Jeanette Hensby - 15 June 2025
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My earliest books are written under my name Jeannette Hensby and are available on Barnes and Noble, and Lulu. My latest two (by JL Hensby) are available on Amazon.I spent my working life in the public sector, managing Social Car and Health services. I have always had a very keen interest in psychology, and why people behave in the way that they do. I did not start to write and publish books until after I had retired.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
My first book was published in 2016. When l was a child, I spent a lot of time with my widowed grandmother. She used to sit and tell me stories from the past with names that meant nothing to me and although I tried my best to look interested, I struggled. She certainly got my full attention though when I was about nine years old and she told me about the murder of a 16 -year -old girl that had been committed by someone that she knew. I never forgot it, but with a very busy career and a family to look after it was never at the forefront of my mind until many years later.I was sitting with my younger sister one day in 2014 and I told her what grandma had told me and how I wished that I could find out more. A few hours later she rang me: “I’ve found the murder” she said excitedly and told me the name of the book where she had found it. I downloaded the book and waited impatiently as it loaded and then turned with great anticipation to the chapter about the crime. It was certainly the right murder because I recognised the names of those involved and it was fascinating to read about it after all these years.......until I got to the end. A man had been hanged for the crime, but it wasn’t the man that grandma had named as the murderer. I sat there in shock and horror. Had they hanged an innocent man? I told my sister that I had this feeling that I needed to do something about it but realised that I couldn’t. “Yes you can,” she said. “You could write a book about it”. “No, I couldn’t” I said but she was determined and there it was, I needed to write a book. I spent two years researching the crime and wrote about it in my first book “The Rotherham Trunk Murder”.I have found that, when I write my books, I am often contacted by people who are involved in the story in some way, and they have new and interesting things to tell me. With the Trunk Murder I was contacted by a woman who was related to the murder victim. She had had quite an unhappy childhood and had always believed that there was a murderer in her family. My book showed her that she was in fact related to the young victim and not to the murderer. (The man who was hanged in this miscarriage of justice was not in fact the murderer, but the real murderer who is named in the book was not her relative either). She and I met up and she was pleased to be able to find the grave of Irene Hart, the young victim. She tidied it up and placed flowers there. I gave her all the many pages of my research into the crime and she said that this had allowed her to trace her family tree and open her childhood for her. We became friends.The book received a lot of publicity, and the BBC wanted to include it in their series “Murder Mystery and My Family” but the programme had to include a member of the family of either the murderer or murder victim and the family member that I had met had recently died suddenly and unexpectedly. I found another family member a while later but by then the series had finished. The BBC have it still on file in case they do another series.https://www.lulu.com/shop/jeannette-hensby/the-rotherham-trunk-murder/paperback/product-yv7qkpd.html?q=the+rotherham+trunk+murder&page=1&pageSize=4
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I write only true crime, and I am particularly interested in apparent miscarriages of justice.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
It usually takes a long time to find a case that I want to write about. When I do find one, the research takes many months before I can begin to write the book.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
This excerpt is from my latest book: “The Dark Legacy. Sheffield Murders from Past to Present” which is available on Amazon. I would like to say that. although the book might be of particular interest to people living in Sheffield, I would hope that the fascinating cases will be of interest to anyone living anywhere who is interested in true crime.
How full of despair does a man have to be to murder his four children when everyone said he had loved them very much and was always kind and gentle towards them? However desperate a man does need to be, Joseph Laycock reached that point on a terrible night in 1884. He murdered his wife and children and tried to kill himself, but he survived and was taken to hospital.Here is the short excerpt:“He made the statement to one of the surgeons at the hospital. He said that he understood the fate that awaited him – that he would be hanged for the murders. He said that he and his wife had come home from the pub that night and that they were both drunk. His wife told him that she wished that she was dead and he lost his temper and cut her throat with a bread knife from the kitchen, and she died quickly. Then he went upstairs and cut the throats of his three oldest children. He took his youngest, two-year-old Joseph, on his knee and cuddled him. The child said to him “Don’t do it to me dada” but Joseph took the knife and slit the youngster’s throat before using the knife on himself and cutting his own throat. The thought of that poor young boy being cuddled by his daddy and asking his daddy not to kill him is heartbreaking beyond words.”
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F4WMZBSX/
Who is your favourite character and why?
As my books are not fiction, I don’t really think of those that I write about as “characters”. They are people who have been involved in some way with terrible tragedies. The person who stands out for me is Andrew Bagley, who I wrote about in my first book “The Rotherham Trunk Murder”. History says that he was an evil man who murdered a 16-year-old girl, but all the evidence that I uncovered shows that he was, in fact, a very good man who went to the gallows to protect the actual murderer from being executed.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Again, it would have to be “The Rotherham Trunk Murder”. It received massive international publicity including a double page spread in The Nottingham Post:An extract from the article reads:“In her fascinating first book “The Rotherham Trunk Murder” ex NHS Director Jeannette Hensby argues that Andrew Bagley, born a policeman’s son in the South Notts village of Bunny was innocent of the murder or 16-year-old Irene Hart. She examines the evidence in forensic detail, asks questions that should have been asked at his trial, exposes a scandalous appeal court cover-up and in the final chapters points an accusing finger at the person she believes was the real killer”.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
To use every opportunity, in the book you’re writing and in advertising the book, to ask readers to write an honest review of the book.
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as a person with a keen interest in people, I’m particularly interested in psychology and in what makes people tick.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I am a practising Christian and spend time helping to run a drop -in centre for the local community and I am the Information Manager at the church that I attend. As a wife, mum, grandmother, and owner of two beautiful little dogs, I can’t say that I ever find myself wondering what to do next!
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Anyone who reads my book “Was Elvis Murdered? and other True Crimes from the Dark Side of Dixie” will know that I am a lifelong fan of Elvis Presley. I would love to visit Graceland in Memphis Tennessee.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DM2RVNZV
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
We have two beautiful 4-year-old Morkie dogs who are both a delight. Both are male and from the same litter. Despite being male and neutered one of them, Seb, takes his “babies”(fluffy dog toys) out into the garden one by one at about 4 o’clock each day. How he knows the time I don’t know. If the door is opened and it’s raining he keeps them inside. When on the lead he often walks on his hind legs, and we have had people ask if they can film him as he looks very cute.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
My first book was published in 2016. When l was a child, I spent a lot of time with my widowed grandmother. She used to sit and tell me stories from the past with names that meant nothing to me and although I tried my best to look interested, I struggled. She certainly got my full attention though when I was about nine years old and she told me about the murder of a 16 -year -old girl that had been committed by someone that she knew. I never forgot it, but with a very busy career and a family to look after it was never at the forefront of my mind until many years later.I was sitting with my younger sister one day in 2014 and I told her what grandma had told me and how I wished that I could find out more. A few hours later she rang me: “I’ve found the murder” she said excitedly and told me the name of the book where she had found it. I downloaded the book and waited impatiently as it loaded and then turned with great anticipation to the chapter about the crime. It was certainly the right murder because I recognised the names of those involved and it was fascinating to read about it after all these years.......until I got to the end. A man had been hanged for the crime, but it wasn’t the man that grandma had named as the murderer. I sat there in shock and horror. Had they hanged an innocent man? I told my sister that I had this feeling that I needed to do something about it but realised that I couldn’t. “Yes you can,” she said. “You could write a book about it”. “No, I couldn’t” I said but she was determined and there it was, I needed to write a book. I spent two years researching the crime and wrote about it in my first book “The Rotherham Trunk Murder”.I have found that, when I write my books, I am often contacted by people who are involved in the story in some way, and they have new and interesting things to tell me. With the Trunk Murder I was contacted by a woman who was related to the murder victim. She had had quite an unhappy childhood and had always believed that there was a murderer in her family. My book showed her that she was in fact related to the young victim and not to the murderer. (The man who was hanged in this miscarriage of justice was not in fact the murderer, but the real murderer who is named in the book was not her relative either). She and I met up and she was pleased to be able to find the grave of Irene Hart, the young victim. She tidied it up and placed flowers there. I gave her all the many pages of my research into the crime and she said that this had allowed her to trace her family tree and open her childhood for her. We became friends.The book received a lot of publicity, and the BBC wanted to include it in their series “Murder Mystery and My Family” but the programme had to include a member of the family of either the murderer or murder victim and the family member that I had met had recently died suddenly and unexpectedly. I found another family member a while later but by then the series had finished. The BBC have it still on file in case they do another series.https://www.lulu.com/shop/jeannette-hensby/the-rotherham-trunk-murder/paperback/product-yv7qkpd.html?q=the+rotherham+trunk+murder&page=1&pageSize=4
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I write only true crime, and I am particularly interested in apparent miscarriages of justice.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
It usually takes a long time to find a case that I want to write about. When I do find one, the research takes many months before I can begin to write the book.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
This excerpt is from my latest book: “The Dark Legacy. Sheffield Murders from Past to Present” which is available on Amazon. I would like to say that. although the book might be of particular interest to people living in Sheffield, I would hope that the fascinating cases will be of interest to anyone living anywhere who is interested in true crime.
How full of despair does a man have to be to murder his four children when everyone said he had loved them very much and was always kind and gentle towards them? However desperate a man does need to be, Joseph Laycock reached that point on a terrible night in 1884. He murdered his wife and children and tried to kill himself, but he survived and was taken to hospital.Here is the short excerpt:“He made the statement to one of the surgeons at the hospital. He said that he understood the fate that awaited him – that he would be hanged for the murders. He said that he and his wife had come home from the pub that night and that they were both drunk. His wife told him that she wished that she was dead and he lost his temper and cut her throat with a bread knife from the kitchen, and she died quickly. Then he went upstairs and cut the throats of his three oldest children. He took his youngest, two-year-old Joseph, on his knee and cuddled him. The child said to him “Don’t do it to me dada” but Joseph took the knife and slit the youngster’s throat before using the knife on himself and cutting his own throat. The thought of that poor young boy being cuddled by his daddy and asking his daddy not to kill him is heartbreaking beyond words.”
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F4WMZBSX/
Who is your favourite character and why?
As my books are not fiction, I don’t really think of those that I write about as “characters”. They are people who have been involved in some way with terrible tragedies. The person who stands out for me is Andrew Bagley, who I wrote about in my first book “The Rotherham Trunk Murder”. History says that he was an evil man who murdered a 16-year-old girl, but all the evidence that I uncovered shows that he was, in fact, a very good man who went to the gallows to protect the actual murderer from being executed.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Again, it would have to be “The Rotherham Trunk Murder”. It received massive international publicity including a double page spread in The Nottingham Post:An extract from the article reads:“In her fascinating first book “The Rotherham Trunk Murder” ex NHS Director Jeannette Hensby argues that Andrew Bagley, born a policeman’s son in the South Notts village of Bunny was innocent of the murder or 16-year-old Irene Hart. She examines the evidence in forensic detail, asks questions that should have been asked at his trial, exposes a scandalous appeal court cover-up and in the final chapters points an accusing finger at the person she believes was the real killer”.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
To use every opportunity, in the book you’re writing and in advertising the book, to ask readers to write an honest review of the book.
How would you describe yourself?
I would describe myself as a person with a keen interest in people, I’m particularly interested in psychology and in what makes people tick.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I am a practising Christian and spend time helping to run a drop -in centre for the local community and I am the Information Manager at the church that I attend. As a wife, mum, grandmother, and owner of two beautiful little dogs, I can’t say that I ever find myself wondering what to do next!
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Anyone who reads my book “Was Elvis Murdered? and other True Crimes from the Dark Side of Dixie” will know that I am a lifelong fan of Elvis Presley. I would love to visit Graceland in Memphis Tennessee.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DM2RVNZV
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
We have two beautiful 4-year-old Morkie dogs who are both a delight. Both are male and from the same litter. Despite being male and neutered one of them, Seb, takes his “babies”(fluffy dog toys) out into the garden one by one at about 4 o’clock each day. How he knows the time I don’t know. If the door is opened and it’s raining he keeps them inside. When on the lead he often walks on his hind legs, and we have had people ask if they can film him as he looks very cute.
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What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I prefer to read non-fiction: True crime, biographies, conspiracies, supernatural etc.
Do you have your own website?
No, but I do have a Facebook page (Jeannette Hensby) https://www.facebook.com/jeannettehensby/
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
No. I’m taking a short break before looking for an interesting case to research and write about.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Yes, I have a countdown deal coming up on amazon starting on the 15th June. The price of, The Dark Legacy: Sheffield Murders From Past To Present, is available for just £0.99 for the first few hours of the deal. So grab it early!
I prefer to read non-fiction: True crime, biographies, conspiracies, supernatural etc.
Do you have your own website?
No, but I do have a Facebook page (Jeannette Hensby) https://www.facebook.com/jeannettehensby/
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
No. I’m taking a short break before looking for an interesting case to research and write about.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Yes, I have a countdown deal coming up on amazon starting on the 15th June. The price of, The Dark Legacy: Sheffield Murders From Past To Present, is available for just £0.99 for the first few hours of the deal. So grab it early!
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Richard Asbury - 8 June 2025
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Richard Asbury. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Richard, and share something about your life.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
My first book came about when my grandmother was in the hospital I read this fictional story called “The Shadow” by Hans Christian Anderson. I didn’t like the ending, so I created the story “The Curse of the Shadow”. That story Is a mix up of many different fairytales and it takes place during the happily ever after in “The Shadow” by Hans Christian Anderson.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I mainly write fiction.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
As someone with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), I let my imagination run wild when no one is around and brainstorm while I pretend to be the characters within my stories and enact everything. Then I write down everything that happened in my own world that my mind allows me to escape in.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Lost and FoundChapter 4 – Orphanage and Guidance
Phoenix, after getting out of the hospital, was sent to an orphanage with medication due to not having any other family members who were presently alive. Phoenix was diagnosed with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). His medication helped manage his sleep patterns and helped with regulating his emotions. He didn’t want to play or make friends with the other kids. It wasn’t because they were cruel, but because he was hardened after the events that unfolded. Evan would also be there to talk here and there. One day, while Pheonix was up in his room alone, a woman came to his room and found him lying on his back in his bed. The woman asked, “Are you ok?”Phoenix replied with a fake smile back, “I’m fine…”The woman replied, “I can tell you’re not. Mr. E informed me about what happened. I know I can’t fix what happened, but as someone who went through loss, I understand it takes time.”Pheonix morbidly asked, “Why though?... Why didn’t I just die there?”The woman responded, “I don’t have all the answers. Trust me, I wish I did. All I can say is this: Things happen for a reason. The world is very mysterious at times. The only advice I can give is you can either learn from the experience or continue to be the way you are now, still trying to piece together ‘Why you’ when you will never find out!”Phoenix asked, “Why not?”The woman responded, “Because not everything has answers. In life, it can either go to hell and back or just straight up be awful. However, in all seriousness, you need to warm up to somebody. I know Evan is here as a bodyguard for you, and he does his part well. Can you at least do me a favor and just talk to the other kids just to have someone to play with or something?” Phoenix stated, “I…I’ll try”. Pheonix then tried to warm up to the kids, but none of them got super close to him.
Who is your favourite character and why?
This is a tough one. Honestly it’s between Skipper and Thomas/Phoenix. Skipper is a character that acts as a father figure and tried to help Phoenix and open up. Phoenix is just a really good character for things I can’t say (spoilers) because his story from start to finish is a story that will be unforgettable.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
This one here was really good but honestly the two others “The Curse of the Shadow” and “The Puzzle of Excalibur” were really fun to write.
How would you describe yourself?
Someone who is determined and creative.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
Watching YouTube, playing or creating video games, drawing, and college work.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Depends on the holiday because if I had to chose a holiday I would choose Christmas in Germany due to their interesting culture with it. Germany has a unique idea of Christmas due to the belief of The Christmas Angel. I don’t remember all of the details, but it’s just something I find interesting.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I find this hard to deal with but one thing that I like from my own writing and I hope to find other stories like this too is less detail and more action and dialogue. This is because I read for a story not a description of the setting and characters that take up pages.
Do you have your own website?
Yes it’s a wix site I still need to update that though, so no link for now.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes two in fact parts two and three of this novel “Lost and Found”
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Right now I wish, but I can’t afford to have that.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
My first book came about when my grandmother was in the hospital I read this fictional story called “The Shadow” by Hans Christian Anderson. I didn’t like the ending, so I created the story “The Curse of the Shadow”. That story Is a mix up of many different fairytales and it takes place during the happily ever after in “The Shadow” by Hans Christian Anderson.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I mainly write fiction.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
As someone with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), I let my imagination run wild when no one is around and brainstorm while I pretend to be the characters within my stories and enact everything. Then I write down everything that happened in my own world that my mind allows me to escape in.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Lost and FoundChapter 4 – Orphanage and Guidance
Phoenix, after getting out of the hospital, was sent to an orphanage with medication due to not having any other family members who were presently alive. Phoenix was diagnosed with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). His medication helped manage his sleep patterns and helped with regulating his emotions. He didn’t want to play or make friends with the other kids. It wasn’t because they were cruel, but because he was hardened after the events that unfolded. Evan would also be there to talk here and there. One day, while Pheonix was up in his room alone, a woman came to his room and found him lying on his back in his bed. The woman asked, “Are you ok?”Phoenix replied with a fake smile back, “I’m fine…”The woman replied, “I can tell you’re not. Mr. E informed me about what happened. I know I can’t fix what happened, but as someone who went through loss, I understand it takes time.”Pheonix morbidly asked, “Why though?... Why didn’t I just die there?”The woman responded, “I don’t have all the answers. Trust me, I wish I did. All I can say is this: Things happen for a reason. The world is very mysterious at times. The only advice I can give is you can either learn from the experience or continue to be the way you are now, still trying to piece together ‘Why you’ when you will never find out!”Phoenix asked, “Why not?”The woman responded, “Because not everything has answers. In life, it can either go to hell and back or just straight up be awful. However, in all seriousness, you need to warm up to somebody. I know Evan is here as a bodyguard for you, and he does his part well. Can you at least do me a favor and just talk to the other kids just to have someone to play with or something?” Phoenix stated, “I…I’ll try”. Pheonix then tried to warm up to the kids, but none of them got super close to him.
Who is your favourite character and why?
This is a tough one. Honestly it’s between Skipper and Thomas/Phoenix. Skipper is a character that acts as a father figure and tried to help Phoenix and open up. Phoenix is just a really good character for things I can’t say (spoilers) because his story from start to finish is a story that will be unforgettable.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
This one here was really good but honestly the two others “The Curse of the Shadow” and “The Puzzle of Excalibur” were really fun to write.
How would you describe yourself?
Someone who is determined and creative.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
Watching YouTube, playing or creating video games, drawing, and college work.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Depends on the holiday because if I had to chose a holiday I would choose Christmas in Germany due to their interesting culture with it. Germany has a unique idea of Christmas due to the belief of The Christmas Angel. I don’t remember all of the details, but it’s just something I find interesting.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I find this hard to deal with but one thing that I like from my own writing and I hope to find other stories like this too is less detail and more action and dialogue. This is because I read for a story not a description of the setting and characters that take up pages.
Do you have your own website?
Yes it’s a wix site I still need to update that though, so no link for now.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes two in fact parts two and three of this novel “Lost and Found”
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Right now I wish, but I can’t afford to have that.
Philippa Drake - 1 June 2025
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Philippa Drake with her Emily Dickinson Award
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Philippa Drake. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Philippa and share something about your life.
My name is Philippa Drake and I am an autistic artiste who was affectionately named ‘The Scribe’ in my family because I was always scribbling on the back of cardboard that my mum saved for me from clothing packaging. I began writing poetry from the age of eight and used to design simple A4 booklets called Family Favourites. I would design a border with a yellow highlighter pen.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I self published my first poetry collection ‘Lightning Bolt’ in 2021. I already had a large poetry file on my ipad from lockdown and wanted to turn it into a book rather than leaving it mouldering on my computer.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
Generally, I write sci fi/fantasy verse but I also write Limericks and other humorous poems.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
In the past, I used to brainstorm words and write a synopsis which I would use as the basis of my poem. Now, I create a photo followed by a title and then the poem develops spontaneously.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books? My forthcoming book is called Unpeeling The Onion. Here is an extract
Onion in a cheekbone
Her gall soaked past uncoiledlike swirling, variegated ribbonsfrayed tales dappled darka varnish of crimson gleaming.Mirrored portalscapture her countenance. In sallow cheekbonesa giant onion roots.As cries of dread resoundmagic blades materialise.The pearly bulb cracksin severed, curling vapours.Aged sinews entwine verdant and feistybeneath the fragrant earth.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write? I derive tremendous pleasure from each individual book I create. However, the one I have enjoyed crafting the most is Unpeeling The Onion because it involved taking a trip down memory lane and reliving episodes in my life which I have rarely discussed with anyone. The idea came from a dream I had where I found an onion embedded in my cheek and tried chopping off the stalk and onion, forgetting of course that the roots were still stuck in my face. A reminder that while memories can fade over time, they never fully disappear.
What is the best marketing tip you have received? The best marketing tip I have received is finding the Rita Lee Chapman site and ALCS which I think will be fundamental in promoting my work as effectively as possible.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
As well as writing, I enjoy creating digital art which I am building up into an NFT portfolio. I often see strange shapes and faces in objects around me and light reflections which create the magic for these photos. I like to use them to illustrate my poetry books. too.
I also do some busking in Eastbourne town centre. It is a very subjective and challenging pastime in terms of money earned and the type of audience I perform for.
Additionally. I have an online homeware shop called Tea_for2 which can be accessed on www.zazzle.co.uk/Tea_for2 I have created a selection of mugs, magnets, tea towels, coasters and much more. I have set up a Facebook page to promote my store.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Currently, I am illustrating my first book of Limericks, Lampoon And Guffaw. This is quite a departure in genre for me because I usually concentrate on spooky themes and have a fascination for the interplay of light and darkness. However, I do have an impish, mischievous side to my character.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
When, choosing a book to read, I look for a plot line that will hook me from the outset with believable characters who I can identify with and who will draw me into their world. I particularly like novels of intrigue, suspense and enigmatic twists.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
My favourite holiday destination is Silvi Marina on the Italian Adriatic coast where I have property. It is my personal paradise. My mum chose the location in 1987 with my dad. Me and my brother had wonderful summers in Silvi with them in delightful hotels. Finally, my dad bought a flat there so we could spend longer summer holidays in the sun.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about? I have recently received the Emily Dickinson award from Bookleaf Publishing who published my poetry collection Mystic Meanderings last year after participating in their writing challenge. I also was on Hailsham FM on the 21 December last year to talk about my poetry and read some of my work. On the 14 September, I am planning to attend the Hailsham festival book fair.
My name is Philippa Drake and I am an autistic artiste who was affectionately named ‘The Scribe’ in my family because I was always scribbling on the back of cardboard that my mum saved for me from clothing packaging. I began writing poetry from the age of eight and used to design simple A4 booklets called Family Favourites. I would design a border with a yellow highlighter pen.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I self published my first poetry collection ‘Lightning Bolt’ in 2021. I already had a large poetry file on my ipad from lockdown and wanted to turn it into a book rather than leaving it mouldering on my computer.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
Generally, I write sci fi/fantasy verse but I also write Limericks and other humorous poems.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
In the past, I used to brainstorm words and write a synopsis which I would use as the basis of my poem. Now, I create a photo followed by a title and then the poem develops spontaneously.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books? My forthcoming book is called Unpeeling The Onion. Here is an extract
Onion in a cheekbone
Her gall soaked past uncoiledlike swirling, variegated ribbonsfrayed tales dappled darka varnish of crimson gleaming.Mirrored portalscapture her countenance. In sallow cheekbonesa giant onion roots.As cries of dread resoundmagic blades materialise.The pearly bulb cracksin severed, curling vapours.Aged sinews entwine verdant and feistybeneath the fragrant earth.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write? I derive tremendous pleasure from each individual book I create. However, the one I have enjoyed crafting the most is Unpeeling The Onion because it involved taking a trip down memory lane and reliving episodes in my life which I have rarely discussed with anyone. The idea came from a dream I had where I found an onion embedded in my cheek and tried chopping off the stalk and onion, forgetting of course that the roots were still stuck in my face. A reminder that while memories can fade over time, they never fully disappear.
What is the best marketing tip you have received? The best marketing tip I have received is finding the Rita Lee Chapman site and ALCS which I think will be fundamental in promoting my work as effectively as possible.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
As well as writing, I enjoy creating digital art which I am building up into an NFT portfolio. I often see strange shapes and faces in objects around me and light reflections which create the magic for these photos. I like to use them to illustrate my poetry books. too.
I also do some busking in Eastbourne town centre. It is a very subjective and challenging pastime in terms of money earned and the type of audience I perform for.
Additionally. I have an online homeware shop called Tea_for2 which can be accessed on www.zazzle.co.uk/Tea_for2 I have created a selection of mugs, magnets, tea towels, coasters and much more. I have set up a Facebook page to promote my store.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Currently, I am illustrating my first book of Limericks, Lampoon And Guffaw. This is quite a departure in genre for me because I usually concentrate on spooky themes and have a fascination for the interplay of light and darkness. However, I do have an impish, mischievous side to my character.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
When, choosing a book to read, I look for a plot line that will hook me from the outset with believable characters who I can identify with and who will draw me into their world. I particularly like novels of intrigue, suspense and enigmatic twists.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
My favourite holiday destination is Silvi Marina on the Italian Adriatic coast where I have property. It is my personal paradise. My mum chose the location in 1987 with my dad. Me and my brother had wonderful summers in Silvi with them in delightful hotels. Finally, my dad bought a flat there so we could spend longer summer holidays in the sun.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about? I have recently received the Emily Dickinson award from Bookleaf Publishing who published my poetry collection Mystic Meanderings last year after participating in their writing challenge. I also was on Hailsham FM on the 21 December last year to talk about my poetry and read some of my work. On the 14 September, I am planning to attend the Hailsham festival book fair.
Tom Lutz - 25 May 2025
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Tom Lutz. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Tom, and share something about your life.
Hello, I’m Tom Lutz, author of a dozen books, formerly of New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, and, for most of my adult life Iowa and California. I now live in Southwestern France where my wife, the writer Laurie Winer, and I run a writers’ retreat.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I was always an avid reader and always wanted to be a novelist. I started a few novels when I was in my late teens and early 20s, but I had no idea what I was doing and didn’t get very far. I was working in restaurants and in construction and playing in rock bands when I got a job cooking at a small college in the Mississippi River valley. They let me take classes for free, and there I found out about people called professors, and discovered that they read books for a living. So I got a degree in English, then a PhD, and wrote my first book in my 30s. That book was a history of the year 1903, called American Nervousness.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I very much mix it up. Since I had a job as a professor, I didn’t need the books to make money, so I was free from that pressure and could go wherever my heart desired. I wrote histories, like the 1903 book, for academic audiences, then some books for a general audience—a book about the history of crying and another on slackers and the work ethic—then some travel books. On occasion I went back to academic books, but I finally got around to the novels. My most recent is this hybrid book on 1925 that doesn’t quite fit any genre….
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
It’s always a bit of both, but even the best-laid plans, I find, evolve in ways you don’t quite predict. This latest, 1925, took many different forms over the years until I hit on its final structure. I was still adding chapters until it went to the printer.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Here is are two entries from 1925:
ALGONQUIN ROUND TABLEThe Algonquin Round Table, the fabled meeting place of the snidest, snarkiest wits in New York, was so called because they met for lunch every day at the Algonquin Hotel on 44th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues. Dorothy Parker is sometimes credited for convening it, although a press agent for Eugene O’Neill, John Peter Toohey, anxious to get his client mentioned in Alexander Woollcott’s column, seems to have organized the first lunch in 1919. The charter members, as it were, included columnists Woollcott, Franklin Pierce Adams, and Heywood Broun, critics Parker and Robert Sherwood, playwrights George Kaufman and Marc Connelly, humorists Donald Ogden Stuart and Robert Benchley, and New Yorker editor Harold Ross. But many others, like Toohey, Harpo Marx, Noel Coward, Ruth Hale, Brock and Murdock Pemberton, Edna Ferber, Alice Duer Miller, Tallulah Bankhead, Herman Mankiewicz, Jane Grant, Laurence Stallings, Margaret Leech, Norman Bel Geddes, and Eva La Gallienne joined frequently. They called themselves the Vicious Circle. It went the way of many artistic ventures and died with the market crash in 1929. Edna Ferber reported going in 1932 and finding a family from Kansas at the table. “People romanticize it,” Dorothy Parker told an Associated Press reporter in 1963, but they shouldn’t:
These were no giants. Think of who was writing in those days—Lardner, Fitzgerald, Faulkner and Hemingway. Those were the real giants. The Round Table was just a lot of people telling jokes and telling each other how good they were. Just a bunch of loudmouths showing off, saving their gags for days, waiting for a chance to spring them. “Did you hear about my remark?” “Did I tell you what I said?”. . . There was no truth in anything they said. It was the terrible day of the wisecrack.
…. LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND THE HOT FIVE Louis Armstrong began leading his first band when he was 12, and so by 1925, although only 24 years old, he’d been a bandleader or a featured soloist in someone else’s band for over a decade. A year earlier, he moved from King Oliver’s band in Chicago to Fletcher Henderson’s in New York and recorded with Henderson, Sidney Bechet, Clarence Williams, Ma Rainey, Alberta Hunter, and Bessie Smith. In 1925 he moved back to Chicago, where he formed Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five, which makes 1925 the birth of the jazz quintet and thus the birth of jazz as we know it. He recorded an average of two sides a month, and by 1926, with the release of “Heebie Jeebies,” The Hot Five was the most famous jazz band in the country, and Armstrong was recognized as the most innovative soloist. Most jazz historians say he still holds that title. Since he also recorded “St. Louis Blues” with Bessie Smith in 1925, he was also partially responsible for creating the blues as we know it, too. When those first recordings hit the streets in early 1926, “Chicago devoured them, never having heard such soloistic brilliance captured on record,” according to jazz historians Howard Reich and William Gaines:
The extraordinary ripeness of Armstrong’s tone in “Gut Bucket Blues,” the haunting, minor-key solo flights in “King of the Zulus,” and the exuberant singing on “Heebie Jeebies”—the first record to document the nonsensical syllables and made-up words that eventually were termed “scat”—inexorably changed the course of jazz.
Who is your favourite character and why?
Dmitry Heald, the villain in Born Slippy, is, I think a great evil character—a bit like Tom Ripley from the Patricia Highsmith novels, but even worse, and funnier. We love bad guys—Tony Soprano, Walter White, Billy the Kid, Bonnie & Clyde—because, I think, we enjoy seeing them demolish our taboos. Dmitry never met a taboo he didn’t want to break.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
The two novels were the most sustained fun, but in fact I enjoy all of it. When I got to academia, I found that people had a very exalted idea of their own labor, and a lack of respect for the kind of work I did before I got there. I knew the satisfaction of framing house walls, or cooking in a busy restaurant kitchen—there is a lot of pleasure in accomplishments of all kinds. I also know from my book about slackers that all the research shows that the maximum amount of work satisfaction comes from having control of your own time. Being on an assembly line gives you very little freedom, and thus less pleasure, while being your own boss increases your control and thus satisfaction. Writing, it seems to me, is the ultimate form of freedom—nobody but you can decide what you do in the next five minutes, five hours, five days.
I also realized early in my career that I can increase that sense of freedom by always working on two projects at the same time. That way, if I’m feeling at all stuck or uninspired, I can just close the file and work on the second project, maximizing the pleasure in the work. And if you aren’t enjoying the work, why write?
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
We don’t know what works, I was told, so do it all.
How would you describe yourself?
Lucky, lucky, lucky.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I now live in the French countryside, and so I spend part of each day working outside—chopping firewood, tending vegetable gardens, taking care of the five or six acres. I also built myself a little music studio in a section of the barn and spend part of each day making music. And then there is all this French food to eat and French wine to drink…..
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why? This is a tough question for me, since I have traveled an enormous amount, and have written about around 60 or 70 of the 150 countries I’ve spent time in. When people ask my favourite, it is easier for me to give list of 20 than to name one. That said, Venice in the off season, when there aren’t quite as many tourists, holds some of my fondest memories, and my next trip is to the hot springs in Northern Japan.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
We have two cats who follow my wife wherever she goes.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
For the last five years, 95% of what I read was published in 1925. I read my friends books. I read books recommended to me. I am reading Trollope now, whose work I hadn’t read before, and he is a riot. I’m also reading a series of books by Martin Walker, mysteries set in the little town closest to us. I read to nonfiction to fill in holes in my knowledge of the world that I bump into one way or another. It’s all a bit random, and luckily, I’m a literary omnivore—I eat everything, tip to tail.
Do you have your own website?
tomlutzwriter.com and frenchpresse.org
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I’m toying with the third novel in the Frank Baltimore series, and working on a philosophic text (related to my book Aimlessness), called The Cloud of Unknowing.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I will be appearing at bookstores in Paris in June and in Los Angeles in November.
Hello, I’m Tom Lutz, author of a dozen books, formerly of New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, and, for most of my adult life Iowa and California. I now live in Southwestern France where my wife, the writer Laurie Winer, and I run a writers’ retreat.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I was always an avid reader and always wanted to be a novelist. I started a few novels when I was in my late teens and early 20s, but I had no idea what I was doing and didn’t get very far. I was working in restaurants and in construction and playing in rock bands when I got a job cooking at a small college in the Mississippi River valley. They let me take classes for free, and there I found out about people called professors, and discovered that they read books for a living. So I got a degree in English, then a PhD, and wrote my first book in my 30s. That book was a history of the year 1903, called American Nervousness.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I very much mix it up. Since I had a job as a professor, I didn’t need the books to make money, so I was free from that pressure and could go wherever my heart desired. I wrote histories, like the 1903 book, for academic audiences, then some books for a general audience—a book about the history of crying and another on slackers and the work ethic—then some travel books. On occasion I went back to academic books, but I finally got around to the novels. My most recent is this hybrid book on 1925 that doesn’t quite fit any genre….
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
It’s always a bit of both, but even the best-laid plans, I find, evolve in ways you don’t quite predict. This latest, 1925, took many different forms over the years until I hit on its final structure. I was still adding chapters until it went to the printer.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Here is are two entries from 1925:
ALGONQUIN ROUND TABLEThe Algonquin Round Table, the fabled meeting place of the snidest, snarkiest wits in New York, was so called because they met for lunch every day at the Algonquin Hotel on 44th Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues. Dorothy Parker is sometimes credited for convening it, although a press agent for Eugene O’Neill, John Peter Toohey, anxious to get his client mentioned in Alexander Woollcott’s column, seems to have organized the first lunch in 1919. The charter members, as it were, included columnists Woollcott, Franklin Pierce Adams, and Heywood Broun, critics Parker and Robert Sherwood, playwrights George Kaufman and Marc Connelly, humorists Donald Ogden Stuart and Robert Benchley, and New Yorker editor Harold Ross. But many others, like Toohey, Harpo Marx, Noel Coward, Ruth Hale, Brock and Murdock Pemberton, Edna Ferber, Alice Duer Miller, Tallulah Bankhead, Herman Mankiewicz, Jane Grant, Laurence Stallings, Margaret Leech, Norman Bel Geddes, and Eva La Gallienne joined frequently. They called themselves the Vicious Circle. It went the way of many artistic ventures and died with the market crash in 1929. Edna Ferber reported going in 1932 and finding a family from Kansas at the table. “People romanticize it,” Dorothy Parker told an Associated Press reporter in 1963, but they shouldn’t:
These were no giants. Think of who was writing in those days—Lardner, Fitzgerald, Faulkner and Hemingway. Those were the real giants. The Round Table was just a lot of people telling jokes and telling each other how good they were. Just a bunch of loudmouths showing off, saving their gags for days, waiting for a chance to spring them. “Did you hear about my remark?” “Did I tell you what I said?”. . . There was no truth in anything they said. It was the terrible day of the wisecrack.
…. LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND THE HOT FIVE Louis Armstrong began leading his first band when he was 12, and so by 1925, although only 24 years old, he’d been a bandleader or a featured soloist in someone else’s band for over a decade. A year earlier, he moved from King Oliver’s band in Chicago to Fletcher Henderson’s in New York and recorded with Henderson, Sidney Bechet, Clarence Williams, Ma Rainey, Alberta Hunter, and Bessie Smith. In 1925 he moved back to Chicago, where he formed Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five, which makes 1925 the birth of the jazz quintet and thus the birth of jazz as we know it. He recorded an average of two sides a month, and by 1926, with the release of “Heebie Jeebies,” The Hot Five was the most famous jazz band in the country, and Armstrong was recognized as the most innovative soloist. Most jazz historians say he still holds that title. Since he also recorded “St. Louis Blues” with Bessie Smith in 1925, he was also partially responsible for creating the blues as we know it, too. When those first recordings hit the streets in early 1926, “Chicago devoured them, never having heard such soloistic brilliance captured on record,” according to jazz historians Howard Reich and William Gaines:
The extraordinary ripeness of Armstrong’s tone in “Gut Bucket Blues,” the haunting, minor-key solo flights in “King of the Zulus,” and the exuberant singing on “Heebie Jeebies”—the first record to document the nonsensical syllables and made-up words that eventually were termed “scat”—inexorably changed the course of jazz.
Who is your favourite character and why?
Dmitry Heald, the villain in Born Slippy, is, I think a great evil character—a bit like Tom Ripley from the Patricia Highsmith novels, but even worse, and funnier. We love bad guys—Tony Soprano, Walter White, Billy the Kid, Bonnie & Clyde—because, I think, we enjoy seeing them demolish our taboos. Dmitry never met a taboo he didn’t want to break.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
The two novels were the most sustained fun, but in fact I enjoy all of it. When I got to academia, I found that people had a very exalted idea of their own labor, and a lack of respect for the kind of work I did before I got there. I knew the satisfaction of framing house walls, or cooking in a busy restaurant kitchen—there is a lot of pleasure in accomplishments of all kinds. I also know from my book about slackers that all the research shows that the maximum amount of work satisfaction comes from having control of your own time. Being on an assembly line gives you very little freedom, and thus less pleasure, while being your own boss increases your control and thus satisfaction. Writing, it seems to me, is the ultimate form of freedom—nobody but you can decide what you do in the next five minutes, five hours, five days.
I also realized early in my career that I can increase that sense of freedom by always working on two projects at the same time. That way, if I’m feeling at all stuck or uninspired, I can just close the file and work on the second project, maximizing the pleasure in the work. And if you aren’t enjoying the work, why write?
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
We don’t know what works, I was told, so do it all.
How would you describe yourself?
Lucky, lucky, lucky.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I now live in the French countryside, and so I spend part of each day working outside—chopping firewood, tending vegetable gardens, taking care of the five or six acres. I also built myself a little music studio in a section of the barn and spend part of each day making music. And then there is all this French food to eat and French wine to drink…..
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why? This is a tough question for me, since I have traveled an enormous amount, and have written about around 60 or 70 of the 150 countries I’ve spent time in. When people ask my favourite, it is easier for me to give list of 20 than to name one. That said, Venice in the off season, when there aren’t quite as many tourists, holds some of my fondest memories, and my next trip is to the hot springs in Northern Japan.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
We have two cats who follow my wife wherever she goes.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
For the last five years, 95% of what I read was published in 1925. I read my friends books. I read books recommended to me. I am reading Trollope now, whose work I hadn’t read before, and he is a riot. I’m also reading a series of books by Martin Walker, mysteries set in the little town closest to us. I read to nonfiction to fill in holes in my knowledge of the world that I bump into one way or another. It’s all a bit random, and luckily, I’m a literary omnivore—I eat everything, tip to tail.
Do you have your own website?
tomlutzwriter.com and frenchpresse.org
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I’m toying with the third novel in the Frank Baltimore series, and working on a philosophic text (related to my book Aimlessness), called The Cloud of Unknowing.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
I will be appearing at bookstores in Paris in June and in Los Angeles in November.
Robin Alexander Eadon - 18 May 2025
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Robin Alexander Eadon. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Robin and share something about your life.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I tried to write horror stories when I was a teenager. I bought a manual typewriter and wrote like that. All of them have now been lost.I liked and read James Herbert's horror books when I was a teenager, so this was what I tried feebly to copy. I liked his rats books and all his early work. Also Stephen King.I read lots and lots of horror books at the time by all sorts of unknown to me authors.So you can gather that I liked horror.At some point I wrote a book length story about Scottish wildcats turning vicious and attacking people, just like what happened in the book, The Rats, but with wildcats. It's a pity that I don't still have that one as I liked it.I also watched a lot of horror films and wrote a book length story about an evil car. I thing it was a black Dodge Charger? Again I wish I still had it. I would say it was influenced by the book and film, Christine by Stephen King.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
At first I liked horror the most, but I also liked old British comedy films from the 1950s, 60s, 70's. All different types. From the Carry On films, to films like, School For Scoundrels with Terry-Thomas and Ian Carmichael.I really liked Terry-Thomas and in around 2004 I wrote my first adventure story with a character called, Captain Thomas, who was kind of based on Terry-Thomas.The stories are like the Enid Blyton Famous Five books, good old fashioned clean fun, that can be read by anyone of any age.So far I have written 39 of them. Some book length and others more novella length.I have also continued to write short horror stories and a series of horror books all linked together. Four of them, all very much adult horror stories, including the short horror stories.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I get an idea for a story, which may be from anywhere or anything. But I just write away, even I don't know what is going to happen or how it will end.An example is – while holidaying in Scotland and out cycling, I came across a small building with a bright red roof and this became, Captain Thomas And The Red Roofed Church.Many of the stories are set on the Norfolk Broads, since we have been a few times down there boating. Once when I was jogging in the early hours, I came across a rather gnarled old tree and the moonlight made it look very spooky. So that led to, Captain Thomas And The Spooky Tree.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
This is from my first book about Captain Thomas – The Dastardly Captain Thomas
Chapter OneMeeting Captain Thomas
“I say, hard cheese, old chap,” said Captain Thomas, as he looked at the other small boat trying to moor up against the river bank. “I'd offer to lend a hand, old fruit, but must press on.” He carried on past the other boat in his own fine vessel. Captain Thomas had a broad smile on his face as he did so. Robert attempted to bring the boat in again close to the river bank. This time he managed it, without the boat drifting out again into the flow of the river. “Quickly, Lionel,” he said. “Jump off and tie the rope to that tree stump.” Lionel leapt from the boat onto the bank and hastily tied the rope around the tree stump. He ran towards the boat and called to Joyce. “Throw me the other rope,” he said, just as she was throwing it towards him anyway. Alastair, their friendly dog barked, hoping this would make Lionel catch the rope better. He caught the rope and pulled the boat in closer to the bank, and then he tied it around a thick stout tree. He went back to the other rope and undid it, then retied it firmly in place. Lionel called to the others on the boat. “Okay, Robert, you can turn the engine off now. She's tied up good and firm.” Robert switched off the boats engine and said to Joan who was stood next to him. “We've made it.” “Yes, you did very well,” Joan said. “It was pretty awkward getting the boat to stay against the bank. It just seemed to want to drift out into the river all the time. Did you hear that awful man call out to us? Wasn't he dreadful?” “Yes,” said Robert. “I think it was him calling over at us that was making me drift away from the bank all the time. He was certainly putting me off. Still, I don't think we should be seeing any more of him. He was heading up the river, so he should get well ahead of us.” “We're here now for the night,” said Joan. “Let's see about getting some supper on.” Robert beamed broadly and said, “I think I could eat two suppers.” “I think you easily could,” said Joan. “But I don't think you should, you're getting quite a belly on you.” Robert looked at his stomach and rubbed it with his hand. “Nothing there,” he said. Joan shook her head and tutted. He was so greedy, she thought to herself. “Will you slice the bread?” Joan asked. “While I fetch Joyce to help me with the supper.” Robert nodded. “Yes. Do you want me to slice the brown or the white bread?” Joan thought for a moment. “I think you'd better slice some of each. Don't forget to butter it!” She added, and then headed out on deck to fetch Joyce. Alastair gave a bark of approval as Joan approached. Lionel was talking with Joyce. It sounded to Joan that he was discussing their mooring exploits. Alastair gave Joan's hand a long lick and she stroked him on the top of his head in return. He immediately tried to lick her hand again and Joan said, “It'll be supper time soon, Alastair.” Joyce smiled and asked, “I bet you've come to ask me to help you with the supper? I hope one of the boys is going to slice the bread?” “Robert's slicing it now. He's slicing some brown and some white. And you're right; I have come out to ask you to help me with the supper.” They both headed to the boats galley to make the supper. Lionel and Alastair followed them. Robert was just slicing the last piece of bread as all the gang came into the galley. Alastair sat and looked up at the work table. He was hoping that some spare tasty food might drop his way. Joan looked at the slices of bread Robert had cut. Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “They're a bit thick. We could use them as door stops,” she said. Robert immediately blamed the bread. “It just wouldn't let me slice it thinly. It kept breaking and squashing up. I had to cut it like that!” “I knew I should have sliced it myself,” Joan moaned. “I might have known it'd end up like this, if you had anything to do with it. Ah well, it's too late now, we'll have to use it, we can't afford to waste the bread. I think you'd better leave it to me to butter it though.” Robert muttered and went and sat down on the sofa which converted into a single bed. There was another on the opposite side of the boat. It too would convert into another single bed. This was where he and Lionel were going to sleep at nights. The two girls and Alastair were all going to share the cabin. There was a set of bunk beds in the room and a tiny built in wardrobe. There was not much space for anything else. Lionel went over to the other sofa and bent to examine it closely. “I wonder how it works?” he asked Robert. “The man who hired us the boat did show us how things worked,” Robert said. “I know he did. But he showed us that many things all at once, I couldn't keep up with everything. He was showing us how to start the boat and the throttle and things, then he was in the kitchen...” “Galley,” interrupted Robert. “Galley then. He was showing us how the stove worked, then he was in the bathroom and I just couldn't keep up with everything he was saying. Then he took us out for a short practice run in the boat and the next thing, he gave you the key for the boat and he went back to his office. It was all such a blur really.” “Yes, he was rather quick in showing us how everything worked,” Robert said. “We'll go through everything we need to work tonight, after we've finished supper. What did you think to the toilet? Wasn't it odd?” “What do you mean, odd?” asked Lionel. “Didn't you notice that either?” said Robert. “I couldn't see into the bathroom with you all stood in front of me. What was odd about it?” Robert grinned and said, “It had a pump. You have to pump it to flush it!” Lionel pulled a surprised face. “Pump it! I'll have to take a close look at that.”
Who is your favourite character and why?
My favourite character is of course, Captain Thomas.I adore Terry-Thomas, so it just felt natural that I would write a character like him. I didn't know that I would end up writing so many books about him!
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Most likely my first Captain Thomas story. Though I have enjoyed writing all of them.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
I don't think that anyone has ever given me one
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
Watching old British sitcoms and British comedy films. As well as horror films, mainly from the 60s and 70s.I like cycling a lot and a typical trip out can be anything from around twenty miles to 50 – 60 miles. I have even covered 100 miles a couple of times.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
To answer that truthfully, I just don't know?
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
When I was a very young boy, we bought a tortoiseshell coloured cat and at one point my mum couldn't work out why she looked different? In the end it turned out that I had cut off her whiskers!We now have two Morkie dogs. A cross between a Maltese and a Yorkshire Terrier.One of them likes to walk on his back legs when we are out and lots of people smile and laugh and comment when they see him doing this.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I now tend to just re-read books that I remember from being a teenager onwards. Authors such as, James Herbert, early Stephen King, Dean R Koontz, Guy N Smith etc...Not really into modern horror books.
Do you have your own website?
No.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I have another Captain Thomas book in mind with a title of – The Intrepid Four
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
No. But I do have the entire Captain Thomas adventures for sale as an ebook at LULU for just £5.99
The Thrilling Adventures Of Captain Thomas -
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I tried to write horror stories when I was a teenager. I bought a manual typewriter and wrote like that. All of them have now been lost.I liked and read James Herbert's horror books when I was a teenager, so this was what I tried feebly to copy. I liked his rats books and all his early work. Also Stephen King.I read lots and lots of horror books at the time by all sorts of unknown to me authors.So you can gather that I liked horror.At some point I wrote a book length story about Scottish wildcats turning vicious and attacking people, just like what happened in the book, The Rats, but with wildcats. It's a pity that I don't still have that one as I liked it.I also watched a lot of horror films and wrote a book length story about an evil car. I thing it was a black Dodge Charger? Again I wish I still had it. I would say it was influenced by the book and film, Christine by Stephen King.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
At first I liked horror the most, but I also liked old British comedy films from the 1950s, 60s, 70's. All different types. From the Carry On films, to films like, School For Scoundrels with Terry-Thomas and Ian Carmichael.I really liked Terry-Thomas and in around 2004 I wrote my first adventure story with a character called, Captain Thomas, who was kind of based on Terry-Thomas.The stories are like the Enid Blyton Famous Five books, good old fashioned clean fun, that can be read by anyone of any age.So far I have written 39 of them. Some book length and others more novella length.I have also continued to write short horror stories and a series of horror books all linked together. Four of them, all very much adult horror stories, including the short horror stories.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I get an idea for a story, which may be from anywhere or anything. But I just write away, even I don't know what is going to happen or how it will end.An example is – while holidaying in Scotland and out cycling, I came across a small building with a bright red roof and this became, Captain Thomas And The Red Roofed Church.Many of the stories are set on the Norfolk Broads, since we have been a few times down there boating. Once when I was jogging in the early hours, I came across a rather gnarled old tree and the moonlight made it look very spooky. So that led to, Captain Thomas And The Spooky Tree.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
This is from my first book about Captain Thomas – The Dastardly Captain Thomas
Chapter OneMeeting Captain Thomas
“I say, hard cheese, old chap,” said Captain Thomas, as he looked at the other small boat trying to moor up against the river bank. “I'd offer to lend a hand, old fruit, but must press on.” He carried on past the other boat in his own fine vessel. Captain Thomas had a broad smile on his face as he did so. Robert attempted to bring the boat in again close to the river bank. This time he managed it, without the boat drifting out again into the flow of the river. “Quickly, Lionel,” he said. “Jump off and tie the rope to that tree stump.” Lionel leapt from the boat onto the bank and hastily tied the rope around the tree stump. He ran towards the boat and called to Joyce. “Throw me the other rope,” he said, just as she was throwing it towards him anyway. Alastair, their friendly dog barked, hoping this would make Lionel catch the rope better. He caught the rope and pulled the boat in closer to the bank, and then he tied it around a thick stout tree. He went back to the other rope and undid it, then retied it firmly in place. Lionel called to the others on the boat. “Okay, Robert, you can turn the engine off now. She's tied up good and firm.” Robert switched off the boats engine and said to Joan who was stood next to him. “We've made it.” “Yes, you did very well,” Joan said. “It was pretty awkward getting the boat to stay against the bank. It just seemed to want to drift out into the river all the time. Did you hear that awful man call out to us? Wasn't he dreadful?” “Yes,” said Robert. “I think it was him calling over at us that was making me drift away from the bank all the time. He was certainly putting me off. Still, I don't think we should be seeing any more of him. He was heading up the river, so he should get well ahead of us.” “We're here now for the night,” said Joan. “Let's see about getting some supper on.” Robert beamed broadly and said, “I think I could eat two suppers.” “I think you easily could,” said Joan. “But I don't think you should, you're getting quite a belly on you.” Robert looked at his stomach and rubbed it with his hand. “Nothing there,” he said. Joan shook her head and tutted. He was so greedy, she thought to herself. “Will you slice the bread?” Joan asked. “While I fetch Joyce to help me with the supper.” Robert nodded. “Yes. Do you want me to slice the brown or the white bread?” Joan thought for a moment. “I think you'd better slice some of each. Don't forget to butter it!” She added, and then headed out on deck to fetch Joyce. Alastair gave a bark of approval as Joan approached. Lionel was talking with Joyce. It sounded to Joan that he was discussing their mooring exploits. Alastair gave Joan's hand a long lick and she stroked him on the top of his head in return. He immediately tried to lick her hand again and Joan said, “It'll be supper time soon, Alastair.” Joyce smiled and asked, “I bet you've come to ask me to help you with the supper? I hope one of the boys is going to slice the bread?” “Robert's slicing it now. He's slicing some brown and some white. And you're right; I have come out to ask you to help me with the supper.” They both headed to the boats galley to make the supper. Lionel and Alastair followed them. Robert was just slicing the last piece of bread as all the gang came into the galley. Alastair sat and looked up at the work table. He was hoping that some spare tasty food might drop his way. Joan looked at the slices of bread Robert had cut. Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “They're a bit thick. We could use them as door stops,” she said. Robert immediately blamed the bread. “It just wouldn't let me slice it thinly. It kept breaking and squashing up. I had to cut it like that!” “I knew I should have sliced it myself,” Joan moaned. “I might have known it'd end up like this, if you had anything to do with it. Ah well, it's too late now, we'll have to use it, we can't afford to waste the bread. I think you'd better leave it to me to butter it though.” Robert muttered and went and sat down on the sofa which converted into a single bed. There was another on the opposite side of the boat. It too would convert into another single bed. This was where he and Lionel were going to sleep at nights. The two girls and Alastair were all going to share the cabin. There was a set of bunk beds in the room and a tiny built in wardrobe. There was not much space for anything else. Lionel went over to the other sofa and bent to examine it closely. “I wonder how it works?” he asked Robert. “The man who hired us the boat did show us how things worked,” Robert said. “I know he did. But he showed us that many things all at once, I couldn't keep up with everything. He was showing us how to start the boat and the throttle and things, then he was in the kitchen...” “Galley,” interrupted Robert. “Galley then. He was showing us how the stove worked, then he was in the bathroom and I just couldn't keep up with everything he was saying. Then he took us out for a short practice run in the boat and the next thing, he gave you the key for the boat and he went back to his office. It was all such a blur really.” “Yes, he was rather quick in showing us how everything worked,” Robert said. “We'll go through everything we need to work tonight, after we've finished supper. What did you think to the toilet? Wasn't it odd?” “What do you mean, odd?” asked Lionel. “Didn't you notice that either?” said Robert. “I couldn't see into the bathroom with you all stood in front of me. What was odd about it?” Robert grinned and said, “It had a pump. You have to pump it to flush it!” Lionel pulled a surprised face. “Pump it! I'll have to take a close look at that.”
Who is your favourite character and why?
My favourite character is of course, Captain Thomas.I adore Terry-Thomas, so it just felt natural that I would write a character like him. I didn't know that I would end up writing so many books about him!
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Most likely my first Captain Thomas story. Though I have enjoyed writing all of them.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
I don't think that anyone has ever given me one
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
Watching old British sitcoms and British comedy films. As well as horror films, mainly from the 60s and 70s.I like cycling a lot and a typical trip out can be anything from around twenty miles to 50 – 60 miles. I have even covered 100 miles a couple of times.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
To answer that truthfully, I just don't know?
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
When I was a very young boy, we bought a tortoiseshell coloured cat and at one point my mum couldn't work out why she looked different? In the end it turned out that I had cut off her whiskers!We now have two Morkie dogs. A cross between a Maltese and a Yorkshire Terrier.One of them likes to walk on his back legs when we are out and lots of people smile and laugh and comment when they see him doing this.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I now tend to just re-read books that I remember from being a teenager onwards. Authors such as, James Herbert, early Stephen King, Dean R Koontz, Guy N Smith etc...Not really into modern horror books.
Do you have your own website?
No.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I have another Captain Thomas book in mind with a title of – The Intrepid Four
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
No. But I do have the entire Captain Thomas adventures for sale as an ebook at LULU for just £5.99
The Thrilling Adventures Of Captain Thomas -
Heather Flood - 27 April 2025
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Heather Flood. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Heather, and share something about your life.
Hi Everyone. My name is Heather Flood and I am a wife, mother and grandmother. I'm also a time traveller.One day I was talking to my granddaughter Gabrielle and she laughed when I said this. “Oh Nanna you are funny.” she chuckled.I then explained that I was born in 1948 and had travelled through time until reaching 2025. I told her that things were very different after the war, for instance, when we were on rationing.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
My first book, Mousey Mousey and The Witches' Spells, was published in 2015.I used to make up stories for Gabrielle about a lovely little lady mouse called Mousey Mousey. Other characters began to appear in my mind including Agatha, a naughty, mischievous witch, and her friends Stink Blob and Mouldy Knickers.I enjoyed reading some of the stories in the Mousey Mousey series of books at my granddaughter's school in Aldershot. I loved hearing the children laughing at the characters' funny names.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I have also written Giant Sticker Monster and Other Children's Stories, and switched genres with Purple Mist, a fantasy adventure for older children and teenagers, and, for adults, Laughs and Tears Galore – short stories and poems with twists.It was after the Mousey Mousey series that I had an idea for another character, Annique, and wrote Purple Mist. Annique was badly bullied at her school until discovering she had strange powers. She then finds that her real home is somewhere far away where she must take on a much bigger bully.More recently, I have co-written Laughs and Tears Galore with my husband Tony Flood, who is a former journalist and was Controller of Information at Sky Television.
When you write, do you start with an idea and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
Ideas just seem to pop into my head and I later spin them into a better, clearer order. I love to laugh, so humour is a big part of my writing.Tony and I bounce ideas off each other. Tony has written crime thrillers which have been recommended by best-selling author Peter James, and a celebrity book called My Life With The Stars – Sizzling Secrets Spilled, which features showbiz and sports stars he has interviewed or written about.I have become more confident in my writing due to the encouragement I have received from Tony and meeting, with him, famous people such as the late Michael Parkinson, George Best and Ben Miller, who played the first detective in Death in Paradise.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I will include a short story from Purple Mist at the end of this interview. Meanwhile, here is a poem from Laughs and Tears Galore:
Hi Everyone. My name is Heather Flood and I am a wife, mother and grandmother. I'm also a time traveller.One day I was talking to my granddaughter Gabrielle and she laughed when I said this. “Oh Nanna you are funny.” she chuckled.I then explained that I was born in 1948 and had travelled through time until reaching 2025. I told her that things were very different after the war, for instance, when we were on rationing.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
My first book, Mousey Mousey and The Witches' Spells, was published in 2015.I used to make up stories for Gabrielle about a lovely little lady mouse called Mousey Mousey. Other characters began to appear in my mind including Agatha, a naughty, mischievous witch, and her friends Stink Blob and Mouldy Knickers.I enjoyed reading some of the stories in the Mousey Mousey series of books at my granddaughter's school in Aldershot. I loved hearing the children laughing at the characters' funny names.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I have also written Giant Sticker Monster and Other Children's Stories, and switched genres with Purple Mist, a fantasy adventure for older children and teenagers, and, for adults, Laughs and Tears Galore – short stories and poems with twists.It was after the Mousey Mousey series that I had an idea for another character, Annique, and wrote Purple Mist. Annique was badly bullied at her school until discovering she had strange powers. She then finds that her real home is somewhere far away where she must take on a much bigger bully.More recently, I have co-written Laughs and Tears Galore with my husband Tony Flood, who is a former journalist and was Controller of Information at Sky Television.
When you write, do you start with an idea and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
Ideas just seem to pop into my head and I later spin them into a better, clearer order. I love to laugh, so humour is a big part of my writing.Tony and I bounce ideas off each other. Tony has written crime thrillers which have been recommended by best-selling author Peter James, and a celebrity book called My Life With The Stars – Sizzling Secrets Spilled, which features showbiz and sports stars he has interviewed or written about.I have become more confident in my writing due to the encouragement I have received from Tony and meeting, with him, famous people such as the late Michael Parkinson, George Best and Ben Miller, who played the first detective in Death in Paradise.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
I will include a short story from Purple Mist at the end of this interview. Meanwhile, here is a poem from Laughs and Tears Galore:
IF YOU LET ITa poem by Heather Flood
There's always something to wreck your day,some obstruction to mar your way,a thought to change blue skies to grey –If you let it.
There's always something to spoil your fun,disturb your mind when the day is done.A cloud that threatens to hide the sun –If you let it.
Ignore what upsets you, the stones and stings,find something good in whatever life brings.Life will surround you with wonderful things –If you let it.
There's always something to wreck your day,some obstruction to mar your way,a thought to change blue skies to grey –If you let it.
There's always something to spoil your fun,disturb your mind when the day is done.A cloud that threatens to hide the sun –If you let it.
Ignore what upsets you, the stones and stings,find something good in whatever life brings.Life will surround you with wonderful things –If you let it.
Who is your favourite character and why?
Hermione Granger from Harry Potter is such a strong character who develops into an amazing woman and is similar to Annique in Purple Mist. Of my own characters, I particularly love the mischievous witch Agatha and her sister Xenda who infuriates and embarrasses Agatha by wanting to be a fairy!
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Always remember to mention the name of your book – twice if possible when you are being interviewed. And give talks to writing groups such as Anderida Writers, to which Tony and I belong.
How would you describe yourself?
People tell me that I make them laugh when they meet me because I am fun-loving and a chatterbox. But, unlike my husband, who is a confident person, I am rather shy, and on one occasion I disappeared from Tony's side as he was about to introduce me to Colin Baker, one of the actors who played Doctor Who. Apparently, Tony said to Colin: “This is my wife, Heather”, only to find I was making a hasty exit from the theatre bar we were in.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I love singing and was a member of the Concentus Choir for several years before undergoing treatment for cancer. I also enjoy listening to music on Boom Radio, who play all the great oldies, and Box Office Radio, whose showbiz expert Bernard Bale recently interviewed Tony.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Well...let me think. I'd like to return to Italy, which has such marvellous history and beauty, particularly Rome, Pompeii and Venice.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I have had some wonderful pets and spend a lot of time talking to my cat Pixie, Rosie, Tinkerbell - names chosen by my grandchildren. Once, when I was talking to Pixie in the garden, the next-door neighbour thought I was speaking to them and answered me twice! We both had a good laugh.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I am usually influenced by endorsements and reviews so I am very grateful to those who have kindly endorsed and reviewed my books. I love an adventure story, and at the moment I am reading the children's series Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend. The next installment will be published in May. I also enjoyed the series The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley, who has sadly passed away. She was a great fiction writer.
Do you have your own website?
Tony and I share two websites where most of our books are available for £1.77 for the e-versions and less than £6 for the paperback. They are also available by going to Amazon.co.uk and entering Heather Flood in the search box. The links to our websites are:https://www.fantasyadventurebooks.com/ https://www.celebritiesconfessions.com/
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I have an idea for one, but have not started it yet as I am busy writing my life story for my granddaughter. This Christmas she sent me a lovely book. On the cover it read DEAR NANA FROM YOU TO ME. A JOURNAL OF YOUR LIFETIME. The note inside said 'please write down your real-life adventures'. And, of course, I start them with “I'm a Time traveller.”
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
My books and Tony's books will be promoted and sold at a special event called Songs & Secrets of Elvis, Marilyn and Kylie at the Grove Theatre (underneath Eastbourne Library) on Saturday, May 10th from 2 pm. Popular singing duo Stardust will be singing songs by Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Kylie Minogue, while Tony will tell amusing anecdotes and reveal secrets about these and other legends from his celebrity book My Life With The Stars – Sizzling Secrets Spilled! Tickets, priced just £9.50, are available from The Grove Theatre at https://www.groveeastbourne.com/events/songs-and-secrets-of-elvis-marilyn-and-kylie/
EXTRACT FROM PURPLE MISTby Heather Flood
CHAPTER ONE My name is Annique Sheldon. I considered myself to be an ordinary schoolgirl until incredible things began to happen and my worst nightmares started to come true.
My whole world was changed beyond belief on my thirteenth birthday. But let me turn back the clock to four years earlier - the day I discovered I had special powers.
I was hurrying home from school along a country lane in Chobham, Surrey, trying to avoid my three tormentors, Fizz, Stacie and Nicola.
Nicola and I had been friends for a while, but when Fizz joined our class everything changed. Fizz was a bully and soon got Nicola and Stacie to join her in picking on other pupils – usually me!
I no longer had any friends because these three horrid girls would be nasty to anyone they saw speaking to me. Their favourite trick was to call me names.
Determined to ignore them, I continued on my way home, but Fizz grabbed my bag and ripped it off my shoulder, while Stacie and Nicola cheered her on. She swung it violently and the bag, containing all my school books, thudded against my head.I staggered backwards, rubbing the painful spot above my left ear.
“You're ugly, Antique Sheldon. You've got strange purple eyes and you smell of fish,” taunted this tall, thin, squint-eyed girl, who liked nothing better than to make my life hell.
It amused Fizz to ridicule me and call me 'Antique' instead of 'Annique'. I hated her and the snotty-nosed Stacie and pimply Nicola. The spots on Nicola's chin always looked like they would burst at any minute - it was a disgusting sight.
Fizz - that was her nick-name because she preferred it to Felicity - did not care about my pain. Instead of stopping this uncalled for attack, she poked me hard in the chest with one of her bony fingers. The other two joined in, pushing and shoving, until I fell, hitting my head on the ground. The throbbing was so bad that I thought I was going to be sick.
When I looked up Fizz was holding my bag. “There's only junk in here - I'll be doing you a favour if I empty it on the ground,” she gloated, starting to unzip it.
“Don't do that,” I yelled, trying to stop her but my head ached so much that my eyes began to water.
“Ow, look, poor little Antique is crying,” scoffed Fizz.
As my eyes cleared, the feelings of pain and humiliation gave way to an all-consuming anger. I glared at her and a strange purple mist appeared in front of me. Fizz, suddenly surrounded by the mist, was lifted off the ground. She dropped the bag as she began to float into the air, screaming.
“What yer doing up there?” Nicola screeched, seeing her friend rise higher and higher until she hovered above our heads.
“Nufink, stupid - get me down!” Spinning around in the mist, her arms flapping in panic, Fizz shouted: “Help me!”
Stacie leapt in a vain effort to grab hold of one of her friend's legs. Climbing to my feet, I rushed over to help as the airborne girl continued to wave her arms like a large bird.
Another searing pain behind my eyes caused me to blink. In that instant, she dropped several feet. I recovered sufficiently to tug at Fizz's coat, helping Stacie to pull her down. She landed with a thud in the mud on the wet grass verge.
“Leave me alone, you freak,” Fizz shouted at me, climbing to her feet. “Did you do that?”
“No...I don't think so,” I mumbled. But my hesitant answer obviously didn't convince Fizz.
“I'll get you for this, Antique. I'll make you suffer.”
I picked up my bag and ran as fast as I could the rest of the way home, crashing through the red front gate to my small terraced house. Fumbling in my bag for the door key, I pushed it into the lock, tripped over the step, slammed the door behind me, and rushed up the stairs to my room. I threw myself onto the bed and pulled the duvet up over my head.
Stella, my mother, called to me from downstairs, but I was too afraid to get off the bed as my legs felt like jelly.
My heart thumped in my chest as I went over what had just happened. Was it really me who'd created the purple mist and made Fizz float up into the air? Maybe they were right: I was a freak.
Hermione Granger from Harry Potter is such a strong character who develops into an amazing woman and is similar to Annique in Purple Mist. Of my own characters, I particularly love the mischievous witch Agatha and her sister Xenda who infuriates and embarrasses Agatha by wanting to be a fairy!
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
Always remember to mention the name of your book – twice if possible when you are being interviewed. And give talks to writing groups such as Anderida Writers, to which Tony and I belong.
How would you describe yourself?
People tell me that I make them laugh when they meet me because I am fun-loving and a chatterbox. But, unlike my husband, who is a confident person, I am rather shy, and on one occasion I disappeared from Tony's side as he was about to introduce me to Colin Baker, one of the actors who played Doctor Who. Apparently, Tony said to Colin: “This is my wife, Heather”, only to find I was making a hasty exit from the theatre bar we were in.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
I love singing and was a member of the Concentus Choir for several years before undergoing treatment for cancer. I also enjoy listening to music on Boom Radio, who play all the great oldies, and Box Office Radio, whose showbiz expert Bernard Bale recently interviewed Tony.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Well...let me think. I'd like to return to Italy, which has such marvellous history and beauty, particularly Rome, Pompeii and Venice.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I have had some wonderful pets and spend a lot of time talking to my cat Pixie, Rosie, Tinkerbell - names chosen by my grandchildren. Once, when I was talking to Pixie in the garden, the next-door neighbour thought I was speaking to them and answered me twice! We both had a good laugh.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
I am usually influenced by endorsements and reviews so I am very grateful to those who have kindly endorsed and reviewed my books. I love an adventure story, and at the moment I am reading the children's series Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend. The next installment will be published in May. I also enjoyed the series The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley, who has sadly passed away. She was a great fiction writer.
Do you have your own website?
Tony and I share two websites where most of our books are available for £1.77 for the e-versions and less than £6 for the paperback. They are also available by going to Amazon.co.uk and entering Heather Flood in the search box. The links to our websites are:https://www.fantasyadventurebooks.com/ https://www.celebritiesconfessions.com/
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
I have an idea for one, but have not started it yet as I am busy writing my life story for my granddaughter. This Christmas she sent me a lovely book. On the cover it read DEAR NANA FROM YOU TO ME. A JOURNAL OF YOUR LIFETIME. The note inside said 'please write down your real-life adventures'. And, of course, I start them with “I'm a Time traveller.”
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
My books and Tony's books will be promoted and sold at a special event called Songs & Secrets of Elvis, Marilyn and Kylie at the Grove Theatre (underneath Eastbourne Library) on Saturday, May 10th from 2 pm. Popular singing duo Stardust will be singing songs by Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Kylie Minogue, while Tony will tell amusing anecdotes and reveal secrets about these and other legends from his celebrity book My Life With The Stars – Sizzling Secrets Spilled! Tickets, priced just £9.50, are available from The Grove Theatre at https://www.groveeastbourne.com/events/songs-and-secrets-of-elvis-marilyn-and-kylie/
EXTRACT FROM PURPLE MISTby Heather Flood
CHAPTER ONE My name is Annique Sheldon. I considered myself to be an ordinary schoolgirl until incredible things began to happen and my worst nightmares started to come true.
My whole world was changed beyond belief on my thirteenth birthday. But let me turn back the clock to four years earlier - the day I discovered I had special powers.
I was hurrying home from school along a country lane in Chobham, Surrey, trying to avoid my three tormentors, Fizz, Stacie and Nicola.
Nicola and I had been friends for a while, but when Fizz joined our class everything changed. Fizz was a bully and soon got Nicola and Stacie to join her in picking on other pupils – usually me!
I no longer had any friends because these three horrid girls would be nasty to anyone they saw speaking to me. Their favourite trick was to call me names.
Determined to ignore them, I continued on my way home, but Fizz grabbed my bag and ripped it off my shoulder, while Stacie and Nicola cheered her on. She swung it violently and the bag, containing all my school books, thudded against my head.I staggered backwards, rubbing the painful spot above my left ear.
“You're ugly, Antique Sheldon. You've got strange purple eyes and you smell of fish,” taunted this tall, thin, squint-eyed girl, who liked nothing better than to make my life hell.
It amused Fizz to ridicule me and call me 'Antique' instead of 'Annique'. I hated her and the snotty-nosed Stacie and pimply Nicola. The spots on Nicola's chin always looked like they would burst at any minute - it was a disgusting sight.
Fizz - that was her nick-name because she preferred it to Felicity - did not care about my pain. Instead of stopping this uncalled for attack, she poked me hard in the chest with one of her bony fingers. The other two joined in, pushing and shoving, until I fell, hitting my head on the ground. The throbbing was so bad that I thought I was going to be sick.
When I looked up Fizz was holding my bag. “There's only junk in here - I'll be doing you a favour if I empty it on the ground,” she gloated, starting to unzip it.
“Don't do that,” I yelled, trying to stop her but my head ached so much that my eyes began to water.
“Ow, look, poor little Antique is crying,” scoffed Fizz.
As my eyes cleared, the feelings of pain and humiliation gave way to an all-consuming anger. I glared at her and a strange purple mist appeared in front of me. Fizz, suddenly surrounded by the mist, was lifted off the ground. She dropped the bag as she began to float into the air, screaming.
“What yer doing up there?” Nicola screeched, seeing her friend rise higher and higher until she hovered above our heads.
“Nufink, stupid - get me down!” Spinning around in the mist, her arms flapping in panic, Fizz shouted: “Help me!”
Stacie leapt in a vain effort to grab hold of one of her friend's legs. Climbing to my feet, I rushed over to help as the airborne girl continued to wave her arms like a large bird.
Another searing pain behind my eyes caused me to blink. In that instant, she dropped several feet. I recovered sufficiently to tug at Fizz's coat, helping Stacie to pull her down. She landed with a thud in the mud on the wet grass verge.
“Leave me alone, you freak,” Fizz shouted at me, climbing to her feet. “Did you do that?”
“No...I don't think so,” I mumbled. But my hesitant answer obviously didn't convince Fizz.
“I'll get you for this, Antique. I'll make you suffer.”
I picked up my bag and ran as fast as I could the rest of the way home, crashing through the red front gate to my small terraced house. Fumbling in my bag for the door key, I pushed it into the lock, tripped over the step, slammed the door behind me, and rushed up the stairs to my room. I threw myself onto the bed and pulled the duvet up over my head.
Stella, my mother, called to me from downstairs, but I was too afraid to get off the bed as my legs felt like jelly.
My heart thumped in my chest as I went over what had just happened. Was it really me who'd created the purple mist and made Fizz float up into the air? Maybe they were right: I was a freak.
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Heather Flood with husband Tony and Ben Miller (centre)
M. A. Álvarez - 20 April 2025
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M. A. Álvarez
https://www.xilili.eu/books-in-english/medianical-age
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This week it is my pleasure to interview M. A. Álvarez. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers and share something about your life.
Hello! My name is M. A. Álvarez and I’m a Spanish writer of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. I began my journey as a writer in 2011, after winning two literary contests in Seville, and those experiences encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming a writer.I am passionate about history and the mysteries of the universe, which inspire my stories in different ways.Right now, I am excited to promote the English edition of my novel ‘Medianical Age’, an illustrated fantasy and science fiction novel. It was launched on February 28th, coinciding with the rare planetary alignment of seven planets, an appropriate date for a cosmic tale!
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I started writing my first novel in 2011. It’s a detective comedy set in the 19th century. That same year, after winning two literary competitions in Seville, I decided to embark on my journey as a writer.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
The genres I write in are horror, fantasy and science fiction, sometimes with a touch of humor. In general, each book contains elements of these genres, although one may be more dominant than the others.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I usually do a bit of both. I jot down ideas and plan the structure of the novel or story, which I consider the “technical” part. But once I start writing and dive deeper into the plot, I let my imagination take over and allow the characters to lead the way.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Yes, I would like to share the synopsis of my first novel translated into English, ‘MEDIANICAL AGE: Drifting through the tides of time’. It is a fantasy and science fiction novel that also includes illustrations, all of them created by me.Here it is:
The title Medianical Age is a play on words composed of ‘medieval’, ‘age’ and ‘mechanical’. This is because the story takes place in medieval times and in a distant mechanized future as follows:
One promising day, sometime in the Middle Ages, a deceitful and charlatan surgeon goes to a castle and assures the lord that he can cure his son’s madness by removing a stone from his head. Since childhood, he has claimed to see strange beings, which only he can perceive, and this has led to his confinement by his ashamed family.
In the distant future, a renowned visionary known as K-79 receives an important award for his work in the world of science: the construction of cyborgs from people who were about to die in the past, for different purposes.
Everything seems to be going according to his plans; however, K-79 detects an anomaly in the Middle Ages and discovers that its existence is in danger …
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
That’s a difficult question because each book was written during a unique moment in my life, and each holds a special place in my heart. But if I had to choose, I’d say Medianical Age is the one I feel most deeply connected to.
How would you describe yourself?
I would say that I am a person with a great imagination and a strong sense of perseverance. I work hard to achieve my goals and dreams, and even when things get tough, I try never to lose hope.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
In my free time, I love watching movies and playing video games.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I would choose a place by the sea, with lots of historical places to explore. I am passionate about both the ocean and history, and I love discovering the past through travel. Strolling through ancient cities, visiting ruins and imagining the lives of those who came before us really inspires me, and often gives me ideas for my stories.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
The synopsis acts as an open door for me: if it invites me in, I am willing to explore whatever world lies beyond.
Do you have your own website?
Yes, I have a website and a blog where I share news about my books, writing projects and, sometimes, reflections on storytelling and creativity. It's a space where I connect with readers and share the world behind my stories.My website: https://www.xilili.eu/books-in-english/medianical-age/My blog: https://auxilili.blogspot.com/
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Actually, I'm working on four books, although not all at the same time, of course!
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Yes! Right now, I'm promoting the English edition of Medianical Age (MEDIANICAL AGE: Drifting through the tides of time), my first novel translated into this language. It was published on February 28th, a date that coincided with the rare planetary alignment of seven planets. The book is available on Amazon, and I'd love for you to check it out!
Thank you very much for the interview. It’s been a real pleasure to share a bit about my work and my journey as a writer!
Hello! My name is M. A. Álvarez and I’m a Spanish writer of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. I began my journey as a writer in 2011, after winning two literary contests in Seville, and those experiences encouraged me to pursue my dream of becoming a writer.I am passionate about history and the mysteries of the universe, which inspire my stories in different ways.Right now, I am excited to promote the English edition of my novel ‘Medianical Age’, an illustrated fantasy and science fiction novel. It was launched on February 28th, coinciding with the rare planetary alignment of seven planets, an appropriate date for a cosmic tale!
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I started writing my first novel in 2011. It’s a detective comedy set in the 19th century. That same year, after winning two literary competitions in Seville, I decided to embark on my journey as a writer.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
The genres I write in are horror, fantasy and science fiction, sometimes with a touch of humor. In general, each book contains elements of these genres, although one may be more dominant than the others.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I usually do a bit of both. I jot down ideas and plan the structure of the novel or story, which I consider the “technical” part. But once I start writing and dive deeper into the plot, I let my imagination take over and allow the characters to lead the way.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Yes, I would like to share the synopsis of my first novel translated into English, ‘MEDIANICAL AGE: Drifting through the tides of time’. It is a fantasy and science fiction novel that also includes illustrations, all of them created by me.Here it is:
The title Medianical Age is a play on words composed of ‘medieval’, ‘age’ and ‘mechanical’. This is because the story takes place in medieval times and in a distant mechanized future as follows:
One promising day, sometime in the Middle Ages, a deceitful and charlatan surgeon goes to a castle and assures the lord that he can cure his son’s madness by removing a stone from his head. Since childhood, he has claimed to see strange beings, which only he can perceive, and this has led to his confinement by his ashamed family.
In the distant future, a renowned visionary known as K-79 receives an important award for his work in the world of science: the construction of cyborgs from people who were about to die in the past, for different purposes.
Everything seems to be going according to his plans; however, K-79 detects an anomaly in the Middle Ages and discovers that its existence is in danger …
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
That’s a difficult question because each book was written during a unique moment in my life, and each holds a special place in my heart. But if I had to choose, I’d say Medianical Age is the one I feel most deeply connected to.
How would you describe yourself?
I would say that I am a person with a great imagination and a strong sense of perseverance. I work hard to achieve my goals and dreams, and even when things get tough, I try never to lose hope.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
In my free time, I love watching movies and playing video games.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
I would choose a place by the sea, with lots of historical places to explore. I am passionate about both the ocean and history, and I love discovering the past through travel. Strolling through ancient cities, visiting ruins and imagining the lives of those who came before us really inspires me, and often gives me ideas for my stories.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
The synopsis acts as an open door for me: if it invites me in, I am willing to explore whatever world lies beyond.
Do you have your own website?
Yes, I have a website and a blog where I share news about my books, writing projects and, sometimes, reflections on storytelling and creativity. It's a space where I connect with readers and share the world behind my stories.My website: https://www.xilili.eu/books-in-english/medianical-age/My blog: https://auxilili.blogspot.com/
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Actually, I'm working on four books, although not all at the same time, of course!
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Yes! Right now, I'm promoting the English edition of Medianical Age (MEDIANICAL AGE: Drifting through the tides of time), my first novel translated into this language. It was published on February 28th, a date that coincided with the rare planetary alignment of seven planets. The book is available on Amazon, and I'd love for you to check it out!
Thank you very much for the interview. It’s been a real pleasure to share a bit about my work and my journey as a writer!
Shani Z. Nesmith - 13 April 2025
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Shani Z. Nesmith
https://sites.google.com/view/akunna-publishing
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Shani Z. Nesmith. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Shani and share something about your life.
I am a solo mom of a teenage daughter and a fur baby girl in my 40s. I was born and raised in Jacksonville, and still reside in Florida. I graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor degree in Animal Science with the intention of becoming a Veterinarian, but I was horrible with Chemistry. In 2012, I earned a Master in Accountancy, and I have worked in Finance since 2014 in various capacities. I am now an accountant by day, and I write in my spare time.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first book in February 2025. My father had always encouraged me to write a children’s book in my adulthood, based on how he saw me interact with my daughter in her early years and because he saw my creativity in memory books that I used to produce for her each year of her early life. I had an idea for a story at least 10 years ago, but gave up because I didn’t know how to make it happen. I was especially worried about how to get it illustrated. My father passed in October 2023, and I decided to make an attempt after being exposed to AI. I found an AI application and entered prompts to create the characters and illustrated it myself bringing Bakari’s Brave Heart to life. Ever since, I have been flooded with ideas. So hopefully, there will be much more to come.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I like to mix up the age audience, but ultimately, I think I am sticking with children’s books. My first book was for young children, and probably best for a read aloud or bedtime story. My second book was a kid’s chapter book, because I enjoy being able to develop characters. I do intend to eventually publish an adult fiction novel; however, I will likely use a pen name for that book to separate myself from children’s books.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I actually do a combination. I typically come up with the characters first and make notes about what they are like. Second, I figure out their dilemma or scenario they find themselves in. Then I just start writing and see where it leads me. I LOVE copy & paste. Because it makes it easy for editing and moving parts of the story around.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Cookie the DetectiveCHAPTER 1:The Midnight Mystery
It was a cool Florida night, the kind where even the cicadas seemed to take a break from their usual buzzing. A crisp breeze drifted through the open window, carrying the scent of damp grass and salt from the nearby coast. The world outside was quiet—peaceful. Cookie lay curled up at the foot of the bed, her tail twitching as she dreamed of chasing rabbits. Her ears flicked at a distant sound. A rustling, maybe? A soft thump? It was enough to stir her slightly, but not enough to break the warmth of sleep. Until—
BARK! BARK! BARK!
Her eyes popped open. The barking wasn’t coming from inside the house. It was coming from outside.
BARK! BARK! BARK!!!
She lifted her head, ears swiveling toward the sound. It carried from about 150 yards northwest—somewhere near the Garcia family’s house. The sharp, repetitive barks cut through the night like an alarm. She wasn’t the only one who heard it. “Ugh… not again,” her owner groaned, rolling over in bed. “Why is that dog barking so much?” He pressed a pillow completely over his head, muttering something about people being inconsiderate. Cookie did not like that her owner was disturbed; however, this was not normal barking.
BARK! BARK! BARK…whine.
Although she was still a little tired, Cookie leaped down from the bed, her paws padding softly across the wooden floor. She sniffed the air—nothing unusual. No strange scents drifting in through the window. But the barking? It was urgent. The dog wasn’t just making noise—he was trying to say something. Across the room, Blaze didn’t even stir. He was sprawled out in his plush dog bed, snoring lightly, his legs twitching in a dream. Cookie trotted over and nudged him with her nose. “Blaze, wake up.” No response. She tried again, firmer this time. “Blaze, seriously. Did you hear that?” Blaze—a blue, black, and white beagle—cracked one eye open, stretched dramatically, and let out a long yawn. “Mmm… nope. Didn’t hear a thing.” “The barking. How can you not hear that? It’s been going on for quite some time tonight.” Blaze flopped over, tucking his paws under his chin. “Maybe that dog just loves the sound of its own bark. Sounds like a personal problem to me.” Cookie sighed. “It doesn’t sound random, Blaze.”
BARK! BARK! ... pause … whimper … BARK!
Blaze groaned and covered his ears with his paws. “Maybe it just wants to play.” “Then why does it sound upset?” Cookie replied sharply, her tail flicking with irritation. Blaze rolled onto his back with an annoyed, dramatic sigh. “Let that dog’s owner figure it out. After all, our owners wouldn’t just let us bark at night all willy nilly without responding.” “Blaze,” Cookie responded, “Although you have a point, what if its owner isn’t at home?” Blaze almost gave his sister a tired warning growl, but stopped himself. He smirked sleepily. “I… Big Sis… am going to finish my beauty rest.” He shut his eyes. “Goodnight.” Cookie huffed. “You’re no help, Blaze.” She turned toward the window, staring into the dark night. Her gut told her that the barking wasn’t just noise—it was communication. But if it wasn’t just random barking… what was the message? Why has this been going on for hours? Cookie let her nose hover near the open window, inhaling deeply. Nothing strange. No unfamiliar smells. But still, she knew that something was just not right. Maybe… just maybe… this was a case for Cookie the Detective.
Who is your favorite character and why?
Blaze the blue, black & white beagle is my favorite character, because I enjoy his carefree personality. I also enjoy the challenge of giving him funny dialogue without being too annoying. It is a balancing act.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Cookie the Detective, because I sincerely enjoy bringing the Detective Team characters to life. My goal is to make it a series of 3-5 mysteries.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
I haven’t been given marketing advice from anyone directly, other than to slow down. My problem is that once I get and idea and the mindset to accomplish something…I will work non-stop to get the task completed. I lost a large amount of sleep while writing and illustrating Bakari’s Brave Heart. Not as much for Cookie the Detective, as I forced myself to find breaking points.
How would you describe yourself?
I would say that over the last 5 years I have gone from being semi-extroverted to being a complete hermit. I like to stay home and rarely have reason to leave my home. It’s almost as if I still live like we are in a pandemic sadly. I also consider myself a “Jack-of-all-Trades, but master of none.” I can be very independent, preferring to resolve most things on my own. Whether it be putting together furniture, small house repairs and updates, etc. I prefer to find a book, directions, or a YouTube video and do it myself. I have a very determined nature.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
When not working, I am usually found walking my Beagle—Snoopi, or spending time with my teenage daughter and immediate family.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Tough question!! I have not left the country. I definitely would love to see an island with Crystal clear blue waters…maybe Jamaica or the Maldives?? I grew up around water being from Jacksonville, Florida; however, I would like to see the type of water than you can see all the way down to the sand and creatures below.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
Cookie the Detective was inspired by my dog Snoopi. We actually almost named her Cookie, so I used it for the book. The funniest thing about her is watching her attempts to chase squirrels. I don’t think she is fast enough to catch a squirrel, plus she is always limited by the leash. Snoopi usually gets really low and moves slowly along the ground trying to stalk the poor squirrel. I laugh inside because sometimes she approaches so slowly that it seems as if she thinks she can just walk up to the squirrel and say “Hi.” And of course, I enjoy when she gets the zoomies!
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
The topic first and I must admit cover art or the description entices me second. I have been reading a lot of non-fiction in adulthood. I have been big into “Self Help” or “Finance” books, but I do read fiction occasionally.
Do you have your own website?
I have a temporary site, but not yet an official domain name. https://sites.google.com/view/akunna-publishing
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes. I have three projects in the works. Book 2 of the Cookie the Detective Series will be coming out likely in May 2025. Next, I need to complete the illustration of the second book of the Adventures of Bakari series. Finally, I have started the adult fiction novel, likely to be released much later under a pen name.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Bakari’s Brave Heart will be having an eBook Countdown sale on Amazon (April 17-24). I also have a Countdown eBook deal on Amazon for Cookie the Beagle Book 1 starting on May2-8.Finally I hope to give away at least 5 paperback copies of Cookie the Beagle through GoodReads.
I am a solo mom of a teenage daughter and a fur baby girl in my 40s. I was born and raised in Jacksonville, and still reside in Florida. I graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor degree in Animal Science with the intention of becoming a Veterinarian, but I was horrible with Chemistry. In 2012, I earned a Master in Accountancy, and I have worked in Finance since 2014 in various capacities. I am now an accountant by day, and I write in my spare time.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
I wrote my first book in February 2025. My father had always encouraged me to write a children’s book in my adulthood, based on how he saw me interact with my daughter in her early years and because he saw my creativity in memory books that I used to produce for her each year of her early life. I had an idea for a story at least 10 years ago, but gave up because I didn’t know how to make it happen. I was especially worried about how to get it illustrated. My father passed in October 2023, and I decided to make an attempt after being exposed to AI. I found an AI application and entered prompts to create the characters and illustrated it myself bringing Bakari’s Brave Heart to life. Ever since, I have been flooded with ideas. So hopefully, there will be much more to come.
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I like to mix up the age audience, but ultimately, I think I am sticking with children’s books. My first book was for young children, and probably best for a read aloud or bedtime story. My second book was a kid’s chapter book, because I enjoy being able to develop characters. I do intend to eventually publish an adult fiction novel; however, I will likely use a pen name for that book to separate myself from children’s books.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I actually do a combination. I typically come up with the characters first and make notes about what they are like. Second, I figure out their dilemma or scenario they find themselves in. Then I just start writing and see where it leads me. I LOVE copy & paste. Because it makes it easy for editing and moving parts of the story around.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from one of your books?
Cookie the DetectiveCHAPTER 1:The Midnight Mystery
It was a cool Florida night, the kind where even the cicadas seemed to take a break from their usual buzzing. A crisp breeze drifted through the open window, carrying the scent of damp grass and salt from the nearby coast. The world outside was quiet—peaceful. Cookie lay curled up at the foot of the bed, her tail twitching as she dreamed of chasing rabbits. Her ears flicked at a distant sound. A rustling, maybe? A soft thump? It was enough to stir her slightly, but not enough to break the warmth of sleep. Until—
BARK! BARK! BARK!
Her eyes popped open. The barking wasn’t coming from inside the house. It was coming from outside.
BARK! BARK! BARK!!!
She lifted her head, ears swiveling toward the sound. It carried from about 150 yards northwest—somewhere near the Garcia family’s house. The sharp, repetitive barks cut through the night like an alarm. She wasn’t the only one who heard it. “Ugh… not again,” her owner groaned, rolling over in bed. “Why is that dog barking so much?” He pressed a pillow completely over his head, muttering something about people being inconsiderate. Cookie did not like that her owner was disturbed; however, this was not normal barking.
BARK! BARK! BARK…whine.
Although she was still a little tired, Cookie leaped down from the bed, her paws padding softly across the wooden floor. She sniffed the air—nothing unusual. No strange scents drifting in through the window. But the barking? It was urgent. The dog wasn’t just making noise—he was trying to say something. Across the room, Blaze didn’t even stir. He was sprawled out in his plush dog bed, snoring lightly, his legs twitching in a dream. Cookie trotted over and nudged him with her nose. “Blaze, wake up.” No response. She tried again, firmer this time. “Blaze, seriously. Did you hear that?” Blaze—a blue, black, and white beagle—cracked one eye open, stretched dramatically, and let out a long yawn. “Mmm… nope. Didn’t hear a thing.” “The barking. How can you not hear that? It’s been going on for quite some time tonight.” Blaze flopped over, tucking his paws under his chin. “Maybe that dog just loves the sound of its own bark. Sounds like a personal problem to me.” Cookie sighed. “It doesn’t sound random, Blaze.”
BARK! BARK! ... pause … whimper … BARK!
Blaze groaned and covered his ears with his paws. “Maybe it just wants to play.” “Then why does it sound upset?” Cookie replied sharply, her tail flicking with irritation. Blaze rolled onto his back with an annoyed, dramatic sigh. “Let that dog’s owner figure it out. After all, our owners wouldn’t just let us bark at night all willy nilly without responding.” “Blaze,” Cookie responded, “Although you have a point, what if its owner isn’t at home?” Blaze almost gave his sister a tired warning growl, but stopped himself. He smirked sleepily. “I… Big Sis… am going to finish my beauty rest.” He shut his eyes. “Goodnight.” Cookie huffed. “You’re no help, Blaze.” She turned toward the window, staring into the dark night. Her gut told her that the barking wasn’t just noise—it was communication. But if it wasn’t just random barking… what was the message? Why has this been going on for hours? Cookie let her nose hover near the open window, inhaling deeply. Nothing strange. No unfamiliar smells. But still, she knew that something was just not right. Maybe… just maybe… this was a case for Cookie the Detective.
Who is your favorite character and why?
Blaze the blue, black & white beagle is my favorite character, because I enjoy his carefree personality. I also enjoy the challenge of giving him funny dialogue without being too annoying. It is a balancing act.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Cookie the Detective, because I sincerely enjoy bringing the Detective Team characters to life. My goal is to make it a series of 3-5 mysteries.
What is the best marketing tip you have received?
I haven’t been given marketing advice from anyone directly, other than to slow down. My problem is that once I get and idea and the mindset to accomplish something…I will work non-stop to get the task completed. I lost a large amount of sleep while writing and illustrating Bakari’s Brave Heart. Not as much for Cookie the Detective, as I forced myself to find breaking points.
How would you describe yourself?
I would say that over the last 5 years I have gone from being semi-extroverted to being a complete hermit. I like to stay home and rarely have reason to leave my home. It’s almost as if I still live like we are in a pandemic sadly. I also consider myself a “Jack-of-all-Trades, but master of none.” I can be very independent, preferring to resolve most things on my own. Whether it be putting together furniture, small house repairs and updates, etc. I prefer to find a book, directions, or a YouTube video and do it myself. I have a very determined nature.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading?
When not working, I am usually found walking my Beagle—Snoopi, or spending time with my teenage daughter and immediate family.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Tough question!! I have not left the country. I definitely would love to see an island with Crystal clear blue waters…maybe Jamaica or the Maldives?? I grew up around water being from Jacksonville, Florida; however, I would like to see the type of water than you can see all the way down to the sand and creatures below.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
Cookie the Detective was inspired by my dog Snoopi. We actually almost named her Cookie, so I used it for the book. The funniest thing about her is watching her attempts to chase squirrels. I don’t think she is fast enough to catch a squirrel, plus she is always limited by the leash. Snoopi usually gets really low and moves slowly along the ground trying to stalk the poor squirrel. I laugh inside because sometimes she approaches so slowly that it seems as if she thinks she can just walk up to the squirrel and say “Hi.” And of course, I enjoy when she gets the zoomies!
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
The topic first and I must admit cover art or the description entices me second. I have been reading a lot of non-fiction in adulthood. I have been big into “Self Help” or “Finance” books, but I do read fiction occasionally.
Do you have your own website?
I have a temporary site, but not yet an official domain name. https://sites.google.com/view/akunna-publishing
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Yes. I have three projects in the works. Book 2 of the Cookie the Detective Series will be coming out likely in May 2025. Next, I need to complete the illustration of the second book of the Adventures of Bakari series. Finally, I have started the adult fiction novel, likely to be released much later under a pen name.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Bakari’s Brave Heart will be having an eBook Countdown sale on Amazon (April 17-24). I also have a Countdown eBook deal on Amazon for Cookie the Beagle Book 1 starting on May2-8.Finally I hope to give away at least 5 paperback copies of Cookie the Beagle through GoodReads.
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Catherine M. Stillwell - 6 April 2025
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This week it is my pleasure to interview Catherine M. Stillwell. Would you please introduce yourself to my readers, Catherine, and share something about your life.
Of course, Rita and thank you for having me. I’m Catherine Stillwell reside in Wheaton, Illinois. I’m originally from Trenton, NJ and have moved numerous times throughout the United States due to my husband’s job with a major airline. We are now both retired and recently adopted a 2-year-old terrier-mix named Brutus. I have owned pets since I was 10 years old and my pet advocacy has been my special mission, especially for senior shelter dogs. We adopted eight-year-old Paulie in November of 2014. Paulie and I participated in fundraisers to help senior shelter dogs receive the medical care they needed. It helped them get adopted faster since senior dogs are often overlooked. The first fundraiser we did helped 34 senior dogs find their forever homes. My book, “Paulie Finds His Forever Home” was supposed to be a bucket list item, however, it evolved into much more. At first, it was to bring awareness to senior shelter dogs. A month before the book was published, an influx of dogs was being brought in as strays at our local shelter. I decided to include two pages of suggestions on how to keep pets from becoming a stray. No other children’s book has this unique feature.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
The idea for this book didn’t happen until after adopting senior Paulie, I launched a community Facebook page as a fun project. It was a daily journal of Paulie’s life with us. Then a poem I wrote titled, “Paulie’s Journey” soon followed. It was a big hit with his followers, and they suggested I write a children’s book about his adoption. It wasn’t until after Paulie’s passing in July of 2021 that I re-visited the book. It was too soon as I was still mourning so as therapy I started blogging about Paulie for two years. On January 3, 2023, I started writing the transcript for “Paulie Finds His Forever Home.”
Of course, Rita and thank you for having me. I’m Catherine Stillwell reside in Wheaton, Illinois. I’m originally from Trenton, NJ and have moved numerous times throughout the United States due to my husband’s job with a major airline. We are now both retired and recently adopted a 2-year-old terrier-mix named Brutus. I have owned pets since I was 10 years old and my pet advocacy has been my special mission, especially for senior shelter dogs. We adopted eight-year-old Paulie in November of 2014. Paulie and I participated in fundraisers to help senior shelter dogs receive the medical care they needed. It helped them get adopted faster since senior dogs are often overlooked. The first fundraiser we did helped 34 senior dogs find their forever homes. My book, “Paulie Finds His Forever Home” was supposed to be a bucket list item, however, it evolved into much more. At first, it was to bring awareness to senior shelter dogs. A month before the book was published, an influx of dogs was being brought in as strays at our local shelter. I decided to include two pages of suggestions on how to keep pets from becoming a stray. No other children’s book has this unique feature.
When did you write your first book and how did it come about?
The idea for this book didn’t happen until after adopting senior Paulie, I launched a community Facebook page as a fun project. It was a daily journal of Paulie’s life with us. Then a poem I wrote titled, “Paulie’s Journey” soon followed. It was a big hit with his followers, and they suggested I write a children’s book about his adoption. It wasn’t until after Paulie’s passing in July of 2021 that I re-visited the book. It was too soon as I was still mourning so as therapy I started blogging about Paulie for two years. On January 3, 2023, I started writing the transcript for “Paulie Finds His Forever Home.”
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Paulie
Do you always write in the same genre or do you mix it up?
I’m a big fan of non-fiction and the blogs I write are about pet advocacy, caring for senior pets and educational info for those who is thinking of adopting or fostering a senior dog.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I find writing to come easy for me. While blogging, I’d think of a topic and go for it. Unless I need to do some research off the web, I may jot down some bullet points and feed off that. My English professor in college was my mentor and he taught me ways of getting over writer’s block and to think outside the box. We did exercises that I never thought I could do because I was shy. By the end of the school year, my shyness subsided and expressing myself was so much easier.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from your book?
“The lady visitor kept looking at Paulie and their eyes met. Paulie walked up to her, sniffed her hands and sat on her lap. He felt comfortable with her and didn’t want her to leave.”
Who is your favourite character and why?
It would have to be the lady visitor which is me. Since this is a true story, my husband, son is in the book too. This book is about Paulie’s adoption.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Paulie’s book is very bittersweet for me since he’s no longer with us. As I mentioned before, writing his book helped me deal with his passing. A lot of tears were shed while working on this book. Paulie and I were bonded at the hips. He followed me everywhere.
How would you describe yourself?
I have a strong personality. If I am tested, I will fight back and stand my ground. Much of it stems from being a pet advocate. Fighting for high-risk dogs isn’t for everyone. It’s mentally challenging. On the flipside, I can be a real softy. Animals come to me immediately. When we visited Paulie in the shelter, he avoided my husband and son and was by my side the entire time. Animals are very smart, and they gravitate to people they feel comfortable with. Now, Paulie loved my husband and son, however, it was me who cared for him the most since I was retired.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading? To be honest, I don’t read much because I develop headaches. When I was in my teens, I read books from Stephen King. I love the guy. Then I was in a car accident and suffered a head injury. After that, reading was a challenge. When I can, I do puzzles and frame them, make homemade greeting cards and cook. Cooking is very relaxing for me. Baking isn’t my thing; however, I’m trying to embrace it.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Africia/Zambia. I’ve sponsored children there since 2003 and continue doing so. Also, being able to see the wildlife there. I love going to Zoos and learning about all the wonderful animals. Seeing them up close in their true environment would be a bucket list item.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I’ve owned five pets in 53 years. All very different personalities. We adopted a kitten back in the late 80’s named Killer. He was a real fireball. We would sit on the kitchen floor and bounce a little rubber ball and Killer would do backflips and always land on his feet. He lived to be 19 years old. Our son grew up with him and they were very close.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
It’s had to be non-fiction. Bio’s are my favorite.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Paulie’s book will be my only one. It’s so special and bittersweet that I won’t be able to top it.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Currently, I’m reaching out to bookstores and podcasters. Events will be posted on my website.
Thank you Rita for the opportunity to talk about Paulie's special book. My mission is to educate pet owners on being the best pet parent they can be. It all starts with keeping their pets safe. I've volunteered in many shelters and rescues and I saw how shelter life affects these pets. If my book can help one pet, then I've done my job
I’m a big fan of non-fiction and the blogs I write are about pet advocacy, caring for senior pets and educational info for those who is thinking of adopting or fostering a senior dog.
When you write, do you start with an idea and sit down and let it evolve, or do you make notes and plot the chapters beforehand?
I find writing to come easy for me. While blogging, I’d think of a topic and go for it. Unless I need to do some research off the web, I may jot down some bullet points and feed off that. My English professor in college was my mentor and he taught me ways of getting over writer’s block and to think outside the box. We did exercises that I never thought I could do because I was shy. By the end of the school year, my shyness subsided and expressing myself was so much easier.
Would you like to give us a short excerpt from your book?
“The lady visitor kept looking at Paulie and their eyes met. Paulie walked up to her, sniffed her hands and sat on her lap. He felt comfortable with her and didn’t want her to leave.”
Who is your favourite character and why?
It would have to be the lady visitor which is me. Since this is a true story, my husband, son is in the book too. This book is about Paulie’s adoption.
Which of your books gave you the most pleasure to write?
Paulie’s book is very bittersweet for me since he’s no longer with us. As I mentioned before, writing his book helped me deal with his passing. A lot of tears were shed while working on this book. Paulie and I were bonded at the hips. He followed me everywhere.
How would you describe yourself?
I have a strong personality. If I am tested, I will fight back and stand my ground. Much of it stems from being a pet advocate. Fighting for high-risk dogs isn’t for everyone. It’s mentally challenging. On the flipside, I can be a real softy. Animals come to me immediately. When we visited Paulie in the shelter, he avoided my husband and son and was by my side the entire time. Animals are very smart, and they gravitate to people they feel comfortable with. Now, Paulie loved my husband and son, however, it was me who cared for him the most since I was retired.
What do you do when you are not writing or reading? To be honest, I don’t read much because I develop headaches. When I was in my teens, I read books from Stephen King. I love the guy. Then I was in a car accident and suffered a head injury. After that, reading was a challenge. When I can, I do puzzles and frame them, make homemade greeting cards and cook. Cooking is very relaxing for me. Baking isn’t my thing; however, I’m trying to embrace it.
If you could holiday anywhere in the world, where would you choose and why?
Africia/Zambia. I’ve sponsored children there since 2003 and continue doing so. Also, being able to see the wildlife there. I love going to Zoos and learning about all the wonderful animals. Seeing them up close in their true environment would be a bucket list item.
If you have owned pets, do you have a funny story you would like to share with us?
I’ve owned five pets in 53 years. All very different personalities. We adopted a kitten back in the late 80’s named Killer. He was a real fireball. We would sit on the kitchen floor and bounce a little rubber ball and Killer would do backflips and always land on his feet. He lived to be 19 years old. Our son grew up with him and they were very close.
What is the biggest factor for you when selecting a book to read?
It’s had to be non-fiction. Bio’s are my favorite.
Are you working on a new book at the moment?
Paulie’s book will be my only one. It’s so special and bittersweet that I won’t be able to top it.
Do you have any events or book promotions coming up that you would like to tell us about?
Currently, I’m reaching out to bookstores and podcasters. Events will be posted on my website.
Thank you Rita for the opportunity to talk about Paulie's special book. My mission is to educate pet owners on being the best pet parent they can be. It all starts with keeping their pets safe. I've volunteered in many shelters and rescues and I saw how shelter life affects these pets. If my book can help one pet, then I've done my job
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