Welcome to The Comfy Chair Blog.. with Emma Jordan
I’m a huge travel and live music fan, having seen
artists around the world, across all genres including Andrea Bocelli (Malta)
Muse (6 countries including Helsinki), Stereophonics (every chance I get) and
New Kids on the Block (UK and USA). I love country music, and finally
visited Nashville last year, for the week long CMAFest - listening to 60 hours
of live music across 5 days, AND American breakfasts are my
nirvana.
I love hearing from readers, too and am mostly
found on Twitter or Instagram going by the name of @dgtlwriter
- What was your favourite childhood book/author?
I
practically lived in the libraries near home and in school from an early age,
and I always sought out Point Horrors and Sweet Valley Highs. I also
loved reading Judy Blume books; I’m a definite child of the early 90s.
Being
surrounded by books the logical next step was having a go at writing.
Each summer school holidays I’d force my sister and cousin to write magazines
and bind handwritten dictionaries together.
In the
last couple of years, as my daughter has reached Juniors in primary school, and
we have more space, I’ve finally got a writing room at home, overlooking
Dartmoor, which we call the craft room - I now keep a relatively tidy square of
space around my computer, but the deeper I get into editing, the more biscuit
tins and bars of chocolates join me at the desk, creating a confectionary
cityscape.
I love planning,
creating strong characters that I live with for a while, before committing
their story to paper. I have an online diary, where I offload non-writing
thoughts, and rough writing goals in the early days, then a second document of
character notes and plot, so I can keep track of hair and eye colour, music and
films the characters love, their own families. I have to visualise my
characters really well during the planning stage, so that writing is
easier. I pretty much love writing the first draft, too, watching the
word count grow.
The
editing is probably the most difficult aspect of writing, but I know this is
where the story starts to emerge. I used to hate this stage, but I read a
blog from author Emma Cooper who outlined her editing process, and I absolutely
love her work - I proper ugly-cry until 4 in the morning when I’m binging on
her books, but I ABSOLUTELY LOVE that she’s made editing a bearable
process. I now have about six steps I follow, from consistencies, through
to line edits, and have a brilliant friend who loves editing who reads through
my work pointing out errors I just can’t see. Then I order an author copy
and curl up on the sofa with my book and a highlighter to read as a
reader. Then I’ll download to Kindle to check how it reads, before
publishing. On every page I have to have those feel-good moments of prose
that mean I’ve written a book that I just can’t put down.
I devour
books by Marian Keyes, Emma Cooper, Stephen King, Lindsey Kelk and Sophie
Kinsella. I love the way their stories keep me turning the page.
Marian’s dialect is fantastic and her messages are so emotive. Emma’s
stories of love will see me sobbing frequently; Stephen King’s books are great
from seeing the story from different character’s viewpoints. And Misery
is probably one of my favourite books, again about a series of romance
books. Lindsey’s and Sophie’s romance series’ just remind me of great
holiday reads, and how readers always love escaping.
I
really do love a romance series, and there are some great self-published
romance writers who I know create page-turning stories for me to run away with,
such as Melody Anne, Melody Grace, and a New Zealand author, Serenity
Woods. I’ve discovered a new writer recently, Isabel Jordan (no relation)
and I love the sass she brings to her characters. I love self-publishing
for the speed at which I can write and publish, and then there’s the Canva fun
I can have during book promotions, which is almost as fun as meeting new
readers on social media!
First of
all, I have to write the book I can’t put down. I love when readers get
in touch to tell me how much they love my characters and writing, and I know
that is down to the editing process. I want to make the sentences as
beautiful as I can, inspired by the prose of Mark Twain, or Laurie Lee, who
both had a hypnotic way with words.
Success
can mean millions of readers know a book’s name, or it is made into a film, but
there are more hard working authors than professional book clubs and awards
available - marketing shines upon and elevates a book, zeitgeist is the wind
that flaps the pages in front of those millions of readers.
I have a
thirty year career as a reader, music-lover and film addict; names are
everywhere. I like to play around with names of minor characters in my
novels to have a little fun; country artists have turned up, favourite film
characters, and beloved literary characters, such as children Charlotte and
Emily, named after the Bronte sisters.
If you’re
a music fan, especially of country music, you will recognise lyrics and artists
more than most readers. If you’re new to the genre of Nashville music,
follow the advice of my lead characters who will point you to the way of
excellent three minute stories.
Whichever
actors my readers want to put in their mind when they’re reading my
books! I know some writers create Pins and Instagrams of their
characters, however, I haven’t done that yet. Maybe I’ll save that for my
next romance series.
The idea
that love is everywhere, between family and friends as well as central
characters. I want readers to remember the romance scenes of one
character listening to another, bringing them their favourite drink, getting
caught - and rescued -in potentially dangerous situations, being prepared to
walk away for love, and accepting love when it’s right in front of them.
I can’t help but set my books in so many locations, across the UK, USA and
Asia, that I hope travel memories are evoked, or itineraries planned,
too.
Lastly, Jenn (The Comfy Chair) likes to enjoy a good read snuggled up with a cup of tea and piece of cake... what cake or sweet treat would you suggest to accompany your book?
Oh, I’m always surrounded by sweet treats. When I’m reading I love a giant chocolate chip cookie, or a decadent peanut butter cheesecake, or gooey chocolate fudge cake by my side. You’ll want a hand free to keep turning the pages of my Love is Everything series :)
Everything, Except You and Everything and Nothing are the first two published novels in my romance slow-burn happy ever after series, Love is Everything, available on Amazon.
In Everything, Except You, Lucy and Cain have
everything they could want, except each other. Their lives are heading in
different directions, but touring Musician Cain has fallen hard for Academic
Lucy. Can he peel away each of the protective layers Lucy has wrapped
around herself, and help her to see their possibilities?
In the follow-up novel, Everything and Nothing,
Lucy’s sister, Elle has just begun her dream job at an art gallery, and has
achieved everything she has ever worked for. She can have anything and
everyone she wants, except Cain’s drummer, Jam. A chance mistake at work,
a bar challenge and they end up living in Thailand together, discovering
connections deeper than they realised.
My Christmas novella, revisiting old friends and delving into new love, Everything at Christmas, is due to be published in December 2020. Expect love, romance and lots of Christmas experiences.
Thank you for featuring my writerly Q&A on your gorgeous blog, Jenn!
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