Hello my little chickadees
How are you today? We now have a bit more freedom and I'm wondering if you have taken advantage of hugging someone. After around 18 months in lockdown I would have hugged a rabid dog if he'd let me. I settled for my granddaughter who threw her arms around me and didn't want to let go. Quite an emotional moment for both of us.
Recently I interviewed Babs Morton who writes under the name of B.A. Morton. Babs is an exceptional writer but my favourite thing about her is the fact that she lived in a haunted cottage. We've had many conversations about that in the past. Here she is. Hello Babs.
Would you like to introduce yourself?
Hi Tee and thanks for the opportunity of this interview. I’m a bookaholic with a soft spot for Border Terriers, gardening and chocolate. I was a civil servant for many years, a GP receptionist, a miniature house painter, (miniature houses not miniature me, although I am on the short side) and once upon a time I also popped the pineapple onto French bread pizzas (do those things still exist?) The mantra of ye olde Findus factory drummed into all of us production drones was ‘Never NEVER stop the line!’ ... time’s money etc. As one who was almost buried alive by a runaway line full of crispy pancakes, I can assure you, if in doubt - stop the bleedin’ line! For a number of years my hubby and I lived in a haunted cottage built on the foundations of a medieval chapel, which provided lots of inspiration for my vivid imagination. Now we live in a regular house near Newcastle, which is far easier for babysitting grandbabies.
Tell me about your day to day writing schedule. Is there a routine?
I don’t have a writing routine. I do scribble notes and flashes of inspiration on scraps of paper and stuff them under my keyboard - and forget they’re there. I tend to write in the evening when there are no distractions i.e. binge watching crime series like Line of Duty. I work better with a deadline or someone nagging me to ‘get on with it’.
What genre do you write in and how many books have you written?
I primarily write crime fiction/psychological crime - my preference to read and write, although I do also have a historical series (Templar knights, clashing swords and treasure - lots of treasure!) I’ve just published my tenth book, a Newcastle crime thriller ‘The Favour Bank’ (Good cops, bad cops, and not sure which side they’re on cops.) I’m a member of the Crime Writers Association and the International Thriller Writers.
Favourite food and drink?
Hmm, a nice mug of tea and a chocolate digestive biscuit.
What are your thoughts if your characters take over writing the story?
Oh this happens all of the time, I mean, who on earth do they think they are? I say to them, ‘Hey, I made you!’ and they just shrug and do whatever they like. ‘Solve the bleedin’ crime,’ I say, “All in good time,’ they reply. Huh, they forget I have the power. I have the delete key!
When did you first start writing seriously?
I suppose it was about 2010. I joined Authonomy, a writer’s site/community. Made some good friends, who are still friends today, and I learned a lot. I was fortunate and won second place in The Yeovil Prize literary Competition 2011 with my debut crime novel ‘Mrs Jones’ and just kept on writing. My psychological thriller ‘Bedlam’ was a finalist in the 2020 Wishing Shelf Awards.
Any exciting WIP for us to look forward to?
I’m currently writing The Crow Killer’s Daughter, book two in my new series set in Newcastle. Other projects include sequels to ‘Bedlam’ and ‘Twisted’.
If you could take a character out of one of your books and entertain them for the night, who would it be and from which book?
Haha, I think it would have to be Spook, from my crime thriller ‘Twisted’. She is absolutely bonkers and game for just about anything! It would definitely be a wild night! If I had to pick a bloke, then it would be DS Joe McNeil from Bedlam. That guy really needs a break, God love him.
Your favourite book written by another author.
You know, I have so many favourite books from so many different genres. I could write you a list and still miss out some blindingly good reads. So instead I’ll just say anything written by John Connolly and leave it at that.
Links to your books
You can find all of my books on Amazon – and you could ‘follow’ me, if you had a mind to, to keep up with any new releases: (To clarify – I don’t mean follow me home because that would just be weird)
Links to Babs books:
I have read several of Babs books and I can highly recommend them.
Laters Potaters
2 comments:
I finished reading 'The Favour Bank' not long ago, and can highly recommend it - as long as your preference isn't 'Cozy Crime'! Nobody does dark and gritty better than Babs. Great interview.
10 books!
You are so productive, Babs! Lovely interview, last book I read of yours was Bedlam, which was quite a while ago.
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