Pam Lecky's Blog, page 31

A Conversation with Author Norah Bennett

Today in the Library we have Norah Bennett, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author.

[image error]Norah lives a double life. By day she is a suit-wearing, prim and proper, professor, administrator, researcher, and lecturer. By night she is a PJ wearing dreamer and writer of books that make people sigh, smile, cry, laugh, fall in love and believe in second chances.

Norah lives in Andover, New Jersey with her husband of thirty years, a cranky geriatric maltipoo, and an obnoxious cockatoo who runs the house and terrifies all its inhabitants.

Norah discovered the joy and escapism that comes from reading at the age of twelve and swears books saved her life and her sanity. Through reading, she has travelled the globe and learned all kinds of equally useful and useless skills such as the proper way to eat a pomegranate, carve a watermelon, or bathe an elephant. These are skills she has passed down to her two daughters who are incredibly supportive, but often wish she had a wider scope of hobbies.

Norah has a long publishing history in academia, but she started writing fiction recently. In July 2016 she published her first work of fiction, R.I.L.Y. Forever with Evernight Publishing and in January 2017 her second book, Everything I’ve Dreamed Of, was also published by Evernight Publishing. Currently, she is working on her third novel, Six Months.

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Hello Norah, you are very welcome. Did you read much as a child?

I discovered the joy of reading when I was twelve and my family moved from Boston to Texas. I had nothing to do and was sad to leave all my friends. I picked up a book out of shear boredom, then another, then another.

Are you an avid reader now? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

I am a voracious reader. I love women’s fiction and contemporary romance, but honestly, I read EVERYTHING.

Are you self-published or traditionally published?

I am not self-published. Both of my fiction books are published by Evernight Publishing. My academic textbooks are published under a different name through FA Davis.

Which genre do you write in and why?

I write contemporary romance and women’s fiction. Why is a good question. I guess it comes easy, naturally. I am a romantic at heart and believe in love at first sight and second chance love. Mainly, I love writing about the heart, the emotions that bring us together and tear us apart. You know … life.

Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?

I don’t have a specific person as I am constantly finding new and inspiring people. I love Nicholas Sparks for his ability to draw the reader in with the first page and hold our emotions hostage with his words. But there are so, so many authors who have influenced me … Kathleen Woodwiss, Jude Deveraux, Robyn Carr, and who doesn’t love Jane Austen! Lately, I have enjoyed Corinne Michaels, Kristen Ashley, M.S. Force, Lisa Kleypas, Nalini Singh, J.R. Ward, and A.L. Jackson.

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

I was born in Cairo and although my WIP does not have cultural elements, I do have a project I am working on that does. I believe all our experiences impact our writing, even if we do not realize it.

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

Self-doubt! Sometimes it is so crippling and I am paralyzed. I get over it by sharing my work with beta readers and wait for their comments. Most of the time, they kick my butt right back into gear. I have heard that everyone has one book in them, but can you write 2 or 3 or 4? I am not sure I agree about the one book theory, but writing doesn’t just happen, it is work and you must love it to overcome the difficult moments that haunt every writer.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

I wish I could write every morning. That is when my mind is alert and awake the most. But I have a day job. So I write mainly in the evenings and all day on weekends and holidays.

What is the best thing about being an author? And the flipside – what is the worst?

The best thing for me is the ability to create an alternate world in which I can lose myself and create characters who become my best friends. The ULTIMATE reward is when a reader says they have enjoyed my book … that is bliss! The worst is when the characters take over and do what I did not plot for them to do. They misbehave and take over the story. They keep me up at night and fill my days with their adventures and it takes me a while to clean up after them.

Is social media an essential chore or something you enjoy? Which forum do you prefer?

For me, social media is a chore. My time is so limited because I have a very demanding day job. When I get home, I would rather write than be on social media. But I am learning to put more time and effort into Facebook and twitter, etc …

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

I would be spending my days travelling and hiking and walking beaches all around the world. Of course, I would have to be independently wealthy … sadly, that is not the case.

It’s the last day and the earth is facing oblivion – what book would you read?

I would not read. I would LIVE.

Norah, please tell us about your latest published work.

Everything I’ve Dreamed Of

[image error]Kate Willowbrook dreams of a life filled with beauty – a man who loves her, friends, and a home. At eighteen, Kate’s dreams are replaced by nightmares when she witnesses a crime. Kate runs, never settling down or trusting anyone. Ten years later Kate discovers the small town of Lakes Crossing and Noah Reed.

When Noah’s wife is killed in an accident, he buries himself in work and family obligations, believing he will never find love again until he meets Kate. The more he learns about her, the more he is drawn to her and his protective instincts kick into overdrive.

Noah is everything Kate has ever dreamed of, but his take-charge attitude is scaring up old demons she fought hard to bury. If they can’t find a way to strike a balance that satisfies both their deepest needs, they could lose their second chance at love.

Buy Links: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MR3847R/

Evernight: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/everything-ive-dreamed-of-by-norah-bennett/

If you would like to know more about Norah and her work please click on the social media links below:

Website   Twitter   Facebook   Goodreads   Amazon

My Victorian Valentine

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The Morning of St. Valentine – John Callcott-Horsley

The Victorians were very good at taking an idea and running with it. The present day commercialisation of Valentine’s Day can be laid at their feet. And the man to thank (or blame) is Sir Rowland Hill and the Penny Black stamp. More anon.

