Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in Yorkshire, UK with my husband, two teenagers and a cat that alternates between being obsessively affectionate and viciously psychotic (antiseptic cream is always close at hand). When I’m not working or writing, I love to read, enjoy a good coffee in a quiet bookshop, and appreciate the company of family and close friends.
I write contemporary romance with old-fashioned heart. I firmly believe there will always be a place for romantic fiction, no matter how fast-paced and cynical the world becomes.
Warm Hearts in Winter is my first published romance, but I have more on my computer waiting in the wings! My second romance, Holding Back, will be out later this year.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Warm Hearts in Winter is set near Haworth (home of the Bronte sisters). When I was young, my family visited the village every year near Christmas. On the drive, I would watch the passing scenery and wonder who lived in those old stone houses looking out over the beautifully wild landscape. That childhood imagination eventually came up with Jack, a widowed novelist who uses his old stone house as a retreat for solitude, writing, and nursing his broken heart – until temporary personal assistant Abby comes along …
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Any habit at all would be good! I snatch time as and when I can, but writing has been taking a back seat recently as I learn more about marketing, social media and all the other stuff that goes with having a book published.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
For tone and phrasing – P.G. Wodehouse.
For romance – Mary Stewart’s books are charmingly old-fashioned now but I love the feisty heroines, mystery and evocative descriptions. More contemporary, of course, Nora Roberts is hard to beat for pure romance and a good helping of sizzle!
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on edits for Holding Back, my next romance to be published.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m still quite new to all this so I’ve been tackling things one at a time. I have my own website and blog, and have guested on fellow authors’ blogs. Then there are Goodreads, Facebook, and lately Tsu and now Twitter, plus a few other promo sites. It’s hard to know at this stage which will be best.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Believe in your work – but be honest with yourself about where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Also, be aware that getting published doesn’t end with writing your book. There’s a whole world of marketing, social media, blogging etc. that goes with it.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Develop a thick skin!
What are you reading now?
I’m currently re-reading A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Informative and funny – what more could I ask for?
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ll be starting my next romance, but I haven’t yet settled on one of the many plots I have floating around in my head!
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?
The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger
Notes from a Big Country by Bill Bryson
Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen by P G Wodehouse
The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
Author Websites and Profiles
Helen Pollard Website
Helen Pollard Amazon Profile
Helen Pollard Author Profile on Smashwords
Helen Pollard’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account