Tag Archives: Advice

Interview With The Commuter Author Emma Curtis

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I finished reading The Commuter in a day. I raced through it. It’s a brilliant domestic thriller which had me hooked from the very first page. Here’s my interview with Emma.

The Commuter is your seventh novel. How does that feel? It’s a huge achievement.

It feels like a huge achievement! I started writing, submitting and getting rejections when I was in my late twenties, found an agent in my late forties and published my debut when I was fifty, so I definitely put the work in. I still sometimes pinch myself. 

Does the writing get easier?

I think the writing does, the editing doesn’t. It’s a long hard slog full of dead ends, frustrations and moments when I want to run away from it all. But when it’s finally signed off the satisfaction is huge. Writing the first draft is such a pleasure. If only the first draft was the last!

Where did the idea for come from?

I’ve lived in London and used the tube all my life and I’ve always enjoyed the free newspapers. The Rush Hour Crush feature in the Metro is so intriguing. When I was a teenager I used to look for Mr Darcys, now I scan faces and wonder what I’d write if I fancied someone. No one so far! It seemed like there could be a thriller in there somewhere.

What is your writing routine?

I get up early, ideally around 6am, have breakfast and start work. Then I work fairly solidly until twelve, have lunch and go for a long walk to mull over what I’ve done and set up the next chapter for the next morning. I like routine and deadlines and I’m not very flexible. But it gets things done.

Do you have a favourite novel that you have written?

Yes, my favourite is Keep Her Quiet which came out in 2020. One of the protagonists is an arrogant male author. I loved writing him!

What books have you read recently that you loved?

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley-Heller. I recommend it to anyone who asks me what to read next.

Do you have any favourite authors?

Loads! JP Delaney for quirky concept thrillers. Stephen King for lessons in story-telling. Celeste Ng is fantastic for family based noir. Robert Galbraith because I adore Cormoran Strike and need to know what happens between him and Robin. I like American literature too. AM Homes is a favourite. I wish Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie would publish another novel!

How did you get published?

Since it took me such a long time, that is a very good question. I had given up for a few years, then my oldest child went off to University and I felt like I had to have another go. I wrote two novels, both rejected, then started writing short stories and entering them in online competitions. These did well. I had about a 25% hit rate of first, second and third prizes and those gave me credibility in the eyes of agents. I needed that because I had zero connection to the publishing industry. I turned one of the prize winning stories into a novel and this time, instead of sending it out to a handful of agents, getting rejections and losing heart, I sent it to thirty within three weeks so that I wouldn’t give up at the first No Thanks. That worked. I had twenty-six rejections, four requests for the full manuscript and an offer. One of the best days of my life. My agent at the time, Victoria Hobbs at AM Heath, secured a deal with Transworld.

What advice would you give other writers?

Mark out your time, even if it’s only half an hour a day. Stick to a routine and write even if you don’t feel like it. 

Learn to properly critique and edit your own work before you give it to anyone else – I did a course on this and it was invaluable (Jericho Writers). 

Don’t give your MS to friends and family to read and comment on. It puts them in a difficult position. Instead, if you’re serious start saving up for a professional critique from a reputable company like Cornerstones, Jericho Writers or The Novelry. But don’t send them anything until you’ve gone the extra mile. (see learn to critique and edit your own work!)

Also, interrogate your ego. It could be getting between you and representation. There’s the ego that will organise a professional edit but not take the advice because it doesn’t agree. There’s the ego that has that one precious pearl of a book and can’t move on from it despite repeated rejections. There’s the ego which will only write ‘what I want to write’, and won’t look for the space where what it wants to write dovetails with what people want to read. 

What’s next for you?

Next is a thriller about the devastating aftermath of a lie told by an angry and embarrassed teenage girl. That’s coming out in October 2025 and I’ve just sent a draft to my agent to take a look at before it goes to my editor. I have everything crossed! I heard today that she’s read a third of it and loves it. Hopefully the next two-thirds won’t change her mind.

The Commuter is out on October 10th.

Efficient Household Management: How to Save Time and Money

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Effective household management, often referred to as housekeeping, is about more than just cleaning and organizing your home. It also involves ensuring that household finances are well-managed to save your family valuable time and money. Whether it’s budgeting for groceries or reducing energy consumption, efficient household management allows you to successfully manage your family’s resources to meet your daily needs. 

Ensuring proper maintenance to avoid costly repairs, negotiating insurance costs, or shopping prudently, household management requires strategy, planning, and discipline. Here are some helpful tips on how to manage your household efficiently to save time and money.

Establish a Budget 

Setting up a household budget is the cornerstone of efficient household management, and it can do wonders for saving both time and money in the long run. A well-planned budget gives you a clear picture of where your money is going, allowing you to make informed decisions about expenditures. 

For instance, opting for a higher mileage, affordable car could lead to savings not only in terms of fuel efficiency but also in terms of insurance costs. Many families have saved a substantial amount of money by choosing Toyota insurance for their vehicles due to its reasonable rates. It is important to note that every dollar saved through wise decision-making can add up to significant annual savings.

Reduce Energy Consumption

Energy-saving practices are not only beneficial to the environment but also result in significant reduction in household expenses. By implementing measures such as using energy-efficient appliances, reducing water consumption, using LED lights, and insulating your home, you can save a substantial amount of money over time. Turning off unused electrical appliances, utilizing natural light during the day, and maintaining an energy-conscious mindset can also greatly contribute to reduced energy bills. 

Plan and Cook Meals at Home 

Eating out frequently or getting takeout can quickly add to your expenditures. A more cost-effective solution is planning and cooking meals at home. Meal planning allows you to use your grocery shopping time more efficiently and prevents wastage of food. Additionally, home-cooked meals are usually healthier and more nutritious compared to fast foods. When possible, buying groceries in bulk could deliver significant savings.

Embrace DIY and Maintenance

Adopting a do-it-yourself attitude toward home repairs and maintenance can save you a lot of money usually paid to professionals for minor repairs. Moreover, regular home maintenance can prevent future headaches and expensive repairs. For example, regularly servicing your car, checking for leaks, maintaining your home appliances, and cleaning your home regularly can extend the life of these items, saving you both time and money. 

Automate Bill Payments 

Automating your bills reduces the risk of late payments and the exorbitant fees that come with them. Most banks offer free online bill pay services. You can set up automatic withdrawals to cover your mortgage, utilities, car payments, and other regular expenses. This not only guarantees timely payments but it also saves you the time and effort of keeping track and writing out checks.

Negotiate

Never shy away from negotiating prices or contracts. This includes everything from your cable bill to your gym membership. Large corporations have some flexibility in their pricing structures and would rather give a discount than lose a customer. It’s definitely worth a call to ask if any discounts or promotions are available. 

In conclusion, efficient household management entails a well-planned budget, energy-saving practices, meal planning, DIY maintenance, automated bill payments, and the ability to negotiate. By applying these principles you can save a lot of time, while also preserving your family’s financial health. Essentially, managing a home effectively is similar to running a business, requiring both strategic planning and the discipline to follow through.

93% Of Brits Rightly Believe That Problems With Sight Can Affect Wellbeing: Experts Share Nutrition Advice To Help Support Eye Health

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As one of the five senses, vision is pivotal to a happy and comfortable life. But eye-opening new 2024 data, part of a new report tracking the UK’s eye nutrition knowledge and habits – SEEING SENSE: The Nation’s Eye Health Knowledge And The Impact Of Diet1 and commissioned by MacuShield,[2] – has raised concerns around the nation’s eye health dietetics. The same MacuShield report also brings to light how much importance Brits place on their eyesight and their perceived negative impacts of poor eye health.

