60 Seconds with CS Wilde

By JJ Marsh

C.S. Wilde wrote her first fantasy novel when she was eight. That book was absolutely terrible, but her mother told her it was awesome, so she kept writing.
Now a grown-up (though many will beg to differ), C. S. Wilde writes about fantastic worlds, love stories larger than life and epic battles.
She also, quite obviously, sucks at writing an author bio. She finds it awkward that she must write this in the third person, and hopes you won't notice.

Which work most influenced you when growing up?

I’d say one book and one author come to mind. The book would be “The Golden Beetle”, a Brazilian mystery for teens that I read when I was twelve. It was my absolute favourite book. Then there was the entire work of Machado de Assis, one of the most brilliant Brazilian authors who has ever lived. To this day, no one knows if Capitú really cheated on Bentinho, and I remember having these heated discussions with my friends at school, because we simply couldn’t reach a consensus. To incite that kind of reaction on your readers even 100 years after your death? It’s something pretty awesome, and also, what I really strive to do as an author.

Where do you write?

In my office at home.

Who or what had the biggest impact on your creative life?

My mom, because she was a journalist and she encouraged me to write.

How far are you influenced by other media, such as music or fine art?

I’m extremely influenced by movies and series. It’s why my writing has a very descriptive, and yet, fast-pace to it. It’s all about painting pictures, creating impact, and moving on.

Do you have a phrase that you most overuse?

In writing? I’d say it depends. I use way too many shrugs, rolls of eyes, and shakes of heads. A lot of likes and justs. In From the Stars, I used a lot of “I have a bad feeling about this”, but that was a homage to Star Wars.

In real life, I say, “Say whaaaaa?” pretty much all the time. It’s become my trademark. Also, “I can’t even”, because I just love it.

Which writers do you enjoy?

Patrick Rothfuss, Oscar Wilde, R. Lee Smith, Sara J. Maas, Junot Díaz, and so many more I can’t count.

Why do you write in your particular genre(s)?

I love action and romance. Paranormal/Sci-fi Romance are perfect genres for that kind of story. Though I do plan on writing an epic Fantasy at some point.

What makes you laugh?

Farts.

Do you have a guilty reading pleasure?

Hmm, not that I know of.

Which book did you expect to like/hate and found it quite the opposite?

I really wasn’t planning on enjoying Prince of Fools by Mark Lawrence, but it was pretty awesome.

Which book has impressed you most this year?

The Land of the Beautiful Dead by R. Lee Smith

Would you share what you’re working on next?

It’s a paranormal romance featuring angels and demons. I’m working on book 2 right now. It’s been such a fun ride. These will be my longest books to date, because they have pretty heavy themes, and I put my characters through a LOT so they can find the truth about themselves—and they won’t always like what they find. Also, I have way too much material to work with.

Can I interest you in some canapés, and a small excerpt?

It’s nice when it’s in the quiet of their homes or in the hospital," the Angel of Death said. "Right now, I’m present in hearings for thousands of souls. Some happen in dark alleys, some underwater, some with too much blood, and some in a gripping cold, like yours, Sella.” The creature shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s nice when they pass in the warmth of a bed.”

“It was quite cold that day,” Sella muttered, her stomach churning.

She hated remembering her death. She wasn’t certain about what had killed her; either the freezing cold or the strike to the head. Maybe, both.

What’s the best way of spending a Sunday morning?

Eating pancakes and watching The Grand Tour. Sweet.

The Dimensions Series: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078T89K73?ref=series_rw_dp_labf 

A Courtroom of Ashes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01E9F2C02

Sword Witch: https://www.books2read.com/u/3neOee

Website: www.cswilde.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thatcswilde/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/thatcswilde

60 Seconds with Lisa Regan

By Gillian Hamer

Author, paralegal, former martial arts instructor, former certified nursing assistant, former bookstore manager - Lisa Regan has worn many hats in her life but writing has always been her greatest love. She has been writing novels since she was eleven years old when one of her parents brought home an old-fashioned typewriter and set it in front of her.

