Monthly Archives: November 2025

Interview with a Writer ~ Myra Duffy

Posted on by vgemmell

After a short break from the blog last weekend, this week I’m delighted to welcome writer and friend Myra Duffy to my ‘Interview with a Writer’ feature. I’ve known Myra for many years, first meeting through a local writing group. I always enjoy catching up with Myra, (these days, usually at the annual Scottish Association of Writers’ conference), and we’ve had many chats about writing over the years, but I loved finding out new things from this interview. Winning a poodle as a prize for your first writing success, is a story in itself…

From the photograph of the stack of books you will see how much work Myra has penned over the years. Quite an achievement, and from the abundance of ideas referenced in the interview, it sounds like there will be many more books to come. As mentioned below, Myra is probably best known for her cosy crime series, set on the Isle of Bute, which is a great setting for a mystery series. If you love Richard Osman, then instead of buying his new book for Christmas (he’s famous enough!), give Myra’s series a go.

Myra has built up quite a fan club over on the Island and as well as finding her books via the link at the bottom of the post, if you are ever over on Bute be sure to pop into the local Bookshop Print Point where you will be able to pick up copies of Myra’s books. And if you happen to visit during the Bute Noir Crime Writing Festival, look out for her Isle of Bute Book Mystery bus tour!

Author Biography

Myra Duffy writes a variety of fiction and non-fiction but is best known for her cosy crime series set on the Isle of Bute, a small island just off the West Coast of Scotland. There are twelve novels and four novellas in the series featuring Alison Cameron, “an ordinary woman who finds herself involved in extraordinary events.” Myra says, ‘The island has a fascinating history, and this provides the inspiration for much of the action in my novels.’ Myra divides her time between Glasgow and Bute where she has long-standing family connections. She is a member of the Society of Authors and of the Crime Writers’ Association.

When did you first start writing?

I was 9 years old when I wrote my first novel ‘The Twins’. I was heavily influenced by Enid Blyton whose books I read avidly, as so many children did. I still have a copy but at 960 words I don’t think it was ever going to make the best seller list!

What do you write?

I’m probably best known for my contemporary Isle of Bute mystery series featuring Alison Cameron, but I like trying different genres. I’ve written a romance, ‘Love is Another Country’ set in a riding stables in Dumbarton, Scotland, and a contemporary novel, ‘The Lunch Club’ set in Glasgow. I’ve also written a children’s novel, ‘The Mystery of the Queen of the Inch’ set on Bute.

Last year the first in a new series was published, ‘The Lost of Paradise’ – a crime story set in Glasgow.

And at the end of 2024 I had a launch in the Bute Museum for the first in my new Bute series ‘The Ascog Inheritance’ – this time set on the island in the Victorian era. I really enjoyed doing the research for this one.

My problem is I have so many ideas: at the moment I’m concentrating on finishing the second in the Isle of Bute Victorian series as well as the sequel to ‘The Lost of Paradise’, but I have a number of other manuscripts in various stages of completion, including a Science Fiction novel and a Western!

What was your first published piece of work?

When I was 13 I won a competition organised by The Sunday Mail. The prize for this wasn’t what you’d expect – it was a dog, a poodle to be exact. Something that would most certainly not be allowed nowadays.

Why do you write?

I’d love to say I have some high-flown reasons for writing but the truth is that I write to stop the characters pestering me!

What, or who, has helped you on your writing journey?

So many people have helped me over the years. I’ve always found writers are such a supportive group. I was a member of Erskine Writers where winning in some of the competitions was a terrific boost to keep going when I had doubts. I’ve had brilliant Beta readers (I can be rather slapdash in my haste to finish the story). And I must make mention of two special writer friends: Joan Fleming (now sadly deceased) and Rosemary Gemmell (www.rosemarygemmell.co.uk) whose help has been invaluable.

Share a writing low with us. What did you learn from this?

My writing low was recent – I’ve moved house and anyone who has done that knows how stressful it can be. Especially when (as I had) you’d lived in the house for a very long time (44 years) and you have masses of stuff to dispose of. I’m only now coming back into being able to concentrate on writing.

The lesson I’ve learned is to adopt a minimalist lifestyle – except for books. They don’t count!

Share a writing high?

I don’t think anything will equal the feeling when my first novel The House at Ettrick Bay was so successful. Fortunately it continues to sell well.

Share some of your favourite lines from reviews, or comments you have received about your work, which boosted your confidence (tell us what piece of work it relates to)

I’ve been lucky to have had a number of reviews online by readers who know Bute well, commenting on the authenticity of the island setting.

The first review I had in the (sadly now longer in production) Buteman newspaper was of ‘The House at Ettrick Bay’ saying my main character was ‘someone you felt you could have a cup of tea with’ which was exactly the voice I was aiming for.

Any tips for new writers?

