Writing Related:
Tell us about your book(s)!
I write mainly romantic intrigue, and like to write across different historical periods. So I have novels set in the Regency era, some in the Victorian era, then the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, right up to the modern era. I’m very much inspired by Alfred Hitchcock and Agatha Christie, and I like their use of sparkling dialogue in their films and novels to bring characters to life. But I’ve also written science fiction novels. I tend to go where my inspiration takes me at any one time.
My latest release (at the time of writing) is Loving Protector, a romance sent in the late Regency period. It has my usual dash of intrigue.
Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?
I’m often inspired by actors/actresses when I write my books. It helps me to see them more clearly. But to be honest, I hadn’t really thought of an actor for Brook Windebank in Loving Protector. But thinking about it, I think James Purefoy would be rather nice and he’s the inspiration for my character, Tony Marcus in Take My Breath Away.
The only problem with picking an actor to ‘play’ your characters and letting people know about it is that if the reader doesn’t much like that actor. It’s much better, I think, for them to see the hero and heroine in their own way, and we just give them brush strokes to work from.
Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?
It doesn’t hurt to sometimes allow yourself time to not be a writer. Ideas need room to grow and I think writers’ block comes from trying to force ideas. So what I tend to do is allow myself a few days of not being a writer, then I try and get on with it, writing through the block. Sometimes what I’ve written is rubbish, but it does oil the cogs so that newer ideas can have room to grow.
What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?
I think they’re part of being a writer, and that if we get bad reviews, we have to take it on the chin. Of course we’d all like good reviews all the time, but that’s not likely to happen, and if it does, then readers probably think we had relatives and friends write them all. So a few bad reviews add a bit of balance. I don’t think it’s ever right or professional to respond negatively to a bad review, however much we might want to.
Tell us about your book(s)!
I write mainly romantic intrigue, and like to write across different historical periods. So I have novels set in the Regency era, some in the Victorian era, then the 1920s, 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, right up to the modern era. I’m very much inspired by Alfred Hitchcock and Agatha Christie, and I like their use of sparkling dialogue in their films and novels to bring characters to life. But I’ve also written science fiction novels. I tend to go where my inspiration takes me at any one time.
My latest release (at the time of writing) is Loving Protector, a romance sent in the late Regency period. It has my usual dash of intrigue.
Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?
I’m often inspired by actors/actresses when I write my books. It helps me to see them more clearly. But to be honest, I hadn’t really thought of an actor for Brook Windebank in Loving Protector. But thinking about it, I think James Purefoy would be rather nice and he’s the inspiration for my character, Tony Marcus in Take My Breath Away.
The only problem with picking an actor to ‘play’ your characters and letting people know about it is that if the reader doesn’t much like that actor. It’s much better, I think, for them to see the hero and heroine in their own way, and we just give them brush strokes to work from.
Any tips on how to get through the dreaded writer’s block?
It doesn’t hurt to sometimes allow yourself time to not be a writer. Ideas need room to grow and I think writers’ block comes from trying to force ideas. So what I tend to do is allow myself a few days of not being a writer, then I try and get on with it, writing through the block. Sometimes what I’ve written is rubbish, but it does oil the cogs so that newer ideas can have room to grow.
What are your thoughts on good/bad reviews?
I think they’re part of being a writer, and that if we get bad reviews, we have to take it on the chin. Of course we’d all like good reviews all the time, but that’s not likely to happen, and if it does, then readers probably think we had relatives and friends write them all. So a few bad reviews add a bit of balance. I don’t think it’s ever right or professional to respond negatively to a bad review, however much we might want to.
How do you relax?
Watching TV boxed sets, reading, playing Candy Crush on Facebook, or just generally chilling out online with my fellow writers. Facebook is our equivalent of the water cooler and it can make being a writer a lot less lonely.
What is your favorite motivational phrase?
It’s one from Ray Bradbury, who was a wonderful writer. He said, ‘If you write what you love, and do it with love, you can’t go wrong’.
What is your favorite book?
There are so many to choose from, but I’d have to go with Wilkie Collins’s The Woman in White. It was the first proper ‘classic’ I read and it’s what set me off on this path to be a writer (in a very roundabout and drawn out fashion involving returning to school and taking a degree).
Who is your favorite author?
I’ve already mentioned Agatha Christie, but I also love Lee Child and Stephen King.
What is your favorite movie?
It’s A Wonderful Life. I love the message that all our lives, no matter how small, are important. But I also think Die Hard is a pretty cool Christmas movie too!
Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
I would love to have met Agatha Christie so I could ask her what she got up to when she disappeared for 11 days.
What is the most interesting trip you have ever taken?
