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Mathreyi Kamoor – Q&A

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Maithreyi Karnoor

Maithreyi Karnoor

Maithreyi Karnoor is a poet, award-winning translator, and recipient of the Charles Wallace India Trust Fellow in creative writing and translation at Literature Across Frontiers, University of Wales Trinity Saint David. She has been shortlisted for The Lucien Stryk Asian Translation Prize for A Handful of Sesame, her translation of a Kannada novel. She is a two-time finalist for The Montreal International Poetry Prize. She lives in Bangalore, India.

Maithreyi can be found at:
Twitter: @MaitreyiKarnoor

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

I was a published translator when I wrote Sylvia. Translation is intensely creative work. Thanks to the ease and control I had gained over words in the process, writing my own novel seemed like the next step. All I had to do was create a story and allow it to tell itself. It didn’t happen as a moment of reckoning, however. It was gradual. It wasn’t before I was almost midway into it did I realise I was writing a novel.

What came first the characters or the world?

Wordplay, puns, and clever use of language are important for me in literature. I seek it as a reader and it is an intuitive part of my writing. The character of Bhaubaab as a homophone for baobab came to me first when I was living in Goa and listening to the Konkani language being spoken all around me. ‘Bhau’ is Konkani for brother and ‘baab’ is the respectful address for a gentleman. When put together, it sounds like the great African tree. That’s how a character by that name who had a deep connection with the tree was born. Goa’s history with Africa gave him a plausible backstory. And then, the world I have known grew around this character rather organically.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

Because I had some experience publishing translations, I didn’t have to go through the exact trials and tribulations of a debut writer when I sought to publish Sylvia for the first time. I had a fair idea of how to go about it. Kanishka Gupta (who has agented both the Booker wins of 2022) agreed to be my agent and he got me a deal within a few months of submitting the manuscript. But the first edition of my book came out at the height of the pandemic which was less than an ideal time – for life in general and book releases in particular. I’m thankful the book is getting a second chance with the new international edition. I was sponsored by the Charles Wallace fellowship and Literature Across Frontiers to speak at the London Book Fair last year. I met someone from Neem Tree Press there This edition came out of that meeting.

How long did it take to write?

It took me about 10 months to write. I wrote sporadically as I came out of a bad marriage, moved cities, found work and the will to go on. Writing was the only meaningful thing in my life at that time.

Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?

Gosh no! I need absolute silence to write. But I listen to Hindustani classical and semi-classical music at other times. I prefer vocals to instrumental music. I also listen to old Hindi film music.

How many publishers turned you down?

I don’t know for certain really. My agent told me two houses turned it down before Westland signed it on in India. But he may have been muffling the blow. Anyway, I was so excited to get a deal even as I was bracing myself for a hellishly long wait, that I didn’t register the rejections. I had pitched it to an independent publisher in the UK earlier (to an email address that the brother-in-law of a colleague who knew somebody had got for me) who sent me a kindly worded rejection. I had left it at that when Neem Tree Press happened.

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

Sylvia

Sylvia

The title of the Indian edition is ‘Sylvia, Distant Avuncular Ends.’ My uncle asked me if I wrote the book to express my displeasure with him over something. I told him I hated the colour of the dress he bought me for my 5th birthday.

On a serious note, I have received largely positive reactions. I was told my experiment with the form was bold. People have written to tell me they found many instances in the novel very relatable. It is not just the story of the characters, it is also a story of the India I know and it is gratifying that many agree with how I see it. One reviewer, however, suggested I didn’t know what I was doing.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

I love it when people send me photos of my book in bookshops in far-flung cities. It’s a great feeling to know I have travelled far and wide vicariously through my words.

What can you tell us about your next book?

I recently completed a collection of short fiction – a work of social satire – called Gooday Nagar. The stories are set in different towns in India all of which are called Gooday Nagar. The themes and material for each one is as different as it can be from the others: while one is a comedy ghost story about a hoover salesman in preliberation smalltown India, another one set in the pandemic is about a girl with vitiligo who sees the patches on her skin as maps of the world and aspires to travel to all these places, and another one about a playwright who writes hecklers into his political play to pre-empt real hecklers with darkly humourous consequences, another one is about a man who is cured of his erotic fantasies by gobi manchurian, and another one is a post-dystopian fantasy where everything is made of cake!

Do you take notice of online reviews?

Yes. I’m also practicing the spell that causes bad reviewers to be reborn as toads.

Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?

I think strict compartmentalisation of literature into genres is little more than an academic endeavour meant to keep students busy. I feel it shouldn’t be a writer’s concern. The act of writing should be free from prejudices or constraints (unless you are an OuLiPo writer; then, you need constraints). Some of my favourite writers use elements of science fiction, fantasy, magic, humour, crime and whatnot in their prose and still their writing is sheer poetry. And then, some boringly ‘literary’ writers never get over quiet navel-gazing in their works. Sylvia was my first book where – although I experimented with the form – I might have played it safe with the realism in it. But in Gooday Nagar, you can see some strain on the leash.

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I wrote subtitles for films, I wrote ad-copy, I taught in a school, I edited translations of textbooks, I stretched my savings, I cat-sat expecting to be paid but was made to pay rent to the cat owner instead, I proved myself to be a rubbish farmer by writing more poems about crops than tending to them. I now teach writing to design students in a college in Bangalore.

Which author(s) inspire you?

Salman Rushdie, Kurt Vonnegut, P G Wodehouse, Bruce Chatwin, Mark Twain, Arundhati Roy, Amitav Ghosh, Italo Calvino, Rhys Hughes, Gabriel García Márquez, Goscinny and Uderzo, Bill Watterson, Bendre and Shrinivas Vaidya (in Kannada), Geetanjali Shree… the list is eclectic, meandering, and endless.

Which genres do you read yourself?

I read everything that is beautifully written without paying heed to the genre. I think speculative fiction ought to be declassified as such because – if you have been paying attention to the absurdist upheavals in the world in recent years – speculation is the new reality. I like my dystopian fiction presented with dry wit rather than morbid melancholy. If we are all going to die as consumer zombies in surveillance states let’s be clever and funny while we can.

I don’t read much non-fiction to be honest. At the end of the day, I need a good story.

What is your biggest motivator?

The promise of a daydream. The need for silence in chaos.

What will always distract you?

Bills.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

I am not much of a visual thinker. So, I wouldn’t be able to think of a visual metaphor for my book if asked to do so at the beginning. What works best for me is the option to choose from a selection of designs. I have been very lucky in that sense with my publisher. I’m absolutely chuffed with the cover of Sylvia. I love the bright, refreshing image that speaks as much as it intrigues. I chose the colours of the motif over the white background.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Absolutely. I grew up in northern Karnataka in a town that was so small even gossip wouldn’t get distorted doing the rounds. I lived on a farm with my parents and grandparents and no one my age to play with. My grandfather was a retired English teacher and he read all the time. I was fascinated by how he sat quietly for hours with little more than his eyes moving over a book. I began reading in order to imitate him.

What were your favourite childhood books?

Growing up in a smalltown with no bookshops and one library with little or no children’s literature, I just read what I found. I used my grandfather’s library card to borrow works of Agatha Christie, PG Wodehouse, and the classics. I liked Dickens, Mark Twain, George Eliot, Thackeray and R L Stevenson over Jane Austen and the Bronte Sisters (whom I learned to appreciate as a more aware woman in later life). I read Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children when I was 11. It was more out of a need to look as important as my grandfather rather than an emotional or sensible maturity for the book. I have been meaning to reread it as an adult but it is yet to happen. I did read the occasional Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, and Enid Blyton – hand-me-downs from distant urban cousins. I read Asterix and Tintin that were serialised in a popular weekly magazine. I read Amar Chitra Katha and had a subscription for Tinkle.

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

I love Literati, the bookshop run out of a charming little bungalow in Calangute, Goa. Blossom is my favourite bookshop in Bangalore. The size and range of their catalogue for both used and new books is seriously impressive. I have absolutely fallen in love with Richard Booth’s bookshop in Hay-on-Wye which I was lucky to visit last year during my Charles Wallace days in Wales. A kingdom of books with a bookshop owner for king is as ideal as it gets.

What books can you not resist buying?

Poverty has made me a good resistor.

Do you have any rituals when writing?

I tidy-up before writing (because I need a clean, clutter-free space and not because I need to procrastinate). It is not always possible to shut out noise in most places in India. But I do my best to minimize it. When I had pets, I fed the cat and walked the dog before sitting down so they didn’t need my attention while I wrote. I talk to my mum on the phone before switching it off.

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

A couple of dozen. I dream of a time when I can sit down and read them all cover to cover without questions of livelihood making a demand on my time.

