Ruth Whenham - Author
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Author interview on Goodreads

21/7/2014

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I have recently answered interview questions set by the team who run the excellent book recommendation site, Goodreads. The link to my answers on this site can be found here. Alternatively, you can read them here on my blog.

There is the facility on Goodreads for readers to ask questions too. It would be lovely to receive some questions - friends and family included!

Here is the interview.

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?


My most recent book is Captain Sillyvoice Takes to the Stage, the second in my Captain Sillyvoice series about a gang of unlikely pirates. 

About ten years ago, when my son was small, I would make up bedtime stories. These were often adventures in which he’d become magically transported to an interesting time or place, such as the jungle or space - all the usual stuff! Anyway, one such adventure featured a terribly nice pirate crew, led by the affable Captain Sillyvoice. The stories became a firm favourite. Firstly, a silly voice could be used and secondly there is fun to be had from a gang of pirates who are rather unsuitable for pirate life. 

I'd been thinking about writing a series of books rather than another one-off story, and it struck me that I could return to one of my very first character ideas - Captain Sillyvoice. It seemed like the perfect starting point.  I figured there must be loads of different storyline possibilities, and indeed, there are!

My third Captain Sillyvoice adventure is due for release soon.

How do you get inspired to write?

This varies enormously. Sometimes an event or the memory of something that’s happened in the past can spark an idea, as can listening to a joke or hearing a snippet of conversation. Once an idea has formed then it will often develop in my head over a couple of days or weeks before I put pen to paper. This was the case with 'The Day My Teacher Came to Tea' and 'Birthday Cake Disaster'. Sometimes though you just have to force yourself to sit down with a blank page and write something. Anything, as long as it gets you thinking. With my first book, 'My Crazy Purple Pen', I used the smart purple pen I was holding in my hand as the starting point for my jottings. I hadn't anticipated writing a whole story around it, but that’s what evolved.

What are you currently working on?

My third Captain Sillyvoice adventure is currently being illustrated. There’s a lot of work involved in making sure that the pictures complement the text. Fortunately I work with a very talented illustrator, Emma K L Hunt, who usually manages to interpret my illustration notes brilliantly, and is able to bring her creativity to the party as well.

I have recently written a Christmas picture book with a fun storyline about Santa's reindeers. I am very excited about this project because it is going to be a little bit different in style to my previous books.  This is currently being professionally edited.

My other ongoing project is a sequel to my book, My Crazy Purple Pen. I have the outline of the story worked out and a draft of the text but there is much work still to do. Watch this space...
 
What’s your advice for aspiring writers?
 
1. Write because you love it, not because you think it's a path to fame and fortune! The reality is that very few manage to achieve that. 

2. Don't expect people to buy your book, simply because it's available on Amazon or other book websites. They won't. They won't even know your book exists unless you do something to make them sit up and notice you. To be a writer nowadays is also to be a marketing/sales/PR person, and this takes a lot of research, work and time.

3. It’s never too late to start writing. It took the dark approach of my 40th birthday to make me take the plunge. Two years on and I am very happy that I did!

What’s the best thing about being a writer?
 
There are so many things but here is my shortlist. 
• Creating a story and developing an idea is satisfying and totally absorbing. Once you get immersed in your writing it's amazing how quickly the time just flies by. 
• Holding a copy of your book for the first time and thinking, "I wrote that!", is the best feeling. 
• Being a writer is a complete business enterprise. You have to learn to become an 'expert' in internet marketing, website design, distribution options, cost analysis, understanding publishing contracts and much more. In my experience, this variety makes the job of being a writer even more interesting.

How do you deal with writer’s block?

I have been most fortunate because story ideas for my children's picture books have come to me quite easily so far. However, when I studied Creative Writing with the OU I did struggle with writer's block on occasion. A couple of the tips that I was given there did prove useful.

One thing you can do is to open a random book at a random page and read the first full sentence. From there, see if you can develop a story or an idea. Secondly there is the free association technique. This is where you write down the first things that occur to you, and just let your mind wander and see what ideas this triggers.
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I give him one little job to do and what happens?

26/3/2014

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I will be doing a book signing event at my local bookstore, Waterstones, and for this I am going to need some promotional material. I asked my husband if he could sort out a poster for me. He was keen to help. As it turns out, a bit too keen!

He told me that he'd ordered the poster and was sure I'd be happy with it. Well, it arrived today. It wasn't quite the A3 poster I had in mind. I think he got a little over-excited!

I shouldn't really have been surprised. If he is ever tasked with the food shopping, he normally returns with donuts, exotic fruits that 'look interesting', and a whole basketful of assorted biscuits. And the items on the actual list? Well, a few make it into the shopping bag!
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

21/12/2013

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A year in the life of Ruth Whenham Books.
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Crazy Purple Pen Writes Again

18/10/2013

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Crazy Purple Pen is back on my computer screen again and I am having  loads of  fun writing this sequel!

