A Nice Natter with Author Glynis Smy

It has been more than six years since the day I began blogging.  Around that time, I came across Author Glynis Smy and we became blog friends.  Then there was a gap somewhere and we lost touch.  When we found each other the second time around, it took awhile for me to realise that we had been friends for awhile!

Now, I am so honoured to have her on my blog!  I give to you, Author Glynis Smy!

Glynis Smy (GS):  Hello Len. Thank you for sharing me on your blog today.

Len:  Hello, Glynis! Thank you for sparing me some time for a cup of coffee, lots of cakes and a lovely chat! Here's my first question....What part of the world do you live and write in?

GS:  I was born in the UK and moved to Cyprus in 2005. I live in a hillside, rural village. My home is surrounded by vineyards, and I consider myself very fortunate. I did write an article about my new life if anyone is interested in reading it. http://trifter.com/europe/cyprus/village-life-polemi-and-stroumpi-paphos-pafos-cyprus/

I don't know why I want to ask you this but I'm curious...do you have any pets?

GS:  We most certainly do. When we emigrated we brought over our Cairn Terrier, Jakeyboy. We then did some voluntary work for a dog pound. We were captured by a tiny one-eyed dog we called, Ginny. Lucy captured our hearts the following month. Then we got a cat, Fluff. Along came Max, he was a hunter’s puppy who had been treated cruelly. He collapsed outside our home four years ago. Four dogs, one cat, an aviary and a fish tank. I bet you regret asking now!

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time when you are not writing?

GS:  One of my hobbies is card making. I raise money for a small hospice ward here in Cyprus by selling my greetings cards. I also cross stitch. During the summer I will swim and snorkel.

Who are the authors you emulate or that inspire you?

GS:  There are so many who inspire me. To name a few: Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, Catherine Cookson, Barbara Erskine, Ken Follett and Jodi Picolt all weave stories I envy. I started out hoping to write like Catherine Cookson. However, I found my own style and it is nothing like her work at all.

Any favourite books? Favourite authors?  And why?

GS:  Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I love the emotional waves in the book. Sadness from death and joy from kid gloves, the boy next door and other events, gave me equal amounts of wow factor while reading the book. I never found a flat moment. I envy her talent.

Any book on writing you'd like to recommend to aspiring authors out there?

GS:  I found The Fire in Fiction by Donald Maass and turn to it often for clarification or inspiration. Recently I downloaded Nail Your Novel by Roz Morris, and have found it very useful. I am also big fan of the website The Grammar Girl.

Can you tell us about your books and the challenges you met on the road to publication?

GS:  When I turned 50 I held my first book in my hand. From My Heart Inside My Head. I had achieved a dream. It was a gift to myself, I self published my poetry as a private project. To my surprise I have sold several copies and not all to family. After I had finished the second,Sticky Sandwiches, I started scribbling notes for a short story. However, a little character called Chewy Chester crept into my brain and I had to write his little ABC story, Chewy Chester Meets Wallis Worm. It is not glamorous, but it was a little itch I had to scratch. I self published him and put the story to bed. I returned to my short story and realised it was going to be rather large for a short story. I had written 50, 000 words. I gave it a title and carried on writing. Ripper, My Love, ended up over 80,000 words long. It has just spent the past few weeks being torn apart. The edits have paid off and a stronger story has emerged. It is my hope to find an agent. If not I will self publish just to hold a copy in my hand.

One of my challenges was the fact I sadly lost my mentor to cancer. Jan had been my guide from short story to novel. Life is good though, I have some brilliant support now and have hope for RML. It is a Romance Suspense. It started out as an Historical Romance, but me being me, added a twist. The twist changed the genre.

My second novel, Maggie’s Child is a Historical Romance novel I wrote during NaNoWriMo. I love the story and am chomping at the bit to edit it, but it must wait its turn.

You write poetry, children's books and historical romance, how do you switch from one to another?

GS:  My poetry comes and goes depending on my mood. I work on the children’s stories when I am struggling with my adult work. They are so different it is like a change of scenery.

Do you have a special routine before and when you are writing?

GS:  I didn’t think I had, but now you ask I realise I do have a slight one. I get up and have breakfast with DH. While he is checking out his aviary, I rush around with fresh air spray, polish and disinfectant to con him I have cleaned house. The washing machine is stuffed to the gills and the dogs thrown around the vineyard. Another coffee is called for, then it is check email, log onto twitter and Facebook time. I Facebook a message to my three children. Then switch to my ‘author’ account, say hello to my writer friends. By about 9am I open my files and write. I come up for air and a play on Facebook every now and then. I am fortunate, my writing day is my own.
(Thank you for providing a photo of your very neat work space, Glynis!)


How do you deal with writer's block?

GS:  I write. As crazy as it sounds, I just write for half an hour, about anything. A fantasy shopping list, what I would buy if I had money. I literally write anything. It opens up the pathway and sometimes it produces a poem. When I have done that I go for a walk and draw in fresh air. It is amazing how the urge to get home and write comes back. If I am really struggling, I sit in the hills and just relax. I never let block get to me. However, I am not on a deadline so it is easy for me to say that.

Oh I love that idea, just write anything! Thank you, Glynis!  Anything you'd like to say to fellow writers and aspiring authors out there?

GS:  Thank you, Len.  I would like to say to all, follow your dream and enjoy it. Never make it a chore or you will lose the joy. Good luck to those who have agents, publishers or are self publishing. I wish you all high sales. To aspiring writers...write. Just write it down, never hesitate or hold back. Let it out. We are waiting to read your work.

Glynis, what a lovely way to end this interview.  All the best to you and your writing, too!  

Now, let me get some more coffee....and oh, would you like to try some cheesecake? It's yum! ☋

*****

If you aren't following Glynis yet, hop to her blog!  Please click HERE.
Note:  Glynis is also known as Nissi Peters.  Hop to Glynis' other blog HERE.


To purchase any of Glynis' books, please go to lulu.com


They are also available on Amazon.com