Hello again, my lovelies,
I hope all my UK friends have enjoyed their Bank Holiday weekend and the rest of you also had a great weekend? Aside from the heavy downpours, that is!
My family have been expecting a birth this weekend, but little Miss (yes, it's a girl) has decided that despite the effort by the midwives to induce a labour, she had no desire to make an appearance just yet! Maybe tomorrow? The expectant Mum has been told to go back into hospital tomorrow at 8am! Here's hoping!
So...up in the hot seat today we have author, Lindsey!
Eva: Welcome Lindsey and thank you for taking part in this series of author interviews. Let’s not waste any more time now, so tell us all about yourself (as in, a bit of a biography).
Lindsey: Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity, Eva. Hi Everyone! I am a proud Yorkshire lass who grew up in Featherstone, a small mining town in West Yorkshire. I have always loved reading, writing and making stories so on leaving school I pursued a career in journalism before going into PR. I am a member of The Black Horse Poet’s society, and Wakefield Chess Club. I am a bluey/green eyed redhead and left-handed so a bit of a mutant haha. I have a wonderful son, and an awesome dog who keep me busy! I live for music - alternative 80s and rock preferably, I am a big movie geek, and you will find me obsessing over many fantasy tv shows. I am very fond of red wine, cheese, chocolate and quiz shows, not necessarily in that order.
How many books have you written up to now? Are they published or self-published? What genre are they?
I wrote and published my first book, Blackwood, a suspenseful romance, following advice from an editor friend to see how it would go. I am certainly pleased I took the plunge; it has had a great response in general so far, and it was quite a learning curve for me. I am currently working on two new books; one is a crime series and the other is a contemporary romance. Books can take a while with me. The crime series has been going on for years (but I did have some personal setbacks to to be fair), when I had writer’s block, I was given advice to write something completely different so I began a contemporary romance, now I am juggling writing and editing the two and I must be crazy haha. But I like a challenge and I am looking forward to unleashing them to the world!
Of all the genres there are, is there any genre/s that you feel you wouldn’t be able to write and why? Is there any genre that you really wish you could write, but feel you wouldn’t be able to do it justice?
I don’t think there is a genre you can’t write in, I would always encourage people to write whatever they want and if it doesn’t work, you tried! I would say historical fiction would be one I would like to write but wouldn’t do it enough justice, I love history in general, if I went down that route it would have to be fantasy fiction in history, I would be nervous of not getting every minor detail right otherwise.
Do you have any favourite ‘out-of-the-ordinary’ words that you like to use in your books? What are those words? Also, what words used by other authors irritate you more than they should?
No specific words as such, I like using onomatopoeia, the inner child in me. I also like putting riddles, codes and Easter eggs in my writing. I’d say a mild irritation is the overuse of the word ‘that’.
Do you sing at all, be it karaoke, in a choir or have done so professionally? Whether you have or not, have you ever written (or had the urge to write) any song lyrics? Have those lyrics been used at all?
Last time I was in a choir I was in Primary School lol. I am partial to being a complete diva in the shower and in my car. Occasionally I’ve indulged in karaoke, I won’t be winning any Brit Awards anytime soon, but having fun is what it’s all about. And yes, I have written song lyrics before, turned them into poems instead. They do go hand in hand as a creative outlet. When words and melodies come together perfectly there's nothing better.
What question would you like to pose, (if you were to ever interview your favourite author), which never seems to get asked in author interviews? And who is that favourite author?
Emily Bronte. The Brontes were ahead of their time. But I would simply ask her what inspired her, or provoked her, into writing her masterpiece, Wuthering Heights, it's dark, complex and driven with such emotional force. Could I also add Ernest Cline, I would love a chat in the pub with him over all the cultural referencing in Ready Player One.
If you were to ever write a children’s book, (and those of you who already do) would you/do you do the illustrating yourself, make use of a family member or friend’s talent or pay an illustrator? Do you solely write or do you have any other creative pursuits?
I have toyed with the idea numerous times, but I prefer writing adult/YA fiction. I do, however, have a brother who is an artist, and I would call upon him to help me illustrate it... you never know... watch this space. I went through a photography phase for a while, but I only had time for one pursuit, and it was always going to be writing. I do love baking though. Especially cupcakes, I like getting messy and creative with food, but I end up snacking too much as I go along so I limit the amount of baking I do 😊. I have a dedicated Instagram page at @the_yorkshiresnapper for all the food stuff, because why not! (Eva: Ooh! Being a foodie myself, I shall have to check that one out, Lindsey!)