What is your current or latest read?

I just finished Kurt Vonnegut’s Hocus Pocus. I’m now reading Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree in Daisy Rockwell’s translation.

Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?

I have a copy of Tin Drum sitting on my shelf for goodness knows how long. And a copy of Borges’ collected fictions. I also want to read Quichotte by Salman Rushdie. My partner has recommended Calvino’s Our Ancestors, William Goldman’s Princess Bride and Mia Couto’s A River Called Time. I have been putting off the big volumes for smaller ones because of lack of time. I hope I will find the peace to sit down and read at some point this year.

Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

My teaching job takes up most of my time these days. I have a very hazy idea for a novel but it will take a while before it becomes anything tangible. Right now, I’m just chronicling my silly conversations with my partner as photo-comics. It might become a thing if I find an artist who would render them into publishable designs.

Any events in the near future?

I recently spoke at the Bangalore and Goa literature festivals. Before that, I had a session with the British Council. There have been a few smaller events here and there on translation and such like. There is nothing lined up for now – yet. And I’m quite enjoying the respite.

And finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

The love of a good story and the need to tell it well.

David Wragg – Q&A

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David Wragg

David Wragg is the author of the Articles of Faith series (The Black Hawks and The Righteous) and the upcoming Tales of the Plains trilogy (starting with the Hunters). He is too tall and has tendons like banjo strings. He lives with his family in Hertfordshire, in a house steadily being overrun by animals.

David can be found at:
Website: www.davewragg.com
Twitter: @itsdavewragg
Mastodon: https://mastodon.me.uk/@itsdavewragg
Mailing List: http://eepurl.com/gBvwHH

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

My debut, The Black Hawks (2019), was something of a love letter to the fantasy I read as a teenager (which might sniffily these days be referred to as ‘landfill fantasy’); as well as the big names (from Tolkein onwards), I read just about anything that featured wizards, elves or dragons (or dwarves!). Some of it, on reflection, was not great, but it did leave me with the firm impression that I could have a go myself.

Of course, being a bit of a tittering contrarian, when it came to writing my own I wanted to subvert as many of the Great Fantasy Conventions as I could manage in 120,000 words.

What came first, the characters or the world?

A bit of both. The characters are absolutely paramount to the book, and the setting has sort of filled itself in around them. I wanted the classic archetypes of fantasy quest narratives, but mixed up and rearranged, and the setting had to go with that – familiar, yet unfamiliar. To get away from the classic Western European (cod-Tolkein) Fantasy feel, I decided on a southern hemisphere analogue of 13th century Transcaucasia as the setting for the books. And despite it being 100% fantasy, there’s no magic or mythical creatures in the books – just to be difficult.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

I was lucky – I wrote the first draft of The Black Hawks in 2015, then a draft of the sequel in 2016, then as I was polishing up the first book again in 2017, I won a lot in a charity auction in aid of the victims of the Grenfell fire. The spectacular writer and poet Francesca Haig reviewed my manuscript, gave me insightful feedback and recommended some possible agents. I submitted to those agents in early 2018, one of them – Harry Illingworth – read the submission within a week and requested a full ms, then offered representation a week later. The others never got a look in!

Publication was harder – after we submitted the book (with a few edits along the way), it went a long way with a few editors before eventually getting a thumbs down, and in the end only HarperVoyager offered, 2 months after I signed with Harry, in July 2018. The editorial schedule came and went over the next year, but the book made it into print in October 2019.

How long did it take to write?

The original Black Hawks took about a year and a half to plan and draft. Then another year to revise and submit. Then about 3 months of editing, spread over a year. The sequel, despite being considerably longer, only took me 9 months to plan and draft, and 2 months to revise. Unfortunately, its edits coincided with the pandemic, and it was getting on for 2 years between submission and eventual release in summer 2021.

I started writing the Hunters in 2019, while waiting for edits on The Righteous, and it took around 7 months to plan and draft. It was then parked for 2020 for other things, revived and revised, and then unrevised (long story) over the course of 2021, and submitted at the start of 2022. Edits were brief over the summer, and for once the book is completely on schedule for release in July!

The shameful reason for the specificity of my answer is that I keep a spreadsheet of what I have worked on and when…

Do you have a writing playlist? If so, do you want to share it?

I do, but it’s basically Seventh Son of a Seventh Son by Iron Maiden on repeat, occasionally broken up by a Silversun Pickups album for the sake of variety. For some reason, I know the music so well that it absolutely fades into the background while I’m writing, while also being energetic enough to keep me moving forward!

My year-end music wrap-up did not make for exciting reading.

How many publishers turned you down?

I can’t say for certain, but my guess would be four. “All but one” would be the accurate answer!

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

The full gamut, from old colleagues messaging me to express their (astonished) delight to my mother telling me it had “too many fucks”. It’s been great, honestly, especially when a reader connects with what I was trying to do with the story and the characters.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

Aside from my mother’s? It might have been Nate Crowley’s, who wrote a lovely review, but also expressed his enthusiasm in person when we met at an event. Not only is he a top fellow, he’s also an astute judge of genre fiction.

What can you tell us about your next book?

My new series, starting with The Hunters (2023), takes place in the same world as The Black Hawks and its sequel, but 13 years later and far to the north. When I set out to write The Hunters, it was driven by a combination of things – to scratch an itch of some dangling threads from the first series (did you ever wonder what happened to…) but also tell a different kind of story with a different kind of feel – something a bit more like a Western, with more clear-cut lines between good and evil, goodies and baddies. Fortunately, the world I created for the first series bordered a set of vast plains, mountains and desert, which made an excellent place to move the action for the new books.

The story follows a middle-aged horse farmer called Ree, who has something of a chequered past, and her 12-year-old niece Javani, who has designs on a profoundly chequered future. Some very nasty people come looking for them, and Ree is forced to confront some new foes and old lies if she’s going to keep them both alive.

Do you take notice of online reviews?

Only when they’re good. I keep an eye on the overall review count as a rough measure of whether people are a) reading and b) enjoying the books, but I try to get no more involved than that. That way lies madness.

Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?

Try and stop me. I’ve got plans, such plans… watch this space!

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I work in software, and have done, in various forms, for the bulk of my adult life (and a bit before that). I was freelance for many years, but circumstances have forced me to become a full-time salaried employee in the last few years, which while not ideal does at least keep a roof over my head and my kids in shoes.

Seriously, you would not believe what they do to their shoes.

Which author(s) inspire you?

It’s glib to say “all of them”, but I’m genuinely so impressed by the astonishing talent of my contemporaries (and feel very lucky to be considered in the same bracket). If forced to choose (and look at my bookshelf), some names in no particular order would be: Terry Pratchett, Robin Hobb, Iain Banks, William Gibson, China Mieville, Katherine Addison, Anne Leckie, Margaret Attwood and Robert Jackson Bennet. But it’s also all the others…

Which genres do you read yourself?

Most of them, really. My heart is SFF, but I’ve got great gooey soft spots for crime, airport thrillers, spy novels, legal dramas and anything comic. I’m not big on horror or romance, but only because I already have too much to read.

What is your biggest motivator?

Reminding myself whenever I’m about to Not Do Writing that “this doesn’t get books written”. I have stories I want to tell, ideas I want to explore, and it’s a thrill to think my work really connects with people (some people, sometimes). I’m getting on a bit now, and it’s a challenge to get a book out a year, which means I have a limited amount of time to write a finite amount of books. I know that sounds morbid, but I’m squarely in mid-life crisis territory and it’s that kind of thinking that keeps me focused.

What will always distract you?

The BLOODY cat WALKING on the BLOODY KEYBOARD AGAIN like he just did. He just wants to be involved, bless him. Also feeling hungry.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

Not a huge amount, beyond preparing the character descriptions and reference material – now the publishers and I have an understanding on the style of the covers, I’ve got quite good at working out who’s going to feature, what they should look like, how they should be dressed or armed/equipped etc. It’s really, really exciting seeing it come to life.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yup, shockingly so; although never a particularly fast reader, I made up for it with volume. My nephew has been the same – I witnessed him monster an 800 page Percy Jackson over the course of a family day out a few years ago, and my own kids are just reaching the Dangerous Reading age now. I have to hide the kindle at bedtime.

What were your favourite childhood books?

Depending on what age we mean, it’s probably going to be Pratchett (although I adored the Worst Witch which I read with my sister), the only question is which one…

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

David’s, in Letchworth up the road from me, has been a recent favourite. They even stock my books, which demonstrates excellent taste.

What books can you not resist buying?

