27.5.15

Wordy Wednesday with Aimee Horton

This week I'm pleased to introduce Aimee Horton as our Wordy Wednesday Writer.
Aimee is from Lincoln, England, where she enjoys drinking gin and spending time with her family (and she won’t tell you which of those she prefers doing) -(But I follow her on twitter and I'm going to go for the gin option if I'm honest) . As a child, one of her favourite parts of the summer holidays was to devour all the books in a little book shop in Devon. She continued reading at lightning speed right up until having children. She now reads with eyes propped open by match sticks.

Blogging led her to realise that not only does she love to read but she loves to write… and people enjoy reading what she writes. So let's probe a little deeper and see just what makes Aimee tick, here are the questions

When did you start writing?
I’ve always loved writing, as a child I used to write little stories all the time. However, hitting my teenage years and a secondary school that was more about copying from the textbook then thinking, I lost my nerve. Then, after my second son was born I was encouraged to write a blog and I fell well and truly back in love!


Copyright: / 123RF Stock Photo
What 3 things (not including paper, computer, pens) would you like to facilitate a good days writing?
Sunshine, peace and gin! (see I knew I was right about the gin!!)

Do you write to a schedule, eg every day or three times a week, set times, etc or do you write as and when the mood strikes?
I used to try and keep strict schedules but realised that life with two small children and freelance work to do, it’s not that easy. Now I just try and write SOMETHING every day. Even if it’s just a new document dumping some ideas in, it’s something to keep the brain going.

Is writing your main source of income, I read lots of articles saying writers make no money, and my readers asked this question a lot! Can you survive on book writing alone? if not, what else do you do?
I really wish I could say it was, that’s the dream. Right now I am very lucky to be able to freelance and earn enough money to do both that and write my books. I must admit though, I am super grumpy on the days I freelance, and the nicest person in the world when I’m writing stories. Somebody once told me you need about eight reasonably well performing books to make a living from writing novels, but I really think that it’s all relative dependant on your circumstances.

What are your favourite biscuits?
Foxes Viennese Melts. The chocolate ones obvs!

Where do you do most of your writing?
A mixture of my study (aka the room with a desk and piles of junk that keep falling on me) and the kitchen while I’m cooking tea!

What book are you reading at the moment?
Kerry Barrett’s ‘I’ll Be There For You” – it’s the fourth in the series and I swear she just gets better and better.
You use social media (facebook, twitter, instagram etc) to engage with your audience, do you think it helpssales and do you find it fun or a chore?
Oh I LOVE social media! I especially love Instagram and Facebook. Twitter is great, but I don’t think it’s what it was, in fact, I need to write a blog post about that some day soon. I don’t think I’m the sort of person who could get away with using something for the sake of it, I’m an open book (pun not intended, but still quite proud of it), and you’d tell, and not be interested. I genuinely love looking at the photos and the posts of people I follow. Plus – who can’t love my feed? Booze, kids and melted cheese. (you love facebook more than twitter...I'm stunned :-))
Do you own an e-reader? and do you prefer to read digital or paper copy?
I love books, and the thought of holding a book I’ve written (or more importantly seeing somebody else holding a book I’ve written) is my biggest dream. However, I do love an e-reader. I have a nook, and I love the fact that if I’m a bit early for the school run I can sync the app on my phone and pick up where I left off. Practicality wise e-readers fit into our lives a lot better right now, whether it’s making it possible to take on holiday when luggage allowance is a huge issue, or whether it’s just the laziness of being able to pick up the ipad because your book is downstairs. It just fits.
Do you dream in colour?
Yes – my dreams are sometimes more real than my life – and reoccurring!
If reading and writing were banned, what would you do instead?
Maybe get some sleep?! Or more realistically, I’d listen to audiobooks! Mwahahaha! (ooh sneaky! I do wonder if writing were banned if traditional methods of learning and sharing spoken tales would just take over.)
What is your ideal holiday?
The four of us and some sun. That’s all I need. I’m quite insular these days. Perhaps it’s the exhaustion of being a family? But when I get a chance just to be us, nobody else, and no real life at home problems, I find it ridiculously relaxing just to being together.

Thanks to Aimee for sharing her secrets, I'm off for a gin and tonic, no idea why I suddenly fancy one...

Aimee Horton's new book “Survival of the Ginnest,” (there is a theme here...and I love the book cover) published by Velvet Morning Press, is a modern-day diary, written in the form of Facebook posts. This chick lit/mom lit book chronicles the adventures and mishaps of a new mom.
Meet Dottie Harris. Dottie spent her late 20s working her way up the career ladder, but things are about to change. In this modern-day diary, Dottie, after announcing her pregnancy, turns to social networking to build a new social life. She quickly begins to rely on it—along with gin—as a way to reach out and remind herself of the funny side of the frustrations of motherhood.


You can get a copy on Amazon, for Kindle or in paperback - click here

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