There’s no option but to write and to keep writing. My first couple of novels are in a drawer somewhere. They will never be published but they were good for practising the craft of writing. Above all, I’d advise any aspiring writer to join a writing group either in person or online.

I benefitted greatly from my time at Erskine Writers and am now a member of Bearsden Writers. I’m learning all the time.

And for all writers; any tips for keeping motivated? And how do you find time to write?

Don’t dwell on past mistakes! And let your piece of writing go. Most writers have a tendency to revise and revise and revise. Yes, make it as good as you can but at some point you have to send it out into the world.

It’s more about making the time to write. There’s a saying that a writer has the cleanest house in the street – it’s so easy to be distracted. I try to keep to the 1000 words a day routine but even if you only manage 100 it soon adds up.

Do you have a regular writing routine, or do you write in frantic bursts?

A bit of both – I try to have a routine but from time to time that fails and I’m left writing frantically to meet a deadline.

Where do you write? (A dedicated space, or on-the-go)

I do have a tiny study in my new home but I prefer variety – a different room or (especially when I’m on Bute) the local library.

Any stand-out books you have read recently?

Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz is one. He’s a brilliant writer and this third in the series has plenty of puzzles and red herrings to keep the reader involved.

The other stand out one for me is Yellowface by Rebecca F Kuang – a delicious take on the world of writing and publishing. It’s not a new idea but the blend of humour and intrigue kept me hooked.

Where can we find out more about you, and your books?

Click this link to buy Myra’s books

See Myra’s website here (myraduffywriter.com)

Find Myra on Facebook @myraduffywriter and occasionally on Instagram @myra.duffy.92

Interview with a Writer ~ Catarina Lilliehöök

Posted on by vgemmell

This week I’m delighted to welcome Swedish writer Catarina Lilliehöök to my blog feature. I connected with Cat through a Facebook ‘Write Magic’ group, where writers support one another and seek advice on our publishing journeys. I’m halfway through Catarina’s spellbinding fantasy adventure The Spirit Dragon’s Keeper (Book 1 of the Polar Saga series), which combines Sami folklore and Eastern philosophy and mythology. Catarina’s biography below will give you a flavour of her beautiful writing style!

Author Biography

Catarina Lilliehöök was born in Stockholm Sweden. A former journalist and the author of two books on China, she spent over twenty years wandering ancient cities, tracing dragon lore through winding alleyways and temple shadows. Fluent in Mandarin and steeped in the cultural myths of the Far East, Catarina weaves real-world knowledge into fantasy worlds that feel lived-in and vast.

She always had a pull toward the Sámi lands (Indigenous People of the Arctic)—where the wind speaks in riddles and reindeer cross frozen lakes under star-swept skies. Now settled in Switzerland, beneath towering alpine peaks and forests thick with legend, she writes at the edge of reality. Her stories are gateways—to places where rivers remain unnamed, where memory and magic blur, and where dragons still rule the sky.

When did you first start writing?

Omg—ages ago! Too long ago to even remember, lol!

What do you write?

Epic fantasy.

What was your first published piece of work?

I was a freelance writer for many years, but that was papers and magazines. My first book was about China and cultural differences. It’s in Chinese and was published in China. Then it got translated to Japanese.

Why do you write?

You mean there’s an option? 🙂

What, or who, has helped you on your writing journey?

My teachers! I have been studying for years with several mentors from the US. Courses, workshops and writer’s retreats have all been great and super helpful. I strongly believe in investing time and money in your writing journey.

Share a writing low with us. What did you learn from this?

Sometimes a teacher can be pretty brutal. I had one in particular who was very harsh in her feedback. Once I got a manuscript back from her and completely broke down in tears, flopped over my desk and cried (yes!) I felt so useless. This wallowing misery lasted for about two weeks. Then I picked myself up and began again. I have learnt from this (and several similar episodes) that it’s usually good to put aside your hurt and pride and do what the teachers suggest. Perhaps not always, but… very often… they are right…!

Share a writing high?

Every time I am in any of my fantasy worlds—woohoo! I LOVE hiding in there, especially when all the heavy lifting is done and all I have left is fine tuning. That last bit of tweaking… I could go on forever. DO NOT DISTURB 🙂

Share some of your favourite lines from reviews, or comments you have received about your work, which boosted your confidence (tell us what piece of work it relates to)

Here are a few of my favourite feedbacks on the first instalment The Spirit Dragon’s Keeper in my current fantasy series, The Polar Saga:

Great to get the China validation:

  • Having lived in Asia for 26 years, I was especially enchanted by the vivid portrayal of ancient China and its timeless traditions. The writing was so immersive, I could almost taste the vegetarian baozi!

Love the specifically singled out stuff…

  • Favorite Quote: “But in a name rests power.”

Who doesn’t love to hear this in a series?

