Ask the Author: Chris Penhall
Answered Questions (7)
Chris Penhall
I really get my head down and read a lot of books when I'm away for my summer holiday and this one has been no different. I am currently reading Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty - I'm a bit late with this one, but I read Nine Perfect Strangers earlier this year and loved that so have finally managed to start this. And so far its a cracker!
I loved The Lido by Libby Page. What a warm and uplifting book - I thoroughly enjoyed it and was sad when it ended. I also read Transcription by Kate Atkinson as I'm a fan and I wasn't disappointed, and A Keeper by Graham Norton is great.
I loved The Lido by Libby Page. What a warm and uplifting book - I thoroughly enjoyed it and was sad when it ended. I also read Transcription by Kate Atkinson as I'm a fan and I wasn't disappointed, and A Keeper by Graham Norton is great.
Chris Penhall
The House That Alice Built is my first novel, and I was inspired to write it because I lived in Cascais near Lisbon in Portugal many years ago and it made a great impression on me. I travel back and forth to Portugal frequently so the sights and sounds are always with me. I also wanted to write a novel about letting go, and new beginnings, and to me a house is a very tangible way to talk about that.
Chris Penhall
My writing is inspired by all sorts of things - it could be something in the news, something I notice when I'm out, a phrase, an overheard conversation a photograph, a song; anything really. Once I have a story and characters, I find I pick out random memories and images to help build the narrative. Its fairly organic.
Chris Penhall
I'm working on a sequel to The House That Alice Built - the characters were with me for the eight years I was writing the book, so it's hard to let them go, and I wanted to find out what happened to them next. Once I've done that, I'll be writing a book set on the South Wales coast where I was born, about a woman who heads back to her childhood haunts after selling her business and gets caught up in the very thing she was trying to get away from, due to an administrative error.
Chris Penhall
It took me a while to get going on my writing career. For ages I thought I had to have big ideas and big themes, and I put myself off. Once I finally started writing for the fun of it, putting no pressure on myself to produce anything apart from finishing a story, it began to get easier.
I would say just start writing, and see where it goes. Do a course, get a mentor, or join a writing group - all those things help you along the way and put you together with other people who love writing too. That is a great motivator.
And don't give up - I had many rejections for The House That Alice Built and that can be very disheartening, but I invested in a mentor and changed it, sent it in again, got rejected, but finally won a competition.
And most important of all, write because you love it.
I would say just start writing, and see where it goes. Do a course, get a mentor, or join a writing group - all those things help you along the way and put you together with other people who love writing too. That is a great motivator.
And don't give up - I had many rejections for The House That Alice Built and that can be very disheartening, but I invested in a mentor and changed it, sent it in again, got rejected, but finally won a competition.
And most important of all, write because you love it.
Chris Penhall
I've achieved my childhood dream of being a published author at the age of 58, so I think everything about being a writer is wonderful! I get to create worlds, bring characters to life and allow my imagination to run riot.
Chris Penhall
If I get stuck with a scene I tend to go out for a walk, or listen to some music. I just take my mind away from it for a while and let it relax, then my imagination takes over, so that when I get back to my work it often flows more. If I'm really stuck, I'll plan a few recipes, get cooking and forget about it for a while. Then voila, I'm back to it, refreshed and ready to go.
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