Janice Horton's Blog, page 41

Pauline Barclay - Sometimes It Happens...

This week I'm chatting to author Pauline Barclay, whose contemporary women's fiction novel Sometimes It Happens had me intrigued not only by the title - but the tag line:  "Winning the lottery was just the beginning. Nothing prepared Doreen Wilkinson for her holiday at Villas Bonitas and nothing prepared Villas Bonitas for Doreen Wilkinson."
Sometimes It Happens…is about secrets, deception, lies, love and laughter. An Amazon reveiwer described the novel as a "a delightful beach read full of equally delightful characters."

Pauline, tell us more about your novel!Sometimes It Happens…  is a book you can curl up with in the garden or on a sun bed on the beach on a summer's day and feel like you are at the fabulous Villas Bonitas. It's a good feel book and should make the reader giggle, a lot!

Please tell us how you got the idea for it
I was with a friend one day who talked about what she would do if she won the lottery and it got me thinking about how an ordinary person would cope with such a large amount of money. As I started to write the story it just grew and grew and I found I wanted my main character to see the difference between seriously rich and posh! To plot or not to plot? How much of a planner are you?I'm not a planner in the sense that I write lots of notes, but when I begin a new story, I always know the beginning and the end, also the main character. It's the middle bit that has me having sleepless nights! What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?When I sit down to write and nothing comes. I panic and the more I panic the worse it gets. I know it will pass, eventually, but I'm terrible at beating myself up! How do you develop your characters?Once I decide on the character, I let them percolate in my head and in time they become so real they develop themselves. I know this sounds crazy, but my characters begin to be real people and I think about how they would react to a variety of situations. How have you promoted/launched your book?In the main I have used social media and have been invited to several Blogs, including yours – thank you! I have also written to local newspapers and internet sites where I have had an interest in the area. These have all be wonderfully supportive. I also offer to write articles for other Blogs particularly on Indie publishing. My web site is kept updated daily and I have my book out with reviewers too.
What is a typical writing day - how do you manage your time - and where do you write?
I prefer to write in the afternoon, this gives me a good chunk of the day to get my other commitments dealt with: Though nothing is carved in stone so I fit my writing around everything else. My favourite place to write is outside, our climate allows this and of course I am away from the internet and twitter etc such scary distractions! What are your interests other than writing?I love cooking. I love reading, cycling, rollerblading and walking our doggies.
What can you tell us about a Work In Progress? My latest WIP is my fourth book, though as much as the scenes are playing in my head they are not yet in my laptop! Being an Indie publisher means that marketing takes a great deal of my time and at the moment, getting my latest book, Sometimes It Happens… to as wide an audience as possible is priority. But I am itching to get back to more hours of writing.
Pauline Barclay lives with her husband and two doggies on the lovely island of Lanzarote in the Canary Isles, Sometimes It Happens… is her third book and she is currently working on her fourth.

Find Pauline at:
www.paulinebarclay.co.ukhttp://paulinembarclay.blogspot.comFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/paulinembarclayTwitter: @paulinembarclay

My Bookshelves...

This week I'm picking up on the bookshelf feature I started at the end of April, when I talked about Ruby Ferguson, one of my very favourite authors and showed off my prized collection of first editions. Next up on this feature, I'd like to talk about Jilly Cooper, who rocked my world when in 1985 she published her blockbuster 'Riders'.

At the time, I lived in Cheshire and was very much part of a 'horsey set'. My horse, a handsome eventer called Charles, was stabled at livery between the Polo Club and the Cheshire Hunt stables. It was a time of competitive fun. Not that my life was anything like one of the characters in 'Riders' you understand - as to fund my horsey adventures I would race up the M56 everyday to work - not on my horse but in my little white sports car. But at the weekends I would be either at the livery stables or at a horsey event and everyone I met would have two things in common. (1) They would be riding a horse and (2) they would be either reading Jilly Cooper's Riders or talking about it!

