Monday 19 February 2018

Chatting with Rosemary Goodacre



Today I am delighted to welcome Rosemary Goodacre on this, the first day of the blog tour for her debut novel, A Fortnight is not Enough which is published by American publisher Books to Go Now. Rosemary has written a feel good story which I read at one sitting. Her young heroine is everything a heroine should be, I liked the writer’s style and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you for agreeing to answer my questions, Rosemary.
Before I begin I'd like to say thank you for hosting me on your blog.

You’ve picked a wonderfully romantic setting for your novel. It feels as if it’s somewhere you know well. Is this the case and why did you choose this particular location?
We visited Provence in 2016 and it’s a beautiful region, with plenty of sunshine. I’ve had a fantasy about deliberately not returning from a wonderful holiday destination, and when I wanted to make it into a story this location seemed to work well.

Avignon
The setting for
A Fortnight is not Enough
Your heroine is an artist and it’s evident you know a lot about your subject. Are you a painter in your non-writing life?
I’m afraid I’ve only dabbled, though it’s a lovely career or hobby. I’ve got some artistic friends and relatives. One room at home is full of paintings by my school friend and her family.

I watched Imogen mature into a young woman with a growing faith in her own talents and abilities. Was this planned and do you think it a fundamental part of the story?
Yes, she has to use her skills and qualities to fulfil her aims. She also has to break free from someone who is a controlling influence. It could be described as a Young Adult novel.

A Fortnight is not Enough is your first published novel. Do you have any other projects in the pipeline?
I have recently completed a full length novel entitled The Day of the Dolly Bird, which is a romance set in London in the Swinging Sixties. It has received an encouraging report from a professional novelist. I am currently working on a romance set in World War I.

Can you elaborate on your writing career to date and your route to publication?
I have always loved writing and lately I’ve become more serious about seeking publication.  I attend The Write Place Creative Writing School, run by author and journalist Elaine Everest, where there is constant stimulation and encouragement. I belong to the New Writers Scheme of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, and enjoy meeting other writers there and attending workshops. Their Annual Conference provides the opportunity for valuable one-to-one meetings with agents and publishers, helpful for gaining a better understanding of the industry.

I have had short stories published and placed in competitions, and I have been published in the Guardian. My novel Pleasure Train Polka, set in Austria in 1914, was short listed in the 2014 Write Time competition run by Corazon Books.

We’d like to know a little more about you. What can you tell us? (Hobbies? Interests? Pet hate?)
In an attempt to keep fit I do Zumba, on the principle that an hour a week shouldn’t kill me, but seriously, we exercise to music (Latin American etc.) so it’s great fun. I’m very interested in travel (mainly to continental Europe) and languages. I love classical music, including opera.

Thank you for joining me today, Rosemary. I wish you every success with your new book

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3 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog, Natalie. I really enjoyed the visit.

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    1. It was a pleasure, Rosemary. It was lovely to learn a little about Avignon, a place I have never visited

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