This Week Only! ***BOOK TOUR***
08th November 2023
From 6-10 Nov ‘23, I’m taking ‘I’ve Got A Pen and I’m Not Afraid To Use It: A Writing Companion’ on a mini online book tour! I’ll be answering questions posed by authors across the UK.
Today’s Q&A is with author, Philippa Hawley. Philippa Hawley is retired GP, now a writer, based in Wivenhoe, Essex. She is the author of four contemporary novels, the latest being : ‘To Be Frank’, published 2022 by Blossom Spring Publishing. All her books can be purchased on Amazon.
Philippa Hawley: As a starting point, can you tell us a little about yourself and your writing day. Are you disciplined with a routine, or does it vary with the mood? Do you break off for multiple cups of coffee?
SJ Banham: I’ve been a writer for almost four decades now and over that time, my routine has vastly altered. For the past dozen years, I’ve been running my own business, For The Love of Books www.loveofbooks.co.uk and I’ve learned to play to my strengths.
My daily routine is reasonably fixed with every Monday being my admin day. Having that set in stone means I can focus on emails, social media and promotions. Of course mood comes into play, but essentially if I’m working on a book, fiction or non-fiction I’m pretty disciplined with that routine.
You mentioned coffee…I usually spend the first part of each day with my husband as he works from home too (completely different industry). We start the day with a ‘coffee catch up/set plans for the day’ sort of mini meeting/breakfast date that sets us up for the day.
PH: I see this writing companion is a second edition, the first edition having been published in 2014. What made you want to write a second edition? Who is it aimed at?
SJB: The title is a big give-away – I’ve Got A Pen and I’m Not Afraid To Use It – A Writing Companion - because the book is aimed at those people who want to write but find reasons not to, possibly due to lack of confidence or those who aren’t sure how they can fit it into their lives. I wanted to – then and now – empower new writers so they feel able to achieve through creative writing. I originally published it a decade ago to package all the information I’d learned over the years and frame it nicely into a book.
As you might imagine, the industry has altered greatly in that time, and I’ve learned so much more which I wanted to share. I added ‘A Writing Companion’ to the newest edition’s title because I want readers to see this as a resource as if they’re having a chat with a reassuring friend.
PH: How much has changed in this second edition? How much have you changed? Did it take you long to adapt and write it?
SJB: It took about a year to rewrite it and while some of the original content remains, there is a whole lot more included in this edition. Still written in an easy-to-read style and tone, I’ve kept some of the tips, hints, and anecdotes. I’ve added advice on the giving and receiving of feedback because this is often an overlooked aspect of the writing world, plus my thoughts on dealing with tricky literary challenges, suggestions for writing exercises, and even tips on origins of words, research, and my business services. The result means this book is packed full.
PH: I note the title remains the same in 2023 as in 2014 but the cover has changed. How important is the title, the presentation, cover and formatting of any book you produce? Is it something you like to take control of yourself?
SJB: The title gives a big hint to the tone of the book. Empowerment. It’s the reader telling the world they’ve got the tools they need to write, and nothing will stop them putting them to use.
I believe book covers are hugely important. They set the theme, the tone, and the reader's expectation. Repackaging this book with a fresher look that’s both vivacious and upbeat highlights the content. It was designed by Jessica Bell Design www.jessicabelldesign.com who created covers for my last two novels, Livin’ and Lovin’ in Texas, and Dream State.
You can talk about creative writing a hundred different ways, but when you’re imparting information, the content needs to open eyes and keep attention. This is why I write non-fiction in a chatty style because, in my experience, cracking a few jokes, being friendly, and treating the reader as an equal will engage on a more personal level and they’ll remember the information. It’s also a big part of me. There are no airs and graces, it’s down-to-earth and real. It’s how I speak, so sharing this information would be how I’d tell others.
The title, I believe, and the font/colours/size all fall into this eye-catching idea, and the content is formatted in a way that – creating white spaces between text – means readers consume in smaller, bite-sized chunks. This means it’s accessible for people (like me) who can both lose interest quickly and forget what’s being said when faced with massive blocks of text that can intimidate or bore.
PH: I am aware you write both fiction and non-fiction, which gives you the most pleasure?
SJB: I do enjoy both – and each comes from different parts of me – but I suppose my first love is fiction. I adore creating characters who I utterly believe are real people and getting them into situations I love watching them move through. I use non-fiction to give my imagination time to regenerate after writing a novel. Non-fiction also allows me to process what I’ve done and highlight the ways I did it. I believe that if I think these things, other writers will be too. For what it’s worth, this is my 13th book and, hand on heart, they’ve all been written in a different way. Variety, I suspect, is my process.
PH: What might you do for fun when you’re not writing?
SJB: I have a hugely varied life outside of writing – yet each aspect is still creative. I love crafting, photography, dressmaking, abstract painting, and watching movies. I adore nature, colours, and shapes so tend to use my photography as metaphors when making a point in a blog post.
PH: Do you have another book planned, novel or non-fiction?
SJB: I have a non-fiction book due out in 2024, and plenty of WiPs of both fiction and non-fiction, but in the meantime I want to write another novel. I’ve got several business projects on the go too which require a lot of time, so it’s really a juggling act between business and my books. That said, when a specific idea grabs me, there is little that can stop me writing.
