insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 25 - March 2017 | Page 26

Author Profile :
ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Author Profile :

JANICE CHEAL

SUSSEX AUTHOR , JANICE CHEAL , MIXES IMPORTANT FACT WITH EXCITING FICTION IN HER NOVELS . WE SPOKE TO HER ABOUT HER WRITING PROCESS AND WHY THIS BOOK IS SO TIMELY .
HI JANICE . WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR INSPIRATION ?
I grew up in Germany as my father was attached to the British Armed Forces . From the age of seven I was exposed to and experienced many different things that I believe that made me hungry for knowledge and gave me a questioning mind that I feel is reflected in my books . I have written three novels : High View ( 2010 ), The Bee Keepers ( 2013 ) and The Deverills ( 2016 ), and they all share the common theme of travel .
HAVE YOU EVER FOUND INSPIRATION IN AN UNUSUAL PLACE ?
Yes ! For my first novel , High View , my inspiration came from a visit I made to Santander in Spain and a day trip to the nearby town of Santillana del Mar and the Altamara Caves dating back to the Palaeolithic period . The caves inspired the novel , which explores aspects of religion .
WHAT IS YOUR WRITING PROCESS ? HOW DO YOU RESEARCH ?
I think the research takes up most of my time when planning a new novel . After choosing my subject I put together all the different elements involved and write the end of the novel in the early stages . I think that writing a book is like going on a journey in that if I know my destination it becomes an exercise in filling in all the bits around it .
HOW LONG DOES THE PROCESS TAKE YOU FROM INITIAL IDEA TO A COMPLETE FIRST DRAFT ?
There is no hard and fast rule with how long it takes to write a book but I would say it can take anything from 12 to 18 months to produce a first draft . I have started work on my fourth novel , which has a time travel theme and what I believe is an original approach of looking back at history .
Your book , The Bee Keepers , is is a fictional tale but also one with a factual message about the serious decline in the world ' s bee population today and the effect this is having on our food chain .
DO YOU OFTEN USE YOUR WRITING TO EXPLORE SOCIETAL ISSUES ?
No , The Bee Keepers is the only book I have written so far dealing with a serious subject . The book generated interest from organisations such as the government , the National Health Service and from professionals in further education too ; it has also been professionally script written by my publisher .
WHAT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND ? WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE YOU BECAME A WRITER ?
My education was very chequered with moving back and forth to Germany , so in 1991 I embarked on an Open University course in humanities and I attained a BA ( Hons ) in humanities and a diploma in European humanities . I thoroughly enjoyed the research involved with the degree and writing in some way became a natural extension to this . I must admit though that I secretly harboured a desire to write a book from the age of 15 .
Janice ’ s books are sold by Foyles , and are also available from Rye and Bexhill libraries .
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