Author Spotlight - Sue Moorcroft

The Minxes are delighted to welcome Sue Moorcroft into our Spotlight today. Sue is published by UK-based publisher Choc Lit and is very supportive of aspiring writers both through her blog and her book Love Writing.

1. Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.

I write romantic novels of dauntless heroines and irresistible heroes, which are the kind of books I love to read, too. I also write short stories, serials, columns, articles, courses and writing ‘how to’. I’m a competition judge and a creative writing tutor. My book, Love & Freedom won the Best Romantic Read Award 2011 and I’m a Katie Fforde Bursary Award winner.

I’m English, born in Germany and have lived in Cyprus and Malta. I’m a Formula 1 bore, learn the piano slowly and love Zumba and yoga. And reading, obviously. Obviously.

2. What number book is Dream a Little Dream? First? 100th? 200th?(Nora only!)

This is amazingly difficult to answer. There are some things I’ve written that became books but began as serials, some that have been novels for all of their lives, one that has had different titles for the hardback and the paperback and one that’s non-fiction. Six novels and several other things, anyway.

3. Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

I need to earn a living, so that’s quite motivating. I also have deadlines and there has to be a very good reason for me to miss one of those. I do like writing, which helps. If something’s going badly, I turn to something else. There’s always a column or something needs starting.

4. What is your top promo tip for other authors?

Be involved with social networking. Readers like writers, and Twitter and Facebook make contact easy. You can tell them when you have good reviews or if you have a new book out or whatever news comes your way. They can tell you if they like your books and I feel privileged when they do, which is happening every week. It’s a joy.

Readers recommend your books to their friends and followers, too. If you’re published in ebook form some ereaders have a facility to ‘share’ when your book’s been bought or read or reviewed.

Don’t hold back from following me on Twitter (@suemoorcroft) or befriending me on Facebook (sue.moorcroft.3)

5. How does writing fit into your day? Or does your day fit in around your writing?

As well as writing, my career includes things to do with writing – judging, tutoring or critiquing. Loosely, I do the latter three in the mornings and write in the afternoons. This allows me to keep on top of assignments/entries but also ‘keep my head in my book’, which is the most effective way of writing, for me. Promo and the business side of things are squashed in as and when. When I have a new book out (like now!) I do more promo than at other times. I work long hours.

6. Any craft books you recommend?

Cough – may I recommend my own? It’s Love Writing – How to Make Money Writing Romantic or Erotic Fiction. It brings together my skills as a writer and a tutor and contains tips and input from many other writers. (Maybe in the question about a promo tip for authors, above, I ought to have said be shameless in your self promotion …)

7. Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

Yeah! I am a Zumba addict (yeah, yeah, wiggle wiggle clap clap). I’ve always loved to dance and my yoga instructor is also a Zumba instructor. I wanted a Zumba instructor in Love & Freedom so I went along to one of her classes – and nearly died, I was so unfit. Months later, when I was trying to lose weight, I gave it another go and I absolutely adored it. I do three classes a week, now, plus two of yoga, and I’ve lost about 10% of my body weight. And I’m waaaay fitter. As a crucial side benefit, I’ve made a circle of gym bunny friends to share a quick cuppa with after class and they’re good for my wellbeing.

Dancing is good for my emotional and mental health, as well as bodily health, to be honest. No matter how upset/worried I am when I go in, following a routine and dancing makes me feel better.

8. What was the most fun part of writing this book?

Oh, the research. I became such a research junkie. I’ve told everyone else about it so I might as well tell you. My hero, Dominic Christy, has a rare sleep disorder, narcolepsy. I got really into the subject but felt that my sources weren’t personal enough. So I posted on the message board of Narcolepsy UK that my character was called Dominic, was in his thirties and had narcolepsy. And I got a reply from a real Dominic in his thirties who has narcolepsy. He offered to help me, so long as I told it as it is – people with narcolepsy get tired of their disability being treated as a joke because it really isn’t funny at all – which was my intention, big time, anyway. And he’s been really great, telling me all the stuff about Dominic Christy that I didn’t yet know.

Also, I had to (yes, absolutely had to) have some reflexology treatments, a fish pedicure, learn to drive a 28-foot river cruiser and spend time in the air traffic control tower of Stansted airport. This book has been a blast.

9. Which of your characters would you like to be?

Liza. Dominic Christy makes love to her.

10. Do you write to music, or with the tv on in the background, or do you need complete silence?

Often, to music. It depends what I’m writing whether the music is rocking, lyrical or instrumental. I can’t listen to really good lyricists like Damien Rice, Newton Faulkner, Frank Turner or Regina Spektor when I’m writing, sometimes, because their words are so good that they distract me from mine. If I can ‘zone out’ from the music then I’m working well, which means I sometimes play the same album ten times. This sends other people in the house nuts.

What would you give to make your dreams come true?

Liza Reece has a dream. Working as a reflexologist for a troubled holistic centre isn't enough. When the opportunity arises to take over the Centre she jumps at it. Problem is, she needs funds, and fast, as she's not the only one interested.

Dominic Christy has dreams of his own. Diagnosed as suffering from a rare sleep disorder, dumped by his live-in girlfriend and discharged from the job he adored as an Air Traffic Controller, he's single-minded in his aims. He has money, and plans for the Centre that don't include Liza and her team.

But dreams have a way of shifting and changing and Dominic's growing fascination with Liza threatens to reshape his. And then it's time to wake up to the truth ...


Dream a Little Dream is available from Amazon and Amazon UK.

Love & Freedom is availble from Amazon and Amazon UK.

Love Writing is available from Amazon and Amazon UK.

You can follow Sue on Twitter, on Facebook or on her blog.

Author Spotlight - Sue Moorcroft

1. Where were you in your writing career 5 years ago?


My first book, Uphill All the Way (Transita), had been out for a few months. I was selling a lot of short stories and writing my second magazine serial. Also, I was working as a creative writing tutor for various institutions. I was writing another novel and had begun it about four times because it didn’t want to behave itself.

2. Where did you get the idea from for this particular book?

Want to Know a Secret? is about money and family and which is most important (and to whom). I’m always surprised when people put money before people. It happened within my extended family and I thought, ‘It’s only money!’ So, Want to Know a Secret? explores how necessary money is for happiness. Diane, my heroine, has decided views (on this and everything else). James has pots of money but finds happiness elusive until he meets Diane and finds it moving enticingly closer. But then the unexpected happens.

3. Where do you hope to be in 5 years time?

I want to continue writing romantic novels and achieve sufficient sales to concentrate on them rather than all the other writing-related stuff I do. Whether I actually like this reality when I achieve it or find I miss the variety of my current workload, is a whole other question …

4. Which was the last book you read that you wish you'd written?

Gosh. There are sooooooo many – I read about three books a week. Dream Man by Linda Howard.

5. Was there any particular author or book that made you want to be a writer?

Yes, Nevil Shute’s A Town Like Alice. It was the first adult novel I read, when I was nine. I loved it for the excitement and adventure and for the romance between Jean and Joe. I was blown away by the way in which Nevil Shute made it appear that all hope was gone – but then it wasn’t. Nevil Shute was a favourite of my father’s, too, and I used to enjoy discussing NS’s work with dad. I have everything NS ever published, I believe, even the posthumous stuff, which, I’m sure, he had good reason not to have submitted for publication.

6. Do you find writing love scenes giggle-worthy or cringe-worthy?

No, of course not – wash out your mouth! They’re the best bits! I look forward to writing them. They’re the culmination of all the tension and plotting.

I have to say that not all the members of my family feel the same about reading them. My mum is embarrassed, my brother says it’s icky reading love scenes written by your sister and my son gives the book to his female flatmate to read to herself and then summarise for him.

7. What's the most romantic moment of your life so far?

I’ve been looking at the screen for a while, trying to summon up the archetypal romantic moment – and I’ve failed. The things that stick in my mind always include humour or they’re x-rated. Or both. My husband standing me on a step to propose to me, because I’m much shorter than he is … that’s the kind of things that I remember. For me, it’s much more memorable than if he’d gone down on one knee, which, I’m sure, would have made me feel ridiculous.

8. What do you wish you'd known about being an author before you were pubbed?

About continuing education. I don’t mean taking a creative writing degree but about going to conferences and talks, not just to learn about the craft of writing but about current opportunities and to network with interesting and useful people. Joining the Romantic Novelists’ Association was the first step in this process – there are so many great, published, writers, that they gave me a can-do attitude. (If they can do it, I can …)

9. What's the best writing advice you've ever been given?

Don’t make enemies [in the publishing business].

10. Tell us about your latest release, Want to Know a Secret?

Diane Jenner finds her life turned upside down when her husband, Gareth, is in a helicopter crash and, in the aftermath, his double life is revealed. It’s not the normal kind of double life and Diane’s astounded at how easily and thoroughly he’s pulled the wool over her eyes, mostly because they live in a tiny, remote village in The Fens and Diane is isolated.

James, the one with the dosh, has become so used to the twin millstones of wife and fragile daughter around his neck that he’s almost forgotten how to grab his own happiness. Or maybe he just hasn’t wanted anything enough for a while? That changes when he finds himself part of the secrets so diligently kept for so long.

And, in the back of his Mercedes, he connects with Diane is a way that makes him want … well, you have to read the book.

I really enjoyed plotting this novel and was delighted with the result. I decided, in the end, that Diane did want to know the secrets. But, for a long time, I wondered.

11. What’s next for you?

I’m writing a book that, for now, is called Love and Freedom. It’s about Honor, an American woman who comes to England to track down her English mother who left her when she was a baby. This is another book where the plotting is going like a dream and all kinds of things are happening that I didn’t anticipate. I love unfurling a story slowly, never letting the reader see too far ahead into the journey but making it worth it when they get there.

After that I’m going to write Liza’s story. Liza is the sister of Cleo from All That Mullarkey and I really liked her. Cleo was a bit naughty and so is Liza.

And, after that (yes I really am planning this far ahead) I’m hoping to write a book set in the glittering world of Formula 1 racing. I love F1 but need to do quite a lot of research – there’s more to it than what I see on my TV. I’ve begun writing a column for www.girlracer.co.uk, wich I hope will help.

Available now here

Visit Sue's website here

Check out Sue's blog

Follow Sue on Facebook and Twitter @suemoorcroft

The Write Attitude

Today we're very pleased to welcome Sue Moorcroft to the blog to discuss a matter that occupies most of our minds at one time or another if we're honest - can we actually make a living out of writing? Her own writing credentials are rock solid and the Amazon reviews for her novels (five stars, readers can't wait to buy her next book) speak for themselves. But we'll let her tell you her story herself:
I’m going to write a book about how to make a business out of writing and I’m going to call it The Write Attitude.
You probably think I’m joking – but I’m not.
The proposal and a chapter is written and I’ve talked to Accent Press about it, as they published Love Writing – How to Make Money Writing Romantic or Erotic Fiction. It just hasn’t come to the top of my ‘to do’ list. Yet.
This is because I am what I like to term ‘a working writer’. I’m not suggesting other writers don’t work (as if I would!) but I suppose I’m trying to convey that this what I do. Writing is my living. There is no day job or pension.
So these are some of the things that generate my income. I:
Write
- novels
- short stories
- serials
- articles
- ‘how to’ books
- courses
Appraise manuscripts
Judge competitions
Lead workshops
Teach creative writing via distance learning

My major focus is my novels. I’m now with publisher Choc Lit and my current books are All That Mullarkey , Starting Over and the next will be Want to Know a Secret? in November. There are two planned for 2011, one of which is 20,000 words written.
And my major writing focus has ALWAYS been novels … it’s just that I took a long time getting here.My first paid published work was letters to the press. Don’t discount letters as a stream of income! The most I ever earnt this way is £150 for 89 words, which is about £1.68 per word. Extrapolate that into an 85,000-word novel. £148,258.42! Woohee, yes, I’ll have some of that … Maybe one day.
Around the same time I wrote two novels. They were dire. Publishers returned them without comment. When the second one had clunked onto my doormat a few times somebody gave me a ‘how to’ book about writing by the late Nancy Smith and I took to heart one piece of her advice: if you can sell about twenty short stories to national news stand magazines, a publisher of novels may take you more seriously. So I decided I would do that and I took a course, a distance-learning (then called correspondence) course. If I hadn’t earnt my fees via my writing by the end of the course, they promised, they would refund my fees.
But they didn’t refund my fees because a) I had covered my course fees three times over by the time I reached the end and b) they went bust. Whoever they owed money to, it wasn’t me!
And, aside from the actual number, Nancy Smith proved to be right, because I did, eventually, begin to sell novels – but I had sold eighty-seven short stories to national news stand magazines by then and my ‘first’ novel, Uphill All The Way (Transita, ISBN 1905175000) was really my eighth.

I do have one thing that I feel is invaluable on the journey from part-time writer to full-time writer: a husband with a regular salary. This has allowed me to write for the past 20+ years without a full-time ‘proper job’ – although I have had many part-time ‘proper jobs’ (one for him but I have wriggled out of that).

I hope I’m not letting out any trade secrets here, but not all novelists earn enough from their novels to live on. As I proved.

And I’ve never had the kind of contract that a) included large advances or b) covered more than one book, so I’ve carved out – or cobbled together – a career based on writing by being versatile and looking out for opportunities, reading newsletters, networking, attending conferences and doing all the things that make me contacts and get me contracts.

I suspect a ‘proper job’ would have been easier – but nowhere near as enjoyable!

I work ten hours a day, five or six days a week (sometimes seven) and, loosely, I work with students, appraise manuscripts and/or judge comps in the morning and I write during the afternoons.

I shoehorn in promo, accounting, emailing and research where it will fit.

And now you see why The Write Attitude hasn’t made it to the top of my ‘to do’ list yet!

(But I expect it will …)

Sue Moorcroft 17.08.2010

If you have any questions for Sue please post them into a comments box. 'Love Writing. How to Make Money writing Romantic or Erotic Fiction' is available to buy from Amazon. As Are 'All That Mullarky', 'Starting Over' and it's possible to pre-order 'Want to know a Secret'