Thursday 25 August 2011

Author Spotlight - Paula Martin


Today, I’m delighted to welcome UK author Paula Martin to the Author Spotlight. Paula’s new contemporary romance, His Leading Lady, is one of the most enjoyable stories I’ve read over the last few months, and what a lovely cover. From the moment I started reading the first chapter, I was completely hooked and had to keep reading the rest of the book until the very satisfying ending.

The characters are very well drawn, with a perfectly matched hero and heroine. The background setting of a theatre and stage musical was the icing on the cake and seemed completely authentic, greatly adding to the enjoyment of the main story between Jess, one of twin sisters, and Kyle, the arrogant director. The added touch of mystery surrounding the disappearance of Lora, Jess’ twin, and the ensuing impersonation by Jess gave the romance a lovely touch of suspense. Highly recommended!

Paula was kind enough to answer the following questions. Thanks for being here, Paula!

Have you been writing fiction long?

It would be easy to say all my life – or at least from when I was about 8 or 9. I was a voracious reader as a child and my first stories were based on some of the books I read (usually school stories like Malory Towers). Soon, however, I was developing my own characters and, once I got to my teens, writing romances. My first novel was published when I was 25, and was based on one of the romances I’d written about ten years earlier. I had four novels published in the 60s and 70s and several short stories in romance magazines, then didn’t write any fiction for about twenty five years. Instead I wrote articles for several years for the UK Girl Guide magazine, one every month as the editor gave me my own ‘page’. I came back to writing fiction about four years ago, initially with fan fiction. Then, after a serendipity meeting with a Harlequin writer when I was America, I decided to try my hand at novels again.

What made you decide to set your novel in the theatre world and did it involve a lot of research?

I’ve always been fascinated by the theatre but, although I had a few minor roles in school plays, I couldn’t really act to save my life (can’t sing or dance either!). However, in the 80s and 90s, I worked backstage with two local amateur Musical Theatre Societies, and for about ten years I produced two shows each year with the junior section of one society. I was privileged to work with a lot of very talented youngsters and it was wonderful to see them develop in confidence, acting skills and stage presence. Many of them are still involved in musical theatre, and I know that at least five of them went on into professional theatre.

I’ve never worked in the professional theatre (although I have been backstage at the two big theatres in Manchester, does that count?), but I reasoned that rehearsals are pretty much the same as in the amateur world, as well as the glitches which happen with scenery and props. The main research I had to do was about how professional shows are financed; the rest came mainly from my own experiences.

Why did you set one scene in Scotland? (Which I loved!)

Once I had my hero’s name, Kyle Drummond, he HAD to have Scottish ancestry, so when I wanted him to introduce Jess to the (previously unrevealed) writer of the musical show, I decided to take them up to Scotland for the weekend. Also it had to be Argyll because the show is based on an old legend from that area. I think I had to do more research for the Scotland chapters than anything else – looking at maps and photos, tower houses, even finding out if there were any private airfields near Oban. I wanted to take a trip up there to make sure I got it right, but time didn’t allow, so I had to draw on my experiences of other parts of Scotland which I’ve visited.

Did you make up the story of the show they are putting on in the novel? (Great story by the way!)

Having decided that Kyle had a Scottish background, I needed the show to be based on a Scottish legend. I googled until I found a legend I liked, and one which I could visualise being adapted into a musical. It’s based on the legend of Black Colin of Argyll, or at least the part of the legend when Colin goes off to the Crusades leaving his young wife behind. The story of him cutting a ring in two and giving half to his wife is part of the legend, and provided the title of the show ‘Token of Love’. I’m wondering whether I could pitch the idea to Andrew Lloyd Webber or Cameron Mackintosh? (Definitely, Paula!)

Do you go to the theatre a lot?
Not as much as I used to. When I was a child, my parents were Gilbert and Sullivan fans so my very first experience of musical theatre was ‘The Yeomen of the Guard’ when I was about eight. I loved it (and still love the G and S shows). Repertory theatre was also still alive then, so my mum used to take me the weekly plays if she thought they were ‘suitable’ for me. Then I discovered Rodgers and Hammerstein shows through the Amateur Operatic Society in my home town, and I was hooked!