Lisa's first two suspense novels, Finding Claire Fletcher and Kill For You were published in 2012 and 2013. And she has gone on to have many bestsellers since, her latest Vanishing Girls is published in January 2018. 

Tell us a little about you and your writing.

I am a mother, wife and full-time paralegal living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the states. I have been writing fiction since I was eleven years old. I write every spare second I can get. I write crime thrillers, and they tend to be very gritty and dark.

What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Being able to create and just make things up. I love getting onto the page and the exhilarating feeling of freedom that comes with making up a new story or new set of characters or even a new plot twist. I get to use my imagination on a daily basis. It’s great fun.

And the worst?

I think any writer would say not being able to please all readers all the time. That’s a completely unreasonable expectation, of course, because everyone is different and people have different tastes. Writers know this intellectually, but I don’t think it stops them from wanting to knock it out of the park every time they sit down to write. The writing business is so subjective. But you always hope that readers will respond favourably to your work so if they don’t, it’s tough.

Why do you write? And why did you choose this genre?

I have always written to make sense of my world. I’ve been a bit obsessed with why people do bad things and how other people survive those bad things my entire life so all of my books are a sort of exploration of those themes. You’ll see in some of my books, I explore the bad guys as well as the good guys because I’m trying to figure out what makes them tick. I chose this genre because I’ve always been a huge mystery/suspense fan. I grew up on Scooby Doo and Nancy Drew. As a reader, I love trying to figure things out and put the puzzle pieces together. I find it just as fun as a writer.

Do you have a special writing place?

No, not really. I wouldn’t have time to sit in it even if I did. I write whenever and wherever I can. Sometimes it’s the car. Sometimes it’s waiting in line at the post office. The best place to get writing done is any doctor’s waiting room. You always have to wait forever, and it’s nice and quiet.

Which writers do you most admire and why?

So many! My all-time favourite is Karin Slaughter because I love her blend of gritty realism and deep, fleshed-out characters. I also love Dennis Lehane—again for the grit but also because he has such a unique and irreverent voice. I love Angela Marsons as well. Her books are so well-plotted with really original premises, and I think her Kim Stone lead character is so unique. I can’t get enough! Other authors I love: Jennifer Hillier, Nancy S. Thompson, Carrie Butler, Katie Mettner, Dana Mason, Michael Infinito, Jr. All of them are amazing and talented, and I can never put their books down.

If you could choose a different genre to write in for just one book – what would it be?

Oddly enough, probably fantasy. I’d love to try and create my own worlds. I’m thinking of fictional worlds like Game of Thrones and even Wizard of Oz as fantasy worlds I’ve loved. It seems like the possibilities for creating a fantasy novel would be limitless! You could go in so many different directions.

What was your inspiration behind your new release, Vanishing Girls?

I’ve been obsessed with missing persons’ cases and fictional accounts of missing persons since I was a child. I was reading about a woman who had been abducted in the U.S. and then, thankfully, she was found alive. The fiction writer in me said, “What if that wasn’t the end of the story? What if being found was just the beginning of the story?” and I kind of went from there. So you’ll see that Josie comes into contact with two young women who vanished and were later found alive, and that is just the beginning of Josie’s journey in this book.

What three tips would you offer up-and-coming authors?

Write, write, write. Write every day if you can. Just get it all out and worry about fixing it or making it good later. The best way to hone your craft is by doing it constantly!
Read. Read as much as you can. You’ll learn so very much from other authors’ work. Also, make sure to read as much as you can in the genre you hope to write in so you have a feel for what’s out there.

Don’t be afraid to destroy what you’ve written. You have to be prepared to cut scenes, cut characters, change your plot, and make all kinds of adjustments to your work if you really want to get better. I know it hurts but sometimes that scene you wrote that is the most perfect piece of prose ever to flow from your pen just doesn’t belong in the book. You must be flexible and open to change.

What are your future writing plans?

Right now I’m working on the final edits for the second Josie Quinn book, The Girl With No Name, which comes out this April and I’m at work writing the first draft of the third Josie Quinn book, The Bad Mother which is due out in August 2018.

Find our more about Lisa here....           

Amazon Author Page            Facebook                Twitter

60 Seconds with Carol Lovekin

By Gillian Hamer

(c) Janey Stevens

Carol is a writer, feminist & flâneuse based in west Wales. She writes contemporary fiction threaded with ghosts, Welsh Gothic and magic.

SNOW SISTERS, was published on 21 September, 2017 by Honno, the Welsh Women's Press. It has been chosen by the Welsh Books Council as their October Book of the Month.

GHOSTBIRD, her first novel, was published in March 2016. The book was chosen as Waterstones Wales and Welsh Independent Bookshops 'Book Of The Month' for April 2016. It was longlisted for the Guardian 'Not the Booker' prize 2016 and nominated for the Guardian Readers' Book of the Year 2016.

Welcome, Carol, tell us a little about you and your writing. 

I live in west Wales in a small flat overlooking the hills which, more often than not, are shrouded in mist. I’m a feminist and something of a flâneuse. My stories are rooted in Wales and concern the nature of family relationships, in particular those between sisters, and mothers and daughters. I lace them with birds, secrets, old houses and a touch of Welsh Gothic.

What’s the best thing about being a writer?

Waking up each day knowing exactly what the plan is. And being published – twice – is a lovely bonus!

And the worst?

There is no worst! I enjoy every aspect of writing.

Do you have a special writing place?

I’m fortunate to have a spare bedroom which I use as a study.

Which writers to you most admire and why?

I have a particular fondness for Virginia Woolf and never grow tired of reading her diaries and letters. I admire the stylishness of these writers in particular: Edna O’Brien, Daphne du Maurier, A S Byatt, Eimear McBride, Amy Sackville, Alice Hoffman and Harper Lee. So many writers to admire – far too many to list.

If you could choose a different genre to write in for just one book – what would it be?

Having found my niche as a writer, I have no inclination to write in a different genre. I’ve played with stories for children but it’s a unique discipline; I don’t think I have the patience.

What was your inspiration behind your latest novel, Snow Sisters?

Initially, a hankering to write snow scenes! One of the main protagonists in the story – the younger sister, Meredith – was a left-over character from a novel I was never meant to write. I knew I wasn’t done with her and when the notion of a Victorian ghost came (from wherever these ideas do) I knew Meredith, with her insatiable curiosity and courage, was the key to unlocking the ghost’s voice.

What three tips would you offer up-and-coming authors?

Read everything: widely, critically and insatiably. Write every day – even if it’s only a note on the back of your hand – and never, ever use the word ‘aspiring’ about yourself. If you are writing, published or not, you are a writer. 

You can follow Carol here:

Twitter: twitter.com/carollovekin
Website: carollovekinauthor.com
Facebook: tinyurl.com/y79ezaxd

60 Seconds with Susan Grossey

By Gillian Hamer

Susan Grossey was brought up in Singapore, graduated from Cambridge University in 1987 with a degree in English, and then taught secondary English for two years before realising that the National Curriculum was not for her. She became a technical author and realised money laundering was a topic that could keep her interest for years – and so it has proved.

 Since 1998, she has been self-employed as an anti-money laundering consultant, providing training and strategic advice and writing policies and procedures for clients in many countries. As part of her job, she has written several non-fiction books with exciting titles like “Money Laundering: A Training Strategy”, “The Money Laundering Officer’s Practical Handbook” and “Anti-Money Laundering: A Guide for the Non-Executive Director”.

However, even this is not enough financial crime for her, and in her spare evenings and weekends writes fiction – but always with financial crime at the heart of it. Susan lives in central Cambridge, with husband Paul, no children (by choice) and a tabby moggy called Maggie (short for Magnificat). When not writing, Susan enjoys reading, knitting, or pedalling madly on the back of a tandem.


Hello, Susan, tell us a little about you and your writing.

It all started with my day job: I am an anti-money laundering consultant, which means that I advise people on how to avoid criminal money. I have become absolutely fascinated by what criminals do with their money, and when I decided to just knuckle down and write that novel, of course financial crime was at the heart of it. I am writing a series of seven novels, set in consecutive years in 1820s London, which have as their narrator a magistrates’ constable called Sam Plank. And – would you believe this coincidence? – he is fascinated by financial crime.

What’s the best thing about being a writer?

For me, it is the chance to escape into the past – I find it all but impossible to stop researching and start writing, as I could read all day long. I also like having control over events, particularly in these rather turbulent times. It’s not always straightforward, but Sam generally gets his man, which is reassuring.

And the worst? 

Sometimes it can be a bit lonely: left to my own devices, I can spend days on end living in the past, which is not always good for current relationships! And – of course – the fear of finding that, despite evidence to the contrary, I can’t write any more…

Why did you choose your genre? 

Well, don’t tell my (engineer) husband, but I have a bit of a thing for policemen! I am particularly keen on the ones who use their brains to untangle tricky cases. And I noticed that although there are plenty of Regency romance novels, and more Victorian detectives than you can shake a truncheon at, no-one else has written about a Regency sort-of detective.

Do you have a special writing place? 

I have two. Most of the time I am in our back bedroom, looking over the little garden and our neighbours’ roofs. And if I am treating myself, I go to the Cambridge University Library and install myself on the fifth floor of the north wing. All the books there are about chemistry, so I’m not tempted to browse, but I love being surrounded by all that knowledge. And if I’m stuck for a character name, I just look at the book spines – chemists are probably over-represented in my books!

Which four writers would you invite to a dinner party? 

All of my favourites, so that I could gush and fawn: Elizabeth Goudge, Robertson Davies, Stan Barstow and Michael Bond. I doubt they’ve met before, and they’re not exactly competitors, so they should have plenty to discuss. And it would distract them from my awful cooking.

If you could choose a different genre to write in for just one book – what would it be? 

I can’t imagine writing a modern book, but I might give a slightly historical epistolary novel a go. I do like to have a framework rather than a blank page, which is the attraction of books requiring lots of research.

What do you know now you wish you’d known at the start of your writing journey? 

That it is remarkably difficult to get reviews – even one-sentence ones on Amazon from friends and family!

What is your proudest writing achievement to date? 

The self-publication of the first Sam Plank novel, “Fatal Forgery”. Once I knew that I could do it, the others were inevitable. But that first step was enormous.

What are your future writing plans? 

I have published four Sam Plank novels: “Fatal Forgery”, “The Man in the Canary Waistcoat”, “Worm in the Blossom” and “Portraits of Pretence”. I am now in the throes of writing “Plank 5” (not the final title!), and books six and seven in the series are plotted. I can’t even bring myself to think about what I will do once Sam retires, as he must in 1829 (when the Metropolitan Police was formed).


Follow Susan on Social Media ..

@ConstablePlank

 www.susangrossey.wordpress.com

60 Seconds with Gill Paul

By Gillian Hamer

Gill Paul has had six historical novels published, with the seventh coming out in August. The Secret Wife, published last September, made number 4 in the USA Today bestseller list and topped the kindle charts in the UK and US. It’s a love story about one of the daughters of Tsar Nicholas, of the ill-fated Russian royal family, and a cavalry officer named Dmitri Malama. Dinah Jefferies called it “A cleverly crafted novel and an enthralling story… A triumph.”
Gill lives in London with her artist partner, who has not read any of her novels.


Tell us a little about you and your writing.
I write historical fiction about some of the (to me) most dramatic events and fascinating characters of the last 150 years – among them the sinking of the Titanic, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton meeting on the set of Cleopatra, and the fate of the Romanov royal family. I am Scottish-born but now live and work in North London, where I swim year round in an outdoor pond.

What’s the best thing about being a writer?
There’s a feeling when the writing is going well, when the story is just flowing out of your head and onto the page, that is almost better than sex. And I also love the unstructured hours: being able to slip out to swim at the sunniest part of the day without needing permission from anyone but myself is pretty cool.

