I met
Paula Brackston in a Book shop in the city of my birth, Cardiff, Wales, while visiting family. It was pure coincidence that I happened to be there and come across her amazing novel 'Book of Shadows'. I loved the book and read it on the plane back to Austria.
So please welcome Paula to Amberkatze's Book Blog for her first ever blog interview! Make sure you check out
the book review I wrote and get yourself a copy. It really is an amazing read.
If you are lucky you may even win a copy in this weeks contest (see below)
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Amber - Welcome to Amberkatze's Book Blog! I came across your book totally by accident when we met in the Cardiff Borders while you were signing books! I really enjoyed Book of Shadows and I am sure a lot of my blog readers would too. Maybe you could start things off by telling them a bit about the book?
Paula – Hello, Amber. Hello, everyone. Book of Shadows tells the tale of immortal Witch, Elizabeth Hawksmith. We follow her story through 17th century Wessex, Victorian London, Passchendaele in 1917, and the present day.
Amber - Book of Shadows it quite unique. How did you come up with the idea?
Paula – I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that there is magic going on all around us, even now, but not everyone can see it. I wanted to create a character who could be a modern day Witch, but who would have her origins deep in the past.
Amber - With a lot of magic and history you cover a wide range of subjects in Book of Shadows. What kind of research did you have to do for the book?
Paula – I read heaps. I really enjoyed losing myself in the different periods I was studying for the book. And I discovered so many enthralling things about witchcraft! The house was full of pictures, books, and objects relevant to the subject. I find it helpful when I am writing to have things around me that push my imagination in the direction it needs to go for a particular story to develop.
Amber - Are you anything like your main character Elizabeth? Or is she based on someone else?
Paula – Ha! I wish I was more like Elizabeth. I’m such a wimp, and she is so strong and determined. That is one of the best reasons for writing, I think – to be people we are not, just for a while. That said, there are surely elements of a writer in all their characters, I suppose. Which means there is something of me in Gideon, too, or vice versa, which is a little worrying.
Amber - Do you intend on writing a sequel to Book of Shadows?
Paula – I’m considering it. A number of people have said they would like to see one. You know how when you finish reading a really good book you miss the characters quite badly? Well, it’s the same when you finish writing a story. It would be good to spend another year or two with old friends.
Amber - What are you working on at the moment? When is your next release due out?
Paula – Ah, that’s a little complicated. I’ve just finished a book that is in the same vein as Book of Shadows. It’s set in the present day and the 13th century – two parallel stories which ultimately converge (I never was any good at geometry). There’s a good deal of magic in that one – Merlin is one of the central characters. That will probably come out next winter/spring. The title isn’t confirmed yet.
Meanwhile, I have a new book due out in August, but this is a completely different animal – a contemporary comedy entitled ‘Nutters’. Snowbooks are publishing that for me under my pen name, PJ Davy. It’s challenging working on such different projects, but I hope it keeps my writing fresh. I’m currently working on a comedy-horror screenplay about werewolves, which I am developing with the Film Agency for Wales. Well, you did ask!
Amber - Book of Shadows is paranormal, historical, a little romantic and also slighty Young Adult. What genre would you class it? And why did you pick that genre to write about?
Paula – It’s fantasy, or historical fantasy, albeit in a pretty mainstream way. I don’t ever pick a genre. I just get an idea in my head and then write that story.
Amber - Do you think it is harder being a British author than being an American author?
Paula – Can’t answer that, I’m afraid, although I should imagine it’s tough wherever you are.
Amber - Book of Shadows is your first book. What was the process like for you? Did you have any say in the title? Book cover? etc? What did you love about bringing your first book into the world? and what did you hate?
Paula – The process was long coming – I had been writing for nine years before getting my first full-length work of fiction published. During that time I sold short stories and wrote a travel book and had non-fiction anthologised several times. Then everything seemed to happen very quickly. I signed with Snowbooks last July, and Book of Shadows is already out, which is incredibly speedy. Snowbooks made a fantastic job of the cover, don’t you agree? I get a real buzz seeing my book in shops now, and I love getting feedback from readers.
Amber - What have been the good and bad times of being an author? Any advice to anyone to anybody out there thinking of writing a book?
Paula – If you want to write, just do it. And keep doing it! Don’t expect to get it right first time. Perseverance is key. Even Doris Lessing attributes a large part of her success to being able to ‘stick at it’. It is miserable having your work rejected, but you learn to cope with it, mainly by writing more. And more, and more…
Amber - What did you do before you became an author? Do you still have a 'normal' job?
Paula – I’ve done all sorts. I’ve worked as a travel agent, a nanny, a secretary, run a riding school, been a goatherd, and taught English as a foreign language. For the past three years I have worked part-time as a script reader, which has been really instructive, and I run creative writing workshops and classes. I did an MA in Creative Writing in 2004.
Amber - What books do you read when you have the chance? Any must have authors or series?
Paula – I’m a promiscuous reader. The book I’ve just read is invariably my favourite – very fickle of me, I know. That said, I love reading Sebastian Faulkes, Martin Amis, Rose Tremain, David Mitchell, Magnus Mills… I feel a very long list coming on.
Amber - What music, TV series or films do you like and do any of them influence your work?
Paula – When we were children my brother made me stay up late and watch horror films with him, so perhaps that’s how I’ve ended up writing a screenplay about werewolves! I like films, but don’t watch much TV, apart from Frasier, which always makes me laugh. If I’m feeling stressed I re-watch a favourite movie – Pulp Fiction, Withnail and I, something absorbing and well-written.
Amber - If you could write any book you wanted about any subject. What would you write about?
Paula – I’m lucky to be able to say I am doing exactly what I want with my books now. Thank you, Snowbooks!
Amber - You are stuck on a desert island. What 5 things do you hope to have with you?
Paula – Assuming I’m not allowed my children, partner, or dog (or are they there with me?)… let’s see. OK, my laptop, solar powered, of course; gallons of mosquito repellent, or I’d be eaten alive; a wind up radio; a feather mattress; and one fine bone china tea cup and saucer. I’m no Ray Mears, but I could tolerate most things if I could spend some time in a comfortable bed with something like tea out of a decent cup listening to a play on Radio 4. Good grief, now I sound about 95!
Amber - Thank you so much for being a guest on Amberkatze's Book Blog! I hope you will come back again!
Paula – Thank you for having me here. I’ve really enjoyed my first ever blog interview.-------------
Contest Time!
Paula has kindly said she will send the winner of this weeks contest a signed copy of 'Book of Shadows'! and because I loved the book so much I am going to pick a second winner who will get a copy of 'Book of Shadows' as well! So that means there are 2 copies up for grabs!
Oh and as always...more sales through Amberkatze's Book Blog Amazon site means more prizes!
Feeling lucky? How do you enter? Post a comment letting us know which authors you have or/and would like to meet!
No author = No entry!
Earn another entry for each place you link this contest on the net. Make sure you add links here for me to confirm your entries!
You can also earn extra entries by emailing your friends about the contest. Just make sure you send a copy to me at Amberkatzes_book_blog at gmx dot net.
The contest will stay open until Sunday April 12th 2009 4pm CET and the winner will be picked by a randomizer. Entrants should check back to see if they have won. I do not hunt down winners and will pick new winners for any prizes not claimed within 7 days.
If you are claiming a prize, have emailed me and have not heard back before the 7 day limit is up then post a comment here on the blog. Your email may get sucked into my spam filter.
Enjoy!
Labels: Author Interviews, Contests, Paula Brackston
by Kelley Armstrong
