Tag Archives: Leo

Shaz Stars interviews author Sue Watson

In the hot seat today I would like to welcome:

SUE WATSON

Hello Sue, thank you for letting us have a peek behind thescenes.  Your sun sign is LEO.

  • A typical Leo loves glamorous locations and adventure.  Have you ever researched an idea on holiday?  Or taken a trip purely for research?
Well, you are spot on – I LOVE the idea of glamorous holidays, but I haven’t ever been able to afford the luxury of a glamorous trip purely for research. However, we’re planning a once in a lifetime family holiday to California next summer where I hope to make copious notes for my third book. This will probably be a sequel to Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes and the current working title is Flip Flops and Fairy Cakes. I want to take Stella and her friends on a rollercoaster working trip to Hollywood where they make fairy cakes for the stars. And I want to enjoy those turquoise swimming pools and glamorous surroundings along with them!
  

  • Leonine people set themselves high standards.  When you edit your writing, can this become a problem and cause you frustration?
As a person I am incredibly untidy and while working from home am happy in jogging bottoms – some days I don’t even brush my hair unless the doorbell goes! However, you are absolutely right – I am a perfectionist when it comes to writing. I will edit and re-edit and it can become a problem especially for my lovely, patient editor Jo Doyle who sometimes suggests a slight revision and is presented with a rewrite and an extra five thousand words! I have to give myself a deadline and allow myself only limited editing because I find that however many times you edit – you will always find another bit you want to rewrite. Even reading a final copy of the book can be tough for me because I see things I feel I could improve – but you have to know when to stop.
  

  • Leo’s love drama.  A typical Leo will dislike safety.  Do you take risks in your writing projects?
I think my characters are complete drama queens and they do and say stuff that I can only imagine doing. I think I’m a true Leo inside in that I love drama – yet I don’t always find it easy to be dramatic. As for taking risks I think the decision to become a writer and (as in my case) give up a career to devote your time to a keyboard is in itself a high risk business. Until you are published there is no way of knowing your writing will ever be seen by anyone else and you go ahead blindly hoping that one day your words will see light of day. Like all writers, I do it for the love of writing– but in this day and age one needs an income and to abandon a well-paid career to earn nothing is the riskiest thing I have ever done.

  • Leo energy generally expresses itself as positive thinking – positive thinking attracts opportunities.  Are you a positive thinker?  Can you share with us a time when positive thinking brought a blessing?
Yes I think on the whole I am an incredibly positive thinker. There was a point – about two years ago when I was rejected by all the major publishers and my agent dumped me. I was devastated and for a few weeks I gave up any ideas about writing for a living. But something drove me on and it was belief in my book Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes – and positive thinking about the future. I just kept sending out the MS and telling myself not to give up on this dream. I didn’t… I kept on despite the pain of rejection and one day I was called by Rickshaw Publishing, who loved my writing and signed me up.
  •      In romance, Leo’s have high aspirations and are idealistic.  Do any of your lead characters fulfil these expectations?

I think my main character Stella, in ‘Fat Girls and FairyCakes,’ is very idealistic about love and life. She wants it all, from the perfect marriage to the perfect child to the perfect career, which is bound to lead to disappointment. Life has a few surprises around the corner for Stella and this takes her and the reader on a funny, sad, emotional journey that she never thought she would have to take. I’m more realistic than Stella, but I think her feelings at times echo mine – we both want passion and romance and aren’t prepared to settle for anything less than perfect. Stella has a glossy magazine version of what she wants her life to be like and if, at times it doesn’t meet her expectations and she finds solace in baking. When even baking doesn’t calm her down, Stella decides to fight back – with some extraordinary results.

  •       Smaller problems are not an issue for those ruled by the Sun,which enables them to see the bigger picture. Are you able to focus on your writing projects as a whole?  Does this help when you find things may not be going so well?

Yes, I have to force myself to focus on the bigger picture and when I do it certainly helps. I’m currently writing my second novel and some days I feel like I’m not being sharp or witty enough and it’s taking forever. This can get me down until I look at the huge amount I’ve already written and tell myself I will get there and I need to relax and not force things. On those days I like to move the narrative forward and I fill in the funny /sad/emotional bits later on when I’m more in the mood – like colouring in a line picture.

