1) Do you use pictures as inspiration at the start of a book?
No not usually, the last few books I have written have been as a result of places
I have visited. The Old Ducks Club was inspired by a visit to Old Rhodes,
which is sublime. Sisters Behaving Badly came from a road trip around
Brittany. Old Friends Reunited followed a trip to Aix en Provence which is so
beautiful and a medieval gem. And Sunrise With the Silver Surfers was inspired
by a wonderful road trip to the East coast of Australia. I would recommend any
of these places for a visit.
2.) What is your favourite period drama?
The Gilded Age set in 19 th century America was excellent. Wonderful costumes
and it gave a great sense of the 1880’s in New York.
3.) Are the titles of your books important?
They always start out with a working title, but Boldwood Books are so clever
coming up with new titles for my books. The only one that was used which I came
up with was The Old Ducks Club, which they loved.
4.) If you’re struggling with a scene or difficult character, what methods help you
through it?
If there is a difficult character, I might get rid of them completely! Difficult
scenes I tend to work through. I am a great fan of Google Earth so that I can
virtually ‘walk’ through the place I am describing. The beauty of being a writer
is if something isn’t working, I can just delete it!
5.) Are you an early bird or a night owl?
Definitely an early bird. My best time for working is between 08.00 and lunch
time. The afternoons I leave for research, other chores or thinking. I am a poor
sleeper so a lot of mulling over happens in the middle of the night.
6.) Who’s your favourite author? Why?
I love a lot of different writers for various reasons, so this is a difficult question.
Daphne du Maurier is a great favourite because of her ability to weave a story
around small things. Her sense of place and time. But Bill Bryson is another
author I love- his humour and voice are just wonderful.
7.) Do you have a pet peeve?
People who think it’s easy to write a book and dismiss the amount of energy
any determination it takes to finish one. Someone who fancied herself a writer
once asked me if I had ‘churned another one out yet’ and I was so annoyed. It
showed complete ignorance of the process and felt very dismissive!
8.) Can you tell me a little about your next project?
The Vintage Vacation is now through the editing process and is with Boldwood. It
is due to be published in May 2023.
Meanwhile I am working on a sequel to The Old Ducks Club because there have been so many requests for one.
BLURB & LINK:
THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER - AS RECOMMENDED BY DEBBIE MACOMBER!
'Sea, sunshine, romance and fabulous characters; Maddie's light touch and sense of fun will lift your spirits!' Bestselling author Judy Leigh
Sophia Gregory has lost her sparkle...
Recently single and about to turn sixty, Sophia doesn’t recognise the old woman staring back at her in the mirror. How has life passed her by? A quiet holiday in beautiful Rhodes is the perfect chance for her to find herself.
Until she meets the Old Ducks!
Juliette, Kim and Anita are three friends who are determined not to grow old gracefully! Bold and brash, they are Sophia’s worst nightmare, until they make her an honorary member of The Old Ducks’ Club! Now dancing and drinking till dawn Sophia starts to shake off her stuffy old life and start living again!
And when she meets her gorgeous Greek neighbour, Theo, she thinks that maybe, if she’s just a little braver, she can learn to love again too...
It’s never too late to teach an Old Duck new tricks!
A laugh out loud and uplifting story about the importance of friendship and always, always having fun!
Perfect for fans of Judy Leigh and Dee Macdonald
BIO & WEBSITE LINK:
Hello there and thank you for stopping by to see me.
I’m Maddie Please and I write standalone, feel-good stories based around the expectations and possibilities for women who are 60+. Far from being invisible and forgotten, my stories show how an older women can find a new lease of life, new friendships, accept new challenges and adventures, enjoy some high jinks, sometimes make peace with the past and even find new relationships. They are uplifting, romantic comedies with a steep learning curve for my characters, reflecting the sometimes confusing experiences of today's women (and men) which can be challenging whatever your age.
I have set my books in the sorts of places I would like to visit; a glorious Greek island, beautiful Brittany and the fabulous South of France to name a few.
I hope you enjoy,
Maddie
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maddieplease/
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