What is your favourite childhood memory while living in Huddersfield in England?
My childhood was not a happy one, so I find that a hard question to answer. Honestly, all I can say is my childhood in Huddersfield taught me some valuable ‘life’ lessons that have influenced my writing.
When did you start writing? What inspired you to start writing?
Most of my writing had been for work reports and academic assignments, which I enjoyed, so once I retired, which is around eleven years ago now, I thought I’d try to develop my skills as a writer. I’ve always enjoyed reading and telling stories, but it’s been a big learning curve, and I’m still learning. I treat my writing as a very demanding full-time hobby.
How would you describe your experience of working for many years in Mental Health?
Good question! I did it for 36 years, it was both rewarding and at times gruelling, and it certainly opened my eyes to the many social problems there are in the UK, along with drug and alcohol problems, and the impact this can have on people’s mental health and wellbeing. It made me appreciate many things in my own life; it made me realise I had many things to be thankful for. But it did take its toll on me emotionally; you see a darker side of life. I very much admire people who work in the profession; it’s a very difficult and often thankless job.
What is the one most important thing you are trying to achieve by your writing?
I want to entertain people; I want to take them on a journey, a journey that might trigger an emotion, a memory, a feeling or feelings. I hope my writing will make people smile and, at times, shed a tear. My books are a bit of escapism.
What is the story behind the idea of ‘The Pluckley Psychic Historical Society'?
This is book three in my ‘Ghost from the Molly House’ series; these books are all based on historical fact, which I mix with fiction and fantasy. Pluckley is a real place in the UK and is regarded as the most haunted town in England. This book has two stories, one set in Pluckley, the other set in my hometown of Huddersfield and at a place called Castle Hill. The stories involve real historical events along with the paranormal and supernatural; they are told with humour, and you won’t find a lot of blood and gore in any of my books.
When building new characters, what sort of things do you establish first? What do you consider last?
Because ‘The Ghost from the Molly-House’ is a series the characters have developed over each book, and I love them all, they are all somehow a part of me. I start with a basic idea, it might be based on someone I know, a character in a TV show or a film, and it builds from there, one character might be several people I know, and then I guess there are a lifetime of subliminal influences.
Your books are mostly based in Kent, in the UK. Why did you choose that as the setting for your book?
In all honesty, it makes it easier for me. I have written stories set in other countries, but because I don’t always know them, it requires a lot of extra research. Kent is a great place for paranormal and historical fiction because it has so much real history.
What are some new ideas and writing techniques that you explored in the book "A Journey into Fashion: The Dressing Room"?
This book is very close to my heart; it covers a forty-year period and follows the life of Chris, a shy, naïve young man from the North of England. The story is told from his point of view, all his hopes, fears, and dreams; it’s a touching, amusing, coming-of-age story. The book explores some dark times in his life, but I’ve tried to tell them with some warmth and humour; there is a lot of humour in the story. Of course, it also includes many of the big fashion names, but it is not set in London, Paris, Milan, or New York; I think I’ve made it work.
Who inspired the character of Jasper, the time-travelling super-ghost in "The Jasper Claxton Mysteries"? How do you come up with character names?
I’d read a book by the American writer Rictor Norton, who had done a tremendous amount of research about life in 18th-century England; the idea for Jasper came from there. I wanted to create a character who had experienced a lot of hardship and who wouldn’t judge people based on their status, gender, political or religious believes, the colour of their skin, or sexual persuasion. He judges people purely on how they treat him and others. He has a great thirst for justice and doing the right thing, but he also has a wicked sense of humour. I didn’t want to do a traditional ghost story. Jasper has all sorts of powers, yet he’s also vulnerable. Someone said to me he’s the sort of person you’d want to have as your best friend, and I like to think of him that way. In terms of his name, I researched names from the period and came up with Jasper Claxton; I think it suits him perfectly.
How important do you think a book title is? What are your tips for penning a catchy and intriguing book title?
My book titles come to me as I write the stories. I do start with a title, but it usually changes as the story develops. I think with books, there are so many factors; it’s a very competitive, overcrowded market, and it’s hard to get visibility, even with a great book cover and a catchy title.
The Beauty Room is a feel-good book full of humour, brimming with intrigue, and full of adorable characters. What inspired the plot of the story?
A character called Barbara Day (who is based on a real person), a beautician from ‘A Journey into Fashion’, I loved writing her character, so I decided to tell her story. It starts in 2002 at a prestigious beauty awards ceremony in London and then goes back to 1950, and how it all started for Barbara in my hometown of Huddersfield. There are some great female characters in the book.
Have you ever been approached by fans on the street? What's the nicest thing a fan has ever said to you?
No, I would love for that to happen. In terms of feedback, people seem to love my characters, which is great, but I’d like more people to get to know them!
What are your plans for the future? Where do you see yourself as an author in 10 years' time?
I plan on hanging on in there for the long haul. I have added to my fashion fiction with the satirical comedy, The Fabulous Life of Patrina Fletcher, who is a social media and reality TV star. And I’ve written a new series of books called Jocasta Bradman Investigates. Jocasta is a psychic medium and a character from my Ghost from the Molly House series. I’m working on another book in the series; it should be out in 2027.
What are a few things you wish someone had told you when you first became a writer?
The difficulties and challenges of marketing successfully on a limited budget, I’ve tried many things, but it’s a nut I’ve yet to crack. It’s time-consuming and requires a lot of energy and attention.
