Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in the Isle of Man, it’s a great place to live and lots of people have heard about it because of the TT motorbike races, it’s pretty peaceful the rest of the year! I have travelled all over the world with my career, often being away for more than a month at a time so always good to come home.
I have actually written 18 books if I include my Tips Bookelts; I used to write for a specialist training publishers, writing off the shelf training sessions and guidance for people managing the training function and delivering training. My favourite was probably ‘Managing difficult situations involving people at work’. I also have a range of Tips Booklets which I originally developed to give out on courses as handouts e.g. 50 Tips for Managing Change. They are available as downloads on Amazon.
I’ve always written fiction and poetry but really going for it was always on the back burner, a few years ago I had some health problems and had to step down from my job, after a few months of moping about I realised what an opportunity I had. I was determined to step away from the corporate world and bought myself a pink laptop to make my point and began writing fiction.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called, ‘When Love Unlocks Time’ and plunges us into the intrigue and danger of the Tudor Court in Henry VIII’s time. I have always loved that period of history and also always loved the concept of Time Travel, who wouldn’t want the chance to wipe the slate clean and start again? In my own Time Travel scenarios I normally err on the side of caution and plan to be invisible!
I was also fascinated by the bizarrely huge value of spices in Tudor Times, I honestly believe that I first learned about this from Blue Peter (Children’s TV programme) however my husband is convinced that I found out about it at the Eden Project in Cornwall! We’ll just have to agree that influences come from many sources.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Interestingly, I have to have radio 3 on when I write, classical music isn’t my normal preference and I usually like silence when concentrating but there’s something about having it playing in the background that really works.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Oh heavens, so many. Let’s start with Enid Blyton, then the Heidi books, Little Women,What Katy Did and David Copperfield before we move on to the much missed Terry Pratchett and Miss Read. Then we have the astounding and formidable intellects of Hilary Mantel and Margaret Atwood. I saw ‘Bring up the Bodies’ and ‘Wolf Hall’ performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company – astounding. That thought brings me to Arthur Miller and Death of a Salesman – also performed by the RSC. As my daughter was growing up I found some new authors, the wonderful Jaqueline Wilson and of course, J K Rowling, I have been to Universal Studios in Florida to get the full Harry experience! In Terry Pratchett’s ‘The Unseen Academicals’ there is the most poignant description of the crab bucket I have ever come across – I can’t say more – if you haven’t read it, buy it today. I don’t dare look at my bookshelves while I write this – who could I leave out?
What are you working on now?
I am working on the sequel to ‘When Love Unlocks Time’, The Marchant Family are now mixed up in a very controversial topic, I’ll give a hint when I tell you that it’s not currently legal in the UK although it is in Switzerland. The main time line jumps to present day but there are many roads to walk down and patterns to weave yet so I won’t go into too much detail at this point
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still learning about this. I have been amazed at how supportive people have been and how much individuals have done to promote When Love Unlocks Time through sharing with their own friends in different countries via FB. I was surprised to learn that reviews on UK and US Amazon sites are kept separate so very good to be able to quote from both reviews. I absolutely love what Askdavid.com has done with my page therehttp://askdavid.com/reviews/book/historical-romance/14889
This is the first time I have promoted using Awesomegang but it came so highly recommended by people that have had success with it and also just really like their approach that I wanted to try it.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Hmm, that’s a tough one. For me, if I have some inspiration to write something other that what I am officially working on, I heed it. This week for example I have captured words about my guardian angels, they sit on the roof of my car with machine guns which they raise in a way that shows they mean business when anyone tries to tailgate me. This poem may never be read by another soul but it’s what I needed to write and play around with right now. This may not be good advice for some authors who need the discipline of working through their assignments as set though!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Two things,
‘A sentence a day writes a book’ – so sorry I don’t know where I read it.
‘If you’re writing, you’re a writer, you don’t need to have published anything’ – again, not sure where I heard it but it’s so true.
What are you reading now?
The Year of The Flood by Margaret Atwood, this is my third read and I love it!
What’s next for you as a writer?
Hmm, good question. I’ve written non fiction and poetry and am currently writing fiction and poetry, that may be as far ahead as I can go in terms of what comes next, it’s still new for me to have the luxury of time and I am really appreciating it.
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?
Oh my goodness, dreadful question, whatever I say now I will definitely have a different opinion tomorrow! OK, I will take Hilary Mantel’s new book which I have on pre-order, The Mirror and The Light; I will take one of Terry Pratchett’s where Granny Weatherwax is the main character and I’ll take The Miss Read omnibus of her last three books.
Author Websites and Profiles
Camilla Cornish Amazon Profile
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