Where were you born, and what was your childhood like?
I was born in Leeds, in the county of Yorkshire, in England. I had a happy childhood, although I was an extremely shy child. Hoping to bring me out of my shell, my mum took me to dancing classes at the tender age of three years old, hoping to bring me out of my shell. It didn’t really work. It meant I could do anything on a stage, but I was still shy of social situations. My obsession with dance grew as I did until I was having thirteen hours of dance classes per week. I loved it. I also took part in various dance competitions and won lots of medals and trophies.
Your journey from being a dancer, magician, and fire eater to earning a First-Class Honours degree in Modern Languages is truly unique. How did these diverse experiences shape your perspective on life and influence your writing?
I guess from being young I always knew what I wanted to do. My three aims in life were to be a professional dancer, a teacher, and a writer. I’ve achieved all three! However, my primary goal was to be a dancer, so, although I thought about staying on at school, the pull of the stage overtook everything. I was fortunate to work all over the world, including several years in different circuses. So you could say I have always been determined to succeed.
Wherever I worked, a plethora of artists from different countries would ask me to teach them English. I never did, as I felt I needed structure to teach well. So, when I retired from entertainment, met my Spanish husband, and moved to Spain, I studied a double degree in Spanish and English. It was while I was studying; I realised I was as determined to succeed in my academic life as in my career. I also realised I am a competitive person. I always strive to be the best I can.
I now run a school in Spain, and I love the interaction with all the students. They keep me young with their vivacity, sense of humour and outlook on life. So, to answer your question, I guess my perspective in life that influences my writing is to write about what I know, make it as real as possible, and inject it with laughter. My motto has always been: ‘Laugh, and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.’ We are automatically drawn to people who make us laugh, and lift our mood, so I like to write humour into my books. However, my first book “Fishnets in the Far East,” deals with a six-month dancing contract in South Korea. It was, at times, shocking and unbelievable, but I still found some things to laugh about.
Touring the world for over twenty-five years must have exposed you to various cultures and people. How have your travels influenced the themes and settings in your writing?
I think rather than the diversity of people and cultures; it has been the situations I have found myself in, odd comments I’ve heard, and results of certain situations that have stuck with me. I have a wealth of these that I have either written down in diaries or they come to mind as I’m writing. They help to influence my writing and I believe add depth to my stories too. I could use several countries as the backdrop of my novels, but I’ve only used my home town, Spain, and Brazil at the moment.
Given your proficiency in both English and Spanish, do you find yourself leaning towards one language when you write?
I will always feel more comfortable writing in English. I think our mother tongue enables us to enrich our writing because of the enormous volume of vocabulary, synonyms, idiomatic expressions and cultural utterances that come so easily to us. Spanish is also an extremely rich language and I enjoy reading in that language, but I doubt I could compete against Spanish writers and write with the same calibre and depth.
What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered in your writing journey, and how do you overcome them?
The challenges for me are finding enough time to write, having to spend so much time promoting your books, and the editing takes forever! I’m never completely satisfied with anything I write and will always find something I want to change.
How did you come up with the idea for your book, “The Circus Affair”?
After writing the Fishnets trilogy about my dancing life, I wanted to branch out and write a novel. “The Circus Affair”, seemed like a good place to start, as, once again, I could write about what I knew, and I had worked in a circus in Brazil, where the book is set. I wanted the novel to show the real life inside the world of circus and what happens when the lights go out and the curtains close. It was meant to be a romance, but my imagination got the better of me and it turned into a crime novel, too. I always describe the book as ‘a fusion of romance with a touch of crime, a sprinkling of humour and a dash of dance.’
Your life seems to be a mix of adventure and tranquility. How do you find inspiration for your writing in the midst of this balance?
Between writing and teaching, I feel like I never stop. Tranquillity is something I strive for but seldom experience. Teaching takes up a lot of my time, but I can find inspiration from almost anything. A single comment can send my brain racing with ideas, and I scribble them down. For example, “An Education for Emma” grew from a comment one Spanish student made in class. I sat down at the end of the day and plotted out the beginnings of the rom-com novel with a darker twist.
