Author Interview with Stacy Townend
Welcome Readers to
another installment of our author interview series. Today we have the pleasure
of chatting with Stacy T. Townend, author of two historical fiction books.
JMR-Welcome to the
Books Delight, Stacy. Tell our readers where you live, what you do for fun and
what does the perfect day look like?
STT- I live in
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. I enjoy reading and supporting other authors.
Spending time with my wife after a busy working week. We enjoy going for a walk
with our little Westie & maybe calling for a beer at a local pub. Spending
time planning our holidays. 3 booked so far for 2024. The first of which is
this month for my birthday.
JMR-What’s your
favorite historical time period? Why?
STT- I have a few, of
course I love the era I write about with Mercia, Northumberland and Viking
raiders scouring the lands. I also enjoy reading books around the Roman
conquest of Britain. I still have a tender spot for the Napoleonic era the
battles and fights of the wars.
JMR-Who is your
favorite historical figure? Why? If you could ask them one question, what would
it be?
STT- Wooo great
question, I think I would like to meet Lord Wellington & ask him about his
earlier military career during India. Particularly the battle of Assaye, in
later life he claimed it was his finest battlefield accomplishment.
JMR- How did you come
to be a writer of historical fiction?
STT- By pure accident.
I have been fortunate to support authors new and established with advance
reviews and beta reads. This provided me with a new set of online friends and
some great reading. One author MJ Porter whose series I was currently reading
asked me if I could pick a character from the book for another series who would
I pick. I provided some notes and plot idea. MJ liked it and said why don’t you
have a go yourself. I laughed to myself sat on the idea for around 6 months
then decided to have a go. 10 months later I had my first book ready and with
support from MJ had it formatted and a book cover. It was a joy writing the 1st book.
I never realized how much work a writer had to do to bring the joy of a story
to readers. I had never considered writing historical fiction. I used to make
up stories for my children and have a couple written down, though I have never
progressed them.
JMR- How does your ‘day
job’ impact or influence your writing?
STT- I have worked for
my local council 21 years and held the role of Electoral Officer I currently
work as a Recycling Officer, within this role I undertake talks &
presentations to schools and adult community groups. I also have to write
reports and create workshops & presentations. I think my current role has
helped me become more confident and aware of my own skill sets which gave me
the boost to actually try and write my first book. Writing is a very difficult
journey with high & low points, targets to meet and accuracy. My current
role is similar with deadlines on reports that must be accurate. Intense busy
periods with normal duties and meetings late at night. Getting used to my role
made planner my writing schedule so much easier.
JMR- Did you visit
anyone of the places in your book? Where did you feel closest to your
characters?
STT- I visited a
section of Offa’s Dyke last summer near Chirk (Wales). Close to the border of
England and not far from Holt & Farndon which appear in the books. I drove
through Holt though did not have time to stop. Visiting the dyke and standing
on it, looking at how big it was. It was a great feeling and provided me some
additional background and a change in the plot of book 2 “The Revenge”. It also
provided me additional work/plot notes for the 3rd installment “The
Justice.” I also visited Gargrave near Skipton which provided some additional
story notes for book 2. Nothing like standing in an historical place to feed
your imagination. As I stood upon the dyke near Chirk I envisaged myself as
Oswi with his faithful warriors around him as the enemy attacked screaming and
shouting shield, sword, and axe in hand. Visiting locations is very worthwhile
and stimulates your writing ideas.
JMR- Stacy, tell us
about your new book, The Revenge.
STT- The Revenge
continues with the story of Oswi a loyal warrior of Merica. The action starts
with King Offa, Oswi and his warriors heading south to battle King Wattus and
the Heastingas tribe who are invading the Sussex lands. The story moves on and
is focused on Oswi, Afan of Powy’s & Healfden of the raiders. The three
strands are all seeking Revenge from the battles and deaths in The Betrayal
(Book 1). Other new characters are drawn into the fray. Who will survive and
who will get the revenge they seek.
JMR-What projects do
you have in the pipeline?
STT- I am currently
trying my hand at a small novella. The story will focus one of the new
characters of The Revenge. It will be a stand-alone story but, in the timeline,
fits easily between Book 2 & 3. Book 3 will be started in spring of this
year and will continue with the adventures of Oswi and his family & friends
as the construction of the dyke begins. The story will focus on Oswi and his
warriors along with Afan of Powy’s. I
had originally planned on three books for the series The Mercian Tales. Though
I have some additional ideas to expand the series should they prove successful.
I am currently undertaking some research about the dyke before I start the
write.
JMR- Tell our readers
how to find you on social media and the web.
STT- I can be found on
Facebook & X via my name Stacy Townend. I am also on Threads/Discord/Goodreads
under my name. https://t.co/AWghDTeU6G
This is the link to my account on WordPress. I use all of the above to reach
out about my books.
JMR- What question were
you hoping I’d ask but didn’t?
STT-
JMR- Thank you, Stacy,
for stopping by. Your books look really great! Readers, I’ve included a link to
Stacy’s books below. Please be sure to check them out.
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