That year, Riders went straight into the bestsellers chart at number one. I loved the book and so it seemed did everyone else. So it became my number one favourite book in the world and as you can see from the photo below, I have a beautiful first edition copy on my bookshelves.

Jilly's novels are characterised by her intricate plots, multiple storylines, characters to fall in love with, dogs and horses, glamour, wealth, sex, and her clever and unsurpassable wit. And that's just the fiction. As you will note, I'm a big Jilly Cooper fan!





A teary-eyed moment for me on Bagpipes & Bullshot launch day....

 What is your favourite book in the whole world? Please tell me - leave a comment!
Next Friday, I'm interviewing Lanzarote writer Pauline Barclay. Not to be missed!

Anniversary Celebration...

Mr & Mrs JH are off celebrating their 28th wedding anniversary this weekend.
However, before you dash off, I'd love you to take a peek at a brand new innovative writer/reader website which is launching on 29th June.More to come on this exciting venture soon.
loveahappyending.com

Until next week, have a great bank holiday weekend everyone!    Janice x

Romy Gemmell - Dangerous Deceit

With a cast of spies, villains and a tangled web of deception - who could ask for more in a historical novel?This week I'm asking author Romy Gemmell about her exciting debut novel, her writing life, her journey to publication and why she describes herself as a 'butterfly writer'.
Romy, What can you tell us about your debut novel, Dangerous Deceit?

Dangerous Deceit is a historical novel of romantic intrigue set in Regency England (1813). My spirited heroine, Lydia, is uninterested in finding a husband but her heart is soon stirred when Lord Marcus Sheldon rides into her life. Sheldon is an undercover spy for the government and the last thing he wants is complicated feelings for his friend's sister. A cast of spies, villains and a tangled web of deception bring danger, and it is not until a traitor is unmasked that love can claim its reward.
It all takes place to the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars when Britain and France were enemies. A little sub-plot is the budding romance between Lydia's brother, James, and her friend, Elizabeth. But they are also caught in the web of deception that gets in the way of true love. Then there is the scheming Lady Smythe and the questionable relationship she might have had with Marcus Sheldon in the past. Hopefully the intrigue adds to the romantic elements!


What was your journey to publication like? This was the first novel I ever wrote many years ago. I submitted it to the Romantic Novelists' Association New Writers' Scheme, where a new author can have a full length novel critiqued by a professional writer. Dangerous Deceit received a very good Reader's Report and, once I had attended to anything I was told to check, I was advised to send it to the publisher Robert Hale. So I sent off the first three chapters and a synopsis. I was delighted when they asked for the whole manuscript soon after. Then came the thump back to earth! I received a 'rave rejection'. They liked the book and praised most of it, but thought it just wasn't different enough for a first novel. So, it was left languishing on the computer for too many years while I got on with a different type of novel for the next NWS submission. Now and then, I had a look for other publishers who took Regency novels but apart from Harlequin Mills & Boon (my novel didn't suit their length or heat level!), other British publishers required an agent and most didn't publish Regency. Funnily enough, there are many more Regency publishers now, so historicals must be back in fashion! After leaving it aside in favour of other writing, I decided to redraft the novel and try again. An American publisher was interested and asked for the whole book. They thought it delightful but wanted a little more 'relationship' between the two main characters. I made several scenes stronger, but wasn't willing to compromise my characters too much. I wanted to keep Lydia's innocence, although I increased the sexual tension a little! I'm glad I didn't resubmit it to them, as I like being with a Canadian publisher. I'm also pleased Hale didn't publish that first version, as I think it's much stronger now.
 How did you find your Canadian publisher, Champagne Books? After redrafting it that final time, I did some more research on publishers. Then I found a site that mentioned a few overseas publishers. I checked out individual websites and liked the sound of Champagne Books, so I submitted the first three chapters and synopsis by email and waited. A few months later, I was asked to send the whole novel. I kept fairly quiet about it as I didn't want to get my hopes up. More months went by, then I received the lovely email to say congratulations, they were going to publish Dangerous Deceit! I couldn't have been happier. It's a friendly publishing house and their covers are some of the best I've seen.  

