patty! You've no idea how happy this makes me (currently doing a little dance while trying to type at the same time!). In answer to your question, I am on the first draft of book 3 now but I don't yet have another publishing contract. Fingers crossed!
Hazel Prior
Hi Aisling
Sorry, but my UK publishers have already decided on actors for the audio, which is covered by my contracts for both UK and US. I see you have done some excellent narrating work. I'm really grateful for your interest in my books and wish you all the very best.
Sorry, but my UK publishers have already decided on actors for the audio, which is covered by my contracts for both UK and US. I see you have done some excellent narrating work. I'm really grateful for your interest in my books and wish you all the very best.
Hazel Prior
Thank you so much for your interest but it's up to my publishers whether they will produce an audio book and who narrates it. I have no say in this matter.
Hazel Prior
Hi Aurora. Good question! I think I'd choose Mr Bingley (not Mr Darcy) from Pride and Prejudice. I just love the way he sees the best in everyone and his positive, fun, up-for-anything outlook on life. I think I could relax in his company and laugh a lot. How about you?
Hazel Prior
My most recent book is AWAY WITH THE PENGUINS (UK title) or HOW THE PENGUINS SAVED VERONICA (US title). I had the idea from a friend who is passionate about penguins. After her husband died, she made it her mission to travel round the world taking photos of every breed of penguin in the wild. The book (published next year) isn't her story but it's a story about a woman who finds renewed hope because of a mad impulse to go to Antarctica, to see penguins.
Hazel Prior
I've just finished going over the copyedits of my second book.
Hazel Prior
Be really true to yourself and write the story you want to write. Keep writing until you reach the end, without self-criticism. Then leave it for a while. Then have another look with fresh eyes and ask yourself if you've put across all you want to put across. Don't be afraid of rewriting. Keep going until it's as good as you can possibly make it. Reward yourself. It's an amazing achievement.
Hazel Prior
So many things are great but the top 3 are:
- the joy of creativity (making something out of nothing. Making places and characters and events and emotions)
- hearing from readers that they loved my book, that it helped them through a tough time in their lives
- being able to get up whenever I like and work in a big, fluffy dressing-gown
- the joy of creativity (making something out of nothing. Making places and characters and events and emotions)
- hearing from readers that they loved my book, that it helped them through a tough time in their lives
- being able to get up whenever I like and work in a big, fluffy dressing-gown
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