At the moment, anything new by William Gibson, or anything related to Gaiman’s Sandman. It’s difficult for me to leave a bookshop without buying something. It seems rude.

Do you have any rituals when writing?

Make a cup of peppermint tea, sit down, headphones on, arse about for 15 minutes, make another cup of peppermint tea, sit down again, arse around again, accidentally start writing something.

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

It’s really more of a TBR bookcase. My wife has had words.

What is your current or latest read?

I’ve just finished John Keegan’s The Face of Battle and am starting Indian Summer by Alex von Tunzelmann. I’ve got a load of reference books to get through too, then I’m going to reward myself with Gibson’s Agency and maybe a Peter F. Hamilton.

Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?

The second Empire of the Vampire book is on my radar – I galloped through the first, despite its whopping girth (and despite thinking vampires weren’t really my thing). Beyond that, I probably ought to read some of the books I already own…

Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

The new series will be keeping me busy for another couple of years (book 2 is now with the editor, awaiting inspection, and I’m currently putting an outline of book 3 together), and after that I have plans for something a little different. Too early to say much, but you can always subscribe to my mailing list on my website!

Any events in the near future?

I’ll be at Fantasy in the Court in London in May, FantasyCon in Birmingham in September, possibly some kind of launch event in July, and maybe some other stuff besides. I really ought to sort my calendar out.

and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

I think, on a fundamental level, that I just fucking love goblins. Dragons! I mean dragons.

Remington Blackstaff – Q&A

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Remington Blackstaff

Remington Blackstaff

Remington Blackstaff was born in Nigeria and moved to the United Kingdom with his family at a young age. He was bitten by the martial arts bug in childhood and studied several disciplines into adulthood. Despite his obsession with fight choreography, he set aside any dreams of becoming a stuntman to study medicine at Royal Free and University College Medical School. Remington currently practices medicine in London, where he lives with his wife and son. He remains obsessed with martial arts, rugby and cinema. The Durbar’s Apprentice is his debut novel.

Remington can be found at:
Twitter: @RBlackstaff
Instagram: @remingtonblackstaff

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

A painting in my living room of Durbar horsemen that my son used to stare at while I held him as an infant. I held him in one arm while writing a completely different story, based on my mental health work, on my iPhone with my free hand. I thought “Wouldn’t it be cool if he could grow up and read a book from our heritage based on that picture?” The Durbar’s Apprentice is a love letter to my Nigerian heritage and to my son.

What came first the characters or the world?

The world. It had to be the world because the massive canvas that inspired the novel is striking but you can’t make out the faces of the horsemen. So I knew there would be warriors on horseback, conflict, royalty and I knew the locations before I knew the protagonists.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

The Durbar's Apprentice

The Durbar’s Apprentice

Bloody hard! I had 41 rejections from literary agents and RIZE, an imprint of Running Wild Press based in California, finally said yes to The Durbar’s Apprentice. I’d written two manuscripts before it without success so I’d developed a thicker skin by the third attempt. As you grind on and get less emotional with disappointment, the fatigue of sending your work out, with very little in the way of feedback (the copy and paste responses become very obvious) is the most frustrating part.

How long did it take to write?

About a year.

Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?

I don’t. I can’t concentrate as well with music on in the background. I also can’t focus watching tv lying down either. If I do happen to listen to an original motion picture score like Tenet, The Mandalorian or anything by Hans Zimmer, once the music stops, I realise I haven’t written quite as well as I thought. I will say that listening to film scores does inspire thought processes/scenes and dialogue, it’s just a bit too distracting for putting thoughts on the page. I actually get my best inspiration while shaving.

How many publishers turned you down?

My luck was so bad with agents, I only tried one publisher. Back then, I didn’t know much about submitting an unsolicited manuscript to an independent publisher. Like a few things when you don’t come from a creative writing background or have never been to writing workshops, you learn things the hard way.

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

Overwhelmingly positive. Most surprisingly from work colleagues who I’ll sheepishly mention the writing to in passing. When I next speak to them a couple of days later, they either bought the paperback version or are listening to it on audible. Apart from being lucky enough to receive such kind words, it does go some way to inspiring you to continue on that writer’s journey. Persistent rejections can be brutal and dim that enthusiasm to get your work out there. Kind feedback does vindicate that perseverance required for publication. It’s also a middle finger to those people that never actually read your submission properly or copied and pasted their feedback.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

“I can so imagine this as a film!” “It reminds me of that Woman King film.” “I cried at the end.” These make me smile because it means (at least I hope it does) that readers are vividly visualising what they read. It means they’re absorbed and emotionally invested. If you’ve given someone even a modicum of escapism as a writer, you’ve done your job. Also, I wrote each chapter like an episode of bloody good tv, a Netflix episode for want of a better analogy, where the reader would be compelled to come back for more.

What can you tell us about your next book?

Book two of the Durbar trilogy. No spoilers. Watch this space.

Do you take notice of online reviews?

Not any more, it’s not worth it. When the book first came out, I read all the glowing feedback….until I got to that one 2-star review from some who actually gave faint praise and had no problem with the writing but listed all the things I hadn’t done, like write a history text book. The thing about reviews is that the work is done. It’s out there, fully exposed, naked, flapping in the wind and the barn door is wide open. The horse has bolted. What people may or may not realise is the hours, the late nights, the months of work you’ve put in when they chew up your baby and spit it out in a few lines. Don’t get me wrong, reviewers don’t owe you anything and they’re entitled to their opinions but if feedback isn’t in a professional capacity or from someone I trust that might help improve my craft going forward, it’s of little use to me.

Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?

Absolutely, I have done. I wrote another novel while trying to get this one picked up. It’s still doing the rounds. Some writers recommend staying in your lane and I understand the logic but I don’t necessarily agree with it. Why confine yourself to your comfort zone?

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I’m a general practitioner and independent doctor in mental health. I’ve also been a prison GP and have worked as a doctor in professional, disability and amateur sport.

Which author(s) inspire you?

Any author who’s gritted their teeth and has persevered with getting published. I don’t think it’s fair to name one or two as I’ll invariably forget another five or six that I love.

Which genres do you read yourself?

Probably everything including non-fiction with the exception of romance.

What is your biggest motivator?

The desire to entertain, to grab someone by the scruff of the neck and drag them into my world, into my imagination, with periods of respite until we’re done. To put it more succinctly, to tell a bloody good story.

What will always distract you?

Social media. It’s a necessary evil of the modern writer. It’s a very useful necessary evil, dare I say it essential evil (a part of me just died writing that), especially when you’re just starting out. My problem with it is that it can take up so much time with little to show for it.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

I had quite a bit of say in The Durbar’s Apprentice but didn’t really need to as such a good job was done.

Were you a big reader as a child?

I was a voracious reader as a child. I was even a librarian at one point in my first year of secondary school from very hazy memory. We also had a mobile library near our house when I was in primary school so many a Saturday afternoon were spent perusing its contents. This was also pre-internet so there was even less distraction than there is now.

What were your favourite childhood books?

Any Doctor Who, The Hardy Boys, Stephen King, Tom Clancy.

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

Not at the moment. There’s definitely been a slow killing off of local bookshops in my area, which is a crying shame. I do love visiting bookshops abroad or out of London though, especially the independent ones. They often have a kooky charm to them. The last one I went into was called ‘INDIE, not a bookshop’ in Cascais, Portugal.

What books can you not resist buying?

Anything by Ray Celestin or Jo Nesbo.

Do you have any rituals when writing?

No. I write on my iPhone, usually horizontal at home or sat upright when at work or on the move.

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

Four or five that I bought or that were gifted. Another ten that are lying around our bookshelf at home.

What is your current or latest read?

On Writing by Stephen King.

Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?

The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes. I Am Pilgrim was phenomenal.

Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

Get the second Durbar novel out then I can start work on part three of the trilogy.

Any events in the near future?

Thank you for asking, where are we going?

and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

A desire to entertain but entertain with something rooted in my heritage, set in a time that isn’t talked about much in this part of the world but lends itself to action/adventure in a pure old-fashioned way. Historical fiction is perfect for this.

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Eileen Wharton – Q&A

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Eileen F Wharton

Eileen F Wharton

Eileen Wharton is an Oscar winning actress, Olympic gymnast, and Influencer. She also tells lies for a living.

Her first novel was published in 2011 to worldwide critical acclaim. And she’s won awards for exaggeration. It did top the Amazon humour chart so she’s officially a best-selling author. She writes children’s books, comedy, women’s fiction and crime novels.
She currently has five ‘lively’ offspring ranging from thirty-four to fifteen years of age, and has no plans to procreate further, much to the relief of the local schools and police force.