Big thanks to Philippa for these questions. You can find 'I've Got A Pen and I'm Not Afraid To Use It: A Writing Companion' via my site www.loveofbooks.co.uk or Amazon
Amazon (Click here)
Today’s Q&A is with author, Philippa Hawley. Philippa Hawley is retired GP, now a writer, based in Wivenhoe, Essex. She is the author of four contemporary novels, the latest being : ‘To Be Frank’, published 2022 by Blossom Spring Publishing. All her books can be purchased on Amazon.
Philippa Hawley: As a starting point, can you tell us a little about yourself and your writing day. Are you disciplined with a routine, or does it vary with the mood? Do you break off for multiple cups of coffee?
SJ Banham: I’ve been a writer for almost four decades now and over that time, my routine has vastly altered. For the past dozen years, I’ve been running my own business, For The Love of Books www.loveofbooks.co.uk and I’ve learned to play to my strengths.
My daily routine is reasonably fixed with every Monday being my admin day. Having that set in stone means I can focus on emails, social media and promotions. Of course mood comes into play, but essentially if I’m working on a book, fiction or non-fiction I’m pretty disciplined with that routine.
You mentioned coffee…I usually spend the first part of each day with my husband as he works from home too (completely different industry). We start the day with a ‘coffee catch up/set plans for the day’ sort of mini meeting/breakfast date that sets us up for the day.
PH: I see this writing companion is a second edition, the first edition having been published in 2014. What made you want to write a second edition? Who is it aimed at?
SJB: The title is a big give-away – I’ve Got A Pen and I’m Not Afraid To Use It – A Writing Companion - because the book is aimed at those people who want to write but find reasons not to, possibly due to lack of confidence or those who aren’t sure how they can fit it into their lives. I wanted to – then and now – empower new writers so they feel able to achieve through creative writing. I originally published it a decade ago to package all the information I’d learned over the years and frame it nicely into a book.
As you might imagine, the industry has altered greatly in that time, and I’ve learned so much more which I wanted to share. I added ‘A Writing Companion’ to the newest edition’s title because I want readers to see this as a resource as if they’re having a chat with a reassuring friend.
PH: How much has changed in this second edition? How much have you changed? Did it take you long to adapt and write it?
SJB: It took about a year to rewrite it and while some of the original content remains, there is a whole lot more included in this edition. Still written in an easy-to-read style and tone, I’ve kept some of the tips, hints, and anecdotes. I’ve added advice on the giving and receiving of feedback because this is often an overlooked aspect of the writing world, plus my thoughts on dealing with tricky literary challenges, suggestions for writing exercises, and even tips on origins of words, research, and my business services. The result means this book is packed full.
PH: I note the title remains the same in 2023 as in 2014 but the cover has changed. How important is the title, the presentation, cover and formatting of any book you produce? Is it something you like to take control of yourself?
SJB: The title gives a big hint to the tone of the book. Empowerment. It’s the reader telling the world they’ve got the tools they need to write, and nothing will stop them putting them to use.
I believe book covers are hugely important. They set the theme, the tone, and the reader's expectation. Repackaging this book with a fresher look that’s both vivacious and upbeat highlights the content. It was designed by Jessica Bell Design www.jessicabelldesign.com who created covers for my last two novels, Livin’ and Lovin’ in Texas, and Dream State.
You can talk about creative writing a hundred different ways, but when you’re imparting information, the content needs to open eyes and keep attention. This is why I write non-fiction in a chatty style because, in my experience, cracking a few jokes, being friendly, and treating the reader as an equal will engage on a more personal level and they’ll remember the information. It’s also a big part of me. There are no airs and graces, it’s down-to-earth and real. It’s how I speak, so sharing this information would be how I’d tell others.
The title, I believe, and the font/colours/size all fall into this eye-catching idea, and the content is formatted in a way that – creating white spaces between text – means readers consume in smaller, bite-sized chunks. This means it’s accessible for people (like me) who can both lose interest quickly and forget what’s being said when faced with massive blocks of text that can intimidate or bore.
PH: I am aware you write both fiction and non-fiction, which gives you the most pleasure?
SJB: I do enjoy both – and each comes from different parts of me – but I suppose my first love is fiction. I adore creating characters who I utterly believe are real people and getting them into situations I love watching them move through. I use non-fiction to give my imagination time to regenerate after writing a novel. Non-fiction also allows me to process what I’ve done and highlight the ways I did it. I believe that if I think these things, other writers will be too. For what it’s worth, this is my 13th book and, hand on heart, they’ve all been written in a different way. Variety, I suspect, is my process.
PH: What might you do for fun when you’re not writing?
SJB: I have a hugely varied life outside of writing – yet each aspect is still creative. I love crafting, photography, dressmaking, abstract painting, and watching movies. I adore nature, colours, and shapes so tend to use my photography as metaphors when making a point in a blog post.
PH: Do you have another book planned, novel or non-fiction?
SJB: I have a non-fiction book due out in 2024, and plenty of WiPs of both fiction and non-fiction, but in the meantime I want to write another novel. I’ve got several business projects on the go too which require a lot of time, so it’s really a juggling act between business and my books. That said, when a specific idea grabs me, there is little that can stop me writing.
Big thanks to Philippa for these questions. You can find 'I've Got A Pen and I'm Not Afraid To Use It: A Writing Companion' via my site www.loveofbooks.co.uk or Amazon
Amazon (Click here)