My guest today is writer of historical romances, John Jackson, whose first book, Heart of Stone was published in 2017.
I first met John in 2016 as we stuffed goody bags for delegates to the Historical Novel Society Conference in 2016 in Oxford. A year later I went to my first conference of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and there was John again. I soon discovered that EVERYONE in the RNA knows John – he is one of those rare birds among romantic novelists – a man. But most importantly, John is also the life and soul of many a party. He arrives at conference armed with the means of making proper champagne cocktails complete with brandy, sugar lumps and Angostura, and is everywhere snapping away with his camera, capturing everyone having a good time. He is also the organiser of one of the newer highlights of the RNA calendar – one I have yet to sample – the annual York Tea. So I asked John if he’d like to come and tell my readers about his book.
Tell us about your book, John and why we should all read it?
Heart of Stone is about my evil great-great-great-great-great Grandfather, Robert Rochfort, Earl of Belvedere, “The Wicked Earl.” It was short-listed for the 2018 Joan Hessayon prize. I spent a long time researching my family tree and found a lively lot of ruffians, rogues and chancers, all of whom are conveniently dead, so they can’t sue, and they make great subjects to write about. The image above is of the Jealous Wall at Belvedere in Co. Westmeath, Ireland, the location for much of Heart of Stone.
What are you working on now?
The work-in-progress is provisionally titled Strange Bedfellows – Historical fiction with a strong romantic thread. It’s about Jane Butler, Lady Lanesborough, my great-great-great-great-grandmother who was the daughter of Robert Rochfort, but slightly less evil than. her father. Worth Googling her. Almost a plethora of material – and one particular problem is to develop a really good narrative. Lady Jane led an “unconventional life” Also quite a complicated life, so it’s proving problematic to work into a single story. It’s coming though.
If you could wave a magic wand and change something about your writing career what would it be?
I WISH I had started a LOT earlier!! I am very conscious that I am “in the twilight of my years” LOL
What comes first – location, plot, characters?
Characters. If you can get your characters right, then the plot will come. (eventually). Location IS important. Some locations like Cornwall can cast a spell over your entire book. Think Daphne du Maurier or Liz Fenwick.
Tell us about your writing day. Do you work to a routine? Do you have a dedicated space to write in? Endless cups of coffee or tea?
I do ALL my work on a trolley table.(like one of those tables they use in hospitals). It’s handy for my desk and the stack of papers I am usually working on.
Tea, for me, is vital! If the words are coming, then I can just sit down and out they come. My best is 7000 in a day. Other days, I’m lucky to get 70.
Who have been your main literary influences?
They all seem to be historic-fiction based, from Georgette Heyer to Bernard Cornwell, via CS Forrester, Dennis Wheatley and Alexander Kent. Great story-tellers all.
Who or what has been the greatest help to you as a writer?
Without a doubt, joining the Romantic Novelists Association, and their New Writers Scheme, an unbelievably effective way of “learning the craft”
What has been the hardest thing for you to overcome in becoming an author?
The confidence to “pick up the pen” in the first place.
How can readers find out more about you?
Find me at any of the links below – I always follow or friend!
Website: https://johnjacksonauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnjacksonauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jjackson42
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/john5642/
RNA Profile: https://romanticnovelistsassociation.org/rna_author/john-jackson/
Thanks John and best of luck with Strange Bedfellows.
Having first met John way back in the days when he’d appear at the Ox(ford) Lunch, which was some time ago, and after that at countless RNA meetings and conferences, I was interested to read your interview of John, Clare. I very much enjoyed it, and I very much enjoyed Heart of Stone. Thank you.
Oh, I loved this and I loved John’s novel. He must get that second book done. He really is an excellent writer.
I know John through Flying Ducks, an RNA group of northern writers who, in normal times, meet near Harrogate. John is always willing to help writers like me – the ‘technically challenged’ variety. Someone, somewhere, must have sprinkled magic dust on his wings. How else could he be everywhere at once, and still find time to write?
An interesting and concise interview. About the right length with all details included. Enough to encourage me to return and read others. Well done and look forward to more quality interviews like this.
Roger Barton