Books-n-Kisses is pleased to have Raven McAllan on the blog today. We are looking forward to learning more about Raven and her new book Wallflowers Don’t Wilt.
Raven, Welcome to Books-n-Kisses.
Raven: Thank you for having me on the blog. It’s a privilege I really appreciate. And I may add, something I never believed would happen.
Q1) Raven can you share a little bit about yourself.
Raven: this is the hardest bit.
Wife, mother, grandmother.
Love chocolate, traveling and fine wine. Hate liver and midges (especially midges).
I love people watching, get my ideas all over the place (One came to me in the loo on a long haul plane journey. No it wasn’t about the mile high club, and no I haven’t written it yet!)
Lucky enough to have an O.H. who understands his wife is always attached to a lap top, and that dusty bunnies are allowed to go forth and multiply under the bed!
Not prepared to grow old gracefully. As my OH once said to me, you are only as old as you feel. He is younger than me, so hey I always feel younger than I am.
Q2) When did you decide you wanted to be an author?
Raven: When I won a ‘where does Chocolate come from’ competition when I was seven! The prize was a big box of chocolate. I’ve dabbled badly on and off over the years, but seriously, in an “I will get published” sort of way, only this last year. I made a deal with myself to really have a go and try to get published before the big ‘0’ birthday this December (I will make it)
Q3) Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
Raven: I swing between mystery and crime to romance. So, in no particular order, Arthur Upfield, W.E. B Griffin, Bill Knox, Peter Robinson. Gerald Hammond(Crime/mystery) Nora Roberts, Shayla Black, Stephanie Laurens and Doris O’Connor (Widely romance) Katie Fforde.
As to influenced? No one specific person, but several for different reasons. There’s a New Zealand Author called Robyn Donald, who describes the country, in such a way, she made me want to visit. She paints with words so well, you are drawn in. For sheer carry me away and let me wallow, Nora Roberts, and an English writer, Miss Read. Re reading her books is like visiting a well loved old friend. Stephanie Laurens because her books aren’t run of the mill regency. Strangely when I started writing Wallflowers Don’t Wilt, I didn’t read anything remotely regency, in case I accidentally used any of someone else’s expressions etcetera.
For who did it and why, All of the above, plus Frank Muir, Stuart McBride, Stephen Booth and several other British Crime writers, who showed me how to hook someone into the story and not let them go. Whether I have succeeded? Time will tell, I hope so!
Q4) Can you tell us about your book Wallflowers Don’t Wilt
Raven: A romantic, Regency, story of discovery. Or as a friend said to me “Regency Romance with a Twist.
Two well brought up young ladies, are about to set up home together, when an aristocratic male decides that he should become part of the equation. The ladies decide it is up to him to show them why!
Q5) How did you come with the idea for this story.
Raven: Truthfully? Two things got “Wallflowers” written. I am a member of a great crit group, UCW (Up and Coming Writers). Chatting on fb one day, about what we should write, I said idly that I wondered if I could write a menage. A regency one, where everything about it would be taboo. Not only a menage, but one with two women and a man. The group dared me to. Once I started, I knew I had found my voice, whether it was any good or not. Then they nagged, praised, bullied and pushed, until I wrote it polished it and submitted it.
Q6) Can you tell us about your current work in progress
Raven: Which one? I have two on the go, mainly because they were both nagging to be written. Another regency, about the aunt of the heroine of my second novel, due out in January (To Please A Lady) and A Young Adult, about shape shifters.. There an idea for a contemporary beginning to demand attention as well, but it’s going to have to wait for a while.
Q7) What are your writing habits. Anything you have to have while writing?
Raven: during the day? Chocolate and coffee. During the evening if I am sitting with my O.H.- chocolate and wine. Also notebooks all over the house, just in case something comes to me, and I’m not near the lap top. I even had to stop the car one day and dictate from my mobile phone into the house answerphone because I couldn’t find my pen. White van men have been known to swerve, as I talk to myself in a queue at traffic lights ( in my defense, I drive a sports car-my pride and joy- it was hot, I had the roof down, and he had his window open! I bet he wondered what he had got into. It was a steamy scene I was trying to talk my way through.
Q8) I always want to know what authors are reading or looking forward to reading. So can you share with us what you are currently reading or the next new release you can’t wait to get your hands on.
Raven: I’m reading an oldie, The Widows of Broome, by Arthur Upfield, a crime story set in Australia in the early part of the 20th century. Also Katie FForde Highland Fling- which Has been out a while but is one of her novels, I hadn’t read. Looking forward to the new Shayla Black, Scandinavian Scandal, by Doris O’Connor, and the next Peter Robinson. For plane journeys, a bit of escapism, or something I can dip in and out of, like diaries.
Q9) is there anything else you would like to add?
Raven: If you want to write, then write. It doesn’t matter what it is or how good it is. Once you see your words in front of you, you’re hooked, and you want to get better. More importantly, write as you can, not as you feel you should.
Books-n-Kisses, Raven it has been a pleasure to have you here today. I look forward to reading you book Wallflowers Don’t Wilt. Please come back any time.
Raven, It was my pleasure, thanks for inviting me- don’t forget to read “Wallflowers”
F.B. Raven McAllan and raven mcallan- author page
GIVEAWAY TIME:
Click Read more to find out details on how to enter
Click Read more to find out details on how to enter
Great interview Raven 🙂 Looking forward to your future releases.
Lovely interview – great writing advice!
Nice interview. It's good to know you wanted to write as far back as when you were 7 and it finally happened. Well done, Raven.
Lovely interview Raven and your writing advice is inspirational! Well done for achieving your dream.
I CAn"T believe i have a blog on the same site as Shayla Black!! *fanning myself* hero worship……
great post, & thank you for the giveaway.
Terri M
Congratulations, Raven! Excellent interview!
I wonder what your crit group is going to come up with next!!
I reckon chocolate is great for inspiration & motivation…
thumbelinda03@yahoo.com
Great interview! Very witty! Congratulations on your new book!
thanks for the fun interview and giveaway!
MJB
msmjb65 AT gmail DOT com
Hi Raven, Great interview, Could I ask Please? do you listen to music while writing, I have noticed a-lot of authors use music to help guide them when writing, different genres of music for different genres of books, I just wondered what your thoughts were? does it really help? Thank-you for a great give-away, Julie x x
julienewberry(at)btinternet(dot)com
Hi julie, i've e-mailed you, but generally, I don't listen to music.. I do skype with my fellow crit group members though! .. not all of the time, just to bounce ideas off them. and procrastinate!
Love the interview! I have a question for Raven, who is your favorite author?? Thank you for the giveaway 😀
khelseyrjackson@gmail.com
Thanks for the giveaway! You must REALLY like chocolate, Raven! Milk or dark?
BornajhawkATaolDOTcom
HI Khelsey and Laura,
thanks for reading and leaving a comment. I fact thank you al, for doing just that, its a great feeling to know people have actually read this and will hopefully read my book.
so to aswer your questions, I don't have one particular author, it really depends what mood I'm in. so in no particular order, romance, depending on my mood, Stephanie Laurens, Robyn Donald, and their's a new author, who's first book is due out soon, Doris O'Connor. I've been privileged to have a sneak preview. ERica James,and of course Nora
Roberts. Crime/Mystery. AUthor Upfield, W E B Griffith, Peter Robinson.
Chocolate.. mmm just bring it on. preferably a bar of Dairy MIlk. I love the occasional bar of dark, but too much makes me feel sick, and on a chocolate day… it's milk all the way. Lots of it. Don't like white chocolate, I find it too sickly.
If i'm not worried about my teeth, then plain chocolate caramels can be eaten in huge quantities. but … yeah, Dairy MIlk rules!