Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
A London girl originally, I went to Oxford University to study English. After a couple of years travelling (and misbehaving) round Australia and NZ, I returned to London, and spent the next ten years working in TV. Writing, producing and presenting, I did the lot – pretty badly, I have to admit! But I had a hell of a lot of fun.
I’m now bringing up three children in the cathedral town of Salisbury, writing books and trying to ride a bike. (For the first time in nearly thirty years, I swung my leg over a saddle last week. It nearly killed me).
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Death at Daytime was inspired by the years I spent working in TV in London. The people I met were either brilliant, terrifying or nuts, but it made for an interesting life.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I like to listen to pumping music on my earphones – it gets the blood flowing to my brain! Current favourite is the soundtrack to 22 Jump Street…not very classy (but I get to picture Channing Tatum in a vest, which helps)
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love reading mystery books – started on Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys when I was a girl; worked my way through Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Ruth Rendell and Wilkie Collins. Now I’m a fan of the Daisy Dalrymple series – great, cozy comfort-reading – and really enjoyed Tony Parsons’ debut detective novel, The Murder Bag.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on the second book in my Tess Darling Series, working title “The Jazz Hands of Hell”.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m not sure yet, still figuring it out. I’ve tried a couple of free runs, with good results. Now I’m trying a discount promotion. Next, I’m planning to distribute a stack of ‘Tess Darling’ beermats, mostly to furnish an excuse to visit every pub in Soho…
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing – even if it’s just a few words a day. It’ll cheer you up. And don’t worry about whether you’ll get published or not. It’s a changing world out there – the old rules don’t apply. You don’t need to wait for agents and publishers’ permission any more -just your own (which – I know – can be hard enough to get).
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
My Dad used to be a High Court Judge, but now lives very happily in the country, rearing sheep, and cooking supper for my Mum. He is a very good, wise man, and whenever things get tough for me or my siblings, he says, “You’ve just got to keep plodding on.” He’s right – what else can we do?!
What are you reading now?
“Ivanhoe” by Walter Scott.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Book 3 in the Tess Darling series – I plan to keep ’em coming!
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?
Ooh, good question. How about – The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde, ditto Shakespeare – and Jilly Cooper!
Author Websites and Profiles
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