Lethe Press Books discussion

As Charlie Cochrane couldn't be trusted to do any of her jobs of choice—like managing a rugby team—she writes gay romances and romantic mysteries, often historical and sometimes hysterical. (Yes, she’s the person who wrote about gay weresloths.)

She’s a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Mystery People, International Thriller Writers Inc and is on the organising team for UK Meet. She regularly appears with The Deadly Dames.

Her latest book is HOME FIRES BURNING, for Lethe press.

Strobing Limelight: Charlie, what should readers know about your latest book?

Charlie Cochrane: That it will make them laugh and cry, although not necessarily in that order. The first story, THIS GROUND WHICH WAS SECURED AT GREAT EXPENSE, is very topical given the centenary remembrance of WWI. It’s a bittersweet story set in the Great War, with an officer finding his courage in the trenches – courage not just to fight for his country but to be true to his own emotions. The second story, THE CASE OF THE OVERPROTECTIVE ASS, is more lighthearted, set just post WWII and concerning two English movie actors who find themselves having to play Holmes and Watson both onscreen and off! While keeping their relationship out of the gossip columns...

SL: That sounds quite a contrast. What inspired these particular stories?

CC: How long have you got? I’m fascinated by WWI – not the timeline or who fought where, but the live stories of the people who fought, their experiences, their feelings. That fascination has come out in several stories, of which THIS GROUND may be the most moving. I also love old black and white films, particularly those from the British film industry (they can be incredibly slashy!) so OVERPROTECTIVE ASS let me indulge all the thoughts I’ve had while swooning over those matinee idols.

SL: How does this compare with your previous works?

CC: Similar but different, if that makes any sense. I hope that anyone who picks up a Charlie Cochrane work will find humour, a real sense of period and location, and an attention to detail although not at the expense of a pacy plot. The difference is that THIS GROUND is maybe a touch darker than some of my other works, whereas OVERPROTECTIVE ASS is lighter. So you get a real contrast for your money!

SL: Which historical writers are your favourites?

CC: Patrick O’Brian and Mary Renault. Both of them were brilliant at characterisation and had a fantastic way with words. Ms Renault in particular could say more in a sentence than most writers can in a page. And what I really love about both authors is that I can reread their books and find new things time and again.

SL: How much research do you do to create historical accuracy?

CC: Too much and not enough? (Yes, I know, I keep giving bizarre answers. The contents of my head aren’t like other people’s.) I simply can’t pore over history books or the like. They drain the artistic inspiration from me. I prefer to immerse myself in things which help create an atmosphere; for me, the best research sources you can use are those contemporary to the era you're writing in or about. Pictures, books, plays, poetry, paintings, artefacts, photographs, newspapers, church magazines, films, postcards, etc. All will give you a flavour of the time and - not the least important - the cadence of the language. Individual facts can be checked as I write.

SL: When reading, what elements make romance work for you?

CC: I have to say I’m a great fan of equal relationships (or as equal as two people can be) – whether that’s het or gay partnerships. I don’t particularly enjoy stories where one partner is much the most dominant. That’s one of the reasons I’ve avoided much traditional het romance although I love Pride and Prejudice. I also like humour, particularly banter between two blokes, and a light touch with obvious tropes. It’s almost impossible to find a totally new plot line, but you can jazz up the way you do it!

SL: Do you write naked?

CC: Aaaargh! That’s a pretty scary thought. For anybody who might run across me while I’m doing it, that is. Mind you, they’d probably just think I’d taken to writing wearing a pink, wrinkly tracksuit...

SL: How important are names to you in your books? Do you have any name choosing resources you recommend?

CC: Names are important to me (both as author and reader) in terms of the impression they give about the person. Not in terms of their character, but maybe the era they lived in. You simply won’t find any girls called Kylie living in England around 1900! There also can be an implication of social status, although that’s partly relying on stereotypes as a sort of shorthand. Double barrelled must be posh, right? As for coming up with names, it’s easy. I just open up the BBC sports website and have a look at some team sheets. There is always a great range to choose from.

SL: Do you have a favourite conference to attend?

CC: You know that I’m going to say UK Meet, although I have to declare an interest, in that I’m on the organising team for it. It’s an incredibly inclusive conference, where you can simply be whom you are, which for me is a really valuable thing. You never have to justify why you write what you write or read what you read.

How to find Charlie:
To sign up for her newsletter, email her at cochrane.charlie2@googlemail.com, or catch her at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlie.coch...
Twitter: http://twitter.com/charliecochrane
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
Blog: http://charliecochrane.livejournal.com
Website: http://www.charliecochrane.co.uk