Where Do You Write?

I finally finished all the planning I needed and started writing Book 3 on Monday morning. I'm only a few thousand words in but I'm enjoying writing about new people and actually like what I've written. I know, odd, isn't it?

I used to write in the evenings, after the kids were in bed but my youngest has started nursery now so I have my mornings free so that's when I write. It's strange having my evenings to myself, being able to sit down and watch programs when they air instead of catching up days (and sometimes weeks) later. I do have to sit through the adverts now though...

Where and when do you write? And what are you working on at the moment?

The Mill River Recluse by Darcie Chan

 

 

 

Mary McAllister has always been a mystery to the town of Mill River. Few people have come into contact with Mary in the sixty years she has lived in the marble mansion overlooking the town and rumour says she is some sort of witch.

 

But priest Father O'Brien knows differently. He has been close friends with Mary since she was widowed as a young woman and locked herself away from view. Father O'Brien knows why Mary has shut herself away from the town, why the mere thought of coming face to face with a stranger fills her with debilitating fear. He also knows how warm, funny and kind Mary is and, though she doesn't know them personally, how she keeps up to date with the residents of Mill River and helps in what little way she can when they are having troubles.

 

The residents of Mill River don't know Mary but she knows them.

 

Kyle Hansen has been raising his nine year old daughter alone since his wife passed away.

 

Schoolteacher Claudia Simon is a recent addition to the town after relocating to start a new life away from those who shared her past.

 

Kind hearted Ruth lives across the hall from Kyle. As well as running the town's bakery, Ruth takes care of Kyle's daughter whenever he needs to work.

 

None of them know Mary but soon all her secrets will be revealed and their lives will be changed forever.

 

From the start of The Mill River Recluse, we know Mary McAllister hasn't led a very happy life and through flashbacks we learn the events that made Mary into the reclusive woman she is. I couldn't help feeling for Mary as the events unfolded beyond her control and she withdrew deeper inside herself. Luckily she had a couple of supportive people in her life - grandfather in law Conor, who was so generous, both in wealth and love, and the constant presence of Father O'Brien. I'm not sure what would have become of Mary without her patient, loyal friend.

 

Beyond the marble mansion, I enjoyed the stories from the town of Mill River, from Kyle finding love again to Leroy's sinister infatuation with Claudia.

 

Although there are sad and darker aspects to The Mill River Recluse I found the overall tale to be uplifting and thought it was an enjoyable and mysterious read.

 

 

Thank you to Sphere for sending me a copy to review. I'll be chatting to Darcie Chan on Friday.

 

The Mill River Recluse is available as an ebook now and will be released as a paperback on 6th December 2012.

A Chat With Jane Sanderson

Set in a Yorkshire town during the early 1900s, Ravenscliffe tells the story of the residents of Netherwood, from the working class to the residents of Netherwood Hall.

You can see my review here and Author Jane Sanderson has kindly agreed to answer a few questions.

 

 

 When did you realise you wanted to become a writer?

I can’t honestly say there was one eureka moment, because since becoming a journalist after I left university, writing had been an integral part of my life. But it’s true to say that in the past few years, I’d increasingly felt that I ought to have a go at writing a novel – its one of those things that I would certainly have regretted, if I hadn’t had a crack at it.

Can you tell us a little about your journey to publication?

I wrote a first novel, which I called Walking the Dog (one friend said it sounded like a dog behaviour manual!) and which was set in the present day, in a rural Herefordshire village. It never found a publisher, but it did find an agent – Andrew Gordon - which is almost as difficult to achieve these days, such is the competition out there. While Andrew was touting it around the different publishers, he advised me to make a start on a second book, so I started to write a completely different novel, set in the past, drawing on what I knew about my late Grandma’s life in the Yorkshire mining town I grew up in. I called it Netherwood, and miraculously, it seemed to be just what editors were after: the first series of Downton Abbey had got them all thinking that Edwardian drama is where it’s at! There was a modest bidding war, and Little,Brown won. All very, very exciting at the time.

