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Every month the “Friend” teams up with publisher Pan Macmillan to bring you a great-value book offer. This issue, we chat to author Elaine Everest about her latest novel “The Teashop Girls At War”.
Q Why did you choose to set your novels in wartime Britain? A Readers of historical sagas enjoy reading about the war years, as they will know their own family’s struggles. They can relate not only to the war, but also the settings and the lives of women at that time.
Q Tell us more about your great love for dogs. A I have been around the dog world for many years. I have never been without a dog since I married my husband in 1972! For me, owning dogs means planning a life around my pets. As a breeder, (we bred five litters of Old English Sheepdogs) I kept in touch will all my puppy owners and many are still good friends. The dog-showing world is like one big happy family.
Q Did you ever work in a teashop?
A
I never worked in a teashop, but do recall visiting the London corner shops in the 1960s, never thinking I’d one day be writing about the smaller Lyons tea shops in a town I know well.
I once owned a catering business. We did weddings and family events.
Q What is the most memorable moment of your career so far? A I have lovely memories of readers getting in touch to say my books have got them through dark times, and that my writing has reminded them of much missed family members. A memory from last year that still puts a smile on my face is when I was a question on the show, “Tipping Point”. Q Despite being set in challenging times, your novels are quite uplifting. Why is this? A Even in wartime life went on. A laugh and a sing-song keep spirits high, and amongst sadness there is always hope – and romance.
Q As a busy author, what does family life look like for you?
A
These days, family life has slowed down a little as I reached a “big zero” birthday last Christmas. I still work full-time producing two historical sagas per year and have many writing goals still to achieve. As my husband has retired, we are able to do more together and work it around my writing routines. He also reads my books, helps with research and drives me to my talks. We have the one dog at the moment – Henry, is a chocolate-coloured Polish Lowland Sheepdog of eleven years old. He is spoilt rotten!
Q When sitting down to write a novel, do you have a routine? A I do have a routine as I am a creature of habit! I have an office in the house, but I often can be found sitting in the kitchen. I write from mid-morning until late afternoon, stopping only for lunch.
Q Do you reward yourself if you hit a writing target?
A
I love to hit targets and make all kinds of lists and charts. I often have a list on the go and add to it all the time, so it is never-ending. I like to celebrate finishing a book and waving it off to my editor. I treat myself with a cream éclair from M&S and a takeaway curry. For publication day, it will be a special meal out somewhere with my husband.