My review:
Pippa,
having lost a son, takes 3 weeks out of an awkward marriage to visit the Isle
of Scilly from her home in
Interview with Lin:
Do you live in
I was born in Saltburn-by-the-Sea, 20 miles from
How many times have you been to the Scilly Isles?
I first discovered Scilly in 1969 on a day trip from
There are some serious life issues in your book – death, 3 lots of
relationships gone wrong etc. How did it make you feel writing these scenes?
As this was my first novel, I became emotional when writing it, but now
I see things differently. I was keen to get the story written and through the
editing process. However, I think a novelist has to have deep feelings for the
reader to feel the same way.
Are you a birdwatcher/Twitcher?
Oh yes, most certainly. Nature has always been a part of me, and now
that I live in
How long did it take you to write/get published?
From the beginning, I think it was about ten years. Like most new
writers, I dipped in and out of ideas for a novel, wrote them down and never
really thought about being a ‘famous writer’. I think if it wasn’t for joining
the Romantic Novelists’ Association, I probably wouldn’t have got this far.
They are a great bunch of like-minded people with lots of interesting ideas. I
think if I’d done this earlier, I would have been published a lot sooner.
What previous experience in writing do you have, i.e. courses, career
etc.?
I’ve always enjoyed writing since school. However, I studied a creative
writing course whilst I was a driving instructor. I then became an instructor
trainer and wrote my own training courses. I retired in 2001, after 25 years of
teaching when I followed my husband and his job to The Netherlands. After realising my skills as a teacher were transferable,
I am now assisting new writers in moving ideas for a novel into something real
and achievable. I can provide positive encouragement for them to become
successful novelists. My time is on Zoom or email with the student, helping
them understand the skills needed to make it all work.
The Viking was a stunning character – is he based on a real person/s?
Sven, (The Viking) is purely fictional. However, I’m aware that everyone
loves Sven. Many of my readers have complimented me on this character. He’s
caring, he loves nature, and he’s adorable. I suppose the idea of every woman’s
dream man. Where I found him, I have no idea. He came to me one day in a flash
of inspiration. I love him too.
What are you working on next?
I am now on my fourth book, The Trail to Freedom with my third
one in the submission stage. It’s a WWII story based on letters my father wrote
from a prison camp in
Do you have any advice for would-be authors?
Get help as much as you can if you want to write a book. Ideas can
always be turned into something exciting, and if you run it by someone who
knows how to write and is published, it can save you a lot of heartbreak. I
like to give confidence to the new writer. My role is not to tell someone their
writing isn’t good enough or to judge how they write. It’s all about goal
setting and learning techniques to make ideas work. I allow the writer to think
for themselves and help them improve what they already have. My advice is not
to struggle alone, get help, and your confidence will shine through.
Links for further
information: https://itslinhere.wordpress.com
Twitter: @itslinhere
Publisher: www.silverwood_books.co.uk
