In My Mailbox July 2012

I have bought more books this month than I did last month which is cool :D

Books I bought this month:

1. The Marine - Rudy Josephs
2. Insatiable - Meg Cabot
3. A witch in Love - Ruth Warburton
4. Blood Red Road - Moira Young
5. Anna Dressed in Blood - Kendare Blake
6. Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter - Seth Grahame-Smith

Books I won via goodreads giveaway:

1. A game of cat and mouse - Nina Jon

My Interview with Caroline Plaisted

I had the pleasure of interviewing Caroline Plaisted for my blog.  Here is what she had to say.

1) Where are you from? 

I was born and bred in London where I lived for more than half my life. I now live in Kent. 

2) When and why did you begin writing? 

I worked in editorial departments in various publishing houses and then, after having my first child, I became a freelance editor. I'd done a couple of joke compilations in the past and had also done a fair bit of, shall we say, 'substantial editing' of other authors work. I hope it doesn't sound too big-headed if I say that I began to think I could write better than some of the authors I was editing. My freelance status and this thought combined with a friend (and former colleague) of mine becoming a literary agent. We had a conversation and I became one of her new authors. Since then, I have written, I think, more than 50 books.

3) Did you always want to be an author? 

No. I always loved reading and enjoyed creative writing but, until I was a teenager, I thought I wanted to be a dancer. After I got over that, I thought I wanted to work on a fashion magazine. 

4) How long each day/week do you dedicate to writing? 

It's important to write something every day. I usually write for between five and eight hours. These days, I tend to give myself the weekend off though. 

5) What do you do when you’re not writing? 

I read, walk dogs, sing with a choral society, knit and embroider, love listening to Radio 4 and Classic FM, and try my hand at gardening.

6) In your spare time what do you like to read? 

I love magazines, am addicted to newspapers (any one and every one!), indulge in reading blogs (I am so nosey!), enjoy modern fiction and 'chick lit' (although I can't stand that title), and lap up cookery, craft and gardening books alongside history books.

7) And what are you reading at the moment? 

THE TIME TRAVELLER'S GUIDE TO MEDIEVAL ENGLAND by Ian Mortimer is my book of the week.

8) If you could work with any author, who would it be and why?

Now that's a good question! If it was a question of taking a fly-on-the-wall opportunity of seeing another author at work, it might be Enid Blyton or Charles Dickens (what sparked that ability to write so prolifically?). But if you mean exactly as the question says and who I would like to co-write with, I think it might well be Margaret Mahy who, very sadly, has just died. She had the most fabulous ideas, wrote with such joy and exuberance, and appealed to all ages. How I wish I could be as good as her.

9) When you were younger who were your favourite author? 

I remember crying when I got to the end of a book called MARY PLAIN AND THE BEARS. It was part of a series of books about some bears in a zoo and they were written by Gwynedd Rae. I also loved Rosemary Sutcliff, Roald Dahl, and devoured lots of non-fiction.

10) Are there any of your other novels that you would turn into a Movie or T.V. show if so which one and why? 

I would adore to see the GLITTER GIRLS in a television series. But I also love the two books I wrote with Cherry Whytock about a great girl called AMARYLLIS FLOWERDEW - she would make a great character on screen.

11) What inspires you to write your novel? 

My children, people I sit next to on the train, things that I read about in newspapers or hear about on the Radio. 

12) How do you come up with your story ideas? 

Same answer really as the previous question. Sometimes I think I've come up with the best title for a book ever (I would say that, wouldn't I?!) and I mull it over in my head until I come up with a plot to go with it. Other times, I might come up with the character(s) first. 

13) Are you working on anything new at the moment if so can you tell us anything about it? 

I am always working on something! I've just finished a new idea that I am excited about but it is early days... publishers might not like it... or they might love it... Watch this space!

14) Would you write more books to go with the Glitter Girls? 

Oh I would love to! I once talked with the editor of the series and we fantasised about writing more stories about the girls when they were a little bit older. But, that said, I think there are more adventures that the girls could get up to anyway!

15) If you could do it over again, is there anything you would change in any of your books? 

Hmmm... I'm not sure really. Whenever I do re-read anything I've written, I'm always surprised and think 'did I write that?' - that can be good or bad! Usually though, I am already writing a new book so I'm thinking about that rather than something already published. 

