Interview With Author Deanne Adams
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been writing for years and years… although this is the first manuscript I have taken all the way through to publication. I will be trawling old files and notebooks to see what gems are lurking there!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My novel is called The Heretic’s Servant. It is a historical thriller set in the time of Queen Elizabeth I through a first-person narrator called Molly. I was inspired to write it by my fascination with old buildings, the secrets they contain, and the stories they have witnessed.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Nothing that would seem unusual to another writer… an endless supply of tea, a cat prowling around, and time spent staring at the wall while imagining the awful things my characters will do to each other!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Within my genre, Philippa Gregory is an influence, as she is for so many historical fiction writers. My influences are much wider, however. I was very young when I realised that the reason I loved Roald Dahl’s stories so much was that he didn’t pull any punches when he was making his characters suffer. I also enjoy non-fiction history books and not only for the purpose of research and inspiration.
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on a book to follow The Heretic’s Servant. It was originally intended to be a stand-alone novel. As so often happens, though, the story is both finished… and unfinished! I fear I may never leave my study again because I have ideas not only for book two but also books three and four.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m definitely a writer rather than a marketer or promoter, but actively seeking reviews seems to be the way forward for an independently published author, especially on Amazon and Goodreads. However, being active on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram seems wise so that readers can get to know the writer behind the book.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write. When you’ve written, write some more. Don’t strive for perfection in a single piece. Keep moving forward. After a while, look back at your early pieces and you’ll see the difference.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The best advice I have heard is KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid). This applies to everything in life, and most definitely to writing.
What are you reading now?
Right now I’m reading The Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks. It’s set in Eyam in Derbyshire during the Great Plague of 1666.
What’s next for you as a writer?
More books in the series of The Heretic’s Servant. I’m also interested in pursuing a Young Adult story with fantasy/fairy tale themes.
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?
Pride and Prejudice; The Other Boleyn Girl; Room; Matilda.
Author Websites and Profiles
Deanne Adams’s Social Media Links