Today I’m joining the blog tour for A Heart Full Of Hope. 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 Kay Seeley for answering my questions!

Have you always wanted to write?

Yes. Even when I was young I loved books and making up stories. I was always in trouble for daydreaming and not paying attention. I found the imaginary world more interesting than the real one. 

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

When I left school at sixteen I worked for a finance company. I left when I got married and had children as one was expected to do in those days. I did manage a part time job in an insurance office when the children were at school, then worked full time in the Probation Service when they were grown up. Having worked in The Crown Court during my time with the Probation Service, I love to include a court scene in my books if I can. 

I worked in admin (I have a BA in Admin Management) and learned office skills, how to use a computer, financial management and organisation. All essential tools for a writer. I also learned about the judicial process which is useful when writing crime scenes.  

What was your inspiration for A Heart full of Hope?

I started with the character, Charity. She was the daughter of a bishop. Well read, intelligent and caring she inspired the story. I wanted to write something about someone who was optimistic as many historical sagas can be really depressing. Although her life is comfortable, she’s aware that not everyone is as privileged. She wants to make a difference. Set in a hotel it also gave me the opportunity to show the two different worlds of upstairs and downstairs which puts perspective into the story and shows how difficult it was to overcome class barriers in Edwardian times. 

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

 I like my characters to have flaws. They’re not perfect. I think I put more of myself into them than other people. I give them the qualities I wish I had. 

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

 Panster. I never know what’s going to happen in my stories, they’re driven by the characters. Sometimes they do surprising things beyond my control, then I have to rein them in again. I usually work on about two or three chapters, but not the whole story. Then I hope it all comes out in the end. 

How did you research? Did you enjoy it?

I enjoyed the research. It gave me the opportunity to find out what happened at country house weekend parties, what people ate, how they amused themselves. I also got to research magicians and their tricks and London’s various theatres.  

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

In my early days Catherine Cookson was a definite influence. Then Ann Perry. I love her Monk books. I include some sort of crime in all my books, so they’re not straight historical romances. Henry Mayhew’s London Labour and the London Poor is a colourful illustration of how people lived in Victorian times. I find that very inspiring.

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

Charles Dickens, Jane Austin and Henry Mayhew They’re all social reformers. We could have fascinating conversations about society’s ills and spend hours putting the world to rights. 

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

 Hannibal Lecter. For obvious reasons. 

Who would play the main character/s in a film version of.A Heart full of Hope ? 

Olivia Colman 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

 I love gardening, visiting places of interest, museums and historic houses with the London Red Hatters and I’ve recently taken up Nordic Walking. I also love spending time with my family. 

What is next for you?

 Working on the next book. 

Favourites:

Book? Difficult to choose. A Gentleman in Moscow, A Terrible Kindness and Gone with the Wind are some that come to mind. I’m an avid reader so there are lots of favourites.

Film? The Sting or anything with Robert Redford

Band/Singer?  Charley Pride

TV show? Midsummer Murders

Colour? Blue

Place? London

Biscuit? Rich Tea for dunking, chocolate for munching.

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A Heart Full Of Hope is available from Amazon.

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