Paula R.C. Readman's Blog, page 62

Resolution: byword for forward planning.

Sitting here while writing a speech for my son’s wedding next year, I’ve been thinking. Yes, I know I do a lot of it. We writers live in our heads which isn’t a bad thing.

Anyway, back to Resolution. I bought a writer’s diary for 2021 and I’m already filling in the to do list part of it. I’ve been making a plan of action that highlights the areas I need to focus on next year. I want to complete two new novels. One is already sitting on my computer. A crime novel I wrote before Stone Angels. I have at least eight other books at various stages sitting on my computer.

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Having a plan helps me to stay focused. I’m trying to tidy up loose ends. I have a couple of projects on the go, I need to finish. Then I’ll starting a new project in January. This one I’m really excited about as I’m taking the characters from The Funeral Birds and give them space to develop.

I’m hoping that I can now write much quicker as my ability to craft a story is more refined. Of course my future books won’t be as long as Stone Angels, but I hope the readers will find them just as enjoyable. Are you busy making plans for 2021 with your writing?

I look forward to reading your comments.

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Clubhouse Guest’s Chat: Sue Moorcroft

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’ve invited Sue to join me in the tearoom to chat about her writing. Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times an international bestselling author and has reached the coveted #1 spot on Amazon Kindle UK. She’s won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award, Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award and the Katie Fforde Bursary. Sue’s novels of love and life are currently released by publishing giant HarperCollins in the UK, US and Canada and by an array of publishers in other countries. Her short stories, serials, columns, writing ‘how to’ and courses have appeared around the world. Born in Germany into an army family, Sue spent much of her childhood in Cyprus and Malta but settled in England aged ten. She loves reading, Formula 1, travel, time spent with friends, dance exercise and yoga. Welcome Sue. My first question is what would you like to drink?

Thank you very much, Paula for inviting me. Please could I have some pink champagne

Clubhouse Guest’s Chat: John Jackson

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.

Thank you for invite me, Paula.

You’re welcome, John. My first question is when you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?
I’ve always liked historical fiction, and subsequently historical romance. This even more so when I discovered that I had a family tree that was FULL of interesting people. No money, sadly – just “interesting people”

Just by way of illustration, my great great grandfather and his brothers helped open up Australia. 1 brother, Edward Dumaresq, was the world’s oldest magistrate when he died, he was still sitting at 103, in Tasmania. The family still have the farm there (Mount Ireh) and I’ve been fortunte enough to go there. Amazing place!

His eldest brother, Lt Col Henry Dumaresq, was wounded at Waterloo. He went out to Australia as the Governor’s Military Secretary, and opened up the Hunter Valley. Sadly, he was running sheep rather than growing vines! The musket ball lodged in his back killed him in 1836, 21 years after the battle.

Another Great Great Grandfather was the last Purser of the Botallack Mine at St Just (the Poldark mine)

What writing elements do you think is your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

Research. I love it, and a good nose for a story. That really helps. I wish I could manage my time better, though.

Tell us a little about latest writing project. Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?
My latest project is the story of my Gt GtGtGt Grandmother, who left her husband to go and live in London, and fell in love with a young Jewish moneylender!  (NOT your traditional Fagin or Shylock!) They racketed around Europe and lived on borrowed money and gambling.

[image error] John Jackson

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?Only 1 more. I spent a couple of years in the Solomon Islands some 30 years ago. Where is that I hear you ask. Look at Australia; then up and to the right a bit. A crazy place to live and work.

Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter or let the characters lead you?
Synopsis first. I have a background in Quality Assurance so do tend to plan things out to the Nth degree – and then change everything anyway!

Choosing only five of your favourite authors. Can you list them in order 1 begin the top of your list and say how have they influenced your writing?

Georgette Heyer. Still the absolute doyenne of historical romance. SO accurate in her research and writing that at least 2 of her books were in the library as Textbooks at Sandhurst.

Bernard Cornwell. A great teller of tales. I got into the Sharpe books when they first came out, and enjoyed them even more when I found out that my Gt Gt Grandfather had fought at most of the same battles!

Rudyard Kipling. Another great story teller. Several generations of my family lived and fought in India, too.

JRR Tolkein The fantasy writer we all wish we could be.

Jane Austen. Being of a nautical background, Persuasion remains my favourite.

