I’m
delighted to welcome Celia
Anderson to my blog.
Hello
Celia. It was lovely to connect with you through the Romantic Novelists’
Association. I find the RNA to be a wonderful place in which to meet
fellow authors and affiliates, all of whom are eager to share exciting news
about books.
When
asked what your genre was, you said: 59 Memory Lane is classed as
contemporary fiction, but has also been described as ‘Up-Lit’. This new ‘Up-Lit’ genre (new to me at least) is something I’m going to have to
research.
But
before we discover more about your latest release, 59 Memory Lane, here are a few
questions which will hopefully give your readers an insight into some of the
things that matter to you.
Arabella: How did you manage to get
your novel published and what did you learn from the experience?
Celia: After
reading (and loving) The Keeper of Lost Things’ by Ruth Hogan, I decided to take
my courage in both hands and approach her agent, Laura Macdougall, who is now
with United Agents. Laura wasn’t altogether bowled over by the book I sent her
but was encouraging about my next idea, so I put all my energies into finishing
what was to become 59 Memory Lane before she changed her mind!
When
she read the final version and offered to represent me, I couldn’t believe my
luck. We worked on this novel together until Laura was ready to submit it, and
that was when I discovered the art of patience - my biggest learning curve so
far. Constantly checking my emails to see if Laura had had any replies from
publishers, and then the exciting, nerve wracking journey to eventual
publication with Harper Fiction after well over a year has taught me that good
things are definitely worth waiting for.
Arabella: If you could choose,
which would it be: A walk in the woods, a walk along a beach front to dip your
toes in the sea, or a day shopping for clothes?
Celia: Definitely
the sea. Living in the centre of the UK means I don’t get to paddle nearly
often enough. 59 Memory Lane is set on the Cornish coast, so I escape there in
my head as often as possible! My next novel involves maps and adventures, so
the seaside figures again, and Cornwall was high on my list of places to include.
Moving much further north, the atmospheric island of Lindisfarne features in it
too. I love the wide expanses of sand in
Northumberland, especially around Bamburgh. Perfect for a plotting walk.
Arabella: Who or what inspired you
to write your latest release, 59
Memory Lane?
Celia:
This is a story involving families, friendships, memories and intrigue, and was
inspired by a huge cache of letters discovered by my cousin Jill when her
father died. He lived in Cornwall for all of his married life, and the Midlands
family’s faithful correspondence with him dates back to 1945. Reading these
words from the past has brought my mum and her siblings alive again for me. An
emotional experience that also provided the jumping off ground for May and all
her friends to appear.
Arabella: Where do you read? Sofa
or bed or ____?
Celia:
Mostly in bed, although I do love to read on the train. Both daughters live in
Brighton so I get a good four hours of reading in when I visit them, and since
I signed with my agent and also got more involved with the Romantic Novelists’
Association, I travel to London on a regular basis – more kindle catch-up time.
Arabella: Some authors write at
first light, others need a mug of coffee or a glass of wine before putting pen
to paper. When writing, are there any “essentials” you need to help the words
flow?
Celia: It’s
a good job you can’t see me writing this, because I’m in my dressing gown and
not looking my sparkling best. Five o’clock in the morning is my most
productive writing time, and I usually start with a big mug of chai or
peppermint tea. Then after breakfast I keep going for a while, if time permits.
The early evening stint is massively helped by wine…
Arabella: You’re halfway through
the work-in-progress, you’re about to kill off the hero and there is going to
be no happy-ever-after. In other words, you’re stuck! If you had to contact an
“author/publisher/editor friend” for guidance, who would it be?
Celia: I
would get in touch with Laura and also with Charlotte Ledger, who’s my
brilliant publisher at Harper Collins. Both are fantastic at replying quickly
to emails and give excellent, forthright advice. I recently had lunch sitting
in the sunshine at a pavement cafe with Charlotte as we dissected my next book,
which had hit a very sticky patch. Laura had already given her advice, so we
pooled all our ideas and then celebrated with some amazing Italian ice cream.
I’m
very lucky to have a great set of writing buddies, most of whom revel in the
collective name of The Romaniacs. Sue, Laura, Lucie, Debbie, Jan, Catherine and
Vanessa (plus Mandy James and Christine Macpherson, my other lovely gurus) are
just wonderful. Sometimes the answer to a problem is just staring you in the
face, but it takes another writer to state the obvious!
Arabella: The T.V. is on and you’re
in control of the remote. Which is it to be: A quiz programme…An afternoon of
sport…A family soap…A romantic film you always wanted to see but missed when it
was shown at the cinema?
Celia: I
don’t watch much live TV, it’s usually old box sets like Larkrise to
Candleford, Sherlock or Jeeves, but if the TV is ever on in the day, I can’t
resist property programmes. The Romaniacs were lucky enough to meet Kirsty
Allsopp after Catherine won an afternoon tea competition. Cake and Kirsty – two
of our favourite things. And she also had prosecco!
Arabella: Do you have any great
writing, publishing, or marketing tips you’d like to share to “want-to-be”
authors starting out on their writing journey?
Celia: My
biggest tip, apart from everyone’s favourite of ‘just keep going and don’t mind
the rejections’ is to get more involved in the world of authors. I joined the
RNA in 2011 and have met some of the most fabulous people ever. I’m now on the committee,
and organise the judging for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award which
involves meeting lots of writers at different stages of their careers. The
encouragement they give to each other is superb. Also, online forums are good
for venting about the inevitable one star reviews and getting through those
waiting hours. Writing can be a lonely business and there are lots of roles
within the RNA that are crying out for enthusiastic volunteers!
Thank you so much for this
opportunity to be interviewed on your blog, Arabella.
Celia x
Celia - Thank you for being such an
amazing guest. You gave some marvellous answers which I’m sure your readers and
followers will have devoured with enjoyment.
And I must say...I’m in awe of your
time management skills. Not only do you start writing at 5am, but you also mentioned you have been busy helping to organise this year’s RNA - Romantic
Novel Awards and all the entries that have been flooding in!
A
big thank you . . . to you and all the RNA members who
willing devoted their time and energy to such happenings. It takes a certain
sort of someone to do this! And I'm full of admiration for your stamina. I’d be exhausted!
Best wishes and lots of
happy-ever-after writing…
Arabella Sheen
About Celia Anderson
Celia Anderson lives slap bang in the middle of
the Midlands and dreams of owning a cottage by the sea, or at the very least on
a canal or river. She makes do with living next door to a pond full of ducks
but often manages to sneak more impressive watery places into her writing.
Celia loves walking, reading, having large bubbly baths, eating and drinking
wine. Over the years, she has found that all of these activities bar the first
may be done simultaneously, although this can be messy. Previously a teacher
and assistant head, she now writes full time and keeps her feet on the ground
by running children's clubs that mainly involve drama and cake.
Social Media Links:
Website – celiaandersonauthor.co.uk
Blurb - 59
Memory Lane
May Rosevere has reached the grand old age of
one-hundred-and-ten, thanks to several slices of toast with butter every
morning, a glass (or two) of port, and the wonders of the Cornish sea air – or
so she tells everyone.
But there’s much more to May than her
remarkable age. She has a secret. One that no one has ever discovered …
59
Memory Lane is published in both paperback and audio formats on June 27th 2019. The eBook came out on April 1st.
Buy Link
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThank you for being an amazing guest on Arabella's Blog and Chit-Chat, Celia. You gave some great answers which I'm sure your readers will enjoy reading.
ReplyDeleteAll the best for your latest release, 59 Memory Lane.
Arabella