The origins of Valentine’s Day are buried in the mists of time. Some claim its roots were in Ancient Rome, where they celebrated the fertility festival of Lupercalia from 13th to 15th February. Pope Gelasius I is said to have declared the 14th February to be Valentine’s Day in an attempt to reclaim this festival from the Romans.

But who was Valentine? There were three possible candidates, two of whom, Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni, were both Christian martyrs who were associated with the 14th of February.

The front-runner for most historians is the Catholic priest, Valentine of Rome, who was martyred in 269 and made a saint in 496. Originally his relics were in the church and catacombs of San Valentino in Rome and this was an important pilgrim site in the  Middle Ages. During the time of Pope Nicholas IV, the relics were moved to the church of Santa Prassede. Today, his flower-crowned skull is exhibited in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin in Rome.

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Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin

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Whitefriar Street Church Dublin

There are rival claimants for the honour of possessing the body of St. Valentine but it is popularly believed that some relics are found at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland. A famous Carmelite preacher, Fr. John Spratt, visited Rome in 1835 and was so popular that Pope Gregory XVI decided to make his church a gift of St. Valentine’s body. On November 10, 1836, the Reliquary containing the remains arrived in Dublin and were brought in solemn procession to Whitefriar Street Church where they were received by Archbishop Murray of Dublin. With the death of Fr Spratt interest in the relics died away but during a major renovation in the church in the 1950s/60s, they were returned to prominence with an altar and shrine. Now it is a place of pilgrimage for young Irish lovers.

A Potted History of Valentine Verse

It was Geoffrey Chaucer, in the 14th century, who first associated the day with romantic love, at a time when courtly love was flourishing. His poem, Parlement of Foules, includes the lines:

For this was on seynt Volantynys day

Whan euery foul comyth there to chese his make.

The British Library holds the earliest surviving written Valentine greeting. The Duke of Orleans was imprisoned in the Tower of London following the 1415 battle of Agincourt. He wrote these lines to his wife:

Je suis desja d’amour tanné

Ma tres doulce Valentinée

The oldest surviving Valentine’s letter in English is also held in the Library. It dates from 1477 and was written by Margery Brews to her fiancé, John Paston. Margery describes him as her “right well-beloved Valentine”.

In the 17th century, the Immortal Bard gave these lines to Ophelia:

To-morrow is Saint Valentine’s day,

All in the morning betime,

And I a maid at your window,

To be your Valentine.

The most famous, Valentine poem appeared in a collection of nursery rhymes printed in 1784:

The rose is red, the violet’s blue, 

The honey’s sweet, and so are you.

Commercialisation

In the late 18th century cards were handmade. Lovers would decorate paper with romantic symbols including flowers and love knots, often including puzzles and lines of poetry. Those who were less inspired could buy volumes that offered guidance on selecting the appropriate words and images to woo their lover. These cards were then slipped secretly under a door, or tied to a door-knocker.

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But it was my dear friends the Victorians who took Valentine’s Day to another level. With Sir Rowland Hill’s reduction in postal rates with the invention of the Penny Black postage stamp in 1840, the number of Valentines posted increased, with 400,000 sent just one year after the Penny Black was introduced. Cards could now be posted anonymously, probably the reason for the sudden appearance of racy verse in an era otherwise synonymous with prudishness!

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One of the largest collections of Victorian Valentines is held at the Museum of London. The 1,700 cards are the archive of Jonathan King, who ran a card-making business in London. It features a huge array of designs, verses and sentiments that were all the rage for Victorian lovers.

Not all Valentine’s cards were romantic however; some, referred to as ‘Vinegar Valentines’, were designed to insult. One example features a cartoon of a woman with a large nose. Under the title ‘Miss Nosey’ are the following lines:

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On account of your talk of others’ affairs

At most dances you sit warming the chairs.

Because of the care with which you attend

To all others’ business you haven’t a friend.

Around the middle of the 19th century, the cards crossed the Atlantic where they became hugely popular. More advanced printing technology in America meant that more elaborate cards were produced. In 1913 Hallmark Cards produced their first Valentine’s card, representing a key development in the commercialisation of Valentine’s Day.

It will be interesting to see if the Valentine card survives in this digital age, as the cost of postage steadily increases and few want to spend the time in a shop choosing a card when it can all be done with the click of a button. I hope it is a tradition that doesn’t die but then I’m an old romantic at heart!

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A Conversation with Author Amanda J Evans

 

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Amanda J Evans

Today in the Library I am delighted to host fellow Irish author, ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Amanda J Evans, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author.

You are very welcome, Amanda, please introduce yourself:

I am an author, freelance writer, and poet. I live in Co. Meath, Ireland, with my husband and two children. I am known locally by my married name, Donnelly, but I write under my maiden name. I had work published in several magazines and journals in 2016. I am also the author of Surviving Suicide: A Memoir from Those Death Left Behind, published in 2012. When I’m not writing for work clients, I am usually reading the latest novels from some of the amazing indie authors out there, or sharing snippets from my latest manuscripts with my husband and children. I have just published my first fiction book titled Finding Forever and I am almost finished my second which will be published in the summer of 2017.

