My Interviews

1. Do you have any unusual habits that either aid or detract from your writing?

I’m very easily distracted — (oh look at that shiny thing!) so a phone call to ask me out for coffee or lunch or just to hang out will nearly always find me picking up my car keys and out the door.

2. When you finish a new writing project, who is the first person you share it with?

My husband — I tell him it’s done, but he doesn’t read fiction so I then get on to two other people: my younger daughter, Olivia, as she is my first reader and fiercest critic, and a writing friend, Linda Gruchy, who is brilliant at spotting plot holes and inconsistencies.

3. When asked when they first discovered their love for writing, most people will say their childhood. So I won’t waste your time by asking something I already pretty much know the answer to. What I want to know is when you decided to go pro, instead of just writing as a hobby.

Although my first short stories for children were published in my early twenties it was another twenty years before I started getting short stories regularly accepted by women’s magazines. I did have a book for children accepted in the mid-seventies but the publisher changed direction and my book was never published. My first novel, Scuba Dancing, a romantic comedy, was published when I was 62.

4. Please share the best backhanded compliment you’ve ever received about your writing.

“It’s actually not bad,” — from a friend’s husband! Plus another, sweet one, by my elder daughter, Amelia, about my first novel, Scuba Dancing, a romantic comedy: “I loved it and got so deeply into it I forgot it was written by my mum!”

5. Name one (or more) pet peeves you have about other people’s writing. For example, I can’t stand when eyes are referred to as orbs.

I am irritated by novels written in the present tense; I rarely find it works for me.

6. Everyone has bad writing days (or weeks, or months). What do you do when you start to hate everything that you’ve written?

(See Question 1): I go out with friends or spend ages pottering round the shops. My best friend and I can spend a whole day without buying anything other than coffee — we call it research! This usually works well as my subconscious is working away on its own and I’m ready to start afresh.

7. If you could meet your characters in real life, do you think you’d get along with them?

As I’m now writing cozy murders there are one or two characters I think I’d prefer not to meet, but most of them would be fun, particularly the heroine of my Victorian series, Charlotte Richmond, as she’s an unusual and very engaging young woman, with a wicked sense of humour.

8. What is one mistake you’ve made while trying to market yourself and your book(s)? Conversely, what’s one bit of promotion you’ve done that worked out better than expected?

I was too shy to organise a book launch for my first novel and have regretted it since. The best thing has been contacting my local radio station and getting the brilliant Breakfast Show host on my side, so that he interviews me for regular updates on my publishing progress.

Last but not least, in three hundred words or less, please pimp your latest project.

MURDER FORTISSIMO

When newly retired headmistress, Harriet Quigley, needs a good rest and somewhere comfortable to recover from a hospital stay, she believes Firstone Grange will be the ideal place. Upmarket and luxurious, and perfectly run by a competent and understanding Matron, Firstone Grange seems wonderful but there’s a serpent in this Paradise and Harriet soon realises that some of the residents are very frightened. When a particularly horrific death occurs, and Harriet finds herself at risk, she calls on her clergyman cousin, the Revd Sam Hathaway, and together they attempt to discover the truth.

Reviews have called it “witty and amusing”, and “a murder mystery in the true spirit of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple,” along with the comment, ”one of the best villainesses ever written; I would say she even beats Cruella de Vil!”

It’s a traditional cozy but with a sharp edge and a lot of underlying humour, so if that appeals, and you like the idea of eccentric characters, a gruesome and inventive murder, and the odd snippet of history thrown in, Murder Fortissimo is for you. This is the first of what I hope will be a new series with the second one hopefully coming along next year.

As another reader put it, “It’s Miss Marple with balls!”

Nicola Slade, has been writing all her life, and having her short stories accepted by national magazines, but it wasn’t till six years ago that her first novel, Scuba Dancing, was published. Since then, Nicola, from Chandlers Ford, has had three further novels published: Murder Most Welcome, Death is the Cure, and Murder Fortissimo.

