Wordy Wednesday with Chris Nickson

The last Wordy Wednesday for 2015 but not the last Word Wednesday is an interview with Chris Nickson. Chris grew up in Leeds and then spent 30 years living in the US, playing in bands and writing. He’s made a living as a writer since 1994. Chris is the author of The NPR Casual Listener’s Guide to World Music. Chris has also published 28 other non-fiction books, most of them quickie biographies, and has had a pair of one act plays staged in Seattle. 

So are we sitting comfortably? then we'll begin...

When did you start writing?

I was 11, and in English class at school we had to write a story in three paragraphs. I did, and somehow something clicked in me. Never mind that I had no experience with defusing unexploded bombs (why that? No idea), I saw how this could work. After the usual teenage angst of poetry and very arty short stories, as well as songwriting, I moved to novels. And more than 30 years later I finally had one published.

What 3 things (not including paper, computer, pens) would you like to facilitate a good days writing?

Tea, very definitely. Toast is also a must (homemade stoneground wholemeal) with plenty of butter. And the Internet to distract me, primarily Twitter and Facebook, damn their evil souls. (gotta love twitter!)


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 write every single day. It's almost like an obsession, I feel incomplete if I don't write. I have to be working on something or my world is out of kilter. I generally do 1,000 words a day on a project, actually not a huge amount. But I might be working on two projects, or I might have an edit to do, etc. I don't relax very well. However, I did realise that, as I got a late start in being published, and there's so much I still want to write, I'd better take advantage of time.

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?

Writing has been my only source of income for quite a long time (apart from a couple of small, brief, part-time retail jobs to get me out of the house and around people). Originally I made a living from music journalism and writing those quickie unauthorised biographies of celebrities that used to abound. These days it's a mix of novels, press releases, and some niche, artisan music journalism - I tend to cover world and folk music, which isn't a market with a huge audience.

What are your favourite biscuits?

This has provoked much internal debate. Go with digestives, the perennial standby? Jaffa Cakes, always an indulgence? Or milk chocolate digestives, which are lovingly sinful. But I think I'm going to have to settle for ordinary digestives, he says, stuffing his face.

Where do you do most of your writing?

My laptop is set up on the table in the living room, giving me a view out of the window to the fields. And my bookcases are two feet to my left.

What book are you reading at the moment?

I'm currently re-reading Susanna Clarke's short story collecting, The Ladies of Grace Adieu, which I found last weekend in a charity shop for £1, as well as non-fiction on the 1940s (research) and A Celebration of Ralph Thoresby, essays about the first Leeds historian.

Have you had a good or bad 2015 and why do you think it was good (or bad) ?

It's been good. Bad sciatica for the first couple of months, but that vanished and my health has been good. I stopped smoking, which is probably good, and I've been very productive. Tried my hand at something new - teaching creative writing - that's challenging in a good way. So, yes, good.

If you could genetically cross and animal with a fruit or vegetable what would you choose and why? I'm currently keen on an armadillo coconut, you'd never get into that!

A cat and a cantaloupe melon. A cataloupe.

If reading and writing were banned on pain of death, what would you do instead?

Be a musician. A very bad one. I played in bands for years, then solo, before quitting, to the relief of many. They'd just have to suffer for my satisfaction.

If you could bring a dead person back from the dead for one day to have tea and a natter with them, who would you choose and why?

My father. I'd make sure I got all the stories of his life and his father, grandfather, that he never told me when he was alive. And write them all down I imagine, it's so often small family stories that are lost isn't it.


Skin Like Silver is Chris Nickson's latest Novel:

Leeds. October, 1891. An unclaimed parcel at the Central Post Office is discovered to contain the decomposing body of a baby boy. It’s a gruesome case for Detective Inspector Tom Harper. Then a fire during the night destroys half the railway station. The next day a woman’s body is found in the rubble. But Catherine Carr didn’t die in the blaze – she’d been stabbed to death, and Harper has to find her killer.
The estranged wife of a wealthy industrialist, Catherine had been involved with the Leeds Suffragist Society, demanding votes for women, the same organization for which Harper’s wife, Annabelle, has just become a speaker. Did the husband Catherine abandoned kill her? Or were her radical politics behind her death – and can the Inspector keep Annabelle safe? When Catherine’s brother escapes from the asylum, steals a shotgun and arrives in Leeds, Harper needs to race to find the answers.

TV interview

Skin Like Silver was published in November and can be bought from Amazon

Big thanks to Chris for answering my (often silly) questions.