  • The Sun, your ruler, bestows life and light to all.  Leo’s get an inordinate amount of pleasure from helping others enjoy life as much as they do.  Leo’s love to be in the spotlight and to shine!  Do you think this energy motivates your ambition to write?
Absolutely! Since my book came out I have had so much attention and support from wonderful friends who have hosted launches for me and opened champagne and bought my book. I really love being at the centre of attention and I am loving the radio interviews and the blog interviews and this is certainly one element of writing that is keeping me at the laptop working on Book Number Two. I LOVE doing interviews like this with Shaz’s Stars because after all the self-doubt and rejections it reminds me that I’ve done it – I have a book out and am finally a ‘proper’ author.

Thank you so much – it’s slightly spooky how spot on you are!
Thank you Sue, it’s been a pleasure chatting to you today.


Sue was a showcased author with Loveahappyending which is an interactive reader/author website.  Visit Loveahappyending to find out more about this brilliant project and how you, as a reader, can support them. 



Author Biography:
I started my career as a print journalistworking for national newspapers and women’s magazines, before becoming a TVProducer with the BBC. I have worked on cookery programmes, hospital wards,Daytime sofas and garden makeovers. This has given me a profound and deeplyshallow knowledge of life-saving, cake-making and bulb planting. My TVexperience has also provided the inspiration behind my debut novel, ‘Fat Girlsand Fairy Cakes.’

Author Weblinks:
Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes is available in paperback andKindle from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fat-Girls-Fairy-Cakes-Watson/dp/0956536824/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311071904&sr=1-1
My FB Books page is Sue Watson Books http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sue-Watson-Books/201121939909514
My blog is http://fatgirlsandfairycakes.blogspot.com/
And I tweet @suewatsonwriter


  • Paperback: 349 pages
  • Publisher: Rickshaw Publishing (8 Sep 2011)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0956536824
  • ISBN-13: 978-0956536822

Can you really make a living from indulging in your dreams? TV Producer Stella Weston is over worked, over weight and under fire. Having battled uphill for years to balance her career with her family life, she is repaid by being put out to pasture on a religious gardening programme complete with a nervous vicar, his nymphomaniac wife, and 22 stone Britney wannabe gardener, Gerald. In the past, comfort has always been found at the bottom of her mixing bowl but when even the most delicious lemon sponge with zesty frosting cannot save the day, Stella decides enough is enough. However, finding the courage to quit is sometimes the easy part. Can you really turn a passion into a profession? Does more time at home actually give you a happier family life? Are men truly from Mars or another universe altogether? Stella has to roll up her sleeves and find out – when the going gets tough, the tough get baking….





Shaz Stars interviews author Patricia Sands

In the hot seat today I would like to welcome:

Patricia Sands

Hello Patricia, thank you for letting us have a peek behindthe scenes.  Your sun sign is  LEO.

  • A typical Leo loves glamorous locations and adventure.  Have you ever researched an idea on holiday?  Or taken a trip purely for research?

That’s a timely question Shaz! Are you psychic as well? As we speak, I’m spending 4 months in the south of France where I’m writing my next novel. A good portion of the story is set in this area. My husband and I arrived in Antibes on May 15 and we will be here until the end of September when we’ll return to our home in Toronto. I’m having a wonderful time feeling like I actually live here and if it weren’t for missing our family (particularly adorable grandchildren), we would stay forever!

  • Leonine people set themselves high standards.  When you edit your writing, can this become a problem and cause you frustration?

You’re right about that! I do set high standards in everything I do and sometimes need to be reminded to ease up. As a former schoolteacher, grammar is a major issue with me and I have radar that can spot a typo or a spelling error a mile away. I always like to have a proper editor go through my work as well and find the process extremely worthwhile.

  

  • Leo’s love drama.  A typical Leo will dislike safety.  Do you take risks in your writing projects?

I’m not sure about the drama part ( I love to watch it!) but I am a risk-taker. I do have a comfort zone when it comes to the topics about which I write but within those topics I’m prepared to push the limits. In the final chapter of my novel, The Bridge Club, I address a topic that is controversial as well as current. I was initially concerned that some readers might be offended but I felt so strongly about the subject matter that I knew I had to write about it. I’ve received very positive feedback about it and book clubs have enjoyed the discussion it generates. It’s always nice to discover that the risk was worth it!

  

  • Leo energy generally expresses itself as positive thinking – positive thinking attracts opportunities.  Are you a positive thinker?  Can you share with us a time when positive thinking brought a blessing?

I am a positive thinker through and through. One of my alter egos is Pollyanna Patty and I’m often teased about it! I’m thankful to my Leo energy for this and although I can’t pinpoint a specific example, I feel that I have been blessed through my life as the result of an optimistic attitude. I was widowed at 43 and gained an ever more positive outlook through that devastating experience. I truly believe that every day is a gift to appreciate and give as much to as we possibly can.

  

  • In romance, Leo’s have high aspirations and are idealistic.  Do any of your lead characters fulfil these expectations?

In The Bridge Club several of the characters had experienced very different dimensions of romance in their relationships but that was not the main focus of any of their stories. In my next novel, still untitled, romance is very much at the forefront (spoiler alert) and the main character realizes she is only just discovering romance for the first time in her fifties. At the beginning of the story she thinks her life is pretty much over in many ways and subsequently discovers it is only just beginning. It’s never too late for romance!

  

  • Smaller problems are not an issue for those ruled by the Sun which enables them to see the bigger picture.  Are you able to focus on your writing projects as a whole?  Does this help when you find things may not be going so well?

I tend to be a “pantser” in my writing, rather than a planner but even so I generally have a clear idea of the bigger picture. However part of the fun of writing is seeing where the characters lead you as they begin to take on lives of their own. I’m often very surprised to discover twists and turns in the story. If things aren’t going well, I step away from my writing and go for a walk or play a game of golf. When I sit down at the computer again I’m usually ready to get right back to it.

  

  • The Sun, your ruler, bestows life and light to all.  Leo’s get an inordinate amount of pleasure from helping others enjoy life as much as they do.  Leo’s love to be in the spotlight and to shine!  Do you think this energy motivates your ambition to write?

I’ve been a storyteller all my life through photography. So in that regard, I like to put others in the spotlight but my ego is constantly patting me on the back for the brilliant photo. Does that sound like a Leo? My family and my friends are the most important things in my life and making sure we are all happy and enjoying life to the fullest is what drives me. I’m really not sure what motivates me to write. What I do know is that I love the experience!  (An unexpected side benefit to this adventure of being a writer is the amazing global community of writers that one meets. The amount of information sharing is without measure and the wonderful connections made are priceless.)


Thank you for your honesty Patricia.


Patricia is a showcased author with Loveahappyending which is an interactive reader/author website.  Visit Loveahappyending to find out more about this brilliant project and how you, as a reader, can support them. 
Author Biography:
Patricia Sands lives in Toronto, Canada and is a graduate of theUniversity of Waterloo and York University. With a happily blended family ofseven adult children and, at last count, six grandchildren, life is full andtime is short. Beginning with a Kodak Brownie camera at the age of six, she hastold stories all her life through photography. Her award-winning debut novelThe Bridge Club is a finalist in the Foreword Reviews 2010 Book of The Year(general fiction) and 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards (First Novel).Currently, she is working on her next novel.

Author Weblinks:


Author Website:  http://www.patriciasandsauthor.com
Author Blog:  http://www.patriciasands.wordpress.com
Twitter A/c @Patricia_Sands:  http://bit.ly/rbk8i1
Facebook page Patricia Sands:  http://on.fb.me/lvigrm and
Facebook page The Bridge Club: http://on.fb.me/m3NfQY







  • Paperback: 396 pages
  • Publisher: iUniverse.com (25 Aug 2010)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1450241352
  • ISBN-13: 978-1450241359

For more than forty years, the mantra of the eight women in the Bridge Club has been “one for all and all for one.” Beginning their monthly soiree in the psychedelic Sixties, unpredicted twists of fate weave through the good times and strong friendship they share as the years pass. The constant from one decade to the next is loyal and nonjudgmental support, even when agreeing to disagree is the final solution. From the exhilarating cultural changes of their early times together through the “zoomer” years, their connection never falters.As they celebrate turning sixty (give or take a year) at a group birthday weekend, each woman recalls a challenging time in her life when the Bridge Club came to the rescue. After tossing around ideas mixed with a generous helping of common sense and a large dose of laughter they decide to refer to that time as their “SOS”. Eight chapters document each one’s story.
Everything is put into perspective and the strength of their friendship is truly tested when one of these women faces a life-altering decision. Her choice profoundly affects all members of the group, pushing the limits of their beliefs and values. The unique alliance they share is confronted with a crisis none of them might have imagined.









Shaz Stars interviews Associate Reader Louise Graham

In the hot seat today I would like to welcome:

LOUISE GRAHAM

Hello Louise, thank you for letting us have a peek behind the scenes into your reading habits.  Your sun sign is LEO.

  • A typical Leo loves glamorous locations and adventure.  Is this a genre that you like to have on your bookshelf?

I must admit I love the glamour of a posh location or reading about how the other half live in novels. I have even called our new kitten Taittinger as it sounded delightfully posh!! Always been a big fan of Jackie Collins as you don’t get more glitz and glamour than her books and lately a lady called Sasha Wagstaff. Saying that however, I also enjoy other genres and don’t have a favourite genre of books. Where ever the mood takes me at the time!

  • Leonine people set themselves high standards.  Does this become a problem for you when you’re writing your book reviews?  Do you find yourself editing what you’ve written because you think it could be better (when in fact others would see it as adequate).

I write my reviews then read them to someone for confirmation that they are ok and then constantly try to improve what I have put! Sometimes I am tweaking for the sake of tweaking!

  • In romance, Leo’s have high aspirations and are idealistic.  If you read the romance genre, do the characters live up to your romantic expectations?  What makes a character believable for you?

I love a happy ending and as single person it gives me hope! Must admit, I would love to read a romantic novel that doesn’t always end that way and that is more true to life but I’m guessing the happy ending is what we expect! A character is believable if things happen in realistic times or I feel I can relate to them in some way. Or they have to be so fabulously rich and everything is so extreme… just the way I imagine the Posh people live!!

  • Those ruled by the Sun are able to see the bigger picture.  Do you predict what may happen as you’re reading, taking your cues from inference?  Do you see a twist in the plot coming?  Have you started to read anything that is predictable and not finished the story?

Often in a romantic novel it is obvious that the main characters will end up together so that is a given. However, how they come together and all the twists and turns are the exciting parts. Do I see plots coming – only sometimes. A great book, not so much! Very few books do I give up on.

  • Leo’s are generous and warm-hearted.  How do you feel when you have to write a review for a book that just wasn’t for you?  Do you focus on the positives but also include what you didn’t like and why?  Or do you decide not to write a review for that particular book.  What is your approach?

Totally focus on the positives. What good would writing a shocking review to a book do for anyone. I caveat what I write by explaining while it wasn’t my sort of book for whatever the reason is but would find things that were good about it. I hate to offend people and would never do that.

  • A typical Leo will dislike safety.  Do you take risks in choosing genres to read or do you stick to one genre?  What makes you pick up a book and decide to read it?

I read whatever I see on the shelf that takes my fancy. I like to go from a heavy storyline book to a light a breezy book. I also love people recommending books to me of authors I have never tried before. I’ll try anything!

Thank you Louise for your honest answers!

ABOUT LOUISE

I’m a 30 something single mother to my gorgeous 9 year old daughter Jessica, living in South Wales. I work fulltime in the IT industry, which takes me up and down the M4 for a few days most weeks. I find reading to be a great release from day to day woes. You can’t beat the feeling of a great book that makes you want to stay up into the early hours because you are just so excited to see what happens next! Often find I get rather sad when I reach the end of a good book as I miss the characters!!

 Recently been invited to become an Associated Reader for http://www.loveahappyending.com and I am so proud to be part of this group. I have very recently set up a blog to review books that I have read and you can find me on www.lougrahamiiblog.wordpress.com or on twitter @lougrahamii

 

 


Shaz’ Stars interviews Associate Reader Kim Nash

In the hot seat today I would like to welcome:


KIM NASH

Hello Kim, thank you for letting us have a peek behind thescenes into your reading habits.  Yoursun sign is LEO.


  1. A typical Leo loves glamorous locations and adventure.  Is this a genre that you like to have on your bookshelf? 

I do like to read about glamorouslocations and a bit of adventure but not too much!   Something that takes me out of my everyday “normal” life, into aworld that I might like to step into!  Ido like books to be realistic though as I’m bit cynical and find it hard tobelieve things that are really over the top! I struggle a bit with sci-fi. Can’t watch any films that are unrealistic as I just can’t relate tothem and sit there thinking that it couldn’t possibly happen anyway!  And it’s the same with books for me.  My favourite type of book is chick lit.  I love a happy ever after, dream come trueromance that leaves me feeling all happy and warm when I’ve read it.   I also love to read books aboutfriendships, they’re a very important part of life and I like to read aboutother people’s friends and their relationships.  Milly Johnson’s wonderful latest novel Here Come The Girls wasall about friendship and I loved it!   Ireally enjoy reading about life after death and mediums.  Read a couple of fanastic books latelyTouched by the Light by Linn B Halton and Discovery at Rosehill by KathrynBrown – both excellent paranormal romances which I thoroughly enjoyed. 
  1. Leonine people set themselves high standards.  Does this become a problem for you when you’re writing your book reviews?  Do you find yourself editing what you’ve written because you think it could be better (when in fact others would see it as adequate).
Is that why I do it?  I do read, and re-read, and read it again tomake sure it sounds right.  I also worrythat there can’t be any spelling mistakes in it, as I work for a company thatoffer copywriting as one of our services so we have to be hot on having thingsspelt correctly and also grammatically correct.  And one of my bosses Linda has a bit of a thing about apostrophesso I’m scared still that I might put them in the wrong place.  I’ve actually known myself rewrite a wholesentence and change the wording to remove the apostrophe completely rather thanget it wrong!  One of my pet hates isreading spelling mistakes.  I rememberhaving an email argument once with someone and I couldn’t focus on theargument, just the fact that it wasn’t spelt correctly! Bit strange but that’sme I’m afraid!
  1. In romance, Leo’s have high aspirations and are idealistic.  In the romance genre, do the characters live up to your romantic expectations?  What makes a character believable for you? 
This is definitely my genre. As Isaid earlier, I do like a happy ever after story and I also quite like a bit ofa hero.  I recently read Who’s Afraid ofMr Wolfe by Hazel Osmond and the male character Jack Wolfe was just perfectalong with Ellie who was also a fab character, sassy, clever, hardworking,beautiful, someone to admire and look up to. Hazel definitely has a knack of making her characters believable.  Bagpipes and Bullshot by Janice Horton wasalso a proper happy ever after story with fabulously believablecharacters.  I suppose every girl’sdream is to be whisked away by a handsome man who is going to love her and lookafter her – or is that just me?
  1. Those ruled by the Sun are able to see the bigger picture.  Do you predict what may happen as you are reading, taking your cues from inference?  Do you see a twist in the plot coming?  Have you started to read anything that is predictable and not finished the story?
I try not to look too far aheadin a book.  I never read the last pageas I wouldn’t want to spoil the whole book by peeking at the end.  I try to read it as I go along, although ina book I recently read called The Surprise Party by Sue Welfare, I did havesuspicions about a certain character that turned out to be correct.   I don’t mind predictability and I don’tthink I’ve ever not finished a book even if I’m not really enjoying it,although they are very few and far between.
Q.               Leo’s are generous and warm-hearted.  How do you feel when you have to write a review for a book thatjust wasn’t for you?  Do you focus onthe positives but also include what you didn’t like and why?  Or do you decide not to write a review forthat particular book.  What is yourapproach?
I’m so lucky that so far Ihaven’t had this crop up.  I’m dreadingit though because if someone has gone to all that trouble to write, publish andmarket a book, and ask me to do a review, I’d hate to put the dampers on it forthem by saying that I didn’t like it.  I’ve only been blogging about books for about five months, so any adviceanyone can give on how to handle that would be much appreciated. 
(Ed:  Arethere any readers who are able to offer advice to Kim on how to handle thissituation for the future?)
Q.  A typical Leowill dislike safety.  Do you take risksin choosing genres to read or do you stick to one genre?  What makes you pick up a book and decide toread it?
I am a complete magpie and likeanything shiny, sparkly and colourful on a cover.  I also like pictures that look nice and that I can relateto.  One of the first books that I wasasked to review was Mothers & Daughters by Kate Long and when it arrived inthe post and I unwrapped it, I was delighted because it was a white backgroundwith pink and purple (purple being my favourite colour!) shoes and handbags andit was sparkly and glittery!  I loved itjust by looking at the cover.  And againto mention Hazel Osmond’s Who’s Afraid of Mr Wolfe, again purple and sparkly –a gorgeous cover.  I’ve received a bookthis week to review called Turning the Tide by Christine Stovell and the coveris the most gorgeous picture of a lady sat on some rocks by water looking atthe most gorgeous coloured sky.  That’sthe sort of picture that attracts me to a book, then when I’ve read what itsabout, if it sounds like something I’m going to gel with, I’ll read it. 
Thank you for sharing your reading habits and blogging skills Kim.

Kim is an Associate Reader for Loveahappyending which is an interactive reader/author website.  Visit Loveahappyending to find out more about this brilliant project and how you, as a reader, can support them.



About Kim The Book Worm

Momto my delicious three year and a half old son Oliver, marketing co-ordinator atPassionate Media and reviewer for http://www.havealovelytime.com/ Ihave always been an avid reader since I was a child.  I always remember mydarling Mom telling me not to stay awake too late reading, but I ignored heradvice and would sit up till all hours with my nose in a book dying to get tothe end!   She didn’t mind really, she was exactly the same when shewas young – obviously where I got it from. 

I’ve read millions of fabulous books over the years.  One of the mostmemorable ones which still sticks in my mind now, is Lets Meet on Platform 8 byCarole Matthews.  This book that had me feeling the raw emotions of themain character which has stayed with me even though I read it a million yearsago!  She is still one of my favourite authors and I can’t wait till herlatest books come out so I can get them straight away! 

When I was young, I always imagined myself grown up and having my own bookpublishing company where I was sent millions of books and I got to read themall, that was going to be my job!  Fantastic.  I’m now 42 years oldand have never got my dream of my own book publishing company but recentlydecided that I was going to do something that I loved doing and that was toread and to comment upon the books that I read. 

During reading a book called Spring Affair by the wonderful Milly Johnson, Iwrote to Milly and had to tell her how fabulous, motivating and inspirational Ifound her book.  It was all about clutter clearing and made me immediatelygo and clear out my cupboards then look at different aspects of my life and Isuppose that moment was the instigating moment that made me decide to dothis blog.  Milly wrote back to me the same day to thank me for mycomments and I’ve kept in touch with her a few times and suggested my idea toher and she told me to go for it. 

For that Milly, I am eternally grateful.  You are a fabulous author and awonderful lady and thank you so much for your kind words andencouragement. 

Even though I find myself saying that I don’t have time to do lots of things, Ialways manage to find time to read especially when I’m on holiday, althoughwith a 3 and a half year old, its not always easy.  I can get throughloads of books on my hols, upsetting my other half very much when he bought methe latest James Patterson hardback before we went on our last holiday, and I’dread it before the end of the day! 

I work for a PR and editiorial agency in Cannock, Staffs called PassionateMedia as a Marketing Co-ordinator.  I absolutely love working with thepeople there, such a genuine and lovely group of people. 


I hope that my wonderful Mom is looking down on me from heaven and is proud ofthe fact that I’ve created this blog all about books and that she’s happy thatI’m able to spend a little of my time doing something that I thoroughly enjoy.
You can read Kim’s book reviews at: http://kimthebookworm.blogspot.com/
Follow Kim on twitter : @kimthebookworm

Shaz’ Stars interview Author Chris Longmuir

In the hot seat today I would like to welcome:



CHRIS LONGMUIR



Hello Chris, thank you for letting us have a peek behind thescenes.  Your sun sign is LEO.


  1. A typical Leo loves glamorous locations and adventure.  Have you ever researched an idea on holiday?  Or taken a trip purely for research?
Not really.My books are set much closer to home so when I want to check out locations oranything else it’s only a short drive away. However, I did indulge in an OrientExpress holiday with some of the prize money I won with Dead Wood. I’d alwaysfancied the Orient Express, well what crime writer wouldn’t, particularly anAgatha Christie fan. I travelled on the Orient Express to Venice, had five daysthere in a luxury hotel, and travelled back the same way. I did look forHercule Poirot, but he was nowhere to be seen. No murders either, but thejourney was out of this world. Didn’t come cheap, but then the DundeeInternational Book Prize is one of the largest cash prizes in Europe, so Ispoiled myself.

