Today I’m joining the blog tour for Searching For Sandra. I’m sharing my Q&A with the author with thanks to Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on the tour and to Jane Harvey for answering my questions!

Have you always wanted to write?

As a child, I wrote copious, long stories – definitely quantity over quality! I have written on and off all my life, including at university, where I chose a creative writing module. Around that time, I periodically had the odd poem published, but life got in the way and studies, work, and having a child all took precedence for a while.

In the last 4-5 years, I have been structured and consistent about writing. At that point in my life, I took the time to focus my energy and set myself targets and constructed a sort of plan. I realised I wanted to write, and that time for myself was always eaten away by other things. This structure worked for me, as it created a habit of writing. 

I don’t need that structure or timetable now as I write – or do all those other, associated things such as marketing, accounting, designing, and hustling that come with the job – whenever I can. 

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

I am a qualified secondary teacher and have also taught older teens and adults. My subject areas were additional needs and English (of course!) and by the time I left my last full-time role in education, I was a senior leader. My current role is as the Deputy Executive Officer of a charity. Both of these jobs exposed me to a hugely diverse range of people, which has definitely helped my understanding of character, and wants and needs. 

Working in the public and third sector also teaches you not to be precious and ensures you have to pitch into a whole range of tasks and projects, so I have also gained experience in business operations, communications etc, that have been invaluable to the behind-the-scenes work.

What was your inspiration for Searching For Sandra? 

Searching for Sandra is book three in the series. When I wrote book one, I had no idea it was going to lead to anything else. The Landlord of Hummingbird House is a contemporary light read and is more accessible than an average short story of mine, which is what I’d written before. I did this intentionally, in part to challenge myself, and also because the idea of something ‘feel good’, following a difficult couple of years, was appealing. 

Book one was set in the present day, and book two followed the story of one of the main characters between then and 1967. 

I had the idea for this book that it would be interesting to cover the summers of the year after each of the other books – so 2022 and 1968. 

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

That’s a difficult question. They are definitely not closely based on anyone I know, but I am sure they all contain a mash-up of various qualities of those around me. I like to have at least one character whom I love and can relate to, but I am always careful to ensure they have some flaws. That’s what makes them real. 

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

I’m not a pantser – I always know the ending and all the key events beforehand. But I am also rather impatient and don’t enjoy the planning stage, so my plotting is on the light side compared to some people I know. I draw up a spreadsheet of chapters with two sentences against each chapter and then map the story arc alongside these to check it broadly makes sense and the pacing is OK. I have some other tabs for character details (fairly sparse), and for the last two books, I’ll have research tabs, too. All quite messy and on the skimpy side.

How did you research? Did you enjoy it?

I’ve been writing stories in the 60s and needed to make sure facts were correct, as I am sure someone would say if they weren’t. I don’t enjoy the nuts and bolts of research, such as checking whether a particular make of furniture was available and the month of the year a famous song came out. But of course, in 1967 and 68, some incredible events occurred, and national and international changes took place, so I have been drawn into a few rabbit holes reading about powerful issues such as civil rights. 

As my books have been set over a summer, my process is to plot some key news stories over that year, focussing on the June to September period, and also add in some chart music to reference as Betty loves her transistor radio in the books. Then once I start writing, I find myself Googling at least once a paragraph to check everything from the slang to the print on someone’s pyjamas. I make myself do it, as I wouldn’t want anything to jolt the reader out of the narrative.

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

My favourite writers are generally darker: I love Margaret Atwood, for example. She has influenced some of the writing I do under my real name (the Hummingbird Series is under a pen name). I am always very behind in reading the latest ‘big thing’ as I like to support writer friends and read their work over and above anything else. My TBR is huge!

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

Lord Byron; Miriam Margolyes; my Great-Aunt Lu (sadly no longer with us). It would be entertaining – and quite possibly, wild.

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

Andrew Tate. I think it’s obvious why.

Who would play the main character/s in a film version of Searching For Sandra? 

I’ve honestly never thought about this, and my images of the characters are unique to them. But a few people have said that the books would make a good series as there are a number of quirky characters involved. If I was being ludicrously ambitious, I might say that Judi Dench would make a great Betty (as she is today). Modern, humorous, and slightly fierce. 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Writing is what I do in any spare time I have, but I do like to cook and spend time watching comedy programmes or films with my husband and son. We also have a small, naughty dog who keeps as busy. 

What is next for you?

I am currently researching a historical novel, which will be much darker and a very different tone to the Hummingbird House series. It’s based on some true events from 1556 in the Channel Isles, and has a dual narrative with a contemporary woman’s story. The true story is remarkable, but a lot of work to get right. This will keep me busy for the next  18 months or so, though I will publish a short story at Christmas to update on Betty’s life.

Favourites:

Book?

To Kill a Mockingbird.

Film?

Oh, I don’t know. My guilty pleasure is Legally Blonde. 

Band/Singer?

Ani Difranco. 

TV show?

Bad Sisters or Episodes. I love love love them both.  

Colour?

Purple.

Place?

I love the Greek Islands. Lefkada may be my favourite – but I’ve not seen them all! 

Biscuit?

Am I allowed to say I’m not a biscuit fan? Will people think badly of me? It would have to be something oaty, like a HobNob.

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Searching For Sandra is available from Amazon.

You can follow the rest of the blog tour here: