I already knew that one of my favourite authors, lived close to me, but I knew there must be others. It was interesting finding out who hailed from, or made their home in Northamptonshire.
Now I just had to come up with a plan of how to put this post together. Please read on for the low-down on Northamptonshire Authors.
In alphabetical order they are as follows:-
Morgen BaileyFormer Chair of three writing groups, she is the 2015 Head Judge for annual H.E. Bates Short Story Competition, and can regularly be found on Social Media. When not online, she is a British Red Cross volunteer (sorting their donated books), walks her dog (often while reading, writing or editing), reads (usually for review) and somewhere in between all that she writes.
Like Morgen, her blog http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com
is consumed by allthings literary, .
You can
read / download her eBooks (paid and free) at Amazon US, Amazon UK, Smashwords, Sony Reader
Store, Barnes & Noble, iTunes Bookstore
and Kobo.
Ok, now to the questions!
1. Do you think competition success helps with a writer’s success?
I had a spate of sending stuff out to competitions (Writing magazines and Writers’ News mostly) and have won a couple of local ones, was shortlisted a couple of time in the Writing Magazine and a couple of times at Verulam Get Writing competition (Geoffrey Guiver won this year’s… hello Geoffrey!) so they’re on the CV.
1. Do you think competition success helps with a writer’s success?
I had a spate of sending stuff out to competitions (Writing magazines and Writers’ News mostly) and have won a couple of local ones, was shortlisted a couple of time in the Writing Magazine and a couple of times at Verulam Get Writing competition (Geoffrey Guiver won this year’s… hello Geoffrey!) so they’re on the CV.
2. Do you write under a pseudonym? If so why and do you think it makes a difference?
I do, and I love it. It’s like someone being called a middle name because they prefer it to their first name. I had this conversation with my mum a while back and she said I could have picked one of my middle names; I have two. Elizabeth is the one I’d have gone with if I’d found out, or thought about it, earlier… or a variation probably Libby but it was too late by then but now I prefer Morgen (despite it often being spelt with an ‘a’ instead of an ‘e’). I don’t think anyone knows about the Libby thing, not even my brother (hi Martin) and not sure how my friends would react now… guess I’ll find out when they read this. But no, never been keen on my first name. Which, is Alison by the way. Ali as in Ali McBeal has been a suggestion but I’ve never warmed to it (despite liking the TV series) and ‘Al’ always seemed too butch so it’s been plain ‘Alison’ until Morgen came along, and it’s what I am online so it’s easier.
3. Do you ever Google yourself? Everyone is getting this question! I rarely Google myself but I have google alerts for MorgEn Bailey and MorgAn Bailey which picks up on some gems, especially as one of the Morgans is an American transexual porn star.
Morgens latest book is The Writers Guide to Editing Fiction (2nd edition) Published May 2017. Click here to buy it now.I do, and I love it. It’s like someone being called a middle name because they prefer it to their first name. I had this conversation with my mum a while back and she said I could have picked one of my middle names; I have two. Elizabeth is the one I’d have gone with if I’d found out, or thought about it, earlier… or a variation probably Libby but it was too late by then but now I prefer Morgen (despite it often being spelt with an ‘a’ instead of an ‘e’). I don’t think anyone knows about the Libby thing, not even my brother (hi Martin) and not sure how my friends would react now… guess I’ll find out when they read this. But no, never been keen on my first name. Which, is Alison by the way. Ali as in Ali McBeal has been a suggestion but I’ve never warmed to it (despite liking the TV series) and ‘Al’ always seemed too butch so it’s been plain ‘Alison’ until Morgen came along, and it’s what I am online so it’s easier.
3. Do you ever Google yourself? Everyone is getting this question! I rarely Google myself but I have google alerts for MorgEn Bailey and MorgAn Bailey which picks up on some gems, especially as one of the Morgans is an American transexual porn star.
Find out more about Morgen here:- Blog Twitter Facebook, Google+, Pinterest, Tumblr, and LinkedIn.
Clare was born into a peasant family in Helpston a small village which over the years has moved from Northamptonshire to Cambridgeshire. Both of his parents were illiterate, however he still received some schooling. He went on to publish several volumes of Poetry. His Poems include, The Dying Child, Autumn, I Hid My Love and First Love. Click here for a selection of his work.
