Writing

Dear Sun…
woman looking at sunset

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Dear Sun,

Well, I just don’t know what to say to you anymore. You just drop by whenever you feel like it, raise my hopes, then go off to Spain, Greece, or wherever takes your fancy. And don’t get me started on Cyprus. It’s 35c over there today. Thirty-five! I mean, how could you? You spend all summer with them. Every year! I hardly ever see you.

Yes, I have tried self-tanning lotions but they’re all fake. FAKE, I tell you. What? Which incident with the sunbed? I don’t…oh, wait a minute. Ahem. That was ages ago, it meant absolutely nothing. I was desperate, wasn’t thinking straight. Yes, I know they can hurt you, thank you very much. Look, it was just one-off, okay. I didn’t even enjoy it. I mean, you’re always letting me down, aren’t you? Promising to show up then sending all that gust and rain in your place. It’s too much to bear. I’ve had to go into therapy. Me! Can you believe it? They’ve even put me on vitamin D.

Of course, I know you’re worshipped worldwide, but what about poor us in the UK? We’re your biggest fans, you know. In fact, whenever you turn up we take to Twitter and Facebook proclaiming our joy of your arrival. What do you mean I complain when you’re here? I’ve never…oh, hang on. That’s only when you’re a bit full-on. You must admit, you can be a bit over-generous and muggy, can’t you? I mean 38c in London, it’s unthinkable. I could barely type, and you kept me up all night with all that heat. I mean, is a cool breeze at night too much to ask for? No, a fan won’t do, I can’t sleep with all that noise. Open all the windows? You really are being silly now. What if a bat or insects fly in and chew all my toes off while I’m asleep? What then, hmm?

Anyway, I’ve had enough of your excuses and quite enough of your downpours, to be honest. I don’t think I can cope with this anymore. I’m leaving you for a light lamp. No, don’t try to stop me! My mind’s made up. Yes, yes, I’ll see you around. Bye.

P.S. I love you.

Author Interview – Beverley Harvey

bev_harvToday 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

Kindle

Paperback

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_

My Writing Style

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When I got my book deal, I immediately texted my husband to tell him the good news. Naturally, he was over the moon for me. Messages flew between us with the final one, from him, saying he’d bought me a gift to celebrate. His words made my heart melt. How lovely of him to be so considerate and supportive. I waited anxiously for him to come home, wondering what it could be. I’d been eyeing a Michael Kors wristwatch in the shop window for quite some time. But no, that was too expensive. Maybe it’s a perfume, I thought, or a lovely bottle of something sparkling for us to celebrate with. When he finally walked through the door with a huge whiteboard under his arm, I must admit, I was a little underwhelmed. Hmm…I thought, not quite romantic. But I was wrong to think this because it was a very romantic gesture. It proved that he listens to me and cares about my craft. Why? Because I’m a planner, not a panster.

I envy authors who start with a blank page and go on to write brilliant novels without any sort of preparation because I can’t get excited about a story until I know the ending. I’ve always been like this, even with my short stories. Once I know what’s happening, created my cast and worked out the plot, then, and only then, will the words flow. Admittedly, the novel does often change as the story unfolds, but I generally stick to the original plan, editing as I go along.

I usually finish a book in three drafts. But while I used to scribble everything down in notebooks, on post-its and on scraps of paper, I now use my whiteboard, and everything is in one neat place. How amazing is that? I still use notepads and scraps of paper because it’s just a writer thing, but my main story is drafted on the whiteboard, chapter by chapter, scene by scene, which includes dates and times. It rests against the wall behind my desk.  So whenever I’m unsure about anything, instead of rummaging through draws looking for sheets of paper etc., I simply spin round on my chair and voila, the information I need is right there in front of me. I used it religiously as I penned my second novel, No Way Back, published on 21st September 2017 by Urbane Publications.  I then wiped it clean and used it again to draft the sequel. And I hope to get lots more use out of it in the future!

How Music Inspires Me When I’m Writing

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Many people ask me where I get my inspiration from when I’m writing my novels. Inspiration comes in many forms, but personally I find listening to music while I’m out running a great source, especially on lovely warm, sunny days. But even when I’m pounding away on the treadmill at the gym (okay, huffing and puffing as close to the air-con vent as possible), I’m always listening to music and often thinking about my WIP – the protagonist, the cast, the chapter I’m working on. Some of these melodies help me to create a vivid picture in my mind about the characters and their lives, the scenes, the highs and the lows, the cliff-hangers. Yes, music is a very powerful source.

With this in mind, I decided to create a compilation on Spotify of some of the songs that represent my second novel, NO WAY BACK. Several of the tracks on this collection are songs that I listened to while I was working on the book, some of which moved me to the core. In fact, two of them made me cry. They still do! A few of the tracks are mentioned in the story, such as Dancing Queen by Abba and Shape of You by Ed Sheeran. And some simply embody the story in a way that takes the characters and their lives beyond the pages of the book.

I’m sure you’ve guessed why Red High Heels by Kellie Pickler is on the playlist just by looking at the cover, and the blurb might explain why Want You Back by HAIM is on there, too. But you might be baffled by the inclusion of Zorba the Greek. I won’t spoil it for you but the story starts in Cyprus, and when you read the first chapter you’ll realise why this particular track is so significant to the story and why it has centre stage on my playlist.

So, without further ado, here’s NO WAY BACK, the book soundtrack. You can listen to it on Spotify for free but you will have an ad popping up every half hour, and you can’t download this or any other playlist onto your phone or computer unless you’re a paying subscriber.

I hope you enjoy the songs on my literature inspired playlist and that they give you an insight into the story and the characters in my novel.

No Way Back is now available on Kindle and in Paperback