Authors Electric

A good example of cloud iridescence from the web, July 2023. Don't know where.  How do you write about ghosts when you don’t believe in them? I don’t believe in them because I’ve not had a single supernatural experience. I stopped believing in Father Christmas and the Tooth Fairy when I was very young, I’m one of those people who require the evidence of my own senses, and none has been forthcoming. I haven’t even had a spooky feeling, and I’ve never felt inexplicably cold or scared or seen objects moving of their own volition. I have a problem when people I respect tell me quite seriously that they have seen/heard/felt or even smelt something. But no one has told me that sort of thing since I was a teenager, probably because they think I’ll laugh at them. I do remember my mother telling me what happened the night her grandmother died though. She was sharing a room with her, and Gra (as she was known) was very elderly. Suddenly she said to my mum, “Ella, Ella, open the door.”...

Five of the six books I’ve converted for the Kindle have been books that were conventionally published in the first place, and the rights have reverted to me. The sixth, Beware of Men with Moustaches , was one that had been accepted for publication and then the whole series was cancelled by the publisher. So my latest book is the first I’ve dared to do without the security of a previous history.             I wrote it eight years ago, and my agent handled it. It got very close to acceptance several times, and then fell at the last hurdle. The main reason seemed to be that accountants don’t like birds – they’re not cuddly enough. It’s aimed at the same audience who read The Divide, so I’m hoping to pick up readers that way. How come a talking griffin is acceptable, but an intelligent parrot isn’t? They’ve both got beaks and wings…             I’ve always been interested...