Paula R.C. Readman's Blog, page 69

Granny Wenlock Get a Note

When you create a character they become alive to you after living in your head 24/7. Every day you discover new things about them with every word you write.

Granny Wenlock came into my life years ago when I sat down to write a short story for a BBC competition. The opening line just jumped into my head though the words weren’t Granny’s but her descendant, Dave Cavendish. She was the voice common sense, a voice of reason. Granny was his ancestor and she lived in the 1600’s when the world was a different place

[image error]Granny Wenlock

I wanted through Granny to explore the idea whether someone living hundreds of years ago would have any relevance in today’s world. She added a different element to a well-worn crime genre the private investigation agency. Now I’m looking forward to seeing how far I can take it.

[image error]A message to Granny Wenlock

Today I received a package from my publisher, Dean of Demain Publishing with a little note that put a smile on my face. The character of Granny Wenlock has taken on a life of her own. Now there’s no stopping her and I wonder just what scrapes she will get Dave and I into when I write further adventures of Granny Wenlock.

Check out Granny Wenlock first adventure in The Funeral Birds by clicking on this link

And to read a review of the book click here.

Clubhouse Chat Guest: Gary Wilbanks

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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Welcome to the clubhouse tearoom, Gary.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to participate in the tearoom chat.

My first question is what beverage would you like?

Diet Pepsi. I don’t like the taste of coffee, but I must have my daily dose of caffeine if I’m going to function properly.

Right, now we have our drinks I will start by asking you when you first began your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?

I write what I enjoy reading. I would never write a story that I personally wouldn’t want to read. I wouldn’t know where to start and I would probably become bored with the project before I finished. Having said that, I have always loved magic, dark fantasy and horror, and toss in a sprinkling of science fiction. As a child, I read pretty much everything written by Stephen King, Dean Koonts, and Robert McCammon. Of course, I was also a huge fan of Anne McCaffrey’s Pern novels and the Xanth books by Piers Anthony.

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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 am currently working on a few short stories for some upcoming anthologies, but my main writing project at the moment is my next novel. It is a dark fantasy tale about a police department responsible for providing security in a large cemetery. My working title for it is “Dead Town.” I have been thinking about the story and writing notes to myself for the past year or so, but I just started writing a few weeks back. If it turns out half decent, it may be the first of a longer series of books.

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

I have about fifteen incomplete short stories and three novels that are partially written or in rough draft. The short stories I started but quickly realized they weren’t very good. I only kept them because I still like the original ideas and I may come back later and make another attempt at them. The novels are mostly notes, character sketches, and a few key chapters, and I plan to get to each of them at some point in the future. I have one novel that is a completed first draft, but it is currently sitting in a drawer. The title is “Testing Grounds.” I’ve set it aside temporarily since I like to let a little time pass between completing a novel and beginning revisions and edits. It lets me look at the story with fresh eyes.

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

I don’t generally do synopses or outlines before writing a novel. I start with an overall idea in my head and make some written notes on key plot points and conflicts. (I know, that sounds an awful lot like a synopsis.) Next, I may write a couple chapters that I feel are critical character or story drivers. Finally, I sit down and complete character studies for each of my main characters (and a few of the lesser ones) until I feel like I have a handle on who these people are. The final step is sitting down and writing the story from beginning to end.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

My characters are frequently inspired by real people. I base characters on people I know that have specific behaviors or quirks that I have always thought made them unique and likeable. I hoped my personal feelings for the real people would carry over into the characters and readers would feel it. In my most recent novel, the heroine is based on a real person I knew years ago. The entire premise is from a comment she made to me that I never forgot. She told me she wished her life could be as exciting as the adventures in her favorite books.

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

I am a fourth degree black belt in Shorin Ryu Karate Do. I began practicing martial arts thirty years ago when I was in college, and more recently I even owned and ran my own dojo. I closed the studio a few years ago when my business partner and fellow sensei moved out of the state. I was sad to see it close, but it was a lot of work in addition to my fulltime job and it wasn’t something I wanted to do by myself.

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

When I was working full time, writing only really happened sporadically. Weekends and late nights were the only free times I had, and a lot of that time was taken up with family and chores at home. It wasn’t really until 2016, when I retired, that writing became my primary focus. Now I get up around seven o’clock in the morning, walk for about an hour through the neighborhood to wake up and get some exercise, then do house and yard work until noon. In the afternoon, I sit at the computer and write until my wife gets home from work around 6.

Winter is my favorite time of year because it’s too cold to go outside, so I get more writing time.

How many hours in a day do you write?

While I admit there are days I play hooky and watch horror movies or go have lunch with friends instead of writing (I call this recharging my batteries), most weekdays I write four to six hours each day. During the winter (as I mentioned above) when I’m stuck inside all day, I may write six to eight hours, but typically that only happens when I’m deep into the first draft of a new novel or I have deadlines on several short stories I am trying to meet. Weekends, I try not to write much since I do still enjoy spending time with my family.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

I publish under my middle name, “Allen,” but it is still my real name. I chose not to use my first name while I was still working as a police officer and I began publishing stories years ago. I didn’t want to cause any confusion between my professional life and my writing credits. Although I have taken elements of real events I have investigated and included them in my fiction writing, I didn’t want anyone reading one of my horror stories and thinking I was claiming that it really happened. I have never wanted to use a true pseudonym, however. I like seeing my real name in print.

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

I can write the first draft of a novel (100,000 words) in two months. Of course, this is typically after six months to a year of mulling the story over in my head and creating a complete plotline in addition to getting to know the various characterswell enough to where I feel I can comfortably write about them. After completing the first draft, I will typically do two to three rewrites, followed by final editing. This often takes an additional few months. Edits are followed by formatting and working with artists on cover design, which adds another couple months.

So, to answer this question, I guess the response is two months or two years, depending on the reader’s definition of “write a book.” My most recent novel, A Life of Adventure, available from Amazon at mybook.to/lifeofadventure

Readers can find out more about me and my publication history on my website: www.gallenwilbanks.com. You can also check out my blog at www.deepdarkthoughts.com, where I try to give a humorous spin to the weekly events in my life.

For social media, you can follow me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/gallenwilbanks/ or on Twitter at https://twitter.com/gallenwilbanks.

Thank you again for inviting me, Paula.

You’re very welcome, Gary. I hope you’ll come back again.

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

Clubhouse Chat Guest: Elizabeth Ashworth

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.

[image error] Photo by Oleg Magni on Pexels.com

Good morning, Elizabeth, and welcome to the clubhouse tearoom.

Thanks for inviting me. Paula. This cappuccino is lovely. And thank you for the lovely driver who picked me up.

That’s Brutus. It’s all part of our service here. Now we have our drinks let’s start by asking you when you first began your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?

I’ve written since I was a child, so it isn’t easy to pinpoint when I began my writing journey. But my first published story was about a pony and was published in Pony Annual when I was still at school. Like many teenage girls at the time I was obsessed with ponies and so I wrote about what interested me. Over time I think my writing has followed my changing interests. I’ve written a variety of both fiction and non fiction and a theme that has recurred again and again is the history of my local area. This led me to several historical fiction novels beginning with The de Lacy Inheritance and now I’m writing a saga series, The Mill Town Lasses, set in my home town of Blackburn in Lancashire. The first two books, The Cotton Spinner and A Lancashire Lass are available now and the third, A Family Secret, will be published next February.

[image error] Amazing Elizabeth Ashworth

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

I’ve been working on this idea for about four years now. My historical fiction was proving hard to place and an agent suggested I tried my hand at writing a saga. I was unsure at first, but I enjoy a challenge and when the idea of telling the story of a family moving from the countryside to the town to work in the mills came to me I became quite enthusiastic about the project because it mirrored my own family history.

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

I begin with a vague synopsis – very vague – and when the story is complete it is usually quite different from the original plan! But I think it helps me to begin with some idea of the story I want to tell even if the characters do tend to take it over and make it their own.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

Yes. Jennet and Titus were the names of my great, great, great grandparents. When I was researching my family history I saw that they had moved from the village of Whalley into the town of Blackburn to work in the mills after the prospects for hand-loom weavers diminished. It was when I was thinking about how their lives must have been so different after the move that I was inspired to write their story.

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

I learnt a lot! Much more than I expected. I thought I knew about the history of Blackburn and the cotton industry, but when I began to research there was so much more to learn. From balloon ascents, to demonstrations of laughing gas and riots, there were so many things I discovered, mainly from a book that used to belong to my father and has sat on a bookshelf since I was child. It’s called Blackburn, the Evolution of a Cotton Town by George Miller and has become my constant companion whilst writing this series.

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

I’ve drawn on local history for the names of many of the characters in this series to give it authenticity. For others, I check the most popular baby names for the time I’m writing about and also look at local surnames on census returns. But it can throw up the problem of everyone being called Mary or John, so I sometimes have to look for more unusual alternatives.

