The Ten Spot: PJ Roscoe

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My most recent release is ‘Echoes’ that came out in November 2014 – again! I launched it myself in July 2012 but it was taken on by Christine F Anderson publishing so it was given a little overhaul, a new cover and re-launched.

It felt very strange seeing it all changed, though thankfully there wasn’t that much editing to do, just the odd typo I’d missed and a couple of sentences that needed reworking as I sometimes slip back into my Welsh so my English is a little weird!

‘Echoes’ has made me feel very proud, in that it took me fifteen years on/off to write after the death of our son at birth. It initially helped me with my grief, but later it became a symbol of hope and resilience to keep going and believe in my work. So far it’s won the e-book category in the Paris book festival and awarded Honourable Mentions in both the London and New England festivals so far.

‘Echoes’ is about a woman who having suffered abuse at the hands of her father and then her aunt, she moves to a quiet village in Shropshire, England, in the hope of starting a new life, but after witnessing a murder, she realizes that the echoes of the land refuse to lie quietly and she is forced to confront her past. It moves between present day and 15th century when Henry Tudor claimed the throne. There were many casualties of war, but some refuse to lie quietly.

I wanted to explore past lives and whether what happens to us in the past, has any effect on our futures. I also wanted to show a strong woman who has the ability to survive and live the life she deserves.

Due out this March 2015 is my first collection of faerie stories that I wrote for my daughter many years ago – ‘Adventures of Faerie folk’. Four enchanting stories for 5-7 years old that help teach our children morals and to live in harmony with nature and each other. The next collection I hope to be ready later in the year. I am working with an artist, Marina White, who uses nature and watercolour to bring my stories to life. We’ve had a few problems along the way, with burglary and vandalism of her work, but we’ve finally arrived.

Yes! Numb bum being one of the most hazardous!! Coffee addiction. Chocolate addiction. Sweet addiction – well, you get the idea! Stiff fingers – especially trying to type here in Wales in the freezing cold because I can’t afford to put the heating on all day! Oh how I long for best selling status so I can afford such a luxury!!! Sleepless nights as I lie awake pondering a scene or waking up suddenly with a brilliant scene or a completely different story in my head and having to write it down immediately before I forget it – because I will! Keeping ego at bay when you spot someone buying/reading your book. Every ounce of your being wants to run over there and say ‘I WROTE THAT!’ but you don’t, but hope that they recognize you and saunter over themselves!! (It’s not happened to me yet!)

Re-reading this list, I wonder what the hell I am doing!?

Yes. I am a Pagan who believes in both a Lord and lady and nature and balance. I live in harmony with the world as much as I can. I don’t judge others for their beliefs unless they harm someone or try to push their own beliefs onto others – like knocking on doors, shouting abuse at people who don’t follow their own idea. I live by my belief, ‘do what thou will, but harm none’ – which is easier said than done! I am not perfect and shall never be, but I try to live life, be happy and be kind and treat people as I expect to be treated. I love crystals, Angels, faeries and all things magical and feel blessed that I am able to feel them. The sad fact is, the energy we feel is exactly the same loving energy, just with different stories and names attached but ego has become mad and people seem to be under the illusion that killing is acceptable as it’s a religious killing. It’s madness. We are all the same species. Perhaps it’s time people remember that before it’s too late. x

Not having the ability to type faster! As time is always against me. I have a limited amount of time to write before all of my other jobs get in the way. I am a qualified holistic therapist and work a few days a week at a local spa. I am also a mother to a daughter with Autism and Dyspraxia and when she is home, Megan has my full attention.

It can be very difficult, especially if I am at a good bit and Megan is due home – I have to put everything on hold until the next day and begin again as if I haven’t stopped. This has taught me that I can stop and start at any moment – even in the middle of a sentence or paragraph. The story is forefront in my mind so it’s easy to just pick it up.

Yes I do. For ‘Echoes’ I spent a lot of my time at Shrewsbury library where a few scenes from the book are set. I’d walk the various scenes and see if they are possible or not. Sometimes I’d act them out with my husband and ignore the strange looks! I try to contact professionals in various fields and check my idea with them. In ‘Echoes’ I worked with the police to make sure I had things right. For ‘Freya’s Child’ my second novel, I talked for hours with various archaeologists at the National Trust and Grosvenor Museum in Chester. For my third and fourth novels that have reached the first draft stage I am contacting various people and doing a lot of reading and research in archives – it is this that can take up a lot of time.

I think it’s important to research your story to check that it’s doable. I don’t write fantasy, so there has to be an element of reality in my supernatural/historical fictions. I can get away with a bit of writers license, but I want my readers to be able to ‘believe’ it could happen.

Flattered!! Nervous. Anxious. Excited. Nervous. Hot. Fidgety. Nervous. I wonder what I would have to say that people would be interested in and so when my publisher told me about this interview I got flustered, but at least it isn’t face to face!! I just think it’s a very kind thing for someone to do for me and I hope I don’t let them down. So a big thanks to Dan for being a star x

Don’t listen to anybody but your own inner voice. Be true to that and screw everything else! Oh and don’t blame the chocolate eating incident on your brother – it’s all round your mouth stupid!!

Well, everything! Everyone is absolutely unique and rightly so. I am not better or worse than the guy next to me, just different and that makes each and every one of us wonderful people with the potential to be who we truly want to be. To spread love and joy and a great big hug to the world. I am a strong, resilient, courageous, fun, loving, caring, kind, impatient, woman, mother, wife, sister, daughter, goddess and so is everyone else in their own marvelous way.

The picnic definitely! But oh boy what a picnic it would be! There’d be so much cake and champagne and strawberries and cream we’d be sick! But we’d have a laugh in the sunshine surrounded by nature in all her glory and we’d be happy because we are loved and we are loving.

My name is Paula Jacqueline Roscoe and I write my supernatural/historical thrillers under the name P.J Roscoe and my faerie stories for young children under Paula J Roscoe. I have been writing from an early age, but listened to the adults (who knew best) and went to college to train as a holistic therapist. I am still doing that part-time, so I guess they knew I was also good at that too!! I live in North Wales with my darling husband of twenty-one years and our daughter Megan, our three cats and our dog. I walk in nature every day. I love history, dancing, singing, my spirituality, reading and of course, writing. Oh, and a glass or three of wine, or martini, or a decent malt whiskey or … Okay, you see where this is going!

I can be found on twitter – @derwenna1 Facebook P.J Roscoe. 

My website is www.pjroscoe.co.uk where you can find links to my blogs and other interesting pages.

Both my books are on Amazon.co.uk:

And Amazon.com:

Also available through Christine F Anderson publish and media