Tag Archives: author-interview

Interview with a Writer ~ Denise Brown

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This week I’m delighted to welcome writer Denise Brown to my blog. Denise writes Young Adult mystery thrillers and when I read her debut I am Winter a few years ago, (now re-released as We Know What You Did), it stood out to me as it was so raw and real, with well drawn and believable characters. I always get excited when I come across other YA mystery writers who base themselves in Scotland, and loved finding out more about Denise’s writing journey, and tips! (Note to self: keep my phone off when I’m writing). It’s reassuring to discover I’m not the only one who doesn’t always follow a structured plan. Read on to gain an insight into Denise’s writing world…

Denise Brown is a freelance ghostwriter, proofreader, and copy editor, who still pinches herself some mornings that she gets to sit at her desk and write stories for a living. She often wishes that she could go back and tell her eight-year-old self that it’s okay to daydream because that’s where the magic happens.

Born in East London, Denise has now settled in Scotland where she feels certain she must’ve lived in a previous life. She loves dogs and snow globes and has a teensy obsession with Jack Skellington.

Her debut YA murder mystery I Am Winter was published by Hashtag Press in 2021, relaunched in November 2024 as We Know What You Did. Her second novel, It All Started with a Lie, followed in February 2024. Her third murder mystery No One Keeps a Secret was published in August 2025.

When did you first start writing?

I always loved books. I suffered from chronic shyness as a child – still do to be honest – and books were my escape from having to interact with people. It was the same with writing stories. But when I left school, writing wasn’t an acceptable career choice for a teenager from East London, so life took over, as it does. I got married, had babies, and repeated the process a second time. So, it wasn’t until later in life, when my children were growing up that I realised it was finally time to focus on me. I began studying for an English literature degree with the OU, took an advanced creative writing course, and have been writing ever since.

What do you write?

Personally, I write mystery thrillers for young adults, although I’m also working on a middle grade book too right now. As a ghost writer – I’ve been writing full-time since the pandemic – I mostly write niche romance and some omegaverse.

What was your first published piece of work?

It was a gritty YA novella called The Devil on Your Back, published by Salt. This was fresh out of my creative writing course and was a huge ego boost!

Why do you write?

Because writing is now like breathing. I can’t imagine a world without books or writing. I’ve been writing every day for the last twelve years, and stopping now would be like giving up food or air or my dog!

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

My children have always been extremely supportive. They believed in me even when I had no belief in myself. Impostor syndrome is still there, but I think I’ve learned to deal with it more effectively these days. But I think the real turning point for me was being longlisted for the Bath Novel Award. It was the justification I needed to carry on despite the rejections because someone liked my writing and believed that my story was worth reading.

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

My first book I am Winter was noticed by a couple of people. A literary agent requested the full manuscript but decided not to proceed because she felt that it was too young adult for her list. Then I signed a contract with a relatively new publishing company, only to find a few months later that the book was too mature for their list.

What I learned from this is that a book will be discovered by the right person at the right time, and no amount of querying will ever alter this. If it isn’t a right fit for both author and publisher, then it is time to walk away and try again.

Share a writing high?

Well, the first one has to be the day I received an email from Helen and Abiola of Hashtag Press, telling me that they wanted to publish my first book I am Winter. Without them, and their relentless passion for their authors, I wouldn’t be sitting here now talking to you.

But I’d like to share another one with you also. In December 2023, I attended an Indie Book Launch with lots of other indie authors at Foyle’s Charing Cross to promote my second book It All Started with a Lie. While I was there, a reader came over and told me that she’d come specifically to meet me because she loved my first book so much. It was the best feeling, knowing that someone had read my book and enjoyed it that much!

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)

A reader wrote this about my first book I am Winter, and it literally brought tears to my eyes because it was more than I could’ve ever hoped for when I first started writing:

“This YA novel has my heart, and Summer all my love.” (Summer is the main character)

But this (below) has to be one of my favourite quotes for It All Started with a Lie, simply because it’s honest and straight to the point, and it made me laugh:

“Every character was likeable, except the murderer. And Jed. F**k Jed. But everyone served a point (even Jed).”

Any tips for new writers?

Write every day, even if it’s a hundred words. No writing is ever wasted. And read for pleasure every day too. Because while you’re reading, your brain is subconsciously absorbing what works and what doesn’t.

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

I write full-time, so the second question doesn’t really apply. But what works for me to keep me motivated is to never have a fixed outline to follow. I realise that this won’t work for everyone, but I find that I get easily bored if I don’t allow the characters to do their own thing within a loose storyline. Also, switch off your phone! My phone is always on silent. Which annoys my daughters when they’re trying to get hold of me while I’m working.

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

I follow the Pomodoro Technique of writing in twenty-five-minute bursts and then taking a break from my laptop for five minutes to make a cup of tea, or do some hoovering, or cuddle the dog!

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

At my desk. Since my daughter recently moved out, I now have an entire room dedicated to my workspace, with views of the woods in the distance which is lovely. Unfortunately, I’m not one of those people who can write anywhere. I’ve tried writing on train journeys, but I suffer with motion sickness, so it simply doesn’t work for me, and cafés are too distracting.

Any stand-out books you have read recently?

The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey. It’s a retelling of The Little Mermaid, and is so charming, and so beautifully written that I didn’t want it to end.

Other books that I absolutely adore are:

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma (quite possibly my favourite book ever)

We Were Liars (of course!) by E. Lockhart

And more recently:

The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Happyhead by Josh Silver

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

Denise’s books can be bought in Waterstones, WH Smiths (now TG Jones) and on Amazon

Author website: About | Denise Brown Author

Instagram: Denise Brown Author (@denisebrownuk)

Interview with a Writer~Yasmin Hanif

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Today I’m really excited to welcome my friend and writer, Yasmin Hanif, onto my blog. I first met Yasmin at an informal Writers’ meet up group, where we do writing sprints and chat about our projects, and the ups and downs of the writing life in general! (and drink nice tea and eat snacks). Yasmin has been so encouraging about my own books and writing; a real cheerleader for other writers, and this has helped me stay motivated (more than she probably realises!). I was so delighted when Yasmin told me her amazing news that Floris were going to publish her debut picture book, Abdullah’s Bear Needs A Name! and even more delighted to attend her launch at Waterstones the other week (thank you Yasmin’s Mum for the very tasty Samosas and Pakoras, and to Floris for the cake!). It’s a beautiful book and I wish Yasmin lots of success with her writing career. Read on to find out more about Yasmin’s writing journey, with links to buy her book at the bottom of the post.

Yasmin is a Scottish writer and educator, specialising in children’s literature. She was shortlisted for the Kavya Arts Prize in 2023 for her story which became her debut picture book, Abdullah’s Bear Needs A Name! (Floris, 2025). She has contributed to various poems in anthologies including ‘Daisy’s Mum’ in Stay At Home (Cranachan Publishing, 2020). She was a writer in residence at a primary school and worked on their project to promote diversity and inclusion within children’s writing and publishing, which won the SAMEE Aspiring Writers Award and the Scottish Education Curriculum Innovation Award 2022. 

When did you first start writing?

I don’t remember exactly when I first started writing but I remember that I started storytelling from a young age. My sisters and I would make up stories and act out the characters that we had created when we were little. I think that started my love for stories and writing.

What do you write?

I write all genres of children’s writing from picture books, poetry, middle grade to young adult. I also delve into short stories and poetry for adults too.

What was your first published piece of work?

I think my first written, fictional piece of work was a poem called ‘Daisy’s Mum’ in the Stay at Home anthology by Cranachan Publishing. This was a collection of specially curated poems and stories by 40 writers based in Scotland to help children aged 8-12 deal with the lockdown during the pandemic.

Why do you write?

There are so many reasons why I write from seeing the joy on people – especially kids’ faces – to the connection it brings between people, ideas, and experiences. I love the sense of humanity it brings out – the connectivity through emotions. I also love engaging with people when writing is performed whether that’s through readings or the discussions it brings about.

On a broader stroke, I think writing and bringing literature to as many people as possible is important for education and improving literacy levels; particularly making children more critical thinkers, and for them to be empowered for their future. Finally, I also enjoy creating something from scratch and I hope that my words have a positive impact on those reading them.

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

So many people and things from writing communities to courses. However, I think the biggest thing that has helped me is finding like-minded people who also write in your chosen genre. They have been very supportive and it’s useful and encouraging to speak to different people at different stages of their writing career. I also worked with a local primary school in the West of Scotland when I started out as a writer. The experience I gained from that was also invaluable.

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

I had been subbing out my stories for a while and at that time I had also become unemployed from my main (non-writing) job. I kept getting rejection after rejection and it really felt like I was going nowhere. I was just about to give up when I got an email from a publisher saying they loved my book and were taking it to an acquisitions meeting. I really needed that. I learned that hard times can last a long, long time but the most important thing is that they don’t last. So never give up or at least keep going.

Share a writing high?

I recently had my debut book launch at Waterstones, and it was a real dream come true for me. I had friends and family there and did a Q&A and reading from the book. It was a surreal moment being on that stage answering questions and engaging with the audience. There was also homemade food which was themed with the Eid feast in the book and a bookish cake with good chatter. I was on a high from it for about 2 and half days after it!

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)

As I mentioned, I recently had my debut picture book, Abdullah’s Bear Needs A Name! published (illustrated by the very talented Sophie Benmouyal) and received a wonderful review by Kids’ Literature Scotland:

“A beautiful and necessary book. It is wonderful when Scottish children from all cultural backgrounds see themselves reflected in stories…This gorgeous picture book is an encouraging step on that journey.”   

Any tips for new writers?

I would say keep writing, learning, experimenting in your practice and meeting like-minded people. Soak it all up and enjoy the process – from that will come your creativity and possibly your best pieces.

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

Motivation and finding the time to write can be two of the most challenging things. Through motivation you write, and conversely through writing you find motivation, so it goes hand in hand. As I mentioned about find likeminded people to write with, whether that’s informal creative writing groups, workshops, retreats – somewhere where others are writing too, which helps you stay motivated and accountable.

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

I do write in frantic bursts! I always use the phrase, ‘I try to steal time if I can’ – what that means is finding little pockets of time whether that’s 5mins or 25mins!

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

I mostly write at home, but I find I do need to switch it up occasionally to keep inspired so I’ll write in my local library or with a friend in a public space like a university or café.

Any stand-out books you have read recently?

I like reading autobiographies and memoirs, and really enjoyed Matthew Perry’s memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. I found it incredibly honest, raw and captivating.

For children’s literature, I’m currently reading The Highland Falcon Thief by M.G. Leonard and Sam Sedgman. I’ve only started reading it but so far so good!

Where can we find your book and find out more about you?

Links to buy Yasmin’s book here: Yasmin Hanif books and biography | Waterstones

Abdullah’s Bear Needs a Name! – DiscoverKelpies

You can follow Yasmin on Instagram:  @yhwrites

Interview with a Writer ~ Rachel Sargeant

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After months of blogging about own my writing journey I thought it would be interesting to gain an insight from other writers about their paths to publication, inviting them to take part in an ‘Interview with a Writer’ feature. Today, I’m delighted to welcome prolific and talented writer Rachel Sargeant to my blog and I hope you enjoy reading about her journey as much as I did. Rachel has been a supportive online writing friend and reading her answers below really cements the importance of surrounding yourself with an encouraging community.

Read on to find out more about Rachel and her fabulous books (I’m reading The Roommates just now and it’s a page-turner!).

Rachel Sargeant is the author of The Perfect Neighbours; The Good Teacher; The Roommates; Her Deadly Friend; and Her Charming Man. After many years in Germany, she now lives in Gloucestershire. Her hobbies are visiting country houses and coffeeshops, watching amateur theatre and travelling with her husband to visit their grown-up children in various places around the world. She also likes chatting about books with readers and writers on her blog.

Thank you, Victoria, for inviting me to take part in an interview. I look forward to reading your interviews with the other authors taking part.

When did you first start writing?

Writing was my favourite activity at primary school. In my own time at home, I wrote a comedy sketch, a musical and… a bodice-ripper. I think the idea for that came from a story I read in a magazine in the dentist’s waiting room. When I got to secondary school, homework took up time, so I forgot about writing.

Years later, I moved to Germany and became a mum. On a rare night out, I went to a summer ball. A palm reader was present as part of the entertainment. She read my palm and was insistent I should write, so I did. That was 26 years ago, and I haven’t stopped since.

What do you write?

Crime, suspense and psychological thrillers

What was your first published piece of work?

A few months after the palm reader in Germany told me to write, I went to a writing workshop in Shrewsbury. The tutor was crime writer David Armstrong, the father of a (at the time) young, hopeful screenwriter by the name of Jesse Armstong, much later of Succession fame. David set a five-minute exercise about a crime scene. Feedback from him and the other students on my effort was really encouraging.

On the way home I bought a copy of Writing Magazine and saw an advert for their Crime Short Story competition. Buoyed up by the positive comments from the workshop, I expanded my hundred-word exercise into a sixteen-hundred-word story and, in a stroke of beginner’s luck, won the competition. That story became my first published piece of work when it appeared in the magazine’s competition supplement.

