Ask the Author: Caron Allan
Answered Questions (11)
Caron Allan
It would have to be to the England of the 1930s, this is an era that fascinates me. Caught between the devastation of the first world war, and the crazy 1920s, the 1930s are a time of massive changes and the rumblings and hints of yet another war are being felt. It is a time of unrest and innovation, yet society continues to attempt to cling to what is familiar. On top of all that, it might be good to get away to a time when there were few phones, let alone mobile phones, no TV, no internet, and cups of tea and slices of cake were the mainstay of everyday life.
Caron Allan
This is a true one: Sorry can i do it in three/four sentences?
Moved into new neighbourhood and met new neighbours. My hubby working away from home and neighbour guy knocks on door late at night, says 'You went out today.'
'Yes,' I say.
'But,' he says, as if this is perfectly ok, 'You went out yesterday...'
Moved into new neighbourhood and met new neighbours. My hubby working away from home and neighbour guy knocks on door late at night, says 'You went out today.'
'Yes,' I say.
'But,' he says, as if this is perfectly ok, 'You went out yesterday...'
Caron Allan
Well after my ill-fated attempt to read all Agatha Christie's works this year, I'm being a bit careful about planning too far ahead. I read the first five Agatha Christie's one after the other, then life got in the way just after I had started The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, so I need to go back and restart that one before I read anything else.
I've also been meaning to get on and read Faith Martin's A Narrow Margin of Error too, but again, that got put on hold to deal with real events and real people, so I will have to go back and start that one again as I can't remember 'the story so far'.
Next to read: Camilla Lackberg's The Stranger. I love Scandi-noir and I've already read several of this author's books and loved them, so I'm quite excited about reading that one.
I've also got, on my 'To Be Read' pile, Peter May's The Critic, Val McDermid's Northanger Abbey (yes I know, odd, eh?), and Anne Holt's 1222, another Scandi-noir. And...at some point I've promised myself a reread of First Light by Peter Ackroyd as I read it years ago and absolutely loved it, and I've only recently replaced my lost copy of it.
Sometimes reading can seem like a bit of a chore. Especially if you're a writer, it's hard to take off your 'I would have done that scene this way' hat. So this summer I plan to ignore what's 'in', what's 'trending' and read for just the pure pleasure of the experience.
Have a great summer everyone!
I've also been meaning to get on and read Faith Martin's A Narrow Margin of Error too, but again, that got put on hold to deal with real events and real people, so I will have to go back and start that one again as I can't remember 'the story so far'.
Next to read: Camilla Lackberg's The Stranger. I love Scandi-noir and I've already read several of this author's books and loved them, so I'm quite excited about reading that one.
I've also got, on my 'To Be Read' pile, Peter May's The Critic, Val McDermid's Northanger Abbey (yes I know, odd, eh?), and Anne Holt's 1222, another Scandi-noir. And...at some point I've promised myself a reread of First Light by Peter Ackroyd as I read it years ago and absolutely loved it, and I've only recently replaced my lost copy of it.
Sometimes reading can seem like a bit of a chore. Especially if you're a writer, it's hard to take off your 'I would have done that scene this way' hat. So this summer I plan to ignore what's 'in', what's 'trending' and read for just the pure pleasure of the experience.
Have a great summer everyone!
Caron Allan
Oh there are so many possibilities in that question! Life is so full of mystery and puzzles. Here's just one from my own life:
Recently, whilst on a visit, my mum, who has Alzheimer's, started saying she had to get home to her husband and children. Children? My ears pricked up. Mum, what do you mean, children? I'm an only child. Always have been. I am an only child, aren't I? But what if I'm not? I asked her again, 'Children?' Yes, Mum said, a little girl (me?) and 'the baby'.
More research definitely required.
Recently, whilst on a visit, my mum, who has Alzheimer's, started saying she had to get home to her husband and children. Children? My ears pricked up. Mum, what do you mean, children? I'm an only child. Always have been. I am an only child, aren't I? But what if I'm not? I asked her again, 'Children?' Yes, Mum said, a little girl (me?) and 'the baby'.
More research definitely required.
Caron Allan
Is this romantic couple or side-kick couple? I love the sidekick couple of Agatha Christie's Poirot and Hastings. There are so many Poirot books where Poirot investigates with assistants who are kept somewhat at arm's-length, but the books which feature Captain Hastings add a little something extra to the detective and sidekick mix, in that Hastings is much more closely involved, almost peering over Poirot's shoulder, yet he, like us readers, never quite sees the same as Poirot. I love the humour as Hastings constantly wonders if Poirot is 'past it' then very shamefacedly is forced to admit he had overlooked the vital clues that held significance for Poirot alone. I often forget that in the earliest books, Hastings is only about 30 years old, so still very young, compared to Poirot who is almost retirement-age, and although Hastings ages through the books, Poirot doesn't seem to age so quickly.
Caron Allan
I usually write my stories longhand, then type them up the next day; this reminds me of where I'd got to and helps me to plan the next step forward in the story, on those rare occasions I get stuck. When it comes to facing the 'terror of the blank page', I find it can help if in advance you number each page (in a paper notebook, obviously) and also write the ongoing word count in one corner, and write Chapter and the chapter number at the top of the page. That way - the page isn't blank anymore! You can also do this with digital documents.
Caron Allan
I can go to work in my jammies! I suppose the serious answer would be the mix of excitement and terror I get when I see the message saying 'Your book is now available in the store'.
Caron Allan
Do it. Don't waste forty years of your life as I did. Do it now.
Caron Allan
I am currently editing/revising a murder mystery set in 1930s London, and the story opens with a young woman, Dottie Manderson, traveling from the theatre to her sister's house one evening and finding a man bleeding to death on the pavement. Instead of giving her a last message for his family or revealing the identity of his attacker, he sings the last line of a popular song.
Caron Allan
Inspiration can come from anywhere - a snatch of conversation, an idea, a dream, a piece of music or something I've seen on TV or in the newspapers. Sometimes inspiration is just getting up in the morning and looking at the sky and thinking, today is a day to write.
Caron Allan
From watching a TV documentary about ancient tapestry and religious vestments. I had no idea either of the skill that went into the making of such things, or of the value placed upon those items both now and at the time of their creation and use. I began to wonder to what lengths a person or a group of people might go to protect such a valued item.
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