Q&As from a recent author talk

1.What’s the quickest time you’ve written a book?
 
Sixty-one days. The longest time was six years (my first attempt at a book which has never been published!)
 
2. Do you ever include real people in your books?
 
I include memories in my books by referring to or including peoples’ names. I’ve used relatives’ names of two great-grandmothers, grandmother, both grandfathers, a cousin, friends’ children, my favourite uncles and five named gravestones relating to people I knew and wished to honour. My books are like photograph albums to me – reading between the lines I can see my life entwined in certain plots.
 
3.Would you ever include covid or refer to it?
 
Never. I made a conscious decision about this topic back in 2020. I stayed at home and followed every rule I was instructed to and saw many TV clips of families distraught by the enforced separation and the death of loved ones. When I write, I want my readers to be lost inside a different world. I would hate to bring up a subject that pulls them from that safe, fictional world to remind them of the pain and suffering they encountered during covid. I used hand washing as a trait for OCD for one character but nothing more.  
 
4.How do choose character names?
 
From an early age, names have always fascinated me. There was only one Erin in my school, so no one used my surname – which was nice in some respects. From a young age, I pondered how different a Thomas, Tom or Tommy responded when called and how interaction or their reputation varied. Likewise, there are names that I dislike because of their connotations, historical events or simply phonics. I kid you not there is a letter of the alphabet for which I have never found a name I like beginning with that letter! Ridiculous I know, but that’s my creative brain for you. I am always listening out for names be it in public places, TV/film credits, gravestones, patron saints or class registers, when I was a teacher. I note down any that I find interesting or different for future use. I do have several baby naming books which I regularly trawl through as I also like the meanings of names. It is not uncommon whilst planning a book, for me to sit for several hours trawling through my lists and creating a short-list of possible names and their meanings. In some of my books the origins or meaning of a name has fitted the character perfectly for their role in the plot. I do have a list of names I will never use - real life people who may misinterpret my writing to be about them, when it is purely fictional. I’ve currently got a self-imposed ban on using the name ‘Nina’ as I’ve used it three times in my early books – I didn’t realise I was partial to the name, again I blame my creative brain. 
 
5. Will you ever retire from writing?
 
Never. I sometimes panic as I near the end of writing a book that something disastrous may happen and I end up doing a Jane Austen! I never discuss my story lines prior to finishing so it would be a pickle if a third party had to complete the final chapters.