She lives on a council estate in County Durham. She is hearing impaired, is allergic to cats and has a phobia of tinned tuna. She’s retired from arguing with people on the internet.

Eileen can be found at:
Twitter: @WhartonEileen
Instagram: @eileenscribblings
Facebook: @eileen.whartonwriter

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

I’d just left my husband and was living in poverty with four children. My phone had been cut off because I couldn’t afford to pay the bill and I wrote the first chapter as therapy. I entered it into a competition run by author Wendy Robertson and Bishop Auckland Library and was shocked when it was highly commended. The winning entries were added to an anthology which was read by a commissioning editor at Hodder who loved my story. It inspired me to write the rest of ‘Shit Happens.’

What came first the characters or the world?

I usually hear a voice (Yes, I know it makes me sound unhinged) and from the voice comes a character and then the world.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

Like trying to pull a basketball through a toilet roll tube. I could paper the Angel of the North with my rejection letters. It took me five years to finish it and by then the commissioning editor who loved it had moved on. I got lots of great feedback but no bites until it was seen by the wonderful Ed from Byker Books. They published it as an ebook initially and then as a paperback when the ebook sold well. I’ll be forever grateful to Andy Rivers (amazing writer btw) for my first big opportunity. I still owe him a pint!

How long did it take to write?

Oh I just answered that. Five years, but in my defence I was working, doing a degree and I had four kids.

Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?

No, I can’t listen to music when I’m writing. I find it a distraction. I like absolute silence so I take my hearing aids out.

How many publishers turned you down?

I’ve lots count. So so many. They’ll be sorry one day! 😉 I’ll be more famous than JK and I’ll sweep past them at award ceremonies with my nose in the air, telling my entourage to tell them I’m too important and busy to speak to them but they could email me. Then I’d ghost them for eighteen months before sending a standard rejection which says:
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to work with you but I’ll have to politely decline I’m afraid. Of course this is subjective and other rich and famous authors may feel differently. However, too bad suckers!

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

Most of my books have had excellent reactions. The reviews are really good for the most part. Sales have been good. The latest has been a little disappointing. I’m not sure why it hasn’t taken off yet because I think it’s my best to date.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

Someone gave me a one star review saying they were going to print it out and use it as toilet paper. HAHAHA! Another man gave Shit Happens one star and he gave a commode five stars. I thought that was hilarious.

What can you tell us about your next book?

It’s a contemporary comedy about a young woman who’s trying to navigate being a working mother while dating and dieting.

Do you take notice of online reviews?

Absolutely. The readers are the most important people. I welcome constructive criticism and I enjoy reading what others have to say about my books. One star reviews are never constructive but they’re often really funny.

Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?

I’ve written in a few different genres: crime, women’s fiction, humour, children’s books, romance. So yes, I’m game for anything (Well anything legal)

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I used to be a teacher but I left in July. I love Mondays now.

Which author(s) inspire you?

Honestly too many to mention but I was first inspired by my big brother, Stephen, who’s a brilliant writer. He wrote stories when I was a kid that fired my imagination. In my early twenties I read Pat Barker’s ‘Union Street’ and ‘Blow Your House Down’ and it was the first time I’d seen people from council estates featured in contemporary literature. It made me think I could write stories about people like me, for people like me. I always knew that one day there would be a book on the shelf with my name on it.

Which genres do you read yourself?

I read most genres. I love anything from picture books to crime novels; literary fiction to contemporary romance. I like books which make me laugh, shock me, and make me cry.

What is your biggest motivator?

The desire for success. I’m not sure what that looks like because I keep moving the goal posts. The initial goal was to be published. I achieved that. Then I wanted to write full time. I’m doing that. Next I’d like an agent and a big publisher, Netflix deal, and Hollywood movie. BAFTA and OSCAR. You have to dream big.

What will always distract you?

My kids and my phone.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

None initially but I’ve since helped design some of them. Blanket of Blood was illustrated by the exceptionally talented Graham Stead, and Emmy Ellis designed the cover of my latest psychological thriller, ‘Hear Me Cry.’

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes, I’ve always loved reading. My parents took us to the library every week when we were kids and I loved choosing new books and having them stamped. I was competitive at school when it came to moving through the reading schemes, and I used to bump into people and lampposts because I always had my head in a book.

What were your favourite childhood books?

So many! I loved Enid Blyton, The Twins at St Clare’s and Mallory Towers. The Mystery books series fuelled my love of crime literature early on. The Narnia books. I loved Judy Blume’s ‘Blubber’ and ‘Are you There God? It’s Me Margaret’, Judith Kerr’s ‘When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit.’ ‘The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole age 13 ¾’ by Sue Townsend and ‘This Is David Speaking’ by Stephanie Ward.

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

I love all bookshops, particularly ones with a café where I can smell coffee and write. I can lose days of my life in there. It’s given me an idea for a children’s book series. Hang on while I go and write it down before I forget it. I love the smell of books, the feel of them, everything about them. My name is Eileen and I’m a book sniffer.

What books can you not resist buying?

Novels. I have more than I’ll ever be able to read yet I still can’t go in a book shop without buying one. I also have Kindle Clickitis. It’s a very painful condition.

Do you have any rituals when writing?

No, I’m not a ritualistic kind of person. I write best when I’m at my desk in my writing room with the phone turned off and the family tied up and gagged.

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

I’ve never counted but it’s a lot. I have many author friends and I try to read at least one of each of their books. My latest son always buys me books for birthdays and Christmas and he’s chosen very well so far. I’m still getting through my Christmas gifts.

What is your current or latest read?

I’m currently reading ‘Skin Deep’ by Liz Nugent. I’ve only discovered her recently and I’ve devoured all of her books. Before that it was Alice Feeny, and KA Richardson. I usually have about seven books on the go at once. I’ve just started Miriam Margolyes autobiography. I don’t read many biographies but I love her so I’m making an exception.

Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?

The next one by Susie Lynes, Alice Feeny, Liz Nugent, C.J Tudor, and KA Richardson.

Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

No, it’s all top secret. If I tell you, I’ll have to kill you. But if you want to start a rumour I’m going to be working with Idris Elba that’s up to you.

Any events in the near future?

Dinner with Idris Elba.

and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

I like being able to kill people who annoy me 😉

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Chrissie Sains – Q&A

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Chrissie Sains

Chrissie Sains

Chrissie Sains grew up in Billericay, Essex, where she spent her childhood seeking adventure and finding trouble. Described by her teachers as having a “lively imagination”, Chrissie’s escapades include her attempted rescue of the school’s pet fish and the discovery of a dead body in a field that turned out to be two tyres under a sheet. She has swum with sharks, scuba-dived shipwrecks and sky-dived from a plane. Chrissie has a background in marketing and events but now writes full time and is a graduate of the Golden Egg Academy and a member of SCBWI. Along with the Jam Factory books, she is the co-author of I Got This, with Cara Mailey. She lives in Essex with her husband, two bookworms and two rabbits.

Chrissie can be found at:
Website: www.chrissiesains.com
Twitter: @CRSains
Instagram: @chrissie_sains
Facebook: @Chrissiesainsauthor

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel (book)?

I wrote An Alien in the Jam Factory for my god-daughter who, like the main character Scooter, has cerebral palsy. She wanted to see a character experiencing similar challenges to her own having a fun adventure. I spent a lot of time with her developing Scooter and the Jam Factory – she even came up with the idea of the Hand-Bots (a Wallace and Gromit style giant robotic pair of hands who help Scooter to complete tasks in the factory)!  


What came first the characters or the world?

It started with the characters – they leapt onto the page. The world wasn’t far behind though; my kitchen floor was littered with drawings of maps and inventions within a few days of starting out on the idea.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

It was SO tricky! An Alien in the Jam Factory was the fifth book that I’d written (though the first to be published). I had lots of (very kind) ’No Thank yous’ from various agents and publishers before I was lucky enough to see my book on the shelves of a bookshop.  


What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

I’m absolutely thrilled by the reactions I’ve had to the book. I’ve had parents of children who have cerebral palsy get in touch to say not only that their child has loved reading Scooter’s adventures but that it’s also led to some great conversations with other children about disability and representation – that really means a lot. Parents have also gotten in touch to say that it’s the first book that their reluctant reader child has ever read all the way through. Many teachers have really embraced the series and used it to create some fabulous work in class, which has been very humbling to see.  But most of all, it’s seeing children giggling as its read to them. A parent sent me a video on social media of their child belly-laughing as they read An Alien in the Jam Factory, which was amazing!

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

In my school author visits, I often spark a conversation about the books that turned us into readers. Last week one boy told me it was ‘An Alien in the Jam Factory’ that had turned him into a reader. Also, that he likes it better than (the utterly hilarious) Diary of a Wimpy Kid – I nearly cried!

