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“Hers or Mine” by Claire Ladds (Launch Day Member Spotlight)

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“Hers or Mine” by Claire Ladds
Welcome to an exclusive author interview with one of our very own Activated Authors members, Claire Ladds. We’re all about celebrating the successes and triumphs of our hard-working members, and what better way to spread the cheer than with a deep dive into Claire’s brand-new book, “Hers or Mine.”

You can find all the necessary links to get your hands on this book at the bottom of this page.

Q: Can you share with us the inspiration behind Hers or Mine and how it all began?

It’s going to sound like a cliché, but the book began as a dream. Well, kind of. I kept having a recurring lucid dream of someone finding themselves buried in mud, having been left for dead. It’s not the first time a book has germinated from a dream I’ve had, so I took notice of this horrific feeling of being buried underground and figured out why it might happen to someone, how they might handle the emotions that would arise as a result, and what they would possibly feel about the person who had done it. Of course, the perpetrator needed a motive. That’s when I delved into some really fun, if twisted reasons – and the book idea was born! Not only that, I thought hard about the way someone would feel displaced, mentally, emotionally and physically in such a situation, and it led me to develop the main theme for the book, which I always take very seriously. In the case of Hers or Mine, it’s about identity and knowing who you are, deep down.

Q: How long did it take for you to complete Hers or Mine, from idea to draft to publication?

The idea was percolating loosely in the background for several months before I sat down to plan the book ‘properly’. I began the planning stages of Hers or Mine in earnest half way through January of this year (2023). Because it had been lurking in my brain for a while already (which is what usually happens with my books), I spent a solid two weeks planning. I always begin by nailing down the ending – and when I have that clear in my head, I know I’m ready to write any particular book. This book’s ending came to me fully formed (which is always exciting).

From there, I planned the characters and the main genre-based plot points and tropes that I wanted to ensure that I included. The first draft, which was a skinny draft – part full text and part notes – took about three weeks. Expanding the draft, and ensuring I’d identified and dealt with any inconsistencies and plot holes, took another two months.

There was another month or so of editing and re-editing. My final round of edits after this is always a full read-through aloud (so essentially talking to myself incessantly for days and days and hoping the neighbours don’t think I’ve completely lost the plot). It takes me about a week to do a full proofread and format the book. I finally hit ‘publish’ on the final version in the second week of May. So, in a nutshell, it took about four months to produce this book, although I’ll admit to spending six weeks of that time working on it for fifteen hours a day. It’s not necessarily something I advocate, but I had been working previously (or not working, really) for months in a state of depression and anxiety, and therefore I worked with whatever my brain and body told me felt right for me at the time.

Q: What were the most challenging aspect of writing Hers or Mine?

I think there were two challenges, one stylistic and one structural.

I debated long and hard, over several rewrites of the early chapters, in deciding whether to use past or present tense, and first person or third person viewpoints. In the end, and knowing the stylistic ‘angle’ of suspense is often to make the trusted character the third person viewpoint while the unreliable narrator is first person, I opted for two characters in third person past tense, and one in first person present tense. Now, I might know what usually happens in psychological suspense where this is applied – but who’s to say that I didn’t know the rules in order to bend them a little?

Structurally, adding in flashback backstory was quite challenging in this book, as the flashbacks come at the reader from three different viewpoints and don’t always quite paint the same picture. Giving away just the right amount of information in appropriate places without confusing the reader definitely took quite a lot of logistical planning.

Q: Can you share a little about your writing routine? Do you have any specific rituals or habits that help you get into the writing mindset?

I have a writing desk but you try getting me to sit at it! When I’m drafting and doing early rounds of editing, I prefer my ancient kitchen table. I don’t know why, but I love being at it, and it makes me want to write, so that’s good enough for me.

I’m a full-time writer and so I set myself a designated number of words to write or chapters I want to complete, whichever works best for the stage the book is at. I’m a bit rubbish before 9.30a.m., so I rarely write before then, and I’m trying really hard to give myself downtime in the evening, instead of working until I fall asleep. I always have two cups of tea before I even attempt to start writing, and I make a drink just before sitting down to write.

If I’m drafting, I play music that I don’t tend to sing to (otherwise I’m likely to get distracted and annoy the neighbours). My go-to albums are Clannad’s ‘Past Present’ or Karliene’s ‘Dreams of Fire’. I’ve found that writing sprints of not more than 30 minutes work well for me. I also find that, if I spend the first hour or so of my day reading fiction for pure pleasure, I approach my own work with more energy than if I go straight into writing my own book.

Q: Who’s your favourite character from Hers or Mine and why?

This is a really difficult question to answer without giving away spoilers. My favourite character is Charlotte Darnell, who owns a hotel for struggling creatives. We see her near the beginning of the book, secretly watching one of the other characters with the intent of throwing a catalyst in the works. I love her emotions and motivations for everything she does in the story, and I can honestly say I gave her the ending she deserved.

Q: Are there any authors or books that have had a significant influence on your writing style or storytelling approach? How have they inspired you?

