Welcome Pauline Holyoak

Welcome, Pauline Holyoak, a Whiskey Creek Press author. Hi, Pauline, please tell us a little about yourself.



Pauline: I grew up in southeast England; in a mining village my husband calls “The place that
time forgot.” I came to Canada when I was 21, in search of adventure and a new life. I live in Spruce Grove, Alberta with my hockey crazy husband, a lazy cat named Sam and an adorable Sheltie named Maggie Mae. We have two young adult children. They are the gems in my treasure chest.



Tell us a little about your latest book Merryweather Lodge

Pauline: Ancient Revenge is a paranormal suspense and the first of a trilogy…Every summer when I was a child we would visit my aunt and uncle at their quaint little cottage on Salisbury Plain. It was called Scotland Lodge and was situated not far from the historical Stonehenge. It was there as I roamed free, deep within the English countryside, that I experienced joy, enchantment, and some very odd and frightening occurrences. It was like a fairytale kingdom with a sinister twist. It is from my mystifying experiences at Scotland Lodge that this book has emerged.


I know what you mean about the Stonehenge area, very atmospheric. I think now that Stonehenge has the wire fencing, it’s not as wonderful. Somehow it detracts from the spirituality of the area, but that’s just my opinion. What do you think?

Pauline: Yes, I agree with you. When I was a child, there were no fences or fees, and not many tourists. We would take a picnic lunch and eat amongst the great monoliths. My sister thought they were cold and scary but I saw them as majestic and magical!



Do you have a favourite genre – also is there a genre you would not consider writing?

Pauline: I read across genres. I like suspense, horror, mystery and stories with colorful characters. Recently I was introduced to a new genre, historical romance. And I really enjoyed it. Thank you for ‘Saxon Tapestry’ Margaret. I could never write erotica.

Why thank you, Pauline. I am so glad you enjoyed my book. I couldn’t write science fiction or erotica. Would you like to add a blurb for your book, I am sure readers would like read a little more…

Emily couldn’t wait to visit her aunt and uncle in their quaint and mysterious little cottage near Stonehenge. But it doesn’t take her long to realize that her fairytale kingdom has a sinister twist. One night in her attic bedroom she is confronted by an entity that will
haunt her for the rest of her stay and long after that. Who is this hideous creature and what does she want? When Emily meets the gorgeous Jonathan McArthur she is infatuated, consumed with lust and an odd familiarity, as if they had met before. Will he be coxed by the peculiar old gypsy, to enter the dreaded wood-lot? Can the bloody ancient curse be removed before its too late?... A chilling tale of love, passion, sorcery and sacrifice; laced with mystery and tied with humor.


I know you said that the Wiltshire area of England inspired you, are there any other things that inspire, and have you ever suffered from writer’s block?

Pauline:People with great spiritual depth inspire me. And the countryside, especially the English countryside. It’s like a smorgasbord for descriptive writers. Don’t you agree? Yes, I have suffered from writers bloke but I make myself pick up the pen and write something- anything, to brake through the silence.

Pauline, I do agree about the English countryside, I love your description as it being like
smorgasbord!

Do you have any advice for budding writers?

Pauline: Perseverance, patience, and bold determination! Believe in yourself and your work. Don’t get hung up on rejections. And, never, ever, give up!

Sound advice, Pauline and it might have come from me!
How did you go about finding a publisher for your novel

Pauline:I sent my manuscript to anyone who would read it; agents, publishers, on line critics, other authors, I just kept sending it out. After a million and one (well, maybe not quite that many) rejections, I found someone who wanted to publish it. Yay!

It is very difficult to find a publisher in these straightened times, and I know that many writers just give up, but you have to keep batting.

What are you working on at the moment?

Pauline: The second book of my trilogy, Merryweather Lodge – The Malevolent Spirit and two children’s books.








Thank you, Pauline, it’s been fantastic talking to you.

Pauline:Thank you Margaret. Here is my website…www.paulineholyoak.com

Everyone once in a while I come across a picture that just melts my heart. It's so sweet, that it makes you wonder how the photographer got so lucky. I mean, it's not as if he or she asked the two fawns to pose, though it clearly looks like a pose. How cool to come across a scene like this!

A FATAL FLAW

Last time I blogged I was bemoaning the fact that I hadn't received the cover for my latest book. The next week test copies arrived and now I have the "real" thing. I am so delighted with this as I feel it catches the essence of the novel.

This romantic thriller set in Cornwall and Florida was one of those books that it was fun to write. You all know the cliche "it wrote itself" and this novel did. From the moment I started to the very end it galloped away from me. I tried my hand at humour too, never easy and such a personal thing, what makes one person laugh makes another say "what's funny about that" anyway I shall just have to wait and see if the reader gets it!

Meanwhile enjoy the cover and blurb...October isn't too long to wait, is it?

A Fatal Flaw
Published by Whiskey Creek Press.

Healthy Day Diet

My editor sent me this diet. Doesn't it sound fun?

Breakfast

1 grapefruit
1 slice whole wheat toast
1 cup
skim milk


Lunch

1 small portion lean, steamed chicken
1 cup
spinach
1 cup herbal tea
1 Hershey's kiss


Afternoon Tea

1 The rest of the Hershey Kisses in the bag
1 tub of Hagen-Daaz ice cream with chocolate chips

Dinner

4 glasses of wine (red or white)
2 loaves garlic bread
1 family size supreme pizza
3 Snickers Bars

Late
Night Snack

1 whole Sarah Lee cheesecake (eaten directly from thefreezer)

Remember:
Stressed spelled backward is desserts.

Covers and Cornish Idyll

I'm waiting to see the cover for my new book A Fatal Flaw - let's say I'm waiting anxiously, as the novel is out in October!

Now you can't tell a book by its cover, we all know that, but you can't sell a book without a cover either. I can't post it here or anywhere else, since I don't have it!
Annoying because I'm anxious to do some publicity on this novel.It's a romantic thriller but with a light touch too, and I really enjoyed writing it. I hope that comes across to the reader.

It's also set in two of my favourite places, Cornwall and Florida. Both are places which have only happy memories for me. When we lived in Cornwall thirty odd years ago (my gosh was it really that long ago) John and I had a lot of good times. We were on the folk scene then and right away we made friends. Once we and the gang at the folk club were invited on a ship, after the pub closed, to entertain the crew. That was a night to remember. When we went on board the gangway was lying flat, when we came off at something like 4.00 a.m. the gangway was like a 4.5 hill!

I remember when the Bosun and his crew came in the folk club, they took up the front row and looked formidible, no smiles or bonhomie, but they must have enjoyed it as they provided us with food and drink and like I said, invited us onto their ship. Actually they took to John, who sang sea shanties, I guess that was the appeal. The Bosun insisted that he, John, had to come along.

Now I have strayed away from my original point - waiting for my cover "but my blog, my choice!" (Gosh I hate that advertisement). However, I think it was the joy we had in Cornwall and the lovely Cornish people, that made the book, although a suspense, a happy book to write.All my memories of that period in my life are golden and I think that shines through my character, Kerensa. Ah, well you will have to wait and see, just as I am waiting...now when will that darn cover arrive?

Birthday Week

Whip up the cake batter and get ready to sing because it's Margaret's birthday this week. She is a talented, adventuress and witty lady and am wishing her all the best.