Sadly for the last 20 years of his life he ended up living in an insane asylum.
Justin's' Debut book is called Escape From Nettle Farm.
Escape from Nettle Farm, a children's novel, tells the story about Harvey, a Newfoundland puppy. He's the smallest pup, with big ears and big feet, who's bullied by the rest of the litter. His owner, a grumpy farmer, is mean and dishonest and breeds the pups as a profitable sideline to support his hobby of restoring farm machinery. When all of the other puppies are homed, Harvey is told that he's to be sent to a working farm with a cruel owner, in exchange for an old tractor. Terrified of what lies in store, he escapes...and is found by Millie Baker and her Dad at the allotments. Falling in love with Harvey, Millie enters him into a puppy competition - little does she know that the grumpy farmer is going to be there too!. Is Harvey safe with the Bakers? Will he ever escape the grumpy farmer? Can he win the competition? Escape from Nettle Farm is a beautiful full-colour children's picture book, ideal for young readers aged 5-10 - to support progression from assisted to independent reading.
You can buy it here .
This book, published by Matador 4th Nov 2016, has already attracted several 5* reviews and rave reviews on Goodreads. The Illustrations are fabulous and Justin has shared some illustrations with me of his book that's in progress. They are wonderful.
I have set each of the authors 3 questions about themselves or their writing. Here is what I asked Justin.
1. What made you choose Children's books as your forte and not for example fantasy novels? I got a great reply!
I
chose children’s books to help my son read (hopefully you received the newspaper
article .jpg in the last email). He struggled with reading and
desperately tried to keep up with his friends and read what they were reading.
He would bring home books with complex character and place names that
were difficult to pronounce. This would break his flow of reading and
prevent him from fully engaging in the story, resulting in frustration, a lack
of interest in books and a challenge to get him to read at night. I
wanted to do more to help him so took a course in writing and wrote an engaging
chapter novel that felt like a grown up book. I had it illustrated with
beautiful colour pictures and wrote it so that it would appeal to a broad age
group and also engage adults. My first book, Escape from Nettle Farm was
complete and published in November 2016 and I was delighted to see it showcased
in the spring collection of The People’s Book Prize. I have since been
notified that I am a finalist with voting ending on 21st May 2017.
purely to see how my website comes up in search
rankings or to look at reviews of my books on other websites. I’m
certainly not obsessed with my personal profile… yet. After my other
books are released there will undoubtably be more to look at so I may find out
more about myself! I tell myself that all feedback is positive - lets
just hope it is!
Annie Ireson lives in Kettering, Northamptonshire. Her first book in her Jeffson Family Trilogy, set in Kettering, was Sunlight on Broken Glass, based on a true story.
As Tom Jeffson inserts the key into the lock of an empty house on Easter Saturday in 1922, he is completely unaware that his youngest daughter, eight year-old Daisy, is hiding there following a childish prank.
Although Daisy is the innocent witness to her father's adulterous liaison that day, it is her older sister, Rose, who forever carries the burden of his deception.
Sunlight on Broken Glass is a story of two sisters, united as they endure the consequences of their father's increasingly appalling behaviour. But, as the story reaches its climax and Tom is diagnosed with a chilling psychopathic disorder, can their love for each other withstand the strain?
To buy click here
1. Do you think someone could be an Author if they don't feel emotions strongly enough?
Jane Isaac lives with her husband, daughter and dog, Bollo, in rural Northamptonshire, UK. Her debut novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, introduces DCI Helen Lavery and was nominated as best mystery in the 'eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook awards 2013.'
The Truth Will Out, the second in the DCI Helen Lavery series, was nominated as 'Thriller of the Month - April 2014' by E-thriller.com and winner of 'Noveltunity book club selection - May 2014'.
In 2015 Jane embarked on a new series, featuring DI Will Jackman and set in Stratford upon Avon, with Before It's Too Late. The second in the series, Beneath The Ashes, was published by Legend Press on 1st November 2016 with the 3rd, The Lies Within which came out on 2nd May 2017. Buy it here
Both DI Jackman and DCI Lavery will return again in the near future. Sign up to Jane's newsletter on her website at www.janeisaac.co.uk for details of new releases, events and giveaways.
