Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a historical fiction author who lives in Auckland, New Zealand. I have written five novels inspired by genealogy research into the immigrants who came to this country in the 19th century. I build a real life for my characters, based on real events wrapped around the bones of real people. The love, they laugh, they cry, they grieve and they leave something of themselves behind at the end of every story.
In particular, the 19th century is significant in our history because New Zealand is such a young country. Settlers didn’t start arriving until the 1840s and by the 1850s the European population still only stood at around 28000. After the Land Wars with the Maori in the 1860s immigrants began to arrive in their thousands. The period between 1880 and the turn of the century was, in essence, the birth of a new nation. There are hundreds of fascinating stories of those times that are worth sharing.
New Zealand is a stunningly beautiful country with an absorbing evolution. The people who came here came of their own free will in search of a better life. They worked hard, and developed a ‘can do’ attitude long before such a thing was heard of or became popular. They made do with what they had and developed something from nothing and by doing that often became world leaders in new ideas. It is their stories I tell.
And mine of course:
Gwenna
The Girl from County Clare – an IndieB.R.A.G medallion recipient/ Chill with a Book Readers’ Award.
The Cornish Knot
The Disenchanted Soldier
The Art of Secrets
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
‘Gwenna’. The book is loosely based on the true story of my great-grandmother who lived in the valleys of South Wales, although this story is set in New Zealand at the turn of the 20th century.
“Dreams and nightmares collide for Gwenna, the master confectioner. Her Pa is dead; her stepbrother Elias is in charge and the business is failing. Against all odds, will the plucky sweet maker from Wales fulfil her dreams?”
Falling in love with the cheeky and charming Johnno opens up opportunities for Gwenna, but every step of the way she is thwarted. If not by Elias, then by Johnno’s father and the restraints of a society with strict Victorian values, but Gwenna is irrepressible. Nothing will stand in her way.
Throughout the twists and turns of love and tragedy, Gwenna is a young woman with uncommon courage, determination and ambition in an era when women were expected to stay at home. There are people who love her and those who are willing to help her achieve her goal but, blind to anything that distracts her from creating her legacy, Gwenna risks losing the one thing that matters to her the most.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Not that I’m aware of, although my family will tell you that when I’m in ‘the zone’ the world could spin off its axis and I wouldn’t notice. I like silence when I’m writing, I reread everything I write, I stop when I’m temporarily stuck and go for a walk, or make myself something to eat. I drink coffee in the mornings and wine in the evenings. I fiddle with my hair when I’m thinking and I like to write on a laptop somewhere where it is sunny – usually at my antique writing desk in the corner of my family room, but it could be on the sofa in the lounge or anywhere else where there are no people and no noise.
I’m never lonely at these times because I have my characters to talk to and I listen to their woes and try to work out a way to help them out of their difficulties.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
In the days gone by… A long time ago, I enjoyed reading Jean Plaidy/Victoria Holt/Phillipa Carr novels. Those stories hooked me on historical fiction. I didn’t know it was the same author until years later. Barbara Erskine was another. I love the time-slip aspects of her novels.
I recently received an IndieB.R.A.G medallion and a Chill with a Book Award – both readers’ awards – for my novel ‘The Girl from County Clare’, and one reader compared my writing to that of Catherine Cookson. I couldn’t have been more pleased. I read Cookson many years ago too, and will be reading them again now I’ve been reminded of them. More recently, I’ve been inspired by the works of Diana Gabaldon and Deborah Challinor.
What are you working on now?
The ebook of ‘Gwenna’ is due for release on 24 July and the print book is expected in August, but already another story is percolating at the back of the mind. It will be a sequel to ‘The Girl from County Clare’ and ‘Gwenna’ combined focussing on the younger generation who wants to make their own mark in this new country of theirs. When it finally starts to burn I’ll put a few words onto the screen and see where they lead me.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I don’t have any one way. I try new things all the time. I do have my own website – an Amazon author page, which links to all my books.
I also have profile on my Facebook author page, and I’m on LinkedIn, Goodreads, and Pinterest.
I’m about to send out my first ever newsletter to tell people about ‘Gwenna’ as soon as the cover design is finalised.
You can sign up on my homepage of my website if you’d like to know more.
I do FB ads from time to time and I have Amazons ads running when I want to say something new.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Write what you love best, what you are passionate about. It doesn’t matter what the subject is. Don’t let people tell you to write ‘to the market’, unless the current trend is your passion. Your story, your voice is unique, work with what you have and don’t try to be something else until you feel the drive to change.
Edit until you bleed. Hire a good editor – or a series of editors – to go through development, proofing and layout, and get a good cover design.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Join a critique writing group.
I belong to a fabulous group who are honest, blunt, kind, caring and downright brilliant writers. We all support one another and wouldn’t dream of letting anyone write anything sub-standard. I’ve been with them for ten years and my writing has grown in depth and strength in that time because of them.
Followed by, get a good editor. Mine is worth her weight in gold.
What are you reading now?
A while ago, I decided that I was only going to read indie authors and/or New Zealand authors. I didn’t want to be one of the pack where we all read the same book. I wanted to find a gem amongst the unknown and I have certainly found some wonderful new authors.
Recent reads:
‘The Stationmaster’s Cottage’ by Phillippa Nefri Clarke https://www.amazon.com/Stationmasters-Cottage-Phillipa-Nefri-Clark/dp/0648013812
Kirsten McKenzie’s timeslip novels ‘Fifteen Postcards’ and ‘The Last Letter’, https://www.amazon.com/Kirsten-McKenzie/e/B01F0R5TPS/
V.L. McBeath’s ‘Hooks & Eyes’ https://www.amazon.com/VL-McBeath/e/B01N2TJWEX
and I love the books by Linda Gillard, and Deborah Challinor. A while back I read Shayne Parkinson’s series of novels about life in rural New Zealand. https://www.amazon.com/Shayne-Parkinson/e/B003RF8LDI
There are too many to name.
What’s next for you as a writer?
Thinking time to find the strand that links ‘The Girl from County Clare’ and ‘Gwenna’ together.
Or I might write try entirely different. I’m not sure yet, but I’ll write something. I love to write.
I’ll write more books, put them up on Amazon and hope that one day readers will love my stories enough that my name alone will inspire them to buy my next book. I’m allowed to dream.
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?
Only 3 or 4? What about 3 or 4 series of books?
For a stand-alone book – ‘Gone with the Wind’ by Margaret Mitchell – for the glorious sweeping drama, the love story, the historical authenticity, and much more. But even then there is a sequel – ‘Scarlett’ by Alexander Ripley.
The first in the Cross Stitch series by Diana Gabaldon – for the idea of time travel, the passion between Jamie and Claire (illogical as it might seem), and the period setting.
The Poldark series by Winston Graham – each book focuses on a different character. I love the Cornish setting but the characters are outstanding.
New Zealand authors: Deborah Challinor’s ‘Tamar’ series with White Feathers and Blue Smoke – her first set of stories. The later ones are terrific too.
or Jenny Pattrick’s ‘Denniston Rose’ series (and I really enjoyed ‘Skylark’).
And mine of course:
Gwenna
The Girl from County Clare – a B.R.A.G medallion recipient.
The Cornish Knot
The Disenchanted Soldier
The Art of Secrets
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