Author Interview with Stacy Townend
Welcome Readers toanother installment of our author interview series. Today we have the pleasureof chatting with Stacy T. Townend, author of two historical fiction books.
JMR-Welcome to theBooks Delight, Stacy. Tell our readers where you live, what you do for fun andwhat does the perfect day look like?
STT- I live inHuddersfield, West Yorkshire. I enjoy reading and supporting other authors.Spending time with my wife after a busy working week. We enjoy going for a walkwith our little Westie & maybe calling for a beer at a local pub. Spendingtime planning our holidays. 3 booked so far for 2024. The first of which isthis month for my birthday.
JMR-What’s yourfavorite historical time period? Why?
STT- I have a few, ofcourse I love the era I write about with Mercia, Northumberland and Vikingraiders scouring the lands. I also enjoy reading books around the Romanconquest of Britain. I still have a tender spot for the Napoleonic era thebattles and fights of the wars.
JMR-Who is yourfavorite historical figure? Why? If you could ask them one question, what wouldit be?
STT- Wooo greatquestion, I think I would like to meet Lord Wellington & ask him about hisearlier military career during India. Particularly the battle of Assaye, inlater life he claimed it was his finest battlefield accomplishment.
JMR- How did you cometo be a writer of historical fiction?
STT- By pure accident.I have been fortunate to support authors new and established with advancereviews and beta reads. This provided me with a new set of online friends andsome great reading. One author MJ Porter whose series I was currently readingasked me if I could pick a character from the book for another series who wouldI pick. I provided some notes and plot idea. MJ liked it and said why don’t youhave a go yourself. I laughed to myself sat on the idea for around 6 monthsthen decided to have a go. 10 months later I had my first book ready and withsupport from MJ had it formatted and a book cover. It was a joy writing the 1st book.I never realized how much work a writer had to do to bring the joy of a storyto readers. I had never considered writing historical fiction. I used to makeup stories for my children and have a couple written down, though I have neverprogressed them.
JMR- How does your ‘dayjob’ impact or influence your writing?
STT- I have worked formy local council 21 years and held the role of Electoral Officer I currentlywork as a Recycling Officer, within this role I undertake talks &presentations to schools and adult community groups. I also have to writereports and create workshops & presentations. I think my current role hashelped me become more confident and aware of my own skill sets which gave methe boost to actually try and write my first book. Writing is a very difficultjourney with high & low points, targets to meet and accuracy. My currentrole is similar with deadlines on reports that must be accurate. Intense busyperiods with normal duties and meetings late at night. Getting used to my rolemade planner my writing schedule so much easier.
JMR- Did you visitanyone of the places in your book? Where did you feel closest to yourcharacters?
STT- I visited asection of Offa’s Dyke last summer near Chirk (Wales). Close to the border ofEngland and not far from Holt & Farndon which appear in the books. I drovethrough Holt though did not have time to stop. Visiting the dyke and standingon it, looking at how big it was. It was a great feeling and provided me someadditional background and a change in the plot of book 2 “The Revenge”. It alsoprovided me additional work/plot notes for the 3rd installment “TheJustice.” I also visited Gargrave near Skipton which provided some additionalstory notes for book 2. Nothing like standing in an historical place to feedyour imagination. As I stood upon the dyke near Chirk I envisaged myself asOswi with his faithful warriors around him as the enemy attacked screaming andshouting shield, sword, and axe in hand. Visiting locations is very worthwhileand stimulates your writing ideas.
JMR- Stacy, tell usabout your new book, The Revenge.
STT- The Revengecontinues with the story of Oswi a loyal warrior of Merica. The action startswith King Offa, Oswi and his warriors heading south to battle King Wattus andthe Heastingas tribe who are invading the Sussex lands. The story moves on andis focused on Oswi, Afan of Powy’s & Healfden of the raiders. The threestrands are all seeking Revenge from the battles and deaths in The Betrayal(Book 1). Other new characters are drawn into the fray. Who will survive andwho will get the revenge they seek.
JMR-What projects doyou have in the pipeline?
STT- I am currentlytrying my hand at a small novella. The story will focus one of the newcharacters of The Revenge. It will be a stand-alone story but, in the timeline,fits easily between Book 2 & 3. Book 3 will be started in spring of thisyear and will continue with the adventures of Oswi and his family & friendsas the construction of the dyke begins. The story will focus on Oswi and hiswarriors along with Afan of Powy’s. Ihad originally planned on three books for the series The Mercian Tales. ThoughI have some additional ideas to expand the series should they prove successful.I am currently undertaking some research about the dyke before I start thewrite.
JMR- Tell our readershow to find you on social media and the web.
STT- I can be found onFacebook & X via my name Stacy Townend. I am also on Threads/Discord/Goodreadsunder my name. https://t.co/AWghDTeU6GThis is the link to my account on WordPress. I use all of the above to reachout about my books.
JMR- What question wereyou hoping I’d ask but didn’t?
STT-
JMR- Thank you, Stacy,for stopping by. Your books look really great! Readers, I’ve included a link toStacy’s books below. Please be sure to check them out.
