Image Credits:-
Many thanks to Val Penny for supplying author pictures and book cover shots. Other images were created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos or were directly from Pixabay. Photo of Val Penny taken at the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School taken by me, Allison Symes.
It is a pleasure to welcome back Scottish crime writer, Val Penny, to Chandler’s Ford Today. The latest book in her Hunter Wilson series, Hunter’s Chase, is out on 20th August. (This will be the day after the Swanwick Writers’ Summer School finishes this year, which is where I first met Val).
So I thought I’d chat to Val about the joys and trials of writing a continuing series with the same lead character and about blog tours – what they are, how can you organise them, and so on.
So with no further ado, it’s over to Val. Welcome back to Chandler’s Ford Today, Val!
1. Can you tell us about your latest book, Hunter’s Chase?
Hunter’s Chase is the first book in my series of DI Hunter Wilson Thrillers. Although each book works as a standalone novel, this is where the main characters are introduced to the reader and, in many cases, to each other.
The book is set in the beautiful capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh. Hunter leads a team of detectives to try to rid Edinburgh of a new supply of drugs into the city and solve a series of murders. Both crimes rip families apart.
2. Do you find it easy to continue Hunter’s stories? What are the joys of writing for the same main character? What are the problems?
I enjoy writing about Hunter and his team more and more as each book comes around because I get to know the characters better and know how they will react in the circumstances that they find themselves.
However, writing only about the same characters would get a bit stale for the readers, so every book will see some characters drop out. (Usually by being killed or sent to jail!) Likewise new characters appear, by being promoted into the team or as love interests for one of the characters. This allows me to keep the balance of actions and reactions unpredictable.
3. Do you keep a record of major characteristics such as height, eye colour and so on? Or is it a question of re-reading your books ahead of writing the next one?
I do indeed keep a note. I have a big red book that contains all my characters characteristics, what they like to wear and eat, their favourite authors and musicians, their educational background, and their family tree. The reader may never need to know all these details, but I need to know so that my characters act according to the attributes I have given them.
4. You’ve also since we last talked here launched another series involving Detective Sergeant Jane Renwick, a major character in the Hunter series, but who has now branched out on her own (The First Cut)? Did you find it difficult to create a second series? How do you find trying to juggle two series?
I have always liked Jane Renwick as a character and when she left DI Hunter Wilson’s team to join the Major Incident Team based in Gartcosh, I always had in mind that she should have stories of her own.
I have not found it too difficult to write Jane’s stories, indeed, I enjoy writing the separate series because Jane moves around Scotland with her work and is not solely based in Edinburgh. This means my readers can travel the country with her. Her next adventure is The Fighting Chance which takes place in Stirling.
I try to write one Hunter book followed by a Jane book to keep both series alive for my readers. Unfortunately that system will be out of kilter for a few months while my new publishers promote the new editions of my earlier books.
5. Part of your marketing for the new book is having a blog tour. Can you tell CFT readers what a blog tour is, how you go about organising one, and what the benefits are?
A blog tour is great fun! It is where an author has articles, reviews or questions about their books appear on other people’s blogs so that the host’s readers will learn about the author’s work. It is a lovely way to keep in touch with other writers and introduce your novels to their followers.
6. What part of the writing process do you enjoy most, Val? The actual writing, the editing, or the marketing? Is there anything you dread and, if so, how have you found ways of overcoming that dread to do what has to be done?
I most enjoy the writing. I suspect all authors do. I find the editing most stressful because I am not a detail merchant. For me, a good editor really is a friend for life!
Many authors loathe marketing because they are basically introverts and don’t want to seem to be shouting about their own work. I don’t mind marketing but do sometimes resent the amount of time it takes. I would rather be writing. Luckily, my new publishers, SpellBound Books, have a marketing department and take a great deal of this weight off my shoulders.
7. Many congratulations for your endorsement on the cover of Hunter’s Chase. How easy do you find writing the blurb for the back cover of your books? And how important is networking in terms of obtaining endorsements?
I am lucky that my first publishers, Crooked Cat, ran courses on how to write a blurb a synopsis and so on. I think this made their life easier, but it also made life easier for their authors because they knew what was expected of them. However, if you have a publisher, you must bear in mind that they have the power to amend, change or re-write any blurb you draft.
8. Can you let us know more about any further special events for the launch of Hunter’s Chase and what readers can do to support the writers in their lives? It is not just about buying the book, important though that is.
I am planning an online Launch Event on Facebook when the book launches on 20th August 2022 and I will promote that nearer the time.
There are many ways to support authors whose work you enjoy, and these things don’t need to cost any money:-
- Tell them when you like their book.
- Review the book on Amazon, Goodreads or Bookbub.
- Tell your friends about the books you enjoy.
- Follow the author on social media and engage with them.
All of these are free to do but will be much appreciated by the author you support.
Allison: Indeed! Reviews are especially appreciated. Neither do they have to be lengthy. One or two lines usually work best.
9. What do you love the most about your leading man, DI Hunter Wilson? What do you think readers most like about him?
I like the fact I can depend on Hunter. He is a good team player and a decent man. However, I am told by readers that they most enjoy his clumsy attempts to woo Doctor Meera Sharma!
10. How has your own love of crime stories fed into wanting to write your own? Who would you say inspires you?
I write crime fiction because that is the genre I most enjoy reading. I think the main influences on my work have been Peter Robinson for his intricate plots and Linwood Barclay because of the humour he injects into his novels.
Conclusion
Val: Thank you so much for inviting me onto your blog today, Allison. I always enjoy chatting with you.
Allison: It’s always a joy to welcome writer friends back to Chandler’s Ford Today. Many thanks for sharing your insights with us, Val. Good luck with Hunter’s Chase. And if you want to find out more about Val and her wonderful works, do check out her author biography and contact details below.
Author Biography
Val Penny’s crime novels, starting with Hunter’s Chase from the bestselling series of DI Hunter Wilson Thrillers. They are set in Edinburgh, Scotland and published by SpellBound Books. Her first non-fiction book Let’s Get Published is also available from Amazon. Val is an American author living in south-west Scotland with her husband and their cat.
Author Contact Details
Website: www.valpenny.com
Facebook:-
https://www.facebook.com/Authorvalpenny
www.facebook.com/valerie.penny.739
www.facebook.com/groups/296295777444303
https://www.facebook.com/groups/167248300537409
Twitter: https://twitter.com/valeriepenny
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17300087.Val_Penny
Amazon Author Central Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Val-Penny/e/B07C4725TK?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1611574956&sr=1-1
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/val-penny
Author Buy Link: amzn.to/3ROrpUK
Related Posts:-
Hunting Out a Career in Crime Fiction – Allison Symes interviews Val Penny
Read interviews with Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes: Part 1 and Part 2.
Read blog posts by Allison Symes published on Chandler’s Ford Today.
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