How do you come up with ideas for stories and characters?
I write all my children’s stories about my dog, Mexi. We live on a narrowboat, so the stories are adventures she has whilst on the boat, and they focus on the animals and friends she meets. Each book has a learning, too. For instance, the first book is about being kind.
What do the words “writer’s block” mean to you?
Writer's block is when I struggle to combine all my ideas to make a fun, exciting story.
How do you process and deal with negative book reviews?
Negative feedback can be unpleasant, but I think you can not please everyone; everyone has their opinions. So, I try not to take it to heart, even though it can be upsetting sometimes.
How long have you been writing, or when did you start?
I have been writing books for three years. I first wrote a self-help book and a journal. The children's books started about eighteen months ago when I moved onto our narrowboat.
How do you develop your plot and characters?
My main character is always Mexi, our dog, and then I think of the animals we have seen whilst cruising and bring them into the books. Friends dogs have been brought into some of the stories, too. The plots are usually similar to things that have happened.
How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?
I have written four children's books; my favourite is the first one. This book started the series, and it was so much fun to write. The others have a big part of me, too, as they all have a special place in my heart with the plots. All my books teach children specific values, too. The first book is Kindness.
What part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?
I think the most challenging part was the end, as it could have gone on for a lot longer, but I had to make sure that it was just right for a bedtime story or a story for a child to learn to read, so I wanted to keep it at the right length.
What inspired the idea for your book?
Mexi, our beautiful Lakeland Terrier cross, inspired my book series as I wanted others to enjoy the mischief she gets up to, too.
What do you need in your writing space to help you stay focused?
When writing, I like to have a quiet room and, to make it even better, a lovely view to look out at as I put the words together.
When was the last time you Googled yourself and what did you find?
I hadn't googled myself for a long time, so with this question, I have just googled myself. It was full of my books, both my self-help books and my children's books and about my life coach business.