Today I have the lovely and incredibly talented Beverley Harvey on my blog, talking about her debut Seeking Eden and her writing in general. So, sit back with a cuppa and enjoy.
Hi Beverley. Thank you so much for being here today. Firstly, can you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
Wow, what a lovely intro, thank you, Kelly – my pleasure. I’m a late bloomer as I began writing fiction in my fifties. Along with my gorgeous partner, Mark, I recently moved to West Sussex, but I think of Kent as home. I’m dog, music and book mad, and I’m trying to forge a career as a novelist.
Your debut, Seeking Eden, was released last year. Can you tell us about it?
Seeking Eden is set in home counties’ suburbia and centres on four very different characters and how their lives intertwine. It’s about the lure of materialism and getting to a certain age and thinking ‘is this it?’ It’s very true to life and relatable; readers tell me they are giggling one minute and holding back tears the next.
Did you have a target audience in mind when you wrote it, do you think it’ll appeal to both men and women?
Anyone who enjoys family drama and modern-day dilemmas will get Seeking Eden – but if Bronte and Austin are your bag…not so much. Regards the gender split, one of my favourite reviews was written by a man; he says ‘(the author) is as comfortable writing as a man or a woman’, which was a big deal for me as I wanted my two male characters to be convincing.
What inspired you to write Seeking Eden?
Ten years ago, I left London for suburban Kent. It was a massive culture shock – one I grew to love, but it gave me the idea for Seeking Eden.
Have you always been a writer?
I was in Public Relations for many years which involves a lot of writing; press releases, business to business news and features, etc. But Seeking Eden was my first foray into fiction.
Tell us about your journey to publication
When I finished Seeking Eden, I wrote to dozens of literary agents. I got a handful of polite rejections, but most of them totally ignored me and the silence was deafening. Urbane Publications tweeted something that caught my eye and I emailed its owner, Matthew Smith. It was so refreshing to get a positive response and to be given a face to face meeting. Being offered a contract to publish was a dream come true.
What’s a writer’s life like, pros and cons?
The pleasure and satisfaction of knowing someone has read and loved your novel easily outweighs the uncertainty and isolation of writing. The freedom is great; the need to be constantly promoting your work, not so much.
Do you have any tips or advice for new writers?
Be true to yourself and write what you want to. A very highly regarded editor told me that Seeking Eden didn’t work because the cast are all too old; I pressed on anyway – I think people of all ages face dilemmas and dramas. We don’t only fall in love and have adventures in our twenties and thirties, so my work reflects that.
If you weren’t a writer, what other career would you have chosen?
If I had my time again, I’d either work with dogs or join the police force; hey, maybe I could be a police dog handler!
Do you ever write outside your comfort zone or do you stick to what you know?
So far I’ve written about my own world but I’m currently working on a thriller. It’s very challenging but I’m enjoying the different mindset.
Are you a planner or a panster?
Seeking Eden was character led; once I knew and understood everyone, I let them steer the action, which felt voyeuristic at times.
You’ve got a great mix of characters in Seeking Eden. If it were to be made into a film, who would be your dream cast?
Oh, I love this game! Keely Hawes would play Kate, Tina Hobley would make a great Lisa, Steven Mackintosh would be Martin and Ben would need to be somebody larger than life and very cheeky; perhaps Dexter Fletcher? Like Ben, his hair has its own postcode.
I can imagine that cast working really well. And who would play you in a film of your life?
Ha! Not for me to say – my partner answered Rene Russo, which is hugely flattering.
Do you have a favourite author?
Not now. When I was younger, I devoured everything by Anita Brookner – I adored her understated style. For drama, it was Fay Weldon, and for raw emotion Paul Theroux. Now I read thrillers – a broad church of writers that includes Gillian Flynn, Cara Hunter and Paula Hawkins. I’ve actually read two of your books, ‘No Way Back’ and ‘Her Secret’ and enjoyed both immensely.
Thank you, Beverley. I’m really pleased you enjoyed them. What are you reading at the moment?
I’ve almost finished Cara Hunter’s in The Dark, a chilling whodunnit.
I’ve read Seeking Eden, loved it and can’t wait for the sequel, Eden Interrupted, which is now available for pre-order. Can you tell us a little about it?
Thank you, Kelly – good to know! We return to Eden Hill, where there are several familiar faces but some new ones, too. This time, there’s a rotten apple in the barrel and life takes a darker turn for one family.
What’s coming next?
Hopefully, I’ll finish the thriller I’m working on, but I’ve got lots of other ideas, too, so watch this space.
And just for fun – who’d be your 6 dream dinner party guests?
Mick Jagger, David Bowie and Prince are all consistent heroes…I’d be a jelly in their collective presence. I’d invite Audrey Hepburn for her grace and beauty, Mike Leigh to write a play about it afterwards and Mario Testino to photograph us all looking divine.
Thank you so much for popping by today, Beverley. It’s been an absolute pleasure talking to you, and good luck with Eden Interrupted.
Thanks so much, Kelly – it was great fun.
SEEKING EDEN by Beverley Harvey is available from Amazon
Here’s the blurb to whet your appetite!
’50 is the new 30 – haven’t you heard?’ Or so says Ben Wilde’s record producer on the eve of his comeback. If only Ben could win back ex-girlfriend, Kate, he’d be a happy man. But married Kate has moved on, and moved out – to Eden Hill, a quiet housing estate in the suburbs. Lonely and homesick for London, can Kate resist ego-maniac Ben’s advances and save her own flagging marriage? Streets away, Kate’s new friend Lisa, a Chihuahua toting ex-WAG, is primed for a fresh start – until her footballer ex-husband is found dead and she is vilified in the gutter press. But Kate, Lisa and Ben aren’t the only ones having a midlife crisis; local shop owner Martin dreams of escaping his dutiful marriage and develops an unhealthy obsession with Lisa and her friends in Eden Hill. Alongside a colourful cast of friends and family, Kate, Lisa, Ben and Martin are living proof that older does not always mean wiser because, in Eden Hill, there’s temptation around every corner.
You can find out more about Beverley Harvey on her website at www.beverleyharvey.co.uk
Or join her on Twitter: @BevHarvey_
kelly florentia 