My latest interview is with Geraldine Evans, the author of 18 books, with the most recent one titled “Death Line“. Geraldine has been writing for quite some time, and it was a pleasure being able to interview her. Let’s see what she had to say!
Where do you generally prefer to go when you write?
I generally prefer to write in the living room. I do have an office, but I prefer to be downstairs. It’s nearer the kettle. Luckily, there’s not a horde of others living here. It’s only my husband and me. Lucky also that I can write with noise of radio or TV. I used to work in company canteens during my lunch break when I had a day job.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing for around thirty years, but have had two separate six-year-long periods without a publisher.
What is the last book you read?
The last book I read was The White Queen by Philippa Gregory.
How many books, and in which genre, have you written?
I’ve had eighteen books published: sixteen mystery, one historical and one romance, as well as articles on various subjects.
What do you most enjoy about writing?
The thing I most enjoy about writing is that it’s not the boring day job! I enjoy writing. It’s a lot more fun than being an office drone.
Do you use a critique group or just trust your instincts?
I don’t use a critique group, though when I was starting out, I used a paid criticism service. But I’ve just relied on my instincts for a long time now.
When it comes time for formatting, do you do it yourself or hire it out?
I’m not a techie so I’m glad to pay for a professional to format my ebooks. I used Kimberly Hitchens (hitch@Q.com), who has formatted all three of my ebooks. I find her very efficient and her prices are very reasonable.
What advice would you give a new writer?
The advice I’d give a new writer is to not be easily satisfied with their work. Not to think that the first draft was also the last draft. It ain’t!
How many drafts do you usually have before deciding it’s done?
Drafts? Hmm. It varies. The first few books had seemingly endless drafts. It’s difficult for me to judge as I also do partial drafts, but I suppose it’s around three or four.
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