When reading your work through do you ever find that your daily mood swings are reflected in your writing?

No, not really an issue.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

All of them! See above LOL

What did you learn when writing your book. In writing it, how much research did you do?
 Masses of research, and I’ve been working on my family tree for over 50 years.

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Is there anything about you your readers might be surprised to find out?
I do like to think that what you see is pretty well what you get. LOL

Did you uncover things about yourself while writing your books, whether that be a long forgotten memory, a positive experience etc.

Not really. I found out about writing, though – that its bloody hard work, and that it’s a skill or craft that must be learnt and practiced.

What is your work schedule like when you’re writing?
Real life tends to intrude more and more as the years pass. If the muse is in a good mood, I can write for hours. At other times, I wont even manage a full stop.

Do you set yourself a daily word count?
No.

How many hours in a day do you write?
Anything from 0 to 15. See para 12 above.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
Yes, and I wish I had – in that sales may have been better. The problem was, I had such a large and so active a social media presence, it would have been too hard to “change horses in midstream”

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

Most of my names are historical. If I need names for secondary characters, I will use birth, marriage and death records from the place and period.

What was your hardest scene to write?
The first! Like many authors I wrote the first few chapters, and then realised I actually needed to throw them away and start at Chapter 4.

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

If you would like to find out more about John’s writing click on the links below:

Links Website: www.johnjacksonauthor.com Facebook: johnjacksonauthor
Twitter: @jjackson42
Instagram: @john5642

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

I was just thinking….

I was just thinking to myself, Does all this promoting I do cross these Facebook’s sites really bring results, as all the writers signed up to them are hunting for the same thing… Readers.

Yesterday, when I checked out my Amazon Author’s Page I noticed there hadn’t been much movement on any of my books. Christmas is a few weeks away and I know people are focusing on those celebrations. I’ve been think about the three thousands copies of Stone Angels which were downloaded a few months ago which haven’t brought any results. Not that I was expecting people to read the book straightaway. That’s the difference between purchasing a book to read and snapping up a bargain when it is available. You know, I’ll get this now and keep it for when I have nothing else to read.

So yesterday just before going to bed I decided to promote my modern gothic crime novel across the sites I have been promoting the Tearoom Chats. This morning I was pleasantly surprised to find that two readers have purchased my novel through seeing my promotion. Two out of the thousands signed up to the sites is a tiny drop in a huge ocean, but I’m guessing it all down to what your book is about, and how you worded your blurb too.

There’s a science to this marketing, which I guess is where advertising comes into it all. At the moment I’m having to keep my promotion simple as I’m busy editing my fourth book. I have invested in a program to create fancy book trailer and adverts for my books, but I need time to play around with the program. Does anyone know where I can purchase more free time?

Have a great day. It’s looking very foggy out here. (English village in South East, England

Clubhouse Guest’s Chat: Valerie Holmes

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 Valerie to the tearoom for a chat. Welcome.

Thanks for inviting me, Paula!

I’m glad you could join us today. Now that our drinks have arrived I’ll start by asking you when you first began your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre? 

I was always drawn to historical fiction, from the days of reading Daphne du Maurier’s Frenchman’s Creek, Dickens, Jane Austen to Bernard Cornwell’s many series and the work of Diana Gabaldon. I love romance and adventure as much as crime novels – with settings in both past and present – from Sir Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie to Edward Marston and LJ Ross.

What writing elements do you think are your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

That’s a challenging question. I love researching and try to weave in an authentic background to my novels whilst keeping the pace of the adventure as the reader learns more about the characters. Years ago I met Bernard Cornwell who gave me a brilliant piece of advice – to be prepared to serve the apprenticeship. Writing is a skill that develops and deepens the more you do, so I always want to do everything better tomorrow than I did yesterday. I used to have a tendency to write too much plot up first, rather than build characterisation, and I would end up having to edit.

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Tell us a little about your latest writing project.  Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

I have just finished and submitted a romance novel set in 6th Century Britain. I had written one years ago, and bearing in mind the ‘lesson learnt’ explained in the previous answer, this time I have revisited the era with a fresh eye and many years of experience behind me. Whilst writing one, I often find that ideas bubble up for other novels, not always in the same period or genre.  I find that moving from one to the other keeps each fresh and I need that feeling to allow my enthusiasm to transfer onto the page through my writing. The times are difficult for everyone at the moment, but I am also working on a new set of Regency adventures.

