The Author Interview featuring Nancy Jardine

Welcome to the Author Interview. This time, it features the lovely Nancy Jardine, author of The Taexali Game.

If you’re an author who’d like to take part in the series, email me: debbie@myrandommusings.co.uk

Now over to Nancy:

1 Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself

I live in the fabulous castle country of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, though I’m a born and bred Glaswegian. My husband and I don’t live a quiet or boring life since it’s my young grandkids who live next door. Now 4 years old, my grandson realises that treats are only dished out occasionally, though that doesn’t stop him and his 7-year-old sister from trying.

2 Tell us a little bit about your books.

My Celtic Fervour Series is set in late first century A.D. northern Roman Britain. The first 2 books are mainly based in Brigantia, in what would currently be Cumbria and North Yorkshire. Book 3 and Book 4 (soon to be published) are set in Roman Scotland. The series charts the fortunes of my Garrigill Brigante warriors who are uprooted from Brigantia when the Ancient Roman Legions threaten their Celtic hillfort and their way of life. There’s war, and love, in them as different members of my Garrigill kin forge various relationships, some with Romans and others not.

The Taexali Game, my historical time travel for early teens. is set in Roman ‘Aberdeenshire’ A.D. 210 when the nasty Emperor Septimius Severus invades the barbarian north to teach the tribes a lesson they won’t forget, since they’ve been rebelling and not paying their taxes to the Roman Empire.

I’ve also written three contemporary mysteries, two of which are romantic comedy and one is a romantic mystery thriller. Two of these have an ancestral family tree as the basis of the mystery – so history sneaks into those contemporaries as well.

3 Where do you find your inspiration for your books?

Each one has been different. My time travel, The Taexali Game, developed from end-of-term stories written by my 11-12-year-old pupils when we were doing a Celtic/ Roman project (I used to teach upper Primary kids for about 25 years).

That was back around 2004, but the ideas lay dormant until I eventually wrote and published the book in 2016. I had also jokingly vowed back in 2004 to write my own Roman Aberdeenshire novel to accompany another Celtic/ Roman project in class, since no-one had ever published anything suitable. I dedicated The Taexali Game to that year group of ex-pupils.

4 What, for you, is the best thing about being a writer?

I’ve always been an avid reader and it’s so rewarding and exciting to have written books I’d want to read myself.

5 And the worst?

After I stopped teaching in 2011, I got serious about writing and publishing a novel. By the end of 2014 I had 6 novels published by different small publishers and another followed in 2016. Then came the worst time – I had a serious slow down, partly due to family circumstances and partly due to painfully slow writing. Thankfully I’m past that and my eighth novel (Book 4 of my Celtic Fervour Series) is due out soon.

6 If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?

It would be to become Super Reader.  I’d love to read much faster than I do without losing any of the enjoyment, since my kindle is always full and I have loads of paperbacks to read as well.

7 Do you have any tips for anyone wanting to write their first book?

Brilliant question. Just write whatever comes to mind. Take time to reflect on what you’ve written even if you don’t like it, but store everything because you might use it later in an altered form.

8 Tell us one random fact about you

My husband says that I snore- of course, you know that I couldn’t possibly do that.

9 Who is your favourite author?

I’ve many favourites but no particular one. An author who was a favourite in the 1950s – like Enid Blyton – isn’t my favourite now, but she was back then when I was a young reader. I love Tolkien, but equally love Jane Austen, Charles Dickens and many current authors.

10 And your favourite book(s)?

Often that’s the one I’ve just finished reading.

11 What book are you reading right now?

I’m reading Fire and Sword by Louise Turner.

12 Where is your favourite place to write?

I write at my desk in the dining room. It’s next to the window so I can look out on my sometimes messy garden (I’m the gardener and only have myself to blame!).

13 Do you prefer to write in silence or do you have a writing soundtrack?

Mostly I write in silence, but if editing I like Celtic harp music or something soothing from my classical collection. Though it’s repetitive, I often like Einaudi’s piano in the background.

14 What can we expect from you next?

After Agricola’s Bane Book 4 of my Celtic Fervour Series is published this autumn I’ll put more focus onto completing Book 5 of the series. I’ve started it and have a few other projects in the pipeline. Book 2 of my time travel series has been languishing, as has a Family Saga set in Scotland that begins in the 1850s.

15 Anything else you’d like to share with us?

As well as selling my novels via Amazon etc., I also love to attend local Aberdeenshire Craft Fairs where I sign and sell my paperbacks. At these venues, I adore talking to interested customers who share my passion for Roman Scotland (and to some interested people who don’t buy). It’s also a great opportunity to get bookings for doing presentations and author talks to local groups – big and small.

16 Where can we find you? (Links to your Amazon page and social media)

My blog, my author website, Facebook, Twitter, my Amazon author page and Goodreads.