Trisha Ashley is a Sunday Times Bestselling author responsible for romantic comedies including Twelve Days of Christmas.
On Thursday (June 29), Trisha will be visiting Milton Keynes, signing copies of her latest page-turner The Little Teashop of Lost and Found, at Waterstones at intu (at 11.30am) followed by a talk at MK Central Library, from 2pm.
She gave Chapter and Verse to Total MK...
The first book that really took your attention.
Growing up, my home was full of Victorian novels. I was a very early reader and was soon working my way through Treasure Island, Swiss Family Robinson, Coral Island and all manner of vocabulary-and-imagination-enhancing stories. But I kept returning to a slightly more saccharine novel called Her Benny, written by Silas Kitto Hocking, weeping copiously over the sad bits till my mother eventually hid it away.
The moment you knew you wanted to be an author.
From a little girl I knew I wanted to be an author (probably being an early reader had something to do with that) and painter, so there was no defining moment. But I do remember that soon after I’d read my way through the children’s section of my local library and been released into the wider world of adult fiction, I read a novel and thought, ‘I could do better than this!’ I think that has been a defining moment for many a novelist.
A book by someone else you wish you’d written.
I’ve never read a book and wished I’d written it, I was more interested in writing my own. Of course, my first attempts at writing novels were very derivative, reflecting what I was reading at that moment, until I found my own voice.
How do you take your books – in paper form or digitally.
I’ve always loved to possess books – the feel and smell of a brand new book is quite heady. But now I have increasing difficulties with my vision and find it much easier to read on a backlit Kindle turned up to large print. But I still like to have my favourite author’s books on my shelf as well, so I buy both formats.
How quickly did you find success?
Well, I completed my first novel at eighteen and I’ve written at least one a year since then, so obviously my journey has been a long one…and since the ups and downs of my journey to success forms the basis of the talk I’m giving at Milton Keynes library on June 29th, following the signing at Waterstones, I hope you will all come and find out more!
Explain the power of a good book
A good book is one that sucks you in and takes you to a different world. You are immersed in it and if reality impinges, you hurry back as soon as you can, often reading through the night to finish it. And then feeling bereft because you have.
And tell us your favourite word – and why!
I think I probably over-use the word ‘lovely’ - but then, so many things and people are.
What would you say to someone to encourage them to pick up your current page-turner?
If you haven’t read one of my novels before but think you know what kind of book I write, I’d say: ditch that preconception and come at it with an open mind, because I may well surprise you…
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