Monthly Archives: March 2023

Lissa Evans – Author 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.

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Not Now, Noor!

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Farhana Islam, illus. Nabila Adani. Puffin. (32p) ISBN: 9780241552476
Not Now, Noor!

Not Now, Noor!

A fun story about an extremely curious young girl and her family and how persistent she can be to get an answer to her questions.

I was sent this after seeing it available for a review copy and was really pleased, loved the bright and fresh illustrations by Nabila Adani which match the book perfectly and give it such an active and bright feel.

Noor is extremely curious about the hijabi in her life and wants to know why they wear a hijab? She has lots of theories why and tells them to the people she is asking the question of, but they all tell her ‘Not Now Noor!’, though they never deny her theories 😉

She talks to all the women in her immediate family until she gets to her mum who answers her question.

Beautifully paced and a great story for young ones to find out about themselves or others.

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Ian Eagleton – Author 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.

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.

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Jacey Bedford – Author 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.

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Rikin Parekh – Illustrator Q&A

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Rikin Parekh

Rikin Parekh

My name is Rikin Parekh and I’m a Children’s book Illustrator based in North West London. I also work as a LSA (Learning Support Assistant) in primary schools.

I studied at Camberwell College of Arts, then at the University of Westminster in Harrow. After graduating, I freelanced as a Film Production Illustrator working mainly on monster movies.

I then decided I’d love to follow my first true love of picture books and turned my hand to children’s publishing.

I’m an avid film buff, love collecting old comic book art, reading sci-fi novels and meditating. I also LOVE eating pizza.

My influences range from Jim Henson, Sir Quentin Blake, Colin West, Val Biro, Judith Kerr, Kandinsky, Jimi Hendrix, and the great Chief Inspector Jacques Clouseau.

P.S. That is not my dog (but I wish he was!)

Rikin can be found at:
Website: www.rikinparekh.com
Twitter: @r1k1n
Instagram: @r1k1n_parekh

When did you know you wanted to become an illustrator?

I think it was during primary school, I saw all the picture books and was just blown away and knew that’s what I wanted to do, somehow!

How long does it typically take to make a page or cover for a book?

It takes a good week, maybe two. I care for my disabled mum and help around the house too so much of my time is taken up with care and chores, but I’ve learned how to juggle all of this (and be really good at asking for extensions!) Also, I hand drawn/colour everything, no digital art whatsoever so that makes it’s even longer.

What’s your favourite piece of art equipment?

I think, if you asked me a few years back, I would say my dip pen, and it still is to some degree, but it’s most probably a tie between the Polychromos pencils that I use to draw and the brushes I use to ink now, as supposed to inking solely with dip pens like I used to do years back.

Do you have a favourite colour scheme, if so what and why?

I don’t really, but I do love bright colours, energising colours like yellows, oranges and warm blues.

Who were your inspirations when starting out?

The classics like Dr Seuss, that was huge, Jim Henson and Quentin Blake.

Do you have another job besides being an illustrator, if so what?

I do, I also work, when possible, as a Teaching Assistant in Primary schools. I find it deeply rewarding and so much fun.

What do you do to overcome a creative block?

Meditate, watch a film, try to go out in nature or just listen to music

Do you have a favourite piece in your portfolio, if so could you share it and talk about it?

I don’t really! I find that the spontaneous sketches are the ones that are really cool.

What was your first book related project?

It was a series of picture books written by an Irish Canadian author, Bernard P Morgan. I was really new (illustrating books) i and was so lucky that Bernard gave me full artistic licence!

What type of media do you prefer to work in and why?

I prefer to work traditionally, using black Indian ink, concentrated watercolours, polychromos pencils and the odd crayon. I find it’s much more instinctive and raw and I find I can put across the feeling and passion straight away.

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

It differs, it can be Liquid Drum and Bass, Chill to Psychedelic Rock from the 60’s, Hendrix/The Beatles or sometimes feature film soundtracks.

Do you have any rituals when working?

Good music, light some incense and be in the moment of joy in doing what I love doing.

Do you have a favourite artist outside of the world of books, if so who and why?

Mainly the inking masters of comic book art, John and Sal Buscema, John Romita and Wassily Kandinsky.

Did the books you read as a child influence your work?

I think so, I read lots of US comic books and watched lots of films so I’d like to think my illustrations have that filmic narrative.

Has your illustration/art style changed over time?

Very much so, at first, it was mirroring Dr Seuss, I copied him, his colour schemes etc, but now I am much more open and less constrained to the black ink line.

How closely do you work with the author on developing the illustrations for a book?

I try to strike up a conversation so I know I’m doing the right thing, especially as it’s their vision, that is important to me. I’m always in a state of gratitude towards those authors so I try to take on as much as they want, i.e. their visions and ideas into the illustrations.

If you could illustrate any classic book which would it be and why?

It would be ‘The Enormous Crocodile” by Roald Dahl, I loved the character and the story! The character more tbh!

Which illustrated books in the last year have you loved?

I’ve not been able to read many tbh, I’ve just been far too busy! 🙁

If you can please tell us about your latest project and if not your last project

I’m just finishing up on a wonderfully bonkers picture book with Walker Books, am nearly done final artwork for the next “Worst Class in the World…” series and am in the early stages of working on a TOP SECRET PROJECT and there other projects coming soon…

Do you have any events on in the near future?

I have a couple of school events but apart from that I do not know, there might be some on the way!

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Victoria Goldman – Author 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!

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