Saturday 26 September 2015

The PINK SOFA meets writer and blogger Terry Tyler


Terry Tyler is a bit of a Renaissance Woman: she reviews, she blogs, and she writes modern and historical fiction. She has a huge following on Twitter (@TerryTyler4), where she is generous with her retweeting and support of other writers. The PINK SOFA, who is always disappointed that I am not a glam blonde, is overjoyed to welcome her and has been sprucing up its cushions like mad in anticipation of her visit.

''First, I must say how grateful I am to be allowed past the hallowed portals of Carol's blog to talk about my new book.  I bribed her with cake, which I am sure she will never eat.... but she can look at and perhaps even photograph (and then tweet) it!
(I have in my head a picture of a mountain top, with celestial beings guarding the entrance to the dwelling that houses....da da daaah ~ The Pink Sofa....)

Right ~ my new book.  As I write this, The House of York is in the hands of my proofreader, who is also the first to read it.  This is always petrifying.  Until the moment another person claps eyes on your latest creation, the world and characters within are known only to you.  Sure, it all works, comes together so smoothly - you've lived with it for months, gone over and over it in your head and on your screen until you know all the ins and outs by heart.  It's only when First Reader says, quite casually, "Oh, by the way, I've started your book," that you think Waaaah ~ I hope it really does work.  Was I imagining it?  It is all just a load of rubbish?

....I am now continuing this post a week later, and The Book Is Back ~ it works, it works, she says!  I was reminded, yet again, how the parts in a novel that 'speak' to a reader might be those you didn't think particularly strong, and your favourite sections might not be theirs; and that this will, of course, be different for everyone.

So, The House of York.  It's about a family called York, and those who join with them through marriage, love affairs, business, nefarious plotting, etc.  The Yorks own a company called Parhelion, which runs health food cafés and York's Wine Bars ~ in the south of England, to rival the Yates's Wine Lodges of the north.  Told from the points of view of selected cast members, the saga (for indeed it is!) spans the years 1993 ~ 2014.  I've written other family sagas, but this is 'darker', with themes of psychic awareness, good versus evil, abuse and murderous intent running through.  It is loosely based on the story of the Wars of the Roses, though not a modern day retelling, as I have done before, with the Tudors in Kings and Queens and Last Child; this true story was far too complicated to be written as anything less than a trilogy, and I am the only writer on Amazon without a trilogy to my name.  I stand alone with my stand alones!  I did have a go at a closer retelling of history, but I got to 30K words and realised that if I carried on, I'd still be writing the first draft this time next year, and it would take another year to read, let alone write.  Perhaps that's how trilogies come about, I don't know.

I hope The House of York will be out in October; it now has to be read by Mr Picky, a family member who will not allow my books into the world without his input.  This is the part of the process I fear almost as much as the day I look at Amazon and think "no-one's bought the wretched thing for days", or the first less than positive review; however, it is good to have a Mr Picky in one's entourage, as he points out the dodgy bits that no-one but those of his ilk will notice.

Now what?  Well, I'm enjoying the small break I allow myself before starting the next one; I like to have a few weeks' trimming down of the to-read-list and have already
ticked a few off this, with a satisfied nod or six.  During this 'between novels' time I kid myself I will catch up on housework, give the whole place a really good going over; I don't know why I still pretend I'll do this because I never do.

There are always so many more interesting things with which to occupy one's time, though, aren't there?  Like my current astrology feature on my blog ~ thrice a week I am featuring a different writer, talking about how the characteristics of their star sign affect how they work.  When I began asking for posts I hadn't anticipated that the response would be so great, and I have posts scheduled until the beginning of December, so far.  The subject is treated lightly and in a sometimes tongue-in-cheek way, I hasten to add.  Very, in some cases; I've had a post from a certain Mr Gemini that totally trashes the whole thing!

Oh yes, I was going to talk about what I was writing next, wasn't I?  Well, my intention had been to write a novel set in the 14th century, and I have started doing the reading for it; I love history (in particular the Plantagenet and Tudor periods) and have been working towards this for some time.  However, I realised when I finished The House of York that it was perfectly set up for a sequel, and my test reader says that, rather than being merely 'set up for', it actually needs a sequel; I already have the story in my head so might have to write that first....  I have a 'to-be-written' list as well as the 'to-be-read'!

Thank you, Virgin Media, for malfunctioning this morning, which meant that I was sans internet and thus got this piece finished instead of ambling around Twitter and emails for two hours ~ and thank you very much, Carol, for inviting me onto your pink sofa!  I hope the cake was worthy and I will, of course, remember to feed the fish on my way out.''

Follow Terry's blog: http://terrytyler59.blogspot.co.uk/ 

See all her books: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Terry-Tyler/e/B00693EGKM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1 


37 comments:

  1. Big mwahs!! It's always so different seeing your words on someone else's page, rather than on your own word doc. Thank you for having me, and I give the fish a little extra as it's the weekend. Oh, and I nicked a piece of cake.... okay, two...

