Ask the Author: Gretta Curran Browne
Answered Questions (8)
Gretta Curran Browne
Hi Patricia - initially 3 years research that resulted in the first 4 books - and then another two years in order to write about his years living abroad in Switzerland, Italy, and then Greece. (I feel now there is NOTHING about Byron I do not know)
Almost all of my research comes from Byron himself through his own papers, letters, diaries, journals - as well as from those of his closest friends -- and of course, some of the Byron Scholars at Cambridge.
Apart from the Scholars, I have ignored all sources of those that were not eye-witnesses to his life, or not physically THERE with Byron at the time
That is why I quote so much of their own actual letters etc to show all scenes are based on those given to me by the players themselves. I also spent time at his home of Newstead Abbey and was able to stand in his bedroom at the window and see the same views he saw at the time - and sit in his library etc - Newstead Abbey and its surrounding lakes and lands are so beautiful, so peaceful, and it has not changed at all since Byron lived there. (The mansion and vast grounds are now owned and looked after by the Nottinghamshire Trust). Annesley Hall, (where Mary C lived) is now sadly derelict, and gone to ruin, only the main structure remains.
The next book - Book 5 - is released on April 19th 2018 - because that is an official National Bank Holiday in Greece every year being "Byron's Day" when all parents are asked by the Greek Government to allow their children to spend some part of that day studying literature or drama in honour of the poet who has long been a "hero" in Greece, due to Byron's involvement in Greece's fight for Independence.
The final 2 books are published this summer of 2018.
Thank you so much for your appreciation of my work, Patricia, but I honestly think that half of the words come from Byron himself, as was he one who provided most of the material in the papers he left behind.
Almost all of my research comes from Byron himself through his own papers, letters, diaries, journals - as well as from those of his closest friends -- and of course, some of the Byron Scholars at Cambridge.
Apart from the Scholars, I have ignored all sources of those that were not eye-witnesses to his life, or not physically THERE with Byron at the time
That is why I quote so much of their own actual letters etc to show all scenes are based on those given to me by the players themselves. I also spent time at his home of Newstead Abbey and was able to stand in his bedroom at the window and see the same views he saw at the time - and sit in his library etc - Newstead Abbey and its surrounding lakes and lands are so beautiful, so peaceful, and it has not changed at all since Byron lived there. (The mansion and vast grounds are now owned and looked after by the Nottinghamshire Trust). Annesley Hall, (where Mary C lived) is now sadly derelict, and gone to ruin, only the main structure remains.
The next book - Book 5 - is released on April 19th 2018 - because that is an official National Bank Holiday in Greece every year being "Byron's Day" when all parents are asked by the Greek Government to allow their children to spend some part of that day studying literature or drama in honour of the poet who has long been a "hero" in Greece, due to Byron's involvement in Greece's fight for Independence.
The final 2 books are published this summer of 2018.
Thank you so much for your appreciation of my work, Patricia, but I honestly think that half of the words come from Byron himself, as was he one who provided most of the material in the papers he left behind.
Gretta Curran Browne
Hi Debbi,
The publication date for "A Runaway Star" is 3rd August 2016. It is available for pre-order now on Amazon.
Hope you enjoy it.
Gretta
The publication date for "A Runaway Star" is 3rd August 2016. It is available for pre-order now on Amazon.
Hope you enjoy it.
Gretta
Gretta Curran Browne
I am currently working on a series of books about the most iconic young man of his time - George Gordon Lord Byron.
"A Strange Beginning" - Book #1 and "A Strange World" #2 have just been published: and Book #3 is due to be published in 3 weeks.
"A Strange Beginning" - Book #1 and "A Strange World" #2 have just been published: and Book #3 is due to be published in 3 weeks.
Gretta Curran Browne
My most recent work was The Macquarie Series - BY EASTERN WINDOWS.
I started with one stand-alone novel - based as always on a true story - then I discovered the "complete" story could not be told in one book,
so I wrote the sequel, THE FAR HORIZON
and then the third JARVISFIELD
and fourth book THE WAYWARD SON
and then the story was finished, so I went to bed.,
I started with one stand-alone novel - based as always on a true story - then I discovered the "complete" story could not be told in one book,
so I wrote the sequel, THE FAR HORIZON
and then the third JARVISFIELD
and fourth book THE WAYWARD SON
and then the story was finished, so I went to bed.,
Gretta Curran Browne
I'll paraphrase Byron on this - the best thing is you can spend hours in the company of interesting people, yet remain alone and undisturbed.
On a more practical note - some of us write to earn an income from our work, because we prefer writing to anything else - Dreamers, the lot of us - heads in the clouds lost in thoughts - give us a down-to-earth job and we'd get fired within a week!
On a more practical note - some of us write to earn an income from our work, because we prefer writing to anything else - Dreamers, the lot of us - heads in the clouds lost in thoughts - give us a down-to-earth job and we'd get fired within a week!
Gretta Curran Browne
I read my research notes.
And if that does not work, I put my earphones on and listen to ANYTHING sung by Freddie Mercury - the passion in his voice would inspire anyone.
And if that does not work, I put my earphones on and listen to ANYTHING sung by Freddie Mercury - the passion in his voice would inspire anyone.
Gretta Curran Browne
Don't think it can be done in a rush or too quickly. Just write it and see it and feel it.
If you cannot SEE your characters, or you cannot FEEL what they are feeling, then it won't have much resonance with the reader.
The first time I found myself crying while writing a chapter, I felt such a fool, until a short time later I came across these words -- "No tears from the writer, no tears from the reader."
And I suppose that's true for everything, including laughter and amusement.
If you cannot SEE your characters, or you cannot FEEL what they are feeling, then it won't have much resonance with the reader.
The first time I found myself crying while writing a chapter, I felt such a fool, until a short time later I came across these words -- "No tears from the writer, no tears from the reader."
And I suppose that's true for everything, including laughter and amusement.
Gretta Curran Browne
Move on to the next chapter - and then go back.
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