Did you read much as a child? Are you an avid reader now? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

I always read as a child and I continue to do so today. I like to read in a large number of genres, but if I’m honest, romance tends to feature in them all, be it paranormal, fantasy, or suspense. I do like to try new genres every so often though and find that they can be very interesting. Once genre I haven’t tried yet is horror. It frightens me just to think about it.

Are you self-published or traditionally published?

I am self-published.

Which genre do you write in and why?

I write romance because I love it, especially a happy ever after. I’m a big romantic at heart so it features very much in  my writing. I write contemporary romance, paranormal, fantasy, and suspense.

Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?

That’s a tough question, and I can’t think of anyone off the top of my head. As a child I devoured Roald Dahl and I loved Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn as well as Anne of Green Gables. Anything I could get my hands on I read. In teen years I read Judy Blume and moved on to Mills and Boon and second chance romance novels. I also read a lot of Terry Pratchet and Terry Brooks. I don’t think any writer in particular has been a big influence though, I’ve always dreamed of being a writer. I wrote my first book aged 8 and that was my ambition. Tragedy struck during my teens and writing took a back seat, albeit writing poetry. It is only in the past couple of years that I have found the confidence to put pen to paper again and follow my dreams.

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

I don’t feel that it has, but I do enjoy writing fairy tales for children and my story The Curse of Johnny Murphy, written for a local storytelling even last year, was based on Leprechauns. I also entered the Imbas Mythology competition with a story about the Banshee. So I guess you could say being Irish has been part of my stories.

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

The most difficult is the editing and marketing. I love the writing part and find that once I pick up my pen, it just flows. Editing on the other hand is a chore and I’m so glad that there are editors to help with this. Marketing the finished product is challenging. I do find it difficult when I’m writing a story and lots of other story ideas start to pop into my head. It’s hard to do everything, so I focus on one at a time and I’m very strict about this.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

I write in the morning while my children are getting ready for school. I usually have 30 minutes and during this time I write my morning pages and then grab my notebook to continue writing my novel. I usually get 3 to 5 pages done. I have the same routine during the weekend but tend to get more written because I’m not tied to school time. This routine works really well for me. Before this I would tell myself I’d write when I got all my work done, but that never happened. I set myself a challenge to write a page a day before I start work and it has been amazing. Since August last year, I’ve finished a novel and I’m almost 90% on my second.

What is the best thing about being an author? And the flipside – what is the worst?

The best thing for me is actually doing what I love. I love putting words on paper and watching them fill the page. I love listening to my characters and telling their stories. I love the surprises that come with that too. I never plan and I never know what is going to happen next. I let the characters tell me their stories. I tried planning but it didn’t work out. My main character ended up being a male instead of female and characters I had planned as being secondary turned into leading roles. I gave up after that and I just write what comes.

The worst part of being an author is trying to get your name out there and learn all the marketing techniques.

Is social media an essential chore or something you enjoy? Which forum do you prefer?

Social media is definitely essential for marketing and at times it can feel like a chore, but at the moment I am enjoying it. I prefer to use Facebook, but I have found that Instagram is very popular. I have accounts with all the top ones, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, but finding the time to devote to each can be very difficult.

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

Even if I wasn’t an author, I would still be writing in some form or another. I write SEO website content for a large company in Canada and I love to blog. I really couldn’t imagine not writing something, even lists. I worked for the Health Board for 10 years before resigning and even during that time I scribbled something down. Writing is a part of me and I can’t not do it. I’ve tried but after two weeks I feel like I’m going mad. My mood is extremely irritable. Once I write something, even two sentences, it’s like calm washes over me.

It’s the last day and the earth is facing oblivion – what book would you read?

Oh God, that really is a tough one. It would have to be something with a happy ending, something that would calm and soothe the soul, take me away from it all. The genre would probably be fantasy, something filled with magic and delight. I remember reading The Never Ending Story when I was younger and that was amazing. Maybe I’d read that again, out loud to my children.

Please tell us about your latest published work.

I’ve just published my first book, Finding Forever, a romantic suspense novella. I’m also finishing my second book, a paranormal romance titled Save Her Soul which I am hoping to have published in the summer of 2017.

Finding Forever

When love refuses to give up

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http://www.bookgoodies.com/a/B01MY9IPZG

I look at his face, the face of the man who holds my heart, my forever, only his heart has stopped beating.

A woman desperately searching for her forever….

Liz Parker thought she’d found her forever the moment she said “I do”, but fate had other ideas. Waking up with a tattered wedding dress and her dead husband in her arms was not the way she planned her honeymoon. Distraught, she promised she would follow him. Death wasn’t taking forever away from her. Of course, she hadn’t planned on being rescued by pirates either, or the fact that Charles’ body would be left to rot on the beach.

Two lives collide…

When Liz meets John, he becomes her only hope, her chance to bring Charles’ body home, but there’s something more. Why does he look at her with such pity? Why does he agree to help her when no one else will? Why won’t anyone believe that Charles exists? Is Liz going mad?

