Good morning and Happy Weekend everyone. I’m on the blog tour for The Kindness of Strangers by Julie Newman today and I am excited to have a Q&A with the author to share with you.
The Kindness of Strangers is available to buy in ebook and paperback now, with the ebook currently only 99p. You can purchase your copy here.
Before I share my Q&A with you here is a little about the book.
Book Blurb:
‘An intricate portrayal of love and loss, redemption and revenge which will stay with you long after the final page.’ – Anne Coates, bestselling author of the Hannah Weybridge thrillers
Deception abounds in Julie Newman’s breath-taking new novel.
Widow Helen is desperate for a perfect family life, and will do everything she can to get what she wants.
A veteran of the Afghanistan conflict Martin is adrift and seemingly without hope – can he ever win back his estranged family?
Pregnant teenager Charley is striking out on her own to create a new life for her unborn child, but her mother Lizzie has other ideas.
When three seemingly disparate lives connect, the past and the present collide to reveal secrets, lies and how far people are willing to go to hide the truth.
Following the gripping and controversial Beware the Cuckoo, Julie Newman’s thrilling new novel lifts the lid on the dark past that haunts a seemingly happy household.
Q&A with Julie Newman:
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I was born in East London but now life a rural life in North Essex. I am married with two children. I have had a variety of jobs but have always wanted to be a writer.
What do you do when you are not writing?
I’m either spending time with my family or reading, cycling or running. I love music and I’m an avid theatre goer.
Do you have a day job as well?
No. Family commitments and writing keeps me busy.
When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?
I first started writing as a child; I kept a diary and liked to write poems and short stories. My first published book was a children’s book in 2003. My first novel was finished in 2015.
How did you choose the genre you write in?
I haven’t actually chosen a genre that I intend to stay with. My next book is very different.
Where do you get your ideas?
From all around. Sometimes I may read something like a news item for instance that sparks an idea, sometimes it’s a conversation or observation.
Do you ever experience writers block?
Yes. Some days things do not seem to flow as well.
Do you work with an outline, or just write?
I always write a biography for each of my characters. I also do a timeline. I recall reading a book, many years ago, where one of the characters was pregnant for the duration of the story which covered a fourteen month period.
Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way, either growing up or as an adult?
The first book I ever read on my own was A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond, this kick-started my love of reading. Other authors that I love include Roald Dahl, (I love his sense of the macabre), Joanne Harris, Michael Ondaatje, Toni Morrison, John Steinbeck, Mary Shelley and George Eliot and so many more.
Can you tell us about the challenges in getting first book published?
I had many rejections before I got my publishing deal. It is a little disheartening, but I was encouraged by one of the agencies that rejected me to keep on trying. They told me of alternative routes to publication including looking at Independent Publishers. That was how I came across Urbane.
Is anything in your book based on real life experience or purely all imagination?
No, all pure fiction.
What was your hardest scene to write?
I can’t answer that as it will reveal a plot twist, sorry.
How did you come up with the title?
The phrase is used by Blanche Dubois in A Streetcar Named Desire, and carries more than a hint of irony. I wanted a title that could convey more than one meaning if not viewed literally…
What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?
The toughest was when someone said they couldn’t finish my book. The best was when someone said they didn’t want it to end.
Is there anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Yes, if you do enjoy the book, or any book for that matter, please leave a review and tell your friends. We authors do rely on ratings and reviews and word of mouth recommendations. Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, I wish you the best of luck with your book.
About The Author:
Julie was born in East London but now lives a rural life in North Essex. She is married with two children. Her working life has seen her have a variety of jobs, including running her own publishing company. She is the author of the children’s book Poppy and the Garden Monster and the thriller Beware the Cuckoo. Julie writes endlessly and when not writing she is reading. Other interests include theatre, music and running. Besides her family, the only thing she loves more than books is Bruce Springsteen.
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If you liked the sound of this book from my post please follow the blog tour and find out what these other fabulous bloggers are saying.
Over The Rainbow Blog 