What can you tell us about your next book?

Slugs Invade the Jam Factory is coming out on 6th April and we’re heading back to the jam factory for a very slimy adventure! A dastardly slug called Mucus Vane wants to turn the factory into a slug cafe and wellness spa – it’s up to Scooter, Fizzbee and the team to stop him!


What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I was an events planner and organised big corporate parties. I once had a Cirque Du Soleil act hanging from the top of the temperate house in Kew Gardens and I’ve turned St Paul’s crypt into a house of illusions. It was lots of fun and very creative.


Which author(s) inspire you?

Every author! It’s a wonderful job but it can also sometimes be a tough job – there’s a lot of stepping out of the comfort zone, learning new skills and overcoming fears, not to mention the perseverance and resilience it takes to get published in the first place! I have a huge respect for every author out there!

What is your biggest motivator?

My family – they believe in me more than I do! I’ve always loved telling stories but I never thought I had the skills to write them down (I wasn’t exactly top of the class at school). They persuaded me to give it a try and still show so much enthusiasm for every project I embark on. I wouldn’t be a published author without them and it’s always in the back of my mind that I want to do them proud.


Were you a big reader as a child?

I was a big reader from the age of ten or eleven, until then I was less enthusiastic. I had a great teacher in Year 6 who inspired a passion for reading in me (and my whole class) by making reading part of our class community. I’m so grateful to her – if it wasn’t for Miss Wilson, I probably wouldn’t be an author now! 


What were your favourite childhood books?

Anything by Roald Dahl – I loved his books! I also really enjoyed reading poetry with my mum from ‘When We Were Very Young’, I love the poem, Daffadowndilly’s and The Bears and the Squares.


Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

Oh, such a tricky question – that’s like asking if I have a favourite child! 

I’ve made great friends with Tash and Jim from Chicken and Frog bookshop (where my daughter also works) and Jacqui at Jacqson Diego.


Do you have any rituals when writing?

I use the Pomodoro technique and do forty-minute writing sprints followed by a twenty-minute break. I can do five or six of those in a day and get quite a lot written. I also require a steady flow of tea and biscuits as well as my noise-cancelling headphones and my bullet journal to make notes and sketches.


What is your current or latest read?

I’m currently reading Montgomery BonBon by Alasdair Beckett-King – I absolutely love it! “Murder is frowned upon” – hehe.


Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

I’m working on the fourth Jam Factory book at the moment, but watch this space for something new!

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Lissa Evans – Q&A

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Lissa Evans

Lissa Evans

Lissa Evans has written six novels, including Their Finest Hour and a Half (which was filmed as Their Finest,) and a loose trilogy which comprises the best-selling Old Baggage, Crooked Heart (longlisted for the Bailey’s Prize) and V for Victory. Two of her books for children, Small Change for Stuart and Wed Wabbit, were shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Lissa has a background in radio and TV comedy production; her programmes included ‘Room 101’ and ‘Father Ted.’

Lissa can be found at:
Website: lissaevans.com
Twitter: @LissaKEvans

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

I was in my mid-thirties, and I was feeling stuck – both emotionally and physically. That’s the basis of my first novel, Spencer’s List: three characters who find a way to move on – from grief, from inertia, and from an unsellable house!

What came first the characters or the world?

They seemed to arrive together. Though all the characters were me, really – different parts of me…

How long did it take to write?

The first two chapters took about five years – I kept writing and re-writing them. Then I decided to bite the bullet and attempt chapter three; the rest of the book took about eleven months. It was eventually published when I was 41.

Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?

Currently: ‘Eclogue’ by Gerald Finzi and various tracks from Radio Lento, which specialises in long, wordless recordings of the natural world, my favourite at the moment being number 150, ‘Looking down on Coldingham Sands’.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your books?

My favourite response, always, is ‘it made me laugh’.

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I started off as a doctor, but it really wasn’t for me (I was scared the entire time) and after that I became first a radio comedy producer and then a television comedy producer and director. I always wanted to be a writer, but I had to find what I wanted to write about, and also to develop my own style of story-telling, something which was enormously helped by years of script-editing

Which genres do you read yourself?

Mainly 20th century fiction, including short stories, and a huge range of non-fiction. I am a very big fan of reading accounts of epic journeys, explorers struggling through extreme cold/heat/terrain etc, while I sit in an armchair with a cup of tea next to me.

What is your biggest motivator?

Guilt. I’m lucky enough to be a published writer, and therefore I SHOULD BE WRITING.

What will always distract you?

Everything and anything, unfortunately. When I told one of my friends that I’d written a book, she said ‘You can’t have, Lissa. You have the attention span of a flea.’

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

More than I used to. I buy a lot of books, and the books I write are the sort of books that I enjoy reading, so my criterion for my own covers is only ever ‘Would I pick it up if I saw it in a bookshop?’

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes, I read all the time, even at meals. And I’m certain that if there had been the same distractions then as now, then I wouldn’t have read nearly as much, and my life would have been very different. The immersive reading of childhood and adolescence shaped me as a writer.

Do you have any rituals when writing?

I try to do the ‘Pomodoro method’: 25 minutes of concentration, then 5 minutes off. I also drink a lot of tea.

What is your current or latest read?

I’ve just finished a riveting novel called ‘The Village’ by Marghanita Laski, written and set in 1946, about snobbery and the social changes brought about by the war.

What inspired you to write the genre(s) you do?

My last four novels for adults (and the one I’m currently writing) are historical – one set during the 1920s, and the others during the Second World War. I’ve been fascinated by the Home Front since I read a book called ‘How We Lived Then’ by Norman Longmate, when I was about twelve. I carried on reading about the subject, and eventually used it as the setting for a novel about film-making (‘Their Finest Hour and a Half’) which was later made into the movie ‘Their Finest’. Those finite years of fear and restriction and making-do, continue to fascinate me.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Ian Eagleton – Q&A

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Ian Eagleton

Ian Eagleton

Ian is the director of The Reading Realm. He is also a content creator and resource writer for various educational organisations, including The Literacy Shed and Authorfy. Ian has taught in primary schools for 13 years and during this time has been a member of the senior management team, a phase leader, and literacy co-ordinator. He has an NQPSL, which focused on improving reading. Ian has also run staff training and writing workshops for children. He especially enjoys sharing picture books, poetry and creative writing activities with the children he teaches.

Ian can be found at:
Twitter: @MrEagletonIan
instagram: @ian.eagleton

Tell me what inspired you to write Glitter Boy?

Glitter Boy began life as a picture book called Mr. Hamilton’s wedding and gradually grew and grew! It weas inspired by my own experiences of homophobic bullying in secondary school and my career as a primary school teacher. I used to hear a lot of kids say, “Oh, that’s so gay!” to describe something as ‘rubbish’ and it really bothered me. My husband and I had just adopted our little baby boy too, so I was thinking a lot about the relationship between fathers and sons and this is a thread that’s explored throughout the story.

Essentially Glitter Boy is about the impact bullying has on an 11 year old boy called James. James lvoes singing, dancing, poetry and Mariah Carey! The book explores how James overcomes feelings of being on the outside, of being vilified and whispered about, and of being told he isn’t good enough. It’s a hopefully, joyous book about standing up for yourself, friendship, and LGBTQ+ history and pride.

What kind of reactions have you had to your book? What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

The reactions have been amazing! I always find it such a nerve-wracking process! I think releasing any book out into the world is a rollercoaster of emotions. There’s all the gruelling work that goes into the book, the excitement of publication day, the worries about school visits, and the concerns about how an LGBTQ+ middle grade book will be received. However, I did get to go onto ITV News and talk about Glitter Boy, homophobic bullying, and Section 28. This was a real highlight for me! The best thing has to be hearing from young readers though – it’s so special when your book speaks directly to someone and they find it a comfort. Lots of people in the LGBTQ+ community have reached out to me to tell me how much they loved Glitter Boy and that means an awful lot.

What can you tell us about your next book?

I have lots of books coming out over the next few years! Sadly, I have to keep it all quiet at the moment though! I have two more picture books coming out this year which I’m really excited about. I’ve also signed with some new publishers who I’ll be working on more LGBTQ+ inclusive fairy tales with and I’m just feeling my way into a new middle grade book, which is going to be very different to Glitter Boy. I feel so incredibly lucky!

What did you do before you became a writer?

