 |
| Adrienne Chinn - Author |
Hello
Adrienne – Thank you for joining me on Arabella’s Blog and chit-chat today. it
was great to connect with you through the Romantic Novelists’ Association. Such
a great and supportive group of authors and affiliate, and all with books and the
art of writing at the heart of everything they do. But before we get to know
more about your latest Historical Romance
Timeslip release, The English Wife, here are a few
questions which will hopefully give your readers and followers an insight into
some of the things that matter to you.
Arabella: How did you
manage to get your first novel published and what did you learn from the
experience?
Adrienne: It
took a long time! I started writing it on a novel writing course at the Faber Academy
in 2011 and kept at it on weekends and holidays over the subsequent years.
Then, when I had what I thought was a good draft, I began the rounds of sending
query letters to agents in the UK, USA and Canada. I must have sent out over
200 over a three-year period! I went back to square one and hired a fantastic
writing mentor, Laurence Daren King, who worked with me on a total rewrite for
a year. Then, I met up with a writing friend of mine I’d met on the Faber
course, crime novelist Amanda Robson, and she suggested I send the novel to her
editor at Avon UK. I did, and several months later, while I was standing on the
platform at Clapham Junction Station on a Friday afternoon, an email pinged
onto my phone from Avon, offering me a 2-book deal. Only seven years after
started writing it!
My
biggest lesson from all that was to believe in myself and just keep at it.
Arabella: If you could
choose, which would it be: A walk in the woods, a walk along a beachfront to
dip your toes in the sea, or a day shopping for clothes?
Adrienne: Walking in nature definitely, in the woods, fields,
mountains, or on a beach! All of the above.
Arabella: Who or what
inspired you to write your latest release, The English Wife?
Adrienne: I
was born in Newfoundland, Canada, which is a ruggedly beautiful province on the
east coast, and the people there are so funny and hospitable. My mother was the
only girl with eight brothers, and they all could spin a yarn. One of my
uncles, Gus, was a soldier for the Newfoundland army in WW2, based near
Norwich. At that time Newfoundland was a Dominion of Great Britain, not part of
Canada, and it had its own money, government and military. Newfoundlanders were
British citizens. In Norwich he met the granddaughter, Stephanie, of a local
vicar over Sunday lunch at the vicar’s house, and it was love at first site.
They married and she joined him in Newfoundland after the war as an English war
bride. So, I thought it was interesting to explore a war bride story as one of
the story strands.
Then,
of course, there was the now well-known story of the international flights that
were diverted to the small airport at Gander, Newfoundland on 9/11. I was born
in Grand Falls, which is near Gander, and heard about the way Newfoundlanders
took the stranded passengers into their homes almost immediately. Now, of
course, the story has been made into a musical, Come From Away. I thought it
would be interesting to have one of my characters be on one of those flights.
So, that’s how I came up with Sophie’s contemporary story.
 |
| Newfoundland Outport |
Arabella: Where do you
read? Sofa or bed or ____?
Adrienne: When I’m at home I read outside on a lounger on nice
days, after I’ve done my daily 1,000 words of writing. I also read in bed at
night, but usually only manage a couple of pages before I pass out! I’m a very
slow reader because I love to savour a novel, and I tend to read about 4-6
books at a time; it takes me ages to finish them all.
I always take a couple of paperbacks with me when I
travel – I read quite a bit on airplanes and by swimming pools! I definitely
prefer paperbacks. I love the feel of the pages in my hands, and I’m always
flipping back to re-read sections, admire the cover, see what other books the
author has written, who they dedicated the book to… I find reading a paperback
or hardback a real, tactile, pleasure.
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?
Adrienne: I am neither a morning person, nor a night owl. I
sit squarely in the middle of the day. Currently, I’m at home all the time, so
I’m spending the morning reading/writing emails, puttering in the garden, going
to the shop if I need to. Then, around 10:30 I spend 10 minutes playing Jewel
Legend (the only game app I allow myself otherwise I’d be an addict), then I
usually write a haiku or short poem which I post on social media (I started
writing these about eight years ago as a writing exercise and now have hundreds
– I plan to self-publish a poetry book later this year). Then, around 11:00ish,
I get settled on my bed, prop my laptop on a pillow on my lap, and start my
writing day. I love working on my bed because I can spread all my scribbled
notes around me.
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?
Adrienne: Haha!
Sounds like the book I’m currently writing! I often talk to my sister, Carolyn,
who lives nearby when I’m stuck. She works in museums, and is also a very keen
amateur playwright, actress and theatre director. She has very sound instincts,
and she can usually help unstick me.
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?
Adrienne: Romantic
film, hands down.
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?
Adrienne:
-
Believe in
yourself.
-
Work hard.
Enjoy the process.
-
Get used to
failure. Failure is your friend. It tells you you weren’t quite ready.
-
Get better.
Take courses, read a lot, read outside your genre, experiment with writing
other forms (poems, short stories, plays, non-fiction).
-
Watch a lot of
good movies – they are great ways to learn pacing, drama, scenes, characters,
dialogue and atmosphere.
-
Read the bad
reviews great authors have received. You’re not the only one.
-
Don’t give up.
Thank you for joining
me on Arabella’s Blog and Chit-Chat, Adrienne. It was lovely to discover some
of your writing techniques, and although you seem to manage, I’m not sure I could
work from my bed. I find writing hard work at the best of times and I’d be
worried about dropping off to sleep in the middle of writing a passionate love scene ššš and missing the romantic ending. ššš
And for those of us (me included) who
didn’t know…
Haiku = A Japanese poem of seventeen
syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five, traditionally evoking
images of the natural world.
Adrienne - All the best
for your latest release, The English Wife,
and wishing lots of happy-ever-after writing.
Arabella
About Adrienne Chinn
 |
| Adrienne Chinn - Author |
Adrienne Chinn was born in Grand Falls,
Newfoundland, grew up in Quebec, and eventually made her way to London, England
after a career as a journalist. In England she worked as a TV and film
researcher before embarking on a career as an interior designer, lecturer, and
writer. When not up a ladder or at the computer, she can usually be found
rummaging through flea markets or haggling in the Marrakech souk.
Website:
www.adriennechinn.net
Facebook:
adriennechinnauthor
Twitter:
@adriennechinn
Instagram:
@adriennechinn
Book Blurb
The
English Wife
VE
Day 1945: As victory bells ring out
across the country, war bride Ellie Burgess’s happiness is overshadowed by
grief. Her charismatic Newfoundlander husband Thomas is still missing in
action.
Until a letter arrives explaining Thomas is back at home on
the other side of the Atlantic recovering from his injuries.
Travelling to a distant country to live with a man she
barely knows is the bravest thing Ellie has ever had to do. But nothing can
prepare her for the harsh realities of her new home…
September 11th 2001:
Sophie Parry is on a plane to New York on the most tragic day in the city’s
history. While the world watches the news in horror, Sophie’s flight is
rerouted to a tiny town in Newfoundland and she is forced to seek refuge with
her estranged aunt Ellie.
Determined to discover what it was that forced her family
apart all those years ago, newfound secrets may change her life forever…
Release date: June 25th,
2020
Buy Links:
Great answers!
ReplyDeleteHi Aspiringauthor (Mick A.) - Thank you for leaving a comment and I'm pleased you enjoyed the blog...
ReplyDeleteAdienne shared some great writing tips.
Arabella