What is your name, where were you born and where do you live now?
Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?
I can’t say that I always wanted to be a writer but I knew that I would
choose a career that involved books (editing/translating).
Did it take a long time to get
your first book published?
It seems to have taken forever.
About two years.
Do you work another job as well as your writing work?
I do some freelance work in editing and copy-writing, in addition to
raising three kids.
What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarise it
in less than 20 words what would you say?
The novel is titled “Leah”. Years after
little Leah mysteriously drowns off Puerto Franco, a community is still haunted
by the curse of her tragedy.
BLURB from Goodreads
On the remote island of Puerto Franco, young Leah wades into the sea and disappears. Her body is never found. Thirty years later, visual artist Mar arrives on the island with her daughter, Lemay. She anticipates a haven where she can work on her craft, away from her controlling husband. Instead, Mar finds herself in the midst of a close-knit community haunted by a curse three-decades old.
Available at Amazon.co.uk
On the remote island of Puerto Franco, young Leah wades into the sea and disappears. Her body is never found. Thirty years later, visual artist Mar arrives on the island with her daughter, Lemay. She anticipates a haven where she can work on her craft, away from her controlling husband. Instead, Mar finds herself in the midst of a close-knit community haunted by a curse three-decades old.
Available at Amazon.co.uk
Who is your publisher? or do you self publish?
This time round, I self-published.
Do you have a "lucky charm" or "lucky routine"
you follow when waiting for your book to be accepted by a publisher?
No, I don’t actually. But I make sure I start a new project, a short
story, plots for forthcoming novels, etc… while I’m waiting for a response.
How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original
idea to finishing writing it?
It takes me roughly a year to plan and write the first draft. After
that, I work on several rewrites until I’m happy with the end-product.
Which of your books were easier/harder to write than the others?
Neither was easy to write. They both required a lot of thought,
discipline and revisions.
What can we expect from you in the future? ie More books of the same
genre? Books of a different genre?
Probably more books in the same genre. It’s what I enjoy reading and
what I feel most comfortable with.
Do you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
I’m currently working on my third novel, set in Italy between the
wars. It’s a stand-alone book for now
but that might change.
What genre would you place your books into?
Women’s fiction.
What made you decide to write that genre of book?
It’s mainly the genre that I gravitate towards. Though I do read
non-fiction, some travel books, and so on, Women’s fiction would be my first
choice.
Do you have a certain routine
you have for writing? ie You listen to music, sit in a certain chair?
I work in my study, surrounded by books, notes and family photos. Much
as I love music, I need silence to hear my characters speak and follow the
rhythm in my writing.
Do you have anybody read your books and give you reviews before you
officially release them?ie. Your partner, children, friends, reviewers you
know?
I wouldn’t dream of releasing a book without asking others to read it.
Members of my family are editors and writers, so they get to tear it apart first.
Then I normally send it for assessment by an independent editorial service.
Do you gift books to readers to do reviews?
I do send a complimentary copy to reviewers who accept to read them.
Do you read all the reviews of your book/books?
Yes, I do. I think it’s important to know what people have to say about
my work. I’m sure I’ll feel the sting of a bad review but so far I’ve had
relatively good ones.
Would you ever ask a reviewer to change their review if it was not
all positive about your book/books?
Not at all. Putting a book out is as good as inviting readers to comment. The whole industry is subjective and few
books escape one or two negative reviews. It all comes down to what the majority thinks.
Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the
title?
The book definitely comes first, because the title will have to reflect
content and atmosphere.
Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl)
before writing the whole book or as you go along?
I write entire character biographies for my primary characters and
shorter ones for the secondary. But they are all pretty well formed before I
start writing.
Do you basic plot/plan for your book, before you actually begin
writing it out? Or do you let the writing flow and see where it takes the
story?
I always start off with a plan even if I stray from it as I go along and
my characters take a life of their own. I’d love to be one of those characters in a
movie who sits down at an empty desk, stares out the window for a split second,
then types out the first sentence. Cut to the last scene, and we see a thick manuscript
at her elbow and THE END in bold on the laptop screen. Wishful thinking.
How do you market/promote your books?
Through writers’ websites, online catalogues, and with the help of
bloggers, such as yourself, who give writers the opportunity to reach their
readers.
What do you think makes a book a really good/bestseller?
If I had the formula for what makes a “bestseller”, I’d be churning them
out. Difficult one, but I’ve come across “bestsellers” that did not impress me.
A good book is one that makes me want to retreat to a quiet spot and
lose myself in the story. I appreciate a beautiful/lyrical style of writing and
lean towards character-driven rather than plot-driven novels.
Have you ever suffered from a "writer's block"? What did
you do to get past the "block"?
‘Writer’s block” normally happens when I’m preoccupied with other
matters. If I’m working on a novel that requires research then I concentrate on
that for a while. Or I give it a break, and more often than not, I get back on
track eventually.
What do you do to unwind and relax?Do you have a hobby?
I swim or take long walks along the beach. I used to dance but stopped a
few years back. Swimming is the most therapeutic exercise, because it allows me
to shut myself off completely.
Is there a certain Author that influenced you in writing?
Many, I imagine, subconsciously.
Which format of book do you prefer, ebook,hardback, or paperback?
Paperback.
What is your favourite book and Why? Have you read it more than
once?
“Anna Karenina” which I read in my late teens. I was moved by its
intensity, whether in Karenina’s passion and anguish, or the socio-political situation
in Russia at the time. I only read it once. There are so many books to get
through that I rarely re-read a novel.
What are you currently reading? Are you enjoying it? What format is
it?(ebook, hardback or paperback)
“South of Broad” by Pat Conroy, in paperback. I’m only half-way through
and enjoying it.
Do you have a favourite genre of book?
Women’s fiction.
Is there a book you know you will never read? Or one you tried to
read but just couldn't finish?
Vampires and dystopia are not my cup of tea.
Is there anything in your book/books you would change now if you
could and what would it be?
I don’t think so. I only release my books when I’m happy with them. And
once they’re done, I move on, although I do take what I’ve learnt from writing
them and apply it to new novels.
What piece of advice would you give to a new writer?
Keep your audience in mind.
Assume that your readers have high expectations and give them the best
that you can. Your aim is to build a
readership and if they like what they read, they’re likely to come back for
more.
Do you or would you ever use a pen name?
Possibly, if I were to write in a different genre.
If you could invite three favourite writers to dinner, who would you
invite and enjoy chatting with?
Isabel Allende, Aminatta Forna and Kate Morton.
Where can readers follow you?
Your Facebook page?
Your Facebook page?
Your Goodreads author page?
Book Links?
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