1) Do you believe in writers block?
Yes, absolutely. I write in scenes and I simply cannot put pen to paper until the scene is set in my mind. While I'm working it all out, I tend to spend my time researching or editing previous text so that I'm still doing something constructive towards the overall story.
2) Have you had to make any sacrifices to become an author?
If there are sacrifices, they are very minor. Spending your days writing stories is a lovely way to make a living. I used to balance my writing with a part time job which I had to give up recently because I could no longer manage to do both. It was a shame, because I loved the company I worked for and my colleagues, and I do miss the daily people contact. There are lots of events and book launches to go to where you can connect with other bookie people, and they are lovely, but they don't happen every day.
3) Do you ever Google yourself?
Not really, no. Although now you've mentioned it, I just have and there are a few photos of me and my books, alongside some other Jane Isaacs including a black and white picture of a stern looking eighteenth century woman. Hilarious!
Louise is a No. 1 bestselling author. Her debut novel 'The Sister,' is a psychological thriller and was published in July 2016. It reached No. 1 in the UK where it stayed for over 5 weeks, and it also No. 1 on the Canadian Amazon chart. It was the 6th biggest selling book on Amazon in 2016.
'The Sister’ is a book about a grieving girl who thought there was nothing as frightening as being alone – she was wrong. Buy here
'The Gift' Louise's second book, was published in December and within a week of release gave Louise her second No. 1 in 2016 both in the UK, where it stayed for over a 5 weeks, was No. 1 in Canada and is also a USA Today Bestseller. Buy it here.
'The Gift' is a book about a perfect daughter and how a secret is eating her family alive...
To date Louise has sold over 700,00 books and her novels have been sold for translation in fifteen territories. Louise was nominated for the Goodreads Debut Author of 2016 Award.
 |
| Courtesy of WikiPedia |
Herbert Ernest Bates was born in the town of Rushden and was educated at Kettering Grammar School. Most of his writing centres around the rural Midlands and in particular Northamptonshire. He loved walking around our beautiful countryside where he would get inspiration for his novels. He worked briefly for a Newspaper in Wellingborough, and then like a lot of men in our county, he went to work at a local shoe-making warehouse where he had time to write the whole of his first novel.
During WWII he was commissioned into the RAF solely to write short stories
Questions I would ask him and imagined responses I would get.
During WWII he was commissioned into the RAF solely to write short stories
Questions I would ask him and imagined responses I would get.
1. Have you ever written under a pseudonym?
The WWII short stories were originally written under the name of Flying Officer X
2. How many rejections did you get on your first book before it was published?
It was rejected by 8 or 9 publishers before it was finally accepted by a publisher under advice from a highly respected reader and author, Edward Garnett.
2. How many rejections did you get on your first book before it was published?
It was rejected by 8 or 9 publishers before it was finally accepted by a publisher under advice from a highly respected reader and author, Edward Garnett.
3. What do you believe was your most popular creation?
The adventures of the Larkin Family in Darling Buds of May. Pop Larkin was based on a colourful character seen whilst on holiday in a village in Kent.
John Clare (Poet) 1793 - 1864
Sadly for the last 20 years of his life he ended up living in an insane asylum.
Justin Davis - Childrens Author
Justin's' Debut book is called Escape From Nettle Farm. Escape from Nettle Farm, a children's novel, tells the story about Harvey, a Newfoundland puppy. He's the smallest pup, with big ears and big feet, who's bullied by the rest of the litter. His owner, a grumpy farmer, is mean and dishonest and breeds the pups as a profitable sideline to support his hobby of restoring farm machinery. When all of the other puppies are homed, Harvey is told that he's to be sent to a working farm with a cruel owner, in exchange for an old tractor. Terrified of what lies in store, he escapes...and is found by Millie Baker and her Dad at the allotments. Falling in love with Harvey, Millie enters him into a puppy competition - little does she know that the grumpy farmer is going to be there too!. Is Harvey safe with the Bakers? Will he ever escape the grumpy farmer? Can he win the competition? Escape from Nettle Farm is a beautiful full-colour children's picture book, ideal for young readers aged 5-10 - to support progression from assisted to independent reading.
