Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve always loved books. The natural progression for me from loving to read was loving to write; this started as stories and poems throughout childhood to finally publishing my first novel in 2013. In 2012 my husband suggested I try writing as a career, so I did just that and am loving it. I have a busy house with three children and a husband to organise, but when work and school occupy them I write. I’m currently writing my second book.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Family of Strangers was published in October 2013 and has seen a second edition published by Creativia this year.
I was inspired to write Family of Strangers by a dream I had and wanted to share. I’d also had the character of Lola in my head for some time and I really wanted to write about her. I enjoyed every minute of writing the tale and a number of people have asked for a sequel, although the book I’m currently writing is not connected to it in any way.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I don’t think I have any particularly unusual writing habits; my only real writing habit is drinking tea!
My writing style is to sit down and start writing and just see where the characters take me – I write the beginning and the end, then fill in the middle afterwards. Any twists and turns in the story seem to drop onto the keyboard as I go along. It’s probably not a very organised approach but it works for me.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love so many books and authors it would be hard to narrow it down; recent reads have included Jonas Jonasson, Kate Morton, Harper Lee, Andrea Levy, Suzanne Collins, Victoria Hislop, Kathleen Tessaro, Pam Jenoff, Kathryn Stockett and Lauren Kate.
I think every book I’ve ever read has influenced me in some way.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on a book about the West End in 1940. The idea came to me on a trip to the West End with one of my daughters and evolved during a family trip to Paris. The story follows two main characters who meet the morning after one of them sees their home reduced to rubble and continues through the hardship and bravery of living through the Blitz, as one of them unwittingly becomes entangled in something more sinister.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Creativia have provided great guidance on promotion. I have a Facebook page and Twitter account on which to post updates and I also subscribe to and use sites such as Awesomegang.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
My advice to new authors would be to write in whatever way works best for them and not to get tied up in trying to follow ‘how to’ books. All books have advice worth absorbing but each person needs to find what’s best for them.
Any writer needs (and would want to) read, read and read some more. I read books that grab my attention, books that are recommended (but may not have been my first choice) and books that help me to research a topic.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best writing advice I’ve heard is to write a book you’d like to read.
What are you reading now?
12 Years A Slave – Solomon Northup
What’s next for you as a writer?
After book two is finished I have a third already in mind, so that will start straight away!
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?
That’s a really hard question! One would be Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. As I have so many favourite books, I think I would have to take the opportunity to bring some ‘Classics’ or weighty tomes that I want to, but haven’t yet, read. Either that or I’d try to smuggle in a solar powered e-reader with hundreds of books on it!
Author Websites and Profiles
Barbara Willis Amazon Profile
Barbara Willis’s Social Media Links
Twitter Account