Once I started working with our local group in the 80s, I also went to a lot of other societies’ performances in various parts of Manchester (and further afield sometimes). I used to go to many different musicals and plays at the professional theatres in the city too, and once spent a week in London with my teenage daughter (who was also stage-struck) when we went to every afternoon and evening show we could fit into the week. That was in the days when theatre tickets weren’t as expensive as they are now! Nowadays, I tend to go mainly to the amateur shows, although occasionally I venture into the city centre for a professional show and, more rarely, to London. But I did go to Dublin last year, simply to see Stockard Channing in ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ which is my favourite play of all time.

What is your favourite stage musical?

This has to be ‘Les Miserables’ which I’ve seen about ten times, both in Manchester and London. I LOVE the songs – and even thinking about ‘Do You Hear the People Sing’ and ‘One More Day’ can make the hairs on my neck stand on end.

Of the shows I’ve worked with, either backstage or producing with my junior group, ‘Carousel’ is probably my favourite (I always cry at the end), although ‘Calamity Jane’ comes a close second, and then there’s ‘Guys and Dolls’ and ‘The Sound of Music’ and – okay, I’ll stop now!

Any tips for newer writers?

The classic answer to this is ‘Don’t give up.’ But maybe more important than that is: A first draft is not a finished manuscript. Learn the craft and the mechanics. Yes, spelling, grammar, punctuation and sentence construction are all important. So work at it. Write a good story and write it well.

Thanks so much for having me as a guest on your blog, Rosemary, and for giving me such interesting questions to answer.

Paula Martin lives near Manchester in North West England and has two daughters and two grandsons.

She had some early publishing success with four romance novels and several short stories, but then had a break from writing while she brought up a young family and also pursued her career as a history teacher for twenty-five years. She has recently returned to writing fiction, after retiring from teaching and is thrilled to have found publishing success again with her contemporary romances.

Apart from writing, she enjoys visiting new places. She has travelled extensively in Britain, mainland Europe, America and Canada - and a few years ago she fell in love with Ireland which she visits at least twice a year. Her other interests are musical theatre and tracing her family history.

His leading Lady is available from the publisher Whiskey Creek Press, Amazon (UK) and Amazon (US)

You can find out more about Paula on her Website and Blog

36 comments:

Bill Kirton said...

Excellent interview, as usual, Rosemary. You choose your guests well. Interesting to hear about the mechanics of specific incidents in the novel. It's also good to hear Paula stress the importance of 'grammar, spelling and sentence construction' - but then, you know I always bang on about that anyway. Congrats to both.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thank you very much, Bill, for your support. Paula is such a good writer it was a pleasure to read her novel - as it always is with yours!

Paula Martin said...

Bill, you're a man after my own heart! I've cringed at some of the grmmatical errors I've seen in books, plus people not knowing the difference between 'your' and 'you're' etc. Thanks for dropping in.

Melanie said...

Great interview Rosemary. This sounds like a book I'd love to read... especially since it has a scene in Scotland in it.

Talli Roland said...

Fantastic interview!


I've always been fascinated by the theatre world, and I do LOVE 'Can You Hear the People Sing'. Goosebumps every time!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Melanie - it really is a lovely book and I couldn't wait to read it right through!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hello Talli - thanks for that! One of the things I loved about this novel was the story of the 'pretend' musical they're staging.

Paula Martin said...

Hi Melanie - my characters have a wonderful weekend in Scotland, of course!

Hi Talli - seems like we agree about 'Can you hear the people sing?' In fact I'm singing it in my head right now!

Anonymous said...

Hi Rosemary and Paula; Great Interview! I love the uniqueness of this plot ---combining the story with Theatre and Scottish legend! Ive got it on my TBB list now!

Wishing you great sales!
Hugs, Kari Thomas, www.authorkari.com

Paula Martin said...

Thanks, Kari! :-)

Jennifer Wilck said...

Hi Paula, I love hearing about the amount and variety of research you do! It must be a UK thing, but the ability to run to Scotland or Ireland to do research for a book is amazing to me!