And the worst?
The rampant insecurity, the lonely terror of watching your Amazon rankings, and the abject fear after you have written a successful book that you will never be able to pull it off again.

Why did you choose your genre?
I inherited a love of history from my late mum. We watched all the historical dramas on TV together and read Jean Plaidy and Georgette Heyer. I studied History at uni (among other subjects – I was a student for ages) and still love reading historical fiction. It’s a great way to learn about a period without feeling as though you’re back at school. The best historical authors write about ageless human dramas and the setting is incidental.

Do you have a special writing place?
I have an office with bookshelves up to the ceiling and a scary ladder to reach the top ones. There’s a window beside me with a view of trees and overgrown climbing plants and lots of different kinds of birds stop by to distract me.

Which writers do you most admire and why?
I am in awe of literary writers like Maggie O’Farrell, Barbara Kingsolver, Rose Tremain and Paula McLain who conjure up glorious images that take root in my head and create unforgettable characters with a flick of their metaphorical fountain pens. And I love Dinah Jefferies, Lucinda Riley, Iona Grey and Kate Riordan for their great historical page-turners.

If you could choose a different genre to write in for just one book – what would it be?

Contemporary, possibly with a bit of a crime thrown in. But it would be a mystery rather than a police procedural or a gore-fest.

What was your inspiration behind The Secret Wife?
One day I was pootling round on YouTube when I came across a clip of the young James Taylor singing “Fire and Rain” and I was transfixed, because it took me right back to my first love, a seventeen-year-old boy who looked like him and used to play that song for me. Then I heard about the love story between Dmitri Malama and Grand Duchess Tatiana and I decided to try and capture the seismic, all-consuming power of first love that I suspect they felt for each other. And that’s where The Secret Wife came from.

What three tips would you offer up-and-coming authors? 

• Force yourself to keep writing even when you are getting rejections from agents and/or publishers. Don’t give up, because you’ll get better with every single page you write.

• Show your work to a few well-selected readers before sending it out: people who will be constructive but not harsh.

 • Try to pitch your novel idea in one sentence. Is it compelling enough to have readers who don’t know you rushing to buy it? If not, find one that is.

What are your future writing plans?
I’ve got a new novel called Another Woman’s Husband coming out in August (hardback and ebook) then November (paperback) and there’s a contract for another one to come out in 2018 which I have to admit is still in early stages (i.e. still in my head rather than on the page).

See our Bookmuse review of The Secret Wife HERE

Website: www.gillpaul.com

Twitter: @GillPaulAuthor

Facebook: gill.paul.16

60 Seconds with Margarita Morris

By Gillian Hamer

Margarita Morris was born in Harrogate and studied Modern Languages at Jesus College, Oxford. She visited Berlin when the Berlin Wall was still standing and this gave her the idea for her first novel, Oranges for Christmas, published in 2013. She worked in computing for eleven years, but now writes full time. In her spare time she enjoys swimming, yoga and singing in a local chamber choir. She lives near Oxford with her husband and two sons.
 
Tell us a little about you and your writing.
I write historical fiction and time-slip mystery/thrillers with parallel but connected historical and contemporary plot lines. I like books with a strong setting. So far I’ve gone for Berlin, Highgate Cemetery and Scarborough. My most popular book is Oranges for Christmas about a family trying to escape from Communist East Berlin after the Berlin Wall goes up.

What’s the best thing about being a writer?
Discovering lots of new things as part of my research. I also enjoy editing manuscripts.

And the worst?
Slogging through the first draft when you’re not sure if what you’re doing is any good. Feeling like you’re never going to get to the end of a manuscript.

Why did you choose indie publishing?
I like the creative control and the satisfaction of running my own business. I’ve enjoyed learning new skills, such as how to build a website.

Do you have a special writing place?
We have a small room in our house dedicated to books. I love it. I write there, looking out onto the garden, watching the squirrels.

