Paula R.C. Readman's Blog, page 61

No Christmas Newsletter

Normally during the last week in November I make a Christmas newsletter to send out with my cards, but not this year. The reason being I couldn’t find the template I use on my computer. This was frustrating for two reasons. One, I had set myself a deadline I’m trying hard to keep so I didn’t have the mindset to start from scratch and create a new newsletter template. Two, after years of telling friends and family who are not on social media about my near misses as far as publishing goes, I had amazing news to share with them about three books I had published this year. So instead I just wrote out a bunch of cards and sent them off.

This morning as I was cleaning and polishing my walking boots, I received a FB message from my friend Ana to say she wasn’t walking so I sorted out my two cats, prepared the dinner for this evening, uploading and posted today’s chat and had my breakfast. I was just settling down to start work when I received a knock at my front door. A man from the electricity board wanted access to my garden. As we have a sub-power station in our garden he is a regular visitor once a year. He asked how I was getting on with my writing. I explained that I had three books published this year. He said after he had sorted out the job he needed to do, he would give me a knock to get the details.

So I dash upstairs and began to write down the details cursing that I didn’t have any printed cards. I took an gamble and switched on my printer. Hunted for my file and couldn’t find it. I did a main search on my computer and found an old one, but I was certain I had redesigned a new one with all of my recently published books on. I tried another search and found not only the updated business cards but my newsletter too. Too late for this year, but hopefully next year I’ll have lots more to tell.

I hastily printed off one of the business cards and took it down to the gentleman who has promised me he would not only buy Stone Angels but leave a review too. So now I have printed up some cards ready to hand out. Next week, after a year of not going to my dentist because of Covid they phoned me yesterday to make appointment. Again I was asked about my writing. I shall take along a copy of my book and my newly printed cards.

No Christmas Newsletter

Normally during the last week in November I make a Christmas newsletter to send out with my cards, but not this year. The reason being I couldn’t find the template I use on my computer. This was frustrating for two reasons. One, I had set myself a deadline I’m trying hard to keep so I didn’t have the mindset to start from scratch and create a new newsletter template. Two, after years of telling friends and family who are not on social media about my near misses as far as publishing goes, I had amazing news to share with them about three books I had published this year. So instead I just wrote out a bunch of cards and sent them off.

This morning as I was cleaning and polishing my walking boots, I received a FB message from my friend Ana to say she wasn’t walking so I sorted out my two cats, prepared the dinner for this evening, uploading and posted today’s chat and had my breakfast. I was just settling down to start work when I received a knock at my front door. A man from the electricity board wanted access to my garden. As we have a sub-power station in our garden he is a regular visitor once a year. He asked how I was getting on with my writing. I explained that I had three books published this year. He said after he had sorted out the job he needed to do, he would give me a knock to get the details.

So I dash upstairs and began to write down the details cursing that I didn’t have any printed cards. I took an gamble and switched on my printer. Hunted for my file and couldn’t find it. I did a main search on my computer and found an old one, but I was certain I had redesigned a new one with all of my recently published books on. I tried another search and found not only the updated business cards but my newsletter too. Too late for this year, but hopefully next year I’ll have lots more to tell.

I hastily printed off one of the business cards and took it down to the gentleman who has promised me he would not only buy Stone Angels but leave a review too. So now I have printed up some cards ready to hand out. Next week, after a year of not going to my dentist because of Covid they phoned me yesterday to make appointment. Again I was asked about my writing. I shall take along a copy of my book and my newly printed cards.

No Christmas Newsletter

Normally during the last week in November I make a Christmas newsletter to send out with my cards, but not this year. The reason being I couldn’t find the template I use on my computer. This was frustrating for two reasons. One, I had set myself a deadline I’m trying hard to keep so I didn’t have the mindset to start from scratch and create a new newsletter template. Two, after years of telling friends and family who are not on social media about my near misses as far as publishing goes, I had amazing news to share with them about three books I had published this year. So instead I just wrote out a bunch of cards and sent them off.

This morning as I was cleaning and polishing my walking boots, I received a FB message from my friend Ana to say she wasn’t walking so I sorted out my two cats, prepared the dinner for this evening, uploading and posted today’s chat and had my breakfast. I was just settling down to start work when I received a knock at my front door. A man from the electricity board wanted access to my garden. As we have a sub-power station in our garden he is a regular visitor once a year. He asked how I was getting on with my writing. I explained that I had three books published this year. He said after he had sorted out the job he needed to do, he would give me a knock to get the details.

