What inspired you to write your first book?
I’m one of those people who always wanted to write a novel and a crime novel at that, but I put it off for years as you do. The motivation, rather than inspiration for getting my butt in the chair was an impending birthday I wasn’t happy about. So rather than approach the birthday not having done the things I always wanted to do, I sat down and start typing and I never looked back.
How did you come up with the title?
This is a funny one. I am absolutely dreadful with titles. Seriously. This novel had an awful title for most of its working life when out of nowhere Shallow Waters came to me. Now I couldn’t be happier with its title.
Is this your first book? How many books have you written (published or unpublished)?
Shallow Waters is my first book. I wish I had started when I was younger, when I first dreamed of writing. How many novels would I have under my belt now? But we can’t live with what ifs. This is what I have and I’m proud of it.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
The theme is secrets and lies. So many people within the book are hiding something, not quite being honest or telling outright lies. It’s a destructive force as can be seen as the book progresses.
How much of the book is realistic?
Unfortunately the topics covered within the book are far too realistic. It covers the dark, seedy, underbelly of life where the nasty want to stay hidden and it also shows that our children can be vulnerable no matter where they come from. It’s not always an easy read, but it never gets too close. It’s a police procedural and that is also hopefully realistic.
Are your characters based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
It’s a book about murder and darkness, so no. Luckily, nothing is based on events in my own life. As for characters, the protagonist drinks a lot of tea as I do, but she has awful taste in tea because her preference is green tea!
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I think if you gave any author their book back and asked them the same question, you would get the same response. Absolutely yes! Are we ever satisfied? I don’t think so. There’s a quote by Leonardo da Vinci that Art is never finished, only abandoned.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I wrote this for you. I do hope that you enjoy it. Please feel free to get in touch with me. I love to hear from you.
What is your favorite part/chapter of your book/project?
I think the characters. They have become the people I wanted them to be.
What is your favorite theme/genre to write?
Definitely crime.
Is there one subject you would never write about as an author? What is it?
I think my first book out has covered the taboo subject, so from here on in I’m pretty safe.
What book are you reading now?
I’m reading the very short Broadchurch novella.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
So many in 2014! Mary Kubica who wrote The Good Girl and Emma Kavanagh who wrote Falling.
Do you see writing as a career?
Absolutely. I don’t think you can go into this half-hearted. You can while you are still writing that first novel, you can take all the time in the world and do what you want, when you want, but once you publish, you need to know it’s what you want to do. You could have readers if you’re lucky and they might even want to read something else by you. So be prepared. It’s what I want. I am in it for the long term.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Still writing. Hopefully with lots of novels out and working on another. A strong readership. And enjoying it!
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
First Drafts! I hate first drafts. Once that’s down I’m ok, I have a scaffold to work around, but a first draft is scary.
Have you ever hated something you wrote?
Everything!
What book do you wish you had written?
Rubbernecker by Belinda Bauer. It’s about an aspergers young adult who goes to anatomy classes and finds that his cadaver has actually been murdered. It’s brilliant.
What is your best marketing tip?
Be sociable. Active but sociable.
What genre is your next project? What is it about?
It’s crime again. This book is the first in a series, so the next book is the follow on. It follows the investigation team after the events of book one and there’s a whole new standalone investigation to jump into.
Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
There are events in Shallow Waters that the team have to deal with emotionally in book two, so we learn how they are dealing with that. The murders they come across in book two have a huge impact on the more local community than they did in book one and these are reactions that they are faced with managing as well. It all gets very complicated and messy for the team.
How do we find your books, blog and bio?
You can find me blogging Monday to Friday at rebeccabradleycrime.com and on Twitter at @RebeccaJBradley
Rebecca Bradley lives in Nottinghamshire with her family and her one-year-old Cockerpoo Alfie, who keeps her company while she writes. Rebecca needs to drink copious amounts of tea to function throughout the day and if she could, she would survive on a diet of tea and cake while committing murder on a regular basis, in her writing of course.
Once a month Rebecca hosts a crime book club on Google+ hangouts where you can live chat about a crime book everyone has read. It’s great fun. Members join in from the UK, the US, France and Australia on a regular basis. As it is online, there are no geographical boundaries and you can sit in your home to join in. You can find details of how this works on the blog rebeccabradleycrime.com
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Her books can be bought on Amazon and Kobo in all countries.
My social media links are;
Twitter http://Twitter.com/RebeccaJBradley
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