  • I genuinely can’t wait for the next instalment – please, please tell me its coming soon!

Any tips for new writers?

Get a teacher. Do a course. Sign up for a workshop. Do all of the above.

And for all writers; any tips for keeping motivated? And how do you find time to write?

I never have a problem with motivation or focus. I think mainly because I just “write whatever comes.” I don’t stop to think or analyze as I don’t want my brain to get involved. Then it would probably instantly stall most of my ideas. I love to change it all around later, and in any case, I find it much easier to scrap than to add on.

Do you have a regular writing routine, or do you write in frantic bursts?

I usually write five days a week depending on what I am doing (which phase). But I always take time for workouts and cooking healthy food (I’m vegan. If I want anything healthy and yummy I have to cook myself). Non negotiable. I love to work out and I love to eat.

Where do you write? (A dedicated space, or on-the-go)

Always by my desk. This is very important: good chair, good computer, good light, preferably some sort of nature view (I have moved a lot so not always possible). Peace and quiet.

Any stand-out books you have read recently?

Right now I’m  reading A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness & absolutely love it! It currently runs as a series on Netflix. I’ve watched it three times.

Where can we find out more about you, and your books?

Author Website: www.lilliehookbooks.com

You can buy The Spirit Dragon’s Keeper directly from Bookhub here

Social Media (Instagram, Facebook, Tik Tok) @ catarinalilliehook

Interview with a Writer ~ Rosemary Gemmell

Posted on by vgemmell

This week I’m delighted to welcome my writer Mum, Rosemary Gemmell, technically back to my blog, as Rosemary featured in one of my first ever author interviews, as part of a blog challenge series I did a couple of years ago in November. For this reason I let her choose between mine and my husband’s questions (from last week), to mix it up a bit this time around.

My Mum has been a massive inspiration; penning a range of wonderful books, stories, poetry and articles (as well as academic essays).

It’s thanks to my Mum I felt encouraged from a very young age to develop my writing, and then have the confidence to share it with the world (I don’t think many people are lucky enough to have that type of support from a parent). We often discuss ideas, and what we’re working on. I always trust my Mum to give me insightful and honest feedback, and am very grateful for her technical wizardry and excellent editing!

Read on to find out more about a lovely collection of Rosemary’s work titled Words for All Seasons, which would make a perfect Christmas gift!

Author Biography

​Rosemary Gemmell is a Scottish novelist and freelance writer based in central Scotland. Rosemary writes contemporary and historical fiction, with occasional short stories, (many of which have won prizes), children’s fiction, articles and poems. Her short stories, articles and poems have been published in UK magazines, the US, and online.

When did you first start writing?

I first wrote creatively at high school when I went through a teenage, romantic phase and adored poetry and literature in general, so I started writing my own poetry. It was many years later before I moved on to articles, then fiction.

What do you write?

I write a little of everything: novels, short stories, articles, poetry, children’s fiction, and even a little bit of drama years ago. I’ve had lots of work published over the years and last year, I decided to put together a celebratory collection of new and previously published stories, articles and poetry along with some of my photographs to illustrate certain pieces. It was partly to highlight the different types of creative writing I enjoy and the book is divided into the four seasons – see below for a review.

Why do you write?

I write to entertain and communicate but also for self-expression and to make sense of the world, especially in non-fiction and poetry.

Share some of your favourite lines from reviews, or comments you have received about your work, which boosted your confidence (tell us what piece of work it relates to)

I’ve been lucky and honoured to have many wonderful reviews for my different books and appreciate each one as they encouraged me to keep writing. However, I don’t even mind a less praiseworthy review as long as I can learn from it.

As a change from my novels, this is a lovely review for my most recent collection, Words for all Seasons, that was published last year (in e-book, paperback and hardback):

What a treat it has been to read Words for All Seasons by Rosemary Gemmell. Her recently published collection of short stories, articles and poems is ideal for dipping into when you have a few moments to spare. The variety ensures there is something to please everyone. Conveniently divided into the four seasons, this is a book you will want to visit – and revisit – no matter what the season.

Any tips for new writers?

Keep reading, as that’s how we best learn what works and what doesn’t, and what type of writer we aspire to be.  And don’t give up at the first few hurdles – we all have to learn as we go, as in any other creative pursuit.

Do you have a regular writing routine, or do you write in frantic bursts?

Neither of the above! I’ve never really had a proper writing routine, much as I’ve often tried. I’m usually more creative in the morning but tend to write when I feel like it, or in short timespans. Sometimes, the less time I have, the better I write – perhaps because I get bored sitting too long at one task.

