Elaine Everest: The Butlins Girls

Elaine Everest is usually on the other side of the RNA blog, co-ordinating our writers and articles. It’s lovely to have the opportunity to get to know her today through Helena Fairfax’s interview.
Welcome to the spotlight, Elaine, and congratulations on your new release, The Butlins Girls! 
Please tell us a bit about yourself and your background, and how you got into writing.

  I've been a freelance writer for twenty years. After my dad died in 1997 I decided if I didn’t pull my finger out and do something I’d never fulfil my dream of becoming a full time writer. Before then I’d dabbled and sold bits and pieces but giving myself that push really set things moving. Yes, there were a few times I did a temp job or sold my craftwork to help the cash flow but, from 1997, I could honestly call myself a freelance writer. To begin with I worked on articles, short stories and gradually moved onto trying to write a novel. Like most of us I have some that should never see the light of day! With my journalism I specialised in writing for dog owners, which led to broadcasting and being commissioned to write three books about the dog world. At one time new work was coming in so fast I stopped writing fiction. After discovering the RNA I again gave myself a stern talking to and started to refuse non-fiction commissions in order to concentrate on my novels. My success is all down to the RNA, the New Writers’ Scheme, and the wonderful members who have supported me along the way.

When you start a new story, what comes into your head first? Characters? Plot? Setting?

For The Woolworths Girls it was setting. I’d written a previous saga set in the town where I was born and grew up so moving onto that second book I wanted to stay in the same area but knew my main character would need a job. I imagined myself walking through that small Thames side town – I wasn’t able to do this physically as Erith was the victim of urban renewal back in the sixties. I thought of the small shops, the department store and then arrived at Woolworths. I’d been a Saturday girl at Woolies (in another store) in 1969 and had a soft spot for the store so that is where my story was set. For The Butlins Girls it was a similar situation but for the books that follow I’m working more with characters and plot with the books that follow.

 Do you ever get “stuck” while writing? If so, what do you do?

I don’t get stuck as such as I do like to plan my story before I start to write. However, there are times I find myself wading through treacle when the words won’t behave themselves. I will either go back to my story and chapter outlines to remind myself what I should be working on or I’ll write another scene. I never give up or the chances are I won’t return to the story!

Your stories are set in the 1940s. What resources do you use for your research?

Non-fiction books! I have so many on the thirties and forties and now my husband has retired he can be found reading them and giving me little snippets of information that I may find useful. I love to watch films set in that time period and also listen to music. The romance of an old song can sweep me up and inspire me. I often have my characters singing in the pub or on stage and that also reminds me of my much-missed relatives who could be found singing at any celebration.

I’m fortunate in that my local council has an extensive archive of material and staff are always eager to help out when I have a query.

What advice would you give writers approaching agents/publishers?

Do your best to present them with a story/plot they haven’t read before. It can be hard at times but try to tell a good story that is original. We are extremely lucky in the RNA to meet many industry professionals at our parties and conference so make the most of it and get to know these people and what they publish or represent. Most have an online presence so look them up before you make your enquiry.

What do you hope readers gain from your stories?

I like to think my readers will be able to sit back and say they enjoyed the story and could relate to my characters. I’ve heard from many people who give me their experience of working in Woolworths or a holiday camp and I’m so grateful that they enjoyed my book enough to speak to me.

What’s your favourite romance novel of all time?

For me it has to be Gone With the Wind. An enormous plot, a strong woman and what a setting! 

What do you do when not writing?

When not working on my novels I’m running social media for the RNA and also running my writing

school, The Write Place, at The Mick Jagger Centre in Dartford, Kent. Apart from that, although not as active these days, I’m involved in the world of dogs. We’ve always had Old English Sheepdogs and Polish Lowland Sheepdogs since the 1970s and I love to keep in touch with my many friends in the show world. I’m judging at Windsor Championship show this summer. A great honour and as nerve wracking as having a novel published!