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

It depends on whether or not the work is going well. If the story is flowing I’m keen to get to my desk in the morning, but if I’m trying to disentangle a situation I’ve written myself into I can find lots of excuses not to turn on the computer.

Do you set yourself a daily word count?

No. I think it adds too much pressure because sometimes the words flow and I can complete thousands in a day, whilst at other times I ending up taking that many out again and finish the day with fewer words than I started with.

How many hours in a day do you write?

I do try to be disciplined and write for about three hours in the morning and another three in the afternoon.

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

It took me about a year to write the first one, but that included a lot of research time. The second and third ones didn’t take as long – around six to nine months. Sadly I’m not one of those writers who can produce a novel in six weeks! I need plenty of thinking time as well as actual writing time.

Thank you so much Elizabeth for joining us today. Our driver, Brutus said as soon as you’re ready to leave he will run you home. If you would like to find out more about Elizabeth’s writing and books click on the links below.
https://www.penguin.co.uk/series/miltow/the-mill-town-lasses.html

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/elizabethashworth
webpage: www.elizabethashworth.com

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

Clubhouse Chat Guest: Lynne Phillips

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.

[image error] Photo by freestocks.org on Pexels.com

Welcome to the clubhouse tearoom, Lynne. I’m so glad you could make it. Let me order you a drink.

Great to talk to you today Paula. Mine’s a decaf long black, please.

Right, now we have our drinks let’s start by asking you what writing elements do you think are your strongest points, and what would you like to do better?

I think one of my strongest skills is I am a lateral thinker. I try to use those skills to bring a different interpretation to submission calls, so my stories are unique. Sometimes it pays off, other times they’re too obscure.

 I’d like to do psychological horror better. It’s my latest self-imposed challenge.

[image error] The Fascinating Lynne Phillips

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 am working on an invite-only group project which is certainly taking me out of my comfort zone. I have never written with anyone else before, but I’m confident I have the skills and I’m enjoying the challenge.

How many unfinished projects o you have on your computer?

I have three longer stories on my computer that I keep adding to. They will probably all be novellas. Two are fantasy stories and the other is a family saga set between Scotland and Australia.

Do you plan your story or let the characters lead you?

I am not a natural plotter, although a few of my stories have been completely plotted in my head. I usually let the characters lead me. I write as much as I can with the character and then let the next bit run around in my head until I get a chance to write it down or type it up. I always reread what I have previously written before I write again, editing as I go.

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

Most people know I was a teacher, but they probably don’t know I spent nine years in the army reserve, first as a private soldier and later as an officer. I credit the army with giving me the leadership skills to be a principal of a school because of the man-management training and the need to pay attention to details.

(Wow, Lynne I wasn’t expecting that, though in school these days army skills maybe needed

Clubhouse Chat Guest: P. A. O’Neil,

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.

[image error] Photo by Valeriia Miller on Pexels.com

Today I chatting with P.A.O’Neil about her writing and her books. Welcome to the clubhouse tearoom. My first question to you is what would you like to drink?

Thank you for inviting me. A lattes please, gingerbread preferred, but I’ll take hazelnut.

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

I didn’t choose the Literary style, it chose me. It is the common thread throughout all of my stories, the setting might be the Old West or 17th Century Europe, but that just happens to be a matter of fact. My interpretation of Literary is when unusual things happen to usual people, and it’s how they handle the situation that makes the story interesting.

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

I have been praised for my dialogue and have worked hard to improve my style with each new story. I wish I could improve on my keeping within the same tense throughout the work, but I think my editor would say it has gotten better over the years.

[image error] P.A. Neil

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

I just received back from the editor a personal reflection about an event from my childhood. I plan on shopping it around as non-fiction. When the editor asked if the events truly happened as written, I knew I had achieved my goal for presentation of the plot.

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

Probably half a dozen partially written stories, with notes for another twenty or so. My novel is sitting there, waiting for me to return for a first revision, but unfortunately Finding Jane will have to wait a little longer.

Do you write a synopsis first or write the first chapter? If you only write short stories, do you plan your story, or let the characters lead you.

If I know I will not have the time to begin the story, I will write detailed notes, sometimes with titles included. I do not start a story unless I know how it begins and ends though. The first part has to interest me enough to want to continue, yet oftentimes, the characters and events will have their own opinion and want to lead the plot in a different direction. This is why it is important to know how the story will end—and when to end it.