So I dash upstairs and began to write down the details cursing that I didn’t have any printed cards. I took an gamble and switched on my printer. Hunted for my file and couldn’t find it. I did a main search on my computer and found an old one, but I was certain I had redesigned a new one with all of my recently published books on. I tried another search and found not only the updated business cards but my newsletter too. Too late for this year, but hopefully next year I’ll have lots more to tell.

I hastily printed off one of the business cards and took it down to the gentleman who has promised me he would not only buy Stone Angels but leave a review too. So now I have printed up some cards ready to hand out. Next week, after a year of not going to my dentist because of Covid they phoned me yesterday to make appointment. Again I was asked about my writing. I shall take along a copy of my book and my newly printed cards.

No Christmas Newsletter

Normally during the last week in November I make a Christmas newsletter to send out with my cards, but not this year. The reason being I couldn’t find the template I use on my computer. This was frustrating for two reasons. One, I had set myself a deadline I’m trying hard to keep so I didn’t have the mindset to start from scratch and create a new newsletter template. Two, after years of telling friends and family who are not on social media about my near misses as far as publishing goes, I had amazing news to share with them about three books I had published this year. So instead I just wrote out a bunch of cards and sent them off.

This morning as I was cleaning and polishing my walking boots, I received a FB message from my friend Ana to say she wasn’t walking so I sorted out my two cats, prepared the dinner for this evening, uploading and posted today’s chat and had my breakfast. I was just settling down to start work when I received a knock at my front door. A man from the electricity board wanted access to my garden. As we have a sub-power station in our garden he is a regular visitor once a year. He asked how I was getting on with my writing. I explained that I had three books published this year. He said after he had sorted out the job he needed to do, he would give me a knock to get the details.

So I dash upstairs and began to write down the details cursing that I didn’t have any printed cards. I took an gamble and switched on my printer. Hunted for my file and couldn’t find it. I did a main search on my computer and found an old one, but I was certain I had redesigned a new one with all of my recently published books on. I tried another search and found not only the updated business cards but my newsletter too. Too late for this year, but hopefully next year I’ll have lots more to tell.

I hastily printed off one of the business cards and took it down to the gentleman who has promised me he would not only buy Stone Angels but leave a review too. So now I have printed up some cards ready to hand out. Next week, after a year of not going to my dentist because of Covid they phoned me yesterday to make appointment. Again I was asked about my writing. I shall take along a copy of my book and my newly printed cards.

No Christmas Newsletter

Normally during the last week in November I make a Christmas newsletter to send out with my cards, but not this year. The reason being I couldn’t find the template I use on my computer. This was frustrating for two reasons. One, I had set myself a deadline I’m trying hard to keep so I didn’t have the mindset to start from scratch and create a new newsletter template. Two, after years of telling friends and family who are not on social media about my near misses as far as publishing goes, I had amazing news to share with them about three books I had published this year. So instead I just wrote out a bunch of cards and sent them off.

This morning as I was cleaning and polishing my walking boots, I received a FB message from my friend Ana to say she wasn’t walking so I sorted out my two cats, prepared the dinner for this evening, uploading and posted today’s chat and had my breakfast. I was just settling down to start work when I received a knock at my front door. A man from the electricity board wanted access to my garden. As we have a sub-power station in our garden he is a regular visitor once a year. He asked how I was getting on with my writing. I explained that I had three books published this year. He said after he had sorted out the job he needed to do, he would give me a knock to get the details.

So I dash upstairs and began to write down the details cursing that I didn’t have any printed cards. I took an gamble and switched on my printer. Hunted for my file and couldn’t find it. I did a main search on my computer and found an old one, but I was certain I had redesigned a new one with all of my recently published books on. I tried another search and found not only the updated business cards but my newsletter too. Too late for this year, but hopefully next year I’ll have lots more to tell.

I hastily printed off one of the business cards and took it down to the gentleman who has promised me he would not only buy Stone Angels but leave a review too. So now I have printed up some cards ready to hand out. Next week, after a year of not going to my dentist because of Covid they phoned me yesterday to make appointment. Again I was asked about my writing. I shall take along a copy of my book and my newly printed cards.

