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AT: Where were you born and raised?
Sue: I was born in Yorkshire
but I now live in Nottinghamshire.
AT: What was it that first got you into writing
and when did you start writing?
Sue: I suppose I've always dabbled but it
wasn't until my kids grew up and I had time on my hands that I decided to do something about getting published.
AT:
Which writers have influenced you the most?
Sue: Alan Bennett is my
favourite. Other writers I like...Anya Seton for historicals, Martina Cole, Dan Brown and Minette Walters for thrillers,
Carole Matthews, John O'Farrell and Marian Keyes for romantic comedy.
AT: There are
a lot of courses teaching creative writing nowadays, but do you think that good writing can be taught?
Sue:
I think you have to have some talent for it in the first place, a bit like having a musical ear. If it's in you, a writing
course can bring it out.
AT: Have you entered writing competitions? If so, have you won any prizes?
Sue:
I've been winner, highly commended, short-listed/runner up in short story competitions over the years and my novel The
Cuckoo Club has also been short-listed/runner up, too.
AT: Do you have any short stories or poems published online? (If so,
please provide the URLs):
Sue: I've had a story on Espresso and I think I still have some stories posted on www.jbwb.co.uk
AT: What kind of things do you write?
Sue: Mainly comedy
romance. I've had a few thrillers and chillers published in the women's magazines.
AT: What, for
you, is the best piece of prose that you have ever written?
Sue: I got most enjoyment
from writing the novel. Spending over a year with the same characters brought them to life and it was difficult to let them
go when it was finished.
AT: What are you working on now?
Sue: I'm still writing for the women's magazines at the same time the next novel is at the
halfway mark.
AT: What is your writing day like?
Sue: I do an hour or so in my husband's shop early morning, then come home around nine-ish to write.
Sometimes it can be tea-time before I know it. Some days I do NOTHING writerly. Except maybe updating my blog.
AT:
What’s the most exciting thing about writing for you?
Sue: Days when the words
just flow without any effort.Oh, and having met some wonderful, supportive on-line friends. I'm a member of On The Wing Writers,
a closed on-line critiquing group.
AT: What’s the most frustrating thing
about writing for you?
Sue: When I can't think up a single plot.
I suppose I should also add coping with rejections here, but honestly, they don't bother me that much...well, in the case
of short stories they don't. I just re-edit, jig them around a bit and send them off elsewhere. Rejections for the novel are
more difficult.
AT: What’s the best piece of feedback that you’ve had from
your audience?
Sue: Having Jean Saunders of Writing Magazine use
one of my stories to illustrate Pitch Perfect Dialogue. And someone compared my writing to
a best-selling author which thrilled me no end. She could have just been making conversation, I don't know...
AT:
Do you write for a particular audience, or is your first priority to satisfy your own creativity?
Sue:
I write what I find comes naturally, which is comedy romance. And NO I do NOT believe the chick-lit market is saturated and
becoming unfashionable. That's a vile and despicable rumour put about by authors of other genres ;o)
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