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

I have one just begun – one in edit and two more waiting their turn.

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

I usually write the opening chapter and then work through a synopsis. Nothing is set in stone, so that a character can surprise and add delightful twists along the way.

Choosing only five of your favourite authors. Can you list them in order 1 begin the top of your list and say how have they influenced your writing?

Jane Austen – For the observant wit of her era.

Bernard Cornwell – Each series has a strong and flawed character at its core who we follow through action-packed drama.

Charles Dickens – The social commentary of his period is captured in fine detail.

Diana Gabaldon – for weaving history, romance, drama into a captivating series.

L J Ross – for bringing crime fiction into Indie success.

If you asked me on another day there may well be a different mix as I read widely and admire so many author’s work.

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When reading your work through do you ever find that your daily mood swings are reflected in your writing?

Not really because I have an on/off switch to writing. Often reality – especially this year – is more dramatic.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

Not the main protagonists, but I have been blessed with knowing some really lovely, strong, wise and older women and aspects of them tend to creep into the supporting characters in my Regency adventures.

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

Before I even began to write fiction I would often read up on the early nineteenth century and also the early medieval periods (Dark Ages) as I found them quite fascinating. So research has been ongoing for years, but I have learnt there is always so much more to discover.

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

I was a child carer as my mum had Multiple Sclerosis, but it was an experience that taught me some valuable life-lessons early: the importance of good health, patience, love, determination and to admire those who have a daily fight and struggle to enjoy their life.

Did you uncover things about yourself while writing your books (or stories, play, poem) whether that be a long forgotten memory, a positive experience etc.

That growing up without a lot of opportunities helped me to develop an imagination that could see beyond the immediate situation. I also learned to entertain myself by making up stories when bored – I still do. I can work on a number of thought-lines at one time, which is a huge help in plot development.

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

I aim to write 1000 -1500 per day. Normally, in the morning, but I go back and keep working at a W.I.P. so over the week my set target for words is reached.

Do you set yourself a daily word count?  

Yes!

How many hours in a day do you write?

Usually, 3 to 4. I also work as a Creative Writing Tutor. More details are on: www.ValerieHolmesAuthor.com

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

I do!

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

Normally a character will form in my mind and then I choose a name that suits him or her. I often look at the origin of a name to see if it fits the character.

What was your hardest scene to write?

That is difficult to say because often it is not the writing of a scene, which is difficult, but the editing of one.

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

My novellas can take two months, but the novels 8 months of writing and edits – longer if you include the research which goes behind each one.

Thanks for joining me today. If you would like to find out more about Valerie’s writing and books please click on the links below:

Valerie’s Amazon Author’s Page:

Valerie’s Blog:

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

Clubhouse Guest’s Chat: Michelle Cook

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 Michelle to the tearoom. Welcome. My first question is what would you like to drink.

Thank you for inviting me over, Paula! I’d love a large mug of builders’ tea if you’ve got one, please.

We have any you like here. Now we have our refreshments I’ll start with asking you when you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?

I’m like an anti-moth—drawn to darkness. Whatever I write it tends to come out downbeat or scary, so it was always going to be dystopia, urban fantasy and thrillers for me.

What writing elements do you think are your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?
I find dialogue quite natural to write. Probably comes of years of chatting too much! Strong emotions always inspire me too. The parts of my eco thriller Tipping Point I’m most proud of are the scenes with huge dramatic feelings like grief, fear and rage. I struggle the most with plotting and logistical scenes. Maybe this is just part of the job, but I go down some rabbit holes with plotting and it can take me weeks to find my way out!

[image error] Lovely Michelle Cook

Choosing only five of your favourite authors. Can you list them in order, 1 begin the top of your list, and say how have they influenced your writing?

Okay here goes (though of course by the time you read this my list will have changed several times):

Kazuo Ishiguro – his writing is so vivid and for me he’s the master if voice. Every book of his I’ve ever read is so distinct in its voice you’d never know it was the same author. If I could bring a narrator to life half as well, I’d be a happy writer.

Phillip Pullman – for the soulful humanity of his stories. I admire his ability to successfully flirt with controversial topics by wrapping them in rip-roaring adventure.

