This week I’m delighted to present my interview with author Isabel Ashdown. Her latest novel, Hurry Up and Wait kept me awake for a whole night as I couldn’t put it down. I do love coming- of-age stories…

They say the second book is the hardest, but you’ve done such a good job, and I think Hurry Up and Wait is even better than your debut Glasshopper which I really loved. How was the writing process for you? Was it easier or harder to write the second one?  To read the full interview, click here …

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Isabel Ashdown’s novels are currently in the Amazon Kindle January Sale at the special price of 89p.

Why does it have to be Amazon, you ask?  Well, believe it or not, even customers who shop elsewhere will often check the Amazon reviews first, before placing an order with another retailer or visiting their local bookshop.

I recently met an enthusiastic reader who had read both my books.  She told me I was now one of her favourite authors.  I said: you must leave a review on Amazon for me – that kind of feedback is so valued!  She said: oh, well I’m not sure; I don’t think I could do it justice.  It seems many readers fear that if they’re not experienced reviewers or particularly creative with words, their review will be of little worth.  Not true!  In fact, the whole point of the Amazon review system is that it provides lasting comment and feedback from your average non-journalist Joe – and that’s far more likely to encourage others to buy than a high profile review in the national press which goes to print for one day only to then disappear into obscurity.

The other thing I notice is how few close friends have left reviews, despite telling me how they’d enjoyed my books.  This could be for a variety of reasons: a) as above, they don’t think their reviewing skills are up to it, b) they’ve seen I’ve had good press reviews and don’t think I need it or c) they’re lying, and they hate my books …

Authors rely on reader reviews – to gain new readers, to encourage their publishers to invest in their future books, to let them know their books are even being read at all – so if you take the time to leave a short recommendation to others, it really is the finest way to thank a favourite authors and help them to keep selling books.

The Thank an Author challenge is this: simply pick out a favourite book or two from the past year.  Then limit yourself to the twitter wordcount of 140 characters and post a review on Amazon.  My point is this: it doesn’t have to be long, or clever; it just needs to sum up what you loved about it.  Here are a couple I prepared earlier, adapted from real reviews:

Took me right back to my own schooldays: the treachery of friendships, the powerlessness of adolescence, the joy of new music… I loved it! (Hurry Up and Wait)

If you lived through the 80s you’ll love this. An intelligent coming-of-age story with vivid characters & dialogue. Poignant, tragic, funny. (Glasshopper)

To all the readers who have read and reviewed my books over the past few years – a big THANK YOU!  Thank you for posting them on Amazon, on Goodreads, on your blogs and on twitter …and thank you for making me feel like this mad old writing business really is worthwhile!

Tues 1^st Nov  Oh, happy day!  My first full day back to writing after several months of book signings and gigs … and I’m relieved to report that the story is alive and well.  After several hours of writing, I took Charlie for a long walk in the Downs before getting home in time to share leftover spooky spider sweets with the kids.  Reading Dave Haslam’s Young Hearts Run Free for research and pleasure.

Wed 2^nd Nov  Another good day of writing, followed by my monthly creative writing workshop with writing pals Jane and Juliet.  My thoughts go out to our Zizzi’s waiter, whose visits to our table seemed universally to coincide with any creative discussions of a tawdry nature.  For the inopportune use of the words ‘breast’, ‘sexual tension’ and ‘knob’ I wholeheartedly apologise.

Thurs 3rd Nov  Tonight is my last book gig for the month, with fellow Chichester Book Club authors Jane Rusbridge and Gabrielle Kimm.  Fascinating book chats with audience, and lovely tea and cake courtesy of Susan at The Beach House Cafe in wonderful West Wittering by the sea.

Sat 5^th Nov  In a bid to regain some sense of order after a week of writerly neglect, I ran myself ragged, cleaning and trawling through the laundry mountain before getting down to the hell that is the kids’ homework.  We survived it, and in the evening went to friends’ for happy family supper and a box of fireworks.

Thurs 10^th Nov  Pleased to report that the word count is galloping upwards as my story unravels.  I’ve made significant breakthroughs, become absorbed in the 70s culture, and uncovered a few secrets I never suspected were there.  Feeling good about it all.  Spent a few hours away from my office for a bit of freelance work – gag writing, which is (as the name suggests) always a good laugh.

Sat 12^th Nov  Back late after a family wedding in Andover, just in time for the BBC4 dramatisation of Christos Tsiolkas’ The Slap – only to realise I’d already missed the first two episodes.  Thank technology for iplayer – I’ll be catching up on the other episodes this week.

Sun 13^th Nov  Remembrance Day.  Went into town to run a few errands, and ended up buying a much-coveted pair of Doc Marten’s boots, for old time’s sake.  My life is now complete.  Stayed up late reading Andy Beckett’s When the Lights Went Out, an evocative account of the 1970s – the era in which my next book is set.

Mon 14^th Nov  This morning, standing at the foot of the writing mountain, looking up, I got a bit wobbly about the huge task ahead.  Every now and then this happens.  Stopped to fix myself a big iced coffee and a pile of chocolate biscuits, and slowly the fear lifted (probably down to the powerful caffeine/sugar kick and subsequent productive afternoon).  Felt much better about it all by the end of the writing day, and looking forward to continuing tomorrow.

Tues 15^th Nov  ZERO writing today – thrown off course by family visit to the dentist’s, boring but obligatory paperwork and 10-year-old son’s well-overdue visit to the barber’s after school.  Some days you’ve just gotta throw the towel in …  Felt a bit grumpy about it until the kids showed me this:

Fri 18^th Nov  An early start, running about like a crazy woman, trying to help dress 13-year-old daughter in something ‘not embarrassing’ for Children in Need day at school.  But, now I’m back on track with the writing.  Paused between chapters for Parents’ Evening, a day’s gag writing, and Gabrielle Kimm’s latest book launch at Chichester Waterstone’s on Friday night.

Sat 19^th Nov  Downed tools to visit some old mates in London.  On Sunday morning, we enjoyed a walk in the pea-soup mist of Battersea Park, followed by a big pizza lunch.  Driving home, the fog gradually lifted to reveal a heart-stopping sunset over Goodwood.  Made a fire, poured a small glass of tawny port, and settled in to help kids with the last of their homework.

Mon 21^st Nov  I wrote all morning, before heading off to our local hospice, St Wilfrid’s, where my 10-year-old son has been a recent visitor with his school.  Along with lots of the other day patients and staff, I had the great pleasure of meeting Samson’s new pal, 90-year-old Roger, and heard how they have bonded over a shared enthusiasm for The Beano magazine.  We ate cake, listened to music and watched the kids and grown-ups each receive certificates to commemorate their time together.

Tues 22^nd Nov  Rose at 5am to get a couple of hours writing in before heading off for some more freelance work.  At the end of the day, my good husband revived me with a mid-week roast chicken supper and a glass of wine.  Looking forward to a clear run of writing tomorrow.

Thurs 24^th Nov  Oh joy.  Now it’s Explorer Day at school, and I’ve got to dress 10-year-old in a ‘not rubbish’ outfit.  I refused his pleas to go as a polar bear or penguin, and managed a decent-looking ‘adventurer’.

Delivered him outside the school gates, along with a pound (in 5p pieces) towards special explorer cooking costs, and two bags of swiftly sorted book donations for the Christmas fair.  Right … now back to the novel.

Footnote: To my eternal surprise and delight, son came home having won the ‘Best Costume’ award in his year.  It’s a family first.  I have previous form for bad/sad/embarrassing costumes … but today I am officially elevated to Good Parent status.

Fri 25^th Nov  Excellent writing day – rewarded with a bracing walk in the hills with Charlie-boy.  We paused to gaze down on my old friend, the red kite, hovering over the fields with its eye on some prey below.

A few skylarks still bombing about, and a biting Autumn wind coming in.

Sun 27^th Nov  A good weekend catching up on life.  Went for a favourite family walk before supper; lots of mushroom life in the woods, and birds overhead.  Crept into the barns for a glimpse of the owl, who teasingly let us hear its cry, but hid from view.  Prompted me to take a few photos and jot down some notes – just little things, but so often those are the things that bring life to a story.

Mon 28^th Nov  Gave myself the day off for domestic duties, in preparation for a girls’night in at mine.  A fun evening; lots of great pals over, food, drink, laughter and chat.

Tues 29^th Nov  Back to work.  Several hours of business stuff – emails, publisher conversations, preparing flyers for events, reworking my website.  Stopped for a sandwich at midday, and managed to get some decent writing in before Charlie stared me into taking him for a walk.  Am starting to feel a bit panicked that I haven’t organised anything for Christmas yet.

Wed 30^th Nov  Today I had great hopes of a full day’s writing … but national strikes means both kids are at home with me instead.  Oh well, these things happen.  We’re making the most of it though, baking jam tarts, making Christmas lists and now – writing my blog.

So, November, and my retreat from social networking, is at an end.  I’ve made great headway into the new novel, having had time to fully immerse myself in the characters and their era (I’m now even dreaming in ‘70s hues) and I’m full of the energy I need to keep writing.

I love my social communities, but sometimes the writing demands uninterrupted space to fully expand and develop.  And let’s face it – your twitter account will still be there when you go back to it!  Saying that, I’d better go and check mine now …

Autumn’s officially here!  I love it; welly boots and fallen leaves, open fires and cosy jumpers, homemade soup and toasted teacakes – what comforting and simple things in this hectic life.  After the summer launch of Hurry Up and Wait, and several months of interviews, talks and festivals, I’ve decided to shut myself away for the month of November to continue work on my third novel.

So, apart from my daily dog walks with Charlie-boy, and the very occasional night out for reviving pasta and wine, I’m entering the bubble.  Good luck with all your own endeavours throughout November (I hear lots of you will be entering into the spirit of NaNoWriMo) and I’ll look forward to speaking/tweeting again in December!

When I first signed with my publishers, I told them: ‘Whilst this is a work of fiction, it’s only right to tell you that it is borne out of my own experience: my father died of alcohol-related illness when I was nineteen.  I know there will be journalistic interest around my personal story, and right now, I’m not prepared to discuss it.’  I think my initial reluctance was partly wrapped up in the enormity of being on the brink of publication.  It was frightening enough to be putting my creative efforts up for scrutiny – but my private life too?

Guardian Oct '09

A few months later, the Guardian approached me, and having read the book they were interested in running a piece in the Family section, to coincide with Alcohol Awareness Week.  I gave it careful thought, and after discussing it with my family members, decided it would be a good thing to do.  The piece was emotionally gruelling to write, and after it was finally submitted I was left exhausted and bruised.  But my anxiety soon evaporated when I was inundated by messages of warmth and support from old friends and new, as well as from complete strangers who had read the article and taken hope from my story.

Red Magazine, Oct 2011

Over the next two years, I was asked several times, by several publications, for similar pieces.  Instinctively, I turned them down, feeling it not right to repeat the story so soon.  Then, this summer, Red magazine asked me if I would reconsider.  They sent me examples of other memoir features they had previously run, and I was struck by the sensitive treatment of each story.  I chatted to the features editor, discussing my thoughts on the subject – in particular how I would want any such piece to not only offer hope, but also to raise awareness of this hidden illness.  Again, I asked my family members for their blessing, and the piece went out in the October issue of Red.

Very few of my friends knew I was running the piece, and I had no idea that so many of them subscribed to Red magazine.  But over the following weeks many of them contacted me, some of them to say, ‘I never knew’, others to say, ‘me too’ – I was staggered by the numbers of people I knew who had some kind of family experience with alcoholism.  Soon after the magazine came out, I was approached by Nacoa, the National Association for Children of Alcoholics – inviting me to become involved with the charity as a supporter.  I was already aware of their great work, and naturally, I was honoured to accept their invitation.  I’m delighted to say that we are now working together to organise a special fundraising dinner in support of Children of Alcoholics Week in 2012.

Nacoa provides a vital information and helpline service to children affected by their parent’s drinking, with the key message: ‘You are not alone’.  It’s a little-known charity, supported by a number of high profile patrons such as Elle MacPherson, Calum Best and Tony Adams, who have added their voices to raise awareness of the issues faced by children in families affected by drink.  I couldn’t be more glad that I overcame my initial reluctance to talk about my own childhood experiences and I hope that now, in some small way, I can help to make a difference through my support of Nacoa.

You can support Nacoa by downloading their single A Change is Gonna Come for 79p from iTunes, and you can watch their video here:

East Wittering 1985

At book readings and festivals this is one of the questions I’m most often asked, perhaps because character is the element of a story that connects so profoundly with the reader.

The simplistic answer is ‘No’ – as a writer, it would be lazy to purely replicate a real person – not to mention potentially litigious.

However, whilst I don’t write characters straight from life, I do write them from particular character traits I have witnessed, or from small snatches of conversation overheard or from curious facial expressions I may have observed.  I was recently asked if the teacher in Hurry Up and Wait was based on someone particular from my own adolescent experience.  The answer of course is No, but the character did arise from a multitude of personal experiences with different teachers from my 1980s school days.

I remember one teacher who would habitually bark personal insults as the girls filed in and took their seats – telling me I could do with a good meal, telling my friend she was getting a bit chubby.  Another teacher called me out in front of a needlework class and measured my flat 12-year-old chest and laughed with the class as she declared I wouldn’t be needing a bra just yet.  Then there was the teacher who turned me away from her office when I went to tell her I’d been followed by a strange man on the bus the night before.  “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, before shutting the door on me.  It sounds crazy now, doesn’t it?  It’s hard to imagine what could have provoked these grown women to behave with such insensitivity towards the youngsters in their care.  Thankfully, there were also some good teachers at the school, but sadly, all too often it’s the unkind words which linger in a child’s memory.

So, you can see how this store of recollection might merge to develop into an entirely independent character – grown out of real experience, but given life in a new form.

Raymond Carver talks about this process of character development in his collection of essays, poems and stories, Fires (1968):

‘Little things – somebody saying something in a particular way; somebody’s wild, or low, nervous laughter; a landscape; an expression of sadness or bewilderment on somebody’s face; and I can remember some dramatic things – somebody picking up a knife and turning to me in anger; or else hearing my own voice threaten somebody else.’

These personal experiences and observations are what equips the writer’s imaginative toolbox – providing us with the little things we might draw upon at will; to rewrite, reshape and give new life.

What a wonderful job this is!

At every one of the groups I’ve attended recently, there’s been much nostalgic discussion around the years 1985/6, provoked by the world I created for protagonist Sarah Ribbons in Hurry Up and Wait.

And it’s not just the obvious markers of that era, like hair, music and fashion – it’s also the shifting social backdrop, the unpredictability of adolescent friendships, the pain of betrayal.  And there’s always much discussion around the subject of inappropriate relationships – and huge debate over what constitutes ‘inappropriate’.  But for me, most enjoyable of all has to be the laughter at these book meetings, through the shared stories of schooldays scrapes and toe-curling tales of youthful embarrassment.

To accompany my 1980s Hall of Fame/Shame, I thought it would be fun to ask you all – what were you doing in the school year of 1985/6?  To kick it off, here’s a tiny extract from Hurry Up and Wait.  Perhaps it might provoke a few memories . . .

The first morning back after half-term Sarah enters the toilets next to her form room and finds Kate and Tina bunched together at the far end.  They’ve all got exams scheduled after lunch, so the morning is meant to be spent revising.  Tina is leaning over the far basin, her white knuckles gripping the edge, as Kate forces a small gold stud through the ridge of cartilage at the top of Tina’s ear.

‘What are you doing – ?’ asks Sarah as she moves closer.

Kate turns and smiles.

‘Fuckafuckafuckafucka – ‘ Tina chants, her sharp body held rigid against the basin.

‘There!  Let me just pop the butterfly on,’ says Kate, looking delighted with herself.  ‘Da-dah!’

Tina looks side on at her reflection in the mirror.  ‘Shit,’ she mutters.

IA Schooldays 1980s

So, over to you . . .

Go on, entertain us with your memories from 1985/6 using the comment boxes below . . .

Happy Camper

I’m one of Twitter’s 300 million users, and as much as I love being part of its warm and friendly community, I’m all too aware that it can also be an enormous distraction to the struggling writer.

So, feeling in need of a bit of creative space, on 30th July I packed my bags for France and headed off with the family in the campervan, leaving the mobile phone, laptop and associated distractions behind for a month of technological cold turkey.

How would I cope?

La Font, Dordogne

We camped our way down country over a few days, passing through Beaumont, Limoges and Poitiers until we reached our final destination, a remote converted barn in the Dordogne near the bastide town of Monpazier, kindly lent to us by Paul, an old family friend.  It is in fact the very spot that inspired the final scenes in my first novel Glasshopper, the place we holidayed in for several summers when I was a child.

Tree Frog at La Font

Back then there was no electricity/bathroom/toilet – just a standpipe at the edge of the woods and a port-a-loo in the spidery brick shed a few feet from the house.  To wash we used to fill a tub in the morning, and leave it in the middle of the ‘lawn’ to warm up enough to bathe in at the end of the day, al fresco.

It’s still pretty basic, although these days there’s running water and electricity in the house, and even a bathroom which can be reached through the old barn (with the aid of a torch at night time, to avoid stepping on the little toads who like to come out to bask beneath the stars).

Writing at La Font

The children slipped into the soft rhythm of the place with ease, and our days were spent reading, playing cards, writing (me), creature hunting (kids), mushroom foraging (my husband) and of course, eating and enjoying the odd glass of wine, or two.  We discovered snakes, lizards, praying mantis, tree frogs, bats, buzzards and owls; we listened to the hum of cicadas by day, the scampering of mice by night.

Across the fields, La Font

Being removed from everyday life and its technological shackles had a profound effect on me and as I gazed out across the green valley, it wasn’t long before I caught up in a fantasy which involved me absconding from society altogether.  I would find a beautiful retreat (going for a song), in which I’d live with my family, undisturbed, without the evil intrusion of phones and internet, where we would grow our own vegetables, keep chickens, get a second dog and live happily ever after.  I could wear sloppy clothes every day, and throw away my makeup.  I’d write all morning and read all night; I’d walk for miles with my dogs, and I’d bake cakes daily to please my grateful children on their smiling return from school.  It would all be just PERFECT.

Dordogne Sunflowers

But then the time came to pack up the van and head back home.  Gradually, as we camped back up towards the port, the fantasy evaporated and, with heavy heart, I realised that I must return to the real world, where real people live and work and pay their real bills.  I dreaded turning my phone on.  I wasn’t even sure that I wanted to return to facebook/twitter/blogging at all . . .

When I stepped back onto British soil, I still had ten days left of my self-imposed tech-ban and at first that was just fine as I busied myself with washing and ironing and catching up with family and friends.  However, as the days ticked by I became increasingly itchy to get back onto Twitter and see what my booky pals were all up to.  I confess I did accept a few friend/follow requests as they popped up on my Blackberry, but otherwise I abstained until today, 30^th August – my birthday, when I’ve been drawn out of my cave by kind messages from tweeting/facebooking family and friends.

Evening at East Head

And I have to say, that despite my brief yearning to run for the hills (which I may still do, one day) . . . it’s good to be back.