[image error]Surviving Suicide – A Memoir From Those Death Left Behind   Buy Link for Amazon Worldwide

If you would like to know more about Amanda and her work please check out her social media links below:

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Google+  Linkedin  Instagram

 

Historical Fiction Cover Winner January 2017

Do you love historical fiction? What makes you choose one book over another? For most of us, the cover is the first thing that attracts our attention. For me, the cover has to look professional and must convey genre and a hint of what the story is about.

Each month I will be taking a look at historical fiction covers and choosing my ‘Pam’s Pick’ for the month. Hopefully, you will be intrigued enough to look beyond the covers I feature and find your next favourite author. If a cover interests you just click on the image to learn more about the book and buy if you wish.

My first winner is The White Camellia, by Juliet Greenwood. When this cover landed in my inbox, I knew immediately it would be one of my top picks. The image is beautiful, romantic and delicate. If I saw this in a shop I would pick the book up and read the blurb. This book is now sitting on my Kindle waiting to be read.

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The White Camellia – Juliet Greenwood

1909 – Cornwall. Her family ruined, Bea is forced to leave Tressillion House, and self-made business woman Sybil moves in. Owning Tressillion is Sybil’s triumph – but now what? As the house casts its spell over her, as she starts to make friends in the village despite herself, will Sybil be able to build a new life here, or will hatred always rule her heart? Bea finds herself in London, responsible for her mother and sister’s security. Her only hope is to marry Jonathon, the new heir. Desperate for options, she stumbles into the White Camellia tearoom, a gathering place for the growing suffrage movement. For Bea it’s life-changing. Can she pursue her ambition if it will heap further scandal on the family? Will she risk arrest or worse? When those very dangers send Bea and her White Camellia friends back to Cornwall, the two women must finally confront each other and Tresillion’s long buried secrets.

There was stiff competition for top spot this month, with the following being close runners-up:

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Rise of the Wolf   – Steven A. MacKay 
Yorkshire, England – 1323 AD
The greenwood has been quiet and the outlaws have become complacent, but the harsh reality of life is about to hit the companions with brutal, deadly force thanks to their old foe, Prior John de Monte Martini. From a meeting with King Edward II himself to the sheriff’s tournament with its glittering prize, the final, fatal showdown fast approaches for the legendary Wolf’s Head. New friends, shattered loyalties, and a hate-fuelled hunter that threatens to wipe out not only Robin’s companions but his entire family will all play their part in the Rise of the Wolf.

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Flowers of Flanders – Ros Rendle
Rose rivals her beautiful, mercurial sister for Michael’s love but calculated lies and misunderstandings alter the young peoples’ course. War breaks and Michael is as eager as the others to go. Maybe Rose will settle for second best with Thom even though she cannot get Michael out of her soul. Does a man need the grace of serenity to rediscover his own or is it frivolity and seduction he craves when he has been through the darkest places of war? Michael’s experiences in the trenches gradually alter his perceptions.

 

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The Woolworths Girls – Elaine Everest

Can romance blossom in times of trouble?

It’s 1938 and as the threat of war hangs over the country, Sarah Caselton is preparing for her new job at Woolworths. Before long, she forms a tight bond with two of her colleagues: the glamorous Maisie and shy Freda. The trio couldn’t be more different, but they immediately form a close-knit friendship, sharing their hopes and dreams for the future. Sarah soon falls into the rhythm of her new position, enjoying the social events hosted by Woolies and her blossoming romance with assistant manager, Alan. But with the threat of war clouding the horizon, the young men and women of Woolworths realize that there are bigger battles ahead. It’s a dangerous time for the nation, and an even more perilous time to fall in love … 

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Watch out every month for the next featured selection of great covers, and don’t forget, if you read and book and love it, post a review and make an author very happy.


And the not so small print: the judge’s decision is final (that would be me!)
and is highly subjective!

The Unfortunate Career of Henry Edgar, Cat Burglar (1811-?)

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Set of Victorian Skeleton Keys

London born Henry Edgar, had the dubious honour of earning the nickname, in police circles, of ‘Edgar the Escaper’. Unfortunately, no photograph exists, but he was described by the police as five feet seven, of fair complexion with large features, brown hair and a gentlemanly appearance. Not being a particularly successful thief, he did become famous for being difficult to hold; he was often caught but somehow always managed to escape.

His most famous escapade was in September 1850. Henry, along with a gentleman by the name of Edward Blackwell planned to rob a furrier’s on Regent Street. On the nigh[image error]t in question, the two cracksmen, along with a look-out went to a public house, situated behind the furriers. The two men pretended to use the lavatory, located in the back yard and did not return inside, but hid and waited for the all-clear from their look-out that the public house had closed. For some reason the look-out got cold-feet and scarpered. The two men, impatient to get on with the job, decided to go ahead anyway. They went up a fire-escape and from there were able to step onto the parapet of the furrier’s house at the corner of Regent Street.

They planned to gain access to the house by removing panes of glass in a window but unbeknownst to them, a servant saw them at work and raised the alarm. The master of the house, raced up the stairs, armed with a pistol and challenged the men. Blackwell took fright and plunged to his death, three floors down. Henry, desperate to escape, made his way along to the next house and gained entry. Unfortunately for Henry, the occupants awoke startled and screamed. He decided to take his chances and jumped from the second floor window. Some passerbys alerted the police, and incapacitated by the fall, he was arrested and taken to Vine Street Station in a police van, along with his accomplice’s dead body.

