Author Profile: Jade Winters

Jade Winters, author of "Say Something" and "Guilty Hearts" reviewed by Planet London earlier this year (and more), opens up about life behind the pen...

What’s your first memory of enjoying reading?
My first real memory was when I read Stig of the dump. I have no idea how old I was but I loved that book. It always made me sad that he lived in such a messy place and I wanted to go and clean it up for him.
What are you currently reading?
I'm re-reading Affinity by Sarah Waters - fantastic book.

Which character you’ve created/written do you wish you could spend a day as? 
Megan in Faking It. She led an unusual life and I would like to know what it feels like to live without a conscience.

Which character that someone else has written do you wish you could spend a day as?
I would like to spend the day as Ishmael from Daniel Quinn's novel of the same name. I would love to spend the day being wise and understanding the intricacies of life.

Have you created any characters you don’t like?
I have created a few. The one I disliked the most was Eddie in 143. He was an abusive, homophobic bully.

What was the first thing you ever wrote that made you think, “I want to be a writer”?
As a child I used to write scripts all the time. I would go through the yellow pages and find anyone related to the film industry I could send them to. As I got older I always had stories in my head but never actually got around to writing them. It wasn't until I had one particular plot in my head that I couldn't ignore that I started writing properly. When I'd finished 143 I knew that's what I wanted to do.
Do you edit as you go or as a full process after a first draft?
I hate editing so leave it as long as possible - I never do it as I go, I always leave it until after the first draft.
Where do you write? And what do you need around you?
I like to be comfortable when I write, so it usually involves sitting on my bed with my laptop, surrounded by my cats.

Pen and paper, typewriter or computer?
Mostly I use my laptop, but sometimes paper if I'm out and about and have ideas I need to write down.
Where do we find out more?

• www.jade-winters.com
• https://www.facebook.com/jadewinters
• Twitter: @jadewinters3

How can we buy your books?

Amazon, Createspace, Smashwords

Author Profile: VG Lee

Successful author VG Lee shares a few tidbits of life behind the scenes, in the second of our author profiles.


What's your first memory of enjoying reading?
My grandmother had a pictorial copy of Pilgrim's Progress - four drawings on each page with writing underneath. I remember at some point finding the writing of more interest than the illustrations.

What are you currently reading?
Empire Falls but Richard Russo. I read a collection of his short stories on holiday this year and loved his writing.

Which character you've created/written do you wish you could spend a day as?
Mrs Botolph in my first novel, The Comedienne. She is the old friend of the main character's mother and is very bossy and gets things done!

Which character that someone else has written do you wish you could spend a day as?
Hmm. As a child I wanted to be Katie in the What Katie Did series. Can't think of anyone I'd like to be in a more recent novel.

Have you created any characters you don't like?
Not really. I have created characters that I like but aren't necessarily meant to be liked by the reader!

What was the first thing you ever wrote that made you think, "I want to be a writer"?
Just a few pages about going to see 'Perchance to Dream' with my mum and aunty at The Connaught Theatre in Worthing. I sort of knew that I'd captured them with affection and thought I might be able to do it again.

Do you edit as you go or as a full process after a first draft?
I do both: edit as I go along all the time and then again after each of many drafts.

Where do you write? And what do you need around you?
It's a bit like sleeping, I can do it anywhere. Best times are when I wake up in the morning but often on a train when I have set myself a deadline I'll work.

Pen and paper, typewriter or computer?
I always start with pen and paper. I have notebooks piled high and full. At least first draft, sometimes second before I move on to typing it up.

Keep up to date with VG Lee
My website is www.vglee.co.uk (currently being updated).

Watch VG Lee reading from a work in progress, her next novel, Mr Oliver


If you want to buy any of VG's excellent novels and books, find her on Amazon:
The Comedienne, Always you, Edina, Diary of a Provincial Lesbian, The Woman in Beige (only available on 'new & used') and short story collection, As You Step Outside.