Storyheart

Here is an interview with Storyheart!

What is your favorite character from Across the Pond?

It has to be Fred, there is a lot of me in him, and I guess he's a much younger version of the author

What kind of research did you do for Across the Pond?

Having myself moved from England to the US in 2000 a lot of what I wrote about I was able to do at first hand. Items like the baseball game I had to do some investigation about, never actually having been to a game since moving across the pond. I also checked with my younger nieces who at the time were around the same age as Brit and Fred to make sure I was setting the age part correctly. For my next book I have some YA blogger kindly helping me as well.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Obviously some of the issues I ran into when arriving in the US . I also wanted to provide some education and romance I also wanted to have humor within the story. Also I wanted… and from the reviews and interviews have succeeded, in making it a book for all ages not just YA. To me it does not matter what the age if you enjoy the book, you enjoy the book. I’m really not one in favor of pigeon holing books into certain genres.

When did you seriously start pursuing writing?

I never call myself a writer, I’m no literary master, my spelling for instance is terrible (thank goodness for spell checker), I class myself more as a story teller. As for… “pursuing it seriously”? To me it’s still a hobby, but I guess over the last 4/5 years I gone into it all in more detail

How long does it usually take you to write a book?

The book itself took me a year to write. The first three chapters took about ¾ months until I got the pace and voice sorted. After that I tried to do a chapter a week during my lunch hours (if I had any) at work. To be honest with a young family a busy full time job, my other hobbies like running karaoke shows, blog radio shows, sport etc, I am limited to when I can write.

Were you a big writer or reader growing up? What about now? Do you prefer writing your own books or reading someone else's?

I wrote poems and songs (which after all are only poems to music) when younger, then went on to children’s stories before starting to write short romance stories. I was also a prolific reader through most of my life again though these days that is somewhat limited. I do though enjoy reading and hearing about the books of my many guests on my twice weekly blog radio show “A Book and a Chat” this also provides an introduction into some forms of literature I would not normally read.


What was your favorite book growing up? What about now? Do you have a favorite genre or do you like them all?

I have always loved adventure books, when young my hero was Biggles by Capt W.E.Johns somebody perhaps the US would never have heard of. Then I went into Science Fantasy, Piers Anthony, Michel Moorcock etc. I am an avid reader of seafaring, swash and buckle type books. Writers like Alexander Kent, Dewey Lambdin and my favorite not just for the seafaring novels but also the Sharpe series is Bernard Cornwell

What do you do when you have writers block?

Don’t force it; if you force writing it is never as good as letting them come naturally. When the words are ready they will flow.

What are you currently reading?

I wonderful fantasy book from The Tellings of Xunar-kun Series by Tina Howe. She is a guest on my radio show on August 1st

What makes Across the Pond different from other YA romance books?

I think because I try and write from me, the characters people are saying are very believable, also the various aspects humor, sport, romance and the fact that it’s from a male/boys point of view

Thanks!