Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I was born in the UK, near Brontëland. Graduating from the University of Leicester with a degree in English, I taught in the USA, UK and France, where I now live.
My first forays into fiction writing (age seven) give a hint of literary influences and reveal a distinctive style. ‘The Phantom Ghost Girl of Raven Castle’ begins: ‘‘Vicky Dare, the girl detective and her big Alsatian, Rex…”, then stops. ‘The Ruined Cottage’ is longer (“…it was a favourite haunt of mine and I never grew tired of it.”) In ‘The adventures of Carlotta’ “…she dashed to the door her face white with horror” while, surprisingly, in ‘The Secret at the Ball’ “…a secret compartment was revealed! There glittering lay the Lane jewels!”
(Yes, I am a hoarder, incapable of parting with dog-eared notebooks.)
Aged ten, I developed a passion for the theatre, and as a teacher wrote plays for students. ‘A Midsummer’s Nightmare’, where Shakespeare’s lovers get into time warps in the wood, meeting Dracula and Little Red Riding Hood, was a tricky favourite. Everyone wanted to play Dracula. I had to wield authority. (Those with pointed canines had an advantage).Later, unable to find a textbook suitable for adult ESL students, I wrote one myself. Beguiled by a work of French literary criticism about American writers in Paris, I had a go at translating it.
(Hoarder, bossy, dilettante.)
Recently the ghosts of Vicky Dare and Carlotta gave me a nudge and I returned to fiction writing. ‘Biarritz Passion’ was inspired by the Basque country and its magic. (Go see!) As an Amazon fan, I had a go at self-publishing. After wrestling with formatting rules and sweating during the on-line tax interview, I finally hit the ‘submit’ button in March, thus proving that even non-techies can do it.
I’m now working on Book 2 of the series, aided and distracted by good friends, good food, and a wonderful partner. And there’s that tempting little project involving the transformation of a hill of brambles into a Mediterranean garden…
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is a work of fiction, a contemporary romance entitled ‘Biarritz Passion’. It’s the first in a planned series of three – French Summer Novels.
When I first came to live in France I took a holiday in the French Basque country, specifically in Biarritz. I defy anyone who visits the region not to fall madly in love with the area! It’s so… well, go and visit!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
From an early age I was a member of a theatre group. Theatre and drama have remained very much part of my life. So when writing, I close the door of my study, pace up and down and act out the dialogue(in a low voice). Fortunately no one has actually witnessed this bizarre phenomenon as I am always ready to leap back to the desk and pretend to be having a coughing fit if anyone opens the door…
What authors, or books have influenced you?
How many words are allowed? I have to start with the Brontes. Born and brought up in that area, all budding romantics fall under their spell. You only have to set foot on the moors, see the purple heather stretching to the horizon and hear the curlews circling in the sky to fall into the Bronte trance.
I’ll just mention two other books, Sentimental Education by Flaubert (yes it was on Woody Allen’s list of what makes life worth living in ‘Manhattan’) and ‘Life and Death in Shanghai’ by Nien Cheng – ‘the triumph of the human spirit over mindless inhumanity’ to quote The Washington Post. A book that everyone should have on their bedside table.
What are you working on now?
I am currently writing the second volume in the French Summer Novels series. This continues the story of Edward and Caroline, and develops the character of Jill, mentioned in the first book, Biarritz Passion.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Biarritz Passion was self-published in March 2014. I am like Alice in Wonderland, lost, amazed and still trying to figure out how to promote – help, anybody?
Do you have any advice for new authors?
If I can do it, you can do it. KDP is a great way to kick off. After that, in terms of marketing, read, listen, experiment and cross all your fingers and toes.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
I’m a great fan of David Hockney. Early in his career he painted a slogan on a chest of drawers which he could see when he opened his eyes in the morning: ‘get up and work immediately’. Great advice for layabeds like myself.
What are you reading now?
‘Roma’ by Steven Saylor. Fascinating. Just finished ‘The Rosie Project’ by Don Tilman – I laughed, I cried. Wonderful.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Three books are planned for the French Summer Novels. Kicking about in a drawer is the draft of another book, also set in France, but more of a thriller than a romance. Who knows?
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 Collected Works of Shakespeare’. I could read them forever and still learn new things. I could learn them by heart and keep my brain fizzing. I could act every role, and keep myself entertained.’Notes from a Small Island’ by Bill Bryson. It would remind me of my native country and keep me in stitches. How does he do it? Also, Proust ‘In Search of Lost Time’, French version. One of those books on everyone’s to read list. I could read it in French then scratch out a translation in the sand, keeping myself busy till that ship came along and rescued me.
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