Where do you write? (A dedicated space, or on-the-go)

My absolute favourite way to write is in cafés or on trains with pen and paper. I’m never distracted by what’s going on around me and can happily sit in my own little bubble of creativity. Beats sitting at home on the computer, though I do have a study where I then type up what I’ve written.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Inspiration for my novels often begins with characters and setting. I’m not so interested in plotting (a weakness) as characters are most important to me as a reader and writer. Once I have an initial idea, I just write and let the characters play as the story develops. I usually have a vague idea of what the story will be about and where it will be set but I like to be surprised by where each book takes me.

What do you think about the concept of AI written books?

We won’t be able to turn the clock back on AI but I hope we never get to the stage of accepting it as a way to write books, especially fiction, although I know it’s already being used. Fortunately, AI is unlikely to ever express our unique human emotions in the same way we can (I hope).

What do you do to get into a ‘creative headspace’?

If writing in my study at home, I love music playing in the background, usually classical, easy listening, or Celtic – sometimes according to what I’m writing.

Where can we find out more about you, and your books?

My website is the best option for a complete overview of all my published books:

https://www.rosemarygemmell.co.uk

Buy Words for All Seasons here

Twitter X @rosemarygemmell (I sometimes take part in #haikusaturday)

And Instagram @rosemarygemmell

Interview a Writer ~ Victoria Gemmell *yes, me

Posted on by vgemmell


This week I’m doing something a bit different on the blog to fill a gap for a planned post (which will be coming soon…). I thought about just having a week off, but then decided to ask my husband to fire some questions at me last night, with the resulting interview posted below.

Author Biog (taken from my About Me page) :

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

Headlines and articles in the news acted as a catalyst for the plots within all three of my YA Mystery/Thrillers. I imagined what would happen if fictional teenagers were placed at the centre of dark situations, (unexplained teen suicides in Follow Me; possible miscarriage of justice in a media obsessed teen murder case in Promise Me; the unveiling of an elite group who kidnap young people from the care system to extract their pure plasma to stay young in Young Blood) My teen protagonists start to uncover hidden truths that adults have been oblivious about, endangering themselves in the process. It’s not until my characters start to form, that the full story will start to unfold.

What do you do to get into a ‘creative headspace’?

Once a book starts to take shape I like to create a playlist for it on Spotify, choosing music which fits the ‘mood’ of the story. To this day there’s one particular Silversun Pickups album that I just need to hit play on and it takes me right back to the emotions I felt when I started to write Follow Me. Finding the right tone and ‘voice’ for a book can be challenging, and music helps me switch off the over-thinking part of my brain. When I’m thinking too much about a story I know it’s not working yet. You need to feel it.

What new book are you working on?

I’m attempting to write a middle-grade magic realism type story. I also have an idea for an adult thriller which might start to take over, so who knows which one I’ll finish first. At this rate it’ll be neither.

What do you think about the concept of AI written books?

Honestly I find it infuriating and worrying. About three years ago we started to talk about AI in work (in my day job as a careers adviser) and the impact it might start to have on certain careers. The topic was brought up on a regional staff day online and a colleague in another region flippantly said, ‘My friend has just written a children’s book with AI and is now selling it on Amazon’. I had to hold myself back as he was actually boasting about it; like it was an amazing achievement. There’s a lot of people out there who I think love the idea of writing a book, and saying they have done so, and love the idea of making money from it (ha, they’ll soon learn). The magic of writing for me is when your brain unlocks almost a super-power you don’t understand yourself; when characters form, ideas and words flow, and it all somehow connects together into a story. Often stories fall flat and don’t work out, and that’s important too. Trying, shaping and learning, and re-writing, and tapping in to your imagination. We’re already being brain-washed by algorithms and dopamine rewards online, which is disrupting our attention spans and the ability to feel ok being bored or at peace…and that’s when we do our best daydreaming and tap into our imagination. (I don’t think it’s a coincidence that I do some of my best thinking these days in the shower or bath!). I don’t want AI to steal our imaginations. It kind of feels like something from the plot of the Never Ending Story when Fantasia is threatened by ‘The Nothing’.

What do you find difficult subjects to tackle?

I shy away from writing anything which involves high-concept epic world-building (think space sci-fi series where characters have unpronounceable names.) I get bored reading this kind of thing, so I know I’d get bored writing it too, and I’d be really bad at it.

What do you enjoy writing about?

I love writing mysteries where I often don’t really know what has happened so I enjoy seeing the plot unfold as my characters develop. That’s the best kind of writing, where you feel like you’re the reader and the plot master rolled into one, and it’s amazing how much you can trust your subconscious to fill in blanks you haven’t even seen. (It’s often why I need to go back to re-write my endings as my characters take over and take me by surprise).

Where can we find your books? (click on highlighted links)

Young Blood: Amazon (paperback and kindle) on worldwide Digital platforms Order into: Waterstones Foyles

Promise Me: Amazon (paperback and kindle) on worldwide Digital platforms Order into: Waterstones Foyles

Follow Me – please contact me direct for a signed copy