Interview with Mandy James. Author of Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Today I am delighted to share an interview with you with Amanda James. Author of Somewhere Beyond the Sea.

1. Can you give us a brief synopsis of what Somewhere Beyond the Sea is about?

It’s about secrets, mystery, and suspense set in the idyllic Cornish village of Kelerston. When Dr Tristan Ainsworth takes his wife Karen and their young children back to Tristan’s beloved Cornwall he is overjoyed.  He has always wanted to return and when a post as a local GP turned up he grabbed it like a shot. He firmly believes that Kelerston is a wonderful place in which to live and raise children, so he can’t understand why Karen is gradually becoming more withdrawn and unhappy. She won’t, or can’t tell him what the problem is and soon their marriage begins to feel the strain. One of them is not being honest. One of them has a dark secret, and soon Karen and Tristan face a difficult question. Is their love strong enough to face the truth when the truth might cost them everything?

2. How did you come up with the characters in your novel and who was your most favourite? 

I wanted to set the novel in Cornwall as I was in the process of moving there. And the lonely rugged coast helped me to visualise Karen, and watching the TV series Doc Martin made me want to make my hero a doctor. Don’t worry, Tristan doesn’t look or behave like Doc Martin at all of course! It was just the idea of a doctor living and working in a small Cornish village that I liked. And my favourite? I guess it would have to be Karen.

3. What was your favourite scene in Somewhere Beyond the Sea?

There are so many, particularly at the end, so I can’t tell you about those! I like the opening chapter where we see someone walking down a moonlit beach preparing to take their own life. It sounds grim, but I promise it has a happy ending!

4. What is the best thing about writing?

I love being able to escape into different people, different times and situations all of my own making. It is like an extended version of playing with the dressing up box when you were a kid. So many possibilities. I also like not being driven by alarm clocks and rules. Of course writers have deadlines and so forth, but compared to teaching, something I did for seventeen years, it’s freedom personified. I love the fact that people enjoy reading my work of course. In the end, that’s why I write.

5. Do you have any other books planned?

I have just started one, literally only two chapters in. It is called Summer in Tintagel and is about a young woman’s quest to fulfil her grandmother’s dying wish. Rosa Fernley, a travel journalist, combines work with pleasure when she takes a summer trip to Tintagel. Once there, she gets very much more than she bargained for. It is a little hazy in my mind at the moment, but there will be a paranormal aspect to it ... I think! The inspiration for Summer in Tintagel came from a walk along the cliff tops. As I stood on the edge looking onto the rocks I thought how easy it would be to step off and end it all ... if a person was so inclined. I’m not, in case you were wondering! Then it kind of came to me from there. I visited Tintagel Castle last month and thought that it was the perfect setting for a novel – full of history and mystery. 

6. Who is your favourite author?

Dean Koontz. He writes so beautifully and developed the suspense, and paranormal suspense genre to new heights.

7. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Yes. Believe in yourself, don’t give up and never forget your dreams.

8. Please describe Somewhere Beyond the Sea in three words.

That’s tricky! Okay ...Mystery, suspense, and secrets. Yeah I know that’s four, but you don’t count ‘and’ do you? :)

9. Where can others connect with you?

I am on Twitter - @akjames61
Facebook – Mandy.James.33
Email – mandykjames@hotmail.co.uk
Blog - http://mandykjameswrites.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks for hosting me on your blog, Laura. I really enjoyed it :)

A big thank you to Amanda for stopping by to tell us about her novel.