Welcome to Sugarbeat’ Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!
Today we are welcoming a new visitor to the blog. Her name is Prue Phillipson, and she has recently published a book called Hearts Restored. Enjoy what she has to share about herself and her book!
Barb – Tell us a bit about you and your writing – it seems that you have several books published!
Prue – I’ve been writing for 77 years. Yes, honestly. I wrote my first story aged 6 in a little 24-page notebook and I’m now 83. I continued all my childhood and in my twenties began to win short story prizes and have newspaper articles published. An electronic publisher – in the early days of IT – published, gradually, 7 novels and a volume of short stories between 2000 and 2005. Of these I had 5 printed in book form and did a little marketing myself. They are about in book shops and libraries! But I still hadn’t had a publisher publish a novel of mine in book form till 2009. Great excitement! That was my first historical with Quaestor2000 who have since given up through ill health. I am now with Knox Robinson and very happily settled in the historical genre.
Barb – Tell us about your newest release – Heart Restored. Since this is the second book in a series, can you help us understand where Heart Restored fit in the story line?
Prue – Hearts Restored, publication date March 1st 2012, is the second part of a trilogy about the Hordens of Horden Hall in Northumberland. The first part, Vengeance Thwarted (1640 -1647) was published in June 2011 and tells the story of Bel Horden whose youth was blighted by guilt over the hanging of a man for a rick-burning which she realised was her fault. The story of Nat Wilson, brother of the hanged man, Daniel, is told in parallel until he and Bel finally meet and the vengeance his mother is seeking is thwarted by their love. Hearts Restored (1660 – 1665) tells of Bel’s and Nat’s son, Daniel (named in memory of his uncle) who has three cousins hoping to marry him. He dallies with one of the French girls but is intrigued by the English one, Eunice, who loves him secretly from their first meeting. Daniel has other things on his mind – university and then the navy to fulfil his passion to serve King Charles II, whose triumphant entry into London he witnessed at the opening of the novel. There follow for him fearful sea battles and for Eunice the London plague and Great Fire. Will they ever come together? Read the novel to find out. It can be read as a separate entity from Vengeance Thwarted though the reader will gain more from following the family’s tale of three generations from the beginning. The third part is in the publisher’s hands now with the possible title of Rebels Repentant.
Barb – Do you normally start your writing with an outline or do you just let the characters tell the story?
Prue – When a novel idea first comes to me, I have the vaguest outline of a plot, usually the opening event and how the story will end. The idea simmers gently while I do research of the period, dash off notes of characters, sometimes a snatch of dialogue and glimpses of possible scenes, but after a while it reaches a point where I have to start writing so that the characters can take over and tell me where they are going. Potential scenes change and so, quite possibly, does the ending.
Barb – What is your favorite part of writing?
Prue – I suppose the most enjoyable times are when I can launch into an action-packed or emotionally-charged scene. Words tumble out and often I don’t have to change much later, except perhaps to enhance any excitement and emotion which might have been lost in the over-speedy pace.
Barb – What is your least favorite part of writing?
Prue – My least favourite times are when I have to cover a time period between two stages of the plot. There must be no sagging of interest so I avoid ‘author telling’ and have to think up vivid scenes which will move things forward and show character development. It means stopping to plan ahead and I go in the garden or do a household chore to release my imagination.
Barb – Do you have someone who keeps you writing – someone that encourages you on from the sidelines?
Prue – All my family are supportive, my husband in particular. Since his retirement and my becoming a professional writer he mainly makes the meals and never grumbles if I vanish into my little office. He even reads some of my work and is brilliant at finding books for my research from his vast historical library. I am also a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and the Association of Christian Writers and our local groups are hugely encouraging.
Barb – Although I realize that many authors feel their characters are like their children, can I risk offending you and ask if you have a favorite character in Heart Restored:)
Prue – I love the poor facially deformed Ursula who brings her sunny, loving disposition into all three books, but as you rightly say one is fascinated by all the characters one has brought into being.
Barb – Where can you fans find your books?
Prue – My books can be ordered from bookshops and Amazon, or print copies of my e-books direct from me.
Barb – How can your fans keep in touch?
Prue – I don’t run a website but Knox Robinson’s site is very comprehensive and readers can write comments and ask questions on the Prue Phillipson page or contact me direct by e-mail on pru.phillipson@btopenworld.com
Barb – Anything else you would like to add?
Prue – Although I feel settled with historical novels at present I am still looking for a publisher of a humorous, poignant novel of the early 1960’s on a day in the life of a planning officer. I wrote it between 1959 and 1969 and still love its fascinating array of characters. I ‘tweak’ it from time to time. As you can see I never give up! If any readers out there feel like writing remember success may still come when you think you are long past it.
I would like to thank Prue for visiting and sharing about her latest book. I hope you enjoyed what she had to say!