No Christmas Newsletter

Normally during the last week in November I make a Christmas newsletter to send out with my cards, but not this year. The reason being I couldn’t find the template I use on my computer. This was frustrating for two reasons. One, I had set myself a deadline I’m trying hard to keep so I didn’t have the mindset to start from scratch and create a new newsletter template. Two, after years of telling friends and family who are not on social media about my near misses as far as publishing goes, I had amazing news to share with them about three books I had published this year. So instead I just wrote out a bunch of cards and sent them off.

This morning as I was cleaning and polishing my walking boots, I received a FB message from my friend Ana to say she wasn’t walking so I sorted out my two cats, prepared the dinner for this evening, uploading and posted today’s chat and had my breakfast. I was just settling down to start work when I received a knock at my front door. A man from the electricity board wanted access to my garden. As we have a sub-power station in our garden he is a regular visitor once a year. He asked how I was getting on with my writing. I explained that I had three books published this year. He said after he had sorted out the job he needed to do, he would give me a knock to get the details.

So I dash upstairs and began to write down the details cursing that I didn’t have any printed cards. I took an gamble and switched on my printer. Hunted for my file and couldn’t find it. I did a main search on my computer and found an old one, but I was certain I had redesigned a new one with all of my recently published books on. I tried another search and found not only the updated business cards but my newsletter too. Too late for this year, but hopefully next year I’ll have lots more to tell.

I hastily printed off one of the business cards and took it down to the gentleman who has promised me he would not only buy Stone Angels but leave a review too. So now I have printed up some cards ready to hand out. Next week, after a year of not going to my dentist because of Covid they phoned me yesterday to make appointment. Again I was asked about my writing. I shall take along a copy of my book and my newly printed cards.

No Christmas Newsletter

Normally during the last week in November I make a Christmas newsletter to send out with my cards, but not this year. The reason being I couldn’t find the template I use on my computer. This was frustrating for two reasons. One, I had set myself a deadline I’m trying hard to keep so I didn’t have the mindset to start from scratch and create a new newsletter template. Two, after years of telling friends and family who are not on social media about my near misses as far as publishing goes, I had amazing news to share with them about three books I had published this year. So instead I just wrote out a bunch of cards and sent them off.

This morning as I was cleaning and polishing my walking boots, I received a FB message from my friend Ana to say she wasn’t walking so I sorted out my two cats, prepared the dinner for this evening, uploading and posted today’s chat and had my breakfast. I was just settling down to start work when I received a knock at my front door. A man from the electricity board wanted access to my garden. As we have a sub-power station in our garden he is a regular visitor once a year. He asked how I was getting on with my writing. I explained that I had three books published this year. He said after he had sorted out the job he needed to do, he would give me a knock to get the details.

So I dash upstairs and began to write down the details cursing that I didn’t have any printed cards. I took an gamble and switched on my printer. Hunted for my file and couldn’t find it. I did a main search on my computer and found an old one, but I was certain I had redesigned a new one with all of my recently published books on. I tried another search and found not only the updated business cards but my newsletter too. Too late for this year, but hopefully next year I’ll have lots more to tell.

I hastily printed off one of the business cards and took it down to the gentleman who has promised me he would not only buy Stone Angels but leave a review too. So now I have printed up some cards ready to hand out. Next week, after a year of not going to my dentist because of Covid they phoned me yesterday to make appointment. Again I was asked about my writing. I shall take along a copy of my book and my newly printed cards.

Book Launch Chat: Stephanie Ellis and Alyson Faye

Welcome to Clubhouse Chat page. Those of you who are not a member won’t be aware that the location of the Clubhouse is shrouded in mystery. The only way to visit it is via membership or an invite to the tearoom. Every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation with all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers. Over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, I shall be chatting with my guest about their work in progress, or latest book release.

Today we are here to celebrate the launch of Inferno edited by Stephanie Ellis and Alyson Faye

Now you’re ready to answer my questions, Stephanie and Alyson let me start by asking you did you try to be more original when writing this book, or deliver what you felt the readers wanted?

Inferno was Stephanie Ellis’ idea – to create a horror anthology, with a diverse range of indie horror writers contributing, to join and complete the previous anthologies she and David Shakes had published under their imprint, The Infernal Clock. (DeadCades, CalenDark and The Infernal Clock). I came on board as co-editor and contributing author, when David Shakes’ other commitments meant he had to step down.

Dante’s massive fourteenth epic poem, Inferno, is a rich source of inspiration, so we simply offered the invited authors, to pick the circle of hell they’d like to write about.

Fights broke out about over some of the circles –  well – a bit of pushing and shoving, but in the end every circle is represented in the anthology and no one was injured in the scrum.

We posted, online, a call-out for POC and LGBQT writers to submit, as we wanted todraw in as wide and diverse a Table of Contents as possible, representing the voices of the horror community.

Did you feel energised or exhausted after writing this book?

Exhausted! Yes, this was a demanding project. I had to write my own story (Circle 3 – Gluttony) and then as the  stories came in, we obviously read them all and then me and Steph edited them, then blended our  two sets of edits, as well as getting back to the writers about the edits. So yes, a lot of work, as we were working with twenty or so writers. There was the final final proofread with the paperback too, which threw up typos and Steph designed the stunning cover herself.

You’ve got to love what you do really, and fortunately we both do, well- most of the time!

Do you want each of your books to stand alone, or are you building a body of work that are interconnected? Whether that be a theme, a set of characters, a setting, etc. Explain more for our readers.

This is the final book from the imprint of The Infernal Clock (https://infernalclock.blogspot.com/) I believe, as Steph and I are moving on to set up our own horror indie press, Black Angel, to launch in early 2021.

We already have put out Shadow Bound : A Gothic Quartet as the first publication for Black Angel and we are working on the next one, Daughters of Darkness, due out in Women in Horror month, February 2021. So whilst we will continue to have separate projects and publications (Steph has Bottled and FiveTurns of the Wheel out with Silver Shamrock), we will continue to collaborate together as writers/editors.

Stephanie Ellis

How do you balance your demands on the reader with taking care of your readers? In the book did you spell everything out so your reader just had to read it, or did you rely on their emotional response to your words?

Inferno is a horror anthology and as such does have ‘adult’ material in it, both in terms of sex and disturbing scenes. It’s not a children’s book. Some of the writers allude more explicitly to the scenes of violence, gore, and horror, whilst others, like me and Steph and say, Lionel Ray Green, skirt around the edges, implying. We all have different styles. But I wouldn’t say there is anything particulary gross-out in this anthology either.

Some of the stories will resonate with readers more than others, but that’s the nature of anthologies.  But we hope, and believe, having read these stories, that there is something here for everyone’s tastes.

Do you hope your book will deliver you literary success and how will this look to you?

I think both Steph and I hope this collaboration will get us a few reviews, honourable mentions, good buzz in the indie horror community and raise our profile a bit more and also that our writing peers and our readers will come to associate our books with professional quality work, both in the content and the presentation (i.e. editing/proofreading and covers).

Alyson Faye

Was there anything you edited out of this book, you wanted to keep in, but you knew it would be a better book by cutting it?

Some of the stories submitted, didn’t unfortunately, make the final cut, and of the stories we accepted most, not all, but most of the writers were asked to do a certain amount of rewrites or at least tweaking. There are very few 100% polished finished pieces that land on the desk ready to fly. I always do quite a lot of rewriting on my own work anyway before I consider it done as does Steph.

How long did you spend researching this book’s subject matter, or was it a book you had already planned?

As I mentioned earlier the theme of the anthology was Steph’s idea and really it’s been her baby – but for my own story, with the sin of Gluttony – MaXXed Out, which stars a hugely popular TV comedian who is also hugely obese and has base appetites, my ‘research’ drew on watching TV 1970’s comedy shows and I’d already read a few ‘behind the cameras’ biographies, but for the horror part of the story, that was all my weird imagination.

What was the hardest scene to write in the book?

The hardest part of the project really was editing the writers’ work and asking them, sometimes, to let an idea or scene go and then be rewritten. Or having to tell a writer that, on this occasion, their story wasn’t what we were looking for.

How will you cope with bad reviews on this book?

Me and Steph have been at this writing game for a few years now, and have got used to all sorts being said on blogs/twitter/reviews – though I guess there is always a chance to be surprised, let’s hope pleasantly – but we are pretty confident we have a quality anthology here. As long as bad reviews are fair and polite, and not just hatchet jobs for no reason, well they are part of the game. There are readers/bloggers who are not going to like some of the stories or even perhaps the whole concept – it’s personal choice.

What’s the one thing you would give up to become a better writer?

As a horror writer, would I make a deal with Faust, give away my soul for literary success and riches?

In truth I am very happy with were I am now as a writer/editor, and it’s so much more than I thought I’d reach a few years ago when I started out (on my second go round at the writing biz).

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56033799-inferno?

Alyson Faye – @AlysonFaye2

Stephanie Ellis  -@el_stevie

If you want to find out more about Clubhouse Member’s Books don’t forget to check out the Clubhouse Bookshops too.

When is an award not award?

This writing business is full of dead ends, money pits, and misleading traps for the unsuspecting writer. The saying If it’s seems too good to be true, it probably is is so true. Yesterday I was contacted by a very convincing woman on LinkedIn. I’m not going to name the award she was talking about, because it’s been going for 25 years and has built up a good reputation. The company in question that runs the awards are firstly a marketing company. This should tell you everything you need to know, like all marketing companies they are out to make money.

The lady and I chatted via email. I asked all sorts of questions and soon found myself being caught up the the idea of submitting to this award. Yes, it did seemed like a good idea. Another shiny sticker to put on the front of my novel. The lady said she’d looked on Goodreads and read the reviews there. She felt my novel would fit into their mystery category. I checked out the site it all looked fantastic apart from the entry fee which was quite expensive. I told the lady it was too expensive for me she explained the fee was to cover the cost of running the awards etc.

[image error]You too could be a winner!

After chatting with my son ( I sent him the link) He said it all looks good but I think you need to speak to Dean ( my Australian publisher) see if he’s heard of these awards. I took my son advice and chatted with Dean. This morning I decided to focus on my writing and not worry about expenses awards.

I googled the awards and found out that you win a medal and some shiny stickers you put on your book cover, but once you’ve used them up you have to pay for more stickers, plus there’s other cost too.

I think we writers always need to use our heads and not our hearts when it comes to our writing business. It’s fine if other writers want to invest their money into these pay for awards, if they feel it is worth the money, but not for me.

My advice:

Think carefully weigh up the cost of the entry fee against the prizeCheck online to see if anyone else has any comments about the awards. I found an article about this particular award. This company has a financial interest in running the awards. They’re out to make money. Always put your business head on when it comes to your work. Remember your writing has to pay for itself, you want to take it seriously.

Clubhouse Guest’s Chat: John Holt

Welcome to Clubhouse Chat page. Those of you who are not a member won’t be aware that the location of the Clubhouse is shrouded in mystery. The only way to visit it is via membership or an invite to the tearoom. Every few days, I’ll be sharing a conversation with all sort of writers and authors at different levels of their writing careers. Over tea and cakes, or maybe a glass of something stronger, I shall be chatting with my guest about their work in progress, or latest book release.

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Today, I’m welcoming John to the tearoom to chat about his writing. Welcome. My first question is what drink would you like?

Firstly let me thank for inviting me here. Love a coffee, black, two sugars. And I must say that those cream cakes look very tempting, but really I shouldn’t …. Well, maybe just a couple then.

Now we have our refreshments let me start by asking you when you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?

Now where was I? Oh yes, what drew me to my chosen genre? Good question. Well, it wasn’t really as simple as that. Like a lot of people I’m sure, I have long had the dream of writing a novel. I never really gave much thought to a genre, I was more concerned with thinking up a decent plot. Then in August 2005 we went to the Austrian Lake District. We stayed about a mile from Lake Toplitz, which was used by the German Navy during World War two to test rockets and torpedoes. There were stories of gold bullion hidden in the lake as the war came to an end. My novel, “The Kammersee Affair”, was completed twelve months later. But it would be another year or more, with the publication of my second book “The Mackenzie Dossier” before I began my favoured genre, Crime, Murder Mystery.

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

To be absolutely honest with you, since last December, when I self-published book number 14 “An Act of Murder”, I have been struggling to think up a new case for my detective to investigate, so if you or any of your readers have any ideas I would appreciate hearing them. In the meantime I have two extremely unfinished projects. One is another murder mystery. So far I have the murder, but can’t decide on the killer, or how the murder is solved. So not good. The other project is way outside my comfort zone, but it is an idea for a time travel mystery. Once again it is very tentative.

Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter, or let the characters lead you?

