Book: Ancient History
Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
Hi, and thank you for interviewing me. I grew up in the South West of England, close to the ocean, and I’ve always loved reading and losing myself in the pages of a book. I enjoy everything from Jane Austen to contemporary romances, and my first bachelor’s degree encompassed everything from Shakespeare to 20th century Italian literature. I now live in the Pacific Northwest of Canada, which has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. I have a master’s degree in education and for me writing is very much a creative outlet. I find I can lose myself in the creative process in the same way I can when I’m reading.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘Ancient History’ book?
As a part-time author I think one of the biggest challenges is finding a big enough chunk of time to get fully immersed in my writing. I like to have several manuscripts in progress at any one time and that way I can move to a different project if I get stuck. Once things start to flow, it becomes a lot easier.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
That’s a really hard question. I think I am probably influenced by every book I have ever picked up, so it’s hard to pin down just one author or book. I also think it’s really important to find your own voice as a writer. There are so many amazing authors out there, more so now than ever before, but I think I realized very early on that I couldn’t be those authors – I had to be me.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
Well, I spent much of my formative life growing up in England and I always loved visiting the historic homes that looked like they had come straight out of Pride and Prejudice. Here in Canada we are blessed with mountains and forests and coastlines, so we are really lucky. A few years ago we had a sailboat and sailing to a quiet cove and anchoring for the night was very special.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you drive in and start writing a book?
It all starts in my head. I start to get ideas and formulate part of the story before I start to write. I’m not someone who tends to plan everything out in intricate detail. I prefer to let things evolve a little more organically than that.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘Ancient History’ book?
Probably about a year all together. The first draft was finished in a few months, but then it went to my developmental editor and I spent another couple of months re-writing, before it finally went to a copy editor.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘Ancient History’ book to buy?
It is available on Amazon, Kobo, Nook, Apple, Barnes & Noble, and it will be available from libraries with Overdrive.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘Ancient History’ ?
I am very lucky to have an amazing designer from the UK who designs my covers for me. I give her the basic premise of the story and she does her magic for me. She is very talented at interpreting my vision for the book.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I think the best way to keep things fresh is through characterization. My characters are very important to me and they tend to develop as the story progresses. By the end of the book I’m definitely very attached to them, and it’s sometimes hard to let them go!
Q10. Are there any secrets from the book (that aren’t in the blurb), you can share with your readers?
I’m not sure I want to give anything away that would spoil it for my readers, suffice to say that all my books have a happy ending and there is definitely a happy ending with Ancient History.
Book Is Available On Amazon
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