A.      I loved writing at school, English being my favourite subject, but life takes you on a journey and for me, writing didn’t ‘happen’ until a few years ago. I’d actually complained to a friend I hadn’t read a good book in ages and she suggested I write my own. I’d thought about it before but it wasn’t until nudged I considered I could or should. So I did!

A.      My road measured about two years long! After I finished ‘A Time to Love’ it took me over twelve months to learn ‘how’ to write a book! I edited and re-edited, was finally convinced to drop my first two chapters (Ouch! That hurt!) (Best advice I ever got) and polished the manuscript to a final sheen. My formatting was non-existent and it took more time to learn how to fix it and layout my manuscript properly. All of these issues took patience and determination and a heap of really, really, helpful friends and family.

A.      My second book, ‘Diary of the Heart’, is completed and I’m looking for a home for it. It’s another historical romance set in the Scottish highlands, 1681, and also has a time travel element. I am writing a sequel to it and expect to have that finished by October, 09.

A       A Time to Love is a ‘total’ book. The story/plot doesn’t just centre on the gorgeous hero and heroine. The reader will also fall in love with a group of strong secondary characters who are woven into layers of plot.

A.      A Time to Love is my debut book.

A.      I wish! It is my ultimate goal, as it is many other writers, to write full time. It’s an aspiration many of us strive for and a good dose of stubbornness and tenacity helps.

A.      Read. Watch movies. Go for walks. Hang with my kids before they’re too old to want to hang with me!

A.      Work and family commitments drag the process out but it takes me about a year, though I can write one in two months if given a deadline.

A.      Geez, that’s a good question??? Ideas seem to pop into my head and keep my fingers tapping. I guess I’ve been influenced by hundreds of books and movies I’ve seen throughout my life. People you meet, life experiences you have, all combine to nudge the creative juices.

A.      Best bits are having a license to create whatever you like; places, plots, circumstances or scenarios. You are allowed to shock people, make them cry or laugh and keep them up till 2am!

         Worse aspects are editing…editing…and editing!!! J

A.      A plot that compels you to turn the next page to see what happens next and characters a person can identify with or would love to be.

A.      I have an active web site, but apart from that not a lot. Like many people I am time poor and prefer to devote spare hours to writing.

A.      Never ever give up. If you have a dream to write, develop single minded determination to reach your goal and be prepared to learn heaps. Surround yourself with other like minded writers (join writers groups) who should offer nothing but positive encouragement. If the little voice inside your head tells you ‘you can’t’, tell it to shut up!

A.      Proud and pleased I have been published after all the hard work.

A.      www.gailsymmonds.com