[image error]There are two versions for what happened next so I am going with the one which appeals to me most!

Somehow, Henry managed to change places with his dead friend and ended up being taken to the police mortuary in a body bag. From there he is reputed to have escaped back to Corbett’s Place, Spitalfields where he lay low in a safe house.

However, a week later he was back to his old tricks and once again he attempted a break-in in Regent Street. This time, he was armed. The alarm was raised and Henry was ambushed by the police. He attempted to shoot his way out but his pistol would not fire and poor Henry was arrested again.

This was the end of his criminal career as the police ensured that he was brought to trial. Henry’s sentence was transportation, I assume to Australia. Sadly, no further trace of him has come to light.

But I like to think he might have pulled off one final escape …

Update: Thanks to David Gilchrist – We found his ship – Henry Edgar, one of 280 convicts transported on the Ramillies, 25 April 1854.

A Conversation with Author Meghan Holloway

[image error]Today in the Library we have Meghan Holloway, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author.

You are very welcome, Meghan, please introduce yourself:

“My dearest darling …” That was how my grandfather began all of his letters to my grandmother while he was stationed in Okinawa in World War II. I never knew my grandfather, but I’ve poured over his letters. I used to draw lines up the back of my legs, just as my grandmother had as a young woman whose nylons had been donated to make parachutes, and I’ve endlessly pestered my paternal grandfather for stories of his childhood and service. The worn letters and patiently-told stories cemented my interest in history, especially in the WWII era.

I found my first Nancy Drew mystery in a sun-dappled attic at a friend’s house and subsequently fell in love with the grip and tautness of a well-told mystery. I flew an airplane before I learned how to drive a car, did my undergrad work in a crumbling once-all girls school in the sweltering south, spent a summer and fall in Maine picking peaches and apples, finished my graduate work in an all-girls school in the blustery north, and traveled the world for a few years. Now I’m settled down in the foothills of the Appalachians, writing my third and fourth novels, and hanging out with my standard poodle.

Did you read much as a child? Are you an avid reader now? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

Some of my earliest memories are of reading. Learning how to read wasn’t difficult for me, and I remember the wonder of those first days of reading. I’ve always felt that there is a magic to the written word and a brilliant enchantment to reading:  I was able to breach time and continents and worlds in books. I’ve carried that love with me into adulthood, and reading is still one of my favorite pastimes. I’m an eclectic reader; I don’t stick with a single genre. I will say, though, that even though my current work in progress is set in World War II, much of the literature I read about the era is nonfiction rather than fiction.

Are you self-published or traditionally published?

I have two novels out under a pseudonym that were traditionally published, and I imagine I will follow the same course with my work in progress.

Which genre do you write in and why?

I began my writing career in the romantic suspense genre. I cut my reading teeth on Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, the Hardy Boys, and the Bobbsey Twins, so I have long thought mysteries to be a great tool for exploring human nature and psyche. Adding that additional layer of emotion with the romantic element grew naturally from the stories.

Historical fiction has long been my passion, though, and my current work in progress, as well as the stories I have lined up next, all fall within the genre. I’ve always loved studying history, but many history tomes are dry, dusty reads that give no glimpse of the humanity involved in the events of the past. They tell the facts but not the story. And there is always a story. Historical fiction allows both the author and the reader to step through time and become engrossed in the stories of different eras.

Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?

I’ve always loved C.S. Lewis’s words from An Experiment in Criticism:

“But in reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself. Like the night sky in the Greek poem, I see with a myriad eyes, but it is still I who see. Here, as in worship, in love, in moral action, and in knowing, I transcend myself; and am never more myself than when I do.”

Since reading that passage years ago, I’ve kept that kernel of truth in mind both as a reader and a writer, so in that regard, C.S. Lewis has influenced my writing.

Mary Stewart has probably been the biggest influence on my writing, though. I came across her books at a young age, and she has always been one of my favorite authors. She was a pioneer in her genre, and her work was both erudite and vivid: the detailed settings, the classic heroines, the subtlety of the romance, and the suspense. I wrote her a letter about ten years ago and received a beautiful handwritten response that I still have framed.

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

I think our roots always influence us. Our countries and cultures help shape our worldviews, which influences the way we think, the values we hold, the stories we want to hear and want to tell.

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

For me, the most difficult aspect of writing is getting that first draft on paper. It’s not really an issue of writer’s block or a fickle muse, but more of an issue of research and being a perfectionist. I don’t like to start writing in a period until I feel like I have accumulated all possible knowledge of an era, which of course isn’t entirely possible. I have to remind myself that even the experts don’t know everything about everything. I overcome it by setting pen to paper—I always write in longhand—and making notes to myself as I go along about what I feel needs more research.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

I don’t think I do have a favorite time of day to write. I can write anywhere and anytime, as long as it’s quiet. 

What is the best thing about being an author? And the flipside – what is the worst?