I was a primary school teacher for thirteen years and loved it! However, towards the end of my teaching career I was struggling with exhaustion and my mental health and knew I needed to take a break. Teachers work so incredibly hard and ii think I was completely burnt out. The nights of marking books and weekends of planning and inputting data were just too much for me and the job has changed a lot since I first started teaching. I have a huge respect for anyone who works in education nowadays. I still enjoy visiting schools with my writing workshops and working alongside children and teachers. A great school can really energise and uplift you and visiting a school is a wonderful way for me to connect with my young readers.

Ian Eagleton

Which author inspires you?

So many! As part of my job writing resources for Authorfy I get to read lots of middle grade books every week. I particularly admire Elle McNicoll although she INFURIATES me! How is it that each of her books is better than the last? How does she manage to show such control over so many different genres! How is she so good?! But in all seriousness, I was also really lucky to meet Elle at an event and she was very kind and chatted away to me when II was feeling very nervous. I’m also a big fan of Dom Conlon, Dean Atta and Jay Hulme – I think their poetry is so beautiful, insightful and honest.

Which genres do you read yourself?

I love crime thrillers and whodunnits! I always remember my mum having a huge bookshelf of murder mystery books and I loved reading John Grisham and Agatha Christie as a child. There are so many wonderful crime thrillers that have kept me up all night, glued to the edge of my seat. It’s so much fun trying to decipher all the red herrings and work out any clues which are peppered in the story along the way and I LOVE to be tricked and have the wool pulled over my eyes. A friend recently recommended The Whisperer by Donato Carrisi, which completely terrified me! I’ve also enjoyed The Sanatorium and The Retreat by Sarah Pearse, which were exciting, eerie, and atmospheric.

What is your biggest motivator?

I would probably say my biggest motivator is wanting to see change. It infuriated me for many, many years that there was very little LGBTQ+ inclusivity in children’s books and I wanted to reach out to younger members of the community and show them that they deserve to be included in the literary space too. It’s so important that children see different types of families and relationships in the books they read. I think a lot of my writing is spurred on by a stubborn defiance to make space for the LGBTQ+ community and really push the boundaries. Now that I have a son of my own, it’s also become really important that he sees his family structure in books and feels included too.

Were you a big reader and writer as a child? What were your favourite childhood books?

I HATED reading as a young child. It involved lots of Roger Red Hat books and ii thought they were so boring! However, I did love being read to. My mum read to us every night and I have fond memories of this, of feeling warm and cosy as we listened intently to my mum’s soothing voice whisk us away on all sorts of adventures. I loved the Alfie and Annie-Rose books and anything by Shirley Hughes. It wasn’t really until I was ten that a teacher called Mrs Perry guided me to Matilda by Roald Dahl and the Supergran series by Forrest Wilson. From that moment on I adored reading!

Mrs Perry also encouraged lots of creative writing – she would often give us a starter and then just leave us to write away. Or she might give us some characters and challenge us to weave them into an exciting story. I loved listening to her read every day, on the carpet. I remember vividly giggling away to Rebecca’s World by Terry Nation. I also fondly remember being sat at the Listening Station, headphones on, escaping into the magical, snowy world of The Enchanted Horse. There was also lots of drama, plays, acting and art in her class, which I loved and freedom to create – one day, Mrs Perry allowed me to write a story for the younger children in the school on the new school computer. She applauded my use of repetition and the next day I waited with baited breath as the computer painfully, slowly, gradually coughed my story out, over the course of an entire day. What a feeling!

I then spent a lot of my teenage years devouring all sorts of books by Philip Pullman, Judy Bloom, Paula Danziger, R.L Stine, and Iris Murdoch.

Now, I spend my days reading lots of children’s books and get to call it work! We really are in the ‘golden age’ of children’s fiction. I’ve particularly enjoyed Asha and the Spirit Bird by Jasbinder Bilan, The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell, Scavengers by Darren Simpson, The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson, The Star-Spun Web by Sinead O’Hart, The Peculiar Peggs of Riddling Woods by Samuel J. Halpin, and Kate Wakeling’s beautiful collection of poetry Moon Juice.

What do you hope young readers take away from Glitter Boy?

I hope readers of all ages take away a sense of how damaging bullying of any form can be and how negatively it impacts on people’s mental health. I also really hope they are set off on their own journey to find out more about LGBTQ+ history and maybe do some research into some of the trailblazers and icons mentioned in the story who have fought for our rights. Most of all I hope they get a sense that change is possible, that we can be accepting of others, that we can live freely and happily and that treating others with respect and kindness is just so important. Perhaps they might even decide to put some Mariah Carey songs on at full blast and dance their socks off!

Finally, can you describe Glitter Boy in three words?

Hopeful, joyful, defiant.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Jacey Bedford – Q&A

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Jacey Bedford

Jacey Bedford

Jacey Bedford is a British writer of science fiction and historical fantasy. She is published by DAW in the USA. She has seven novels, out: the Psi-Tech and Rowankind trilogies, and her most recent novel The Amber Crown, a historical fantasy.

Her short stories have appeared in anthologies and magazines on both sides of the Atlantic, and have been translated into Estonian, Galician, Catalan and Polish.

In another life she was a singer with vocal trio, Artisan, and once sang live on BBC Radio4 accompanied by the Doctor (Who?) playing spoons.

Jacey can be found at:
Website/mailing list: www.jaceybedford.co.uk
Blog: jaceybedford.wordpress.com
Twitter: @jaceybedford
Instagram: @jacey_bedford
Facebook: jacey.bedford.writer
Artisan: artisan-harmony.com

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

Ah, that’s a question that has to be answered by a question. What do you call a debut novel? My first-published novel, Empire of Dust was not the first novel I wrote, nor was it the first I sold. The first I wrote is still on a back-burner. The first I sold was Winterwood, a historical fantasy. By that time, I’d written seven complete novels, and my editor also bought Empire, which was science fiction/space opera. For my first three book deal I sold Winterwood, Empire, and a yet-to-be-written sequel to Empire (which became Crossways). It just so happened that DAW had a gap in the publishing schedule for science fiction in 2014, but if they’d gone with Winterwood first, it would have had to wait until 2015 – so my debut novel was Empire of Dust. As to the inspiration… it was a prequel for the two novels that are still on the back-burner, but set 1000 years before them. At that point it could have been a standalone, or the start of a trilogy (which it became). I’m still hoping to revisit those two unpublished novels because I still think they have legs – though obviously I’ve learned a lot since I wrote them, and revision would reflect that.

What came first the characters or the world?

Characters. Always characters. I usually start off with characters-in-a-situation, and take it from there. The world is often flexible in the early stages of writing. My latest book, The Amber Crown, is a historically-based fantasy. When I first got the idea, I could have set it in any number of different settings, either real-world, generic medievaloid, or it could even have been a second-world setting. In the end I settled on an alternative version of the Baltic States around the 1600s, though I mucked about a fair bit with history. I’d just been reading about the Northern Crusades, which is what made me latch on to that region, though it’s not set during that timeline. I have a friend who doesn’t like reading science fiction or fantasy and I just keep telling her that they are all stories about people in situations interacting with other people, whether it’s medieval Italy or modern-day New York. Look how many versions of Romeo and Juliet there are, from Shakespeare to Shakespeare in Love and West Side story.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

I sold my first short story in 1998, and my first novel didn’t come out until 2014, so my overnight success took sixteen years (not counting the time it took to sell my first short story). Getting an agent was the first hurdle. My first agent (acquired on a recommendation from Anne McCaffrey) was so easy to get that when we parted company, I didn’t realise how difficult it was going to be to get another. It took NINE years. That was largely my fault because I was subbing to a single agent at a time and some of them were taking months to reject me (or simply not replying at all). Then my lovely second agent retired from agenting with Winterwood still circulating publishers. I knew DAW hadn’t seen it, so I sent it to their slushpile with a recommendation from one of their authors… and I sold it. On the back of that I got a new agent, too. The secret is persistence. I could have given up at any time during those sixteen years, but I didn’t.

How long did it take to write?

I wrote the first draft of Empire of Dust – 70,000 words – in about a month. Then I spent years revising it – writing other novels in the meantime. Eventually it ended up at 240,000 words. It changed shape and size many times during various edits, so altogether it took years to get to the 173,000 word final version.

What can you tell us about your next book?

It’s a YA book based on the Tam Lin story as depicted in the folk ballad about a knight captured by the Queen of Fairies and intended to be her tithe to Hell. He is saved by the love of a mortal. I’m not giving away spoilers, you can find the ballad on the internet, but I hope I’m bringing something different to it. The ballad is set in the medieval period, but I’ve set it partly in the modern world (England) and partly in the land of Fairy.

Do you take notice of online reviews?

I try not to. I’ve been lucky to have no real stinkers (that I’ve noticed). The golden rule is never to respond to a review whether you think it’s justified or not.