You can buy it here .
This book, published by Matador 4th Nov 2016, has already attracted several 5* reviews and rave reviews on Goodreads. The Illustrations are fabulous and Justin has shared some illustrations with me of his book that's in progress. They are wonderful.
I have set each of the authors 3 questions about themselves or their writing. Here is what I asked Justin.
1. What made you choose Children's books as your forte and not for example fantasy novels? I got a great reply!
I
chose children’s books to help my son read (hopefully you received the newspaper
article .jpg in the last email). He struggled with reading and
desperately tried to keep up with his friends and read what they were reading.
He would bring home books with complex character and place names that
were difficult to pronounce. This would break his flow of reading and
prevent him from fully engaging in the story, resulting in frustration, a lack
of interest in books and a challenge to get him to read at night. I
wanted to do more to help him so took a course in writing and wrote an engaging
chapter novel that felt like a grown up book. I had it illustrated with
beautiful colour pictures and wrote it so that it would appeal to a broad age
group and also engage adults. My first book, Escape from Nettle Farm was
complete and published in November 2016 and I was delighted to see it showcased
in the spring collection of The People’s Book Prize. I have since been
notified that I am a finalist with voting ending on 21st May 2017.
Passionate
about engaging children in reading I have also written a rhyming picture book,
for under 5’s, that has been beautifully illustrated. I am currently
looking for a publisher for this book. I have also just finished my
second chapter book in the series and will soon be looking for a publisher for
this book too.
2. As a Writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
My
Avatar would be a huge black panther like the character Drizzt has in RA
Salvatore’s fantasy series. I love fantasy books and the idea of a huge
black panther around when I wanted could be very useful!!
3. Do you ever Google yourself? I ask all authors this one as some of the comments make me laugh!
Annie Ireson
Annie Ireson lives in Kettering, Northamptonshire. Her first book in her Jeffson Family Trilogy, set in Kettering, was Sunlight on Broken Glass, based on a true story.
As Tom Jeffson inserts the key into the lock of an empty house on Easter Saturday in 1922, he is completely unaware that his youngest daughter, eight year-old Daisy, is hiding there following a childish prank.
Although Daisy is the innocent witness to her father's adulterous liaison that day, it is her older sister, Rose, who forever carries the burden of his deception.
Sunlight on Broken Glass is a story of two sisters, united as they endure the consequences of their father's increasingly appalling behaviour. But, as the story reaches its climax and Tom is diagnosed with a chilling psychopathic disorder, can their love for each other withstand the strain?
To buy click here
1. Do you think someone could be an Author if they don't feel emotions strongly enough?
In some ways, being
human is like being in solitary confinement despite being social animals. Our
own existence is completely personal to us as individuals. How do we know if we
feel emotions strongly enough when it is impossible to know exactly how much is
enough?
2. What are common traps for aspiring writers?
I reiterate that I have had no formal training in creative writing, but I think I instinctively know when something doesn’t work, even though I sometimes don't know why. Here are three traps I think aspiring writers need to avoid.
The Snare: Looking back at some of my early work as a teenager and in my twenties, I can see many faults, one of which is definitely over-writing. Why use two paragraphs when one punchy sentence will do the same job? Yes, the prospect of writing between 70k and 90k words is daunting, but the answer to getting your first novel written is not to become ensnared by the desire to fill those pages with superfluous airy-fairy words, because all that will achieve is the loss of readers’ attention. I always ask the trusted readers of my first drafts to tell me where their attention wavered, and then fix it accordingly. Nine times out of ten it will be because of over-writing – and it will usually be the bit that I think is the best scene I have ever written! I'm afraid there’s nothing for it but to hit that good old delete button and “kill your darlings”.
Death trap: This has to be the soul-destroying blow of rejection. My first published work was in The People's Friend back in the early eighties. My grandma had sent off one of my stories without my knowledge and, although I remained a secret writer, embarrassed by my unusual hobby, I was chuffed to bits. The next story was accepted, too, and I was on cloud nine. Then the next two were rejected, and like an injured fledgling I retreated back into the dark undergrowth for the next 20 years. (I didn't stop writing though - it's like having OCD, I just can't help myself.) Don't let those rejections put you off as an aspiring author. They can so easily destroy your confidence and smother your creativity. Embrace them, learn from them and then move on.
