Interview with Vicky Peplow
Author of The Old Coal Miner's Lamp
Hi, thanks for joining me. My name is Vicky Peplow and I live in Virginia with my beautiful partner Lorie, We love our pets Sir Milo, and Whika Love. We recently lost one of our babies Tiga Boo late last year.
I tend to write in the paranormal or crime/thriller genres but may branch out into other genres as time goes on. My first to books have been based around the village in the North-East of England where I was born and bred. Ryhope in the city of Sunderland.
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How would you describe The Old Coal Miner's Lamp to a new reader?
- I would describe it as a paranormal/historical fiction book based around an old coal mining village in the North-East of England. It has everything in this book including stories from actual coal miners and history from Sunderland and Ryhope.
What was the inspiration behind The Old Coal Miner's Lamp?
- My grandad was a coal miner and he died when I was two but my Nana told me bunch of stories about him and I also wanted to bring the village I was born and bred in, into the limelight a little.
Which authors do you admire? How have they influenced your writing style?
- I admire Sarah England, Shani Struthers, Phil Price, Greg Olsen. There are so many I can't think of them all.
Can you tell us a little about the locations in your book?
- The location, like I said before is in the North-East of England. It is called Ryhope and it is a old coal mining village about five miles outside the city of Sunderland.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors? How would you advise a new author about traditional publishing versus self publishing?
- I would tell them to keep going and not give up whether you sell one book or millions. It is very hard to get noticed by traditional authors and if you do they take a large percentage of your royalties. Been an indie author gives you complete control of your book but you do have to do everything yourself unless you have the cash to pay for someone else to do it for you.
What's your writing process?
- I don't have a particular process. I write the book, check it, then check it again. Maybe change things around a little then work on the book cover then send to my editor. After that I work on the edits, send to beta readers then release the book on whatever date I choose.
Which character in The Old Coal Miner's Lamp has had the greatest impact on readers?
- I would have to say Billy Halliday aka Titch. He is the bearer of the Old Coal Miner's Lamp.
If The Old Coal Miner's Lamp were to be adapted for TV or film, who would you see in the lead role? Who did you have in your mind’s eye when you wrote him/her?
- I haven't actually thought about it but off the top of my head I would maybe choose Sam Elliott as Billy but actually had Anthony Hopkins in my mind's eye when I wrote it.
How have readers responded to The Old Coal Miner's Lamp?
- It was only released today but from the couple that have read it, have came back with some great feedback.
Where next? What are you working on now?
- Next, I am working on the follow-up book to my first release, Death on The River Wear.
I had quite a few people asking for a follow on book so I am half way through that book and it will be called Death In The Family. It's kind of a play on words. Hopefully it will be out by June at the latest.