Jonathan Coe – I tried to channel the polemic rage behind the satire of What a Carve Up, one of my favourite books, when writing Tipping Point.

Sarah Waters – for her creation of atmosphere and setting. The Little Stranger is one of very few books that have genuinely scared me.

Stephen King – I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention SK, whose work I devoured as a teenager. That’s the man, officer. He’s the one who started me on this dark road…

I’m allowing myself a couple of honourable mentions to redress the gender balance a little: Emily Bronte for the twisted darkness of her mind, and JK Rowling— for creating a phenomenon. I mean, can anyone even remember life before Harry, Ron and Hermione?

I know that’s seven. Sorry!

When reading your work through do you ever find that your daily mood swings are reflected in your writing?
I love writing precisely because it takes me away from my daily mood swings! I don’t generally find mood effects my writing, but I do sometimes spot themes and situations coming out which I have clearly been subconsciously mulling over—past events, or anxieties that I was unaware of.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

Not so much characters, but there are one or two real-life situations I’ve worked through while writing. Some have found their way to become major subplots.

Do you set yourself a daily word count?
No, never. I have a demanding job and two young kids so I write when I can, and this doesn’t always lend itself to word count targets. I prefer to pleasantly surprise myself with a hundred words than get frustrated because I ‘only’ wrote a thousand.

How many hours in a day do you write?

I am nothing if not inconsistent. So…between zero and ten hours?

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?
When I set out writing seriously a couple of years ago, I figured if I ever got published I’d want the world to know it was me, so decided against a pseudonym. Now I can see the attraction, in that it could help to separate private and writing life in some way. It’d be fun to be someone else sometimes! There is another author called Michelle Cook, too, so it may have been helpful in hindsight. But there it is—I’m still plain old me when I write.

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

Sometimes the names just come with the character. Other times, it’s a case of trawling through baby naming websites and IMDB cast lists. For Tipping Point, which is set fifteen years from now, I tried to use names that might be unusual currently—in the UK, at least—but could become future trends. That’s where the name of my main character Essie, and those of her two sisters, came from. As a little private joke for myself, I named all three siblings after natural phenomena: Estella (star), Willow (as in the tree), and Darya (sea). With the story’s ecological theme, they seemed to fit perfectly. For all significant characters I usually do a pen picture and so I do know a fair bit about them. This has proved really useful in planning the sequel, where some of the character traits and backgrounds I didn’t cover explicitly in Tipping Point have come to the fore.

What was your hardest scene to write?

From a practical point of view, I really struggled with a passage forever etched on my brain, and known to me as ‘The Banner Hanging Scene’. It required lots of logistical explanation and many rewrites for my beta readers to understand what the heck was going on. Aside from that, I wrote a pivotal, grief-stricken scene for Tipping Point (no spoilers!) which was pretty raw and draining, but is now one of my favourites.

Thank you for joining us, Michelle. If you would like find out more about Michelle’s writing and books click on the links below:

Buy link: mybook.to/tippingpoint Social Media Links: https://linktr.ee/michellecookwriter

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

Clubhouse Guest’s Chat: Cameron Trost

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 Cameron to the tearoom. Welcome. What beverage would you like?

Thanks, Paula. Hmm, beverage? A dram of whisky perhaps, I like Lagavulin. Otherwise, hot chocolate is fine.

Now we have our drinks can you begin by tell us a little about latest writing project. Is it a new idea, or one you have been mulling over for some time?

Most of what I write at any given time has been maturing in my head long before the first paragraph hits the notepad or laptop, and the reason is simply that ideas come more quickly and easily than the free time to start putting a particular story into words. I’m working on an apocalyptic novel at the moment and am about 40,000 words into an estimated 95,000. This will be the longest single story I’ve written as I’m first and foremost a fan of short stories and novellas, but the scale of the adventure and the importance of character development makes this novel a very different kettle of fish. The initial idea of writing a story in first-person with a pyromaniac as the protagonist came to me several years ago, but the idea of dramatically changing the setting from contemporary Australia to what the reader will probably decide is an apocalyptic Britain (the landscape is intentionally vague) came after a good friend told me she thinks my writing style suits dystopian fiction. You know what? Once I’ve finished this chat, I’m going to get cracking on the next chapter!