The report data found that a high 93% of Brits1 believe that a problem with sight can affect other areas of wellbeing. Nearly three quarters (73%) say sight problems lead to headaches, 67% report stress or anxiety, 54% say mood or mental wellbeing issues and 40% say increased risk of falls.[3]

Optometrist Francesca Marchetti and co-author of the new MacuShield report says: “The nation clearly knows the dreadful impact of poor eyesight. In fact, the MacuShield report data has revealed how 28% of Brits admit that vision is their most ‘important area of health’ and 84% believe that their vision deteriorating would impact their everyday lives.”[4]

But, according to the New MacuShield report: “SEEING SENSE: The Nation’s Eye Health Knowledge And The Impact Of Diet,” despite 63% of Brits saying a good diet can support eye health,[5] only 9% admit to actually eating a healthy diet.[6] What’s more, 42% are unaware how to eat to support their eye health[7] and 10% wrongly believe there is nothing you can do to support eye health.[8]

Clinical Nutritionist and co-author of the new MacuShield report, Suzie Sawyer explains: “There has been a slight improvement in some areas of the nation’s knowledge; when MacuShield shared the same data in 2023, 12% of respondents said they didn’t believe it was possible to help support eye health.”[9]

But more needs to be done. 

Public Health Nutritionist and one of the MacuShield report co-authors, Dr Emma Derbyshire notes: “We need to ensure that our diets contain the correct nutrients from a young age. Leaving it too late can have a big negative impact on eye health. The latest data from MacuShield has already found  that 70% of respondents admit that they’ve noticed their eyes deteriorating with age[10] and a high 91% of Brits would be more likely to look after their eye health if they thought they were losing their vision, rather than putting practices in place all the time to keep their eyes healthy.”[11]

“Dietary advice is extremely valuable, but it can only work if people are able to follow it,” adds Dr Emma Derbyshire, noting further, “Only a third (33%) of adults aged 19 to 64 are achieving their 5-A-Day of fruit and vegetables, according to the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS[12]), meaning two thirds of the nation could be short of nutrients including essential vitamins and minerals for eye health. But bridging gaps with the appropriate targeted eye supplements maybe worth considering alongside a healthy diet with at least 5 fruit and vegetables a day as well as following a healthy lifestyle.” 

Knowing our eyes

 The macula is part of the retina right at the back of the eye. “It is only about 5 mm across, but it is responsible for our central vision, most of our colour vision and the fine detail of what we see,” adds Francesca Marchetti. The macula has a very high concentration of photoreceptor cells – the cells that detect light. 

Francesca Marchetti explains: “The macula is the most sensitive part of the retina and gives us sharp central vision essential for activities like reading and driving. The pit or depression within the macula, called the fovea, provides the greatest visual acuity.”

The Macular Pigment

Francesca Marchetti notes further: “Most people don’t know that the macula has a pigment – the macular pigment – which looks like a yellow spot at the back of the eye. This macular pigment is composed of three macular carotenoids – lutein, meso-zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin. The highest concentrations of macular pigment and hence of the three macular carotenoids are found in the fovea.”

Nutrition Know How

Speaking of the three macular carotenoids – lutein, meso-zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin – Public Health Nutritionist Dr Emma Derbyshire says: “When it comes to knowing a little about lutein, meso-zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin, our knowledge of these macular carotenoids is sparce. In the latest MacuShield eye tracker data detailed in the new report: SEEING SENSE: The Nation’s Eye Health Knowledge And The Impact Of Diet – only 19% of people know what lutein is.[13]

“But the foods that pack in the highest amounts of these nutrients aren’t being eaten regularly by us Brits. Just 46% of people eat nutrient-dense green vegetables such as kale weekly, 13% eat it daily and 10% never do.”

Suzie Sawyer adds: “The macular carotenoids are found in vegetables and fruit, in particular dark green vegetables and orange and yellow fruit and vegetables. Meso-zeaxanthin is found in some fish and seafood, such as trout and shrimp.”

 All the products in the MacuShield range2 contain LMZ3 – a nutrient blend of the three macular carotenoids: lutein (10 milligrams (mg), meso-zeaxanthin (10 mg) zeaxanthin (2mg).  

Omega 3 DHA is another beneficial nutrient for vision. We need 250 mg daily for beneficial effect for maintaining vision. Oily fish such as sardines and mackerel  provide this nutrient but just 40% of Brits eat oily fish twice a month and 18% just a few times a year![14]

Other vitamins and minerals also play a key role in eye health by helping to protect the eye tissues from oxidative damage linked to blue light (such as sun and digital screen) exposure. These nutrients include vitamin C, E, B2 and the minerals zinc and copper.[15]

Zinc is involved in retinal function[16] as it helps contribute to the maintenance of normal vision, while vitamin B2 supports eye health and is important to help maintain opacity and clarity of the lens which contributes to the maintenance of normal vision.[17] Foods such as berries, citrus fruits, vegetable oils, sweet potatoes, liver, kidneys, red meat and dairy products offer these nutrients.

“It is worrying that around 20% of people haven’t heard of vitamin C[18] and 33% don’t know what zinc is,”[19] notes Dr Emma Derbyshire. 

Bridging Gaps 

In the UK, too many of us are not getting the key nutrients we need that help support our eye health nutrition needs. In fact, two thirds of the nation could be short of nutrients including essential vitamins and minerals for their eye health because of failing to consume  5-A-Day of fruit and vegetables. That’s according to data from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS[20]; aged 19 to 64).

Bridging gaps with the appropriate targeted eye supplements such as those in the MacuShield range[21] maybe worth considering alongside a healthy diet with at least 5 fruit and vegetables a day as well as following a healthy lifestyle. 

New MacuShield Original+ Omega 3™ contains a blend of all three macular carotenoids – lutein, meso-zeaxanthin, and zeaxanthin. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans, the same supplement also includes vitamin B2 and a daily dose of 250mg of DHA – which each help to maintain normal vision with just one capsule daily.[22]

Dr Emma Derbyshire notes further: “The UK’s NHS recommends that  everyone eats one portion of oily fish (140g) a week[23] but, the government’s NDNS data has found that among 11 to 18-year-olds, oily fish intake is 21g weekly and in adults is only 56g weekly,[24] so many of us are not only short of vital nutrients like vitamin B2 and Zinc according to the government’s nutrition survey (NDNS), but also omega 3.” 

Francesca Marchetti says: “For those people struggling to get their five fruit and vegetables into their daily diets, there’s another way to help top up the eye nutrient levels and bridge dietary gaps – and that’s taking a targeted eye health supplement, together with a healthy lifestyle makes good eye health sense to me.

“Let’s take action now to help support our vision down the line as we age.”

Interview With Author of Swim And Star Survivor Lisa Brace

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When did you realise you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve written since I can remember. I wanted to be a journalist from about 6yo and my passion for telling stories has continued since then! It was lockdown that gave me the time to write my first book, it gave me a chance to escape

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Oh everywhere! For my romcoms it’s a mixture of people watching (listening!) and dreaming of exotic places. For the historical ones I have a real passion for telling forgotten women’s stories, particularly from the early 20th century so I’m often on the lookout for the next story. Swim was inspired by something I saw on the Antiques Roadshow, whilst the one I’m working on at the moment was influenced by an advert I saw!

What’s your writing routine?

I don’t know if it’s a routine to be honest. I’d love to say I have a special desk with a view where it’s all peaceful, like the writers of yesterday, but mainly it’s write whenever I’m free. Sometimes I can get a chapter down first thing in the morning, other times it’s much later in the day. If I’m writing a book I do tend to try and get a chapter down a day as a minimum, so I don’t lose the momentum.

You also write novellas as Holly Green which is very cool. Can you tell us more about that?

The novellas were a way for me to dip my toe into writing romcoms, but I thought it best to write under a pen name whilst also bringing out the other books (it’s been a busy ten months), to prevent confusion. I like the novellas as they’re all around 40k, they’re all marketed as fun, light reads, and I love the response I’ve had to them! They’re called the Secret Series, but can be read in any order.

You have written for twenty years, what advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Write the thing. I know it’s tempting to go on loads of courses and read lots of advice, but honestly, the two things are write the thing you want to say, and make sure you read loads too, whether that’s in your genre or the magazine you want to write for. You’re not a writer if you’re thinking about writing a book…but you are if you’re actually putting words down on paper!

You write both historical and contemporary fiction. Do you have a favourite?

That’s like trying to choose a favourite child… I love them both equally because they do different things for me. I love writing commercial and romantic fiction because I love telling a fun story, I love bringing the way I view the world to paper, whereas with historical fiction it needs so much research and can be a slog to get it to work, but once I’ve got under the skin of the character and can say what I want to say, something clicks and the words flow.

