It was surreal, to say the least, when I looked at the aged typed papers that held my first 10 Chapters, together with my annotations and crossings out. I had grown so much since then. My outlook on life had changed (I was 67 by this time) but I knew that now I had the time, I wanted to complete what I started all those years ago. It brought back so many memories…..

I put my hands together and said ‘thank you Mum’ that’s why the dedication to both my parents is in the book. No matter what I did through my life, they always believed in me, and encouraged me.

Yes, it did. As I said before, I had lived a life, learnt so much, studied, and raised a family, plus the fact I had researched all my ancestors, and this gave rise to all the paces that I talk of.

I always liked reading, and so did all the girls I worked with. We would read a book, and then talk about what we liked about it, it was great fun. One book though, written by an American Author – Anya Seton, called ‘Devil Water’, was my inspiration. She wrote books of English History, which were always my favourites. I have read all her novels.

I discovered that they were from all over England. I went back as far as the late 1700’s. Just a few examples, the ancestors on my Maternal Grandmother’s side, came from Launceston. My maternal Grandfather’s Mother came from Norwich.

Yes, definitely. I have always had a love of the west country, and the books of Thomas Hardy. I watched many series, and films to listen just how the dialect from those areas were spoken. I also learned that the English language did not abbreviate any words, this didn’t happen till the mid-1800’s. They used words that would seem very comical to us today. It was another language entirely. The English language has evolved in so many ways. For the Characters, well there are many members of my family within them. Mrs. Cottle for instance is my maternal Grandmother, even her name.

I can’t say that it did, but I learned so many methods of research, and how and what to cite, so in that respect it helped me a lot, especially in regards to copyright, as Cambridge University holds all the copyrights to the Bible, the Common Book of Prayer, and some of Shakespeare. It was a slow process, but I got there.

I cannot say I faced challenges, but it was very time-consuming, in that I wished things to be historically correct, and I hope that I have been able to achieve that. I researched the Stagecoach, and its routes to Exeter, and found that one of the main stops was Mere in Wiltshire, and that that was one of the predominant sites for growing flax during those years. Where possible I tried to use actual locations and shops in those areas, as well as Churches. I couldn’t physically go there, so I had to rely on what I could find through research on the Internet, and books from that time.

I was retired by them, and as much time as I liked, and I was really looking forward to putting my thought down on paper once more.

Let us say, that one path does not lead you to where you expect to go. It has many twists and turns, as do the Characters, because their lives also change so much within the books pages. One person told me it was like going through a maze, you never knew what was coming next.

As I said before, life never runs smoothly, and there where you think you are settled, another task is set you, and you must respond to the best of your ability. This is true of my story.

For me, that I had actually written it. I must tell you though, I did not know the ending till the last chapter, where I left it open for a second book, which I am near to finishing. I never planned anything, the ideas and scenes would come to me as I was writing. Sometimes I would write wholes scenes beforehand while they were still fresh in my mind, and fit them in when I came to them.

As I had no experience to put it against, I couldn’t truly say. My book came out at the start of the Pandemic, so that I couldn’t do any of the promoting that other Authors do. Let us say I was very green then. Since then, they remaindered my book last February, so I had to self-publish, which I did in May, with the Great help of my Friend Mary L Schmidt. She re-edited my book, made me a new cover, and guided me through the process of putting it out there again. I would recommend her services to anyone. She is amazing.

I started the second book- which follows on from the first – about three years ago, but, due to illness, and other family matters, it got shelved. Hopefully I can finish it before the end of the year

Yes, your platform has helped me get my book out there, both the first and the second version, especially your regular tweets on ‘X’. I have used all the tools as well, particularly the seasonal ones. Thank you so much for continuing to promote ‘Full Circle’

The first book that I really remember leaving an impression on me was ‘The Children of the Warren’ by Marjorie A Sindall. It was about a large house that housed many diverse families, where children lived, and the antics they got up too. It made me want to be one of them.

Ah, I have always been an avid reader. I have said it many times before, but it is true. At work books went around our office like sweets at a children’s party. I was also very fortunate to work in such an environment where we all shared a great love of books, but the book that set me thinking, and prompted me to write my own story, was ‘Devil Water’ by Anya Seton. A Historical book that had such an impact on me, it stays with me still.

Once I had the idea for the story, I would stay in at lunchtimes, and after work, to type up what I had written the previous night. Then when I had finished a chapter, I would let the girls read it to get their feedback. In all, I completed 10 chapters before I stopped. Then, as they say life took a different turn, and my book was left. I thought about it many times throughout my life, and told myself that I would write it one day, but it wasn’t until I retired, and my Father passed away, that while going through a cupboard, I found my original manuscript in the same brown envelope, as I had left it all those years ago. My Mum had kept it. Hence the dedication to my parents at the front of the book.