Honey trap: Everyone thinks that writers live a glamorous lifestyle, surrounded by beautiful arty people, writing their novels in neat, sunny conservatories overlooking extensive gardens paid for by their best-selling novels. Let’s just stop there for a minute. Very few writers earn enough to live on, and even authors of best-sellers rarely reach the dizzy heights of J K Rowling or E L James. Most authors are ordinary people with day jobs and write because they love it, not to make money out of it. However, it's great to hear of success stories and it’s nice to dream. This is what keeps us going when the muse deserts us and we stare blankly at the computer screen.
I reiterate that I have had no formal training in creative writing, but I think I instinctively know when something doesn’t work, even though I sometimes don't know why. Here are three traps I think aspiring writers need to avoid. The Snare: Looking back at some of my early work as a teenager and in my twenties, I can see many faults, one of which is definitely over-writing. Why use two paragraphs when one punchy sentence will do the same job? Yes, the prospect of writing between 70k and 90k words is daunting, but the answer to getting your first novel written is not to become ensnared by the desire to fill those pages with superfluous airy-fairy words, because all that will achieve is the loss of readers’ attention. I always ask the trusted readers of my first drafts to tell me where their attention wavered, and then fix it accordingly. Nine times out of ten it will be because of over-writing – and it will usually be the bit that I think is the best scene I have ever written! I'm afraid there’s nothing for it but to hit that good old delete button and “kill your darlings”.
Death trap: This has to be the soul-destroying blow of rejection. My first published work was in The People's Friend back in the early eighties. My grandma had sent off one of my stories without my knowledge and, although I remained a secret writer, embarrassed by my unusual hobby, I was chuffed to bits. The next story was accepted, too, and I was on cloud nine. Then the next two were rejected, and like an injured fledgling I retreated back into the dark undergrowth for the next 20 years. (I didn't stop writing though - it's like having OCD, I just can't help myself.) Don't let those rejections put you off as an aspiring author. They can so easily destroy your confidence and smother your creativity. Embrace them, learn from them and then move on.
Honey trap: Everyone thinks that writers live a glamorous lifestyle, surrounded by beautiful arty people, writing their novels in neat, sunny conservatories overlooking extensive gardens paid for by their best-selling novels. Let’s just stop there for a minute. Very few writers earn enough to live on, and even authors of best-sellers rarely reach the dizzy heights of J K Rowling or E L James. Most authors are ordinary people with day jobs and write because they love it, not to make money out of it. However, it's great to hear of success stories and it’s nice to dream. This is what keeps us going when the muse deserts us and we stare blankly at the computer screen.
3. Have ever Googled yourself and if so what did you find?
1. I am not alone. There are four of me.
2. Despite calling myself ‘Annie’ with my writing pen in hand and Anne in everyday life, Google is very clever and finds me anyway.
3. Typing in your name backwards yields very interesting, sometimes hilarious, results
4. Someone has taken the trouble to list every novel ever written with ‘White’ in the title and my first novel, The White Cuckoo, is listed along with the utterly brilliant The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber, which is awesome.
Find out more about Annie on Facebook // Twitter // Blog // Goodreads
1. I am not alone. There are four of me.
2. Despite calling myself ‘Annie’ with my writing pen in hand and Anne in everyday life, Google is very clever and finds me anyway.
3. Typing in your name backwards yields very interesting, sometimes hilarious, results
4. Someone has taken the trouble to list every novel ever written with ‘White’ in the title and my first novel, The White Cuckoo, is listed along with the utterly brilliant The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber, which is awesome.
Find out more about Annie on Facebook // Twitter // Blog // Goodreads
Jane Isaac
Jane Isaac lives with her husband, daughter and dog, Bollo, in rural Northamptonshire, UK. Her debut novel, An Unfamiliar Murder, introduces DCI Helen Lavery and was nominated as best mystery in the 'eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook awards 2013.' The Truth Will Out, the second in the DCI Helen Lavery series, was nominated as 'Thriller of the Month - April 2014' by E-thriller.com and winner of 'Noveltunity book club selection - May 2014'.