Star Survivor is based on reality television. Did the drama those shows have make it easier or harder to write the book?

To be honest, reality TV isn’t just about the drama on screen, it’s as much about whatever is happening off screen too. Take Love Island, we see what’s on screen, then we discuss it all on social media and make judgements, and then afterwards we dissect relationships and people as though they’re characters. It’s too easy for us to forget they’re real, that’s part of the reason I wanted to write SS.

You write about a real life Olympian, Lucy Morton, in Swim. How did you weave fact and fiction together so well?

I wanted to celebrate Lucy’s story, I was surprised noone had before. But I realised that it couldn’t be a book ‘just’ about swimming, there needed to be things other people could be interested in. That’s where the fiction came into it. I wanted to talk about what was happening in those times in the context of a woman’s place. I love Swim, and am thrilled at the reception it’s getting.

I love your social media posts. Especially TikTok. Do you have any advice for writers who want to put themselves out there?

To be honest, all authors need to be on social media, unless you’re Margaret Attwood! I’d recommend choosing one or two channels and sticking with them. The most important thing is to be real. Don’t try and be someone you’re not, or follow trends. It’s all well and good trying to go viral, but most of the times there’s no real rhyme or reason to a successful sm post. Be yourself and have fun. If you don’t want your face on there, don’t do it. Post about the themes of your books, or your research but mainly try and engage with people.

What’s next for you?

Lots! The third in the Secret series is out September, Secret Crush. I’m working on a second historical fiction novel set in the same era as Swim, and have a couple of other projects in the pipeline too. Though three novellas and two books in 11 months is enough for this year…

Major new book – Weight Loss for Life, from Johns Hopkins University

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I have had three children and my weight has fluctuated after every one of them. My third is almost one and now I want to lose the weight so I was interested in reading this book. I am glad I did. It is a comprehensive and non-judgemental plan backed by the latest, and best, science. I found it easy to read and follow. I highly recommend it.

Major new book – Weight Loss for Life, from Johns Hopkins University’s Healthful Eating, Activity & Weight Programme

Weight Loss for Life

The Proven Plan for Success

By Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD, And Kimberly A. Gudzune, MD, MPH

This is not a fad diet book. This is the most comprehensive, scientifically based-programme to lose weight and keep it off, with practical details about diet and nutrition, movement and motivation, medications, supplements, surgery, and more.

In Weight Loss for Life, two experts from the Johns Hopkins Healthful Eating, Activity & Weight Programme provide you with all of the information you need on your weight lossjourney. They bring together leading experts in behavioural health, nutrition, exercise, and nursing to help you develop a plan that works best for you—and one that’s not just focused on just restricting calories or certain foods. Anyone struggling with unwanted weight gain or obesity will find this programme to be helpful, compassionate, and clear.

A central feature of the programme is a Personal Plan of Action to help you set up reachable goals, plan your meals, and make time for movement. All the recommendations are customisable based on your personal health and needs. You’ll find interactive features too, with surveys throughout asking you to reflect on your own eating habits as well as barriers to success. And unlike other books Weight Loss for Life covers it all: supplements, prescription medications, med spas, and surgical options. If you struggle, it can help you get back on track. Throughout, testimonials from others who have followed the programme along with hundreds of photographs and drawings will help educate and keep you motivated along your weight loss journey.

Weight Loss for Life is the guide to the science and art of achieving and maintaining a healthful weight.

“This evidence-based, easy-to-understand approach to weight loss provides readers with the appropriate tools they need to be successful long term in reaching their own individualized goals. More comprehensive than other weight loss books on the market, this book is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to lose weight safely and effectively.” – Virginia Quick, PhD, RDN, Rutgers University

Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD, is Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Professor and Chair of Nutrition and Food Studies at George Mason University. Kimberly Anne Gudzune, MD, MPH, is Associate Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, where she is the director of Johns Hopkins Healthful Eating, Activity & WeightProgramme.