  1. Leonine people set themselves high standards.  When you edit your writing, can this become a problem and cause you frustration?
You’re right,of course. It’s a pain being a bit of a perfectionist, although I’m sure thefinished book is all the better for that. I don’t plot, I’m a pantster, so thatmeans when I write a chapter I have no idea where the next one is going. As aresult at the end of each chapter I go back and edit, I add bits, I deletebits, I look for parts where I might have told the story and try to change itto a show style. By the time I’ve done this, the next chapter is simmering inmy mind, and so it goes on until the book is finished. But that’s not the end.I go back over the whole thing, editing, revising and rewriting. Checking anddouble checking. I use ‘Find and Replace’ for things like common misspellings,whether my apostrophes are in the correct place and so forth. I look to seewhether I’ve put some kind of description of characters in, because this issomething I’m inclined to miss out. I have been known to exceed 22 draftsbefore I’m satisfied. Then it goes out to my two editors, one edits for grammarand spelling (she’s very picky), the other reads for storyline and continuity.After I’ve attended to what they’ve picked up, the book is sent to a literaryagency for a final edit. End of story.

  1. Leo’s love drama.  A typical Leo will dislike safety.  Do you take risks in your writing projects?
As I said,I’m a pantster not a plotter so every book I write is a big risk. What if it doesn’twork out? What if the block that usually comes about half-way through is set inconcrete? What if I can’t dig myself out of the hole I’ve created? What if?What if? What if? Life is full of what ifs. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  1. Leo energy generally expresses itself as positive thinking – positive thinking attracts opportunities.  Are you a positive thinker?  Can you share with us a time when positive thinking brought a blessing?
I’ve alwaysbeen a positive thinker. If I hadn’t been I would have given up writing yearsago. I’ve been writing now for more than twenty years, and concentrating onnovels for the past ten years. And I think that anyone who writes will identifywith the fruitless round of agents and publishers that comes to nothing,beating your head off a brick wall that never seems to chip. Given all that,it’s difficult to identify a specific time when positive thinking brought ablessing. The only thing that might remotely relate to that was my firstpublished novel Dead Wood. I spent four years hawking it round publishers andagents with nothing but rejection each time. But that book went on to win amajor literary prize, the Dundee International Book Prize, in 2009, so I reckonit must have had some sort of merit, and now I think about it, if the book hadbeen accepted by a publisher I wouldn’t have been eligible for the prize whichin money terms was more than most writers get for their first advance. Thanksfor letting me see my blessing in disguise.

(You’re welcome J)

  1. In romance, Leo’s have high aspirations and are idealistic.  Do any of your lead characters fulfil these expectations?
Not in theslightest. My lead characters are all flawed individuals. Their aspirations arejust getting through the day and surviving. Kara, in Dead Wood is a single mumwho goes on the game to pay off her partner’s debt and then gets embroiled witha serial killer and gangsters. Julie, in Dead Wood, stalks the woman who stoleher husband and wants to punish her. Belle, in a Salt Splashed Cradle, isforever fighting her passions.

  1. Smaller problems are not an issue for those ruled by the Sun, which enables them to see the bigger picture.  Are you able to focus on your writing projects as a whole?  Does this help when you find things may not be going so well?
I’m not sureabout this one. As part of being a positive thinker there is a tendency in meto ignore problems so, I suppose, smaller problems just don’t exist. I’m not aworrier therefore I tend to get engrossed in writing projects without being tooconcerned whether they are going to work out. When I’m writing a book I do itin chapter chunks, which gradually link up to make a whole. There are timeswhen the writing is slow, usually in the early stages, and that is probablybecause I haven’t got entirely under the skin of one of the characters. My wayof dealing with this is to focus on that character before I go to sleep and mysubconscious usually does the rest. I can wake up with a complete scene in mymind. Once a book passes the halfway mark, the writing speeds up, and often itis the characters who decide which way the story will go. I love to besurprised by them.

  1. The Sun, your ruler, bestows life and light to all.  Leo’s get an inordinate amount of pleasure from helping others enjoy life as much as they do.  Leo’s love to be in the spotlight and to shine!  Do you think this energy motivates your ambition to write?
I’ve alwaysenjoyed life, even in the blacker moments that come to us all. I suppose I doenjoy being in the spotlight at times, although there are others where I amquite happy to be in the background. One thing that motivates me though, is aneed to prove myself. When I was a child I was painfully shy which was oftenwhy I buried myself in books. I also think I had a massive inferiority complex.Both are gone how, I think, but it has left me with this urge to push myself,to prove to everyone I can do it, and that doesn’t only relate to writing. Itaffected me in my working life as well, and once I became a social worker Ipushed onwards and upwards until I was an Assistant Principal Officer, only 2steps away from the Director’s job. So now I push myself to write the best bookI can. The biggest reward for me now is if a reader enjoys what I have written.

