Interview with Miss Moonshine…

…I'm here in Miss Moonshine's Wonderful Emporium on Market Street, Haven Bridge.  Napoleon is asleep in his basket under the table, and Miss M and I have a pot of camomile tea to share…

 

AW    Thank you for inviting me here today and for taking some time out to chat.  The third book, Midsummer Magic, about you and your good deeds, is out.  Did you have any inkling at all that the first anthology would become a series?
MissM It wasn't my decision, dear.  The authors themselves decided there was a need for a second book and have gone on to produce the latest one because of its success.  I can only provide a nudge here and there or a whisper of inspiration as required.
AW      Hmm, as enigmatic as ever!  The stories in the latest collection include a ghost, guerilla gardening, antiques, to mention just a few. Do you have a favourite?
MissM Now that would be telling!  Each of the authors has their own style and  ideas.  I just help where I can as I did when Kate Field stopped to look at a portrait and thought how vivid and alive it was.  She devised her story around whether the lady in the painting may have smiled or not.  Mary Jayne Baker's story, inspired by a personal loss, enabled her to say goodbye to her childhood home.  I just watched over her as she wrote.  That's all that was needed.  The inspiration for Melinda Hammond was some pretty Clarice Cliff pottery and the family story behind it.  Who can resist a tale about meeting a childhood sweetheart again?  For Sophie Claire, who didn't plan her story, as usual, wondering how I would react to a shoplifter in the emporium was her catalyst.  Did I direct the way her story would go?  Perhaps.  Just a little.  Marie Laval's story was very interesting and required quite a lot of research.  Did you know that there are only 120 professional perfumiers in France (also called 'nez') and not more than 500 in the whole world?  It was fascinating to learn that the perfumier in her story could visualise scents as colours.
AW     I notice that vintage cars are mentioned in three stories this time around - a Lanchester Ten in Jacqui Cooper's story.  Is this a great interest of yours, and do you have a favourite?
MissM I suppose you could say that cars are an interest.  I've driven many different vehicles over the years, including all the cars mentioned in the book. Do I have a favourite?  Well, I suppose it depends on where I'm going and what I'm doing.  You see, my dear, there are some cars to drive, and there are some cars to be driven in.  I certainly enjoyed the jaunt in the vehicle in Helena Fairfax's story.  It belongs to the hero's mother, you know.  A writer of romance novels.  Rather neat to include that, don't you think?
AW     Mmm.  One of the stories includes a ghost.  Where do you stand on ghosts, Miss M?  A believer or not?

MissM  Ah, yes. There's so much in this world we don't understand; so much that can't be seen by others.  In Helen Pollard's story, Ginny certainly doesn't believe in ghosts.  But the story does enable differing points of view to be aired, and that's always a good thing, I think. And if it can be done with a bit of humour, too, so much the better. 
AW      And finally, Miss Moonshine, what does the future hold for you, do you think?

MissM  I really couldn't say.  My work here in the shop will go on, of course.  I always aim to provide whatever is needed.  And, if my writers need me at any time, I will be there for them.

You can get the book and the first two in the series Here  

You can read more about Miss M and the books Here and I will be telling the story behind my story in the anthology on the blog next month.  Watch this space!