Today, we’re talking with Nancy Jardine about her book, Tailored Truths
Tell us something unexpected about yourself!
Not sure of the unexpected, but I live in the castle country of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where there were once over 250 castles. Many of them are now restored for private use, or public view! What a lot of visitors don’t know is that my now 200-year-old granite house (typical building material in Aberdeenshire) is actually older by some 70 years than many of the ‘castles’. Lots of the smaller castles were built by Victorian entrepreneurs who wanted a countryside place to wow their visitors and/or some were new ‘shells’ built around original medieval square keeps.
Why do you write?
I started to write when I retired in 2011. During my former life as a teacher (11/12 year-olds), I wrote some locally-based non-fiction history projects. So in 2011, I decided to have a go at fiction. Between 2012 and 2018, I was published by two independent publishing companies: a US Romance publisher; and a Scottish based all genres publisher. Since 2018, I’ve been entirely self-published, though write along with a co-operative of authors in Ocelot Press.
Where did you get the inspiration for your current book?
I’ve been researching my own ancestry since retiring and have found plenty of fodder for writing my current Victorian Scotland series – though it’s definitely fiction and not a biography of any sort. Mostly, I realised that some dramatic incidents that happened to my own Victorian era ancestors were actually not uncommon.
What do you enjoy the most about your genre?
I read mostly historical fiction so it was natural to write that genre. I enjoy reading the occasional mystery/thriller so I’ve also dabbled with writing them.
How would you describe your writing process?
Messy! I don’t work to any punishing schedule on a regular basis (I also have a large garden). Though, when I’m at the post-final-edit stage, and getting ready for publishing stage, it can be every-moment-of-the-day exhausting.
What do you think authors have to gain from participating in social media?
That’s a tough question. Some love the socialising aspects and are great at that. I know plenty who love promoting themselves, though I also know many others (myself included) who find ‘putting themselves out there’ a struggle. For many authors who can’t meet up physically with others of their genre social media is a great way to communicate.
What advice would you have for other writers?
Work at a pace that truly suits you and your personal lifestyle.
How do you select your books’ titles and covers?
Titles: They eventually come to me during the writing process, though in my early-published-days they were chosen/settled on by the publisher.
Covers: Since self- publishing, I used to use graphic designers but since my last one gave up the business earlier this year, I’ve been teaching myself to do my own eBook cover and paperback wraps.
What’s your next step?
Book 3 of my Silver Sampler Series is plotted out with the tiniest bit started. (Name? I don’t yet know)
What book do you wish you had written?
Lord of the Rings, or Pride and Prejudice- hundreds of others!
How do you react to seeing a new review for your book?
With trepidation! However, during the 13 years of being published I’ve learned to take harsh reviews on the chin. It’s morale-boosting to get wonderful reviews but I find it hard to push people to write them.
