Della Galton Guest Blog

I am so pleased that Della agreed to write a few words for my blog. I've been on two courses run by Della and not only is she a great writer, but excellent tutor too.

Can you share the premise of your latest project?

Ice and a Slice is a novel about a lady whose life is normal in every respect, except that she can’t stop drinking.

In particular, what led you to write?

I write because I’d go mad if I didn’t. I wrote this particular novel because I have a very personal connection to it. My father is an alcoholic.  Alcoholism is rife in my family. Unwilling to join the ranks, I gave up drinking myself seven years ago.

Is there a key person or group that has inspired you in the process of writing?

I belong to a writing group that I joined when I first started writing 26 years ago. It is run by a man called Ian Burton and is on a Wednesday night at Kinson Community Centre in Bournemouth.

How do you envision your work will impact your readers?

I hope it will make them think. And I suspect they will be able to emotionally connect with it – Ice and a Slice was written straight from the heart.

As you embarked on writing your book, what was the overall message you wanted to convey to your audience?

There is life after alcoholism.

What process did you go through to build the narrative of your book?

I am a very organic writer. I throw a heap of problems at my characters and see what happens.

In every author’s experience, there is often a pivotal event that results in the creative process. Can you describe the pivotal event that led you to write your book?

For me feeling passionate or moved about a subject will usually do it.  I can’t write by numbers. I need to be emotionally engaged with my subject before I begin to even do my research. It’s emotional engagement that provides the fire.

Are there any tips you can share on what parents can do to foster the love of reading and books?

Don’t make your child feel as though they are doing nothing when they are reading. Reading is every bit as valuable as sport or physical activity.

What aspect of life do you want your readers to know about?

People are the most important things in life, so I guess I want readers to feel an emotional connection with the people in my novels. 

Describe the role books played in your own life.

My much loved grandmother taught me to read before I started school. She used to love showing off to her friends and proved I wasn’t reciting something parrot fashion by getting me to read bits of the paper out loud to them.  After that I was hooked. I read everything I could get my hands on. If there’s nothing better on offer I’ll read the back of a cereal packet – particularly if it’s a chocolate cereal packet  

Links

www.dellagalton.co.uk

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Ice and a Slice is published in paperback and for kindle. Click here to buy.