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  2. Great interview ladies. I'm looking forward to reading The House of York, not just because I'm a Yorkshire lass, but because I love Terry's style of writing. :)

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    1. It's nothing to do with Yorkshire, Shelley! I just thought I'd warn you - York is just their surname, it takes place in Bucks and Northants. But MANY THANKS, anyway!! xx

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  3. Fab interview! I'll be adding The House of York to my reading list :)

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  4. " 'darker', with themes of psychic awareness, good versus evil, abuse and murderous intent running through".......well, that's got me biting at the bit to get at it!! Crackin' interview...I wish I was half as organised as you are, Terry, with my writing....and half as successful would be a bonus too! :)

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    1. Yer can't beat a bit of abuse and murderous intent, Lynn - may I make so bold as to throw in some incestuous tendencies, too? Cheers, my favourite gargoyle>>>>>>>>>>>>>> :)

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  5. Lovely hearing Terry chatting on the Pink Sofa, already planning to read her new book when it's out.

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    1. Thank you, dear Rosie; you are on my 'send ARC copy' list on the wall!!! :)

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  6. Great post. Your books always sound so fascinating, Terry, and you are a Twitter superstar. I don't know how you manage to fit everything in. Good luck with The House of York!

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    1. How nice of you, Sharon! The reason I fit everything in is that my house is a tip and I don't go out much. Being obsessive helps. :) xx

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  7. Terry, I really enjoyed this. It's a different you!! But dare I say it, it's also the Leo or even the real you :) That uncertainty! How can you of all people be uncertain that your book will be well received…after ten successful novels too. I know the uncertainty feeling well myself, but having said that I for one am REALLY looking forward to your new book!!!

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    1. Val, it gets worse, not better. Kings and Queens and Last Child were gratifyingly well received so this means that the new one has to be not just as good, but as good with added extras, or people might say 'nahh, liked the last two but this one is a load of rubbish'. It doesn't help that I can no longer read the book to see if it's okay because I know it off by heart. Nearly all 124K words of it!!! Thank you - as am I looking forward to your next, too! xx

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  8. ...very enjoyable post .. thanks m’Ladies , Terry and Carol :) mwaaah :)

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  9. I'm with Lynn Gerrard on this - that brief description of the content of The House of York has me completely hooked - sounds fantastic and I'm looking forward to it. Great interview ladies :-)

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  10. Great interview, ladies :) Looking forward to Terry's new book.

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  11. Great post! I was glad I popped by to join you on the pink sofa. I'm sure The House of York will be a great success! Happy weekend.

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  12. House of York is fab, and I say that without fear or favour. But I would just like to say that if Terry was really a Renaissance woman, she would add bricklaying to her list of accomplishments! More power to your writing elbow, TT, the book is very thought-provoking and a cracking read to boot.

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    1. Everyone, everyone, read what Julia just wrote. Okay, then disregard it because she's my sister. Oh, well... thank you, anyway!

      I do actually beat her about the head (with my bricklaying spadey thing) to give me an honest opinion, and tell me if any bits don't work...!

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  13. Just get it out there! Now!!! Oh, by the way - lovely interview between two very generous and funny ladies.jx

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    1. Thank you, dear Judith! Hope you're feeling better x

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  14. Great post - everything you write just hits the spot, Terry. (I'm interested in Mr Picky!)

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  15. Great interview ladies! But, oh now I *really* can't wait for House of York!

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    1. Thank you, Barb - and you will be first with the mobi! :)

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  16. The House of York sounds like a fascinating read. I too love history but can't manage to turn historical facts into historical fiction. I really admire those who can. Enjoy your rest and, as for the housework, apparently dust settles to a certain depth and never more so why worry!

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    1. It gets to a certain state of messiness then I have to have a purge, Rosalind! I am waiting to see if I can do the historical fiction thing - unfortunately, I added another to the 'to be written' list this weekend...!

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  17. Your Mr Picky comment had me chuckling, Terry as I have my own Mr Picky who is currently picking delicate holes in my novel as we speak. The House of York certainly sounds intriguing.

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    1. Ha ha - yes, we have to let them do their worst!! :)

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  18. Fun interview! If you do a sequel for The House of York, you're only one book away from a trilogy:) Just saying....

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    1. Ha ha, v good, Judith! Actually, two of my books (Full Circle and Last Child) are sequels (to Dream On and Kings and Queens) ~ after each one I've said, never again!!!! I can see the temptation, though.. :)

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  19. Quick word about Terry's kindness - as well as a tremendous writer, she's also a tremendously kind and supportive person who has helped me no end. Her kindness and generosity of spirit comes through in her writing.

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  20. Can't wait for the new book! And would echo Geoffrey's words - Terry has helped me enormously in navigating the murky waters of social media!

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