About Elaine: 

Elaine Everest was born and brought up in North West Kent, where many of her books are set. She has written widely for women's magazines, with both short stories and features. When she isn't writing, Elaine runs The Write Place creative writing school in Dartford, Kent, and runs social media for the Romantic Novelists' Association.

Elaine lives with her husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry, in Swanley, Kent. 

Links: 
Pan Macmillan  
Amazon  
Facebook Author Page 
Twitter: @ElaineEverest

Blurb for The Butlins Girls:

'Molly Missons gazed around in awe. So this was Butlin's. Whitewashed buildings, bordered

by rhododendron, gave a cheerful feeling to a world still recovering from six years of war. The Skegness holiday camp covered a vast are, much larger than Molly expected to see.Molly Missons hasn't had the best of times recently. Having lost her parents, now some dubious long-lost family have darkened her door - attempting to steal her home and livelihood...After a horrendous ordeal, Molly applies for a job as a Butlin's Aunty. When she receives news that she has got the job, she immediately leaves her small hometown - in search of a new life in Skegness.'

Thank you so much for your interesting questions, Helena. xx

Thanks for coming out from backstage to appear on the blog, Elaine. It's been brilliant getting to know you better. Best of luck on release of The Butlins Girls!

Helena Fairfax is a romance author and editor. Her novels have been shortlisted for The Exeter Novel Prize, the Global Ebook Awards and the I Heart Indie Awards. You can find out more about Helena's books and editing services on her website www.helenafairfax.com

If you would like to write for the blog please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com

Bestselling author Anna Jacobs on her writing career and the release of her 75th novel

We are absolutely delighted to welcome author Anna Jacobs to the RNA blog today and to join her in celebrating the release of her 75^th novel.

First of all, Anna, congratulations! What an awe-inspiring achievement. Please could you tell us a little about your first ever novel? What year was it published?

Persons of Rank was published in 1992 by Random House Australia, after winning a $10,000 prize in a big Australian writing competition. It’s a regency romance, because at that stage I was trying to write like Georgette Heyer, my favourite novelist. I’m still very proud of the book, but I only ever wrote two regency romances, because I found my own voice and style

Have you always wanted to be a writer? And did you have an occupation before you turned to full-time writing?

I wanted to be a novelist from the age of 10 when I figured out that someone had a job writing the stories I loved. I’d call myself a storyteller more than anything else these days. I was a teacher, lecturer and equal opportunity officer before I became a full-time novelist.

What are the biggest changes in publishing that you’ve seen since your first novel was published?

The Internet, of course. It wasn’t even around in 1992, well it was but not in high focus, so I never noticed. I don’t know how we’d manage without it now. One big impact is that it’s helped reduce the loneliness for authors because they can get on line and ‘talk’ to other authors in a variety of ways. For an author as isolated as I am – Western Australia is far away even from the rest of Australia! – it’s a lifesaver. Other changes are the number of books published annually, fewer publishers, ebooks, more independence for authors to self publish if they wish, so many things.

You have published under two names. Please could you tell us about your alter ego, Shannah Jay, who writes fantasy and sci fi?

I’m not writing as Shannah Jay these days and haven’t for a good many years, though I’ve self-published my backlist and there is a film option that’s just been renewed on one Shannah Jay book (Envoy). I cross my fingers and toes every time I think about it. LOL. I don’t do any PR for Shannah Jay these days. I’m flat out busy with Anna Jacobs.

Do you find there is one particular theme that you are fond of developing in your novels?

I like to write about people, especially women, overcoming adversity - in both my historical novels and my modern stories. In the modern tales I like to focus on older women making a new start in life, as indeed I did myself when I turned into a novelist - my first novel was published when I was 51. And I’m very fond of featuring large old houses, again in both types of novel. Houses can have such a huge influence on the lives of the people who live in them.

Many writers get asked this question, but after 75 novels we’re even more intrigued to know…where do you get your ideas??

