You spent many years as a high school teacher and university lecturer. How did your teaching career influence your journey into writing fiction?
I wasn’t sure it did, when I first thought about it, but obviously encountering so many different people and different situations is all grist to the mill.
You’ve lived and worked in Lancashire your entire life. How has the region shaped your storytelling, settings, or characters?
Lancashire folk, are, by-and-large, kind and no-nonsense types, hard-working and diverse. They also ‘punch above their weight’ when it comes to the arts – actors, writers, artists – and sport. I wanted to set a story with some of the values and characters I grew up with, but The Arrangement is also set on the Lancashire/Yorkshire moors, and the bleakness and beauty of the landscape echoes Findlay’s life
Your reading tastes span many genres—from Shakespeare and Austen to modern indie authors. How has such a wide reading range influenced your own writing style?
One cannot read widely without learning. Different ways of structuring a story, presenting characters and situations, but also what drives a person to behave in a certain way. Aside from which, without reading, how would I have known that writing is an option? I may mostly write romance, but I refuse to be tied to a trope or type of tale.
You’ve mentioned that you believe most fiction falls under the umbrella of romance. Could you explain what you mean by that?
Romance is more than a love affair; it is suggestive of excitement, secrets, mystery. All fiction contains some of these elements, but also, a successful story is seductive; it pulls you in, charms you, it makes you want more.
Although you read many genres, you tend to write romance. What draws you to this genre as a writer?
I honestly have no idea! My characters choose their route! I have written romances set in a war situation, in the midst of a criminal gang, set at a comic-con, a police station… Somehow, whatever I write ends up with love.
Your heroes are described as strong and wonderful men on the inside. What qualities make a hero truly compelling for you?
The dichotomy for modern men and women! A man should be strong, powerful, protective, treating ‘his’ woman as someone precious; but he also has to be sensitive to her needs, show empathy. To be a hero for me, a man also needs to have a sense of humour and patience, and be my – or my character’s - biggest cheerleader.
Your heroines are intelligent and capable, yet often naïve and pure. What inspired you to create female characters with this blend of traits?
Because this is what I know! It is the character I aspire to be.
As someone who reads five or more stories a week, do you find that reading so much helps or challenges your own creative process?
Originally it challenged me. I have written stories since my teens (at least) yet a slightly skewed sense of honour would not let me finish them. Every time I recognised something in my work which was similar to something in someone else’s, I would give up. It took a long time to recognise that originality is truly rare (if possible!). The first book I wrote in full was handwritten in about three months – 75 thousand words for the first draft. It took longer to type it up! And I read nothing while I wrote it. The first story I read afterwards, a new-to-me author, had their main female character with characteristics shared by mine. It was an eye-opener seeing the commonality from the other side. After that, I worried less about influences on my writing and more about writing what felt true to my characters.
Many writers use a pen name. What inspired you to write under the name Suze E Prescot as well as Essey Nelson?
Neither name is my true name, but my first and middle initials are SE. I also wanted to write stories for anyone and everyone, so books by Essie will not have anything graphic in them. The source of the surnames remains a secret! IYKYK
Animals seem to hold a special place in your life, particularly cats and horses. Do animals ever find their way into your stories?
LOL. Not enough! In The Arrangement, there is a Scottish Deerhound, but Hamish is an anomaly. I think I need to try harder!
With such a deep love of reading across genres like mystery, crime, science fiction, and fantasy, have you ever considered writing outside of romance?
I am working on a period cosy murder mystery, and also have an idea for a fantasy story about fae.
Who are some authors—classic or modern—who have had the greatest influence on your writing?
Daphne du Maurier was a strong influence because she wrote so wildly in terms of genre. Modern indie authors like LS O’Dea/Ellis O Day, Dakota Davies/Amy Waeschle and SM West are authors whose work I don’t like to miss.
What does your typical writing process look like, from the first spark of an idea to the finished manuscript?
Chaos and mayhem! I have the germ of an idea, and then after brooding on it I begin to write. Planning never works since the characters drive the narrative. I KNOW the beginning, and have an idea of where/what the ending should be, but the rest is in the hands of the muses.
What can readers expect from you next, and are there any upcoming projects you’re particularly excited about?
I have mentioned the period murder mystery. As far as I can plot, I have the main characters, the notion of where that’s going, and that ideally, it would start a series, but its early days yet.
Would you recommend AllAuthor to fellow authors, and if so, what services or tools on the platform have you found most useful in growing your business?
I would recommend AllAuthor. Why? Authors you can follow/who can follow you to build a community; the cover of the month contest, which helps promote your book as well as being fun and interesting; the Magic Tool which allows an author to create their own adverts; being able, for a small fee, to feature your book and have AA promote for you; the sense that AA is genuinely supportive and cares, and finally, with the blog and other tools, the chance to research ‘cold callers’ and other curious offers.These were great, thought-provoking questions, Mady. Thank you!