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I sang for twenty years with the vocal trio, Artisan, touring all over the world, UK, USA, Canada, Australia. We didn’t do much in Europe, just Belgium and Germany a few times, because our words were important and so we preferred to stick to countries that spoke English as a first language. (www.artisan-harmony.com) When we ‘retired’ from the road, I started a music booking agency, securing gigs for (mainly folk) musicians in the UK. That’s ongoing.

Which author(s) inspire you?

Oh, I don’t know. I like any number of authors, but I didn’t discover most of the ones I read today until after I started writing. I suppose I read Andre Norton and Anne McCaffrey in my twenties. One of my current favourites is Los McMaster Bujold. I love her Vorkosigan books, but my favourite book of all time is her fantasy, The Curse of Chalion. It’s the book I would grab as I ran screaming out of a burning building.

Which genres do you read yourself?

Fantasy, science fiction and the occasional historical novel. I’ll read dark fantasy and Grimdark, but I draw the line at pure horror. I can’t watch horror movies either. Regency romance is my guilty pleasure.

What is your biggest motivator?

A deadline.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

I’ve been very lucky. DAW has always asked for my input, and I even got to suggest the artist (Larry Rostant) for my Rowankind trilogy.

Were you a big reader as a child? And what were your favourite childhood books?

I could read fairly fluently by the time I was three and I joined the local library as soon as I was old enough. I was only allowed two books a week, but when we discovered I could use some of my parents’ tickets I used to get five books a week. I loved pony books. One of my favourite writers was Monica Edwards who wrote about children and ponies having adventures. Her characters were very real to me. I would read anything with a horse on the cover, which was how I found C.S. Lewis’s The Horse and His Boy – my gateway book into fantasy. And then in my teens I read my way through the Gollancz yellow jackets – the science fiction books: Arthur C Clarke, Isaac Asimiv, James Blish, Bob Shaw. I wish I’d kept a list of what I read. They’ve all faded into a hazy memory now.

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

Sadly, my part of the UK has no specialist bookshops, so there are only the chain bookshops in cities which I hardly ever visit. These days I mostly read on Kindle because I can make the print bigger. My favourite actual bookshop is halfway around the world – Bakka Phoenix in Toronto, which I used to visit regularly when we were on tour in Canada.

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

I call it my Strategic Book Reserve. Probably about sixty or seventy actual physical books, but I have hundreds of unread books on my Kindle. (We’re just talking about fiction, right?) I buy books for research in dead tree format because dipping in and out of a Kindle book is more problematical.

What is your current or latest read?

I’m reading T. Kingfisher’s What Moves the Dead ,and I just finished The Dead Dragon Job by Anne Lyle. I post all the fiction I read on my reading blog on Dreamwidth. (https://jacey.dreamwidth.org/) – though I also have a writing blog at WordPress. (https://jaceybedford.wordpress.com/)

Any events in the near future?

After several years of keeping my head down because of Covid I’m booked into the UK Eastercon in Birmingham in April. I’m really looking forward to being on panels again, and seeing a bunch of friends. I’ll be attending a writing retreat in May for a week, and the Milford SF Writers’ Conference in September, which is a workshopping week with other published writers. For my sins I’m the Milford secretary, so I’m one of the organisers. (www.milfordSF.co.uk). Incidentally, Milford is launching an anthology called Eclectic Dreams at Eastercon in order to help fund our Writers of Colour bursary. I have a story in that,

and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

I love the freedom science fiction and fantasy gives me to make up stuff for pleasure and profit. I like playing in new worlds, or in old worlds reimagined. You write what you read. I’ve always been more interested in swashbucklers and spaceships than in police procedurals and kitchen sink dramas. Funnily enough I often manage to get a horse into my books somewhere – even the space operas – which probably harks back to those pony books of my childhood and my many years of hanging around stables.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

Victoria Goldman – Q&A

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Victoria Goldman

Victoria Goldman

Victoria Goldman MSc. is a freelance journalist and editor. She is a book & stationery addict, crochet novice and nature lover (especially the local wild parakeets). She lives in Hertfordshire and is married with two sons

Victoria can be found at:
Website (including Readers’ Club sign-up page): vgoldmanbooks.com
Twitter: @VictoriaGoldma2
Instagram: @victoria_goldman_x
Facebook: VictoriaGoldmanBooks

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

I’d always wanted to write a crime novel – since I was a child. The idea for The Redeemer came from seeing a fake blue commemorative plaque (a historical marker in the US) on a local house. I wondered what would happen if these plaques suddenly appeared on local buildings and no one knew who had put them there. And what if these plaques highlighted someone’s misdemeanour rather than a good deed, and were linked to a series of mysterious deaths? This led to the plot of The Redeemer.

What came first the characters or the world?

I guess I have to say the world, as The Redeemer is set in a fictional version of my home town in Hertfordshire, though obviously I’ve taken artistic licence. But when writing the books, shaping my main character, journalist Shanna Regan, was very important, as my book is as character-driven as it is plot-driven. Hopefully it’s worked, as readers have picked up on that and want ‘more Shanna books’.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

So hard that I ended up having to publish it myself! I wrote three books in seven years and tried to get an agent or publisher. The Redeemer is the second book. Agents were telling me I’m a talented writer but ‘not this book’. After so many agents turned down The Redeemer, I gave up writing for a while, but crime authors and reviewers who had read my book urged me to get it out there myself. Three years on, I decided to take that leap. And I’m so glad I did as, to my astonishment, The Redeemer was shortlisted for Best Debut Crime Novel of 2022 in the 2022 Crime Fiction Lover Awards.

How long did it take to write?

It took me 2.5 years to write The Redeemer, but that’s mainly because I had to fit writing in between a hectic day job and a busy family life.

Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?

I don’t have a writing playlist, as such. But I do have a list of songs that remind me of my main character, Shanna, and her own story. All of the songs were in the charts (or being played on the radio) while I was writing The Redeemer.

  1. Promises by Calvin Harris
  2. Lost Without You by Freya Ridings
  3. Love Wins by Carrie Underwood
  4. Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood
  5. Don’t Feel Like Crying by Sigrid
  6. Call Your Girlfriend by Robyn
  7. If Tomorrow Never Comes by Kent Blazy and Garth Brooks

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

I’m astonished by such a positive response, especially as I’m self-published and all the agents said ‘no’ to The Redeemer. To date, I’ve had 99 Amazon UK reviews with an average of 4.5 stars. Readers have really enjoyed my book and are saying that they’ve learnt so much from it – without realising they were learning – about Jewish culture and identity, and about antisemitism. My book was chosen for the Bloody Scotland Book Club in October 2022, and a book club in Indiana, USA, asked me to join them via Zoom. I’ve been interviewed on podcasts here and in the USA, and, as already mentioned, The Redeemer was shortlisted for a debut crime novel award. I never expected to find readers at all, but couldn’t let The Redeemer lurk in a virtual drawer forever.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

It has to be a US review in a prestigious Jewish magazine/website (called the Jewish Journal). The reviewer began with: ‘Faye Kellerman – behold your British counterpart.’ This made me laugh, as an agent once told me I could be the British Faye Kellerman, but I didn’t agree with the changes she wanted me to make to The Redeemer. I’m glad I didn’t make those changes as it would have been a very different book.

What can you tell us about your next book?

I can’t give too much away, although the blurb is written and the cover has been designed. But it’s the sequel to The Redeemer and features my same main character, journalist Shanna Regan. She’s investigating a missing woman who has been working on a Jewish-Muslim interfaith charity project in East London.

Do you take notice of online reviews?

I try not to! Although, because I don’t have anyone to filter them for me, I do skim over them occasionally.

Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?

I originally started writing historical fiction but was getting too bogged down with research and wasn’t making much progress. I’m not sure if I’ll venture properly into other genres, but maybe one day… I have already written a health book and contributed to several more, thanks to my day job.

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I’m a health journalist and editor (including freelance health editor for Bupa). I also edit and proofread fiction, memoir and nonfiction (especially health and wellbeing) for UK publishers.

Which genres do you read yourself?

I read a lot of crime fiction, but prefer it when it overlaps with horror and supernatural. I also love well-written creepy gothic fiction and some sci fi.

What is your biggest motivator?

Before I chose to self-publish, my self-confidence was very low, since The Redeemer had been rejected by all the agents. When I decided to go down this route, I realised I had to be my own advocate, as there’s no one to do it for me. And I had to make sure The Redeemer was good enough to sit on a shelf next to any book with a publisher and agent. My motivation is ‘not to fail’ rather than ‘to succeed’, and to try to open doors that aren’t often open to self-publishers. I’ve managed to get my paperbacks into 15 UK libraries so far, through perseverance and interested readers.

