Welcome to A VERY BRITISH BLOG TOUR 2013 – a collection of blogs, books and authors who are surprisingly very British.
Author Jenny Twist has invited me, and a hand picked group of British authors, to take part in ‘A Very British Blog’ by visiting and supporting the websites of authors involved in the tour, and who are dedicated to turning out some of the finest books available in Britain today. Each author, named at the bottom of the page, has been asked the same questions, but their answers will obviously all be different. You merely click on the author’s link at the bottom of the page to see how they have answered the same questions.
So, without further ado, here are the questions from THE VERY BRITISH WRITER, together with my answers:
Q. Where were you born and where do you live at the moment?
A. I was born in Chelsea. I now live close to the beautiful North Devon coast.
Q. Have you always lived and worked in Britain or are you based elsewhere at the moment?
A. The first three years of my life were spent living in Scotland. For the rest I've lived in and around the S.E. of England.
Q. Which is your favourite part of Britain?
I'd say the West Country. It has beautiful and varied country; the kindest climate, and life here is generally more laid-back than in other parts of Britain. You can rest your soul here in real tranquility or you can surf, fish, climb the hills, or join in the many traditional fairs and festivals. Everyone is catered for.
Q. Have you ‘highlighted’ or ‘showcased’ any particular part of Britain in your books? For example, a town or city; a county, a monument or some well-known place or event?
I haven't mentioned any part of Britain by name. However, Ridgley the maginary setting for See Through, is loosely based on a Hertfordshire town, where I once lived.
Q. There is an illusion – or myth if you wish - about British people that I would like you to discuss. Many see the ‘Brits’ as ‘stiff upper lip’. Is that correct?
I believe the 'stiff upper lip' is beginning to thaw. The older generation experienced the more traditional upbringing that encouraged a sense of 'keep calm and carry on'. Now, with travel and globalism shrinking the world, there is a softening of that attitude. particularly among the younger people. We do tend to apologise more than most and we queue orderly and put up with things for far too long. We are also generous and long suffering of other's short comings. Not a bad set of traits.
Q. Do any of the characters in your books carry the ‘stiff upper lip’? Or are they all ‘British Bulldog’ and unique in their own way?
Sean of See Through is fairly up-tight at the beginning of the story. As events career out of control and his world is turned upside down, Sean is forced to adapt his old ways of being in order to cope.
Q. Tell us about one of your recent books?
Having mentioned See Through I shall chose that one.-
Fleur, fearing that she is losing Sean to his ex, Mel, does her damnedest to become pregnant. She believes that if she can give Sean a daughter, as Mel has, she'll have a tighter hold on him. This is the start of a series of events leading to Fleur becoming invisible. Suddenly no one can see or hear her. Sean finds himself alone with the care of his wayward teenage daughter and his seven year old son. It all becomes a huge burden that he's barely able to cope with. He soon finds himself looking to other women and becoming embroiled in situations he had no intention of getting into. Meanwhile Fleur is exploring how her family behave when they don't know she's watching. She becomes very angry with Sean's philandering and resolves to put an end to it. The consequences cause much confusion, mayhem and hilarity. When Fleur reverts to her normal self once more, the couple are faced with the reality of their relationship and what their future is to be.
Q. What are you currently working on?
I began a story about two sisters and how their lives impinged on each other. I found that their back story was so interesting that I wanted to write that before I continued. Now I'm writing that and researching the husband's career as a submariner and fleshing out my characters so that I can start from the older generation first. It may stretch to two or three more books. I'll have to see how it pans out.
Q. How do you spend your leisure time?
I love the beautiful beaches that are very close to home. I like to watch and feed the birds that visit our garden. There are also wonderful walks and rides to enjoy in North Devon. Cryptic crosswords and brushing up on Maths is also something I'm doing. Maths are my weakest subject and I'm rectifying that and quite enjoying it, much to my surprise.
Q. Do you write for a local audience or a global audience?
I write from the heart and hope that it will be accessible to a wide audience.
