An author interview with the amazing Celia Moore
author of Fox Halt Farm
Writing
and rewriting a book can take months, if not, years where it becomes your own
precious baby, and it’s hard to let go to
an editor to destroy make better. So name drop your editor who shaped Fox Halt Farm to what it is today.
I need a trumpet here. Singing Amanda Horan’s praises wouldn’t do her
justice (especially because no-one would want me singing anything!) As my
trusty editor/critique partner, I could not have wished for anyone better.
My debut novel Fox
Halt Farm was some undertaking, having not written creatively since school (if
you don’t count my glowing property reports in my Chartered Surveyor days which
were, I admit, quite creative at times). I sent Amanda my baby (squishy pooping
miracle as it was back then!) and through her professional but gentle advice, I removed the poo; all the distractions
that would aggravate my readers.
Amanda opened my eyes to so many things that I could do
better, offering clever solutions too. Working
with her felt like I was in a creative writing class (not a day course – I mean
eight weeks and I was the one who always had their hand up!). Amanda has worked
on the sequel, and again there have been a lot of light bulb moments. All the
things I have learnt over the past eighteen months gave me an objective view of
Fox Halt Farm. Again, Amanda’s input has been applied in spades to create my
fabulous revised edition.
What/who
do you draw inspiration from? Or who do you aspire to be like as an author?
Years ago, a friend recommended Maeve Binchy’s ‘Light a
Penny Candle’ to me. Up until, then I had only read thrillers, and I certainly
didn’t expect to like it, but I loved the novel about families and friendships,
identifying with the relationships and the characters’ problems - all so
beautifully described. Ever since then, I pick up one of Maeve Binchy’s books,
and it feels like this author is a friend, someone I can rely on to tell me a
good story in an entertaining, heartfelt
way. I want my readers to feel that way
too – that they pick up my latest book and feel the same excitement and anticipation
of sitting down with a dear friend who’ll excite them with a good tale.
If
your main character was a real person, how’d they perceive you?
Billy isn’t real? Whoops,
sorry I forgot! She lives in my head, and
I share her hopes and fears – in reality though, if she was a real person, I
think she would stand back, taking her time to learn to trust me, and only have
confidence in me if she really wanted to, otherwise keeping a wary distance. If Billy did come to trust me, I think she’d be a loyal friend. We’d chat and laugh, but I’m not sure there would be much discussion
about feelings because she finds it hard to open up to people – this is how I
think she’d be, but you never really know do you?
When
did you first call yourself a writer?
This happened just after I published my first book when one of
the initial readers started talking to me about my characters and how my
writing made them feel. I began to believe
in myself.
They
say that when writers write about a bad (evil) character,
they are pulling on some characteristic from themselves, so what bad
characteristics do you share with your ‘baddie’?
My villainous character in Fox Halt Farm is drawn from two
different people who I loved and trusted, but as for similar traits, characteristics
I share with my ‘baddie’ these would be my determination to achieve what I
want, and sometimes I am more selfish than I ought to be.
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Me finishing the London Marathon -
This was 20 years ago!
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Does
writing energise or exhaust you?
I am training for the London marathon (28th April 2019 grows
ever closer –scary thought!). Running gives me a massive adrenaline buzz. And writing
is like running to me, storytelling is like electric in my mind!
Does
(and how) your protagonist change/learn by the end of the book?
Over the twenty years,
Billy and Richard change a great deal, learning about themselves while they strive
to find happiness, slowly uncovering and understanding what truly matters.
If
your main character was one of your friends, what advice would you give her?
I think I’d like to shake Billy sometimes, telling her to be
more self-reliant and believe in herself. Other times too, I’d just want her to appreciate what she has.
What
was edited out of this book?
My original
manuscript was brimming over with descriptions of people and places, but my detailed pictures slowed my storytelling, I had to refine them to an
essence of the location or the person, allowing my readers’ imaginations to add
the colour, texture and light.
Is
there a dedication?
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Fox Halt Farm is dedicated
to my fantastic dad
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Yes definitely, I cried my heart out at times while I wrote
Fox Halt Farm. Before I started writing,
I thought I had my fabulous father’s sudden death sussed. I was happy knowing
he was always looking over my shoulder watching me.
My writing is fictional, but
I drew upon a lot of my life experiences. Remembering my early years, made me
see I had a lot more grieving to do for this incredible man and all the things
he did. I cried over other losses too, recognising precious people and the
extraordinary moments, which have moulded my life so far.
Fox Halt Farm is in memory of my father who only ever wanted
me to be happy, and my friend Ronnie for all the love she left behind.
Thank you so
much. I loved your questions today.
…Introducing…
Fox Halt Farm
by
Celia Moore
Opening on a cliff edge, Billy finds herself alone and
betrayed. She believes everyone and everything she loves is threatened.
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Only
£1.99p promotion until 12th April 2019
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Richard’s world is aglow with wealth, love and unswerving
family loyalty but then his perfect life crosses Billy’s. He could save Billy,
her beloved dairy cows and Fox Halt Farm but this young woman isn’t in the mood
to be rescued.
Nothing will stay the same.
Should they trust each other?
Will their secrets tear their lives apart?
Fox
Halt Farm is hard to put down. The story cracks along and you are caught up in
Celia Moore’s vivid storytelling from the start. If you love novels by Jill Mansell, Fiona
Valpy, Lucinda Riley, Maeve Binchy and Danielle Steel you will love this novel
too!
About the author Ceilia Moore
Celia Moore (1967-now) grew up on
a small farm near Exeter. She had a successful career as a Chartered Surveyor
working in the City of London before working her way back to Devon.
In 2000,
she left the office to start a new adventure as an outdoor instructor, teaching
rock climbing and mountaineering. Today she gardens for a few lovely customers,
runs and writes (accompanied at all times by a border terrier x jack russell
called Tizzy).
She is running the London Marathon in April 2019 for three cancer
charities.
