Born in the North East of England, B.A.Morton writes crime fiction and historical fantasy all with a smidgeon of romance thrown in. After a twenty year civil service career, she and her family escaped the rat race and relocated to the remote beauty of the Northumberland National Park. She now works part time in the village GP surgery and lives in a cottage built on the remains of a medieval crypt – the inspiration for the medieval fantasy trilogy, “The Wildewood Chronicles”. She keeps chickens and dogs, enjoys country life and can be bribed with chocolate! Her debut novel “Mrs Jones” a fast paced, romantic, crime thriller set in New York, was runner up in the Yeovil Literary Prize 2011 and subsequently published by Taylor Street Publishing. The sequel, “Molly Brown” was released in December 2012.
http://bamorton.weebly.com/
http://www.taylorstreetbooks.com/ba-morton.html
Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?
I start with a basic idea and then just see where it takes me.
Do your characters ever want to take over the story?
Occasionally I realise that an action or dialogue that I intended for a particular character doesn’t work because they just wouldn’t do or say that.
What is your favourite food?
Does chocolate count as food? No, oh well in that case, chicken.
Both. I get up early and stay up late. I can exist on very little sleep, which is great when writing to a publisher deadline.
Where do you dream of travelling to and why?
I’m lucky to live in a wonderful place, in the midst of the Northumberland National Park. So have no real urge to travel far.
Do distant places feature in your books?
Mrs Jones and Molly Brown are both set in New York. The Wildewood Chronicles are set in my own valley in Northumberland.
Do you listen to music while writing?
Yes. I get great inspiration from music.
Molly Brown is the second book in a romantic crime series which began with Mrs Jones. Tommy Connell is hired to investigate the suspicious activities of two detectives. In the course of his investigation he becomes involved in the search for Molly, a little girl obsessed with The Wizard of Oz. Meanwhile a serial killer is making short work of the city’s police officers. As Molly seeks her Wizard, Connell must battle crooked cops, mobsters and his own lack of self belief as his relationship with Lizzie begins to suffer. There is humour, action and some heart wrenching moments.
What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?
That writing the book is just the beginning. Promotion is vital if you want to encourage readers and promotion eats into writing time. A vicious circle and you must get the balance right.
Is there anything you would do differently?
I don’t think there is, I’m quite happy with my lot. I would like to write full time which hopefully I’ll be able to do in the near future.
Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?
There is no one person or event that has influenced my writing, but in general terms I get inspiration from music, images or random conversations which all serve to set my fertile imagination alight.
Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?
Write what you enjoy reading. Have self belief in your creation. Accept advice but don’t be intimidated by it, remember it’s your story. Have fun...and edit!
What are three words that describe you?
Determined, fun and fair.
What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?
My favourite crime author is John Connolly. I love his flawed hero Charlie Parker.
Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book
Bedlam is an English Gothic with a twist. A tale of just how far someone will go to retrieve that which is lost... regardless of the cost.
When Detective Joe McNeil brings a killer's victim back from the dead, little does he realise that he’s crossed a line and stepped into a world that will change his life forever.
Nell is on the run and will use whatever means necessary to ensure her survival, including McNeil. Is she really the victim or merely the weapon being wielded by a much more deadly foe?
As McNeil struggles against his growing obsession with the enigmatic Nell, he risks his career, his sanity and his life.
But for Nell the risk is much greater.
Bedlam is scheduled for a summer release with Taylor Street Publishing.
List of previous books if any
Mrs Jones - December 2011 Taylor Street Publishing
Wildewood Revenge – book 1 of The Wildewood Chronicles – October 2012 Taylor Street Publishing
Thank you, Annette, for allowing me the opportunity to chat about my writing.
Babs x
You're very welcome :)
Mrs. Jones #2
by B. A. Morton
Crime/Thriller/Romance
Taylor Street Books
292 pages
Available from amazon | amazon uk
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/Kdi24jF_jzA
A child to save.
A killer to catch.
Tommy Connell’s playing with the bad guys again, but this time the rules have changed...and he still hasn’t learned to play nice!
Connell’s keeping the wolf from the door, rooting out bad cops for his buddy Gerry Gesting. He’s handed in his badge, turned his back on all that, but...
When a weird little kid disappears into the night and no one gives a damn including the cops, he reckons that maybe someone should take another look.
The good cops are busy hunting down a serial killer...good.
The bad cops are busy hunting down Connell...not so good.
The serial killer, well he’s looking for victim number twelve, which is... definitely not good.
And little Molly Brown is about to throw an almighty spanner in the works.
Connell’s dabbling in things that he shouldn’t and it’s not the first time...
One lucky reader can win a copy of the ebook of Molly Brown. Please add a comment to be entered into the draw. Good luck!
Yet another good interview - well done both of you, and Babs be honest - you much prefer Chocolate to chicken ................
ReplyDeleteGreat interview for a great author. Can't believe how little sleep you get. I only wish I could survive on so little. I'm sure your full time writing career won't be far off.
ReplyDelete