THE NEXT BIG THING
I'm almost ready now to upload my latest novel, "JOANNA" onto Kindle. So wish me luck in the process. It always gives me plenty of nightmares, because it's such a painstaking job to get it right.
Anyway, here's a bit about it (questions and answers were sent to me by Liz Gill who kindly invited me to do this). Thanks Liz. Her blog is: elizabethgill.blogspot.com - Do check it out, and read all about her latest novel.
What is the title?
"JOANNA". I'm expecting to release it on
Kindle by the end of November 2012.
Where did the idea come from? It was my very first idea for a novel written over 16 years ago, but was put
on the back burner after numerous attempts to find an agent or publisher with no
success. It originally went through the RNA New Writer's Scheme as "GIRLS WHO LUNCH", but after
a big revamp and several re writes in recent months, that early title just didn't seem
appropriate any more.
It has now been completely re worked as a spin off sequel
to my last novel "A FACE TO DIE FOR", which also went through the NWS a number of years ago under another title, and was published
earlier this year on Amazon Kindle.
What genre does your book fall under? Romantic Women's Fiction.
Which actors would you choose to have in a movie of
it? Difficult, because the book spans from late
1960's until early 1990s. I think possibly Sammy Winward (
currently Katie Macey in Emmerdale) or Emilia Fox for Joanna. Oliver, who only really features in the first half could
possibly be played by Robert Pattinson.
What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
Not very good at this, but here goes...
Out of the tragedy of miscarriage and discovery of her husband's double betrayal, springs love and
hope for the future, but can two long-standing, old
friends eventually become red hot lovers?
Now then, I do hope that might tempt you to take a look once it's released!
Will it be self published or represented by an
agency? Self published (under Tamarisk Publishing) as an eBook on Amazon Kindle,
hopefully before the end of November.
How long did it take you to write the first draft?
At least 2 years. Since then it's had many complete
re writes.
What other books would you compare this story to
within your genre? No idea. So, my best answer to this is that it is a
spin off sequel to my earlier novel, A FACE TO DIE FOR. If you've read and enjoyed that already then you should like this. Both books can stand alone though, and be read in any order.
Who or what inspired you to write this book? My own acrimonious divorce, leaving me as a one parent family with
two small kiddies, struggling to make a future for myself, way back in 1975. It is however only
very loosely influenced autobiographically. Joanna is most definitely NOT me! However,
experiences I had living in exotic 1960's Singapore and the later background in the storyline of the beautiful New Forest,
and Hampshire area, where I was born, and where I spent large chunks of my childhood, were hugely
inspiring to write about in this novel
What else about your book might pique the reader's
interest? It's just an extremely heart-rending, romantic love story,
with many twists and turns. Also anyone fascinated by interior design should find the business theme running through the book quite interesting. Some emotive content relating to a serious
health issue in one part is particularly moving and was quite difficult for me to write for personal reasons. It's a relationship novel with which I'm sure many
women will be able to empathise.