Paula Martin said...

Hi Jen - I guess I'd feel the same about running to New York or the mid-West for research! I've been lucky enough to travel to many different places in Britain, mainland Europe and the USA and Canada, but I still have to research a lot of detail, even about somewhere like London, which I know well.

K.C. Woolf said...

I'd completely forgotten about Malory Towers. I loved those books as a kid, and like Paula, my first attempts at writing were school stories.

Interesting interview. Thank you! :)

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Kari - thanks for that comment. You'll enjoy Paula's book!

Hello Jennifer - thanks for visiting and leaving a comment!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi K.C. - thanks for that. I also loved the Chalet School books!

Debra St. John said...

Hi Paula and Rosemary,

The world of theatre is very fascinating. In college (and to a lesser extent in high school) I did the backstage thing. My job in college was working in the theatre's costume shop, but I also dabbled with lighting and sound on occassion. I never felt brave enough to step onto the stage, though, until I tried out for our church musical one year. I discovered it was just as much fun being on stage as it was working backstage! (Although I don't sing at all, so I had to Milli Vannilli all of the songs!) LOL

Jenn said...

Great interview--and Great questions :)

Paula Martin said...

K.C.- I loved Malory Towers and Darrell Rivers. I think those books were my inspiration to start writing! Also the St. Clare's books too. Much preferred them to the Famous Five. Think my real inspiration, though, came from Pamela Brown's 'Swish of the Curtain' -I LOVED that book.

Debra - as well as directing my Juniors' shows, I did costumes with one group and props with another. Never got into sound and lighting. I LOVE the backstage atmosphere during 'Show Week' - there is absolutely nothing else in the world like the backstage cameraderie during a show. I still yearn for it at times.

Cheryl Hart said...

Hi Paula.
(Visiting from SeriouslyReviewedReadersAndWriters)

I enjoyed the interview, and getting to know you a little better. His Leading Lady sounds like an interesting read -- especially for those with a background in theater. :)

Question - being a History teacher, do you ever write historical romance? Just curious.

C.E.

Anonymous said...

I loved Paula's book--and I've always been kind of anti-romance novels. I guess I can't say that anymore!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hello Debra - there's soemthing quite romantic about stage work, isn't there!

Hi Jenn - thanks a lot!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi C.E. - that's a good question for Paula!

Hello Word Nerd - I know exactly what you mean! I don't read that much contemporary romance but this had me hooked.

Paula Martin said...

Hi C.E. - I've not tried anythin historical. Maybe that's because, as an historian, I know how much research would be involved to get all the background details right!

Word Nerd - thanks for your kind comment, and delighted that you liked my book!

Jane Richardson said...

Paula and Rosemary, I can only guess that a book with so many of my favourite things in it HAS to be a success! Gotta get this one on my tbr list. :-) Fascinating interview - good luck!

Jane x

Paula Martin said...

Thanks, Jane. Hope my book lives up to your expectations ;-)

Unknown said...

Great interview!! I enjoyed reading it and learning from it. Very inspiring!!

Kathy
http://www.thetruckerswife.com/index.html

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Jane - thanks. I'm sure you'll love Paula's book!

Hello Kathy - thanks for that!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

This sounds like my kind of book. I also love Les Mis but have only see it once, so am a little envious of Paula seeing it ten times.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Debs - thanks for visiting! Although I like Les Mis, my favourite is Phantom - pure romantic escapism!

Paula Martin said...

Hi Kathy and Debs - many thanks!

Paula Martin said...

Rosemary, thank you so much for having me as your guest. I really enjoyed answering your question and it's been great to meet both old and new friends who've dropped in and left comments.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Paula - it was a pleasure to have you here. Thanks for your answers and all the best with your writing.

Vikki said...

Great interivew and sounds like a really interesting read with the Theatre setting

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thanks, Vikki!

Denise Covey said...

Hello Rosemary. Hello Paula. Thanks for this great interview. Paula I knew your book wasn't far off hitting the shelves so a warm congratulations. Thanks for your tips and may you publish many more excellent books.

Denise

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Hi Denise - thanks for commenting and for following! Good to see you here.