Nicola says that although her first novel was a romantic comedy, she believes she was always going to write mysteries. “I was brought up on Miss Marple and Miss Silver,” she says. “Along with Margery Allingham’s detective, Albert Campion, and Dorothy L Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey, they have always been part of my life, so I usually head for the Crime shelves in libraries and bookshops.”

Nicola says she writes the kind of mystery she loves to read herself — what the Americans call ‘cosy’ crime. This means that a reader can be reasonably sure that the last chapter will bring some kind of retribution and punishment for the murderer, so that Good triumphs over Evil. The convention also means that the victim is not usually a very sympathetic person, so although the murder can be brutal and the story quite dark in many ways, readers can be confident that they won’t find it all too harrowing. Besides this, Nicola says that cosy crime novels rarely tend to feature explicit sex or bad language, and there is little gratuitous violence, hence the ‘cosy’ description.

As well as devouring crime stories, Nicola was brought up with a passion for history. “My mother and grandmother were voracious readers, particularly of historical novels,” she says, “and they passed this on to me, so I think it was inevitable that I’ve ended up combining the two passions by writing mystery novels set in the 1850s.”

Nicola was brought up in Poole, Dorset and moved to Middlesex when she married her husband, Morley, a computer scientist. Since then they have lived in Surrey and in Egypt, until moving to Chandlers Ford in 1981, with their three children who all went to Thornden School. They now have eight young grandchildren, five of whom live locally. As well as writing, Nicola is a founder member of Brushstrokes art group, based in Otterbourne; she has had her paintings exhibited at the Southampton Art Gallery and at Mottisfont Abbey, as well as at other local exhibitions.

Nicola’s first two Victorian mystery novels, Murder Most Welcome and Death is the Cure, have received glowing reviews and she is currently writing a third in the series, all of which have a local setting — in this case, a fictitious version of Otterbourne. Her newest book, Murder Fortissimo, (published 31^st January 2011 by Robert Hale Ltd), is set in the present day and Nicola hopes it will be the first of a new series. Nicola says she wanted to write a traditional country house murder but felt it would be out of touch with present–day lifestyles. Instead, she has written a modern twist on the genre, setting her story in a very upmarket retirement home for convalescent and short–stay guests, all of whom arrive with some very dark secrets indeed.

1) Would you please share something about yourself?

I live right on the south coast of England, halfway between the great cruise liner port of Southampton and Winchester, the former capital of Saxon England. It’s a lovely part of the world with the sea less than 10 miles away, and the ancient New Forest, haunt of kings for a 1000 years, even closer. I’ve married a long time to a lovely engineer and our three children are grown up and married and they’ve provided us with 8 wonderful small grandchildren.

2) What are your favourite pastimes?

Well obviously I love reading and writing, and I spend a lot of time with the family, but apart from that I’m passionate about history and my husband and I like to arrange our holidays so that we can visit interesting historical sites. For a few years my best friend and I had a stall at several antiques fairs, specializing in old glass and china, as well as other pretty bits and pieces. It was great fun and we learned a lot, but we both have grandchildren who take up more of our time now, so we gave it up. There’s the writing too, and I also like to paint. On my website there are some examples of my artwork.

3) Did you always want to become a writer? How did you get into writing?

Yes I did. I think I was about six when I realized that books come out of people’s heads and decided that I would do that too! My first stories were published when I was about 23, for a children’s page in a weekly magazine for women, and after that I wrote more children’s stories until I moved into writing for women’s magazines.

4) Which are your most favourite books, which left an impression on you?

I have so many favourite books and so many that influenced me, we’d need a day to talk, I should think! I was lucky in that my mother and grandmother adored reading so I read what they read, including a lot of Victorian novels, including those by Charlotte M Yonge, who was a best-seller in her day. After that there were the schoolgirl stories: Elsie Oxenham, Elinor Brent–Dyer, moving on to Georgette Heyer. Since then there must have been hundreds, but I particularly love the books of Angela Thirkell who died in the early 1960s, and I’m also very fond of the mystery writers: Margery Allingham, Dorothy L Sayers, Patricia Wentworth, Charlotte MacLeod. Modern favourites are Terry Pratchett’s books, Lindsey Davis’s Roman detective, Falco, and dozens of others.

5) Short stories or novels — what do you enjoy writing more?

Novels, every time. Short stories can be fun, but I prefer to have time to get to know my characters really well.

6) Do you see yourself writing only for a particular genre or do you wish to experiment?

I would never be too dogmatic about it, but I like cozy crime novels — where the victim is usually someone nasty and the reader can trust the author to make sure the baddies get what they deserve! My first novel was a romantic comedy but the subsequent ones are Victorian mysteries. I have another — modern day — cozy crime that I hope will be accepted. If it is, I’d like to have two mystery series and switch between them.

7) Tell us about the books you’ve authored. What are they based on?

My first novel, Scuba Dancing, is a romantic comedy about an unusual singles group, aged between mid-thirties to mid-eighties. They get together, initially to combat loneliness, then decide to start fundraising for a particular project. The story is about what the project is and how it all works out. My books always tend to be quite funny, but there’s always a serious foundation to them.

8 ) What piece of your writing is your favourite — short story or book? Why is it special to you?

My own favourite piece of work is one of the stories on my website, The Tower Room. This was a very early acceptance by a women’s magazine, and is what convinced me I had the talent to carry on. What makes it special is that I sat down at the keyboard without a thought in my head and suddenly there it was. Not the whole story, but the setting and the bare bones. This rarely happens but when it does, it’s magic.

My favourite book by anyone else is The Pillars of the House, by Charlotte M Yonge, published in the early 1870s. I love it dearly.

9) What inspired you to write each of your three books?

It happens when a character or an idea moves into my head and gives me no peace until I explore it.

Scuba Dancing was triggered by reports of widespread loneliness in the elderly, but the story snowballed once I started writing it.

Murder Most Welcome came about because a young woman called Charlotte Richmond turned up in my head and bullied me into telling her story.

Death is the Cure is the second in what I hope will be a series about this same young woman and, without giving the story away, I knew I wanted to incorporate a famous historical mystery.

10) Are you working on any book/story at the moment? Would you like to tell us about the same?

I’m currently working on the third Charlotte Richmond story, tentatively titled: The Dead Queen’s Garden. I’m very fond of Charlotte and have plenty of ideas for more mysteries she can stumble upon. This one involves finding out about how they gardened in the 1300s and the inspiration comes from a beautiful replica garden planted in Winchester. You should be able to find it here.

My fictional garden is not the same, but that’s where the idea came from.

11) Your short stories all have a Victorian touch to them…

I can’t help it! As I said, I have a passionate interest in history and I think it was inevitable that I would set books and stories in former times. (Actually, most of my published short stories were modern ones though.)

12) What is the best thing about writing as a profession, according to you?

Not having to get dressed up and go out, I should think! I don’t write fullndash;time — it’s not my way, and I believe you need to be really living your life rather than just writing about it. But holding in your hands a book you wrote yourself, is a wonderful feeling. ******************************************

Lastly, Ms. Slade says, “Thank you so much for getting me to do this: it’s not often one actually sits down and really thinks about Why did you do this? Why that?”

Thanks a lot, Ms. Slade. It was delightful interacting with you!!

Q: When did you first start writing fiction?

A: When I was about 6! First submission (at age 22) was to the Children’s page of People’s Friend (the Scottish magazine for women). They bought three children’s stories, about a mermaid, and paid me £2 each story.

Q: Did you ever get rejection slips? If so, how did you deal with the negative aspects of this?