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

No, not daily, but I often will read a story which was published a couple of years ago and think, “Oh, I should’ve done this…”. My writing skills have improved over the years to where my stories are sharper, my dialogue cleaner, and the feeling the reader has after reading it is more awe inspiring (or so I’ve been told).

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

Oh, yes, many of them, some I know, some I don’t. For the people I know, I try to keep them within character, and if they are living, I ask them to review what I have written. If I do not have a personal relationship, I try to be as respectful as possible toward them and their endeavors.

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

I wrote a how-to book for people wanting to sew a quilt for competition at the fair. It was only published for a few friends.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

Actually, P.A. O’Neil is a sort of pseudonym as it is my own initials, but I do not go by this name in my daily life. I decided to use a pen name in case my career became successful for a sense of privacy. If my career tanked, it would allow privacy as well.

What was your hardest scene to write?

The hardest scene was in fact, the entire flash fiction story, “Letters from Jenni”. I needed to write it in a way so there might possibly be misdirection for the reader, but as the story progressed (with her letters) the true subject was revealed. Besides getting the plot right, it was based on true events and it had to be handled delicately. It was an emotional story to write, but it needed to be told in a way that would honor her and others like her.

Thank you for joining me today. If you’re interested in learning more about P.A. Neil’s writing check out her links.

FB author page for: P.A. O’Neil, Storyteller: https://www.facebook.com/p.a.oneil.storyteller/

FB scrapbook page for: Witness Testimony and Other Tales: https://www.facebook.com/groups/172393760799790/

It 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: Ann Victoria Roberts

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 talking to Ann about her writing. It’s lovely to have you here. May I order you a drink?

Many thanks for inviting me along to the tearoom, Paula – I see you have everything here, including tea and books! What could be better? And I’m a Yorkshire lass, so I’d like a cup of your Yorkshire Tea, please. Oh, and a chocolate biscuit too – thank you.

Right now we have our drinks, let’s get started. My first question is When you first begun your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?

I was an only child, Paula, and we didn’t have TV until I was about ten, so books were a big part of my life from being very young. My grandmother in York had the most amazing stash of Victorian books in the attic, including bound collections of women’s magazines from the 1880s and 90s. Like today, they had serial stories, fashion pages and travelers’ tales – all illustrated with beautiful black & white drawings. I was hooked from day one – kept me entertained over many a wet weekend. As I grew older, I would read almost anything, but I’d learned a lot about late Victorian life without being aware of it, so I find I’m most comfortable writing novels set in that era.

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

Well, I love reading detective novels but couldn’t possibly write one, so I don’t go for complex plots. Looking back, at least two of my books could have done with a few more twists and turns, so maybe next time… My aim in writing is to create to fully-rounded characters, with all their imperfections. They drive the story – and it’s their flaws that lead them to make all-too-human mistakes. A recurring theme is the way the past influences the present, so I’ve also used time-slip as a means of carrying the story forward. I’ve been praised for that, so I must be getting it right.

I do tend to get totally involved though. It often seems to me that writing an important scene is like being the director of a film – except I get to play all the parts, as well as painting the scenery.

[image error] Wonderful Ann Victoria Roberts

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

This new book, ‘Housewife Writes Bestseller – a Tale of Life & Luck,’ is a memoir that began life as a series of blogs on my website. My first two novels, ‘Louisa Elliott’ and ‘Liam’s Story’, had been traditionally published to sudden, jaw-dropping success. That was thirty years ago, but as historical tales of life and love they were timeless, and back in 2012, I wanted to reissue them. To spark some interest, I used blogs to record some of the extraordinary events that led to their creation.

Both books were inspired by a WW1 diary that I’d discovered in Grandma’s attic, but from start of writing in early 1982, to the publication of the sequel in late 1991, it was as though I’d tapped into a different world. It was never spooky, but while following clues in what felt like a treasure hunt, I often wondered just who or what was in charge. A long chain of coincidences led to some wonderful people, amazing facts, and later – after publication – to some truly bizarre moments. Not least, the interest of the tabloids! The ‘housewife’ tag was embarrassing at the time – but how else could they describe me? I didn’t go to university and I wasn’t a career woman. Peter, my husband, was a sea-captain away on long voyages of up to six months, while I was caring for our two children and handling absolutely everything on the home front. On the plus side, we often got calls at short notice to join him for a few weeks aboard ship – if I’d been in paid employment, we couldn’t have done that. But my ambition had always been to write a novel, and once I got started, I found it gave me purpose, and kept me focused during some of the worst times – especially in the mid-1980s, when Peter was involved in the Gulf War.