Are you a member of writers' groups - on line or otherwise - and how important are they to you? Yes, I've been a member of my local writing group, Erskine Writers, for many years. Joining them was the most important decision I made when starting to write, as members have always been so supportive and encouraging. Through that, I joined the Scottish Association of Writers, and their annual conference was where I won my first short story competition which led to publication in My Weekly. I also joined the Scottish Fellowship of Christian Writers which has a quarterly newsletter, and their day conference lets me meet others who sometimes write for the Christian market.
I then got to know other wonderful Scottish authors through a friendly, helpful and supportive online forum and many of us are now friends, as we try to meet up in various parts of Scotland a few times a year. Once I joined the RNA, I became a part of their online group. Now, I am on so many more online forums that I can't even remember how many there are. But each one brings me closer to other writers in all parts of the world and they are a wonderful resource for information, encouragement and virtual friendship.
How have you promoted/launched your book? With the novel coming out in e-book first from a Canadian publisher, this was a learning curve! First, I started a new blog long before the book came out, as a dedicated Regency-type platform (http://romygemmell.blogspot.com). I already had a reading and writing blog (http://ros-readingandwriting.blogspot.com) where I'd got to know many people, so I promoted Dangerous Deceit on both, and on my website (www.rosemarygemmell.com). As soon as I received the cover art, I ordered postcards from Vistaprint, with the cover and book details on them. I've been handing these out to lots of people in unexpected places, especially if they show any interest in what I do. I also announced publication on most of the forums and on Facebook, as did the lovely Janice! The next biggest event was my fun cyber launch on my Regency blog, during publication week. It was a huge success and I was delighted with the great response to it. My publisher also alerts a few of the American online forums to their new releases and we have a chat day on two of them where we can promote our work. But promotion is an ongoing process.  What is a typical writing day - how do you manage your time -and where do you write? None of the days are typical as I'm not that organized! I have found the best time to do new writing is to go straight to the computer, once showered and dressed, with my breakfast cereal and tea. But I must not get distracted with emails, blogs and forums first! I prefer to write during the morning at my computer in the study/extension, with a lovely view of the back garden and hills. I like to go to the mall once a week, however, to write while having coffee and cake at Costa – surprisingly, it's very conducive to writing!
 What is your next novel about and will it be written in the Regency period? My next novel is actually a children's novel for the 10-14 age group called 'Summer of the Eagles', which has recently been accepted by another Canadian publisher for release next March (as Ros Gemmell). Another completed adult novel (contemporary women's fiction with alternate historical chapters), is currently being considered by an agent. But I am also writing another Regency – as well as a few other genres!
You write short stories, children's fiction, articles, and also enter competitions - where do all your ideas come from? I'm afraid I'm a complete butterfly of a writer, flitting from one type of writing and genre to another, but I'm sure that's why I never get bored or have writer's block. Ideas are absolutely everywhere; in fact I had an article published about all the places you can find ideas, there are so many! Personally, I'm always inspired by people, and characters are the most important thing for me in fiction. I also love music, art and history, all of which have inspired some of my published stories in the past. My problem is often in knowing which idea to develop first!
Dangerous Deceit is now available to download as an e-book directly from your publishers and from Amazon - when it is available to buy as a paperback?
It will also be available soon from Smashwords and other e-book stores. It should be available in paperback from Champagne Books in a few months time. But I will announce it on my blogs and will try to have a small real launch this time.

  Based in the west coast of Scotland, Rosemary Gemmell has short stories and articles published in UK magazines, in the USA and online. She was winner of Writing Magazine's Annual Love Story Competition in 2005, and a story was included in the fund-raising 100 Stories for Haiti collection. A recent historical short story is included in the new 'Waterloo Collection'. Three children's stories were published in UK anthologies and she contributes Scottish historical articles to The Highlander magazine in the USA.