What was your inspiration for Ravenscliffe (and Netherwood before it)?

My inspiration for Ravenscliffe was Netherwood, in many ways – it follows on directly from the end of the story, with Netherwood Hall preparing for the visit of King Edward VII. I wrote Netherwood because I started to think about my Grandma, who was widowed in 1942, and had to raise three children without the help of pensions or benefits. She was a fantastic cook, and it struck me that she could have sold her pies and puddings, although I know for a fact that she wouldn’t have countenanced such an idea. It was a great fantasy though, so I invented Eve Williams to fulfill the dream. I acquired some amazing local history books, and I read Black Diamonds (by Catherine Bailey) which taught me all about Earl Fitzwilliam, of Wentworth Woodhouse, who owned the collieries in my area. I read up on Keir Hardie, and the beginnings of the Labour Party, and all these different stands and influences just started to come together into a satisfying whole. It’s a fascinating period in our history; I’ve so enjoyed the journey.

If you were transported to Netherwood during the early 1900s, would you rather work upstairs or downstairs at Netherwood Hall?

If I couldn’t be Lady Henrietta Hoyland and live the high life as an Earl’s daughter, I would definitely rather work downstairs than upstairs. All that fetching and carrying of chamber pots and coal scuttles wouldn’t be for me, but I could really see myself in one of those magnificent kitchens, making lovely dishes involving aspic and plovers eggs and breast of snipe.

Again, if you were transported to Netherwood during the early 1900s, what would you miss about modern life? And what would you enjoy most about your 'new' life?

I’d miss my independence, my iPhone, my mascara, my washing machine, my Mini convertible (but only on sunny days) and proper, minty toothpaste. Hard to say what I’d enjoy most about my new life as a cook in a big house…… I’ve always coveted a set of copper saucepans, and they seemed to have plenty of those in the best kitchens! And, although I’ve already said I’d miss my phone, it would actually be quite blissful not to be always in contact with the outside world. Truly, though, I think I’d miss more than I enjoyed, if I was sent back in time to 1904.

What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Keep reading voraciously, for the inspiration and confidence that other writers can provide, but start writing too – don’t prevaricate, and don’t feel you have to have your beginning, middle and end all completely sorted. It’ll evolve as it goes, and ideas will come to you as you write. You can always go back and improve what you’ve written, but you can’t edit a blank page. Get cracking!

What has been your greatest experience of being a published author?

My favourite moment was in early December last year, when I was Christmas shopping in Bath with a friend, and we saw a whole pile of Netherwoods for sale in Waterstones. I signed them all at the till, and people started buying them right there and then – it was so exciting. Also, the day my own consignment of books arrived from the publisher was pretty special – the first time I had a book in my hand with my own name on the spine.

Finally, what are you working on at the moment? (Please let it be a third installment of Netherwood).

You’re very sweet! And I’m happy to say that yes, I’m now writing the third book in the series. The working title is Eden Falls, and it starts in 1909, so all the characters are a little older, but not necessarily a little wiser. I can say no more…all will be revealed in due course!

 

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Ravenscliffe by Jane Sanderson was published by Sphere on the 27th September as a paperback original, £6.99

Thank you to Jane Sanderson for taking the time to answer my questions.

I should be writing Book 3...

... but I'm still planning it. There is a LOT of planning. Even more than I did with Book 2 but there is a reason behind my manic plotting. With both books 1 and 2, I ran into major problems between the first and second draft so I'm hoping to spot any problems now so I can fix them before I'm 80,000 words in.

In principle, it's a good idea. But will it work? Hmm, we'll see.

To be continued...

Insecure Writers Support Group - October

The idea of the InsecureWriters Support Group is for writers to blog on the first Wednesday of the month about their fears, struggles and triumphs they have experienced with their writing.

 

It feels like only a few weeks ago that I was at the submitting stage with Book 1 but here I am again with my new bookish offspring, fondly known as Book 2. I said I'd wait until after I was married and back from our holiday before I started submitting to agents and now I have a shiny new ring on my finger (but no tan. I never tan). Now all I have to do is get rid of the fear. Or, failing that, ignore it and post my submissions.

