#QandA with Lynda Renham, Author of Hunters Moon @Lyndarenham

I’m delighted today to have a Q&A with Lynda Renham. Lynda is the author of Phoebe Smith’s Private Blog which I reviewed here. It was great fun and I loved it but Lynda has recently had a change of direction and has written two psychological thrillers: Remember Me and Hunters Moon.

Hunters Moon, set in the little English village of Penlyn, promises to be the dream home for Flora and Adam McIntosh. Adam’s career in politics has taken a turn for the better and the only thing left to complete the couple’s happiness is a baby. Flora believes the new home will help her overcome a recent miscarriage but she soon realises the house is not all it seems. What are the villagers of Penlyn hiding and does Hunters Moon hold a dark secret? Flora soon finds herself entrapped in a web of deceit with no one to turn to. Her dream home becomes her nightmare as Flora fears for her life.

I asked Lynda about Hunters Moon and about her writing in general.

1. Where did the idea come from for Hunters Moon?

Now there’s a question. Do you know I’m not sure where the ideas come from. I was thinking about this the other day and wondering how I ever start a book and finish it with so much happening when often I start with no clear idea. I think I just had an idea floating around my head of what happens when people make errors of judgement. It was going to be titled ‘The Keeper of Secrets’ actually but I changed my mind. It really evolved from that. The idea of someone keeping secrets.

I love the title, Hunters Moon, so glad you went with that one.

2. The book is set in an English village called Penlyn. Is this a real place and if not, is it based on anywhere in particular? How important is a sense of place in your books?

It’s very important as I have to know the location where I set my novels otherwise I can’t write about them. I live in Oxfordshire so that was easy. I’ve lived in East London too so I tend to use those locations a fair bit. Penlyn isn’t a real place as such but I live in a village very similar so much of it was based on that. I often write about the place I live. It feels comfortable I guess.

3. Your last book, Remember Me, was your first foray into a darker kind of story after writing several lighter reads. Which do you find easier to write and which do you prefer to write?

I don’t find writing terribly easy. I have to work very hard at it. I’d like to be one of those people that just punch out novels at a drop of a hat but I can’t do that. So, they are all difficult. I think the darker stories are harder. Thrillers have plots and you have to be so mindful of everything you write so you don’t give anything away. It’s quite difficult. Romantic comedies are hard in another way in that you have to keep the laughs coming and if you don’t feel in the mood then that is almost impossible.

4. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?

I’m more of a plodder than a plotter so I don’t research ahead of time. I tend to research as I work. My novels change so much as I move forward with them that to research first would not be very beneficial for me.

5. If you weren’t a writer what do you think you would be doing now?

I’d be a crochet artist and have my own Etsy shop. I love knitting and crochet and there never seems to be enough time to do it. So to do that for a living would be a dream. I don’t think I could not write though as the ideas are always there and I have to get them out of my head.

6. Tell me about your writing day. Where do you write and do you have a daily routine?

I’m a terrible procrastinator and spend a lot of time on YouTube when I should be writing. I have a writing room and I go in there from about 10 and try to work until six but that doesn’t always happen. I get side-tracked and whatnot! But I will try to produce 1,000 words a day.

7. Do you have time to read yourself and if so what kind of books do you enjoy?

I don’t read as much as I would like, When I do it is in bed before sleep and it isn’t for long. I like the classics and autobiographies. I’m currently reading ‘I am Pilgrim’ which is taking me forever.

8. Do you have any interesting writing quirks?

I’d love to say I do but I really don’t. I use Word to write my novels. Sometimes I’ll wander over to a writing pad and do some scribbling instead. But overall it’s all pretty boring.

10. What are you planning to write next?

I’m writing a comedy next. It’s a bit of light relief for me too.

Thanks so much, Lynda, for such interesting answers.

If you like the sound of Hunters Moon then here are the buying links you need:

UK