Seven things: Work, Writing & Research

Thank you to my dear writer friend Romy Gemmell for passing me the Versatile Blogger Award - the rules of acceptance are to tell you seven things about myself that you might not already already know.
So I've decided to tell you seven wee snippets about some of the many and varied jobs I've done over the years because, as a writer, I've always found the working environment a rich research ground for characters, settings, and plot ideas.
1) One of my first jobs was in a bank. One day, I accidentally set off the under the counter silent alarm with my knee. Police with dogs arrived within minutes.
2) Twenty something years ago - when I was twenty something myself - I had a career with an international cigarette company. My job was linked to promoting snooker and a particular brand of cigarettes. Dennis Taylor once did a trick shot off my nose during a snooker tournament.
3) I used to smoke sixty cigarettes a day and quit smoking once I quit the job!

 4) I once worked in a transport cafe - cooking breakfasts for truckers.
5) I have also worked in a fish shop. I still love the smell of fresh fish.
6) Ten years working in book keeping and accounts have come in very useful as now my husband is self employed and I am his accountant. Only problem is that I have dyscalculia.

7) I now work part time as a legal secretary - mostly as research for my next book.

What work experiences have you had that you've been able to use in your writing? I'd love to know - so please do leave a comment.

I'd like to pass on the award to anyone who would like to accept it but please let me know if you are accepting so I can visit your blog and read your seven things.   

Next week I'm interviewing debut author Romy Gemmell about her recently published Regency novel Dangerous Deceit - not to be missed!

A Working Title...?

Do you decide upon the title of your novel first and write the story to suit or do you finish the manuscript and choose a title afterwards?Me, I start with the title. It 'pops' into my head while I'm pondering the theme, the premise and the characters, then it is fixed. Even my next book, the one I haven't yet started writing, already has a title. See, I just can't help myself.
Of course, it might not be a good idea to get too attached if you have a publisher, as I know lots of writers who thought they had the perfect title, only for it to be changed later. Famously, Jilly Cooper's latest blockbuster Jump had a working title of 'Village Horse' during the four years she was writing it.
So what makes a good title? Well, surely, it has to be the minimum number of words that sum up the feel of the book. If you can relate genre, setting, time period and premise, as well as attracting attention to the cover, then you have to be backing a winner.

I had an interesting time on Better Book Titles  today - a website that features recognisable book covers of bestsellers and classics and updates them, with a twist, and gives a much more descriptive title. The site is run by Dan Wilbur and he aims to give you the meat of the story in one condensed image. Great fun!My advice if you are struggling to name your magnum opus would be to think about what you want the title to convey and to make notes, jotting adjectives, verbs and nouns, which can be associated with the story. Use a thesaurus and refer to a reverse dictionary - a reverse dictionary allows you describe a concept and get a backlist of words which have definitions conceptually similar to the words you search with - a good place to find a reverse dictionary is www.onelook.com
Next I would suggest giving yourself some time and space to process your ideas and to allow your subconscious to work. Then, when you have a title or a selection of title ideas to work with, go to Amazon and look up other books with titles that are similar or the same - noting in particular the ones in the same genre as your work. Originality is always best but remember that there are no laws of copyright on titles.
If you are deliberately trying to be controversial with your choice or simply like to be a little different then don't be suprised if you find yourself shortlisted for next year's Oddest Book Title Of The Year Award. This year's worthy winner was an inspirational guide: Managing a Dental Practice:The Genghis Khan Way  - as announced recently by the Bookseller magazine.
So how did you come up with  the title of your book and at what stage in the writing process did you do it...? All comments appreciated.

My Bookshelves...

The walls of my small study are lined with all sorts of books: hardbacks and paperbacks, non-fiction and fiction, biographies, thrillers, romances, and children's books old and new. I love them all. So over the coming weeks and months inbetween writerly chat and author interviews, I'd occasionally like to talk about the books I've collected over the years and to introduce you to some much loved authors.
Ruby Constance Ferguson. (1899 - 1966)
Let's start at the very top shelf by taking a look at nine children's books written between 1949 and 1962. These books are very special to me and through my 1960's childhood I read them over and over. They were my best friends. All I had to do to achieve my dream of owning a pony and living in the countryside was to open up a 'Jill book' and lose myself in her wonderful make-believe world.