Hardback, 400 pages, 131 colour photos, 10 colour illus., 9781421441948, £22.00

https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12203/weight-loss-life

 

How I Got Published By Alec Marsh

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Alec Marsh, writer, authorWhen I was 21 I started to write a novel. It wasn’t very good. I was working as a reporter for a local paper in Cornwall and my book… was about a reporter working for a local paper in Cornwall. 

Soon I moved to London to work for the Daily Telegraph and started writing a second novel. It was about a young journalist working for a newspaper in London. 

It wasn’t very good either. 

I met a top agent at a function and asked him if he’d see it. 

‘What’s it about?’ he asked.

After several seconds of flannelling he cut in: ‘If you can’t tell me in under 11 seconds then I’m not interested.’ 

I’d been introduced to the idea of the elevator pitch. If you can’t encapsulate your idea in a nutshell, you’ve had it.

I kept writing and the rejection slips (paper in those days) kept piling up.

Then one day a friend suggested I try my hand at historical fiction. ‘You’re obsessed about the past,’ he said. And it was true.

About a year later I read The Da Vinci Code, and was hooked. 

And I thought, “I can do that.”

So I started thinking about a historical mystery that could sit at the heart of a story, and some characters that would have sticking power.

That was around 2004. Before I knew it, I had started writing what would become my first novel, Rule Britannia. And I knew I was onto something, I could feel it in my fingertips. My characters – a historian and mountaineer Ernest Drabble and his pal, a journalist named Harris – were alive. And so was the story.

With a half-written book, I started polishing and went looking for an agent. Again the rejection slips piled up (still paper).

Then one day in 2008 an email landed at about 6pm on Saturday evening from an agent. Do you have any more, he asked?

I didn’t sleep that night. Soon I’d emailed the next three chapters, then we had a meeting. After that, I had an agent and went off to finish the book – armed with the self-confidence to finish it properly, to believe in myself and the benefits of his insights.

The agent then took it to market. But it was 2009 and e-readers, Amazon and the global financial crisis was hitting hard, and – for whatever reason – my book didn’t sell. After a dozen very polite rejections from major publishers, my agent suggested I try writing a different book. Which I did. 

For five years I wrote a book set in the First World War, but Drabble and Harris were still in the back of my mind, calling to me from the binary prison of a hard drive. 

By 2015 the First World War book was finished – but so was my relationship with my agent who finally spelled it out to me when he told me this was not a book that he could sell to his clients. We were finished.

Exhausted and disappointed, I stopped knocking on doors that wouldn’t open and focused instead on my day job. Every now and then someone would ask about Drabble and Harris; I would change the subject.

Then my son Herbie was born in 2016, and his arrival rekindled my ambition. So in the small hours, I dug out Rule Britannia and reread it, shook my head at parts that hadn’t aged well, and I polished it. And I pitched it again.

After a string of rejections (emails now), I went direct to publishers, finding an independent in Cardiff, named Accent Press. 

When the owner telephoned me and told me she’d take it – and she’d want two more books after – I was standing in a corridor at work. I didn’t punch the air, but a tear might have come to my eye. It had taken 20 years and I had endured numerous disappointments but it had finally happened. Drabble and Harris would get to their readers, and I was going to have a novel out. So what’s my advice for would-be authors. Don’t give up. And as Martin Amis once told me when I asked him for advice at book-signing: keep writing. After all, what else are you going to do?

Alec Marsh is author of the Drabble & Harris novels, published by Headline Accent. The latest book, ‘Ghosts of the West’ is published in original paperback and ebook on 9 September

 

Susannah Wise: My Writing Process

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  • Susannah Wise: My Writing Process
      What you have written, past and present

 Like so many authors, I have always written stories, poems, and the beginnings of ‘novels’ that remained forever unfinished. As a young child these were complete with messy felt-tip illustrations and growing up, pieces of my work would appear in the school magazine each term. I’m still not sure of their merit, but Mum always thought they were great, and she obviously wasn’t biased. 

    In my late teens, I found myself in a long relationship with a playwright and screenwriter, and encouraged by him, began a regular writing practice between acting jobs: short stories, plays, more poetry than I can recall; always poetry – I have an engraved Moleskine at home full of these personal noodlings. When I die, I dread to think of my family going through them. 

