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Welcome to Nesie’s Place, Sue, and thanks for celebrating your book’s birthday with us! Where are you chatting from?

I’m originally from North Wales, but I’ve lived most of my life in and around Manchester. I now live in Cheshire but spend a lot of my time in Anglesey.

Married with children, pets?

One husband, two sons, no pets. Unless you include Prince – a stone frog whose home is in the flower bed next to my garden pond.

LOL! Prince definitely counts! Are you self-published, traditional, or a hybrid author?

Hybrid. Some of my novels are traditionally published, but two of them (following reversion of rights) are now self-published via an author co-operative.

How long have you been a writer?

I’ve dabbled with writing for most of my life, but I only began to take it seriously following a life-changing event fifteen years ago. That story would probably fill an entire book on its own.

How long did it take you to write your first book?

The first draft took about six months, but it underwent several revisions before it was eventually published.

Pantser or Plotter?

A bit of both. I try to work out a plot outline in advance, but there’s no guarantee that I’ll stick to it. Sometimes the characters take over, and take the story in a whole new direction. That’s what happened with my second novel, Nice Girls Don’t.

I think most of us are a bit of both inside. Have you ever taken the NaNoWriMo Challenge?

Just once. The eventual result was my third novel, The Unkindest Cut of All, which is a murder mystery set in a theatre. In subsequent years I’ve used NaNo to make progress with ongoing writing projects, but I haven’t officially signed up for it as I knew I wouldn’t meet the wordcount target.

What is your greatest strength as a writer? Biggest weakness?

I’m not sure that I have a biggest strength. My biggest weakness is that I’m a terrible procrastinator.

Writers are also avid readers. Tell us what you’re reading right now?

I’m beta-reading a novel for a friend in my writing group. I can’t say much about it except that I’m sure it will be a huge hit when it’s published.

Are you totally addicted to social media or could you live without it?

I wouldn’t describe myself as “totally addicted” to social media, but I have friends and family all over the world and I rely on it to keep in touch with them. On a professional level I use social media to promote my books and reach out to my readers, so on that basis I don’t think I could live without it. Having said that, I must add that although social media is a powerful friend, it’s also a dangerous enemy. There are some very nasty people out there – more’s the pity.

What’s your next upcoming project or release?

At the time of writing, I’m working on a cosy crime novella and an ongoing poetry project based on the works of Shakespeare. But both have been on the go for quite a while, so don’t stay in specially waiting for them to be finished!

And lastly, do you have any advice for new authors?

Enjoy your writing. As the late great Terry Pratchett said, writing is the most fun you can have by yourself.

Many thanks to Sue for spending time with us today! Read on to learn more about Heathcliff, and a fabulous contest where UK readers could win a signed copy!

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About Heathcliff

“It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now…”

Cathy’s immortal words from Wuthering Heights change Heathcliff’s life. At just seventeen years of age, heartbroken and penniless, he runs away to face an unknown future.

Three years later, he returns – much improved in manners, appearance and prosperity.

But what happened during those years? How could he have made his fortune, from nothing? Who might his parents have been? And what fate turned him into literature’s most famous anti-hero?

For almost two centuries, these questions have remained unanswered.

Until now…

Purchase Link

mybook.to/heathcliff

KINDLE UNLIMITED

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G I V E W A Y

Win a signed copy of Heathcliff (UK Only)

E N T E R

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days, then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will be passed to the giveaway organizer and used only for fulfillment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for dispatch or delivery of the prize.

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Author Bio

Sue Barnard is a British novelist, editor and award-winning poet whose family background is far stranger than any work of fiction. She would write a book about it if she thought anybody would believe her.

Sue was born in North Wales but has spent most of her life in and around Manchester. She speaks French like a Belgian, German like a schoolgirl, and Italian and Portuguese like an Englishwoman abroad.

Her mind is so warped that she has appeared on BBC TV’s Only Connect quiz show, and she has also compiled questions for BBC Radio 4’s fiendishly difficult Round Britain Quiz. This once caused one of her sons to describe her as “professionally weird.” The label has stuck.

Sue’s first novel, The Ghostly Father (a new take on the traditional story of Romeo & Juliet), was officially released on St Valentine’s Day 2014. Since then she has produced five more novels: Nice Girls Don’t (2014), The Unkindest Cut of All (2015), Never on Saturday (2017), Heathcliff (2018), and Finding Nina (2019).

Sue now lives in Cheshire, UK, with her extremely patient husband and a large collection of unfinished scribblings.

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