For The Love of Books

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 Rosie Sandler. Rosie is the author of several books including the recent Seeds of Murder published by Embla Books.


Rosie Sandler: What drives you to write?
SJ Banham: That’s an interesting question. I’m compelled to express myself through the ...
To continue reading, visit www.loveofbooks.co.uk
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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...
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From 6-10 Nov ‘23, I’m taking my latest non-fiction book, '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 East. Philippa is also a psychologist and therapist.

Philippa East: What new insights into your own writing and writing processes did you gain in the course of writing and publishing this guide for others?

SJ Banham: Some new insights came disguised as reminders.
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This week only, I've handed the reins over to fellow authors up and down the UK. They're asking me questions about my new book, 'I've Got A Pen and I'm Not Afraid To Use It: A Writing Companion' and, as you'll see from the answers, we've covered a lot!

Today, the questions were set by author Julia Stone. Julia is an author, an artist and a psychologist who writes psychological suspense: HER LITTLE SECRET, was published in 2021 by Orion Books; THE ACCIDENT in 2022. More information can be found at: linktr.ee/JuliaStone

Julia Stone: In a nutshell what is your book about?
SJ Banham: I believe the title says it all. ‘I’ve Got A Pen and I’m Not Afraid To Use It’ encourages, supports, and empowers writers, new and established. The book takes all the things I’ve learned and experienced over my career and condenses them into easy-to-read tips, anecdotes, and suggested solutions for challenges.
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Welcome, welcome, welcome!

What a month it's been. Let’s jump straight in.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock😉, I suspect you will have seen that I have a new book out. ‘I’ve Got A Pen and I’m Not Afraid To Use It: A Writing Companion.’

It’s available in e-format and paperback from this site (www.loveofbooks.co.uk) and Amazon. I hope you’ll give it some time and, if it’s not your thing, that you’ll share it with someone else.

I’ll be doing a few promotional campaigns over the next couple of weeks so if a freebie interests you, keep a look out.

Now this book has taken its first breaths, I can focus on other things. One of those is my coaching service. There are 3 programmes to suit your needs, so please check out the site for details.

If reading isn’t your thing but listening is, Season 10 of The Versatile Writer podcast is available to download now, free of charge, from anywhere you get your podcasts.

Lastly, before I dash, gift vouchers are back again this year so if you need something for the writer in your life, maybe these will help. Available in £25, £50, and £100 increments and can be used on or towards any of my services*. Ts&Cs apply.

Until next month, I wish you heaps of productive writing.
Sjb 😊

Autumn has arrived.

Welcome to this month's business blog. As you might imagine, heaps of exciting things are going on in the background, some of which I can share with you today.

Firstly, The Versatile Writer podcast is back with Season 10 on October 23rd. Do join the dedicated Facebook page www.facebook.com/groups/theversatilewriterpodcastgroup to keep up to date with news.

Secondly, a new non-fiction book is about to be released. Yay! That never gets old. More in the coming days, so do look out for news of a cover reveal on my socials.

Thirdly, as the festive season appears to be arriving fast each year, I've jumped ahead of the curve. Gift vouchers are now available so you don't need to be stuck for ideas for that special person in your life. Available in £25, £50, & £100 increments. Ts & Cs apply so check out the site for more details.

Here's wishing you a productive and successful month of writing (or reading), and I'll catch up again next month.

Bye for now
sjb :)

Summer was just here…where did it go?

As the leaves turn orange, and berries adorn the branches, I’m reminded that Autumn is almost upon us.

So, what does Autumn mean to you? For some it means the holiday season is over, that school recommences, and work is heading towards its year end goals. It might also be a reminder that you’ve got just four months left to fulfil January's resolutions!

At For The Love of Books towers (in my dreams!), I’m focusing on steering the ship in a straight line towards the remainder of 2023. In case you missed it, the business was 12 years old in August. That's a dozen years of evolving and becoming what you know it is today: a place that empowers creativity. 12 years! I'd call that a win.

As Brits, we tend to downplay wins because the idea of having attention on us feels uncomfortable, yet being seen is necessary, if excruciatingly uncomfortable at times. Telling the world of these wins and selling our wares is the only way forwards especially if we want to keep afloat (to keep this blog's nautical metaphor going). It’s true, I’ll unlikely ever make the Forbes Rich List, but what For The Love of Books has done in the last dozen years is evolve into something beautiful that’s benefitted so many writers, and I’m really proud to have started it.