Where are you up to with your writing?

Ravenscliffe by Jane Sanderson

 

 

 

Ravenscliffe, a large, solid house on the Netherwood Common, has stood empty and neglected until Eve Williams and her friend, Anna Rabinovich see the great potential on offer. With a bit of work they plan to make Ravenscliffe a home for themselves and their families.

 

Eve's business is booming and she is about to marry handsome gardener, Daniel MacLeod but her life is far from idyllic. Just 18 months ago she lost her first husband in a mining accident and she is struggling with the idea of leaving their marital home - and memories of Arthur - behind. Also struggling with the proposed changes is Eve's son, Seth. He is still grieving for his father and the only way he knows how to deal with his feelings is to act out against his mother.

 

Set in a Yorkshire town in 1904, Ravenscliffe tells the story of both the people of the town and the staff and residents of Netherwood Hall. The Earl and Countess are expecting a visit from the king and the house is in chaos as the staff prepare for their important guest.

 

There are quite a few characters to get your head around in Ravenscliffe, from Eve, Anna and their children to the people of Netherwood Hall, both upstairs and downstairs, plus the other residents of Netherwood. But soon the characters (and their varied stories) were fully formed in my head and I had no problems keeping up. I was so absorbed with the lives of the inhabitants of Netherwood and they were so real and vivid it was like watching a costume drama in my head.

 

There are many fantastic characters in Ravenscliffe, whether they are good, honest people like Eve or dastardly like bailiff Absolom Blandford. I really liked Anna, who was so independent and strong-minded and the Earl of Netherwood who seemed kind hearted but my favourite character was the Earl's daughter, Henrietta. Henrietta was much more broad-minded than the rest of her family, doing her best to shun what was expected of her as an Earl's daughter and standing by what she believed was right and fair. She is a strong woman, particularly given her position in society at that time.

 

I haven't read Netherwood, which is set before Ravenscliffe, but it didn't hinder the story and I didn't feel like I was missing any information. However, as Ravenscliffe was such a fantastic read, I would love to go back and read Netherwood to see how it all began. Ravenscliffe is a well-written and thoroughly researched novel that I didn't want to end so I'm hoping there will be a third instalment set in Netherwood from Jane Sanderson as I'm itching to know what happens next.

 

 

Ravenscliffe is out now.

 

Thank you to Sphere for sending me a copy to review. I will be chatting with Jane Sanderson on Friday.

Who Needs Mr Darcy? by Jean Burnett

Everybody knows the story of Elizabeth Bennett but now it's time for her sister Lydia to take the limelight.

Lydia Wickham is recently widowed after her husband was killed during Waterloo. Now penniless, she relies on the generosity of her sister and brother in law. When Lydia announces she wishes to move on to London after staying with Elizabeth and Darcy, they agree to pay her a 'small' allowance. Lydia intends to climb the social ladder but finds herself being drawn into the criminal underworld, befriending a serial adulterer banker, cheating at cards and discovering the body of a strange man on her sofa.

Lydia jumps from one scrape to another, seemingly attracted to trouble. Her family despair of her actions but Lydia doesn't listen and finds them - and their lives - to be incredibly dull. Lydia's own life is far from dull as she meets musicians and royalty and travels across the continent. I found her to be snobbish at times and quite selfish but in a wonderful, amusing way. I loved the historic references, from Waterloo, Lord Byron and the tragic death of Princess Charlotte. The only (very small) criticism I have is I struggled with a few words and phrases as I don't have a vast knowledge of the time period so a bit more of an explanation would have been handy but it didn't really hinder my enjoyment of the book and I looked up a couple of references so learned some new things along the way.

Overall, I enjoyed Who Needs Mr Darcy? and found it to be a pleasant and amusing read while giving an insight into the early 19th century. I would love to know what happens to Lydia next and read about her adventures.


Who Needs Mr Darcy? is out now.

Thank you to Sphere for sending me a copy to review.