     In my thirties, frustrated with the quality of scripts I was reading (I am also an actor), I began to write screenplays and comedy pilots of my own. These would garner modest amounts of interest from the powers that be at television channels, but never reached fruition and they are now consigned to my ‘oh well’ drawer.

    In truth, it was only shock, when my father was given a terminal cancer diagnosis back in 2015, that propelled me into writing seriously. I think it made me reassess what my life and what I was waiting for. I tentatively started the novel that was to become This Fragile Earth, and discovered I loved everything about the daily practice of writing: the space and time long-form prose gave me in my head, the agency I had over my characters and the world-building. I haven’t stopped writing since.

     What are you promoting now?

    This Fragile Earth is my debut, and the hardback is out on 24th June of this year. It’s a post-apocalyptic survival story about a mother, Signy, and her six-year-old son, Jed, who following a tragic event, are forced to flee near-future London and travel to the Midlands to seek out the protagonist’s mother. When they get there, however, things are far worse than they could ever have imagined. The book is a grounded science fiction thriller, with at its centre, the beating heart between the two main characters.

If you’re a fan of John Wyndham, or perhaps Emily St Mandel’s Station Eleven, this is the book for you.

Susannah Wise: My Writing Process, my fragile earth

A bit about your process of writing, how do you do your structure, and do you plan or just write?

 I find it very hard to talk about ‘process’ when discussing art of any kind. I know some people are good at it, I’m not. I’ve written three books and for each one the process has been different. With This Fragile Earth the plot came to me quickly over the course of one night. With only a few small tweaks, I set about writing it directly from the ideas bubbling in my head. I already had a decent grounding in some of the themes in the book, although I made up almost all the ‘science’ myself. I even dreamt one of the main coding theories in there! In the course of completing it though, I did more research, attending lectures and reading books on the subject and so on. 

    My second novel, out next year, is a dark comedy about grief. When I set out writing it, I had no idea what it would be about, barring the bare bones. I had no plot, only two characters and not a clue what the ending would be. I took part in the Faber Academy novel-writing course over six months in 2018 and completed an entire first draft. I really loved the ‘pants-ing’ rather than ‘planning’ nature of this book, though it did mean rather a lot of editing once finished, of course!

    My third novel is set around some dodgy goings-on in a small village in Cumbria. Before I began, I had a plot, all the characters, and a location, and wrote out each point at the start. I did research on some elements in the book (I can’t say what they are here without giving the game away!), but the setting is a place very familiar to me, so that helped a lot. A few plot points have moved within the process of writing it, but basically, I am sticking to my initial ideas. I began during lockdown in April last year and am still going strong: I was hoping the first draft would be about 75K words, but I think it will be closer to 100K. Its completion has been hampered by home-schooling, preparing This Fragile Earth for publication, editing my second book, and the fact my partner has been away for seven months for work since January. It’s been slow-going, but I’m hoping the book is no worse for it. 

    I tend to write in the morning for two hours if I can, either at 9.30 straight after dropping my son at school, or after a walk or some sort of exercise, around 11. I find it very hard to write in the afternoon for some reason but will force myself to if I’ve been unable to complete my daily words beforehand. I’m also an actor, and auditioning and learning lines, as well as acting work itself, eats into a vast amount of writing time. Saying that, there is a lot of hanging around when one is filming, so I always take my laptop with me and use the time to catch up on my word count. It’s a brilliant and unexpected bonus and has made me far less resentful about all the ‘wasted’ hours actors endure.

Most of the time I am not filming and will write at the kitchen table (without music) or kneeling on the rug in our living room, using the coffee table as a desk. I get terrible dead feet after I stand up and will often hobble around comically for half an hour trying to eradicate the pins and needles. I have a special foam support for my wrists too, as I tend to get RSI after a long period of typing. My eyes do go a bit squiffy after a long session of intense focus. Basically, I’m falling to pieces.

What about word count?

    I tend to set myself a very achievable 500 words per day (five days a week) when I’m drafting. This will take me around an hour to an hour and a half. Then another hour perhaps of reviewing the previous day’s words. I prefer to set a low bar as I find I work better if I’m hitting my target than setting unrealistic goals, then spending the rest of the day beating myself up for my failures. This helps me stay motivated, which is important when undertaking such a vast piece of work. 