Which writers do you most admire?
Charles Dickens, Sarah Waters, J.K. Rowling, Kate Atkinson and Stephen King.

Name one book you wish you’d written – and why?
If I say Harry Potter, people will assume it’s because of its huge commercial success, but I would have loved to have written it because of its wonderful cast of characters and the ingenuity of the plotting.

If you could choose a different genre to write in for just one book – what would it be and why?
I’m already thinking about exploring the crime genre because my books involve quite a lot of crime, but don’t fit easily into that genre.

What 3 books would you have to take to your desert island?
They would have to be big books to keep me going on a desert island, so I’ll say Bleak House by Charles Dickens, Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, and The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber.

What are your future writing plans?
I’m currently finishing up a trilogy set in Scarborough. After that I’d like to try writing a crime series set in Oxford. 

Social Media Links:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

60 Seconds with Liam Klenk

Liam is a world citizen of German-French-Italian origin. He is passionate about living authentically and learning from meaningful encounters with people from all over the world.
 
So far, Liam has lived on four continents and worked as a photographer, visual services artist, movie theatre manager, scuba instructor, hyperbaric chamber operator, show diver, underwater theatre coach, and production manager.
 
Liam's first book and memoir Paralian was published in 2016. He currently lives in Zurich, Switzerland.


Interview by JJ Marsh


Which work most influenced you when growing up?

The work of German author Karl May.

Where do you write?

Mostly either on the couch in our living room, or in the tram during the commute to work. I am teaching myself currently to be ok anywhere, no matter how loud or busy it gets around me...

Who or what had the biggest impact on your creative life?

Mrs. Mohatt, my Advanced Art teacher in the US.

How far are you influenced by other media, such as music or fine art?

Quite far. Mostly by films. I've loved cinema for as long as I can remember. And even at home I constantly watch DVDs. I love the cinematographic art of storytelling.

Do you have a phrase that you most overuse?

Haha, yes I do. I believe I say "I love this" way too often.

Which writers do you enjoy?

There are so many. J.K. Rowling is a great inspiration and one of my favourites. Jefferson Bass is another favourite, and Sten Nadolny, and Garth Stein, etc. The list is endless. I read constantly. Always have. Everything from adventure stories, to thrillers, to graphic novels, to classical literature, to popular science.

Why do you write?

It's a passion. I truly love it. With my first book Paralian it was also a life's dream. I felt this book needed to be written. I had to face so many challenges during the first 45 years of my life. I wanted to commit these experiences to paper to share them with my readers; to maybe help some, infuse them with my love for life, add to the human experience, share laughter, tears, be authentic and put myself out there just as I am.
Now I need to continue writing, because I am hooked and letting the words flow onto paper feels like the best way to express myself. I've found my medium.

What makes you laugh?

Almost anything. I love to laugh. A good sense of humour is the elixir of life. Especially being able to laugh about ourselves.

Do you have a guilty reading pleasure?

Meg, by Steve Alten. I have to admit I've read it about ten times so far. And I still love it.

How has writing a memoir affected your sense of identity?

I have become more self-assured... and more forgiving - towards others as well as towards myself.

Which book has impressed you most this year?

David Vann's Aquarium has touched me deeply.

Would you share what you’re working on next?

I am working on a book with short-stories about the animal companions I've been privileged to have throughout my life, and the life lessons they gave me. It's going to be a profoundly honest book again. Fun as well. A book about amazing souls... and the ways they touch us, leaving us forever changed.

What’s the best way to start the weekend?

Sleeping in as long as possible. Then, going to the bakery with my soul mate.

Right after, we'll enjoy a lengthy brunch together at home. This includes a steaming hot Amarula coffee (yum!). After breakfast I'll be off for some 'me time' on the couch with a good book.

Website: http://www.liamklenk.com

WordPress: https://liamklenk.blog

Tumblr: http://liamklenk.tumblr.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14425961.Liam_Klenk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paralianbook/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paralianissimo/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/liamklenk

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/liamklenk/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDihI6CkC_I&t=9s

Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/liam2959990

60 Seconds with Mollie Blake

By Gillian Hamer.

