Tuesday 26 July 2016

An interview with...

today I have the great pleasure of interviewing author Shani Struthers.  Hello and welcome, Shani, and I know your time is precious so…

AW  ...tell me, what is your current release?
Shani''s latest book
SS  My latest release is 'Psychic Surveys Book Three: 44 Gilmore Street'.  As you can see from the title it’s the third in what will be a series of six.  There’s also a spin-off prequel novella featuring two sub-characters from the book called 'Eve: A Christmas Ghost Story'.  In short, the books centre round Ruby Davis and her high-street business – Psychic Surveys – a team of gifted psychics who specialise in domestic spiritual clearance.  Called in to help on a variety of cases, it’s a series that delves into the supernatural and how it impacts on us in the natural world – sometimes the divide between the two is thin and that’s when the problems start!

AW  What first got you into writing and why?
SS  Reading and writing have always been twin passions, ever since I could do both!  When I left university, I worked in travel for a couple of years and then left to become a freelance copywriter.  I always wanted to write novels but I was busy with work and then three children came along and I kept putting it off.  About three years ago I finally got my act together, wrote my first book and now I can’t stop – I try, honestly, it’s good to have a bit of a break – but I just can’t.  I love writing; it makes me happy, if others enjoy what I write then, wow, what a bonus.  Flitting between the real world and a world I’ve created does get quite surreal at times!

AW  You write Paranormal novels.  Is it all imagination or do you also undertake research?
SS  I research all the time – reading non-fiction books on the subject as well as fiction books, to see how others have interpreted certain topics.  I also love to mix fact with fiction – and I draw on and mention the work of famous Occultists such as Aleister Crowley and Dion Fortune.  I’m launching a new series this summer – a set of stand-alone novels set in and around the world’s most haunted places.  The first – This Haunted World Book One: The Venetian – is set on Poveglia in the Venetian lagoon, considered to be ‘the world’s most haunted island’ and weaves a story around what is essentially fact.  Google Poveglia to find out more!

AW  And what about other types of writing? Have you ever dabbled with short stories, for instance, or other genres?
SS  I first kicked-off writing romance – the Runaway trilogy set in North Cornwall.  I love those books and they taught me a lot about writing but the paranormal is where my heart lies – and it always has done.  I’m very comfortable with what I’m doing now and will stick to it for the foreseeable future.  As for short stories, I’ve never written one!

AW  Famous authors, such as Roald Dahl and Dylan Thomas, had a special place for writing.  Do you have a ‘writing shed’ of your own?
The Psychic Surveys series
SS  In our house my husband (an ex-musician) has his music room and I’ve got my writing room.  My desk is placed overlooking the garden and I’ve got bookcases all around me, where my books reside alongside the likes of Stephen King and Dean Koontz!  I don’t write anywhere else but there.

AW  Finally, if you had a whole afternoon to yourself and could choose to spend it with anyone, living or dead, or a character from a book – who would it be and what would you want to discuss?
SS  Ooh, what a toughie!  There’d be so many but… if I have to choose one, I’d say Elvis.  I’d want to know all about the early days, his hunger, his passion, his drive and then I’d want him to tell me where it all went wrong and why.  I love Elvis, no other artist moves me as much as he does.

About the Author... Born and bred in the sunny seaside town of Brighton, one of the first literary conundrums Shani ahd to deal with was her own name - pronounced Shay-nee not Shar-ney or Shanni!  Hobbies include reading, writing, eating and drinking - all four of which kept her busy enough. After graduating from Sussex University with a degree in English and American Literature, Shani became a freelance copywriter.  Twenty years later, the day job includes crafting novels too.

Facebook Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/p9yggq9
Website: http://www.shanistruthers.com

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