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

After doing some basic research, I usually have a good idea of who the characters are and where their story needs to begin and end.  After that my writing progresses a few chapters at a time – rather like a child’s dot-to-dot picture. But my research becomes more in depth while writing, so odd nuggets of information can change both the tone and direction of the novel.

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

Thomas Hardy, for his characters and beautiful settings, and also his bitter-sweet storylines. I read ‘The Trumpet Major’ first – it was part of the syllabus for O Level GCE – and went on to read all his novels over the next few years. I loved his fictional Wessex, and since moving here to Hampshire, I’ve enjoyed exploring his home county of Dorset.Daphne du Maurier for similar reasons – Cornwall, in her case. But I admire her for the very different books she produced, from historical novels to thrillers, and what must have been the first time-slip novel, ‘The House on the Strand’.Tolstoy – again for his rounded characters and the background of 19thC Russia. I was reading his novels around the time of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 – as an antidote to the scary stuff reported in the news!Donna Leon – a modern favourite, with a great central character in detective Commissario Brunetti, insights into Italian politics, and of course, the wonderful Venetian settings.Rosie Thomas – her novel, ‘The White Dove,’ set during the Spanish Civil War, really inspired me, and proved to be the key to what happened later in my own life.

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

Not usually, although while leading a celibate life in my thirties, I did put a lot of passion into my early novels! And I remember at the beginning of my fourth novel, ‘Moon Rising,’ being so angry about a particular situation, it found its expression on the page.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people? 

Yes, in fact much of my work has been inspired by the lives of real people – my great-grandmother, who became the fictional Louisa Elliott, and her eldest son, a WW1 soldier, who became Liam Elliott in the sequel. Bram Stoker is a major character in ‘Moon Rising’ set in 1880s Whitby, and Captain EJ Smith inspired ‘The Master’s Tale,’ my take on the Titanic disaster. The experiences of a close friend inspired my most recent novel, ‘One Night, Two Lives.’ Using the known facts of these people’s lives, in many respects I’ve had a ready-made framework for each novel.

How I’ve interpreted them as fictional characters, is based to a certain extent on my own experience, since I’ve been fortunate in knowing people from different walks of life. But I believe time and place influence who we are and how we think – so that’s been an important factor. But I’ve also had quite a few light-bulb moments in which I understood exactly what motivated them – and that’s been guaranteed to spur me on!

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

Through writing and researching six novels, I’ve learned a huge amount about social history, and I try to weave that into the main thread of the tale. I like to give the reader a picture of what life was like at the time. Old newspapers – usually kept in local archives – can be great source material.

Incidentally, from the early days, I found that reading aloud, to a friend or writers’ group, is the best way to ‘hear’ your own work. You can tell whether the dialogue works – and also tell whether you’ve ‘gone on’ too much or repeated yourself. Best of all, you get a sense of the rhythm of a sentence, what sounds right and what doesn’t.

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

I have a book of names and their meanings – very useful. And like you, Paula, I enjoy wandering around graveyards, looking at memorial stones and wondering about the people buried there. One of the main characters in ‘Moon Rising’ has an unusual surname – borrowed from a gravestone in York.  But do I know everything about them? No, although I usually know enough to be able to decide what kind of person he or she is, and I let the story carry on from there.

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

It’s changed over the years. When I first started writing, the children were young and my working hours followed the course of the school day. Breaks came with research trips, school holidays and/or my husband’s home leave. ‘Louisa Elliott’ was a big novel that took five years to write. But with the next, ‘Liam’s Story’ – an equally big book, involving time-slip and WW1 – I became a professional, working to a deadline, often for 10 or 12 hours a day. I met the two-year deadline on time, but it was tough going. 

After four traditionally published novels, by 2000, I’d had enough of the pressure. Big changes in publishing as well as in my personal life, meant that at least three other ideas never made it beyond a few chapters. But I’m glad to say that Captain Smith of the Titanic did spark true inspiration, and ‘The Master’s Tale,’ was my first indie-published novel in 2011. The second, ‘One Night, Two Lives,’ was published in 2019. Between times, I spent a lot of time travelling, painting, and writing blogs.

Being an indie writer means I can work at my own pace. Nowadays, I begin about 10am, I have a break for lunch and finish about 6pm – but I keep a pen and notebook by the bed, just in case my characters insist on talking to me! Whether I’ll write another novel is open to question, but another memoir – about our travels aboard merchant ships when the children were young – is certainly on the cards.