16) Who is your favourite character from your Glitter Girls books? 

When I was writing the books, it was always the character that I was writing about at that very minute. The great thing about writing books, is that you can become whichever character you want to be - it's like reinventing yourself with every book or every day! 

17) Out of all your books, which is your favourite character and why?

I've already mentioned AMARYLLIS FLOWERDEW but I also loved the two girls I created for a duet of books I wrote called 10 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU ARE 16 and 10 WAYS TO COPE WITH BOYS because the girls were funny and feisty.

18) When writing about something you don't know much about where do you get your information? 

I'm nosey, like I said early! I'm always listening to people's conversations, I jot down funny things I hear people say, I keep the sound of someone's voice in my head and, when I write, I type in that timbre - does that make sense? Plus I research, read around a subject, and go and visit places. 

19) For you what is the easiest part of the book to write? 

The last chapter - but not necessarily the last sentence!

20) ...And the hardest? 

The first chapter - and always the very first sentence. I often write a chapter, knowing it is probably rubbish, and then go back the next day and start again. It's always easier to start your writing the next time when you've got something on the screen in front of you. There is nothing worse than a blank screen. At the end of every day, I start the next chapter. Even if I only write one sentence or a paragraph, it makes the next day begin on a more positive note.

21) How do you choose the names for your books and characters? 

Names of friends, names I love, sometimes I use the forenames of children who write to me - everyone has such great names!

22) Have you ever gotten rid of a character or changed a character in a book before publishing and then regretted it? 

No - although sometimes I might develop a character differently as a story unfolds. The action may change because of the character or the character may change because of the action. 

23) What advice would you give to someone who "ran out of creativity" while writing? 

Don't panic! Read a book written by someone else. Go for a walk and you may well be inspired to write about something that happens on the walk or something you see while you are walking. If that still doesn't help, leave it for a day and then go back to it. Then I refer you to question 20 above...

24) What do you do when you get writers block? 

Everything I've said in question 23 above! Although I wouldn't ever say I truly get a block. I usually just have a day when I don't think I've written very well. But then, as I said, you go back the next day and start tweaking... it always gets better after that!

25) Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? 

I am so grateful that you read my books and I would like to thank you for that and the lovely letters you send me. Thank you so much! Oh - and I hope I keep writing books that you will want to read!

Thanks Caroline for taking the time to answer my questions much appreciated.

My Interview with Rose Impey

Rose Impey (the author of the Sleepover Club) agreed to answer some questions for my blog and this is what she had to say

1) Where are you from?

I was born in Northwich, in Cheshire, where my family still lives.

2) When and why did you begin writing?

I started writing about thirty years ago. I'd previously been a primary school teacher but stopped teaching to have my children, two daughters, Rachel and Charlotte.  When they went to school I'd fully expected to go back to teaching, but a happy accident with my back prevented that from happening and it was during that period I decided to have a go at writing. I was lucky enough to have my first book accepted and I've been writing ever since.

3) Did you always want to be an author?

When I was growing up it wouldn't have entered my head that it was even a possibility.  I was always a great reader but it was only as an adult, after I had children that I began to entertain the idea.

4) How long each day/week do you dedicate to writing?

I have a very regular routine: I get up early and go to the gym or swimming, come back and have breakfast and then start writing.  I write most of every day until 5 or 6pm.

5) What do you do when you’re not writing?

I love gardening, sewing, walking, dancing, cinema and theatre. Socialising is very important when you spend all day every day on your own!

6) In your spare time what do you like to read?

I read fiction, often modern American novels. I like books that make me laugh or cry!

7) And what are you reading at the moment?

Sebastian Barry On Canaans Side. The writing is so good that has made me cry!

8) When you were younger who were your favourite author?

When I was growing up we just didn't have the choice there is nowadays. Mostly we read Enid Blyton and individual books like Little Women, Heidi... My absolute favourite was Treasure Island. But I also remember reading Grimms Fairy Tales over and over again.

9) Other than the Sleepover Club are there any of your other novels that you would turn into a Movie or T.V. show if so which one and why?

I really think my novel Six Feet Deep would make a great single drama, but I'd love to see my Titchywitch stories for young readers made into a cartoon series.

