More than twenty years ago now. I started writing in my lunchtime at work. I targeted 600 words a week, that's about a page and a half, not very much is it, but it's 6000 words in 10 weeks and 30000 words in a year.

It's my first romance novel. I believe that I am now writing at a good professional level ( I constant try to improve my writing) and I suppose I would describe myself foremost as a historical novelist. But my partner challenged me to write in this different genre. It was good fun.

I've read that Frederick Forsyth had the Day of The Jackal rejected 18 times before it was finally published. Well I can beat that, but in my naiveté I thought they were read before they were rejected. Not one main steam publisher read a single word of my manuscripts before rejection. And that's why I became an indie author. I've been short listed for the Brit award, and I won the The Great Beeston Book Read 2104, so I can't be all that bad (hint hint to main stream publishers)

Its a multi e-reader platform so it gives me access to a wider readership.

People think that writing is pleasurable, but its not really. What it is, is fulfilling. There is a sense of achievement when the novel is finished. Then comes the rewriting, to 'polish the diamond.' I usually go with the fifth rewrite.

They make it worth while. Even when my books are read via the library and I only get a few pence per read via PLR, it's still wonderful. It as though it completes the circle; it's satisfying to know that what I struggled to produce is being read and, hopefully, enjoyed.

I'm conceptualising at the moment. I intend to go back to the historical genre. Not sure where it will take me.

Charles Dickens of course, he has such a sense of period. I also like Ken Follet another historical novelist.

I write each morning now that I have just retired. I like to have a lazy breakfast and then be sat at my laptop for 9.30.

That's a good question. I write till lunchtime but I find it hard to understand where the rest of the day goes. I love British pubs, and spend some nights each week there ( I'm wizzo at the pub quiz as well). I'm also a sports nut - all sports but especially football (soccer for my American readers).I'm an avid Manchester City supporter.

Momentum is the important thing for me – it is the key. Sometimes this is just not there and every word seems to need excavating. When the momentum is there however I do everything I can to keep it going. This is where the asterisk (*) comes in. Anything that I write that needs verification or more research gets an asterisk (*). I then have to return to them ( *) at a later date. For me it is about – keep writing. Rewriting and editing come later.
I use a word document which remains open every time I sit at my laptop. This contains the current chapter that I am working on. At the same time however I have a number of other word documents open – this keeps everything I need at hand to maintain that momentum.
Research/name of the novel. This contains my original conceptual notes for the novel
General Notes. This contains writing style prompts, built up over the years and under subheadings; e.g.
1. Descriptions: .2.Conversation i.e. the ways people talk:3.Word sounds: 4. Phrases.
A document entitled Authors Notes
A document entitled Punctuation.
Finally I have a prompt at all times immediately below the line I am typing the story on. This is constantly in my eye-line so that I don’t deviate from what I am trying to do. It says the following:
THINK – HEAR - SMELL – TOUCH – SEE – TASTE

Yes, I can't spell. Whatever is the secret to spelling, I just can't get it.