Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am a full-time writer living in the Pyrenees Atlantique region of France although I am originally from the quaint medieval city of Salisbury in the UK. I love exploring this mountainous region and want to set a book here, the scenery is too beautiful to waste.
I divide my time between writing my books in my own name (13 books so far but I have nearly finished the 14th) and ghostwriting books for clients. This keeps me pretty busy and the creative cells turning. I am also the editor of http://creativecompetitor.com a successful resource site for writers globally. The site was borne out of my love for creative writing and I had the idea to help others by using my experiences as a college tutor and published writer. I have had the great pleasure of watching it grow daily and we now provide many services for authors as well as fun writing opportunities.
My passion is writing fiction although I get little time to indulge in fictional works – I am an ideas person so I keep note of my ideas just in case I can use them at a later date. I am lucky because I can turn my hand to writing non-fiction too and I have to admit, I love research.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book was: Emotional Abuse – Get Out of My Head and Out of My Bed! I have always been heavily involved with self-development – having written workshops and courses for clients and hosted many in the past but, when it came to romantic liaisons, I kept experiencing some very unhealthy and manipulative relationships.
It took me a long time to put this book together. It was quite a painful writing experience and so, probably one of the hardest books I have ever written. It’s very personal in that I write about some of my own experiences because I really wanted to be able to reach out to other women, share my own emotional angst and say you are not alone. It gives a lot of hope I think for other women. There’s life after emotional abuse. I’ve had some good feedback and lots of women have shared their own experiences with me.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I used to take my dictaphone out with me when walking and had many strange looks as I would use it every time an idea popped into my head – especially if I was capturing information- like blood and weapons for a possible murder mystery.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I have so many favourite authors but ones who have had the most influence on my writing career have been Agatha Christie and Mary Stewart. Both very different in terms of writing style but they had the ability to hook the readers and to keep the pages turning.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a book which reveals my favourite writing tips and tricks for bringing characters to life. I used to teach Creative Writing and Journalism at Wiltshire college in the UK but I like to think I specialise in characterisation, I think it’s so important. You can have a great plot but if the characters are not compelling and lifelike, the reader will soon lose interest.
My new book – Creative Writing – Create Living, Breathing Characters has a multitude of examples and in-depth information on how to build a character from the basic concept through to adding in those unique character traits. It’s in the final editing stage and will be published very soon.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I have always had a great deal of success promoting my books through Twitter but I do recognise the value of marketing from lots of different angles. I think it’s about finding the marketing trick that works for you. It’s a competitive market out there and authors these days have to be prepared to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in with book promotion.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
It’s important to keep writing, to keep creating new books but to always put heart and soul into each one. There will always be people who do not like your books, as horrible as it is, it’s a fact of life. But I believe that as long as the writer has put 100% effort into their book, they should be proud of being called an author.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
To keep writing and to never give up.
What are you reading now?
I am reading Patricia Cornwell’s The Bone Bed. I have been a huge fan of her books throughout the years and so I am desperately trying to find the time to sit back and to lose myself in this novel.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Just to keep on writing. I love it. I am passionate about the written word and I really do live and breathe the writing life. I have some more self-improvement books to write and I would also like to complete my second novel which is entitled: Who Killed Kendra Laine? The first novel was written in a frenzied 30 days. It was an attempt to show my writing students what could be done if you really set your mind to it. It was a tough book to write but I loved the challenge. The book was called Who Killed September Falls? (Just in case you want to check it out). I have since taken one of the characters and placed her in her own series. I think when you get a strong character and one that can be developed it’s good to do so.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I would want to read Flesh and Blood by Patricia Cornwell, Bones Never Lie by Kathy Reichs, The Monogram Murders (Agatha Christie) by Sophie Hannah and, Dark Witch -The Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy – Book 1 by Nora Roberts.
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