I think the best and worst aspects of being an author are two sides of the same coin. On the one side, you’re able to make all of these connections with fellow authors, bloggers, readers, and researchers. It’s a profession in which the world is connected through the pages one writes. But on the other side, the craft itself is a solitary labor. A labor of love, but an isolating one, and I think most authors feel that dual nature of connectivity and loneliness.

Is social media an essential chore or something you enjoy? Which forum do you prefer?

I’ve come to think of social media—my preference is Facebook—as an enjoyable tool. It’s very much a marketing tool that can be used very effectively to connect with fellow authors and readers, and those connections are what make the tool so enjoyable.

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

My graduate work was in library and information science, so when I’m not behind my desk, I’m quite at home in a library, archive, or museum. I love storehouses of knowledge and have always gravitated toward such work. I interned at a nature and science museum while working on my masters, and it was there that I fell in love with paleontology. I would take my lunch breaks in the bone room while working there, so if I weren’t writing, weren’t working in the field I’m in now, I believe I’d enjoy spending my days caring for the bones of creatures long since gone from earth.

It’s the last day and the earth is facing oblivion – what book would you read?

I’d read a book on how to stop the coming oblivion. My reading and writing list is too long for the world to end.

Please tell us what you are working on at the moment.           

My current work in progress is about a Welsh sheep farmer who is a veteran of World War One and whose son is a conscientious objector in WWII. After the Somme, my protagonist swore he would never set foot in France again, but after almost three decades, he’s forced to renege on that vow to save the son he thought lost to him.

 If you would like to know more about Meghan and her work, please click on the social media links below:

 Facebook          Twitter             Website

If you are interested in Meghan’s books, please click on the image below:

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A Conversation with Author Fiona Cooke Hogan

Today I am pleased to introduce my guest, fellow Irish multi-genre author­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­, Fiona Cooke Hogan, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author.

You are very welcome, Fiona, please introduce yourself.

[image error]Hello, I’m delighted to be here. I’m a writer, poet and blogger living in Abbeyleix, a quaint little town in the midlands of Ireland. I have been writing since a child and self-published my first collection of short stories in October 2015.  

Did you read much as a child? Are you an avid reader now? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

Books were a huge part of my childhood and for years I dreamed of owning a bookshop and I fancied the idea of scribbling away whilst selling and reading the works of others. It may still come to pass. I hoard books and re-read my favourites at least once a year. With eclectic tastes – I devour the classics, crime, supernatural, horror, young adult, faerie tales and sci-fi. My favourites being of the gothic genre.

Are you self-published or traditionally published?

I have self-published a book of short stories on Amazon along with two novellas. I am presently looking for an agent for my current novel – Martha’s Cottage. I’m interested in seeing how the process differs from self-publishing.

Which genre do you write in and why?

This question really ties my answer with the next one. I’m greedy, I can’t choose. My short stories are mixed genre – going from romantic comedy, supernatural and horror to humorous contemporary tales and my first novel is romantic comedy. My work in progress is a psychological thriller. But my favourite genre has got to be gothic horror.

Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?

I grew up on Stoker, Le Fanu, Lovecraft and Poe. I also devoured the Brontes, Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy; where the period they were written and the setting were as much characters as the protagonists. My stories often have a strangeness, a fey quality and a twist in the tale.

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

I was born in England but moved with my family when I was a child. We lived in George Eliot country and I was dragged around ancient ruins and roman roads from a young age so I have a yearning for the past. I also lived in London for a time and my experiences have definitely coloured my tales. But living in Ireland as long as I have, and considering myself Irish, I’m told that my work is nuanced and has an Irish flavour.

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

It used to be not recognising the fact that I had to write constantly, that it was a need. I spent years dreaming of writing but not doing much in the way of creating, apart from the odd poem or story. Belief in oneself and one’s abilities is a large obstacle in the way of the writer. Overcome that and you can do anything.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

Not particularly. Morning is good when the children are in school but I often write into the early hours.

What is the best thing about being an author? And the flipside – what is the worst?

The best thing is seeing your work in the hands of someone else, getting great feedback and reviews. Most of all knowing that you are doing what you were born to do and not hiding behind your dreams. It took me all my life to come to this point.

The worst thing is how I feel if I’m not writing, like I haven’t finished my homework. It nags and nags and I actually feel quite depressed if I don’t put something down. Completing a chapter is actually a huge buzz.

Is social media an essential chore or something you enjoy? Which forum do you prefer?

It can be a pain, definitely, the “having to” aspect of promotion. I’d rather spend the time online interacting with other authors, to be honest. The support I have found online is unbelievable. I love twitter, it’s such a great promotional tool.

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

In my youth I fancied the idea of being a torch singer – I even went so far as to advertise for back up musicians then bottled it at the last minute. I have the voice but suffer from nerves. However now that I’m learning guitar maybe I could use it to hide behind.

It’s the last day and the earth is facing oblivion – what book would you read?

Easy, The Lord of The Rings by JRR Tolkien.

Please tell us what you are working on and your latest published work.

I am currently working on a psychological thriller/horror set in The South Downs, England that moves between the present and the late Victorian period. I’m two thirds of the way through the first rough draft and it is I have to say, putting up a good fight.