A: I could paper an entire house with rejection slips if I’d kept them! Dealing with rejection never gets easier and my usual reaction is: disbelief, anger, tears, glass of whisky or cup of tea according to how important the submission was to me. Eventually I pick myself up and if there were comments along with the rejection I’ll take note of them and try again. Sometimes though, it’s time to shove the work in a deep, dark drawer.

Q: What are you working on at the moment?

A: I’m a little way into my third Victorian mystery featuring young widow, Charlotte Richmond.

Q: How do you approach the writing of a new novel? What research is involved and does it take long to decide on the plot?

A: Because I’m currently writing a series I have a few main characters established and it’s a question of wondering what Charlotte is up to next. The research always starts with a rereading of my collection of Victorian novels to get myself in the mood and to tune in to the rhythms of speech.

Q: Do you struggle sometimes to find ideas? If so, what do you do to get past that point?

A: Often!  Sometimes I’ll do what I call “putting one word in front of another”, in other words forcing myself to write something — anything — just to fill the page. This usually works eventually and if I’m lucky the characters take over and tell the story.

Q: As a professional writer how do you set about planning your time? How much time do you spend actually writing? What other related tasks apart from the writing do you have to do?

A: I’m a very undisciplined writer, I procrastinate all the time. My best time for writing is in the middle of the day up to about tea time and I write in bursts of energy when the spirit moves me. Or when I’m forcing myself to write!

Q: What made you decide to write period murder stories after your first novel was published?

A: I’d already written two murder stories set in Hampshire but they had failed to find a publisher so I was interested in crime writing. I also have a passionate interest in history and love the combination of the two disciplines.

Q: What inspires you?

A: It varies. The book I’m working on at the moment was inspired by a mediaeval garden attached to the Great Hall in Winchester.

Q: Do you find it difficult to buckle down and get writing or do the words flow easily as soon as you get going?

A: I’ve said earlier that I’m a procrastinator but sometimes the words just pour out; other times they plod one at a time and very slowly.

Q: Who would you like to include in an Oscars list of those who have been your help and support to get to where you are?

A: In chronological order: my mother, my grandmother, my husband, my best friend, my younger daughter, both my publishers and my agent — and the tiny online writing group (Scribblers Inc) that I belong to.

Q: Do you have any favourite authors?

A: Dozens! 19^th century:  Jane Austen, Charlotte Yonge, Mrs Henry Wood. 20^th C: school story authors ie what are called Old Girls books, Angela Thirkell, Georgette Heyer, Margery Allingham, Patricia Wentworth, Barbara Michaels, Charlotte Macleod, Ellis Peters, Lindsey Davis, Terry Pratchett — I could go on and on!

Q: Do you envy any other published writers?

A: I’ve been published by reputable but small and independent publishers which has been great — but that means small budgets. It would be fun to be splashed all over the media!

Q: Do you find inspiration in those around you or do you go farther afield for your ideas?

A: Bit of both.

Q: Do you think enough attention is paid in education to the craft of creative writing?

A: I think it’s more important to concentrate on the basics of English grammar and sentence construction at school level. Learning the techniques of creative writing is something that can come later.

Q: Do you think that the ability to write stories is within all of us? Do you think that by learning the tools of the trade anyone can become a better writer and finally maybe get published?

A: I think all aspiring writers can benefit enormously from learning writing techniques but no, I don’t think everyone is born with the ability to write stories.  And to be honest, there are plenty of people who have no desire to do so!

Q: What do you think makes a good writer?

A: I don’t know but finding your own particular voice is a big part of it.

Q: How would you encourage other aspiring writers?

A: Just sit down and write something! Don’t worry about it, just write and when you’re ready to show someone what you’ve written find an honest critic (not a friend who will lavish praise on you) but someone who will tell you truthfully what they think.  Try submitting to an editor (competition, magazine or publisher) and most important of all, take note of what they say about your work and act on the criticisms. Perseverance and determination are the attributes a writer needs most of all.