These books are all first editions in their original dust jackets.

Some years later, I was delighted to discover that Ruby Ferguson had written eight mystery thrillers under her maiden name of R C Ashby. I now have most of these treasured old books on my shelf. The most prized is the signed first edition copy of The Moorland Man - the Romance of a Northern Farm published in 1926 by Hodder & Stoughton. They are the amongst the oldest books on my shelves and none have dust jackets, which is just as well, as I doubt I could have afforded to buy them if they had.



Ruby Ferguson also wrote thirteen wonderful romance novels and I have managed to collect and enjoy reading them all. From Lady Rose and Mrs Memmary in 1937 to A Woman with a Secret in 1965. She also wrote a fictionalised memoir published in 1967. Her books were published by Hodder & Stoughton London and Macmillan in the USA.

Ruby Constance Ferguson died on Jersey on 11th November 1966.

My wee West Highland terrier is called Ruby after the author Ruby Ferguson
What books are on your top shelf and have you ever named a pet after a much loved author...?

Dear Mr Harper...

This week I'm interviewing a man who has led an astonishingly interesting life and written a book about it all. Recently retired, he has been a teacher, a musician, a sportsman, even (for a spell) a professional actor and so it's a wonder how he ever had time for politics. Robin Harper joined the Scottish Green Party in 1985 and famously became the first Green elected to Parliament in Great Britain in 1999. Having met Robin, I'm delighted to tell you that all his years in Parliament have done nothing to dampen his boyish enthusiasm or fade his iconic multicoloured scarf!


Dear Mr Harper - The Autobiography of Robin Harper has been described as "an entertaining book in which Robin's convictions, both Green and otherwise, come through almost subliminally: his message, because he certainly has one, is all the more powerful for that". It's a description that prompted me to ask Robin more about his book.

