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Ask the Author: Hazel Gaynor

“Hello readers! I'll be answering questions about my books as part of Historical Fiction Week. Looking forward to reading your questions!” Hazel Gaynor

Answered Questions (7)

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Hello Hazel. I have just finished A Memory of Violets. It left me speechless and is absolutely beautiful. Did you cry while writing it?
Hazel Gaynor Hello, Citra. Thank you so much for reading A Memory of Violets. I'm so pleased you loved it. Yes, I cried! It was heartbreaking to learn about the lives of the child flower sellers. I cried as I wrote the final chapters.
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I wanted to tell you I have really enjoyed your last books and looking forward to this new one. I don't know why these have to be only in form of question?
Hazel Gaynor Thank you, Laura. I hope you will enjoy The Girl From The Savoy as much as my first two novels.
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I just wanted to tell you how much I loved The Girl Who Came Home! It's one of the best books I've ever read. It made me feel like I was with Maggie in her travels. Were any of the characters from the book real? Also do you have more books in the works? Thanks, Jessica Morey
Hazel Gaynor Hello, Jessica. Thank you so much for reading The Girl Who Came Home - I'm thrilled you enjoyed it so much. Some of the passengers on Titanic were real, but Maggie, Peggy etc were all from my imagination (although based on a real group of Irish passengers who sailed from Queenstown). You can find all my latest book news on my website www.hazelgaynor.com
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Just finished reading A Memory of Violets which I loved and could not put down. I am reading "about the book" Are the Memoirs of Albert Shaw fiction, were the sisters on the novel based on real children? Thank you, Fran Wilson
Hazel Gaynor Hi Frances! Thank you so much for reading A Memory of Violets, and for your question. Yes, the 'Memoirs of Albert Shaw' are fictional. I wanted to give him a chance to share an insight into his experience with the flower girls in his own voice, and also allow the reader to consider things from his point of view. Florrie and Rosie are products of my imagination, although inspired by many accounts of children living and working on the streets of London, and especially an account of two orphaned sisters that I read about during my research. Hope that helps! Best wishes, Hazel.
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Was there ever a time that you felt overwhelmed by the suddeness of your literary rise? I know you have a jouranlistic background, but did you ever need help to cope with the social media side of being published?
Hazel Gaynor Hi Jackie - great question! I am very lucky to have the support of family and friends who keep my feet on the ground! It has been a real whirlwind of a year since publishing The Girl Who Came Home, but I have enjoyed every minute. I really enjoy interacting with readers so that part of the process has been a great experience. From time to time I feel a little overwhelmed, but a walk in the mountains and family time brings everything back into perspective. x
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Hi Hazel- just wondering what your next book is going to be about- more Titanic or something totally new?
Hazel Gaynor Hello Jackie. My second novel (just published) A Memory of Violets, is about flower sellers in Victorian London. While set in a similar period, it is totally new and a very different story to The Girl Who Came Home. More detail about the book and the history behind it are available on my website at http://www.hazelgaynor.com/books/memo...
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How do you deal with writer’s block?
Hazel Gaynor I go for a long walk and listen to music. I've learnt that sitting, staring at a blank screen getting increasingly frustrated does not help! Stepping away, doing something else and giving myself space from the manuscript, does. I also try writing with a pencil and notebook for a while, somewhere away from the desk. That can make a pleasant change and get the creative juices flowing again!
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