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

At a guess, four or five short stories, one novella, and a mystery/suspense novel that I just can’t stop tweaking. For me, an “unfinished” short story is usually one I have finished writing, edited a dozen times, and am now waiting for a suitable submissions window before polishing it again and sending it into battle. 

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Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter?

Every story is different. I usually jot down some key elements, like an idea for a twist ending, or a particular atmosphere to evoke to suit the setting and season. I might create the characters and choose their names, whether quite randomly or with a hidden significance, and choose what particular traits they will have. When I write suspense, horror, and ghost stories, I generally do less planning than for a mystery, simply because the interplay between past, present, and future, and the importance given to even the smallest detail is crucial to getting the story right in a mystery. I don’t follow any set rules. There’s no reason you can’t write a first chapter, do a synopsis for the rest of the book, and then go back and change the synopsis. Likewise, you can write the dénouement first and then go back and write the story to meet it. In fact, I’ve already written the last chapter of my apocalyptic novel. I wrote it once I’d finished the fourth or fifth chapter, simply because the vision was there and it was time to get it down. 

Choosing only five of your favourite authors, can you list them in order and say how have they influenced your writing?

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: I always start with him, not only for Sherlock Holmes, but also for his tales of unease. I think what I most like about his work is that when you look at it from today’s perspective, you have a rich and fascinating interplay between the traditional and the revolutionary. Sherlock Holmes is a fine example of this, so quirky and unconventional while also steadfastly old-world in many ways. This character is undoubtedly the biggest single inspiration behind my own detective, Oscar Tremont, Investigator or the Strange and Inexplicable. Doyle was also a master of the horror story, drawing inspiration from Edgar Allan Poe, the writer most famous for having fans who can’t spell his name. Doyle really knew how to twist a short story and use imaginative and evocative ways of sending a shiver up the reader’s spine.

Ruth Rendell: She is by far my favourite suspense writer, herself greatly influenced by Agatha Christie and PD James. Her characters are fascinating and relatable, often disconcertingly so, and the way she weaves subplots together and makes you wonder how she’ll make them meet is thrilling. It’s said that if Christie is the queen of the whodunnit, Rendell is the queen of the whydunnit, and it’s true. She turns the English countryside and streets of London into a map of the human psyche and a collage of underlying social tension.

Roald Dahl: He’s famous around the world for his quirky children’s stories, like Doyle and Rendell, but I find inspiration in his even quirkier – sometimes downright filthy – short stories for adults. Full of suspense and nasty people, he has the impressive ability to make you feel repulsed and laugh at the same time. That’s definitely a reaction I seek in some of my stories.

J.G. Ballard: Yet another British writer, but quite different from the others. He’s widely considered a writer of “soft sci-fi” but his tales of the future, much of which is now actually the past, also fit the bill of suspense and indeed horror. The suburbs are his canvas and the recipe he uses in much of his best work is simple; take two parts current affairs and one part exaggeration. If pressed to choose my favourite novel of all time, I would probably have to say “High-Rise”. There’s nothing I would change about it. The opening sentence is probably the best ever and the escalation of conflict is perfectly timed. Few writers have documented the effects of technology and the urban/suburban landscape on the human psyche like Ballard.  

Maurice Leblanc: Just to mix things up a little, I’ve decided to jump across the Channel and step back in time to Doyle’s era. Arsène Lupin was in many ways the opposite of Sherlock Holmes, he used his intellect and skills to commit the most dazzling thefts. I mentioned before that Holmes inspired my Oscar Tremont, but so did Lupin. His sense of cheekiness was a little sharper than Holmes’ and if we’re going to be honest, he was probably an even greater master of disguise. In terms of cracking codes and solving riddles, the game definitely would have been afoot between the two of them!

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

I don’t really have a writing schedule. When I have time alone and no other duties, I write. That’s about it. I wouldn’t say I’m a particularly fast writer, but because I’m often thinking about a story when I’m doing something else, the words are usually there and ready to be written when I have the opportunity to write. One positive thing about this crazy year is that I’ve had more time than usual to write.

Do you set yourself a daily word count?  

Not really. If I have a full day (let’s say about five or six hours) to write, I expect to get about five thousand words down.