Overall, I have to say that Agatha Christie has had the biggest influence on me as a storyteller. In particular, I’m referring to the standalone books, such as Endless Night, And Then There Were None, The Pale Horse and others. The handling of the undercurrent of darkness which isn’t so prevalent in, for instance, Poirot or Marple stories, really appealed to me, as did a villain hidden in plain sight and twists to the characters that left me reeling. These books have inspired me to be unafraid to pursue dark angles and deeply personal motivations in my stories, and to grab an ending and give it an extra twist.

Three other people have inspired me, although until recently I hadn’t realised how much. One is Ray Bradbury, for his shocking honesty and in his storytelling, and I would pick out The Illustrated Man as a supreme example of this. James Herbert, and in particular his novel, Moon, introduced me to a fictional world in which the villain is close up and personal in the reader experience, through first person, present tense viewpoint. It terrified me; it was brilliant storytelling.

The third, and I can’t leave him out, is Alfred Hitchcock. Yes, he was a director and not an author, but the films he made spoke to me in a way nothing else ever has. The layering of suspense was something I always wanted to emulate. 

Q: How has being a member of Activated Authors helped the writing of this book?

I joined Activated Authors, knowing it was ‘time’. I wanted a supportive community that also enabled me to create a solid writing routine for this book, while I also worked through (and continue to work through) a period of anxiety and depression. I haven’t regretted that decision for a second!

It’s been wonderful to join the writing sprints on Zoom several days a week, and twice a day on Tuesdays and Thursdays. To know that I was working alongside other authors for that dedicated writing time was of immense help, mentally, as I wasn’t working in isolation. It also fired me up to keep working on the book, once the sprints were finished for the day.

Everyone has been so kind and so supportive, both on live calls and through messages. The enthusiasm is infectious, and the gracious and selfless giving of time by the members to help, and to talk through author issues, is truly incredible. Being a member of Activated Authors has kept this book on track.

Q: How do you plan on rewarding yourself for completing Hers or Mine?

Goodness, I’m really bad at rewarding myself! The best kind of reward for me, as a rule, is to start playing with the next book, which is exactly what I’ve done on release day! I did, however, spend a few days with my partner between hitting ‘publish’ and the book actually releasing, which was lovely. I also had a release day takeaway, which involved chocolate fudge cake with cream. Does that count?!

Q: What one bit of advice would you give to writers who are working on their first books, and would love to see their words turned into print, like you?

If you truly would love to see your work turn into a book, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t, you shouldn’t, or it’s not worth it. If your project means something to you, if it lives and breathes inside you, if it haunts you when you’re sleeping, eating, or talking (my books have stopped me mid-sentence because I’ve had an idea), then write that book! It takes dedication and application but don’t be afraid of it. Write for you; tell the story you want to tell; finish the book and let no one stop you. Without this, there is no work to give to an editor, beta readers, or to publish. It took me ten years to complete my first novel because I ignored my own advice. Don’t be me! (I’m also pretty sure that’s not only one piece of advice. Oops!)

Q: What’s next for you now that Hers or Mine has launched?

I promised myself a couple of weeks off (read that as two ‘official’ non-writing weeks – there’s no way I can sit around and do nothing!). Then, for my fiction work, I’ll be writing the next suspense book, which will be out in late summer/early autumn, and have some fun planning the one which will be coming after that. I have a series that I’m working on in the background, too, ready for next year.

I’m also working on a project that I’m hoping will help early career writers or those who want to get started with writing but don’t quite know where to start.

Q: How can readers stay connected with you and find updates on your future projects?

You can find all things ‘suspense fiction’ on my website (https://claireladds.com), where you can also sign up for my Readers’ Club and get all my news and updates sent straight to you. I’m also going to have news of the big project for creative writers soon, so my website is definitely the place to keep an eye out for further information on that. You can stay connected with me on social media pretty much everywhere @claireladdsauthor, although you’ll find me spending time mostly on Instagram and Facebook.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to say or share with readers of this blog?

One of the most precious abilities to me is being able to create or absorb story, whether through books, films, art, music, audio or storytelling in person. I have had a long-standing obsession with narrative, with writing, and with the ways in which we can harness those creative sparks – or generate them – and turn them into stories. I am one of those people who manages to create story ideas from anything and anywhere, but I realise that some writers don’t find it that easy, or that they want to write but aren’t sure where to start. It is my passion to find ways to help writers (or aspiring writers) to find those creative ideas and develop them. If this is something that you think would be helpful to you, do keep an eye on my website and social media, or feel free to drop me an email at claire@claireladds.com to let me know what you struggle with when it comes to finding or developing your ideas. I’d love to know.

One final thing. If you are wondering if Activated Authors is for you, or you’re on the fence about joining, I’d encourage you to give it a try. Every so often, we as writers find something that turns out to be exactly what we’ve been seeking, and works for us so well that we wish we’d discovered it much earlier. Activated Authors has been this for me. If you find that it is for you, too, then that’s fantastic!

We could not be more proud of Claire for all of her hard work, and once more we congratulate you on their your book. We are always inspired by the dedication, creativity, and passion of our members and can’t wait to see what comes next.

For readers eager to get their hands, Claire’s “Hers or Mine,” here is the all the info that you’ll need.


“Hers or Mine” by Claire Ladds
Get your hands on the book!

https://books2read.com/hersormine


Connect with Claire Ladds:

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For now, happy reading!

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