Ruth Less - Author Life

Ruth Less, author of Divine Timing shares a glimpse of her life as an author.

1. Did you always dream of becoming an author?

I am the youngest child of six, and so I learnt from an early age that to get attention you needed to tell a good tale. I was good at that and later on this developed into short stories.

2. What was your first job?

I left school at sixteen and trained as a silver service waitress. I'm good with people and found making conversation easy. This also opened doors for travel.

3. How did you come about writing your book? Was that your intention or did you start writing for fun?

The Divine Timing series was very much a plan. Each volume worked out in advance: narrative, characters, a hook and thread running through the entire series. Writing for me is always fun, a very enjoyable aspect of the whole production works of turning thoughts into a published piece of work.

4. What was your life like before you became an author?

I have always enjoyed my life and I find the simplest of things bring me the greatest pleasure, like family and friends, my hobbies, swimming and yoga, but I did have to fit work in: 9 to 5 and with my writing and family life, and this was becoming a bit of a squeeze at times, fitting everything in.

5. Did you face any struggles before becoming an author? If so, how did you overcome them?

I have struggled with dyslexia all my life and maybe that's why I didn't produce a novel earlier, instead concentrating on short stories. Although, with modern technology that's not a problem these days and finding a way to get the best out of yourself is made much easier. But sometimes I think with age you settle, and become ready to engage on new challenges. I asked myself one question, would I be more disappointed if I wrote a book and it was never published or would I be more disappointed if a never wrote the book, and for me it was the latter.

6. Now that you are a published author, how has your life changed, if at all?

As a published author, I feel more confident about writing, and it has given me more free time to do what I love. To be able to do my research in person, to experience things, rather than a web search and of course more time to write.

7. Can you please describe a typical day in your life now?

I wake early, make a cup of coffee and set about writing between 500-1000 words. I start by recapping what I wrote yesterday to reengage my flow. At the moment, I'm finishing volume 4, 'Restoring The Relic' and as the finale is set at Birkenhead Priory I will go there later to pick up the atmosphere of this fantastic site. When my writing is completed I will fit in a swim at my local public baths; it's a bit like Cheers (the series) a place where everyone knows each other's name. I walk the dog along the beach and visit my sister who is at the local hospice. Life for me is much the same as it is for others. I'm a wife and a mother, I have a career I enjoy, a family that I love and some very good friends.

8. What is your most memorable moment of your life as an author?

The answer to question eight is easy and I don't think it will change over time, the most memorable moment as an author was waiting for the postman to arrive with my samples of my first book in print, Divine Timing volume one by Ruth Less. Ripping the box open and holding a tangible copy of my master-piece! Caressing my manuscript in book format for the very first time, brings the biggest smile to my face, and for a dyslexic, the greatest feeling of achievement ever! There's no feeling like it.

Divine Timing is available now, from Pegasus, Amazon and Waterstones