In 2015 Jane embarked on a new series, featuring DI Will Jackman and set in Stratford upon Avon, with Before It's Too Late. The second in the series, Beneath The Ashes, was published by Legend Press on 1st November 2016 with the 3rd, The Lies Within which came out on 2nd May 2017. Buy it here
Both DI Jackman and DCI Lavery will return again in the near future. Sign up to Jane's newsletter on her website at www.janeisaac.co.uk for details of new releases, events and giveaways.
1) Do you believe in writers block?
Yes, absolutely. I write in scenes and I simply cannot put pen to paper until the scene is set in my mind. While I'm working it all out, I tend to spend my time researching or editing previous text so that I'm still doing something constructive towards the overall story.
2) Have you had to make any sacrifices to become an author?
If there are sacrifices, they are very minor. Spending your days writing stories is a lovely way to make a living. I used to balance my writing with a part time job which I had to give up recently because I could no longer manage to do both. It was a shame, because I loved the company I worked for and my colleagues, and I do miss the daily people contact. There are lots of events and book launches to go to where you can connect with other bookie people, and they are lovely, but they don't happen every day.
3) Do you ever Google yourself?
Not really, no. Although now you've mentioned it, I just have and there are a few photos of me and my books, alongside some other Jane Isaacs including a black and white picture of a stern looking eighteenth century woman. Hilarious!
Louise Jensen - No 1 Bestselling Author of The Sister
'The Sister’ is a book about a grieving girl who thought there was nothing as frightening as being alone – she was wrong. Buy here
'The Gift' Louise's second book, was published in December and within a week of release gave Louise her second No. 1 in 2016 both in the UK, where it stayed for over a 5 weeks, was No. 1 in Canada and is also a USA Today Bestseller. Buy it here.'The Gift' is a book about a perfect daughter and how a secret is eating her family alive...
To date Louise has sold over 700,00 books and her novels have been sold for translation in fifteen territories. Louise was nominated for the Goodreads Debut Author of 2016 Award.
1. How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?The Sister was the first book I ever wrote, and The Gift the second. I've been lucky and so far nothing unfinished or unpublished but I'm a relatively new writer - there's still time!
2. What was your hardest scene to write?The hardest scene I've ever written was probably the opening to my debut, The Sister - it was the first time I admitted to myself I was going to try and write a book and it felt like such a huge step. That said I currently have 12 versions of the final paragraph of my third book on my computer- it's proving tricky!
3. Have you ever Googled yourself and if so what did you find? I've never googled myself - I know all I need to know!
3. Have you ever Googled yourself and if so what did you find? I've never googled myself - I know all I need to know!
Follow Louise on Facebook // Twitter // Web page // Goodreads
The Wedding Proposal, Dream a Little Dream and Is this Love? were all nominated for Readers' Best Romantic Read Awards. Love & Freedom won the Best Romantic Read Award 2011 and Dream a Little Dream was nominated for a RoNA in 2013. Sue is a Katie Fforde Bursary Award winner. She also writes short stories, serials, articles, columns, courses and writing 'how to'.
Follow Sue - Website I Blog I Twitter I Facebook I Facebook Author Page
Mark West was born in Northamptonshire in 1969. Writing stories since the age of eight, he discovered the small press in 1999 and since then, he’s published more than 70 stories in various publications around the world. Check out his website below for links to his amazing bibliography.
One of his more recent Novellas was The Factory
Twenty years ago at college, Martin, Paul, Jane, and Gwen were members of the GLUE Club - the Gaffney Legendary Urban Explorers - run by the charismatic Tom. Now, following his mysterious death, they agree to meet up again and undertake one final exploration to honour his name.
Aside from Paul who never left, none of them have been back to Gaffney since and the reunion is awkward, re-opening old wounds. As they begin to explore the long-abandoned Pocock Factory, it seems they might be intruding on something better left alone. As they succumb to the spirits in the darkness, it quickly becomes a battle to see who will survive the night...Buy it here
2. What author/s did you dislike at first but grew into?
3. Lastly, the one everyone gets as it makes me laugh, Have you ever Googled yourself and if so what did you find?
Sue Moorcroft - Award winning Author
Sue Moorcroft writes women's contemporary fiction with sometimes unexpected themes.