In the first book, aside from the little schoolboy, the Police Inspector was a favourite character of mine, and I just had to bring him back. Once again he is on the trail of  Crazy Purple Pen and he has a plan to put a stop to the mischievous notes.

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"What," he asks, "does a pen need to be able to write?"

The two officers think hard but they aren’t very bright.

"We don’t know Sir. We just can’t think."

"Ink." shouts the Inspector. "It needs purple ink!"
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There will be plenty of new characters in this story too; an inept bank thief, a news broadcaster and  the Town Mayor to mention but a few. I am still drafting so this could all change! Nevertheless, the story is definitely taking shape. 

 I am so happy to be writing something new once again instead of being sucked into the vast world of promotion and marketing. Enough said!
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Social Media

30/9/2013

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Everything seems to be about social networking these days, or so I'm told! With that in mind I have at long last set up an Author Facebook Page and a Twitter account. I will be using these to send out updates about my books, but it won't be a replacement for my blog or website as a whole.

If you are interested in receiving news about my forthcoming projects or finding out about offers and promotion as they occur, then please 'like' my page or follow me on Twitter. 

Here are the links:

https://www.facebook.com/RuthWhenhamBooks

https://twitter.com/RuthWhenham

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What a difference a year makes...

21/9/2013

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It has been a year since I left my old life as a Clinical Audit Officer and embarked on a new path; writing children’s books, becoming an OU student and volunteering at the Citizens’ Advice Bureau (CAB). It was a big decision to take and I really didn’t know how or if it would all work out. It hasn’t all been plain sailing but it has been a brilliant year.

Volunteering at the CAB has definitely taken me out of my comfort zone. It is a front-line role with nowhere to hide and when people have been waiting an hour to see you, there is no doubt that you feel the pressure to find them some answers and help, in short - to be worth waiting to see! It gets easier the more you do (as your own knowledge builds) and it is undeniably fascinating (as issues range from debt, immigration problems, relationship issues, disputes at work and much more besides) but most of all it has been very rewarding. 

Becoming a student again was very enjoyable. I was studying Creative Writing, with the focus on short fiction and poetry. The workload was high and it was definitely a challenge but I loved it, and I learned a great deal along the way. It has definitely helped me to become a better writer and equally as important, sparked my interest in writing more serious poetry. Before then I had only been inclined to write more humorous rhyming prose. I am quite sad that the course has finished now but it does give me more time to concentrate on my main project - writing children’s books.

So, how has this been going? Well, I have self-published three books so far and also written a series of three pirate books, currently being illustrated and due for publication in the near future. My next project will be a sequel to My Crazy Purple Pen. I am very happy with all the books and excited about the pirate series. This has probably been the most fun set of stories to write so far. Have I hit the best-sellers list yet? No. Am I making a living from writing children’s books? Not yet! Do I still think it is worth carrying on? Yes, absolutely. Keep writing, keep marketing and keep going. 

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A review on the US Amazon site and it’s five stars!

21/8/2013

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I mentioned in a previous blog post  about my disappointment at my recent eBook promotion of ‘My Crazy Purple Pen’ not leading to any reviews on the US Amazon site (Amazon.com), despite a high number of downloads.

Well, a little good news....

A 5 star review has appeared. Thank you Mr James N Simpson, whoever you are!
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As I write this post I notice too that another 5 star review has been posted on the UK site – 20 reviews now for my first book!
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Purple pen makes an impression!

28/7/2013

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I had been invited to showcase my books at a local pre-school end of term event. Direct selling is not easy and although there was a lot of interest and leaflets taken, only a few sales were made on the day. However, all was not lost! I had a conversation with a visitor to the stall that made my day.

A woman approached me and said, “My Crazy Purple Pen. Where have I heard about that before? My daughter came home from school one day and she was writing all these stories about a crazy purple pen. I thought she’d made them up herself but it must have been from your book.”
I said, “Does your daughter attend the Lower School? 
“Yes”
“Well, I did read this book to children at the school as part of an author Q&A session.”
“She must have really liked your book! She does love reading.”

I was so happy to hear that a child had enjoyed my book so much that they had gone home and written their own version of the story. That is the best compliment ever!
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Birthday bonanza

26/6/2013

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I received a brilliant 40th birthday present yesterday from my good friends Steve and Jane – see the green wall plaque below. Great fun! 

That was one birthday treat. Another was receiving the proof copy of my new book, ‘Birthday Cake Disaster’.  Should be available on Amazon any day now!

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My First Post

1/5/2013

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A quick recap to bring you up to date. 

In September 2012 I embarked on a fantastic adventure as I entered the world of writing for children. That was about 8 months ago. There have been frustrations and obstacles to progress along the way but I have loved every minute of it and learned such a lot. Thinking up a story, bringing it to life on the page and then watching a young face light up with enjoyment at the words you've written must truly be one of the best feelings in the world.

So far I have published two traditional books and an Interactive Touch Book version of 'My Crazy Purple Pen' for use on Apple technologies (e.g. ipad).

Okay, I think that just about covers it!
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    Ruth Whenham, children's book author

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