Interview with Tracie Podger

I'm very pleased to welcome fellow #DarkerSideOfFiction2017 author to my blog today for an interview. Tracie writes thriller/suspense and romance. Here's a little about her:

Tracie Podger currently lives in Kent, UK with her husband and a rather obnoxious cat called George. She’s a Padi Scuba Diving Instructor with a passion for writing. Tracie has been fortunate to have dived some of the wonderful oceans of the world where she can indulge in another hobby, underwater photography. She likes getting up close and personal with sharks. Tracie likes to write in different genres. Her Fallen Angel series and its accompanying books are mafia romance and full of suspense. A Virtual Affair is contemporary romance, and Gabriel and A Deadly Sin are thriller/suspense. The Facilitator is erotic romance.

And onto the interview!

 1 - What made you want to be a writer?
I suffer with depression and a few years ago spent some time in hospital, or the nuthouse as I affectionately called it! During my time there I was encouraged to write a journal. When I came home, I decided to read through that journal and, as a way to discharge those thoughts, typed it up. I decided that I would use the facts but turn it into a fictional story. This was an exercise just for me; the story was never intended to be seen by anyone. I found that I loved the process and I got lost in the fiction. I became addicted to the process. When I’d finished that story, I started to write another, and then another. I had written four books before I decided, on the advice of friends who had read those books, to publish them. The very first book, A Virtual Affair, had a rewrite, and I eventually published that in 2016. So, in answer, I think I became an author more by accident than anything planned!

2 - What kind of books do you read for pleasure?
I read all genres except sci-fi! I love romance (who doesn’t?) as well as crimes and thrillers. In fact, I decided to try my hand at writing thrillers last year.

3 - What kind of writer are you: plan or not?
It depends. For my thrillers I plan, although not in as much depth as perhaps I should. For my romance, I’m a ‘pantsa’. I have an idea, I know the characters, and I just write, letting the story and the characters dictate where we go.

4 - How does your average writing time go?
I’m a full time carer so my day is very structured, although sometimes that goes completely out of the window. I’ll spend a couple of hours answering messages and emails, checking out social media before settling down to write. I usually set myself a word count per day but I don’t stress if I can’t meet that target. I’m easily distracted, unfortunately, so, some days, I just wing it.

5 - What book/character of yours is your favourite?
Oh, that’s a tricky one. I love Robert Stone; he is my main man in the Fallen Angel series. He’s an ass sometimes, a mafia man, but one with a good heart. The Facilitator is an erotic romance and was fun to write, but I think, right now, A Deadly Sin is my favourite. Deadly is a thriller and at the beginning of each chapter we have a snippet from the villain. That was fun!

6 - If you had the chance to write anywhere, where would you choose?
I recently moved house and lost my office. So, when I finally sort out my new home (we’re turning a flat above garages into a house) I’ll have my office back. In my own space, surrounded by all my junk, is my favourite place to write.

7 - What attracted you to your chosen genre?
I write what I want to read, I’m also dictated by the characters and storyline in my head to some degree. I’ve always loved angsty romance, slightly older characters that I can relate to, and I don’t need a ‘traditional’ happy ever after. I combine all that in my romance books.

8 - How have other writers influenced your own writing?
I’m not necessarily influenced by other authors, except to want to improve my craft when I read a stunning piece of work.

9 - Do you prefer to type or hand write?
Always type! I hand write notes in a pad, but I couldn’t hand write a book and then type it up.

10 - Do you have a writing playlist? Or do you prefer silence?
Mostly, I prefer to work in silence. In fact, for many years I could not have any noise around me, it was too distracting. However, I will occasionally pop in my ear bubs and listen to a few songs. The right song can really set the mood for a scene.

11 - Do you have any hobbies?
I’m a scuba diving instructor although I don’t teach right now; I just don’t have the time. But diving and underwater photography is my only hobby.

12 - What's your favourite kind of scene to write?
Angst, drama, sex, murder, ugly cry, although I try not to combine it all in one scene! I love emotional scenes, if it produces a little leakage from the old eyes, I’m happy.

13 - Would you ever like to branch out to a different genre?
I’m a multi-genre author and, for me, when I started writing thrillers it was one of the best things I did. I read a diverse range of books so, I guess, it stands to reason that I’d try my hand writing in different genres.

14 - What does your writing space look like?
Messy! At the moment it’s a desk in the lounge. I long for a large office, a picture window looking out over fields, one wall lined with bookshelves, maybe an open fire, and a sofa…*sighs* ha ha I think I need a lottery win for my dream office. 

Thanks for joining us Tracie! If you want to follow Tracie you can find her here on Facebook.

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