My other work includes: (Click on the image for Amazon)

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If you would like to know more about Fiona and her work check out her links below:

Twitter:    @cookehogan

Blog http://www.unusualfiction.wordpress.com

And her author page http://www.facebook.com/theHazelHedge

 

 

A Conversation with Author Rowan Scot-Ryder

Today in the Library we have ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Rowan Scot-Ryder, who has dropped in to say hello and to share some insights into her life as an author.

You are very welcome, Rowan, please introduce yourself:

[image error]Hi and thanks for inviting me here. I’m a full-time writer now, but I swim and paint, and sometimes still teach creative writing. I’ve lived and worked all over Britain from the north of Scotland down to the South-East, just outside London, as a nurse, a freelance journalist, and a teacher. I also worked for some years as a guest lecturer on board cruise ships, teaching watercolour painting.

Which genre do you write in and why?

I write fantasy, with as solid a historical base as I can. For me, the world is endlessly fascinating, but its depth lies in being more than simply factual and material.

I was brought up to explore and question, and I’m sure that we are more than the sum of our parts. Perhaps the hidden and unexplained can lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves in the world.

Did you read much as a child? Are you an avid reader now? Do you prefer books in your own genre or are you happy to explore others?

I have always been an avid reader. I think reading is key in developing our own writing. If a book can take me somewhere else and make the characters live for me, I want to examine why, and explore the skill of good writing. But if something annoys me, it loses me as a reader – and I keep a mental list of ‘don’ts’ that will alienate others.

My own genre has so many pitfalls. I love good fantasy, but some books just rely on fanciful names and sword-wielding maidens. That doesn’t work for me. I prefer my fantasy to have believable, well-researched settings and characters that I can relate to.

Good crime, thrillers and science fiction are also on my weekly reading list.

Are you self-published or traditionally published?

I’m traditionally published. I’m sure I would have self-published if I had not been lucky enough to find my publisher, Rebecca, because we all need to find an outlet eventually. A good editor helps to weed out the mistakes that we make, refines our skills and improves our writing.

My early articles and short stories were published in various magazines and sometimes won small prizes. They were all part of a progression and the learning curve. One or two developed into much longer work.

Who has been the biggest influence on your writing?

That’s a difficult question! We are influenced by so many people, at different times. I don’t think that biggest influences are always other authors. I love Jodie Taylor, but don’t try to copy her. Orson Scott Card has never disappointed me, and yet many great writers have, at some time.

Certainly I had teachers at school who helped me to grow, and I loved to listen to older people’s stories when I was a nurse.

My grandparents were really my greatest influences, in different ways. My family and their personal history made me very curious about perceptions and motivations. My grandmother was very much a woman who understood and respected the earth. Like others in my family, she read the cards and saw spirits. My grandfather, a sailor, not only gave me a wealth of tales, but also explored them with me. We used to play a game of story-telling but the point was always to make sure that every single fact supported the others, wasn’t superfluous and didn’t contradict.

Has your country of origin/culture influenced your writing?

Very much so. I feel a deep affinity with my ancestry and the stories that formed my childhood. Place has its own spirit and character, which is more than just description. To know and love a place means that we do not need to list its features. To think of a place as a character allows it to speak and act upon the characters.

What part of the writing process do you find most difficult? How do you overcome it?

I always know what the story is about, and usually know the end. Because my original discipline is the short story – where we always work towards the end – the ending is vital.

But how does the story unfold, without tripping up or contradicting itself? I find that characters have their own strengths and determine what they want to say and do. They can’t be forced to act against their nature. So one challenge is to ensure character and plot validity.

Beginnings are just that – places to begin. The first beginning I write is rarely the one finally used. It’s a place to start, and better beginnings develop as the story unfolds.

Do you have a favourite time of day to write?

I would love to be a morning writer, but the trouble is that I want to do everything else in the morning too! Evenings, when I can sit back and relax, are my most productive time.

What is the best thing about being an author? And the flipside – what is the worst?

The best thing is living the way I’ve always wanted to. I can’ t think of a really bad side.

Feelings change. Before I had a full-length novel published, one book was all I wanted, although I had twenty years of successful short stories. After one book published, succeeding again was a worry. And so on. But worry is counter-productive and something to be ignored.

Is social media an essential chore or something you enjoy? Which forum do you prefer?

Facebook is a way of speaking to friends. Writing is solitary, and authors need other people. Sadly, the world has become ugly in so many ways, lately, and  now Facebook reflects that. I don’t believe that authors should never post anything political or controversial. My own view of writing is that it allows us to see ourselves in relation to the world. Facebook has many faults, but it is part of our world.

If you weren’t an author, what would you be up to?

I enjoyed all the jobs I’ve had. But I would probably paint!

It’s the last day and the earth is facing oblivion – what book would you read?

I might not read at all. A novel (however loved) might be something I could not finish in a limited time. The sky is always good to watch.

A big coffee table book of Van Gogh prints would meet my needs on the last day. Or an old book of Quaker anecdotes. Or my ancient copy of ‘the Water Babies’.

But equally, I could paint, and I might even write.

– After all, the story of the day doesn’t necessarily end as we expect!

Please tell us about your latest published work.

[image error]Earlier this year my novel Daughter of Pendle was published.

Known for centuries as the child of witches, Jennet Devize spoke against her whole family at the Lancaster Assizes in 1612, condemning them all to death. What was the truth behind her betrayal? What happened after the trials? Could she build a life and be loved, become a mother and a healer, or would the accusation of witchcraft follow her forever?

Jennet’s story is close to my heart. It is one I grew up with. But my own fascination with Jennet does not end in 1612. Twenty years later, she was again among those accused of witchcraft, and ‘Daughter of Pendle’ follows her there.  I am now working hard on a sequel. Daughter of Pendle is available on Amazon.

If you would like to know more about Rowan and her work please check out the links below:

www.rowanscot-ryder.com        Facebook

 

The Bowes Inheritance

Of Quills & Vellum

A lovely amalgamation of suspense and Victorian romance, Pam Lecky’s The Bowes Inheritance begins with a gentle, Austenian air and soon turns much darker. Lecky brings the late nineteenth century to life on the page in an atmospheric tale filled with memorable characters and unexpected plot twists. Filled with humor, cultural conflicts, heart, and poignancy, The Bowes Inheritance is an engaging read and a brilliant debut.

Dublin 1882: When determined but impoverished Louisa Campbell inherits a large estate in the north of England, from an uncle she didn’t even know existed, it appears to be the answer to her prayers. Her younger sister, Eleanor, is gravely ill, and believing that the country air will benefit her, they decide to take up residence at Bowes Farm, situated on the Cumberland coast. 

However, they soon realise that all they have inherited is trouble. Their uncle had managed to alienate almost everyone in the…

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Madame Tussaud

Before the famous exhibition in London, Madame Tussaud had a thriving business in Dublin …
Her Early Life
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Marie aged 42

Marie Tussaud was born in Strasbourg, France, on 1st December 1761. Her father, a German soldier named Joseph Grosholtz, died two months before she was born as a result of horrific injuries he sustained in the Seven Years War. When she was six, her mother, Annie-Marie Walder, took her to Bern. Annie-Marie took up a position as housekeeper to a local doctor, Philippe Curtius who was skilled in wax modeling. He used the models to illustrate anatomy but later for portraiture.

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Philippe Curtius

He moved to Paris in 1765 and established a Cabinet de Portraits En Cire. A year later, Marie and her mother joined him. Curtius’s work was acclaimed and he soon opened a second exhibition which was a precursor to Tussaud’s Chamber of Horrors on Boulevard du Temple. Marie was eager to learn the art and Curtius was delighted when she showed a talent for the technique. In 1777, she created her first wax figure, that of Voltaire.

Revolution

[image error]For the nine years prior to the French Revolution in 1789, Marie served as art tutor at Versailles to Louis XVI’s sister, Madame Élisabeth. As a result, during the Reign of Terror, she was seen as a royal sympathizer. She was arrested and imprisoned in LaForce prison with aristocrats and other people associated with the regime. Here she shared a cell with the future Empress Josephine (Napoleon Bonaparte’s wife). Her head was even shaved in preparation for her execution but she was released thanks to Collot d’Herbois’, a French actor and revolutionary and friend of Curtius. Marie was then employed to make death masks of the revolution’s famous victims, including Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Marat, and Robespierre. Marie, in her memoir, claimed she searched through the bodies of the dead to collect the most famous heads she could find. 

When Curtius died in 1794, he left his collection of wax works to Marie. A year later, she married a civil engineer by the name of François Tussaud. They had two sons, Joseph and François, and a daughter who died after birth. The marriage was not a success and Marie never saw him again after 1802, when she took the boys and her waxworks across the English Channel and began years of successful touring.

Marie Settles in Dublin

In February 1804, after a successful tour in Scotland, Marie and her son Joseph set sail for Dublin and took up lodgings at 16 Clarendon Street. She went on to establish an exhibition at Shakespeare’s Gallery in Exchequer Street and enjoyed some success. In a letter to her family in Paris she wrote:

“… everything is going well. When I am in Dublin the takings can reach £100 sterling a month.  People come in crowds every day from 6 o’clock until 10 o’clock.”

She remained in Dublin until the spring of 1805, when she began touring again, visiting all the major towns in Ireland. In July 1808 she returned to Scotland. Marie made plans to return to Dublin in 1821 to coincide with a visit to Ireland by King George IV. But her ship, The Earl of Moira, was wrecked and although she and her companions were rescued, many of her precious wax exhibits were lost. Sadly, she never returned to Ireland.

Baker Street, London

[image error]In 1835, after 33 years of touring Britain and Ireland, she established her first permanent exhibition in Baker Street, on the upper floor of the Baker Street Bazaar. The exhibition continued to grow as Marie added models of English murderers and body snatchers to her collection. Punch Magazine christened it a “Chamber of Horrors”

Having survived the French Revolution and several ship wrecks, Marie died in her sleep in London on the 16th April 1850, at the ripe old age of 88. She was buried in the Catholic chapel in the Fulham Road, where many French exiles had gone before her but her coffin was subsequently moved to St Mary’s in Cadogan Street, where a plaque commemorates her last resting place. 

In 1884, her grandsons moved the exhibition to its current site on Marylebone Road. It was largely destroyed by fire, and rebuilt in the 1920s, and today it features models of sports personalities, musicians, film stars, royalty and statesmen from around the world.