I only have to go out among people to get ideas – or watch the TV – or read research books – or dream. There are ideas everywhere for people with a ‘what if’ attitude to life and a keen interest in their fellow human beings. I have a long list of story ideas noted down for future use. I just hope I live long enough to use them!

Whereabouts do you live? And is there any particular place you’ve lived – or that you love to visit – that you most enjoy using as a setting?

We live half the year in Western Australia and half in the UK, which makes life complicated but enriches it greatly, as we love both countries. I’m published in the UK, so it’s important to come here and touch base with my editors and agent. I particularly love to write about Lancashire where I was born and whose history is amazing. Since we bought our UK house in Wiltshire, I’ve been researching that beautiful county and using my part of it in some stories. But my favourite place of all is ‘the tops’ ie the moors  between Lancashire and Yorkshire. When I talk about ‘the border country’ I’m not talking about Scotland!

How do you spend your spare time when not writing?

With my lovely husband mostly. We’ve been married for 53 years and haven’t run out of conversation yet! We watch TV together and we’re both interested in history and big picture analysis of the world and cultures around us. We like to be with our family as well, two grown-up daughters and one grandson in Australia and siblings in the UK. My husband does have another love – golf! And I read a lot for pleasure, usually 3 novels a week.

What is your favourite romance novel of all time?

I don’t just have one after all the reading I’ve done. I love Heyer’s ‘Friday’s Child’, Nora Roberts’ ‘Born in Fire’ and Anne McCaffrey’s ‘Restoree’, probably the first SF romance ever. Heyer taught me so much about vivid minor characters, Roberts about pace and Anne McCaffrey about letting your imagination fly.

What’s your next writing project?

I write at least three novels a year, so there’s always something on the go. I’m currently writing the second book in a new series which hasn’t debuted yet. The Ellindale stories are set in the Lancashire Pennines and they’re loosely linked to the Rivenshaw series. The latter is set just after WW2, and the Ellindale stories are set from 1930 onwards. Book 1, One Quiet Woman, comes out later next year. You know how far ahead we work in the publishing industry. The final book of the Rivenshaw series (Gifts For Our Time) doesn’t come out till January 2017. It’s a wonder we writers manage to hold things together in our heads, we are so often to-ing and fro-ing between stories to edit or proof read or (bliss!) simply to tell a new tale.

Thanks so much for dropping in to answer our questions, Anna. Your writing career is an inspiration for many of us. We wish you all the best with your seventy-sixth novel!

It’s already written, and I’m working on the 79^th at the moment.

:D

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A Time to Rejoice, Anna’s latest novel, is the third in the four-part Rivenshaw series, set mainly in Lancashire just after World War 2. Francis Brady is working day and night to salvage what he can from his bombed home in Hertfordshire before joining war-time friends as chief electrician in their new dream building firm in Lancashire.
But things are not going to plan: his chief partner, Mayne, isn't answering any of his letters and Francis' wife is having a change of heart about moving up north, while her parents seem set on destroying his reputation and marriage. Francis doesn’t want to break up with Diana, but how can he turn down the opportunity for a new life?
Meanwhile in Rivenshaw, newly married Mayne and Judith's plans to convert Esherwood house into flats have come to an abrupt halt. While clearing out the house in readiness for the rebuild, they've discovered that someone has been stealing valuables and hiding them in the old Nissen hut. Are they planning to return for them? And a gruesome discovery brings in the military police, causing further delays
Buy link

About Anna Jacobs

Anna Jacobs has had 75 novels published, plus short stories, poems and articles. She lives in both Western Australia and England, and produces powerfully written modern and historical novels that span the world. Her readers most commonly tell her that they can’t put down her novels! She doesn’t mind at all.

Anna is the fifth most borrowed author of adult fiction in the UK library service in 2014-15 and is equally popular in Australia.

You can find Anna on Facebook and on her website

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This interview was brought to you by Helena Fairfax on behalf of 'The RNA Blogging Team'

If you would like to write for the RNA blog, please contact us on elaineeverest@aol.com