What will always distract you?

Chocolate … and people talking to me. I’m actually not that easy to distract as I’m used to working in a busy household, so if I need to focus, I just block out the noise around me. I often write in front of the TV. My theory is that I’m a big overthinker and my mind wanders a lot – I need to keep that side of my brain occupied with the distraction, so the rest of my brain can concentrate and focus properly.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

Because I’m self-published, I guide the cover designer – but since he’s the expert, I leave him to come up with his magic once I’ve given him my brief. I can’t wait to reveal the cover for my next book.

Were you a big reader as a child?

I was a huge reader from a very young age. From Enid Blyton to Agatha Christie and then Stephen King. I was rarely seen without a book, and my parents would often tell me off for reading at the dinner table.

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

An embarrassing number. I used to be a book blogger, and I’m an expert reviewer for the Lovereading website. Because of that, I have so many bought books that I’ve not had a chance to read yet (as well as proof copies)!

Any events in the near future?

Nothing concrete but there are some plans in the pipeline.

and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

My natural inquisitive nature, my interest in human behaviour and my love of the ‘dark side’ of life!

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.

James Harris – Q&A

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Steve May

Steve May

Hi! I’m James. I write funny books for kids. I am a writer, filmmaker, performer, pole-vaulter, wizard and exaggerator and I live in Middlesbrough.

I only went and won the New Writing North and Hachette Children’s Novel Award for my first book The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory! I know! I’m as surprised as you, but here we are.

I love comedy. I’ve spent my time making silly short films, comedy sketches and animations, sometimes just for fun, sometimes for places like the BBC and Channel 4. I’ve also run comedy nights in Middlesbrough, and I often perform live comedy with my friends. I can’t stop. I’ve tried.

I am a mentor and workshop leader for Writers’ Block North East, a Teesside creative writing and development service.

My super powers include time travel (forwards), making the most excellent mashed potato and inventing new words like an absolute blambletruff.

James can be found at:
Website: www.theunbelievablejamesharris.com
Twitter: @James_D_Harris
Newsletter: pencilbooth.com/theunbelievablejamesharris

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

I’ve been writing silly, funny bits and bobs for a few years now, mostly for my own amusement – I wrote short films, sketches, stand up comedy, I made my own zine, I did a bit of writing for Shooting Stars. I carried on doing all that for a lot longer than most people would think was healthy. Eventually my partner suggested that I give writing a children’s book a go. I say “suggested”… it was more of a demand if I’m honest. So I thought I’d better give it a go. I was 47 when I started, so I had a lifetime’s worth of ideas about what I’d like to see in a children’s book – anarchy, silliness, monsters, explosions, fun, heart, dinosaurs, loud music, science, flying surfboards etc. I threw it all in, and even though I had to take the dinosaurs out I’m very proud of it.

What came first the characters or the world?

I always think of the mad situation or “what if” first. In the case of The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory the “what if” was “what if there was a Stranger Things-style science lab opening holes in reality near a British town, and what if monsters kept coming out of those holes, and those monsters were making life very difficult for everyone. And what if everyone KNEW exactly what was happening but chose to ignore it?” (I’ll admit that climate change and Brexit were playing on my mind at the time.) Once I had that idea it was a case of asking “who would be the best/worst person to have to sort this problem out” and that’s how bolshie, overconfident punk guitarist Haddie arrived in my brain.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

It was weirdly easy, just because I submitted it to the first New Writing North Hachette children’s novel award in 2019, and it won, and the prize was to get published, so I avoided most of the hurdles that usually stand between an author and their first publication. I was very, very lucky, especially when you consider I’d submitted the same book to the Northern Writers Awards the previous year and got nowhere.

How long did it take to write?

From first chapter to final draft, I’d say it took 2 years.

Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?

I love having music on in the background when I’m writing but I don’t have a set playlist. The Go! Team were on a lot while writing TUBF – fun, dancey, summery, poptimistic throw-the-kitchen-sink-at-it music. It seemed to fit the mood I was going for.

How many publishers turned you down?

A lot of agents said “no thank you” before I won the award. And a lot more said “no thank you” afterwards. The general gist of the rejections was “I can see what you’re doing, and you seem to be doing it well, but I haven’t a clue what I’d do with it.” Can’t argue with that, really.

Happy Town Must Be Destroyed
The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

Generally good. The word “bonkers” is used a lot. It’s the best feeling to meet a reader who’s loved reading a book you’ve written.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

I think the best reaction was the girl who dressed up as one of the orange monsters to go to school. Her mum sent me a photo. It wasn’t World Book Day or anything. She seemed like my kind of reader.

What can you tell us about your next book?

I have a picture book coming out next year. It’s a fun story about the power of play and creativity (just like all my books so far) and I have seen some roughs of the art and it is going to be lush.

Do you take notice of online reviews?

I do! I can’t get enough of them. I think I’ve been lucky in that I’ve never had a scathing review yet. My favourite was a lady who basically said she’d tried, she’d really tried to read it but it just wasn’t for her and she’d had to give up. I felt for her. My stuff is not for everyone!

Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?

I would like to try a straight-up horror. I think horror and comedy are very close relations – you can’t fake ‘em. You know when you find something funny, and you know when you find something scary. You’re going for a primal, visceral reaction, and I enjoy that challenge.

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I have done all sorts, but nothing you’d really call a job job. For the last 20 years it’s mostly been based around the things I love – creative stuff – theatre in education, drama teaching, writing workshops, filmmaking, drama-based training.

Which author(s) inspire you?

For the sort of things I write the touchstones have got to be Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett. Funny, crazy, weird and exciting. I do try to aim more for Pratchett’s kindness over Adams’ cynicism. I’ll never be as good as either of them, but you might as well aim for the stars. Having said that, when I was writing TUBF I was reading a lot of David Peace (super-hard-boiled crime dramas) and I found my sentences getting shorter and more rhythmic like his, so I take inspiration from anywhere I can get it.

Which genres do you read yourself?

I tend to exclusively read genre books. Sci fi, fantasy, crime, horror. They all deal with the same themes as more literary novels but they have monsters and explosions to sweeten the deal. I like monsters and explosions.

What is your biggest motivator?

It’s the writing itself. The creating, the doing. The fun of it, the challenge of it. Trying to delight and surprise myself. The sense of achievement when you finish something is very rewarding. Creativity keeps life interesting. I was writing, making and performing silly stuff for years before I was published, and hopefully I’ll never stop.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

Not a great deal. I managed to wrangle a guitar onto the cover of The Unbelievable Biscuit Factory, but I figure publishers know how to sell books and I should probably get out of the way when marketing decisions are being made.

Were you a big reader as a child?

I was an avid reader. Books, comics, magazines, the backs of cereal packets… The only things I didn’t like to read were books that people told me I should read. That would put me right off. Still does, really.

What were your favourite childhood books?

I grew up in the 1970s, and the books that have stayed with me are things like the Narnia books by CS Lewis, A Dictionary of Monsters and Mysterious Beasts by Carey Miller, Dr Strange: Master of the Mystic Arts vol 1 by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Batman from the 30s to the 70s by various, Fascinating Facts by Giles Brandreth

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

Drake in Stockton is my current favourite – they are so supportive of authors, always organising events and schools visits, and it’s such a lovely, friendly shop. My all-time favourite is no longer open – Saltburn’s second hand bookshop. I bought so many books there over the years. I still dream about it sometimes.

What books can you not resist buying?

I have zero impulse control when it comes to buying books.

Do you have any rituals when writing?

I used to think I needed a whole day free to do any writing, but recently I’ve learned that if I have half an hour free and somewhere to sit I can write what I need to write that day.

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

Oh lordy, an awful lot. Novels, manga, comics. Loads of em. I’ll get round to them, I swear.

What is your current or latest read?

I’ve started to work my way through the Jack Reacher books. They are really well written, and sometimes you just want to read about a big man kicking baddies in the face. It’s cathartic.

Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?

All of them. As long as they have monsters and/or explosions, I’m in.

Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

I’m working on getting a very silly chapter book into publisher’s hands this year, and hopefully another picture book or two. We’ll see how it goes!

Any events in the near future?

I’m appearing at York Literary Festival in March.

and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

If “monsters and explosions” is a genre, and it definitely is, then what other genre could I write? What other genre would I want to write?

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

If you can’t support with a monthly subscription a tip at my Ko-Fi is always appreciated, as is buying things from my Ko-Fi Shop.

You can always email me on contact@bigbeardedbookseller.com with any suggestions.