The Wedding Proposal, Dream a Little Dream and Is this Love? were all nominated for Readers' Best Romantic Read Awards. Love & Freedom won the Best Romantic Read Award 2011 and Dream a Little Dream was nominated for a RoNA in 2013. Sue is a Katie Fforde Bursary Award winner. She also writes short stories, serials, articles, columns, courses and writing 'how to'.
Her new book is Just for the Holidays. A perfect summer read published by Avon Books
Synopsis
In theory, nothing could be better than a summer spent basking in the French sun. That is, until you add in three teenagers, two love interests, one divorcing couple, and a very unexpected pregnancy.
Admittedly, this isn’t exactly the relaxing holiday Leah Beaumont was hoping for – but it’s the one she’s got. With her sister Michele’s family falling apart at the seams, it’s up to Leah to pick up the pieces and try to hold them all together.
But with a handsome helicopter pilot staying next door, Leah can’t help but think she might have a few distractions of her own to deal with…
Admittedly, this isn’t exactly the relaxing holiday Leah Beaumont was hoping for – but it’s the one she’s got. With her sister Michele’s family falling apart at the seams, it’s up to Leah to pick up the pieces and try to hold them all together.
But with a handsome helicopter pilot staying next door, Leah can’t help but think she might have a few distractions of her own to deal with…
Buy it here
1. If you could have been the author of any book that's out today, which would it have been?
1. If you could have been the author of any book that's out today, which would it have been?
I had to give this a lot of thought but I’ve decided on Cry No More by Linda Howard. It tackles
hard issues but brings together two people who otherwise would never have met
and who are unlikely bedfellows in any sense. It was the first Linda Howard
book I read but by no means the last. I love romantic suspense and she’s
fabulous.
2. Writers are often associated with loner tendencies. Is
there any truth to that?
I’m a mix. I’m very chatty and in the thick of things when
I’m with people but I write best when totally alone. I’m fine with my own
company outside of writing, too – reading, watching Formula 1 or going for long
walks.
3. And my favourite question, do you ever Google
yourself?
Yes, but nowhere near as much as I used to. I do have Google
Alerts set for my name though. I’d hate to miss something good.
Thanks for inviting me onto your blog!
Mark West
Mark West was born in Northamptonshire in 1969. Writing stories since the age of eight, he discovered the small press in 1999 and since then, he’s published more than 70 stories in various publications around the world. Check out his website below for links to his amazing bibliography.One of his more recent Novellas was The Factory
Twenty years ago at college, Martin, Paul, Jane, and Gwen were members of the GLUE Club - the Gaffney Legendary Urban Explorers - run by the charismatic Tom. Now, following his mysterious death, they agree to meet up again and undertake one final exploration to honour his name.
Aside from Paul who never left, none of them have been back to Gaffney since and the reunion is awkward, re-opening old wounds. As they begin to explore the long-abandoned Pocock Factory, it seems they might be intruding on something better left alone. As they succumb to the spirits in the darkness, it quickly becomes a battle to see who will survive the night...Buy it here
Ok here are your interrogation questions Mark! I’ve been gentle
1. What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
Writers & Artists Yearbook. I haven't used one in years but discovering one, that first time, opened so many doors for me it's quite astonishing now to look back on it. Well worth the investment.1. What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
2. What author/s did you dislike at first but grew into?
I don't think
that's ever happened (though the reverse has). I protect my reading time
zealously because I don't get as much of it as I'd like to, so if a book
doesn't grab me it now doesn't get finished (it would have once but now I think
"no, too many books, not enough time!").
3. Lastly, the one everyone gets as it makes me laugh, Have you ever Googled yourself and if so what did you find?
Yes I have and I discovered that Mark West was once a
very prolific (and hairy) gay porn star. And a basketball player also
shares my name but when I did an image search, my porn star compatriot took the
lions share of space :)
Thank you to all the Authors who took part. I am proud we have such talent in my home County.
For other Northants Authors check them out:-
For other Northants Authors check them out:-
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