Wordy Wednesday's Author Interview with Carol Hedges

Hello Wordy Wednesday fans, this week I have a more mature writer to introduce to you, a fun tweeter and quite prolific writer. Carol Hedges is a tweeting pal where we moan and grumble and snark about day to day life. In her writing she is often to be found writing dark Victorian detective novels, but she blogs too. So pop over and check out Carol's blog and after you have had a read there and here you can buy a novel or two.

So we settled down on Carol's pink sofa for our chat...

When did you start writing?

I probably started writing as soon as I could write - I remember making tiny books for my toys, age about 8 (very Brontes). I was certainly writing short pieces of prose and stories by Year 7 - That's so cute - I was similar about tragic poetry but the less said about that the better


What 3 things (not including paper, computer, pens) would you like to facilitate a good days writing?

Coffee. More coffee, ooh and a piece of cake would be nice.

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?

If I wrote only when the mood struck, I'd never get anything written. I have learned after 14 novels that you sit down at the computer (usually an hour or so in the morning and then a few more hours in the afternoon) and YOU WRITE. Bum on seat,fingers on keyboard. Only way to do it. The inspiration comes as you start.

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 could never survive on writing alone. I make a couple of thousand pounds a year - and that's apparently pretty good. In the past, I taught secondary school.Currently, as I am a pensioner, I help my husband with his business, work as an invigilator at a local secondary school and tutor A and GCSE English. I don't know of ANY writers who do not have several day jobs to make ends meet. And with the ruthless discounting of books and ebooks by retailers, it is becoming even harder to survive.

What are your favourite biscuits?
Chocolate digestives - milk and plain. Then custard creams.

Where do you do most of your writing?

I have colonised the third bedroom -I have my desk, my iMac and all my bits and pieces. The window overlooks the pond, so I can stare at the fish for inspiration. I'm not one of those writers who carries a laptop around and fits in the odd 20 mins, though I do have a notebook and plan stuff in advance of writing.

What book are you reading at the moment?

I am reading The Shepherd's Crown, the very last book Terry Pratchett wrote before he died. Enjoying it, but sad as I know when I reach the end, there won't be anything else to look forward to from him. - It is so sad to lose such a great writer but we are lucky to be left with his amazing tales.


Do you use social media (facebook, twitter, instagram etc) to engage with your audience, do you think it helps sales and do you find it fun or a chore?

I LOVE social media... I have met so many great people on there (like you). I tweet @CarolJhedges and am there every day chatting, posting pics and generally having fun. I have a very active Facebook page as well and I belong to several Book Groups on Facebook.It's the only way to get yourself noticed ....though not if all you do is promote. Most of my sales come from people who've enjoyed what I post and decide to read the books on that basis.

Do you own an e-reader? and do you prefer to read digital or paper copy?

I'm a book girl. Partly my age (65) and partly my arthritic hands. I just find as I write on a screen, I prefer to relax with an actual book. And one reads books more slowly and thoroughly. And they look good on your bookshelf. I appreciate that ebooks are cheaper and you can store more on an ereader, but I just like turning pages, and underlining things, and going back to read something that I enjoyed. - I think is how many of us feel - a few books I have both in paper on e-format just in case!

Do you dream in colour?
Yes, always. I gather that it's not common but I know I do because colour is so important to me.And I can wake up, think: that was a good dream, and go back and re-run it. Weird.

If reading and writing were banned, what would you do instead?

Die. End.

What is your ideal holiday?
I'm not a great traveller and a bit anti-social when it comes to other people, so my ideal holiday would be to be locked in a library for 2 weeks with nobody else there and an ample supply of cake and coffee.

Huge thanks to Carol for taking part, I hope that you'll take a look at her vast book selection on Amazon, for only £1.99 you could be in the midst of a Victorian Crime tale in the next few minutes, and for those that prefer paper books, those are available too. Perfect gifts!

Wordy Wednesday - The Round Up Edition

So it's Wordy Wednesday and I've been treating you to author interviews since May 2015 when I first thought of it. I started it in a silly response to Wordless Wednesday posts, and because I am an author groupie and it seemed like a cunning way to meet authors, even if only online. Along the way I have met some fabulous new friends, been gifted some lovely books (real, audio and Kindle) and shared some fun questions.

Today is a round up of the fun we've had so far but this is far from the end of a series, and more author interviews will be coming soon. If you are an author or know one that would like to be featured - do get in touch.

The whole thing kicked off with an interview of Miranda Dickinson, and author with an appropriate twitter handle both for herself and for my feature!

Next I interviewed my own baby brother, now a writer of historical (and somewhat bloody) fiction, Matthew Harffy.