Thank you for sharing with us Chris.

Chris is a showcased author with Loveahappyending which is an interactive reader/author website.  Visit Loveahappyending to find out more about this brilliant project and how you, as a reader, can support them.


Author Bio
Chris was born in the south of England, but was shanghaiedto Scotland at the tender age of two. She now considers herself to be Scottish.She left school at fifteen and worked in a variety of jobs including offices,shops, factories and mills, and she was a bus conductress for a time. Shestudied for and gained an Open University degree in mid life, followed by apost graduate diploma in social work. Chris took early retirement from hersocial work career to concentrate on her writing. Despite being well publishedin magazines her novels were slower to take off. However, in 2009, she won theprestigious Dundee International Book Prize, which led to publication of DeadWood in paperback. Since then she has published two ebooks, Night Watcher, andA Salt Splashed Cradle.
Author Weblinks
Website – http://www.chrislongmuir.co.uk/index.html
Blog – http://chrislongmuir.blogspot.com/
Twitter – @ChrisLongmuir
Facebook – Chris Longmuir


  • Paperback: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Polygon An Imprint of Birlinn Limited (4 Jun 2009)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 1846971209
  • ISBN-13: 978-1846971204

In a grim Dundee of urban decay and criminal deprivation what happens when the cold, calculating world of gangland retribution collides with the psychosis of a serial killer? Kara has a debt to gangster Tony and takes to the streets to earn the cash. On a job she encounters the killer’s victims’ dumped in the woods just outside the city. Terrified, she escapes, making an anonymous phone call to the police. An investigation led by newcomer DC Louise Walker begins, but she is not the only one determined to catch the killer. Tony, devastated to learn that his daughter is one of the victims, vows revenge. Who will find the killer first? And what kind of justice will prevail?

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 480 KB
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Publisher: Chris Longmuir; 1 edition (8 Mar 2011)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language English
  • ASIN: B004RCWYQK

A mysterious stranger arrives in Dundee, Scotland, with a mission to find a new Chosen One to punish. His inner voices guide him to Nicole, a ruthless business woman with a weakness for the husbands of other women.
One of Nicole’s paramours is found hanged and everyone assumes he has committed suicide. However, his estranged wife, Julie, knows better and blames his death on Nicole. Obsessed with the need to punish Nicole, Julie stalks her, unaware that there is another stalker, the deranged and dangerous Night Watcher.

Who will exact punishment on Nicole first?
What price will Nicole have to pay for her misdemeanors?
Will Julie’s mind games drive Nicole over the edge?
And what price will Julie have to pay for her obsession?

Only the Night Watcher knows!

The Night Watcher is Chris Longmuir’s second crime novel. Her first, Dead Wood, won the Dundee International Book Prize in 2009. A print edition was published by Polygon and was so successful the first print run was exhausted within four months.

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 368 KB
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language English
  • ASIN: B0052ENBFA

This historical saga is set in a Scottish fishing village in the 1830’s and reflects the living conditions and the morals of the ordinary fisher folk of that time.
The novel follows the relationships of Belle, her husband, Jimmie, her daughter Sarah, her mother-in-law, Annie, and the rest of the Watt family.
James and Annie Watt are a typical fisher family, and Annie is horrified when Jimmie, her eldest son, brings Belle to the village as his new bride. She makes her displeasure obvious to Belle who struggles to find acceptance in the village. Belle is engaged in a losing battle however, because the villagers regard her as an incomer.
Jimmie, anxious to buy his own boat, leaves the fishing village to sail with a whaling ship. The story follows him to the Arctic, and on a whale hunt, before he returns home again.
Meanwhile in his absence, Belle has fallen for the charms of Lachlan, the Laird’s son, and embarks on a tempestuous affair with him. When Jimmie returns she struggles with her feelings for him and for Lachlan.
By this time the women in the village are starting to regard Belle as a Jezebel who will tempt their men away. A mood of hysteria engulfs them and they turn against Belle, in an attempt to force her out of the village.
What will Belle do?
And will she survive?