My husband and I went to Venice on a short break several years ago. It was early February and it was snowing when we arrived. There was snow on the Basilica, making it look like a chocolate box. The next day was bright and mild, so I think we were really lucky to see Venice in the snow. It was beautiful and as such I have used that image in my novel Command Performance and in my short romance, Her Friend From the North.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
I was working my first day as a receptionist and the local Mayor came in. I looked at him askance, wondering what on earth he was doing there. Then I found out that my new boss was his wife and consort. I took a keener interest in local politics after that!
Lighting Round:
White wine or red? Rose
Coffee or tea? I’m British so it has to be tea!
Cook dinner or order take-out/delivery? Order take out/delivery, though I do cook a rather nice roast dinner.
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Baileys Haagan Daas
Pancakes or eggs? Eggs. In Britain, pancakes tend to only be for Pancake Day.
Sleep in or get up early? I’m very much a morning person. Not that I wouldn’t mind a lie in. But my brain won’t let me. Then by early evening I’m ready for bed again.
Laptop or desktop for writing? A laptop … on a desk.
Sally is Generously giving away a signed copy of Mistletoe Mystery (in large print). All you have to do for your chance to win is answer the question, "Who would you like to kiss under the mistletoe and why"? She has also provided free Amazon links to her books Loving Protector & Imitation of Love in ebook form to ALL her readers until Tuesday. MERRY EARLY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!! Don't FORGET TO FILL out the QUESTION Below!!! :-) THANK YOU SALLY!!!
Loving Protector: http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Protector-Sally-Quilford-ebook/dp/B00G5WYG02/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1386840702&sr=1-1
Imitation of Love: http://www.amazon.com/Imitation-Sally-Quilford-Pocket-Novels-ebook/dp/B009B94Y1M/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1386840702&sr=1-4
Watching TV boxed sets, reading, playing Candy Crush on Facebook, or just generally chilling out online with my fellow writers. Facebook is our equivalent of the water cooler and it can make being a writer a lot less lonely.
What is your favorite motivational phrase?
It’s one from Ray Bradbury, who was a wonderful writer. He said, ‘If you write what you love, and do it with love, you can’t go wrong’.
What is your favorite book?
There are so many to choose from, but I’d have to go with Wilkie Collins’s The Woman in White. It was the first proper ‘classic’ I read and it’s what set me off on this path to be a writer (in a very roundabout and drawn out fashion involving returning to school and taking a degree).
Who is your favorite author?
I’ve already mentioned Agatha Christie, but I also love Lee Child and Stephen King.
What is your favorite movie?
It’s A Wonderful Life. I love the message that all our lives, no matter how small, are important. But I also think Die Hard is a pretty cool Christmas movie too!
Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?
I would love to have met Agatha Christie so I could ask her what she got up to when she disappeared for 11 days.
What is the most interesting trip you have ever taken?
My husband and I went to Venice on a short break several years ago. It was early February and it was snowing when we arrived. There was snow on the Basilica, making it look like a chocolate box. The next day was bright and mild, so I think we were really lucky to see Venice in the snow. It was beautiful and as such I have used that image in my novel Command Performance and in my short romance, Her Friend From the North.
What was your most embarrassing moment?
I was working my first day as a receptionist and the local Mayor came in. I looked at him askance, wondering what on earth he was doing there. Then I found out that my new boss was his wife and consort. I took a keener interest in local politics after that!
Lighting Round:
White wine or red? Rose
Coffee or tea? I’m British so it has to be tea!
Cook dinner or order take-out/delivery? Order take out/delivery, though I do cook a rather nice roast dinner.
Vanilla or chocolate ice-cream? Baileys Haagan Daas
Pancakes or eggs? Eggs. In Britain, pancakes tend to only be for Pancake Day.
Sleep in or get up early? I’m very much a morning person. Not that I wouldn’t mind a lie in. But my brain won’t let me. Then by early evening I’m ready for bed again.
Laptop or desktop for writing? A laptop … on a desk.
Sally is Generously giving away a signed copy of Mistletoe Mystery (in large print). All you have to do for your chance to win is answer the question, "Who would you like to kiss under the mistletoe and why"? She has also provided free Amazon links to her books Loving Protector & Imitation of Love in ebook form to ALL her readers until Tuesday. MERRY EARLY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!! Don't FORGET TO FILL out the QUESTION Below!!! :-) THANK YOU SALLY!!!
Loving Protector: http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Protector-Sally-Quilford-ebook/dp/B00G5WYG02/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1386840702&sr=1-1
Imitation of Love: http://www.amazon.com/Imitation-Sally-Quilford-Pocket-Novels-ebook/dp/B009B94Y1M/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1386840702&sr=1-4
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