An interview with one of my favourite children's authors, Andy Stanton, followed. He of Mr Gum fame, a fine and funny chap (Andy, not Mr Gum, Mr Gum is a horror and a lazer)

Aimee Horton gracefully agreed to answer my silly questions in May 2015 too.

Joanne Harris, author of, among other things, the delicious Chocolat, kindly invited me to her virtual shed and agreed to chat over tea and biscuits at the beginning of June.

Ed Kendrick, newly self published author, father of lots and a good friend followed Joanne in the interview chair.

Things took an intellectual turn next when I interviewed Dr Sara Read.

I discovered a wonderful murderous and dreamy new book as well as making the acquaintance of its writer in June when I quizzed Marion Grace Woolley.

Joanne Mallon was a change from fiction writers, and she shared social media lessons with us all.

Greg Jenner also kept us on the factual path, though in a light hearted way, and managed to add his book to many Christmas lists when I interviewed him and featured his book in July.

Stephie Chapman kept us amused with a summer romance read.

Zaro Weil put up with my questions and even sent me a copy of her eco-themed childrens book.

Mary Kendrick (lovely wife of Ed) shared her answers as she continues to write and move toward her goal of being a published author.

Mike Russell shared strange answers to be strange questions ans sent me a copy of his strange book in August.

And Elaine Spires tried (and failed) not to make me jealous of her second home when she answered my questions the following week.

Rob Grimes dared to bare all (metaphorically speaking) when it was his turn in the hot seat.

The lovely and snuggly Amanda Jennings also agreed to be quizzed - her dark books are far from her lovely friendly sunny nature! It's amazing how these authors have such awesome imaginations.

Dave Turner - who is quite funny if you pay him enough, also deigned to be a featured writer at the start of September.

Laura Clay was seeking a publisher when I interrogated her in the Autumn, I wonder if she has found one yet.

Autumn continued with an interview with Michael Wombat and his 'sexy, funny and bloody' tale.

And just before Halloween I talked to Adele Yeomans about her ghostly books.

Malerie Page increased the heat of my blog with her steamy sex stories in October.

And Sam Coleman shared his neurotic parenting woes and how he dealt with them through writing.

Lauren James also had a turn in the mastermind chair, answering questions on important life questions such as "Tea or Coffee?", and adding another book to the list of books I think my daughter would enjoy.

Josh Sutton carried us into November with promises of camping and delicious food. A change for me to interview a food writer and gourmet!

Ned Alexander took time away from fighting fires to tell me (and you ) about his secret biscuit choices, as well as his books.

Rachel Ward’s first book, Numbers, was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, and it was fun to talk to her about that, and sillier issues, such as genetic animal/vegetable crosses...

We then chatted to Anna Vaught who is writing while being a mum to small boys, sounds like a task and a half!

It has been great fun talking to all these authors and sharing the interviews. I look forward to the next batch! I hope you have enjoyed them too - please support authors by reading and reviewing their books and if there are any interviews you missed over the year, do pop back and have a read. I think I may need to re visit some of these authors next year to see where a year has taken them!

DIY Emergency gifts - Post 40 Bloggers Writing Prompt

Post 40 Bloggers had a fun writing prompt this week.

Using only what is already in the house, you have been given one day to MAKE a gift for someone

Well I'm the sort of person that is always prepared, so the more I thought about it the more I realised I could rustle up something at fairly short notice. For a start we have a 'craft box' so I have all manner of odd bits and bobs like pompoms, coloured lolly sticks, pipe cleaners and coloured feathers. We have paper, card, paint, glue, felt and wool. I have a sewing machine and a laminator so the world is my oyster.

For simple gifts I could make a bookmark, designed and printed prettily on the computer or painted in watercolours and then laminated. I could make a felt bookmark, or a gorgeous felt strawberry keyring (Maggie at Red Ted Art taught me how to make one at Wilderness Festival).

DD and I are also pretty good at making a sock bunny, and in my sewing basket I still have a pair of (new) long stripey socks put aside for this purpose. So I could make a soft toy.

Super Sock Rabbit

I also have a larder full of goodies - we are notoriously overstocked in my house (prepared for a zombie apocalypse) -  so making simple fudge, peppermint creams or even a cake or biscuits would be simple!

Bacon and Maple syrup and whisky cakes

Ninjabread Gingerbread

I think I might even have some of those keyring blanks you add photos to, so I could thrill the mystery gift recipient with a picture of my face, or a cute motivational phrase printed across a sunset.

Along those lines a spare photo frame sprayed gold (fairly sure I have some paint knocking about in the garage, maybe not gold, red?) and then a printed phrase inside might be cute something like "I'm not weird, I'm special edition" in a pretty font would work too.

