By chance, I discovered online that author Sarah Colliver lives in the part of south west England where I lived for fifteen years. This prompted me to connect with her via Facebook. Her writing journey has taken her from an initial exploration of the thriller genre to the historical fiction world of WW2, and she also finds time for poetry, as a vehicle for more personal thoughts and reflections. Here she discusses her writing background and her plans for her books.
Who/What inspired you to begin writing?
I have always loved words, having enjoyed books from a pre-school age. In primary school a young and trendy beloved teacher encouraged us to write our own ‘books’. Mine was called The Adventures of Holly Hobby. It was about a doll which came to life when her owner left the room…very much pre-Toy Story - I might add! This enjoyment of creative writing then lay dormant, until I was a teen and immersed in English Language lessons. However, serious writing began with a tentative dabble in my thirties. When I lost my mum suddenly, writing became a therapy and an outlet for my feelings and I started to take it more seriously.
Which authors do you admire?
That is tricky to answer. There are many indie authors I admire because I understand how difficult the process is, never mind the promoting and making yourself known. If we are talking famous, I do not have a favourite these days, although when I was young, I was a prolific reader of Virginia Andrews and Catherine Cookson. I also read many books about the Holocaust, female spies in WW2 and the resistance.
These days, having M.E. prevents me from devouring books like I used to. My most recent favourites have been The Lost Art of Keeping Secrets by Eva Rice and A Child in the Forest by Winifred Foley.
Have you been influenced by any particular books you’ve read?
I think that every book you read influences you in one way or another. Personally, the story aside, I make mental notes of what doesn’t work for me as a reader, and what I don’t want to bring to my stories, as well as positive things which may help improve my writing. I love those stories which stay with you long after you finish reading and have been delighted when some readers have fed this back to me about my own stories.
How many books have you written?
I currently have five published fiction books and one book of poetry, but it is more realistic to say that I have written around ten in total. Some will never reach the eyes of readers, two have been removed from publication because they were not up to my current standard, and a few lie unfinished.
What inspired you to write your books?
My two most recent books have been born from my interest and love of WW2 fiction, and learning about the difficulties, as well as the relationships, from that time. I LOVED writing them both, and certainly feel as though this genre is my ‘thing’.
My other three books are contemporary thrillers, and I genuinely have no idea where they came from! I began writing In Deep whilst on holiday in Competa, Spain. The two-book series is loosely set in that area, and the series still remains popular.
Why did you decide to self-publish?
Initially I thought I would pursue that route whilst attempting to get that HURRAH moment of a real book deal. Then, as my M.E. crept further into my daily life, I realised what a blessing it is to be self-published, and decided not to pursue the traditional route. This way, I have no-one breathing down my neck to write and have control over it all. It is tougher to consistently manage the social media posts and reaching out alone, but it works better for me than having to work to deadlines.
What are your future writing plans?
My latest book, Kitty Taylor, is the first book in a series of three. The next two books are in the early stages of planning and I hope to release book two by the end of this year.
What do you enjoy most about writing?
I love that I can create a world or a person who only exists on my pages because they have come from within me, especially when they connect with readers. It is magical to me, making connections with people I will never meet, through my books. I also love the therapy it offers me, personally. It helps untangle muddled thoughts, and expel the feelings which do not serve me when they're trapped inside. One of my favourite moments was when a reader created some book blocks for the garden for me, by painting them with my book covers. Another was when someone created a model of what she thought the kitchen in Laundry Cottage looked like. It made me cry! I sometimes take the model to events with me, and it is always a fantastic talking point.
Do you have any tips for new writers?
The advice I always give is, just begin. You cannot write a story if it is never started. Also - put projects down for a while, because when you go back with fresh eyes, the edit is much clearer.
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Sarah's books are available online and at bookstores.
Follow Sarah @:
Facebook: sarahcolliverwriting
Instagram: @sarahcolliverwriting
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