    When I’m editing a completed draft, I can easily spend three or four hours at my desk and hardly even notice where the time has gone. Even more if I have line edits back from my publisher. I once spent ten hours working on notes from my agent. I would strongly advise against this. 

What do you find hard about writing?

Ha. Well, this is a tricky one to answer, because without meaning to sound like a plonker, I really feel – for me at least – that writing is the best job in the world. I guess if I had to say a couple of things, one would be the loneliness (though ironically, this is also one of the things I love about writing). It can be a little isolating spending all day with only the people in your head for company, before going out for a walk alone. Sometimes 24 hours can pass and the only person I will have spoken to is my 11- year-old son. Love him as I do, he’s not a great dinner table conversationalist. 

The other thing I find difficult is the mental responsibility. By this I mean that like the expression ‘this book isn’t going to write itself’, the completion of any book is entirely in the hands of the author. The manuscript sits like a patient pet waiting for attention, but if there happen to be other things going on in life, it requires huge amounts of discipline and mental energy to carve out time to honour this. Some days the words fly out, some they are like sticks in a muddy dam. It’s important to know when to just close the computer and get one with something else

What do you love about writing?

What’s not to love?! I love that no one else is there making me write, it is entirely my own work, that ‘being left alone’ feeling. I love that it allows time for introspection. I gain a great sense of inner peace from its practice. On top of this, having a whole world in the palm of one’s hand is just the greatest feeling. There is huge satisfaction in putting words in order so that they have rhythm and cadence, just like music. The joy when one reads back a passage and thinks ‘hmm, that isn’t half bad,’ is like nothing else. 

More than this though, is the vast pride and sense of achievement from completing a novel, especially when one gets to see it type-set, or in its proof form, or better still the actual finished version. It is an object created outside oneself, to be held in the hands of others, taking them to new places, and will it live on long after the author is dead and gone. I still can’t quite get my head around this concept. 

This Fragile Earth by Susannah Wise is out now in hardback by Gollancz.

 

Why You Need a Professional for Plumbing Repairs

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When you own your own property, all sorts of problems can arise that need to be dealt with. In a rented home, the landlord would generally sort these out, but as a homeowner, you need to do it yourself. When it comes to plumbing issues, which are common issues in homes, you need to ensure you do not make matters worse by attempting to do the work yourself. This could actually end up costing you more money in the long run as well as wasting your time.

What you need to do in the event of plumbing issues in your home is contact an experienced professional with a solid reputation. Someone with expertise and experience when it comes to plumbing repairs can ensure the job is completed quickly, efficiently, and to high standards. This will make life far easier for you and could be far cheaper than finding someone who is not qualified or attempting it yourself.

Why This Is So Important

There are many reasons why it is so important to use a professional and reputable plumbing expert for your plumbing issues. Some of these are:

Avoiding Wasting Your Time

If you attempt plumbing jobs yourself without the necessary experience, knowledge, and tools, you will simply end up wasting your own time and possibly being back at square one – or in a worse situation – at the end of it all. With a qualified professional, the work will be done properly, and you won’t have to spend time trying to work it out yourself.

Avoid Making the Problem Worse

Another reason you need a professional for plumbing work at your home is that it means you won’t end up making the problem worse. If you make a mistake, you could end up causing more damage and this will then cost you more money to put right. With a professional, the job will be completed to professional standards.

Save Money

Following on from the last point, getting a professional in can save you money because you are not risking making the problem worse. You won’t have to go out and spend money on tools to try and fix the issue, and you won’t be spending your time trying to work out a problem you know nothing about, so you can get on with other things. All of this can save you both money and time.

Get the Job Done Right

One other reason to get a professional in is that you can benefit from greater peace of mind because the job will be done properly and to high standards. You won’t keep having the same problem over and over again, and even if you do, a reputable professional will get it sorted out for you. This makes the whole process far easier and means that you can get the plumbing issues sorted out quickly and permanently.

These are some of the reasons why it is so important to get a professional out to work on plumbing issues at your home. 
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