10) My sister, cousin and I loved the sleepover club books when we were kids that much that we set up are own sleepover club we did challenges and had our own SOC book, membership cards and rules. Since it became really big have many other fans told you that they have started their own club?

Yes, lots and lots. I probably had more fan mail for Sleepover than anything else I've written.  One of the most common questions was: How do you know what kind of things girls do and say to each other when they're on their own? My answer was: “I have my spies. And I did! I had a few girls who shared all their secrets with me for which I am very grateful.”

11) What inspired you to write The Sleepover Club?

The idea actually was one of two or three I offered to my publishers when they were looking for a commercial series idea for girls of 9+

12) How do you come up with your story ideas?

I'm not really joking about collecting children's secrets. I do find going into school and talking to kids gives me all my best ideas.  Things they say and do often triggers off my own memories and then my imagination starts to work, but I often need the real ideas to act as a catalyst.

13) Are you working on anything new at the moment if so can you tell us anything about it?

I'm just finishing a new series for very young readers. This time it's about a little knight called Sir Lancelittle.  But later in the autumn I'm hoping to start a new novel for older readers and no, sorry, can't say anything about that until I'm really into it.

14) If you could do it over again, is there anything you would change in any of your books?

Oh, yes, lots. Probably something in every book I’ve written. You work and work a story until you start to feel you ought to stop before you completely write all the life out of it. You write until the point when you feel you can't improve a single word. But then the printed book arrives and you read it and even on the first page you think: Oh, no, why did I put that, that's rubbish, if only I could change it, but by then you can't! 

15) Out of all your books, which is your favourite character and why?

I realise now that I've written a variation on the same character in several of my books: he's a boy of about 10 or 11 who's incredibly full of himself, totally irrepressible and hugely annoying to be around... Like Baxter in The Get Rich Quick Club. I love boys like that, they really make me laugh!

16) When writing about something you don't know much about where do you get your information?

I'm a bit pathetic when it comes to research.  I'm always scared to get it wrong so in the end I don't do it a lot, I play safe and write about what I know mostly.  This is a weakness I'm afraid. When I do any research I use reference books, Internet, but I prefer to try to find people who are experts in the field. I like to do as much face-to-face research as I can. 

17) For you what is the easiest part of the book to write?

THE END! No, seriously, it varies enormously. When it goes well it all feels easy, but more often than not most of it feels hard.

18) ...And the hardest?
Getting started probably. You've got the ideas but there comes a point when you have to commit to the screen/page. Even after all this time I still get anxious before I really get into each book.  In fact, I probably get more anxious the older I get.

19) How do you choose the names for your books and characters?

Difficult question. They really do mostly come from your imagination. You always know when you've got it right because the name really fits, like a good set of clothes. The worst thing is when you get a name and can't have it because someone else has used it or similar.  That's very frustrating.

20) Have you ever gotten rid of a character or changed a character in a book before publishing and then regretted it?

No, I don't think I have. There are lots of things you regret but they're more likely to be things you left in and shouldn't have than the other way round.

21) What advice would you give to someone who "ran out of creativity" while writing?

Take a break. Whenever it happens to me it's because I'm creatively tired out. Last year I took six months off writing and came back re-charged. Sometimes as a writer you feel like a battery that's lost its charge, especially after thirty years!.

22) What do you do when you get writers block?

See above. But also I go into schools and sit and talk to kids. That always gives me ideas and, even more importantly, energy.

23) Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thanks for choosing my books and please, if there's one that you don't like, try others because I do write lots of different stuff. 

And...send me your secrets!!!!!

Thank you for your time Rose I will be enjoying the Sleepover Club books forever.

My Interview With Chris D'Lacey

After meeting Chris d'Lacey when I was doing my T.A course in 2010, I read some of his The Last Dragon Chronicles novels, my favourite is Icefire.

Angelo Rinaldi does the cover artwork for these and all of Chris d’Lacey’s books.


1) Where are you from?

Leicester, England, though I was born in Malta

2) When and why did you begin writing?

I began writing at the age of 32 as a sidestep from writing songs.  It was just a hobby that grew into a career.

3) Did you always want to be an author?

No. I wanted to be a footballer or a pop star

4) How long each day/week do you dedicate to writing?

When I'm working properly on a book, about 6 hours per day.  But it varies

5) How long does it usually take to write just one book?

About 9 months, including editing

6) Do you write your books on paper first or start straight on the computer?

