NK Chats To… Lynda Blakesley

Hi Lynda, thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell me about your novel, So Many Secrets and what inspired it?

‘So Many Secrets’ is a family saga that spans the generations and tells the story of characters that come to realise that they are related through the exposure of long held secrets. An unexpected love story unfurls once everything is revealed. The inspiration for the story came from a childhood growing up in a close knit community in the 1950s where family held great importance. Life was very different for my grandparents though and it was the social pressures of their times that dictated some of the actions taken by the central characters in the book. In addition art plays a significant part in the plot and as the daughter of a talented artist, I wanted to reflect this element in the story. Pulling together these threads gave me the motivation and the vision to write the novel.

What’s your typical writing day like and do you have any writing quirks or rituals?

For me, writing is a release from boredom as well as an outlet for my creativity so I don’t really have a strict routine but I do try to write every day. I like to have a cup of coffee by my side as I work but it often goes cold as once I start I forget everything else. My day can pass very quickly when I am writing so I have to try to set certain limits otherwise nothing else would get done.

What songs would make up a playlist for your book?

My playlist would be Paperback Writer by Lennon and McCartney, Imagine by John Lennon, In My Life by The Beatles, When We Were Young by Adele and We are the Champions by Queen. They are all very inspirational pieces but each one is special to me which is why they help me to focus on my writing.

Which fictional character would you like to meet and why?

Elizabeth Bennet may be a bit cliched but as a character created so long ago in a very different era, she is wonderfully modern in so many ways. She is an intelligent and independent woman with an ability to recognise her own strengths and weaknesses. A perfect role model!

From idea to finished book, what’s your writing process like and how long does it typically take you and what challenges did you face when writing So Many Secrets?

The idea for ‘So Many Secrets’ was always at the back of my mind but it took a long time for it to fully emerge as it moved on from my original plan into a totally different direction. The challenge was to make it appealing to a modern audience given its nostalgic setting.

What’s your favourite word and why?

Serendipity is such a lovely sounding word with an equally charming meaning that it is one of my most favourites.

Which book have you read that you wish you could forget, just so you could discover it again?

One of my best-loved reads was Greengage Summer by Rumer Godden and it was one of the first young adult books that really influenced me. For a teenage girl it sent my senses reeling and gave me a glimpse into another world. It is  a coming of age story set in France and tells of a group of siblings left to their own devices as their mother is taken ill. The eldest child a 16 year old girl falls in love with a mature English man who takes responsibility for the family. It is a charming, gentle story with a twist. Years later I fell in love with France and I am sure the evocative descriptions of the French countryside in this atmospheric book strengthened that passion. Reading it again now would be both enthralling and nostalgic.

What are you currently working on?

I am currently working on a sequel which sees the original characters move on in life. Many readers of my first novel were very keen to find out what happened to them so this inspired me to start the second book, introducing the next generation of characters.

What type of scene do you find it hardest to write?

Scenes hardest to write are the very emotive ones. I believe I am a very empathetic person who often physically feels for others. This can often include book characters as well as people I know so I can get quite emotional when dealing with sensitive or poignant passages.

When did you consider yourself a writer and what’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered since you’ve started writing?

I have always written since schooldays and English Literature was my subject at university so I consider myself to be a writer. Becoming an author though is a totally different thing and it surprised me when someone actually referred to me as an author.

In your opinion, what are the essential tools of the trade for a writer?

As a writer you obviously need to have a good imagination but also as I have already mentioned you need to have strong empathy for the feelings of others. If the author doesn’t care about the characters then how can you expect the reader to engage with them?

How do you research your novels? How do you know when you have enough?

Experience gives you lots of knowledge about many things so referring back to your own life and that of others can be very productive but the internet is also invaluable when you need to research or check information. However whilst I believe it is important to be factually correct when writing fiction, it is crucial to remember to use only what you really need to lend realism to your writing. Too much can detract from the story.

About Lynda Blakesley –

I am a mother and a grandmother who has enjoyed creativity in many forms throughout my life. My love of writing began at school and I wrote poetry and short stories throughout my time at college. I studied Art and English Literature, qualifying as a teacher in the seventies, which led me into a long career in education. After working in the classroom for a number of years, I became a Headteacher and then worked as an Education Consultant before retiring. I started writing again at that time to combat boredom and keep my brain cells well oiled. It was then that I decided to write “So Many Secrets,” my first novel.

Born in County Durham, I left the area at the age of eighteen and only returned four years ago after living and working in Yorkshire for many years. I live in the beautiful village of Brancepeth, surrounded by green fields and wide open spaces. My cottage is set in the grounds of an Elizabethan Manor House which is steeped in history. There is no shortage of inspiration for writing from my immediate environment with its Castle and beautiful Norman Church to the rich industrial heritage of the North- East which offers endless opportunities to explore.

Born into a small mining community, I grew up surrounded by strong characters and life changing events. My parents knew the value of education and gave me loving encouragement throughout my childhood ensuring success at school. My father, a talented artist himself, was unable to pursue his dreams but was determined to ensure I was able to make the most of the chances that life offered me.

About So Many Secrets – 

In a chance meeting on a train in 1968, working class Ernest meets an aristocratic young girl who reminds him so much of his dead wife Annetta, causing him to collapse from shock. Lucinda is concerned for the old man and follows him to the hospital, leaving a contact address with his grandson, David.

An illegitimate child is given away at birth to a wealthy titled lady. But who is the mother and does she know the identity of the father? Etta’s estranged sister Dossie has kept too many secrets hidden for more than half a century and it is only when David finally makes contact that the relationship between his grandfather and the young woman on the train becomes clear.

‘So Many Secrets’ is an unexpected love story with many twists and turns, some of them dark and mysterious but the biggest secret of all is why Lucinda Addington bears such an uncanny resemblance to Ernest’s dead wife.

So Many Secrets was released by Blossom Spring Publishing. Buy So Many Secrets on Amazon UK.

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.