Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a British author who lives in Bristol, UK. I write psychological suspense novels; so far I have published three, with the fourth one due later this year. I’m fascinated by the workings of the mind, and strong emotions provide fertile material for novelists!
The first draft of my first novel, entitled His Kidnapper’s Shoes, was written whilst travelling in Bolivia. I was inspired by an impending birthday along with a healthy dose of annoyance at having procrastinated for so long in writing a novel. His Kidnapper’s Shoes was published in both paperback and e-book format in 2013, followed by my second novel, entitled Sister, Psychopath. My third novel, Guilty Innocence, has now been published, and like my first two, features my home city of Bristol.
Before turning my hand to writing, I worked mainly as an accountant, with a diversion into practising as a nutritional therapist. Diet and health remain high on my list of interests, along with travel. Accountancy does not, but then it never did. The urge to pack a bag and go off travelling is always lurking in the background! When not writing, going to the gym, practising yoga or travelling, I can be found seeking new four-legged friends to pet; animals are a lifelong love!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My last published book is called ‘Guilty Innocence’. I was inspired by the idea of how it must feel to find out someone you love has a secret criminal past. Not only that, but you discover they’ve been convicted of one of the most serious of all crimes – child murder. Then I decided to add a twist – what if the man concerned was innocent? This laid the foundations for the characters of Natalie Richards and Mark Slater.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
No, I don’t think so, although that may change as I slide further into my role as eccentric author! I’ll have to report back on this one in a year or two…
What authors, or books have influenced you?
If I had to choose three influential authors, I’d go with George Orwell, George Gissing and Iris Murdoch. Amazing talent, incredible novels. As for books, I doubt I could choose from the zillions that I’ve read. They’ve all helped me in some way. If a novel is good, I can learn from it. If it’s bad, there are still lessons lurking in the pages. I read voraciously, and I believe it’s an important part of being a novelist.
What are you working on now?
I’ve just finished writing my fourth novel, provisionally entitled ‘Training Room’. I’ve put that to one side for a while so I can tackle it with a fresh eye when it comes to the editing/revision process. Meanwhile, I’m writing extra blog posts and planning a novella, which I’ll give away on my website in exchange for sign-ups for my newsletter.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’ve found joining Amazon Select the best method by far, using their free and Countdown promotions. Select delivers visibility to authors like nothing else, which makes sense given Amazon’s clout in the marketplace. I use Amazon in conjunction with various newsletters and blogs to spread the word about when I’m doing a promotion.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Remember the well-worn analogy of eating an elephant – one bite at a time. To those who’ve not yet done it, the idea of writing a novel can seem overwhelming. A hundred thousand words, or even more? No way! It’s less hard than you imagine, though. Remember the elephant. Keep writing, day after day, and before long, you’ll have the first draft done. Fifteen hundred or so words a day is very achievable, meaning you’ll be finished in a little over two months for an average length offering. Also, plan your novel; make notes for the structure, plot, characters, everything. You’ll find it keeps the dreaded writer’s block at bay like nothing else! Finally, believe in yourself. You’ll always get doubters, negative Nellies who’ll tell you you’re chasing rainbows by wanting to write a book. Ignore them and do it anyway. Who are they to crush your dreams?
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
For writers? Let’s see – probably to prune excess words ruthlessly. Less is more when it comes to writing, I believe. Readers don’t appreciate pointless padding.
What are you reading now?
I’m in between books. I’ve just finished ‘Night Dancer’ by Chika Unigwe, and am about to start ‘Prophecy’ by J.F. Penn. Two very different books, but then my reading tastes are quite wide.
What’s next for you as a writer?
The next milestone will be publishing my fourth novel later this year. Besides that, I’m keen to keep up my blogging schedule, as creating new posts for my blog is something I really enjoy. I get lots of kind comments about my blog, so I’m hoping I’m doing something right!
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?
Hmm, let’s think. ‘1984’ by George Orwell is a long-time favourite of mine, although possibly a little bleak for a desert island! I enjoyed ‘The Sea, The Sea’ by Iris Murdoch very much when I first read it, along with ‘Mirage’ by Andrea Newman’ so I’d probably take those two in order to re-read them. Finally, for light relief I’d pick anything by Lee Child. I love his thrillers!
Author Websites and Profiles
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