Location: United Kingdom
Member Since: Dec. 14, 2015

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Claire E Cruddas

Biography

My name is Claire Elizabeth Cruddas and I am a novelist and poet from North East England.

‘The Fall of Grace – Book One’ is my first independently published full length novel but I have been a published poet for many years, with contributions in various national anthologies.

I started writing as a youngster, penning my first poem at five years old and then at twelve years old I won a commendation for a short story in a National Writing Competition. Spurred on by this early success, I contributed locally to independent magazines and newspapers and wrote stage-plays for youth theatre groups.

A long career in sales and marketing, both employed and self-employed, has afforded me with an extensive resume of business writing skills, however my love has always been applying the craft of writing to fiction.

When I am not writing, I love reading, history, art and strolling in the fresh air.

I am currently at the planning the stage of ‘The Fall of Grace – Book Two’ but I also enjoy writing for children and young adults and I am planning to release a poetry collection aimed at these audiences later in 2016.

Thank you for reading.

Smashwords Interview

Where did you grow up, and how did this influence your writing?
I grew up and still live in the North East of England. I do think it has had an influence on my writing style. We 'Geordies' have a bit of a dark sense of humour and that has always been part of my style but the North East is also a very beautiful area with much to be inspired by. Northumberland in particular is a landscape of beauty which couldn't fall to help any writer envisage a setting - which of course it has and has been used by many greats from Catherine Cookson to Ridley Scott.
When did you first start writing?
I first began writing as soon as I could hold a pencil! I wrote my first real poem at five years old and went onto to write many other poems and short stories that have been published over time. At twelve years old I won a commendation in a National Writing Competition for a scary short story and that spurred me on. I wrote for newspapers and magazines as a teenager and into my twenties too, but I'm afraid my creativity got lost on the wilderness for a while and I didn't really start writing properly again till I was in my late thirties. I'm back on track now though.
Read more of this interview.

Where to find Claire E Cruddas online

Website: http://claireecruddas.com/
Twitter: @ClaireECruddas
Blog: http://claireecruddas.com/

Books

This member has not published any books.

Smashwords book reviews by Claire E Cruddas

  • Smashwords Book Marketing Guide on Dec. 18, 2015

    I handy little download leaflet about marketing - useful tips and hopefully ones that will lead to selling!