It’s been lovely Paula. Thank you so much for asking me. I hope my answers prove useful to other writers and those just starting out. Despite the challenges and the pressures of success, I wouldn’t change a thing – it was a fantastic time and I met some wonderful people. I hope my memoir reflects that – and that those who read it enjoy the stories behind the books.

Thank you for taking up my invite, Ann. It has been very interesting and I’m sure it will help others. If you what to find out more about Ann’s writing or books check out her links:

Website:   https://annvictoriaroberts.co.uk/

Facebook Author Page:  https://www.facebook.com/AnnVictoriaRoberts/

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

What I Learnt Over The Weekend

You can waste a lot of time chasing a dream. That a small outlay can equal sales if you give your book away for free, but… yes, well you knew there would be a BUT… That’s to say when you’re not earning any money from your writing apart from a tiny amount which wouldn’t buy you a takeaway meal, a pint at the local pub, or a cheap bottle of wine to have with the takeaway meal if you could afford it. Anyway, I digress.

Right, I decided that giving away free books without a new book ready for the readers to read, isn’t a sound investment. A free book should be like a teaser. A kind of Here read this for free and if you liked it this one is available next… Of course, I don’t have a second novel ready yet. Over the two free giveaways weekends I’ve done so far I have let go of over two thousands books.

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Some could say, yes but you’ll be paid by the number of pages turned. Under normal circumstances I would be excited at the thought all these readers choosing to download my novel, but what makes me nervous is the fact reader, being one myself, will download books when they are offered for free to read later. All readers have a to read pile, whether that be physical pile be side your bed or on your kindle. I know I have several books sitting on my kindle unread, which I did pay for, and they have been sitting there for a few years now.

Just like the books besides my bed, I have to be in the mood to read a certain type of book at a certain time. Time isn’t on my side here. My contract with my publisher is for two years. After two years, I don’t see a return on my investment. The reader will still have a copy of my book to enjoy. They may leave a review on Goodreads as my novel will no longer exist on Amazon. All those pages turned will disappear and not be paid out.

Clubhouse Guest Chat: Angela Wren

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’s guest is Angela Wren. Welcome to the clubhouse tearoom, Angela. I apologies of all the cloak and dagger stuff with your taxi, but the location of the clubhouse is closely guarded. I hope Brutus didn’t frighten you too much.

Well, Paula I certainly needed my wine after that. So I won’t be taking the taxi home?

No, we always give our guest a door to door service in a tinted window Bentley. Right, now you’ve recovered from the shock, let’s start by asking you when you first began your writing journey what drew you to your chosen genre?

Accident, really.  When I decided that I was going to take up creative writing, I began with short stories.  One was picked up by a magazine in Ireland and I was paid €40 for it.  That spurred me on to consider bigger things, so I joined the Romantic Novelists New Writers Scheme and began writing romance.  But I just kept on trying to put puzzles in the story.  At a crime writing workshop I realized that I needed to make a decision.  The story I was then working on would have been romantic suspense, but I knew I had to refocus it and so my first crime novel, Messandrierre, was born.

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

No.  I always start with my victim.  I build the victim’s character and that enables me to understand where he or she fits in with the criminal and how they both fit in with the existing characters, especially my investigator, Jacques Forêt, and his little team who help him.  Once I’ve got my crime and my plan, I then create my first draft.  When I’m writing I write through my characters.

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

Only 5???  Wow that’s tough!

OK, so Agatha Christie has to be at the top of my list.  I discovered her when I was about 12 and read everything she wrote.  I suppose you could say I cut my reading teeth on her books!

Second has to be Arthur Conan Doyle.  I have always loved his stories, the detail in them and the incredibly careful and complex plotting.

Third would be Wilkie Collins.  He is perhaps the father of crime novels and another one for complex plots.  When my dad introduced Collins to me as a 14 year old, I devoured every book he wrote too.

Fourth would be Nathaniel Hawthorne, an American writer who has an incredible capacity for painting pictures with words.  Not exactly a crime writer, but he very gently keeps you guessing.

Fifth would be Thomas Hardy.  I know a lot of people think his work is dreary, but I love his stories.  He very carefully and minutely explores human feelings, emotions and motivations leaving us with such fabulous novels as Two on a Tower, Desperate Remedies, A Pair of Blue Eyes, The Well Beloved and, of course his short stories, Wessex Tales.

Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

No.  That’s too confining.  In addition, I’ve worked on stage since I was 6 years old, so I create the characters for my stories in the same as I create the character I’m playing for stage.  I build them from the toes upwards.  I work out their physical appearance and then add in their strengths and weaknesses, preferences, motivation etc.  I keep on asking myself questions about the character until I feel that I have a complete picture of who they are, and therefore how they might react in any given situation.

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

Hmmm!  How about, I played Mr. Twit in a production of Roald Dahl’s The Twits.  I had a knitted beard that reached my waist and a matching wig.  I spoke in the lowest register of my voice with a west-country accent.  Because the Twits were such horrible characters, I and the actress who played Mrs. Twit, suggested that after each performance we go into the audience and hand out sweets to the children.  After one matinee performance when I spoke to a little boy in row B in my normal voice – but still in full costume and make-up – his eyes widened like saucers and he accused me of being a girl!

Do you set yourself a daily word count?

No, I don’t.  I think that would be counter-productive for me.  I plan my stories so I know more or less what the scenes are and I tend to set myself a goal of one or more scenes for each writing session.  As I work in a theatre I’m not able to write full-time, so my writing sessions are fitted in around everything else that I do.

How many hours in a day do you write?

That depends on what I’m doing that day.  If I have a whole day to myself then I can write for up to 8 or 9 hours quite easily.  If I’m required at the theatre I might only have an hour or a little longer in which to write and that may be shortened by interruptions and any other tasks that I’m required to do whilst I’m there.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

Yes, I did, but when I got the contract for the first book, it was one of the questions that my publisher asked me about.  Their feeling was that I should write under the name I used for all my theatrical work.  When I thought about it, it just made sense.

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

As my books are set in France, I often have to do some research to get the character’s names right.  I spend a lot of time in France too and I love history, so I’m frequently in museums and galleries and places of historic interest.  If I see a name that I like the look of and that I think will fit a particular character then I make a note of it.  I also use the internet to check the authenticity of names too.

As for knowing my characters before I start writing – yes I know a great deal about them, but that doesn’t stop them surprising me occasionally!

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

It takes as long as it takes, really.  My first book, Messandrierre was written, piecemeal over 4 years.  The second book took about 18 months, the third took a year and the fourth, which was the most difficult to write took a bit longer.  Some of the scenes in book were incredibly difficult to write and I found that there were times when I just had to walk away from the keyboard.  When I’m writing I see the action happening in my head as though I’m directly involved.  Book 4 was quite an emotional roller-coaster.

Thank you so much for joining me here today. Our driver is ready to take you home as soon as you are ready to leave, but please stay and finish your wine first, Angela.

If you would like to know more about Angela’s writing and books check out her links:

Amazon : Website : Blog :

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

Clubhouse Guest Chat: Alison Knight

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 Alison to the clubhouse tearoom for a chat about her books and writing. Let’s order our drinks first.

Thanks for inviting me to join you in the clubhouse. My favourite drink is peppermint tea, although on a wet and windy day I do enjoy a nice big mug of hot chocolate.

I’m all for peppermint tea so I shall join you.

Great! So, what would you like to know?

Let’s start by you Telling us a little about your latest writing project. Is it a new idea, or one you’ve been mulling over for some time?

My latest novel is called Mine and it’s something I’ve been thinking about for a very long time because it’s based on real events in my family in the late 1960s. So it has been half a century in the making, although I only started writing it seriously a few years ago. When these events happened, I was a little girl and I suppose my memories were locked into my ten-year-old self. By writing the story, I was able to start seeing it from an adult’s perspective and gain a better understanding of what happened.

How many unfinished projects do you have on your computer?

Quite a few! I recently got the rights back to my first three books, so I’m planning on looking at those and maybe editing them with a view to getting them published again. I’ve also been writing two very different series – one is YA time-travel adventures, the other is contemporary women’s fiction based on a group of friends. I’ve also had an idea for a spin off from Mine that I’m playing around with at the moment, so there’s always plenty to be working on.

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

Like a lot of authors, I really don’t enjoy writing a synopsis, so I write the story first and then worry about it. I usually start off with a couple of characters and a situation. Then I start asking questions, such as: Who? What? Where? When? Why and How? For example, the idea I’m playing with from Mine involves the heirs to a will. Their legacies aren’t what they expected and one of them is very unhappy about that. I’m wondering how far he will go to reclaim what he thinks was rightfully his. I’m also wondering what sort of secrets the other heir has.

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Were any of your characters inspired by real people?