I think that alone is worth celebrating.

Celebrating personal wins can really keep our mindset buoyant. Life will always get in the way. The news will always be depressing. But if you want to get that book written, increase your personal or professional development with a writing coach, or leave behind a legacy heirloom for future generations by hiring a ghost writer, there’s only one way it’s going to happen. Just do it. I’m here to help you make that magic happen.

To keep in touch with behind-the-scenes activity, and to qualify for exclusive offers, why not sign up for the free monthly newsletter? Click on the ‘Free To You’ tab and sign up now.

Until next month,

Sjb 😊

Hello,

It’s an ultra-short business blog this month I want to focus for a few moments on play, not work.

This month reminds me that, while there is plenty going on in my world of business, and interesting goings-on in the pipeline, I ought to sit back for a moment because…August is party-month!

This is for two reasons: For The Love of Books is 12 years old on 1st August, and my birthday falls in the middle of August. Therefore…Party-month!

I assure you that come September, I will be focused once again on the biz.

Until then…let’s party.

Sjb 😊

Hi,

I recently reminded myself that plans are important. They keep us focused, and they ensure stuff gets done. If we allow ourselves a day off here and there, that’s fine, but to know what you’re coming back to is a good thing. It means we don’t hit the ground running, for with that situation, things get overlooked or worse lost.

I’m sharing this because the first half of this year was crammed packed with me working on one project. Everything else had to wait. This past month, however, was all about picking up the pieces of what was waiting, and creating plans for the rest of the year.

And just like that, I’m thinking about Christmas!

One of the things that needed attention was Season 9 of my podcast, The Versatile Writer. It was planned to air in March, but that was impossible due to the timeline of the project. Instead, I decided it was best to wait until the summer. Now it’s complete and Episode 1 is due to air on July 3. It’s free to download and you can get it anywhere you get your podcasts.

Within these episodes, I focus on the writer as well as what we produce. Sometimes episodes are short and punchy, other times they are longer with a focus on more vulnerable topics that affect us all.

Over the four or five years I’ve been producing this podcast, it has noticeably evolved. Originally, it was an organic step away from my radio show yet keeping to a weekly episodic schedule. After some time, this wasn’t efficient. Then someone suggested I try a seasonal format, each one accommodating 8 episodes and, after the final episode, an eight week break until the next season. I’ve been doing this since Season 5, and we’re now on 9. This format not only worked better for my schedule and for me to produce, it also seems to be working for you too.

So, there you have it. Plans and schedules can drive us mad, but without them our focus can be lost.

Let’s see what next month brings.

sjb

Welcome one and all,

The first part of this year has been me focusing on one project. Now that’s to one side for a while, I’m able to focus on you and your writing in whatever form that takes. It might be coaching you to get your manuscript over the finish line, or help you start it. It could be hiring me to ghost write, edit, or proofread your manuscript. Maybe it’s you getting involved with my workshops and courses?

Season 9 of The Versatile Writer is taking shape and is planned to be published in July, so do subscribe to get notifications sent automatically to your. You can find more information on the podcast page.

The quarterly Writers of Essex online session is happening this Saturday 3rd June where our speaker will be covering websites for authors.

All details are on the site, so check out each page.

It’s a quick one this month. See you in July. 😊

Hey there!

You may have noticed the themes of my last two site blogs: time and productivity. Time because it passes without a care, and productivity because those of you who are like me, know if we don’t produce something, we are unhappy.

Interestingly – and this does tie in nicely – I recently posted a collage of myself over four decades. Four photos comprising of my 20s, 30, 40, and 50s. In each photo, I can say hand on heart I was writing something. Whether it was novels, short stories, nonfiction, there is evidence on my laptop that something was written.

Of course, the first two decades were about me finding my place within the writing community while my second two have been about establishing my published books, helping other writers (new and established) with theirs, and developing my now twelve-year-old business.

Many will know that at the end of my 40s (47 to be exact) I began a degree and graduated at the grand old age of 54. Mature student some say – immature student perhaps.

I’m sharing all this rather personal information because I want those of you who want to get their stories and memoirs written to do it…with my help, just as I’ve helped countless writers before.

Put simply if you don’t begin, you won’t see it complete.

From June, I’m here to help motivate you, guide you, and answer questions you didn’t even know needed asking. As you’ll note from my site, my fees have not altered for over a year. And they won’t until the end of July.

Whether you need a dedicated writing coach, participate in group coaching, require an editor for your completed MS, I’m here.

All you have to do is say yes.

Until next month, I wish you hours of productive writing.

sjb

Spring is here and, gosh, these months are flying by, aren’t they?

That sentence appears to be the main stay in most of my blogs and newsletters*. But the sentiment stands.

Although time is a human constraint, and we all enjoy the same twenty-four hours, days do seem to rush by. Perhaps it is how we fill them that makes them seem that way, and by ‘we’ I mean me. I confess, I tend to fill my days to the brim, but then I’m goal and deadline oriented. I find they focus the mind and leave no time for that dreaded procrastination (although some days it finds me and holds me captive. I’m not perfect.)

Since February, I’ve been utterly focused on writing another book. This time it’s for a traditional publisher. It’s been quite the ride so far. I have a host of independently published books under my belt, so writing one for a traditional publisher is an interesting move. My usual writing process has been reinforced somewhat because I signed a contract (ooh, serious stuff!), so I feel compelled to sit at my desk until it is complete. I’m almost there. I’m quite happy with my output.

So, my question is…how do you fill your days? Would you benefit from a bit of motivation to start or finish your book? If you like the idea of working with a writing coach, there are a few programmes on my site that give you finer details of what to expect along the way. Why not take a look? And if a monthly, less intense programme seems more you, I’m starting the Monthly Coaching Group again soon too. Just get in touch and we can discuss your specific needs.

Lastly, some of you may notice through a Facebook post that Season 9 of my podcast, The Versatile Writer, will be delayed until nearer the summer. Until then, there are eight seasons to revisit, all free of charge.

Until next month, I wish you many hours of productive writing,

Sjb😊

*Why not sign up to my free monthly newsletter? It’s filled with insider information, exclusive offers, and the odd free gift, just email sarah@loveofbooks.co.uk or sign up via www.loveofbooks.co.uk You can unsubscribe any time (with no hard feelings)

Welcome to March’s business blog.

Well, what can I tell you about For The Love of Books this month?

Behind the scenes, I’ve been working on getting a new edition of an old but loved book back out there in the world. Second editions non-fiction books are tricky little blighters. You want to include new information, but at the same time existing text still earns its place. It’s a matter of what to include. Also, times are a-changing because what suited us a decade ago won’t suit our needs now. Fortunately, there is still plenty of excitement within its pages. More on this in the coming weeks and months.

This coming weekend Saturday 4th March from midday we see another online session of Writers of Essex (kindly supported by Society of Authors) with speaker Author Julia Stone. If you want to join in but are not a SoA member, you still can. I invite those who write for fun or write professionally, but you do need strong links to Essex, UK, or live/work here. If you’d like a Zoom link, please message me or email sarah@loveofbooks.co.uk

Lastly, I want to give a big thanks to Ruth Loten et al from Brightlingsea Literary Festival for inviting me to not only write the Foreword of the BrightWords Writing Group anthology, but also for inviting me to be one of the 4 speakers last weekend. Thank you to everyone who attended.

Until next month, I wish you many hours of productive writing.

Sjb

Welcome to the first business blog of the new year.

While it’s probably a bit late to wish you a Happy New Year, I don’t think it’s too late to wish you a productive and successful ’23.

Generally, this is the time of year that engenders a fresh start. A line drawn in the sand. Many of us need it, too. The manic lead up to Christmas somehow begins in September, then fast forwards through several international holidays before we see January, by which time we begin all over again. A veritable whirlwind of ‘stuff’.

You can see how we need that line drawn in the sand now, can’t you?

January has extended its paws and pounced, making us ask, ‘So, what’s in store this year?’ A fair amount if I’m honest. But I can’t share it all because…well, that’s not very sporting, is it? I’ve got to leave some surprises for the coming months.

I will share this though. It’s a possible discussion prompt about which I’d love to hear your thoughts.

On my travels through social media, countless newsletters, and plenty of articles from business owners throughout January, I learned two things that have left me with a boggled business mind. They are:

Books by Experts are now considered business cards.
This blew my mind. Did I miss something?
In case you don’t know, this is a service usually offered by ghost writers – me included. I’ve highlighted this often. At its essence it is a book about you, your business backstory, your products/services, your awards, and your intentions for the future. All this wrapped up in the shape of a book means you can give/sell it to prospective clients so they learn a bit more about you before they sign on the dotted line.

However, I’ve never considered it a ‘business card’. You can imagine that, to fill a book, there’s a fair chunk of content included (not to mention pictures). Less summary, more intricate detail. I wouldn’t want to try tucking that in my wallet. Surely this is a topsy-turvy way of looking at things? I realise it’s a metaphor, but really…?

Okay, moving on…

Wearing pyjamas on video calls is okay.
Call me traditional, but if you’re having a business meeting via Zoom (or any other video platform), surely getting dressed is the most basic of requirements?

Many of us have worked from home since lockdown (some of us long before), and one thing that has always stood out from the perspective of a creative business owner is that how you dress – that is how you present yourself and your business - makes a difference to the impression you give a potential new client, even an existing one.

Creative business owners have been pulled up in the past for wearing clothing too bright, too colourful, with too much this, too much that, and ultimately not being taken seriously. I was one of those creative business owners that fought against that kind of attitude a decade ago. But, unless the meeting is about a PJ sales company and you’re wearing them to show the product, I cannot imagine why anyone would want to show up to work in their PJs. Isn’t that like combining a sleepover with a business call? Or being too lazy to get dressed but driving to the shops anyway?

Well, now you know my thoughts, I’d love to hear yours.

On that note, please check out my books and services. Micro and small businesses need your support now more than ever. (I’ll be dressed too).

Until the next blog,

Sjb

What a year 2022 has been. And it’s not over yet! That said, after a stressful year both personally and professionally, I’ll be winding down a bit now on the lead up to Christmas.

It’s natural this time of year to start reflecting over the previous months and see where we stand now and that’s what this blog post represents. In 2022 For the Love of Books brought you:

. a selection of new coaching services
. discounts for 999/military staff
. more seasons of The Versatile Writer podcast (free to download)
. community sessions of Writers of Essex ‘in real life’ & online (kindly supported by Society of Authors)
. a month of highlighting other authors’ books during August including James Batchelor, Lynda Taylor, Siobhan Collier and Philippa Hawley
. details of an upcoming new novel
. exclusive offers through the monthly newsletter (free to subscribe)

I’d say that was pretty good going for a micro business 😊

Lastly, Writers of Essex’s December meeting will be via Zoom on 3 Dec from 12-2pm with JonJon Jones speaking, and Season 8 of The Versatile Writer will be available from 8 December. It’s packed full with another 8 episodes of help and support for like-minded writers. There will be a break between episodes 3 and 4 for Christmas, but will resume on 9 Jan.

Thank you for your support this year. I wish you a Merry Christmas. See you in 2023.

Sjb 😊

Welcome.

As the mixed weather of October touches the frosty fingers of November, it’s time to reflect on what’s been happening in the world of For The Love of Books, and what’s intended.

More of the (2nd edition) non-fiction book has been done, which I hope to publish next year. I’ve also created half the podcast episodes for Season 8 of The Versatile Writer due in December. (These things truly take their time to create too!). I’ve also published daily business posts on social media. The engagement has been good, and I’m thankful to everyone who shows interest. I would urge you, though, to sign up soon as some discounts end in December.

I've added discounts to help, so please return that favour by supporting micro and small businesses like mine. Big thanks in advance :)

Here's what’s available:

Coaching: 24-week program, 12-week program, and a monthly coaching group
Courses: 6 different courses for beginners, and for experienced writers to recap
*Remember - professional and personal development ought never be too far from our minds*
Ghost writing, editing, and proofreading
A range of fiction and non-fiction books
Plus, a heap of freebies! Gift vouchers are available too.

In the coming weeks, I’m looking forwards to sharing some extra positive news as we wind down to the end of the year.

Until then, please check out my site www.loveofbooks.co.uk
Sarah 😊

Welcome to October's blog.

I hope your September was good to you. Ours was ridiculously busy with our daughter moving into her own place. It's natural. It's just sad not to have that extra spirit around the house. However, that's what life is about. Progression.

It's the same with creative writing. If we don't embrace progress, we don't get anywhere. In fact, just this morning I saw three crows fighting over an apple in the road. What does this have to do with writing I hear you ask. Well, for me, the three crows represent characters each after the same thing but from different perspectives. The apple represents the prize they each want, their individual motivations, and the issues each crow experiences. And, finally, the road represents the potential danger of them getting to that apple.

From the snapshot of driving by these crows who were way more interested in the apple than in the road (hence the potential danger), it instantly struck me how everybody (crows included) is driven to get what they want in life. It's progress. The crows want the apple, my daughter wants her own place, and my husband and myself want a good 'next chapter' of life now we are empty-nesters. (That bird theme just won't budge!)

So, progress appears to be the aim here. Whether progress looks like getting on with your novel/business book, signing up to a creative writing course, signing up to a coaching group etc, or even just getting out of bed each day, know that I'm here to help...(unless it is getting out of bed, in which case you might have to do it on your own!)

Lastly this month, let me remind you that until the end of the year, I'm offering a discount to military personnel (serving or retired), and 999 staff (serving or retired), so my suggestion is to jump on this discount as soon as you can.

As the nights draw in and the air is crisp, the trees change colour and animals begin hibernation, why not give some thought to your own annual progress? You'll be glad you did.

Until next month,
sjb :)

Wow, what a month it’s been both personally and professionally.

August was jam-packed! I shared with you four different Q&As in August with authors you might not have already known about, all writing is such different genres. Also, there’s a discount on the home page which lasts until the end of the year for 999 staff and military personnel (serving and retired). Season 7 of my podcast is now available with 8 episodes free to download, and I shared a surprise in my monthly newsletter. If you’ve not already subscribed, why not do it now?

I’ll keep things short this month because I’ll be taking a couple of weeks away from the desk. In the meantime, please check out my services to see if any appeal to you or someone special now autumn is on our doorstep. That lead up to the festive season tends to organize our minds somewhat so if you want to purchase a gift voucher for any of my services, NOW is the time to do it.

Until next month,

Sjb 😊

Throughout August, I’ve handed my blog over to five authors to showcase their books. This is the final week and where I interview Lynda Taylor, author of The Clouds Dance.

Lynda and I would love you to share the blog on your own social channels tagging us in. For everyone who shares and tags us both and includes my site name www.loveofbooks.co.uk, I'll send you a little 'thank you' gift, wherever you are in the world*.
*postal address will be required but, in line with UK GDPR regs, not kept. One gift per household.

Socials: Twitter: @sjbwrites
Facebook: For The Love of Books or Sarah Banham or Lynda Taylor
Linked In: Sarah Banham BA (Hons)
Instagram: @s.j.banham

1. What was it that drove you to write this story?

Before writing ‘The Clouds Dance’ (the first book in this series) I heard the minister for education suggesting that Art and Music should be dropped from the curriculum to allow more time for Maths and Science. I understood the concern about the need for more medical staff etc, but consigning these subjects to after school activities would limit those who would be able to stay after school (for example: because of transport issues) and may also lead to these being paid for by parents. This would incur costs that many would not be able to afford, leading to creative activities becoming for the elite only. I felt that the next thing to go might well be literature. Language would perhaps be seen as a functional, factual necessity with no thought for the importance of imagination. From there I had to find a reason for the banning of books. The idea that in a pandemic they may be seen as carriers of disease gave me the way in for the Authorities to use the removal of them as the beginning of a way to control what the population see, read and ultimately think/believe.

This book, ‘First the Rain Must Fall’, follows the characters from the first book, and some new ones, as they strive to free the country from the harsh rule of the Authorities.

2. How did you cope with so many characters?

I had no problem in general, but had to keep my eye on the names. Making sure I had the right character in the right group was a constant focus of attention. It was necessary to use so many because my two main characters from ‘The Clouds Dance’ are living in different parts of the country meaning they have a range of new friends. I also made the decision to use third person in this book, as I wanted to show events from more than just Matt and Sophie’s points of view.

3. Tell me about your daily writing process.

What writing daily process?! I have to admit that I am an erratic writer. I think more than I write and often forget to make notes of things that come to me. Consequently I’m sure I lose a lot of useful ideas. I always intend to be more organised.

4. What is it about MG/YA that draws you to write about it?

I read quite a lot of YA fiction and also enjoy films in that genre. Perhaps having worked as a teacher of 11-18 students kept me rooted in the kind of things we talked about and the books they enjoyed.

5. What parallels did you intend to make with the first and second books?

Really the difficulties of simply surviving: finding food and water; evading capture – remain in the sequel. I wanted to show the separate groups facing similar problems and aims that were seen in book 1.

6. What parallels were intended with your story and COVID19?

Well, both ‘The Clouds Dance’ and its sequel ‘First the Rain Must Fall’ were imagined and largely written prior to the Covid 19 events. ‘The Clouds Dance’ was published in 2019 and a 60,000-word draft of ‘First the Rain Must Fall’ was the result of NaNoWriMo in November of 2019. Any apparent parallels in the first book are purely coincidental. ‘First the Rain Must Fall’ wasn’t completed until 2021. Inevitably what was happening to us all will have had some impact on my writing, but the plan was already in place. I had an historical awareness of other pandemics and book burnings, along with many works of fiction as my guides.

7. Is MG/YA where your writing naturally sits? Why?

It seems to be where my imagination takes me most often. I would say a reluctance to properly ‘grow up’ along with a lifelong interest in survival plans keep me rooted there. I can remember being in school, I guess around 12 years old, and having to listen to a talk by some army people about what we should do if the three-minute warning came. I also enjoy ‘coming-of-age’ novels such as ‘Catcher in the Rye’. I like the idea that around the age of fifteen we become aware of what really happens in the adult world and know that we must join that world before too long.

8. Do you think you’d ever write a novel in a completely different genre? What might it be?

My first novel ‘The Sea Child’ is based on the selkie myths and is very different from my other books. Though the coming-of-age bit is still central. I would like to try other genres for a novel, but have no plans at the moment.

9. What else can we expect from you?

For the next few months I plan to work on short stories. Perhaps an idea for a novel will emerge on the way.

10. What part of the writing and publishing process do you find the most challenging and why?

The actual writing is a struggle until I am fully engaged with the plot. I write loads of notes, most of which are discarded. The publishing process is my worst nightmare though. The technology is meant to make it easy to upload the manuscript and cover, but inevitably I have to play around with layout etc..

You can find Lynda's book on Amazon. Click on this link to go to Lynda's book

Throughout August, I've turned my blog over to five authors who write in completely genres different. Each Monday, you'll read a Q&A about their latest book and writing processes.

The author and I would love you to share the blog on your own social channels and PLEASE tag us in. For everyone who shares and tags us both and includes my site name www.loveofbooks.co.uk, I'll send you a little 'thank you' gift, wherever you are in the world*.
*postal address will be required but, in line with UK GDPR regs, not kept. One gift per household.

Socials: Twitter: @sjbwrites
Facebook: For The Love of Books or Sarah Banham or Siobhan Collier
Linked In: Sarah Banham BA (Hons)
Instagram: @s.j.banham @flutterby_cupcake26

This week, the blog is with Siobhan Collier, a debut author of 'How I Got Here'.

1. Tell me why you chose Chicago as the setting.

I didn’t actually set the story in Chicago at first. Originally, the American characters lived near Las Vegas because I wanted a huge distance from England and I wanted it to feel different for Kayleigh, so she would truly be a fish out of water. But then I researched things I needed for the story and I considered the themes of the story, I knew a connection to Las Vegas wasn’t tenable. So I talked to a couple of friends who are stateside, and some of their friends, and explained the way I saw certain things within the storyline - the housing, the mix of ethnicities, certain laws that would have an undertone without being part of the story - and the Mid-West was the ideal location.

Chicago worked well because it has a similarity to London in the way it’s laid out, so instead of it being too different to what Kayleigh is used to, it has enough similarities that she can settle, but enough differences for her to note them, to jar her when she starts to feel settled.

2. Talk me through your decision to use both US English and UK English within the narrative

Because Kayleigh is fifteen, she’s still learning, and one of the things that will come up in her new lessons would be spelling and word meanings, so I wanted her progression in language to reflect that a little. I have a lot of American friends and consume a lot of their movies and shows so switching between the nuances isn’t always a conscious decision for me, and I did have some previous readers pointing out when she Americanised too early. Also my computer seemed stuck on American English so that made it easier to fight or agree with the spell check! But I think it’s a nice way to show her acceptance of her new world, and how she's making changes in her life.

3. How natural is it for you to write in the YA genre?

Fairly natural, especially when it's almost stream-of-consciousness in the narrative voice. I do believe in the adage "write what you know" but for me that doesn't necessarily mean what I've experienced in life, it's more about what you consume, and I read a lot of Becky Albertalli, Sarah Dessen, Sarah Crossan, Holly Smale, Simon James Green, David Levithan, Judy Blume, Paula Danziger, Sophie Gonzales, Katherine McGee, Patrice Lawrence, people like that.

I love YA for the depth of topics approached in the different styles - whether you're writing high fantasy, dystopian, romance, horror, the approach is always to take on those themes teenagers are just beginning to think about in an analytical way. There are so many POC, LGBT+, political, disability, socio-economic narratives within YA.

I'm always excited by a book with a fresh approach, which is what teenage readers respond to as well. As a YA author, it's just as exciting to tackle these kinds of themes as well, to consider why this character might not agree with a scene, why that character acted the way they did in their scene, how that has its impact on the narrative and the way teenagers and young adults think as a whole.

For instance, in How I Got Here, the main area Kayleigh is tackling is consent and sexualisation of a minor, and she avoids the topic for a long time before realising that maybe her perspective before was lacking the information she really needed before making the decisions she did, and how that has had an impact on her, how she can progress going forward.

4.Which characters became your favourites and why?

My favourite character is Carter, hands down. He's very forthright and confident in his perspective, but he's not cruel though he might seem that way at first. He's very vocal in my head as well, and will change a scene I've planned out, with a very cool "just trust me" after an argument with me. And strangely, when I let him lead a scene, it does work out. I quite like the dichotomy of the twins, where one comes across as kind and friendly but is actually fairly selfish, and the other is hard to crack but is kind and thoughtful behind that shell. But Carter does stand out compared to Curtis for me, and there have been drafts where I alternated between his and Kayleigh's narratives. I stripped that back to get back to the core of the story, but Carter isn't done with me yet!

I also like Becki, much like Kayleigh does. Becki was a character who I based on a couple of people I know, which isn't my usual MO. Back in my high school, there was a group of three girls, all very kind, sweet, intelligent girls. They were my acquaintances, and each others friends, but when I was coming up with the story, I really liked the idea of that constancy the girls had being a positive influence in Kayleigh's life when she had so much turmoil with friendships before. I also think it's an important theme especially in teen and YA books to have positive female friendships, and when I first drafted the story I had thought Kayleigh would end up closer to Fearn, but I could see quickly why Kayleigh gravitated more to Becki as a close female friend.

And of course I love Kayleigh. Years ago, I wrote a fanfic and had a character called Louise interacting with the ... I think it was a band? But Louise was very much the blueprint for Kayleigh. I feel like her protective older sister in a strange way, even though I am also technically the cause of her pain too. Louise had different issues, but she had the same approach as Kayleigh to handling them, and like Louise, Kayleigh finds her strength and comfort in her friends.

5. Which did you like the least and why?

I don't know if I dislike my characters. I remember sitting down, when I had Kayleigh's cousin Fiona playing a much bigger role in the story than just being someone she mentioned occasionally, and I was thinking about Fiona's motives for exploiting her younger cousin. And I got thinking about people's motivations in general, and how our perspectives of whether someone is acting in a good or bad way is linked to how their choices affect ourselves or others. No one is just good or evil, they're working to their own agendas and sometimes that makes them seem nasty, sometimes it makes them seem wonderful. But in the end, everyone is human. So saying I dislike a character almost feels like I don't understand them well, and that would make me feel like I failed them. In that perspective though, I would probably say I don't like the choices that Alex (Carter and Curtis' dad) makes, the archaic pressures he places on his sons, the way he is on the road so much but tries to dictate the way the household should be when he comes back home. I can see why each son reacts the way they do to their father, and why they might seem to come up short in his eyes, and I know there are parents like that, but he is not the parent I would want to be.

6. Will there be more from you about Kayleigh’s life going forwards?

It's definitely something I've always wanted to do! I am working on something from the universe at the moment, but it's not from Kayleigh's perspective. It's a dual narrative from the twins in the summer between the end of high school and the start (perhaps) of university. I can see at least the core characters as adults, and I don't know what those stories will look like as a defined narrative yet, but I don't think I could make this story a stand alone. I've drafted other stories, that need a lot of work still, but as I said - this world isn't done with me yet!

7. How did you cope with so many characters?

I probably did better than readers, though I hope its not too bad as a reader experience! In the earliest drafts there were a lot more characters, and a lot of subplots I gave a lot of time to, but that meant that the entire point of the story - Kayleigh coming to terms slowly with her actions of the previous couple of years - was watered down and not given the depth I wanted for it. For instance, she once had a younger brother, who I realised wouldn't work out in the story (I loved him, but he was too angry at her and wouldn't resolve those issues and I felt that stunted her growth), and as I said before, Fiona had a bigger role in previous drafts.

I felt like having a lot of characters worked for the story though, because we do come across a lot of people in different pockets of our lives, and when you're feeling overwhelmed, you do feel like there are a lot of people to deal with, to keep track of. It's a way of connecting the reader to some of what Kayleigh is feeling herself.

For me to keep track of them, I would think of them in terms of importance, when it came to the point of the story. Kayleigh's parents, her new friends, they were the important people for her to interact with. Characters like Skylar and Stacey, or Ashley, were characters I love who I wanted to support those important characters, who just weren't as relevant to what Kayleigh was experiencing as others were. And then there are characters like Curtis' other friends who were on the periphery so were people Kayleigh would have a low level of interaction with. I don't know if I explained that well, but thinking of the point of the story and the relationships between the characters helped me work out how to juggle that. I have a notebook where there are just lists of people and their connections to each other in the story, and I think that more than anything helped me get those levels of importance structured in my head.

8. One family has 6 boys, did you base them on anyone specific?

Yes, and no. I'm from a large family - the 6th of 7 - and whenever I see large families in books or on TV, they're always portrayed as harmonious and helpful with each other. It never felt realistic to me, to see these large, happy families, living on top of each other and having no issues. My own experience of a large family is that your friends and enemies can change within the family dynamic in moments. I think the way Cole interacts with his younger brothers is most similar to what I've experienced with my brothers and sisters. The twins are based both on my cousins, who used to fight when they were younger (they're fraternal/unidentical twins) and on myself and my older sister. We used to share a room, just like Carter and Curtis, and fought from being in too close quarters with each other frequently. We get along great now, but back then we were worse than Carter and Curtis!

Large families can bring a lot of differences to the forefront too, and that's what I wanted to do with the Fennigans, show that you can have big personalities like Carter, and quieter people like Callum, all come from the same place, but have very different experiences and approaches to life. But having said that, none of the brothers are based on anyone specific in terms of their personalities. They developed based on the circumstances I gave them.

9. Have you ever met anyone like Kayleigh who has moved countries?

Yes, and they're my initial inspiration for this story! When I was in year three, the local Ford plant expanded and brought over some staff from Michigan, and their kids needed a school to attend while they were in England. Two girls ended up in my class, Ashley and Lisa. I wasn't close with Ashley who was there for a year, but Lisa was one of my best friends and she stayed for three years. I remember that it was the first time I'd heard of immigrating, and I had a lot of questions. Lisa had a really strong accent too, but she was patient with me asking her to repeat things. I wanted to immigrate as well, but my parents were less enthused about that idea. It's something I wouldn't be able to do now, but my characters still can.

10. Has your son read it and if so what did he think?

He has a copy and he's read some of it, but he's just done his first couple of GCSE's and is working hard at animation projects. He likes Carter so far. My eldest niece is about the same age and has a copy, but like Noah she's been given a few GCSE's this year so has been preoccupied as well. Another, younger niece has decided she wants to be an author so we've talked about my book and her plans for her books. She's seven, so not old enough to read it yet!

You can buy Siobhan's novel via Amazon. Click this link to go to Siobhan's book