Author Interview with Helen Chandler

Today I am delighted to welcome Helen Chandler to the blog with an interview about her latest book To Have and To Hold. There is a chance to win her book via the link at the bottom of the page.

1. Can you tell us the inspiration for To Have and To Hold?
I don’t think there was one single inspiration. My first novel, Two for Joy, deals with new relationships and pregnancy, and although To Have and to Hold is a completely different book and set of characters, it just felt natural to look at the next stage – the challenges of having a young family and your own life as well.


2. What do you think it is about your book that makes it stand out?
I’d like to think that my characters are believable - people we can really relate to, and that my writing is light, and often funny, but thought provoking as well.


3. Who was your favourite character?
My favourite character was Phoebe, a fifteen year old girl who is going through a very tough time being bullied at school while dealing with the fallout of her parents’ marriage problems.


4. Do you have a favourite place where you like to write?
I sometimes write at home, at the dining room table, but I also like writing in a local café, just round the corner from where I live. It takes my mind off the mounting housework, and means that I can people watch for inspiration.


5. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m thirty-three, and live in Walthamstow, East London with my husband, five year old daughter and two cats. I grew up in Liverpool, which is where I’ve chosen to set part of To Have and to Hold. When I’m not writing or spending time with my daughter or doing boring housework type things I’m generally reading or baking. 


6. What other books have you written/have planned? 
My first novel, Two For Joy was published last summer, so I’m still quite new to writing. I’m just starting work on my third novel, which is provisionally called ‘First Comes Love’.


7. What are you reading at the moment? 

My two great reading loves are chick lit and classic crime. At the moment I’m (re-)reading Lord Edgeware Dies by Agatha Christie, and looking forward to starting The Travelling Tea Shop by Belinda Jones.


8. If you could have one wish, what would it be?
I think I’d get very frustrated with one wish! I’d probably wish for something like happiness for all my family, but if I was going to have a selfish book-related wish then it would probably be to write a prize-winning bestseller!


9. Where can others connect with you?
You can read my blog, A Life More Ordinary, at www.helenchandler.co.uk. Or follow me on Twitter @HelenLChandler, or on www.facebook.com/HelenLouiseChandler


A big thank you to Helen for stopping by my blog and helping out in my blogoverasry giveaway. If you would like a chance to win her book and others, enter via the link here: One Year Blogoversary Giveaway