Of all the characters you have created, who is your favourite? And why?
Ooooh, that’s a great question! I can’t pick. In Blackwood, May Blackwood was my favourite. She’s tough yet fragile and carried all the burden the family faced. There’s two characters I am writing at the minute, and I am really enjoying the complex personality which they both have, they will have lots to learn and overcome.
Have you ever killed off a character in your books (I’m sure you have)? If so, was it because…it fitted nicely into the storyline? OR…Did you start to really dislike the character and, with too much work involved to re-write without that character, think it the easiest option to have that person die?
Yes, I have. And it wasn’t an easy option. Every book I do I make several endings and decide, there is one character that broke my heart with their death, but I felt it was right. Life isn't always rosy; you don’t know what’s around the corner and it’s how we deal with that.
Are any of your characters based on family members or friends? Have you kept their characters totally true to life or have you given them bonus traits that you wish they possessed in real life?
I think with most fictional books, there's elements of real life and experience, there has to be. My books are fiction, but yes, I have written story lines and characters based on real life events and various personalities I have come across over time.
Relationships/family life aside, what are your TWO main regrets in life?
Worrying in the past too much about what I look like, and not saying no enough to people, especially those who zap your energy. It's liberating as you age, you care less for people pleasing, and if people have an issue with it, it's their problem.
What was your passion as a child? Did that passion stay with you during your adult life OR did you, as you grew up begin to detest what you once enjoyed?
It has always been making up stories, writing and reading. It never stopped thankfully.
What was your best subject throughout your school years? And your worst?
English for sure, then History, Sociology and Art.
My worst was French, I hated it at the time, but the teacher was quite pushy. I have a love for languages now as I have got older, maybe I just needed more time haha. (Eva: Ah! Finally we have someone who doesn't think Maths was their worst subject!)
Tell me about your favourite teacher throughout your school years? Was it a crush you had? Were they just an excellent teacher of your favourite subject?? Or some other reason…kind, fun, generous…?
I had two. My English Teacher, Mr. Martindale and my Art Teacher, Mr. Russell at High School. Both really encouraged me with my work and were just two lovely, genuine people who I respected, and I will never forget.
Did either of your parents ever express a wish to write? Are they supportive and proud of your work? Or do they just choose to not get involved, but they are pleased for you?
Neither of my parents are writers but they are both very supportive of the work I do for sure.
Tell us about your ultimate ambition, be it personal, travel, writing, work, hobby related or other?
To write a series of books, the one I am working on now will hopefully achieve that. Writing a one-off book is hard enough but to have a book series that keeps on going is quite a challenge. And more travelling, I am 100% a home bird but once I do get out of my comfort zone I like exploring, especially cities, museums, architecture, food and drink etc. - so more of feeling the fear and doing it anyway.
Do you have any phobias and if so, what are they? Have you ever conquered any phobia and if so, how did you do it?
Where do I start.... I have OCD and it is mainly in the form of mysophobia, people often mix this up with constant cleaning of objects etc., that’s not the case - I have an irrational phobia of human germs, I work on that a lot! As you can imagine the Covid pandemic was hell for me. I also have General Anxiety Disorder which can make normal everyday things heavy on me, I take things a step at a time if I know it is going to be out of my comfort zone. And snakes, seriously, as much as they are magnificent killing machines, they freak me out so much.
Most people I know are not happy with something physical about themselves (face/body etc.,) but if you could change anything about your personality, what would you wish to change?
My anxiety for sure. And perhaps my addictive personality, listening to songs on repeat and watching movies over and over is okay enough but I am also a ‘can’t just have one biscuit kinda gal’ LOL.
What is your ‘go to’ snack, whatever the time of day? And drink of your choice?
I have an obsession (see above) with Insane Grain knobbly sticks and Proper Chips. I will never refuse Maltesers either. If I am not drinking decaf Yorkshire Tea, it’s a good red wine, a Malbec or Merlot.
Cats or dogs? What do you have? Do you introduce any pets into your books?
I have a dog and he gives the best cuddles, he’s my best mate and pretty much my shadow and we would be lost without him. I have introduced a pet in one of the new wips, might make him the star of the show!
AND FINALLY, Hit me up with all your Amazon book-links? And the links to your website and social media profiles?
Amazon book link
Bit.ly/BlackwoodLMarie
BLACKWOOD eBook : Marie, L.: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
@LHMarieWrites
@lmariewrites
Thank you once again Lindsey for taking part.
On Friday we have John Regan facing the questions.
That's all for today, peeps!
Namaste,
XXX
Comments