Why do you write?

I love getting ideas for plots, characters and settings from my head onto a piece of paper. I don’t really know why, but I feel as enthusiastic about writing now as I did as the eleven-year-old producing risqué historical fiction.

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

My husband provides the means and opportunity for me to write and is my biggest cheerleader. As a press officer by profession, he comes up with innovative ways to promote my books.

Lots of other people have helped and continue to help. The greatest influence on my writing has been the students I met on my distance learning Creative Writing MA in 2013. When we were allocated to syndicates to exchange work, the four students in my syndicate transformed my writing life. They gave constructive but encouraging feedback, and I read their submissions in genres and styles I hadn’t encountered before.

Ten years on from the end of the course, I still exchange work with three of them. They’ve read the early drafts of all my novels and my PhD thesis. They are Fergus Smith, Peter Garrett and Jessie Payne, all excellent writers.

Share a writing low with us.

I worked on my MA portfolio for two years, but six weeks before it was due to be handed in, my tutor told me to rewrite it.

What did you learn from this?

What kept me going was the balanced perspective and support of my syndicate. They read vast sections of the re-write. The fourth member of the syndicate, Jenny, said to me. “I admire your resilience.” I’d never thought of myself as resilient, but at that moment realised I was. I keep that in mind whenever I have a writing setback.

The experience also taught me flexibility. There is a need to frame writing for specific audiences. I was tasked with rewriting my project to give it its best chance in front of the MA examiners. After the course, with more feedback from my writing buddies, I rewrote the portfolio again as a commercial thriller and secured an agent. The book was published by HarperCollins and became a bestseller.

Share a writing high?

I’m enjoying a writing high at the moment. The novel I spent four years writing as part of my PhD has found a home. The publisher, Hera Books, made the announcement this week. An Ordinary House will be published in 2026 under my new penname Rae Starling. Readers and authors have been leaving comments to congratulate me. It’s lovely to feel part of the book world.

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 was touched when the late Nicki Richards, a lovely blogger and sadly missed, named The Roommates as one of her favourite reads of 2019.

I’ve been overwhelmed by the kind comments about my Gloucestershire Crime Series from readers I’ve met in person. I sometimes do book signings close to my home in Gloucestershire. Although I’ve lived here 15 years, I’m not from the county and I’ve taken liberties with Gloucestershire landmarks, renaming some, moving others around and completely inventing a few. I’m always nervous how my authorial reshuffle will go down with local people, but they’ve told me they enjoy working out what places inspired the settings.

Any tips for new writers?

Read, read, read and write, write, write.

The best way to get a feel for a genre is to immerse yourself in reading recent titles in that genre. You’ll absorb the rhythm, tone, characterisation, structure and descriptive style.  

And keep having a go yourself. In my experience, first drafts are hard; editing is easier, but you can’t edit a blank page.

And for all writers; any tips for keeping motivated?

Join writers’ groups. Perhaps take a formal course and meet fellow writing students. Engage with writers and readers on social media. Review other people’s books. Big up their new publications. Being part of a lovely tribe is a great way to feel motivated.

And how do you find time to write?

I’ve been writing full-time since October 2018. Before that, I wrote in the evenings after work. Before that I snatched an hour when my children were at after-school clubs.

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

I usually deal with social media and read emails before I get out of bed, then sit at my desk from 9.30am. Apart from stopping to go to the shop or deal with chores, I’ll work through until 6pm. If I have a deadline, I might work in the evening too. I usually take weekends off.

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

A spare bedroom is my study. If the weather’s nice, I write or edit in the garden. Sometimes I’ll take a change of scene with a coffeeshop visit or simply sit in a different room in the house.

Any stand-out books you have read recently?

My standout read of the year so far is Her Many Faces by Nicci Cloke – clever angle, clever plot.

Other humdingers include:

The Crime Writer by Diane Jeffrey

Coram House by Bailey Seybolt

The Surfacing by Claire Ackroyd

Unknown by Heather Critchlow

I could go on. My Best Books of the Year post in December is going to be long.

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

Link to buy Rachel’s books: https://t.co/89T86a9pon

Website: https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/

Twitter: @RachelSargeant3

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelsargeantauthor/

Bluesky: @drrachelsargeant.bsky.social

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelsargeant3/

Threads: rachelsargeant3

BookBub: @rachelsargeant3