Robin, was writing an autobiography high on your agenda?I'd been approached a few times about a book, but the pressure of work at the Parliament was too high for me to contemplate this task before retirement. Thank heavens for an offer from Fred Bridgland, a highly acclaimed journalist and author, as it did seem to be a good idea to get something into print before the election this year.
What was Fred Bridgland's part in the writing of the book?Birlinn were very clear that they wanted the book in my voice. So Fred and I decided on an packed programme of interviews, many at his house and two very intense weekends of work at a writers' retreat on the north east coast of Scotland. The more personal chapters I wrote myself, but the bulk of the book was crafted by Fred on the back of our interview sessions and discussions. Fred has written acclaimed biographies of Jonas Savimbi and Winnie Mandela, and claims he was looking forward to a gentler subject. But the first murder appears on page 30 and a stoning to death on page 95!
How did you and Fred plan the book?I explained to Fred that my personal and political lives – even my teaching life – seemed to move on parallel tracks, with very few interconnecting points. So I didn't feel it was sensible to write the book chronologically. We decided that themes might work quite well, and Fred developed this further, interspersing the narrative with research and explanation that have added considerably to the interest of the text. My life in Orkney, my time in Ceylon, teaching in Kenya, my passionate feelings about trees and the marine environment and my political life – from the sinking of The Rainbow Warrior to 'Tripping up Trump' – all these and many other themes are explored, I hope with humour and a light touch.
The book has been described as an honest account of your life. Has that honesty caused you any difficulties with your political colleagues?My colleagues say they are enjoying it! Mainly, I hope it's a good read. The book focuses mainly on my personal experience and doesn't give a detailed account of my work for and with the Green Party over the last 25 years. This may be for another book.
When did your deeply held convictions on environmental issues first arise?I was interested in environment and wildlife from an early age. I still have drawings I made of birds and plants when I was 13, and some beautiful seashells I collected in Sri Lanka when I was 9. I've always loved being in the open air – mainly hill walking and sailing, and beachcombing on my own. Reading Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, and a book called Future Shock in the early 1970s alerted me to the alarming state of the world. I began to get more and more anxious. I subscribed to New Internationalist, but was still not inspired to take political action. It wasn't until 1985 and the sinking of Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior ship off Auckland, New Zealand, that I was galvanized into action. Rainbow Warrior was about to set off into the Pacific to protest against the French testing of nuclear weapons at Muroroa Atoll. Two French secret service operatives blew holes in the side of the ship, killing a young Dutch photographer who was on board. I joined the Scottish Ecology Party (as it was then), Greenpeace and World Wildlife Fund on the same day and have never looked back.
What did you enjoy most about writing the book?The challenge of working with a first-class journalist, who had a clearer sense of what was interesting in my life than I did, meant that I found out a great deal about my family that I didn't actually know. I had conversations with my two brothers that opened up all sorts of new insights into the lives of my parents and their relations, and even those of my brothers, to whom I have always been close.
What would you describe as the lowest point in your political career?Oddly, this was in the 2007 election, when I was returned with six new colleagues. I have always felt that the point of political activity is to do your very best to get your voice heard at every level – ultimately, to have an influence on government. We had the chance, two days after the election, of possible talks with the Labour Party, but I was unable to persuade my six new colleagues to even think about working with any of the other parties in the Parliament.
What would you describe as the highest point in your career?There is something very special about being the first person ever to do something. So I will always count my election to the Scottish Parliament as being the most exciting day of my career.
Can you tell us the inspiration behind the iconic scarf?In the early 1970s a little shop in St Stephen Street in Edinburgh called Number Two started selling stripey things of all sorts – sweaters, gloves, beanie hats and, of course, scarves. I liked the bright scarves and was also a great fan of Dr Who, in the Tom Baker incarnation. I still have the scarf I purchased back then. In 1999, when the Party was trying to shake off its image as being all muesli, sandals and sunflowers, there were some who suggested I stick with a sober-suited image, rather than mar it with a brightly-coloured knitted scarf. My attachment to the accessory was so strong, though, that I refused to dispense with it and it has since become – not entirely to my surprise – something of an icon.
Do you have a website? Do you have a blog? Do you Tweet?My website is currently being rebuilt. I don't yet blog or Tweet – but I'm planning to start a blog as soon as I get to grips with my new life.

Born 1940, Thurso, Caithness, Scotland, Robin has lived in Orkney, London, Sri Lanka, Moray, Aberdeen, Fife, Kenya, and Edinburgh. He got his Degree at Aberdeen University (MA, 1962) and taught in Glasgow, Fife, Kenya, Edinburgh. He was Rector of Edinburgh University 2000-03, Rector Aberdeen University 2004-07. Robin joined Scottish Green Party 1985. Became Co-convenor 1992-2008 and was the first Green to be elected to Parliament in Great Britain in 1999 (Scottish Parliament). He married Jenny Carter in 1994.
Dear Mr Harper is published by Berlinn Ltd in Hardback at £16.99 but is currently being sold on Amazon at £11.89 with free delivery - not to be missed!

Bagpipes & Bullshot Update - News and Reviews

It was all a bit of an experiment to e-publish to Amazon Kindle and this week's blog is an update on progress. It's been two weeks since Bagpipes & Bullshot was given an on-line launch and blog tour which, with the help of fellow bloggers, tweeters and facebook friends, saw it go from an Amazon ranking of 28,000 to reach number 19 in the bestselling women's fiction list and number 24 in Kindle bestselling romance. I'm pleased to tell you that high sales continued right through the following week and only now has Bagpipes & Bullshot left the Top 100. I'm hoping that with the Easter holidays coming up, the e-book buying public will help it to find its way back into the chart listings.  I'm excited to tell you that Bagpipes & Bullshot has been given some 5 star reviews on Amazon.co.uk and also on dot com. It also received a 5 star review on Romance Writers of America member Melanie Robertson King's blog. You can read the review here.