It depends on how the idea originally comes to me. The idea for several of my novels were suggested by actual events. “A Killing In The City” came about following the financial crisis in 2008; “Epidemic” followed the Bird Flu epidemic; “”Diagnosis Murder” came about following stories of several doctors disappearing in Florida and Georgia, in the first part of 2016. Many of the doctors were later found dead. I might (if I’m fortunate) I get the idea for a story in full. All I have to do then is plan out the chapters, and fill in the action. I have to say sadly that does not happen that often. Generally, I get the basis of a story, and that’s it. I start writing and see how it develops, and what characters emerge, adding more and more thoughts that come to mind. Somewhere along the line I got side-tracked. During my research into “The Kammersee Affair” (a story of hidden gold bullion) I found an item on the internet about a consignment of Confederate gold that had gone missing as the Civil War was coming to an end. The gold had, apparently never been found. I thought perhaps I could make up some kind of a story. The gold had obviously been stolen by someone, and I got to thinking how that person would feel as his pursuers caught up with him. Very quickly I had the makings of a fairly well developed final chapter. That chapter became the last chapter of “Thackery”, and largely unchanged from when it was first written. “The Thackery Journal” is set during and just after the American Civil War, and took five years to write. And it didn’t take that time because it was a long epic. It started quite simply as a short piece relating to the last few hours of a hunted man, and what happened when his pursued caught up. And that chapter remained like that for several months.

[image error] The Wonderful John Holt

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

You know, I’ve heard it said that you should write about things you know. That would actually cause me some difficulty. I generally write crime novels, murder mysteries. My main characters, Tom Kendall, and Jack Daniels, are private detectives, who spend their time hunting down murderers, blackmailers, and other forms of low life. I wonder exactly how many actual murderers Agatha Christie knew. And how about the creators of Columbo, did they know any real life killers? I doubt it. For my part I have to admit that I don’t personally know anyone of that kind. All of my characters are 100% fictional and simply created for the purpose of the story.

What did you learn when writing your book? In writing it, how much research did you do?

What did I learn? Not absolutely I learnt anything, not really. I write in the hope of entertaining someone. A little light relief from this wicked old world. Entertainment, and also enjoyment. I’ve now written fourteen books. Thirteen of them are completely fiction, all made up and imagined in my mind, so no real research was necessary. It was a little different with my novel “The Thackery Journal”. Although still a fictional story, it is a ‘what if’ story set during, and just after, the American Civil War, concerning the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Civil War battles were researched, and incorporated into the story.

Is there anything about you your readers might be surprised to find out?

I’m not certain about them being surprised, but I hope that they would be interested. For several years I was the Chairman of the North-West Essex Branch of the RSPCA. I was also the Architect for the Wild Life facility that we provided to our animal rescue centre in Wethersfield, Essex.

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What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?

To be honest I don’t really have a work schedule. I’m not one for setting targets of so many words per day, or of having a set amount of hours in a day. I wish I could just say I will write so many words today, or write for so many hours, but it doesn’t work that way. At least it doesn’t in my case. There are times when I just can’t think of anything to write, and I could go days with nothing done. Then perhaps I’ll wake up in the middle of the night with a whole scene in my mind, or even a whole chapter. Then, of course, I have to quickly write down as much as I can.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

I did consider it, once. My name is quite short, eight letters and that covers it. I wondered if it looked reasonably okay to the reader. And I wondered if a longer name on the book cover might look better. Somewhere in my family history a double barrel name appears.I had thought of making use of the name as a pseudonym. I decided that it was tough enough getting one name known to the reading public. It would be twice as twice with two names. I never pursued the idea of a pseudonym.

How do you select the names of your characters? Do you know everything about them before you start writing their story?

Naming characters should be the simplest part of the writing process. Should be… Of course the characters in the story fall into several categories. The major characters; secondary; and finally the others. To select names I generally use the names of people I have known, either at school, or at work. Generally, I take a Christian name from one person, and add the Surname from another. The name has to sound right, and certainly for the major characters the name needs to be memorable, and roll off the tongue. And, no I don’t know everything about my characters before I start a story. I have a basic idea, but I let them develop as the story progresses.

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How long on average does it take you to write a book?

How long does it…. Any chance of another cream cake?

(Yes, of course, John. Help yourself. Another coffee to go with it too?