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Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

I’m not really supposed to admit this, am I? But it’s true. Several characters take aspects from people I know or have met. The only case of a character being directly inspired by a real person is Louise, the wife of my protagonist, Oscar Tremont. He’s Australian and she’s French, just like my wife and I. Coincidence? Hmm. It’s okay, my wife is aware of this and participates in editing any scenes involving Louise!

Did you uncover things about yourself while writing your books, whether that be a long forgotten memory, a positive experience etc.

I haven’t had any shocking flashbacks of repressed memories…sorry to disappoint. I guess what I realise most while writing is that I really am a bit of a revolutionary. My characters are often in a fight against injustice and inadequacies in the world around them, or are indeed anti-heroes who embody greed and cruelty, looking for profit and control at the expense of other people and the environment. I suppose when I’m writing, I’m the one in control and I can let my frustrations out, as opposed to being just another faceless and powerless member of society. On a more positive note, nature often plays a role in my stories. Like Ruth Rendell, I love to mention particular plants and flowers and I sometimes involve them in the story, whether in a nice way or nasty way à la Christie.

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

It depends on the story, the setting, the period in time. A name often needs to fit a character’s generation, social class, ethnicity and so forth. I sometimes just go online and look up first and last names to find one’s that fit. I don’t think I ever know everything about a character when I start writing, but you need a foundation and the name is part of that. But, and this is important for anyone who does decide to buy any of my mysteries, I sometimes choose names to fit a key element in the story, whether it be a family connection, or an acronym, or just a hidden meaning. My mysteries are real traditional mysteries with puzzles, clues, red herrings, foreshadowing, and all that thrilling stuff. Don’t overlook any detail, and never take a name at face value!

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

How long is a piece of string? The first draft of a short story can take anywhere between five or six hours and twenty or thirty. As for novels, I’m still editing one I started about ten years ago while I wrote most of my second novel, The Tunnel Runner, which is the only published so far, when I was alone for two weeks several years ago. I managed to write the first 40,000 words of my current novel in about three months. In any case, I’m eager to get some words down today! Thanks for the interview and the refreshments. I had a lovely time.

Thank you for our chat, Cameron. If you would like to stay for another drink you’re welcome. Just let Brutus know when you’re ready to go.

To find out more about Cameron’s writing click on the links below.

Amazon Author’s Page:

https://trostlibrary.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/CameronTrostAuthor

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

So Excited!

Look at this amazing list of Women of Horror! I’m so pleased to know I’ve made it into the third volume. The competition is tough and I don’t take it for granted. To know you’re up against the best keeps you focused on your goals. To do your best isn’t quite good enough sometimes.

I never enjoyed stepping outside my comfort zone when I was younger. I fear failure and making a fool of myself. Voices in my head too, I guess. My grandmother saying ‘Who does she think she is….? What a show off!’

I always envy those who could step forward and try to succeed. No matter who you’re, or where you are from if you stay focused on what you want to achieve, you can. Set yourself a goal and rise to the challenge. I now know it is showing off, or trying to be better than anyone else, but it’s about being the very best you can be.

Every day I set myself a new challenge. To finish a project, to get a certain amount done etc. Some days I have good days others bad days, but the next morning I am up and ready to start again. I know maybe I won’t be where I wanted to be in ten, twenty or thirty years time. Maybe I will keep moving the goalposts, but I know I’ve given my all to achieve what I have when others around me just laughed at the beginning of my journey. ‘You a writer!’

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Check out Kandisha Press to find out more about The Women of Horror Anthologies

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Clubhouse Guest’s Chat: Julie Cohen

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 the clubhouse 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 Julie to the tearoom on this chilly day. Welcome. My first question is what would you like to drink?

Thank for the invite, Paula. On a cold day, my favourite beverages are hot tea, or hot apple cider.

Now our drinks have arrived I’ll start by asking you when reading your work through do you ever find that your daily mood swings are reflected in your writing?