*Source: Prima magazine, Oct 2011

HUAW Launch 2011

It’s been a busy few weeks since the launch of my second novel Hurry Up and Wait in June.

The book has been reviewed widely, I’ve been interviewed on radio and TV and enjoyed lots of readings and appearances to talk about the novel and writing in general.  It’s all been great fun … but quite frankly, I’m exhausted.  It’s time for me to crawl beneath a rock and enjoy a little peace with my family.

So for the month of August, I’ll be enjoying a technology ban, retiring myself from the social networking pleasures of twitter, facebook and blogging.  I wish you all well, and look forward to tweeting/poking/liking you all again in September.

Happy summer everyone.

Hurry Up and Wait for Kindle is on Summer Special Offer at just £1.49 .

But for the non-blockbuster, non-prize-winning, mid-list published author, the greatest fear of all is that they won’t sell enough books to be able to continue writing; a thought that for most is intolerable.

Thankfully, I’m part of the warm community of Twitter, in which I get to chat to other authors, readers and writers across the genres.  We share writing tips, alert each other to new opportunities and enjoy cheering conversations with the most important people of all – our readers.

This week I’ve been thinking about the ways in which we can all help our fellow authors in their uphill profession.  If you’ve loved a book, here are the 4 key things I think can make a big difference to an author:

1)  Tell others

I know this is obvious, but word of mouth is a powerful thing.  If you loved a book, tweet about it, facebook it and tell your mates at work.  The majority of books I read come to me through recommendation, and I love to discover new writing I’ve never heard of before.  So if you want to support a writer, just let the world know they exist!  I’ve recently met a number of lovely readers on twitter, who often retweet my news updates and post engaging, positive reviews of all the books they have read and enjoyed.  Amongst many others, I’m particularly thankful to @shazjera @pamreader @ibc4 @hmhunt who are the ultimate supportive tweeps.  To them I say thank you!  In return I try to retweet their updates and direct people to their fascinating writing & review blogs, which are always worth a look.

2)  Recommend an undiscovered book to your Book Group

I belong to a book group, and I can honestly say our most enjoyable, excitable discussions have been when we’ve read new authors.  This year, The Book of Fires was universally loved by everyone in my reading group – something we’d never experienced before when reading the high-profile, more obvious choices listed on, for example, The Richard and Judy Book Club.  And if you have an author living on your doorstep, make contact and they may be more than happy to return the favour by attending one of your reading group meetings.

3)  Post an Amazon Review

You can’t underestimate how much an Amazon review means to authors.  This is because a) it tells the writer you loved their book (we all need a boost every now and then) b) it tells other readers this is a great read and c) it influences the movers and shakers in the book industry.  To a lesser-known writer, reviews are their life-blood, as they show the world that this is book worth reading!  In the past year, amongst others, I’ve posted reviews for Jane Rusbridge, Gabrielle Kimm, Kate Long, Marika Cobbold, Jonathan Kemp and Elizabeth Haynes – all writers I’ve chatted to on Twitter and whose books I’ve enjoyed reading.  It’s a great way to show to support, and it helps Amazon to give you intelligent recommendations based on your reading preferences.

4)  Give undiscovered books as gifts

Now that I have first-hand experience as a struggling writer, I always give books as gifts to my friends and family.  My most gifted books this year were The Devil’s Music, His Last Duchess, The Book of Fires and Shooting Butterflies.  I loved reading them myself, and they’re all written by authors who I believe deserve a higher-profile.  The recipients raved about the books, and were delighted to discover authors they might never have come across otherwise.  And don’t you just love the feeling of being the first to discover something new?  So, for birthdays, Christmas, Secret Santas, teachers’ gifts etc etc – give ‘em a book!

We really are fortunate to have so many diverse and exciting writers emerging in the UK – let’s work together to keep them writing.  Thanks to all my readers and fellow writers for their much appreciated support.