NK Chats To…Hywela Lyn (Plus Giveaway To Win A Copy Of The Matchmaker’s Mare)

Hi Hywela. Thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell us a little about your latest book, The Matchmaker’s Mare and what inspired it?

Thank you so much for being part of my blog tour, Laura. To answer your question, I usually manage to get a horse somewhere in my stories, even the Science fiction Romances, so it was natural that I should think about writing a novel with horses as a large part of the plot. I had written short stories about horses, and one, written many years ago,  was about a witch’s pony. I’d been thinking about writing a ghost story, and the witch became a matchmaking spirit. I set it in my native Wales and gradually the other characters developed and, of course, it became a romance -I am an unashamed romantic! Neither the pony or the ghosts in the story are scary, in fact one of them is quite mischievous and the matchmaker has her hands full keeping him in check while trying to get the two main characters to realise they are meant for each other!

What’s your favourite and least favourite words and why?

Favourite  – Romance. Naturally since I’m a romance writer. The world needs more romance!

Least favourite – Literally. It’s used far too much and often incorrectly. I heard someone on the radio the other day say they were ‘literally on another planet’. Wow – I’m surprised that didn’t make headline news! 😊

What’s your typical writing day like? Do you have any writing Rituals?

I don’t really have a typical writing day and I actually write better at night! I’ve always been something of a night owl. I like to have a clear head when I write and not have to worry about jobs I haven’t done, so it’s usually quite late when I start writing, and then I get so absorbed I lose all track of time! I don’t think I actually have any rituals, except I like to have music on low in the background.

From idea to finished novel, how long does the process take you? How do you know when you’ve done enough research and editing?

 At least a year. I am not a fast writer. I mull it over in my mind for a long time before I start writing. I usually get the  first draft done fairly quickly, after researching and making a lot of notes. I like to do the research before I start writing, so as not to interrupt ‘the flow’. Then I write and rewrite before I feel it’s fit to send to beta readers. Then I rewrite again, taking on board all the comments I feel are relevant. Then I give it a few more polishes before I feel I can submit it to my publisher. I find it very hard to know when to stop and never really feel it’s good enough.

Do you have any advice to combat writers block?

LOL – I could say a long ride on a horse works wonders! Of course not every writer is fortunate enough to be able to do that, but a long walk is just as good. Anything to clear one’s mind. Gardening perhaps, or even reading something not connected with what you’re writing at the time. I usually find that when I stop trying to work out the problem that’s causing the block, the solution will pop into my head when I stop thinking about it!

In your opinion, what are the most common mistakes new writers make?

Starting too early with too much ‘back story’ before getting to the action. Many readers don’t have much time to read, or have a rather short attention span, so if you don’t start with something interesting happening straight away, or spend too much time describing the setting and the characters, they’ll just stop reading and move onto something else. It’s better to start with the action and dribble the back story and descriptions gradually, as the story progresses.

If you were creating a playlist for this book, which songs would you include?

Chestnut Mare – The Byrds (since the Matchmaker’s pony is a chestnut mare! 😊)

White Horses – Jacky

Crazy Horses – The Osmonds

What was your path to publication?

I had several short stories published in UK magazines but really wanted to write something longer. I wrote  Starquest, a science fiction romance, but was not sure what to do with it, so it languished in a drawer for  long time until I finally dusted it off and rewrote it.  I tried several UK agents and publishers with no success, and then heard of a relatively new publishing house in the U.S. who published several romance sub-genres, including Science Fiction, Fantasy and Paranormal romance. I submitted Starquest to them without getting my hopes up too much, and to my delight it was accepted. I have been with them ever since. Starquest became the first book in the Destiny Trilogy. I was also part of a three book anthology with eight other authors, featuring the nine Greek muses, and The Matchmaker’s Mare is my latest novel with them, and I will always be grateful to them for giving me my ‘break’.

What are you currently working on?

I’ve been so busy trying to promote The Matchmaker’s Mare, along with some personal and health issues I haven’t really started anything new, although I have a feeling my Trilogy just might become a quadology (If that’s even a word) and although The Matchmaker’s Mare like all my books is complete and a ‘standalone’, it does lend itself to possibly being a series with some of the same characters.

If you could forget one book that you’ve read (that you didn’t write), just so you could discover it again, which book would you pick?

 Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey, the first book in the series The Dragonriders of Pern. She completely changed my ideas about dragons and the world she built is so complex, with its histories and customs. I was completely drawn into it from the first page, and it remains my favourite of all her books.

Would you rather (just for fun) –

Have the ability to see into the future or be able to visit the past?

Oh visit the past. I’ve always had a hankering to visit the Old West. I’m not sure I would want to see into the future.

Have the ability to move things with your mind or read minds?

Move things with my mind (I think reading other people’s minds might be quite scary and I might learn things I’d rather not know!

Sing or dance to your favourite song for the rest of your life?

Sing – although despite being Welsh I don’t have a great singing voice, but I don’t think I could keep up the dancing for very long.

Have money or power?

I’m not interested in power so it would be money, I guess. It would be nice not to have to worry about it, and buy a few little extras for myself and my dog. I don’t have an extravagant lifestyle. I don’t buy expensive clothes or go on  foreign holidays, but it would be wonderful to have enough to give away to all the deserving causes I want to. There are so many animal shelters with animals that have been injured and traumatised by their treatment at the hands of humans – and then there are people without homes or enough food to eat. It would be so satisfying to be able to help them all – without having to set limits!

Have an endless summer or winter?

Winter I think. I love the snow, and one can always put on extra layers, but if the summer is very hot it is difficult to keep cool and there is a limit to how much one can remove in public!

Drink tea or coffee?

Tea. I rarely drink coffee unless it’s very milky, and even then, I prefer tea.

See the movie or read the book first?

Read the book . I love a good film but I rarely find they live up to the original book.

Read a Paperback or eBook?

That’s a difficult one. I love my Kindle and the ability to carry as many books around with me as I want, but there is nothing quite like a paperback – a real book! If I had to choose, I guess it would be an ebook, purely for the convenience.

Would you rather have magical powers here on earth or live in a magical place without powers?

I think having magical powers on earth, it could be useful as well as fun, although I wouldn’t want too many people to know I had them. I think living in a magical place without powers would make me feel very inadequate and inferior.

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About Hywela Lyn –

Award-winning author, Hywela Lyn spent most of her life in Wales, whose beautiful landscapes and wealth. of myths and legends inspired her to write. A horse and dog lover, she weaves romantic Science Fiction adventures and fantasy romances set in Wales, past and present. She loves dreaming up characters who overcome the odds, and go on to find deep and enduring love. However difficult the journey, in the end love will always win. She  hopes her stories will truly take you ‘out of this world’.

Her penname, Hywela Lyn is a combination of her first two names. (She has always been known by her second name ‘Lyn’ and thought it was time her Welsh first name was used as well!) She is a member of The Romantic Novelists’ Association, and her local writing group, Chiltern Writers. Beloved Enemy, the third book in her Destiny Trilogy, was shortlisted in the Paranormal category of the prestigious Romantic Novelists Association RoNA awards and was a Runner up in the RONE Awards in 2017. When not writing or reading, she can usually be found outdoors with horses or her little dog – or just eating chocolate!

Say hello to Hywela Lyn via her website, blog, Twitter (X), Instagram and Goodreads. 

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About The Matchmaker’s Mare

When Megan Johnson inherits an old cottage in the Welsh countryside, she seizes the opportunity to cut ties with her past life, after a broken romance. Her nearest neighbour, a horse trainer, is also something of an enigma.

Single dad Glyn Phillips does his best to balance his love of horses and hard work, with his devotion to his son. When he meets his new neighbour, he knows he should resist any attraction. A feisty pony mare which mysteriously appears on his land adds to his problems, but another, larger problem lies ahead. Two matchmaking spirits find their carefully laid plans may not go as smoothly as they hope.

Click to buy The Matchmaker’s Mare on Amazon UK, Waterstones, Amazon US and Barnes & Noble.

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Win an e-copy of The Matchmaker’s Mare Plus Assorted Goodies. 

Do you live in the UK and fancy winning a copy of The Matchmaker’s Mare plus some extra goodies? Well, this is your chance.

All you have to do is click this link to enter.

Prize includes: Matchmaker’s Mare download, with signed cover flat, Matchmaker’s Mare Miniature book cover key chain, Lavender bag,  Chocolate heart in sparkle gift box,  Set of four heart shaped drinks coasters.

Open to UK only.
 

 *Terms and Conditions –

UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box above.  

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 Rachel’s Random Resources reserves 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 Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  

I (Novel Kicks) am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.