I think every character I create is inspired by someone. It may be just a look, a gesture or a turn of phrase that I use to give my character authenticity. Or, in the case of the main characters in Mine, the Wickham family are all based on my own relatives.

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

You’d think I wouldn’t need to do much research for a book based on my own family, but actually, I needed to do quite a lot. I was very young at the time, so wasn’t party to a lot of what went on. The people who could tell me what really happened are all dead, so there were a lot of gaps to fill. I started with my own memories and those of family and friends who were around at the time. Then I looked at the newspaper reports of what happened. Finally, I had access to inquest files (not a pleasant experience but invaluable for giving me insights that weren’t available elsewhere). I also realised that I needed to look at the culture of the time because it was very different from today. For example, the stigma of single parenthood and divorce; society’s attitudes towards working women and the divide between the working-class and middle-class. So I suppose the lesson I learned was that if the events I write about in Mine happened today, the outcome would be very different.

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

I actually appear as a character in the book! Also, the first person to read the completed first draft of Mine was the same woman who discovered the first Harry Potter book in a slush pile. She gave me a lot of encouragement to keep going.

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

I learned a huge amount. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done because what happened changed so many lives in a dramatic way. But what I’ve taken away from it is that ordinary people can sometimes make decisions that lead them into extraordinary situations. It could happen to anyone. I gained a better understanding of what drove them and why it happened, and realised that no one person was to blame. Writing Mine actually gave me a sense of acceptance and peace that I’ve never had before. It also gave the opportunity to remember some very good times that had been lost in the fog of time, which was a great blessing.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

Yes! It’s such a personal story that I did wonder whether I should hide behind a pseudonym but in the end I decided that I couldn’t do that. However, I did change all of the names in the novel – mainly because, although it’s based on real events, the book is my imagining of what happened and no one knows what actually happened. The only parts I can say really did occur are the ones I witnessed and the ones reported in official documents. So I felt it only right to change the names and make it clear that this is a work of fiction.

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

It was interesting, choosing new names for my characters. The name Jack for my main male character was easy as he was a bit of a Jack the Lad. The main female character is Lily, which I chose because her real name is also a flower. For others, I looked at popular names in the years they were born. One of my cousins wanted to be named after the singer, Patsy Cline, so I granted her wish and she also suggested the name Caroline for me.

I can’t claim to know everything about the characters in Mine when I started writing this book. As I said earlier, my memories are stuck at age ten, so I didn’t have much insight into what motivated the adults around me. My research and writing helped me to put my adult self into their shoes and learn how they might have reacted to the events unfolding around them.

What was your hardest scene to write?

Oh, that’s a difficult one. There were a lot of scenes that were really hard for me – from writing about my own parents having sex (which is wrong for any child to have to imagine, even when you’re a parent yourself!); to a fight scene which was very traumatic for me at the time; to the climax of the story, which I can’t tell you about without giving away the ending. There have been a lot of tears shed as I’ve written this book. I just hope I’ve done the story justice.

Thanks for asking such interesting questions, Paula! I hope I’ve whetted everyone’s appetite for Mine. Here’s the blurb:

“What’s mine, I keep.”

London, 1968.

Lily’s dreams of a better life for her family are shattered when her teenage daughter refuses to give up her illegitimate child. It doesn’t help that Lily’s husband, Jack, takes their daughter’s side.

Taking refuge in her work at a law firm in the City, Lily’s growing feelings for her married boss soon provides a dangerous distraction.

Will Lily be able to resist temptation? Or will the decisions made by these ordinary people lead them down an extraordinary path that could destroy them all?

Mine – a powerful story of class, ambition and sexual politics.

Kit de Waal, award-winning author of My Name is Leon said this about Mine:

“A heart breaking account of love and loss told by a great storyteller. Alison takes you into the heart of the tragedy with compassion, wit and even humour. A beautiful story.”

Mine by Alison Knight is published by Darkstroke Books on 25th November and is available for pre-order now: http://mybook.to/mineknight

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Thank you for joining us today, Alison and good luck with the launch of your book.

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

Wow… looking good

This morning I wasn’t expecting much with the free promotion weekend run by my publisher, Darkstroke. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that Stone Angels was given away for free on Darkstroke previous promotion weekend.

So you can imagine my shock to find that Stone Angels hit number 1 in five categories number 3 in two on the USA Amazon and one in Canada too.

As they say tomorrow is another day. Whether my novel will stay at in these positions or not who knows, so we will have to wait and see. I didn’t get much writing done today, but hopefully tomorrow I will. Chat again soon. For now, I’m off to bed.