No—I tend to let my story dictate the mood, rather than my own brain. Though when I am very sad I find it difficult to write in general, so the prose will be more stilted. I try to edit this out as much as possible in the revisions.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

One of the protagonists of my latest novel, SPIRITED, was inspired by a real-life figure: the photographer William Mumler. Mumler was the person who popularised ghost photography in the 1860s; he’s most famous for taking a photograph of Mary Todd Lincoln near the ghost of her husband, Abraham Lincoln. He was tried for fraud and acquitted in New York. My heroine, Viola, is also a photographer but unlike Mumler, she’s an amateur and female. While Mumler’s ghosts were obviously faked (though this was never proven in his lifetime), the ghosts that appear in my character Viola’s photographs are both unexpected and real.

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

I did a great deal of research for SPIRITED, which is set in 1857 and 1858—I read books, trawled through records online and in the record office, read period newspapers, visited locations. One of the most enjoyable bits of research was learning how to do wet plate collodion photography. I took, developed and varnished tintype photographs in exactly the same way as a Victorian photographer, except for one: the Victorians would have used cyanide as a fixer. That’s not allowed now.

Did you uncover things about yourself while writing your books, whether that be a long forgotten memory, a positive experience etc.

I don’t tend to notice unexpected things about myself as I write, but quite often when I reread my novels afterwards, I can see that I was being more autobiographical than I thought at the time. It’s not always in a way that anyone else but me would notice, though. I have consciously drawn on personal experiences for some parts of some of my novels, though.

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

Because my son is still at school, usually I get up with him and see him off to school in the morning. Then I take the dog for a run or a walk, answer emails, make myself tea, and go up to my writing office, which is in the attic of my house. I usually work until 3.30, when my son gets home.
Of course with the pandemic and lockdown, my schedule is pretty much out the window. I juggled writing with homeschooling during lockdown, and now even though schools are currently back in session, my son has a shortened day because of a lack of teachers. 

Do you set yourself a daily word count? 

When I’m actively writing, I try to write 1000 words a day, though when I’m near the end of a project, I can write more like 2000 words a day. I find that I hit a wall after about 2000 words and though I can keep writing sometimes, they don’t tend to be all that good.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

I’ve written under four or five pseudonyms, in different genres than the genre that I write under my own name.

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

I’m rubbish at choosing names and sometimes it takes quite a while before the correct name comes to me. The names need to be suitable for the characters and if I’ve got the name wrong, I have trouble pinning the character down. Although I’m an extensive planner, I don’t always know everything about a character before I start writing—a lot of the first draft is a discovery draft. But I do know important facts about them and I generally know what type of person they are, what their motivation is, what their normal life is like, and what their main problem is.

What was your hardest scene to write?

There are two types of hard scenes to write. One type is the scene which is just technically difficult—it comes out wrong, it’s boring, you can’t work out how to tackle it. Quite often I will just skip these scenes and write the next scene—I find that by the time I come back to them, I know what to do.
The other type is the scene that has a difficult or painful subject. These, conversely, tend to be easier to write, because the problem is obvious. I do often cry when I write a very emotional or painful scene, and often I have to revise them many, many times to get them right.
In SPIRITED, there is a scene with Jonah and Pavan during the Indian Rebellion in Delhi which was extraordinarily painful to write, even though it was one of the first scenes I thought of when I was planning the book.

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

I usually write one novel a year, though I spend quite a bit of that year doing copy edits, proofs, and promotion for the previous novel. I plan quite a bit before I begin, too. I’d say that on average, it takes me about four months to write a first draft, and another two months on top of that to revise it ready to send to my agent and editor.

SPIRITED, out now in hardback, ebook and audio
‘A beautifully thoughtful, hopeful, and compelling read’ 
Longlisted for the Guardian’s ‘Not The Booker Prize’ 2020Book of the Month, Woman & Home magazineBook of the Month, LoveReadinghttps://www.waterstones.com/book/spirited/julie-cohen/9781409179870

Thank you for joining me, Julie. If you would like to find out more about Julie’s books click on the links below.

Website: www.juliecohen.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/julie_cohenFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/Julie.Cohen.BooksInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliecohenauthor Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Julie-Cohen/e/B004MO6PWM/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

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

Hey, my name got a mention.

I’ve been so busy sorting things out for Christmas since finishing my short sci-fi story The Last Thread for Kandisha Press. Oh did I say that my story was accepted? Well, yes it was. I’m so pleased. I wanted to write something different. It’s a sort of modern gothic tale. I just hope other feel it’s horrible enough to be horror.

The Chapel Town book CafeLit 9 had a great review today and my name got a mention.