Today I am pleased to be taking part in the blog tour for Out Of Your Head. My post is written with thanks to Zoe O’Farrell for inviting me on the tour and to the author for answering my questions!

Have you always wanted to write?

Yes, absolutely! I remember telling my mum that I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. I was ten years old at the time. Her words of wisdom were: “Well, just start writing about what you know.” What great advice! 

What were your previous jobs? Have they helped you with your writing process?

For many years I worked at a PA and office manager in the theatre world – both for theatre in the round and for a west-end dance company. I think I always wanted to be surrounded by stories, drama and actors. Deep down, I wanted to write the words that would create the stories. Now, when I sit down to write, I pretend I’m in the audience watching the drama unfold on the stage. It really helps me to focus! 

What was your inspiration for Out of Your Head?

I really wanted to write about the theme of addiction. I have suffered from addiction myself and I wanted to demystify the stereotypes surrounding who an addict is. Many people think of an addict as an old man on a park bench, but this is often not the case. 

How do you construct your characters? Do they have traits of people you know?

I start off with a theme in my head first. Then I think about what characters would portray that theme. For example, if I wanted to write about the theme of jealousy, I would think about my own experiences of jealousy in the past. I might amplify my experiences a little to portray the drama/ conflict. I think that sometimes traits of other people can leak into my writing. It sort of becomes a hodgepodge of all your subconscious thoughts in your head. You can’t help but write about what you know! 

What does your writing process look like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

I’m definitely a plotter. I start off with a beginning, middle and end. Then I think of twists and turns that I can add along the way. After that, I break each section down into parts. Within those parts, I map out the chapters. 

When I sit down to write a chapter, I have bullet point notes in front of me which tell me the basic outline of the chapter. Then when I write each chapter, I allow myself to fly by the seat of my pants and see how the characters behave. 

How did you research Out of Your Head? Did you enjoy it?

Much of this book comes from personal experience! I write from the heart and put much of my emotion into the characters. I really enjoyed writing it. I love when the characters start to come alive in your head and the story begins to tell itself. 

Who are your favourite writers? Are you influenced by them?

I adore Shari Lapena and I have read every single one of her books. I hope that I’m influenced by her because I study the way she plots her books. I’m a huge fan! 

If you could invite three people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be and why?

Great question! I’d invite Shari Lapena obviously! I’d also invite Marian Keyes. Her novel “Rachel’s Holiday” was the book that first inspired me to start writing. Also, she seems so friendly and funny in her interviews. We also have a ton in common with the addiction history. 

I’d also invite Julia Cameron. She is the author of “The Artists Way” which is a fabulous book that I’ve read many times over. It gives great tools about unblocking creativity. It definitely helped me to start writing my first book – and to keep writing until I typed “the end”! 

Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

Someone who has Covid and isn’t wearing a mask! ☹ 

Who would play the main character/s in a film version of Out of Your Head?

Ooh, I’d love it if Jamie Dornan played the Liam Fitzpatrick character! He’d have the mean, moody attitude and the right accent!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love listening to audio books and chilling with my cats. I also love walks in the park – great for clearing the head! 

What is next for you?

I’m halfway through the first draft of my sixth novel and I also have plans for my seventh!

Favourites:

Book? The Artists Way – Julia Cameron 

Film? The Notebook 

Band/Singer? Zero 7

TV show? Friends 

Colour? Red 

Place? Home 

Biscuit? Chocolate Finger!

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Out Of Your Head is available from Amazon.

You can follow the rest of the blog tour here: