Hi, Chrissie! It's great to welcome you to my blog for the very first time - I'm looking forward to learning more about you and your latest release, The Barn Of Buried Dreams. Let's kick off with my questions...
1.)
What did you want to be when you grew up?
I always loved animals and wanted to train and
work with them in a zoo or a circus show ring and be a circus girl. I think I was
the Gerald Durrell of our Northumbrian village. As I got older, I came to
realise that it was quite cruel to keep animals in this way and nowadays I
don’t visit animals in captivity. I love wildlife programmes though.
2.)
Coffee, tea or hot chocolate?
Tea all day every day. Yorkshire breakfast tea
with the occasional earl, lady and green variety added. Black, strong and no
sugar please. Coffee sometimes when I’m out and can’t resist the aroma.
3.)
What genre do you typically read? A real mix but, if I’m pushed to name a genre,
well it has to be two, because I read a lot of psychological thrillers and rom
coms. Why? To escape from life and my own writing. I so admire authors who
write these genres well. They are different from my own contemporary women’s
fiction so I don’t worry about the structure and unpick them too much. Romcom
because I love the light and shade of reading something hilariously funny with a human side to the
story and psychological thrillers because I love to try to work out the plot.
Can I add children’s fiction? I once was a teacher and love reading what young
people of today are reading. I could go on and on. One genre?!
4.)
Share a favourite childhood memory.
I went to a Sunday school and every year we
would be given a book for taking part in the Sunday school’s anniversary – we
recited a poem or sang or played a piece of music. The first year, it had to be
a bible and the second year it had to be a ‘Songs of Praise’ hymn book but
after that we were able to have a free choice. That third year, when I was
seven, I spent weeks thinking of which book I would pick. The joy of being
presented with a hardback Famous Five of my own!
5.)
Do you have any shameless addictions? ie. Tea, Books,
Shoes, Clothes?
I’ve already mentioned the need for black
strong tea. I can’t bear to be parted from a book I’m fond of so I’m thankful
for e-readers for keeping my bookcases in check. My husband thinks I’m addicted
to cushions and throws but I can’t see it. Cushion denial -you can never have enough cushions can you? I’m
partial to big squashy tapestry ones, quilted ones and arty ones. I’ve just
thought, there are wonderful ‘memory cushions’ made by a character in ‘The Barn
of Buried Dreams’ they are even invading my novel.
6.)
What do you think is the biggest challenge of writing
a new book?
For me, it is finishing the first draft. It is
easy to start a new idea and work on new characters but there is always a point
when I think – is this rubbish? Shall I start my next idea? Once the first
draft is done, there is no going back. My characters are well formed and wouldn’t
allow it!
7.)
Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages a day?
No. If the words of my novel aren’t flowing, I
stop. I might write a blog or jot down notes on a character or research a place
so I’m still at the laptop for a while. I find my brain churns on overtime, if
I haven’t written many words, and by the next day I’m ready to continue.
8.)
What are your thoughts on writing a book series?
I’m nervous about writing a series where the
reader must start at book one. I do love reading a series, though! Like many, I
loved Marian Keyes books about the Walsh family. They are stand alone yet they
are linked and I think I have followed that model. My books are set around one
or two families in a Northumbrian village called Dunleith and some of the characters
of book one come into book two. They can be read in either order. This happened
because Heather Douglas was a ‘best friend’ to Cleo Moon in ‘A Jarful of Moondreams’
but she is quite a strong character and she wanted her own story. I gave her
equal billing with her sister Erin in ‘The Barn of Buried Dreams’ because
Heather is a bit like Marmite and Erin is just lovely and, as sisters, their
stories intertwine.
The Barn
of Buried Dreams
Erin and Heather Douglas are struggling. Their mother’s death has left a
void in their family and everyday life has side-lined their dreams.
Erin has buried herself
away in the family home and left her stage career. By hiding away, she is
evading the pain of returning to London and the acting world where her
ex-fiancé is enjoying success and a new relationship. When she meets
charismatic Texan Jackson McGee, she wrestles with her feelings for him. Should
she trust another man?
Heather is juggling babies, work, a rocky marriage and running on
wine. An overheard conversation makes her ask, would Mark cheat on her?
Can the sisters help one another to face their fears, dust off and
revive those dreams and find joy in life?
Purchase
Links
Author Bio
Chrissie,
2016 winner of the Romantic Novelist's Elizabeth Goudge writing trophy, is a
seasoned tea drinker and a tenacious trainer of her welsh terrier, Oscar. She
has always loved match-making a book to a reader. Writing the kind of book she
loves to read takes this a step further. When Chrissie is not writing or
reading, you will find her walking Oscar on the beach, trying to avoid the gym
and spending time with her family and friends.
Her
new release, THE BARN OF BURIED DREAMS - when will they see daylight?, is a
contemporary story about two sisters who are struggling after the death of
their mother. It starts in Dunleith, the same Northumbrian setting as her debut
novel ‘A Jarful of Moondreams’, and some characters cross both books. Readers
can enjoy either book as a stand alone
Chrissie
enjoys tweeting to readers on @ChrissieBeee
Her instagram account is chrissie_bradshaw_author
Her blog is newhenontheblog.com
and she has a Chrissie Bradshaw author page on Facebook.
She would love to hear from readers
Her instagram account is chrissie_bradshaw_author
Her blog is newhenontheblog.com
and she has a Chrissie Bradshaw author page on Facebook.
She would love to hear from readers
GIVEAWAY:
A
giveaway. A read, a cuppa and a treat.
Win a Paperback copy of ‘The Barn of Buried Dreams’, limited
edition mug featuring both of Chrissie Bradshaw’s novels and
a box of fresh macarons delivered from ‘Urban Cakehouse’. (Open to UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the
Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via
Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or
email. If no response is received within 7 days then I reserve the right to
select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal
data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and
will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’
information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for
fulfilment of the prize, after which time I will delete the data. I
am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
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