Mollie Blake's debut novel “The Secret At Arnford Hall” is due to be published by Black Opal Books in February 2017.

Hello. Tell us a little about you and your writing. 

Hi. Firstly can I thank you all at “Words with Jam” for inviting me to do this sixty-second interview.
I used to be a Finance Director of a privately owned business in the UK with subsidiaries in France and South Africa. Having a child later in life (I was forty-two) was a huge shock. The joy of having a baby contrasted starkly with the fear of going back to work only three months later. I felt like a novice in the boardroom. It was as though a significant proportion of my brain cells fell out when the baby was pushed out! Nearly four years later I left the company, which had been such a huge part of my life, providing me with a career I loved, and gave my time to my child and husband.
But after a couple of years spent helping a little at school and Church, I needed something more challenging to occupy me. I have always loved reading from the romantic indulgence of Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre to the gripping tension of John Grisham, the laugh-out-loud humour of Jon Canter and the epics of Tolstoy. And of course the spicy tales of EL James, Sylvia Day and many more.
I decided I wanted to write a story about romance, laced with explicit sex scenes and more than a touch of danger. So I did. I have written five books so far under the brand of “Provocative romance, alluring suspense.”


What’s the best thing about being a writer?

For me the best thing about being a writer is that I can fit it in with my home life. When my son or husband needs me, I can be there for them. I love the flexibility; I never had that before in my career in finance. But it comes at a cost; you have to be disciplined. It’s not always easy to know when writing is the priority or keeping the peace with those around you is more important. And I don’t always get it right, especially if I’m in the middle of a hot scene. The plus side for my husband is that I’m always in a good mood after finishing those particular parts.


And the worst?

Huge swings in confidence levels. As an author you put yourself out there, be it on a bookshelf or in the “e” world. There is no right or wrong to writing fiction but if readers don’t want to read your stories then there’s no point in going through the pain of “exposing” yourself. I don’t mean that I star in any of my books. Far from it. But I love my good characters and hate my bad ones. I feel for them and it is my passion that I am exposing. I desperately want readers to share this passion with me. If they don’t then I have failed. And that scares me. Not least because I don’t want to stop writing.


Why did you choose your genre?

I chose to write provocative romance primarily because of my age. That may sound strange but I was an old mum on the school playground. I was approaching fifty and most of my friends there were very closely connected with either side of forty. Reading erotic romance gave me a lot of pleasure and reminded me what it was like when we were young. It rekindled my own desires which had perhaps been suppressed with motherhood. I wanted to write stories about passion which could excite other women and make them feel wonderful. But I wanted my stories to grip the reader, to compel them to turn the page to see what happens next. I write romance laced with suspense. The explicit scenes add spice to the stories. They do not control them.
I love what I am doing and I love my life. I hope at least some of that rubs off with people who come into contact with my writing and me. Fiction is escapism and should provide pleasure be it via murder, cruelty, love and romance, or humour. We each have our own preferences. I hope I reach people who love to escape to a world of characters battling with the challenges life has thrown at them as they strive for love.


Do you have a special writing place?

I write at the island in my kitchen mostly. But I can write almost anywhere, even in the car. I usually have a notebook with me and if we are going away I always take my MacBook. My husband seems to need more sleep than I do.

Which four writers would you invite to a dinner party?

Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, Lee Child, Nora Roberts.

If you could choose a different genre to write in for just one book – what would it be?

Thriller.

How are you feeling about the imminent launch of your debut novel?

Predominantly nervous. I have two fears. One that readers won’t be able to find my book. Two that they won’t like it.
I think the first worries me the most. If readers don’t like my stories then I want to know. I am always looking for ways to improve my writing and am grateful for constructive feedback. But there are millions of books out there and use of marketing techniques to get my book in front of readers is not something I have been very successful with. I have no way of knowing if my book doesn’t sell because readers don’t know it’s available. Or if it’s because readers are not interested in buying my book.
However, I have the American publisher with me now and I am learning all the time. The publisher has been very encouraging about my writing which has given me a lot of confidence and when I am feeling nervous I remind myself of that.
I am also very excited. The editor has helped improve my writing and I have faith in my book. I also love the cover. I can’t wait to hear what readers think of “The Secret At Arnford Hall.”


What is your proudest writing achievement to date?

Getting a publishing contract. I have found this a very lonely profession. Having been part of a very successful team when I was a finance Director, I was unprepared for working in a creative environment where there is no right or wrong, only a measure of appealing to an unknown audience or not. I didn’t know what I was doing in the early days. I just wrote what I thought was a lovely story, one which I hoped other women who loved romance and suspense would like. Being given a contract with an American publisher gave me a tick I wanted; official proof that a professional from the industry thought I had written a good book. I know there are a lot of great writers who have successfully self-published great books. This is just how I feel.


What are your future writing plans?

I will keep on writing my provocative romances filled with alluring suspense. I have five books with Black Opal Books. “The Secret at Arnford Hall” is out in February. “Keeping You” and “Guiltless” are due out in the summer. “An Unconventional Affair” Parts I and II are due out in spring next year. I am currently writing my sixth.

Connect with Molly:
At my website www.mollieblake.com
On Facebook www.facebook.com/mollie.blake.54
On Twitter @MollieBlake0
On Pinterest www.uk.pinterest.com/mollieblakeauth
And you can come for a listen at www.soundcloud.com/user-556019893/the-secret-at-arnford-hall-1-dec-2016-15_10_56

60 Seconds with Katharine D'Souza

By Gillian Hamer

Katharine D’Souza writes contemporary fiction about families, friends, and the issues they encounter. She’s published three books set in Birmingham, UK, and also runs a writers’ group, is chair of a festival of writing, undertakes freelance editing work, and works part time at a university. All of this cuts into her reading time, a situation which annoys her. Her most recent novel, No Place, came out in August.

Hello. Tell us a little about you and your writing. 

While I’ve always loved to write stories, I didn’t take it seriously until I went part time at work over ten years ago and now find that balancing my own writing, running a writers’ group, editing, and working part time in an office is a good combination to ensure I both get some writing done and have something to write about.

What’s the best thing about being a writer? 

Well, I’m not quick with a witty comeback, so I like the opportunity to write a draft, delete it, rewrite it, revise, etc until the lightning-fast response actually appears in print.

And the worst? 

Writing first drafts. I very much prefer having material to rework.

Why did you choose your genre? 

I want to write about the way we live in contemporary Britain, so contemporary fiction set in British cities is the perfect fit for me to explore the issues I think about.

Do you have a special writing place? 

I am lucky enough to have a study of my own, but writing the first draft often happens in cafes, on trains, while lying on sofas, anywhere I can force myself to do it, really.

Which four writers would you invite to a dinner party? 

Oooh, can they be from history? Because I’d love to invite Jane Austen, no competition. There are a lot of things I’d like to ask her. Though I’d also like to talk to J K Rowling and Maggie O'Farrell as they’re my modern day inspirations. Then, because meeting her at a Puffin Club event when I was very small was probably the seed of me wanting to write, Noel Streatfeild, so I could say ‘thank you’.

If you could choose a different genre to write in for just one book – what would it be? 

Tough choice – perhaps fantasy. I enjoy reading it, but have never tried writing it. I think I’m intimidated by the complex world-building in the books I’ve read.

What do you know now you wish you’d known at the start of your writing journey?

The importance of independent critique, from writers’ group colleagues or an editor. Finding the courage to request and then listen to honest feedback is what really helped me improve as a writer.

What is your proudest writing achievement to date? 

Whenever I hear feedback from readers. When someone tells me how much they enjoyed a book, or talks about the events or characters with insights which show how much they identified with the issues, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.

What are your future writing plans? 

I am working on a new novel. But it’s at first draft stage. Which means I’m hating it. Watch this space!

Find out more :

Website: http://www.katharinedsouza.co.uk/

Twitter: @KatharineDS