I'm currently awaiting a review to appear on the Quick Brown Fox Canada blog and I'll let you know as soon as it's up. Also this week, I was interviewed for our local newspaper, the Dumfries & Galloway Standard, and photographed with my two Westies Polly and Ruby. The headline read 'Romance Booms' and you can see the PDF here an the on-line link here



The very latest news is that Bagpipes & Bullshot is now available to buy and download from the Smashwords website in a format of your own choosing. Although, it is likely to be another week before it reaches the Apple iBookstore, Barnes & Noble, Sony, Kobo and other distribution outlet's catalogues.



To celebrate I'm running a competition. To be in with a chance of winning a free download of Bagpipes & Bullshot from Smashwords all you have to do is leave a comment in the box below and answer one question about the book. If you have a problem leaving a comment, as some people have in the past, then you can enter by email instead at: janice.horton@btinternet.comThe competition is open until 9am Friday 22nd April 2011.Tip: you can read a story description on the Smashwords site here.
Q. In what American State does Innes Buchanan meet Orley MacKenna?

Next Friday on this blog I'm interviewing Robin Harper, the first member of the Green Party to be elected into parliament. Robin has just had his autobiography Dear Mr Harper published by Birlinn and it has been described as "an entertaining book in which Robin's convictions, both Green and otherwise, come through almost subliminally: his message, because he certainly has one, is all the more powerful for that."
Not to be missed - see you Friday!

Author Interview with The Queen of Cosy Crime: Lesley Cookman

Lesley Cookman's latest book Murder to Music is a murder mystery set in the fictional village of Steeple Martin in Kent. It's the eighth title in the Libby Serjeant series, published by dynamic independent publishers, Accent Press. I caught up with Lesley just before launch day to ask her lots of writerly questions.
How long have you been writing and what was your first book?I've been writing for thirty years (can't quite believe it) and started with features for Which Computer. After that, I wrote for various business titles, branched out into short fiction after a friend gave me her book on how to do it, wrote pantomimes and finally, was commissioned by How To Books to write a book on how to write a pantomime. That was my first book.
What made you want to write crime fiction?I've been reading it since I was nine years old. My parents gave me the run of their bookshelves after I ran out of my own books. There wasn't as much reading material for children around then, and I'd exhausted everything there was. I still remember the thrill of saving up for the latest Famous Five book and walking the mile and a half to the bookshop on a Saturday afternoon. Now I'd just download it onto my Kindle! So I started reading my parents' books. Carter Dickson, John Dickson Carr (the same person), Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, Dorothy Sayers, Rex Stout. And others too obscure to mention. No Dame Agatha, though. So there I was, steeped in Golden Age detective stories. And the love has never left me.
Would you say cosy crime is an easier genre to write than, say, romantic fiction?I think they both have well defined structures in their traditional forms, but neither are easy to write. Let's face it, nothing is actually easy to write!
What can you tell us about your latest book, Murder to Music?It's the eighth in the Libby Sarjeant series. Libby is a former actress who lives in the village of Steeple Martin and paints pretty pictures for a friend's shop and gallery in the nearby seaside town of Nethergate. So far, so traditional.  She has a cast of friends and family who appear in most books, and each time a new character appears, he or she tends to become yet another serial character.  It is becoming harder to invent credible situations with which Libby can become involved, but I hope readers will suspend belief just that little bit in order to enjoy the stories.  This particular adventure concerns a supposedly haunted house.
Will there be more Libby Sarjeant novels?At least two more are contracted: Murder at The Manor due out in November, and Murder by Magic next May.
And will you ever write a different series? Or another sort of book?If ever I have the time!  And of course, if I'm spared....


Thanks for the interesting interview Lesley - and best wishes for your Murder to Music launch!
Lesley Cookman lives near the sea in Kent. She has written features, short fiction, pantomimes, a musical, a non-fiction book and numerous press releases. Murder to Music, the eighth in the Libby Sarjeant series, will be published on 11th April 2011.



Murder to Music out now in paperback £4.99 and Kindle: £5.74

Just click the links to go to:  Lesley's Website:   Lesley's Blog:   Accent Press: