Lindsey Paley is a fellow Prism Book Group author and I was thrilled to get a chance to interview her. Her books sound amazing and I can't wait for the opportunity to read them! Here's my interview with Lindsey and below that is a review of one of her books.
Tell us a little bit about your background.
I live in the UK with my husband and young son. I started writing twenty years ago when I wrote a full length novel, long hand in a scrap book. It’s still in a box on the top of my wardrobe! Over the years a couple others have joined it. I have my own slush pile! But last year I resolved to at least finish one and try to get it published. 'Stiletto Heels or Bicycle Wheels?' was published in February and my novel 'The Wedding Yarn' was published just last month. When I'm not writing I love baking and I have included recipes in my novel for readers to try at home and maybe get a feel for England when they are reading!
Now tell us how you got into writing.
I have always scribbled stories, mostly not for other's eyes! I have written five novels all of which are in the contemporary fiction genre, but my current work in progress is a move away from the norm and is inspired by the insistence of my son to write something he could enjoy. My brand new novel is entitled 'Star Jumpers: The Lion Roars' and is a Middle Grade novel for 8-12 year olds.
Was getting published hard?
Yes! But some of the best advice I received from other authors was to keep at it. Stories abound of famous authors who have submitted their novels to tens of different agents and publishers before being offered a contract and going on to sell millions! I'm so excited about my two new novels coming out later this year with Prism Book Group. It's an exciting journey.
Give us a summary of your current novel.
The inspiration for Stiletto Heels was from October 2012 when we took a trip to NYC to celebrate a milestone birthday. Unfortunately, Hurricane Sandy swept in whilst we were there. We were confined to our hotel room for a couple days and then stranded for five before we could catch a flight back home to the UK. With little to do, I started on an outline for 'Stiletto Heels or Bicycle Wheels?' and it grew from there.The novel is set in NYC and follows the rollercoaster life of Rosie, a stressed out executive as her life explodes in her face and how she copes with the fall out. It’s about family loyalty, and finding love where you least expect it. Oh, and it includes recipes from an old journal Rosie stumbles upon. My favourite is Lavender Shortbread.The main character is Rosie Hamilton, a time starved executive whose career is her life. Her stiletto Heels are part of her uniform, her armour even that give her confidence to face each day in the financial jungle. The novel explores how Rosie copes when these things are taken away from her and substituted with muddy wellies and an ancient silver bicycle.
Tell us a little bit about your background.
I live in the UK with my husband and young son. I started writing twenty years ago when I wrote a full length novel, long hand in a scrap book. It’s still in a box on the top of my wardrobe! Over the years a couple others have joined it. I have my own slush pile! But last year I resolved to at least finish one and try to get it published. 'Stiletto Heels or Bicycle Wheels?' was published in February and my novel 'The Wedding Yarn' was published just last month. When I'm not writing I love baking and I have included recipes in my novel for readers to try at home and maybe get a feel for England when they are reading!
Now tell us how you got into writing.
I have always scribbled stories, mostly not for other's eyes! I have written five novels all of which are in the contemporary fiction genre, but my current work in progress is a move away from the norm and is inspired by the insistence of my son to write something he could enjoy. My brand new novel is entitled 'Star Jumpers: The Lion Roars' and is a Middle Grade novel for 8-12 year olds.
Was getting published hard?
Yes! But some of the best advice I received from other authors was to keep at it. Stories abound of famous authors who have submitted their novels to tens of different agents and publishers before being offered a contract and going on to sell millions! I'm so excited about my two new novels coming out later this year with Prism Book Group. It's an exciting journey.
Give us a summary of your current novel.
The inspiration for Stiletto Heels was from October 2012 when we took a trip to NYC to celebrate a milestone birthday. Unfortunately, Hurricane Sandy swept in whilst we were there. We were confined to our hotel room for a couple days and then stranded for five before we could catch a flight back home to the UK. With little to do, I started on an outline for 'Stiletto Heels or Bicycle Wheels?' and it grew from there.The novel is set in NYC and follows the rollercoaster life of Rosie, a stressed out executive as her life explodes in her face and how she copes with the fall out. It’s about family loyalty, and finding love where you least expect it. Oh, and it includes recipes from an old journal Rosie stumbles upon. My favourite is Lavender Shortbread.The main character is Rosie Hamilton, a time starved executive whose career is her life. Her stiletto Heels are part of her uniform, her armour even that give her confidence to face each day in the financial jungle. The novel explores how Rosie copes when these things are taken away from her and substituted with muddy wellies and an ancient silver bicycle.
And what about your upcoming release?'
The Wedding Yarn' was published last month. It’s a contemporary romance centred around a wedding competition, where the celebrity bride and groom have invited the whole country to pitch for the honour of supplying the wedding dress, the bridal flowers, the photographs, the food, and the music. It has fashion, rock bands and French Patisserie!
The Wedding Yarn' was published last month. It’s a contemporary romance centred around a wedding competition, where the celebrity bride and groom have invited the whole country to pitch for the honour of supplying the wedding dress, the bridal flowers, the photographs, the food, and the music. It has fashion, rock bands and French Patisserie!
Where do you get your ideas?
I am generally inspired by people around me. Small snippets of conversation can lead to a scene in a novel. I also love setting my novels, even if just briefly, in places where I have spent some time, such as NYC in 'Stiletto Heels' or Bali in 'Ugly Paradise', which I particularly enjoyed, reminiscing on the sights, sounds and smells of such a beautiful and exotic country.
How long does it take you to write a novel?
It usually takes me six months to write a novel, but of course that varies. Some come easily, others not so. Research too can vary from a couple months to much longer. Unfortunately, I have to write my first draft long hand, with a pen and paper and not directly onto the computer - I don’t seem to be able to see my words as easily on a screen as on a piece of paper.
What do you enjoy doing outside of writing?
I love baking and trying out new recipes and unusual ingredients. One of the recipes in 'Stiletto Heels' is for lavender shortbread which is made from lavender sugar and is delicious. I have also been trying to improve my golf swing for the last three years to no avail. The problem is I only enjoy playing golf if the sun is shining and there’s not a breath of wind. My goal this year is to manage a round of golf in less than one hundred shots - truly wishful thinking!
Do you find certain times of the day or certain things inspire you to write?
I much prefer to write in the morning, at my desk over looking our peaceful garden. I also like to write in silence, I'm not an author who can listen to the radio or favourite music. If the sun is shines - so much the better.
What advice would you give to a new writer wishing to make it in the publishing world?
I'm not an expert, but again that advice given to me - persevere. And whilst you are waiting for those responses, write, write, write.
We'd love to hear a few quirky facts about you...things that don't normally come up in an interview!
I have a 'bucket list' of things I'd love to do. One of them is to be an 'extra' on a TV show or in a movie. And last year I crossed it off! I was lucky enough to be one of 200 people in a 'theatre audience' of the filming of a movie - 'Song For Marion' which was shot in my home town. In the final cut the viewers got to see the back of my head! Stardom!
Anything else you want to add!
...These are my links (there's 25% off both novels for the month of May!):
'Stiletto Heels or Bicycle Wheels?' - http://www.amazon.com/Stiletto-Heels-Bicycle-Wheels-Lindsey-ebook/dp/B00IHCIA4G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399362651&sr=8-1&keywords=lindsey+paley
'The Wedding Yarn' - http://www.amazon.com/The-Wedding-Yarn-Lindsey-Paley-ebook/dp/B00IFG38ZK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1399362651&sr=8-2&keywords=lindsey+paley
Twitter:https://twitter.com/LindseyPaley1
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/lindseypaleybooks?ref=hl
I am generally inspired by people around me. Small snippets of conversation can lead to a scene in a novel. I also love setting my novels, even if just briefly, in places where I have spent some time, such as NYC in 'Stiletto Heels' or Bali in 'Ugly Paradise', which I particularly enjoyed, reminiscing on the sights, sounds and smells of such a beautiful and exotic country.
How long does it take you to write a novel?
It usually takes me six months to write a novel, but of course that varies. Some come easily, others not so. Research too can vary from a couple months to much longer. Unfortunately, I have to write my first draft long hand, with a pen and paper and not directly onto the computer - I don’t seem to be able to see my words as easily on a screen as on a piece of paper.
What do you enjoy doing outside of writing?
I love baking and trying out new recipes and unusual ingredients. One of the recipes in 'Stiletto Heels' is for lavender shortbread which is made from lavender sugar and is delicious. I have also been trying to improve my golf swing for the last three years to no avail. The problem is I only enjoy playing golf if the sun is shining and there’s not a breath of wind. My goal this year is to manage a round of golf in less than one hundred shots - truly wishful thinking!
Do you find certain times of the day or certain things inspire you to write?
I much prefer to write in the morning, at my desk over looking our peaceful garden. I also like to write in silence, I'm not an author who can listen to the radio or favourite music. If the sun is shines - so much the better.
What advice would you give to a new writer wishing to make it in the publishing world?
I'm not an expert, but again that advice given to me - persevere. And whilst you are waiting for those responses, write, write, write.
We'd love to hear a few quirky facts about you...things that don't normally come up in an interview!
I have a 'bucket list' of things I'd love to do. One of them is to be an 'extra' on a TV show or in a movie. And last year I crossed it off! I was lucky enough to be one of 200 people in a 'theatre audience' of the filming of a movie - 'Song For Marion' which was shot in my home town. In the final cut the viewers got to see the back of my head! Stardom!
Anything else you want to add!
...These are my links (there's 25% off both novels for the month of May!):
'Stiletto Heels or Bicycle Wheels?' - http://www.amazon.com/Stiletto-Heels-Bicycle-Wheels-Lindsey-ebook/dp/B00IHCIA4G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1399362651&sr=8-1&keywords=lindsey+paley
'The Wedding Yarn' - http://www.amazon.com/The-Wedding-Yarn-Lindsey-Paley-ebook/dp/B00IFG38ZK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1399362651&sr=8-2&keywords=lindsey+paley
Twitter:https://twitter.com/LindseyPaley1
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/lindseypaleybooks?ref=hl
Lindsey offered her book "The Wedding Yarn" for .99 recently so I grabbed it and read it in order to write a review for her and to add to this author interview with a review as well. "The Wedding Yarn" is best described by the word charming, in my opinion. It featured a yarn shop that I wish I had in my community. It's one of those shops where everything happens, you know? Anyone can go there for comfort, a good laugh, or just to pass some time. The storyline was very cute and the whole feel of the novel was very charming. One thing I noticed, and I can't provide any examples at this particular moment, but I'll lay it out there anyway, was that sometimes Lindsey used almost literary language. Her writing was so good and so descriptive and just downright beautiful.
As I often like to offer constructive criticism I will do so now for this novel. I had only one complaint and that was that the novel didn't focus on the romance between two particular characters as much as I wished it would. Though I enjoyed the storyline as it was presented, as a reader, I would have liked more to occur in that area.
My other thought was that sometimes the author would jump from person to person in terms of perspective. Now, the way she did it was done very well. I always knew what was happening and who was thinking what etc so it wasn't confusing at all. I personally have just been told that it shouldn't be done. Whether or not that's the case, who knows.
Overall, "The Wedding Yarn" is, like I said before, simply charming. It was certainly worth the .99 I paid! But even if the price rises, it's a fun, cute read that should be enjoyed!
As I often like to offer constructive criticism I will do so now for this novel. I had only one complaint and that was that the novel didn't focus on the romance between two particular characters as much as I wished it would. Though I enjoyed the storyline as it was presented, as a reader, I would have liked more to occur in that area.
My other thought was that sometimes the author would jump from person to person in terms of perspective. Now, the way she did it was done very well. I always knew what was happening and who was thinking what etc so it wasn't confusing at all. I personally have just been told that it shouldn't be done. Whether or not that's the case, who knows.
Overall, "The Wedding Yarn" is, like I said before, simply charming. It was certainly worth the .99 I paid! But even if the price rises, it's a fun, cute read that should be enjoyed!
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