Q. Can you provide links to your work?
See Through UK See Through US
Sari Caste UK Sari Caste US
I've invited the following British, not necessarily British-based, authors to join in the fun. Once they’ve agreed, and set up their own answers on their respective websites/blogs, then clicking on their name will take you there. Also, if you are a British author and would like to join in, please get in touch via [email protected]
Clive Eaton's Blogtour
Jenny Twist Blogtour
Lynette Sofras
Paula Martin
Lindsay Townsend
Linda Acaster
Chris Ward
Gilli Allan
Elizabeth Spradbery
Suzie Tullett
Alex Martin
So, without further ado, here are the questions from THE VERY BRITISH WRITER, together with my answers:
Q. Where were you born and where do you live at the moment?
A. I was born in Chelsea. I now live close to the beautiful North Devon coast.
Q. Have you always lived and worked in Britain or are you based elsewhere at the moment?
A. The first three years of my life were spent living in Scotland. For the rest I've lived in and around the S.E. of England.
Q. Which is your favourite part of Britain?
I'd say the West Country. It has beautiful and varied country; the kindest climate, and life here is generally more laid-back than in other parts of Britain. You can rest your soul here in real tranquility or you can surf, fish, climb the hills, or join in the many traditional fairs and festivals. Everyone is catered for.
Q. Have you ‘highlighted’ or ‘showcased’ any particular part of Britain in your books? For example, a town or city; a county, a monument or some well-known place or event?
I haven't mentioned any part of Britain by name. However, Ridgley the maginary setting for See Through, is loosely based on a Hertfordshire town, where I once lived.
Q. There is an illusion – or myth if you wish - about British people that I would like you to discuss. Many see the ‘Brits’ as ‘stiff upper lip’. Is that correct?
I believe the 'stiff upper lip' is beginning to thaw. The older generation experienced the more traditional upbringing that encouraged a sense of 'keep calm and carry on'. Now, with travel and globalism shrinking the world, there is a softening of that attitude. particularly among the younger people. We do tend to apologise more than most and we queue orderly and put up with things for far too long. We are also generous and long suffering of other's short comings. Not a bad set of traits.
Q. Do any of the characters in your books carry the ‘stiff upper lip’? Or are they all ‘British Bulldog’ and unique in their own way?
Sean of See Through is fairly up-tight at the beginning of the story. As events career out of control and his world is turned upside down, Sean is forced to adapt his old ways of being in order to cope.
Q. Tell us about one of your recent books?
Having mentioned See Through I shall chose that one.-
Fleur, fearing that she is losing Sean to his ex, Mel, does her damnedest to become pregnant. She believes that if she can give Sean a daughter, as Mel has, she'll have a tighter hold on him. This is the start of a series of events leading to Fleur becoming invisible. Suddenly no one can see or hear her. Sean finds himself alone with the care of his wayward teenage daughter and his seven year old son. It all becomes a huge burden that he's barely able to cope with. He soon finds himself looking to other women and becoming embroiled in situations he had no intention of getting into. Meanwhile Fleur is exploring how her family behave when they don't know she's watching. She becomes very angry with Sean's philandering and resolves to put an end to it. The consequences cause much confusion, mayhem and hilarity. When Fleur reverts to her normal self once more, the couple are faced with the reality of their relationship and what their future is to be.
Q. What are you currently working on?
I began a story about two sisters and how their lives impinged on each other. I found that their back story was so interesting that I wanted to write that before I continued. Now I'm writing that and researching the husband's career as a submariner and fleshing out my characters so that I can start from the older generation first. It may stretch to two or three more books. I'll have to see how it pans out.
Q. How do you spend your leisure time?
I love the beautiful beaches that are very close to home. I like to watch and feed the birds that visit our garden. There are also wonderful walks and rides to enjoy in North Devon. Cryptic crosswords and brushing up on Maths is also something I'm doing. Maths are my weakest subject and I'm rectifying that and quite enjoying it, much to my surprise.
Q. Do you write for a local audience or a global audience?
I write from the heart and hope that it will be accessible to a wide audience.
Q. Can you provide links to your work?
See Through UK See Through US
Sari Caste UK Sari Caste US
I've invited the following British, not necessarily British-based, authors to join in the fun. Once they’ve agreed, and set up their own answers on their respective websites/blogs, then clicking on their name will take you there. Also, if you are a British author and would like to join in, please get in touch via [email protected]
Clive Eaton's Blogtour
Jenny Twist Blogtour
Lynette Sofras
Paula Martin
Lindsay Townsend
Linda Acaster
Chris Ward
Gilli Allan
Elizabeth Spradbery
Suzie Tullett
Alex Martin
Please leave your comments below
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