Born in the UK in 1966, which is your favorite childhood memory?
I think probably going out with my friends on our bikes - we'd go for miles!
How did your aspirations to be a writer from a young age begin?
I always loved English at school, mainly because I had excellent teachers who made me question what I was reading. That led me to an interest in poetry which I think I started writing when I was about 12 years old.
How would you describe your experience of growing up to be an accountant?
Completely accidental. To be honest, it was just something that I fell into but I enjoyed playing about with numbers and was, thankfully, quite good at it.
What gave you the strength to pack your bags, leave behind your spreadsheets and head off to the South of France?
To be honest, it wasn't a difficult decision. I had had a personal tragedy in my life and just knew that I had to make a huge change in my life in order to be able to move forward.
What do you love the most about living by the sea?
It's incredibly peaceful but it's also ever changing.
What are some elements to consider while writing a poem?
The first thing is to write from the heart, dig deep, don't just skim the surface. The second is to make sure the work flows - I always read a poem out loud once I've written it and, if I stumble over the words or phrasing I know I have to change something.
What do you find easier to write - short stories or a book? Why?
I would have to say a book, although it's much more time consuming. With a short story, it's difficult to get a real feel for your characters but, with a book, you have time to really get to know them.
What inspired you to write your first book, "From His Perspective"?
I had seen several things on the news which described the ways in which human beings are destroying the planet and, in some cases, each other. Then I started wondering how our actions would be viewed by someone from another planet. The idea rattled around my brain for a couple of days than then, one morning, in the shower, it occurred to me that, if there really was a being that created our Universe, he'd be pretty annoyed with everything we're doing and the idea for From His Perspective was born. It started off as quite a serious project but I have a well developed sense of the ridiculous and it ended up as a comedy, designed to make my readers laugh but with a serious underlying message I hoped they'd also pick up on.
How different would your life be had you not discovered writing?
Completely different. When I first moved to France I didn't really know anyone and struggled with the language - writing probably saved my sanity! I am also thankful that I have my writing at the moment as we struggle into our third week of lock down in France - it really helps to take my mind off this awful situation that has overtaken the World.
Who inspired the character of Norbert in "From His Perspective"?
I honestly couldn't tell you. I decided that the Creator of the Universe would definitely have needed a personal assistant and the character of Norbert was born. Almost as soon as I started writing him, I could see his face, the way he spoke, his mannerisms etc. He was a really easy and fun character to write.
When you're not writing, what are some things you like to do for fun?
I love sport so I'll go to Pilates or the gym several times a week. I enjoy yoga and long walks along the coast; several of my friends have motorbikes so, when the weather is warm we'll be found racing around the mountain roads which are amazing here. The South of France is a great place to eat out so I'll often go out for lunch or dinner with friends - we'll sit outside, usually on the sea front, and spend two or three hours eating and chatting. Basically, I spend a lot of my time outside enjoying the wonderful weather and beautiful countryside that we have here.
Writing and finishing a book can take an immense amount of discipline. How do you keep yourself motivated and keep the dreaded writer's block from attacking?
For me, writing is like spending time with friends, I develop a relationship with my characters so writing about them and their lives is not a chore. However, like all authors, I sometimes get writer's block and, at those times, I'll just walk away from the story and go and do something completely different until the urge to write comes back.
If there was anything you could say to your younger self, what would you say?
Do what you want to do in life, not what you think you should do.
Which is the next book you are working on? Is it another historical fiction?
It is another humorous, historical fiction. It's great fun to write and I hope to have it published by the end of the summer.
What do you think of AllAuthor and would you recommend it to your other author friends?
I would definitely recommend AllAuthor, absolutely no doubt about it. It's a fantastic site with great resources for authors and you get the impression that the team really care about you and your book!