I started out on paper but switched to the computer because it was easier to correct errors

7) What do you do when you’re not writing?

I work on my house.  I moved to Devon last year.  Decorating is taking up a lot of my time.

8) In your spare time what do you like to read?

I still don't read an awful lot, but if I do it's children's fiction. I like Patrick Ness, David Almond and Philip Reeve

9) And what are you reading at the moment?

'The Fault in our Stars' by John Green

10) If you could work with any author, who would it be and why?

Writing is a solitary business.  I would find it very hard to collaborate on a book, though I did it years ago with Linda Newbery.  The book was called 'From E To You' and was about two teenagers emailing one another.

11) When you were younger who were your favourite author?

I liked the Jennings books by Anthony Buckeridge, all the Molesworth series by Geoffrey Willans, the Paddington Bear books by Michael Bond, Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy, and everything by Tolkien.

12) Writing wise what is your biggest accomplishment?

Being highly commended for the Carnegie Medal with 'Fly, Cherokee, Fly'.

13) What inspire’s you to write your novel Fly Cherokee fly?

It's based on the true story of me finding an injured pigeon and nursing him back to health

14) What Inspired you to write The Dragons of Wayward Crescent?

The DOWC books were simply an offshoot of the novels.  The plan at first was to write a prequel to The Fire Within, but I couldn't get a prequel to work.  Then I had what I thought was the bright idea of doing a series of little books that would collectively form a prequel to TFW.  Unfortunately, they didn't sell very well and my publisher abandoned the project after four books, which was annoying.

15) And what inspired you to write the The Last Dragon Chronicles?

I bought a dragon at a craft fair one day and thought it would be a nice idea to have a character who made dragons.  The rest is history.

16) Are you working on anything new at the moment if so can you tell us anything about it?

I'm working on two ideas, each of which would make a three book series.  One of them is heavily dragon based, the other is more domestic but with a hint of dragons.  That's as much as I can tell you right now.

17) If you could do it over again, is there anything you would change in any of your books?

The only book I would ever rewrite would be the first one I published, 'A Hole at the Pole'.  It was a young reader and my then editor didn't like the ending - so she wrote one herself, which was bland and completely out of step with my style.  I let it go because I knew no better at the time.  It would be different now!  Although the dragon novels are often criticised for being too complex, I wouldn't change a word.  I wrote them 'organically' i.e. as they came to me, and that's part of what makes them so special, I think

18) Out of all your books, which is your favourite character and why?

Oh, gosh, it's impossible to pick one.  I like nearly all of them for different reasons.  I've always thought Zanna was a great character, though Gwilanna was more fun to write.  Bergstrom always intrigued me.  Of the animals, I love Gadzooks and Gretel and Avrel the polar bear, but if you really pinned me down I'd have to choose Bonnington the cat.  He's based on a beautiful daft cat I used to have.

19) When writing about something you don't know much about where do you get your information?

Books, the TV and the Internet.  Or I just make stuff up!

20) For you what is the easiest part of the book to write?

Usually the beginning, though if a book's going well the end tends to come in a rush.  I wrote the last 10,000 words of The Fire Ascending in three days, which is very quick for me.

21) ...And the hardest?

Hardest?  There's usually a point about three quarters of the way through where you have to start resolving the main problems.  That can be tricky if the plot's a bit fluffy.

22) How do you choose the names for your books and the characters?

I don't, really.  Names just come to me as I picture the characters in my head.  It was a deliberate tease to have all the dragon names beginning with 'G'.  I knew fans would write to me endlessly about it, which they did.

23) Have you ever taken out a character or changed a character in a book before publishing and then regretted it?

No. Never. 

24) What advice would you give to someone who "ran out of creativity" while writing? And 25) What do you do when you get writers block?

Put the story away for a while and work on something else.  When you come back to it fresh, hopefully new ideas will surface.  If you haven't time for that, back up a way until you reach a point where you're sure everything is right, then take off from there in a slightly different direction.

26) Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Thanks for reading the books! I hope you'll get as much enjoyment from the new stuff when it comes as you did from The Last Dragon Chronicles.  Oh, and Gadzooks says hrrr!

Thank you for your time Chris I really appreciate it, and congratulations on being highly commended for the Carnegie Medal for Fly, Cherokee, Fly