We are honoured to work with as many authors as we do at Pegasus Publishers – each with their own stories to tell. Their worlds are singular, their characters are relatable, and their creativity truly knows no bounds.

This is Author Life, a feature on the Pegasus Blog, that opens the door to each of our author’s creative process and previous literary experience, offering you – the reader – an opportunity to learn a little about the mind behind the novel.

What are the three most important things you have accomplished, aside from publishing a book?

My family: my husband and I have three children and six grandchildren, all of whom I am very proud of. A definite success.  My career: teaching English as a foreign language was my vocation/my passion. I guess this made me successful in it. My life: I followed my heart and left my home country (England) to live in Europe. A further success: I have no regrets.

In your own life, what influences and inspires you to write?

Literally, my life. I am a keen observer; my personal life, my career and my hobbies (travelling, reading, art, and music) have given me a mass of information and experiences to expand on in my writing.

Which book or author has had the biggest impact on you, and why?

I love to read, and I read a lot. It is therefore very difficult to say exactly who may have influenced my writing. If I am pressed to mention anyone specifically, I would say: Peter Ustinov; as an author and an actor - for his humour Edward Rutherford - I found his books (e.g. "Sarum") fascinating as they bring history to life, making it feasible for a wide audience.

How would you summarise your book in as few words as possible?

He loves the English language - although it is not his own, and it baffles him in song texts. He loves England - with its idiosyncrasies, its traditions, and its extravagances He loves an English woman and knows it is the real thing. Then, when two of the three changes before his eyes, he is desperate for answers.

What were your first experiences with writing?

As a "Business English" teacher in numerous international companies I always preferred writing my own texts for discussions and language activities. In that way, I could create exercises much closer to the work environment and personalities of my participants. I also wrote articles for the monthly magazine of the regional IHK (Chamber of Commerce)

In your opinion, what are the key ingredients for a good story or novel?

Creating characters and situations which are credible, allowing readers to relate to the individual scenarios and people. It is, however, important not to "over-describe"; readers need to have to scope for their own imagination. In this way, they find parallels to persons in their own lives and can relate better to the character in the story.

How long do you spend writing every day?

When the storyline is set and the (main) characters have been formed in my head, I can get started, the story flows - I write. However, no longer than four hours per day.

How long did you spend writing this novel?

All-in-all, five months

What was the most challenging part of writing this book, and what did you learn from writing it?

Remembering, and/or finding record titles and lyrics to fit the storyline. Each chapter has a song as a title and there is a "soundtrack" list at the end of the book giving artists its names and release dates for the songs.

What did you find most helpful when writing your book?

My husband`s input was priceless. As a foreign national, a music fan, and a passionate anglophile, he gave me immeasurable assistance.

What writing advice would you offer to your younger self?

* Challenge your readers

* Be provocative, and thought-provoking

* Be convincing but not overbearing and believe in yourself.