Interview With Author Jade Grafton
Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I've been a storyteller since I was small—long before my handwriting was legible—and now, from my home in Derbyshire, I spend my free time crafting deliciously compelling, impossible mysteries – Hopefully! I have written one published book, a few unpublished guilt pleasures and a the odd labour of love that I've deemed unpublishable.
By day I run my own pet-sitting business and I share my life with my husband, three crazy dogs, and two step-children. My other loves in life are Cornwall, thrifting, reading or mostly growing my TBR pile and swimming.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest (debut) book is 'Penni In The Air.' Mostly inspired by my love for murder mysteries, the need to have my detective appetite satiated and my love for Cornwall, dogs and Psychology. This book is like a mille-feuille of everything that I love, though not quite as delicious!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I can't write in silence. I usually have to have a very loved show, one I've watched a thousand times, playing in the background.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Authors-wise my top will always be Agatha Christie and Gladys Mitchell. Two of the top female authors and mystery writers. My taste in book genres is very eclectic and I find that each book I read and genuinely miss reading once I'm finished will always remain with me. They all influence me in someway, books such as Christopher pikes 'Die Softly' had me sobbing, I re-read it often and it still makes me cry. Then there's Ali McNamara's 'A Secret Cornish Wish' that I fell so much in love with, two very different books that still influence me many years later.
What are you working on now?
I'm currently editing my second Penni In The Air book, writing the third and working on a separate series. I like to keep busy; I'm also very impatient and always want to work on my new ideas.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
This part of being an author, especially self-published, has been harder than writing the book, and even harder than editing the book! I couldn't say the best, not yet but I've heavily used Instagram and I've just discovered LibraryThing and Awesome Gang which have fantastic reviews! So I'm super excited to try these.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Dont stop.
If you get writer's block just write. Sometimes I find amongst all the static, something useful comes out.
Take a break.
If you don't write 100 words in one night, or write at all in a week its okay. Don't be angry or annoyed with yourself.
Remember its a marathon not a race, pace yourself, keep going and dont let anyone tell you you cant.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
'There's no such thing as cant' my husband says this to me a lot, there is always a way if you put your mind to it.
What are you reading now?
I'm a multi-book reader so I'm currently working on 'Murder at the House on the Hill' by Victoria Walters, The Inmate by Frieda Mcfadden and The Last Seance Agatha Christie collection.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Hopefully I will continue to self-publish my Penni In The Air mystery series and just continue to grow a fan base.
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 bring:
Curtain call – Agatha Christie
A Secret Cornish Wish – Ali McNamara
The weekend – Christopher Pike
The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde – Robert Lewis Stevenson
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