All in all I think I'm doing quite well for emergency gifts. I blame the years I spent as a Rainbow Guide leader..and years of Blue Peter as a child.

Could you make a gift from things you have at home now?

Wordy Wednesday with Anna Vaught

Good Morning Wordy Wednesday fans. I've been managing to find you an author a week since May and this week is no exception for here, for your delectation and delight is Anna Vaught, author of Killing Hapless Ally.

Killing Hapless Ally is a tale of an individual grappling for sanity and identity; a black comedy in which we discover how Alison, its curious protagonist, conceived in childhood an alter ego called ‘Hapless Ally’ in order to present a different, more palatable version of herself to her family and to the world beyond. Ominously, the alter ego began to develop autonomy. You learn how Alison had to deal with that: she had a lot of help from a varied catalogue of imaginary friends! The book is about serious matters: fear, confusion, dark days of depression and breakdowns. It carries with it a timely message to anyone poleaxed by depression and associated problems – or any reader interested in the windings of such things. You can, like Alison, survive and prevail. Ah, but how would you do it? If you had to – to survive – would you kill for it? Now that is an interesting question.

And so I sat Anna on the metaphorical interview chair, handed her a metaphorical cup of tea, and began the interview.

When did you start writing?
I'd self published a kitchen diary and a collection of short stories a few years ago and I've also done freelance journalism, been a blogger and guest blogger. As for my novel, well I started writing that in June 2014 and by May the following year it had found a publisher, the wonderful indie, Patrician Press. I'm also published in 'The Emma Press Anthology of the Sea' next year and I'm working on various things now: a YA, the next novel, a poetry pamphlet and a chapter book. (I know that sounds a bit mad.)

3 things (not including paper, computer, pens) would you like to facilitate a good days writing?
Big mug of tea.
Ideally, the kids need to be out BUT in fact I often wear earplugs!
Self-belief - can I have that? You know - ditching that little voice saying, 'You - YOU write a book - evil laugh...'

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?
Well, I've got three young boys, I run a business...it's when I can!

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?

The general maxim is that you need to write ten books to make it your main income, I gather! Some do it on fewer books, I know, but very few people do it without the day job. I'm a secondary English teacher, but generally I'm running my own business teaching students in small groups or one to one. It is hectic.

What are your favourite biscuits?
Jaffa cakes. (we have been down this controversial road before...)

Tea or Coffee?
Coffee first thing; tea at all other times.

Where do you do most of your writing?
At the kitchen table or in my little office. On occasion I've hidden in the shed. And it's not even a posh shed. (it seems many writers favour a shed, I know Joanne Harris has one, it is a most adventurous shed too)

Do you use social media (facebook, twitter, instagram etc) to engage with your audience, do you think it helps sales and do you find it fun or a chore?
I use twitter and I love it. I think using social media is essential. Right now, I'm building my profile. I feel a bit embarrassed; a bit exposed. But it has to be done. If I don't believe in my book and get it out there, why should others? I know from other writers - agented or unagented - that you have to put yourself out there and, yes, social media is a key part of that. Twitter's the best for engagement.

If you could genetically cross an animal with a fruit or vegetable what would you choose and why? I'm currently keen on a Squirrel Leek - purely so I could shout 'oh no, a squirrel leek!' if I saw one ..
Ooh, bit unexpected. How about a hedgehog with a rosy apple? Not very succinct. But we could call it a hedgeapple and it would be pinky-red, spiky, but very wholesome and appealing. (cute! I like this plan)

If money was no object what would you buy your favourite person for Christmas?
I would have a shepherd's hut craned into our garden and furnish it with bookshelves, rugs, a woodburner and a Roberts radio. That would be for my husband.(Lovely - when you become rich please get me one too!)

Huge thanks for answering my often off the wall questions. Good luck with you future projects. Killing Hapless Ally is out in February.

Hotter Shoes - A review of my 'Hotter Moment'

I was lucky enough to be invited to the opening of a new Hotter Shoe store in Brighton last week. I had only recently heard of Hotter Shoes at a blogging event I attended in October, but I'm not sure how they had slipped my radar as they have been around since the days of selling shoes via the back pages of Woman's Realm!

And while that may conjure up the horror of 'granny sandals' and 'comfortable walking shoes' the new and enhanced Hotter Shoes manage to retain the comfort but also throw in a huge amount of sexy style at the same time!