In all truth, I cannot remember, but my Mum would say I always loved reading. In my life I have read so many books, in a multitude of Genres, from Classics, to Romance, to Historical, Crime and Fantasy. Pluss many more factual also, but I always had a great love for anything historical. They were the books I enjoyed the most.

Yes, I have always loved writing, even poetry, but they never amounted to anything, as my life was too busy with many things, so much that I couldn’t apply myself. I always had a vivid imagination, and at school was reprimanded for making my essays too long. My ideas just ran way with me.

When I first started on the Novel, I gave it a lot of thought. Being set in the past, I had to do a lot of research around the time that I wanted to set my Novel. I had read several books where they had been based in the West Country, and decided that that was where my Novel would be centred. It took me around two years of research, which I did while transcribing my original notes to my laptop. The story changed a great deal from the original, as I now had a wealth of information available to me via the Internet. I used the names of many people from that time, mainly Lawyers, also the gentleman I called Sir Henry Portman. The Portman of the time was a property developer, while mine a Major General in the Army. As you know, the main Characters came from Scotland, and I researched clans there, to find out what part of Scotland they hailed from. Also, it was a time of great turmoil, as the battle of Cullodon was only 40 years before. I was careful to not to write about something that I knew nothing about, so I just alluded to such times.

The other names that I used were nearly all of my ancestors. Even down to their characteristics. I based Spike and Mrs Cottle on my Maternal Grandparents.

That was only half the battle. I then faced the dilemma of publishing…. I must have read the whole story, going over and over, looking for any repeats or mistakes, around 12 times before I then sent it to a publisher, Austin Macauley. I waited around 6-8 weeks before I finally received a package back. I instantly thought that they had rejected it, and were giving me maybe a booklet to help me write better. You cannot imagine how I felt when I read that they would take a chance on me. Well, the rest is history. In all, it took around 4 years from Research/Writing/Publishing.

Then came the hard part. My Book was published at the start of the biggest lock-down in history. I couldn’t go anywhere to promote it. So, I had a ‘baptism by fire’ in Social Media. I knew nothing of the processes. Many people on that platform helped me a great deal. I believe I was very fortunate to have met them, and am extremely grateful for their guidance. Let us say, I am still learning.

Another life took over. I moved abroad, got married, then back to England, and had a family. I will say though, it would not have been the same story had I started earlier. It is because of the life experiences that I went through, which allowed, and gave me the depth of feeling for the characters that I produced. If you experience such things, then it gives you understanding and empathy, which comes through in the characters.

I was very fortunate, as just having retired after 23 years working in the local University, I found myself at a loss as what to do with my time, and I also loved doing the research. Having previously found the manuscript, I decided to do something constructive with the time afforded me. Though I will admit, that had I been working still, then maybe it would never have been finished.

No, I never did that. My story grew as I typed. In my head I had an idea as to where a certain storyline would take, but as I typed….it would veer off in a totally different direction, which enabled me to bring other characters in. I tell you in all honesty when I say, that I never knew the ending of the book, till I started to write the last chapter. It evolved as out of thin air. Had I sat down and thought about it…it would never have happened as it did.

Yes, as I said before, when you go through certain traumas in your life, or in the lives of others, it changes you, and you are able to describe and see these emotions clearly. Certain aspects in the Novel are based on life experiences.

Ah, Alexander is a mixture of my Maternal Grandfather, and my Dad. They had so much patience, and were totally unselfish, and thankful for everything they received, no matter how small. They had both experienced life changing events, my Grandfather in losing his parents at a very young age, only to be taken in by his sister. My Father, also lost his Mother when very young, plus the experiences of war.

No, I just write from my heart.

Nobody knew I was writing a book, I only told them when it had been published. So far, I have been lucky in that my friends and family have loved what I have written. They are also encouraging, asking when is the next one to be published, but I am only halfway through that.

Yes, I missed the regular meet ups with cousins, and the friends who I had known all my working life, but we managed to keep in touch by telephone. It’s not the same, but it was good to hear their voices.

Did you ever dream you would be a published author? My answer would be ‘Never in a million years!!’ and I still can’t believe it. I hold my book in my hands now, and say to myself – did I actually write this!

I joined in March 2020. It was another author who lives in America that urged me to join. She has since become a close friend.

My experience, so far has been good. I have had many other authors follow me, as when you build up a following, that is when others get to know of you, and maybe read your book.

If I have learned one thing, it’s that you have to get yourself noticed, and AllAuthor Pro has done this for me. Thank you.