What advice would you give to aspiring writers, especially those who may be considering a career shift or embracing multiple passions in their writing journey?
I read recently that writing novels is a saturated market these day and even successful, prolific writers are finding it difficult to stay ahead of the game because of the massive number of books released each month. With AI technology flooding the market, I would suggest aspiring writers to write for pleasure (as I do), and if you are lucky enough to make money, then you could consider a career change, but not before.
Your background suggests a wide range of interests. Do you have a preferred genre to write in, or do you enjoy exploring various genres in your works?
This is my problem. I can’t stick to one genre! I write what I feel like writing. If I had to write in one genre all the time, I’d lose interest. However, I think I’m happiest when composing rom-coms and horror (not in the same book, obviously!)
Your home in the countryside with views of the sea seems idyllic. How does the natural environment surrounding you contribute to your creativity and writing process?
I adore living where I am. We have lots of sunshine almost every day of the year and I love sitting on the terrace and looking at the fields, wild areas, and the sea. I love listening to the birds in the garden and I enjoy growing my own vegetables (with varying stages of success!) Especially after working in the town during the day; I enjoy going home to the quiet, relaxed atmosphere of my home. Plus, we have some fantastic clear views of the sky at night and the canopy of stars is amazing! It really is quite magical and makes you realise how insignificant you are in the grand scheme of things.
You have three dogs and three cats. How do these furry companions play a role in your life, and do they make appearances in your stories?
I walk the dogs every day and take my kindle with me. Of course, I’m taking in the environment, because I love nature, but whenever the dogs stop to sniff (which is a lot!) I read. The cats appeared separately. One is called Magic because one day she appeared as if by magic. Another is called Diesel, because we found him in the car’s engine one morning, and the third is called Pot, as we found him in a plant pot! I haven’t written about them in my books although in my latest book ‘Say Yes to Everything’ (a comical Christmas Romance) I’ve added a dog called Sunday, because he appeared on a Sunday.
Who are some authors or literary works that have inspired or influenced your writing style and storytelling?
For Horror, it would have to be James Herbert. I grew up reading all his books, and I just loved his style. I also admire Ken Follett as he writes across genres like me – not that I’m comparing my style of writing with either of them. I believe it’s better to find your own voice and writing style rather than copy someone else.
How does the Spanish culture and lifestyle influence your daily life and, consequently, your writing?
Well, after living here for so long and speaking the language, some natives tell me I’m more Spanish than English now. I take that as a compliment. I love the Spanish way of life, their culture and their cuisine. They are extremely social people and I like that. They are always pleased to see you and invite you for a drink or pay for your breakfast, etc. A huge plus for me is having the sunshine every day. It helps put me in a good mood and relaxes me too. Being chilled out helps my ideas flow.
Are there any upcoming projects or books that you can give us a glimpse of, or any new directions you plan to explore in your writing?
I have recently written my first paranormal Horror story, Ravens’ Retreat, which is based on my home. It’s a one-hundred-year-old farmhouse that is haunted. My husband and I have experienced a lot of paranormal activity in the house and these experiences gave me the idea for Ravens’ Retreat. As parts of the novel are true, I ask readers to guess what the authentic experiences are that appear in the book. I have had some fantastic feedback about this novel, so I’m quite proud of that. I’m currently writing another horror novel on a completely different theme, so that is keeping me busy. My latest book, “The Forest of Forgotten Time”, is due out this January! It’s a dark fantasy novel about three scientists looking for the cure to eternal youth in an enchanted forest in India. (This idea came to me in a dream. I woke myself up, as I just had to write it down!)
How long have you been associated with AllAuthor? How has your experience been?
I first heard about AllAuthor in 2019 when another author friend asked me to vote for him in the book cover competition. I later entered the competition myself with my first book “Fishnets in the Far East” and won first place. This year, I came second with “The Circus Affair”. I find the website to be well organised, very professional and I love the mock ups which make advertising my books so easy to do. I would highly recommend All Author.