Along with a group of other shoe mad women bloggers I was invited to try on the shoes, explore the ranges and watch a presentation about the history and manufacture of the shoes. It was refreshing to discover a manufacturer that still makes all their shoes in the UK, and with a long history of shoe making and a passion for healthy feet it was hard to fault them! (so I didn't) . The soles of the shoes rely on lots of cushioning and bubbles, which in turn makes them feel like walking on air. For anyone on their feet all day Hotter shoes would be a godsend.

But where most 'comfy shoes' also manage to look like something prescribed by an orthopaedic surgeon in the 1950s, Hotter shoes look every inch the party shoe, the office shoe, the sexy boot. Even the heels have the comfort aspect, and had I not got weak ankles caused by Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease  I would have snapped up the sexy zipped suede boots for myself.

I did try on a few of the heeled pairs as they were so, so lovely, but sadly they were not for me. The short boots I finally chose though are perfect. They look great with skirts, leggings or trousers, are soft and light, fur lined, fit like a glove (well not a glove..a sock?) and I adore them. They even fasten with velcro (and no I'm not ancient but with my neurological condition fine motor movements and grip is affected so on a cold day this is prefect, no fiddly zips, buckles or buttons) .

There are so many styles to choose from, from sparkly party shoes, high boots and sensible 'trudging round the shops all day' shoes. Well worth a visit if you have a branch near you but if not they sell mail order (no longer via Woman's Realm magazine!) and they will happily ship shoes to America if you are reading this from far away and feeling the longing.

I am extremely happy with my Hotter shoes, I was given a pair for the purpose of review but the views expressed here are all my own. My husband has already forbidden me to keep raving about them, I'm trying to get him to come and try on some of the men's range, I'm sure he'd agree with me about how fab they are!

Ten things I love about Christmas

• Time with my family. Not everyone gets to have time off over Christmas, and this year I have to work on Boxing Day, but I do love time with my family. Visiting distant relatives is easier too as roads are less busy (assuming you drive at what is usually the rush hour) and it's lovely to sit and just be, with people you love.
• Mince pies. People get a bit weird if you eat them at other times of the year, but I do love the slightly sharp, slightly sweet, often alcohol infused, taste of a mince pie. Best made at home with homemade pastry - though I've yet to be brave enough to make my own mincemeat. (and yes American readers, it really is meat - well suet - and fruit, the tudors were big on meat and fruit, and jolly well done I say!) 
• Marzipan. Life should contain more marzipan, Christmas seems happy to take up the slack left by the rest of the year. From marzipan fruits to dark chocolate covered marzipan and marzipan on a cake...mmmm marzipan.
• Eating odd foods at odd times. Turkey leftovers for breakfast, cake for lunch, toast for tea, Christmas seems to be a time when a sudden urge to eat walnuts is acceptable. The joy of eating what you like, when you like is oddly freeing (matched only by festival living) and while one may end up over full, it's only a couple of days so I think we can risk it..another sausage roll?
• Alcohol for breakfast. Bucksfizz, drunk only on wedding mornings and Christmas. An excuse to drink cava or champagne with the strange idea that it's healthy because of the orange juice. (don't have alcohol for breakfast if you are planning to drive and visit relatives, obviously)
• Watching people open gifts. I like getting presents but I know I'm a grown up because I now genuinely prefer to see other people open their gifts. The sight of a child realising as they tear the wrapping that it's the thing they've always (for the last 6 months) wanted...priceless.
• Helping Father Christmas. Sometimes the great man can't be at every house and so it falls to us parents to take up the slack, obviously we don't have to do this every year and he sends us special instructions when we do, but creeping into a sleeping child's room, hearing them (pretending to) sleep, watching the flicker of eyelids as they dream, and then popping their gifts into a stocking, is the best feeling.

• Left overs. Related to the eating anything at anytime, but left overs are great. Bubble and squeak, refried christmas pudding (fry a slice in butter - you're welcome) , picking turkey from the bones when you nip to the fridge for more beer, I love leftovers.
• Christmas lights. I love the festive look the twinkling lights of Christmas give to a home. Once our tree is up adding a coloured warmth to the lounge I never want to take it down.

• Memories. Memories that are being made and memories of Christmases past, each year we buy a new decoration for the tree and so I remember 2 year old DD choosing a shining toy soldier or a 4 year old DD choose a tinkling ginerbreadman bell. Each Christmas stored in a memory on the tree. I look forward to more memories being created this year too. Not all memories are so happy, as we think of loved ones no longer with us, but somehow the warmth and hope of Christmas (or it may be the sherry) let's us remember the happy times we shared with them.

I hope Christmas holds much joy for you and yours. And that memories, even the sad ones,  flow as liberally as the sherry.