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Exclusive Author Interview: Helen Bridgett

3/8/2017

 
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Buy Helen's book, The Mercury Travel Club: Amazon

I recently enjoyed an exclusive interview with Helen Bridgett, author of The Mercury Travel Club: Where the Chaos Comes Free (my current read-- very enjoyable!). Stay tuned for my book review- coming soon! My author interview with Helen, below- enjoy!
Tell us a little about yourself...
Where to start? I live in Manchester, England with my husband and Labrador - Angus. We chose Manchester because we're both outdoor lovers and here we're within a couple of hours of three national parks. I love hiking and cycling as well as walking the dog so I spend a lot of time covered in mud!

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I've always loved writing but I think it was about 10 years ago that I actually said to myself, "I want to be a writer". Of course just saying that isn't enough and I did nothing about it back then. Two years ago, circumstances forced my hand and I had to give up my job. I decided I might as well do something about that writing ambition and I've been doing it ever since.

Can you share your journey to becoming a published author?
I guess mine is a story of persistence. Having decided to get on with writing, I set myself a goal to write a book by Christmas and give it to my sister as a present. I set myself word-count  goals and wrote every day. On some days I deleted every thing I'd written the previous day but I kept going and then one day I had 80,000 words and a completed manuscript! I can't tell you how good that felt. No matter what else happened, I'd done it. I wanted it to be as good as it could be so I asked for professional help - I hired an editor and read up on self-editing. With some guidance and four re-writes, I was ready to send the book off to agents and publishers. Every day I wrote to at least five and most days, I got five rejections back. It was winter and it was extremely demoralizing. Then one day in spring - I got a "yes" !

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What do you find to be the biggest challenge, as an author?
I hadn't realised how lonely the job could be. I thought it was just me feeling this and then I read another author talking about it. The advice was to get out, join a writing group, have some laughs, take exercise, go for walks - just see people and talk! It works and I now make sure that I spend as much time in the real world as I do in my imaginary one!

What do you find most rewarding, as an author?
I love it when my characters take on a life of their own and perhaps say something funny or do something I hadn't expected. I also truly love books and writing and the fact that this is now my life - I meet, talk to and liaise with other book lovers - it's a dream come true!

Share with us a daily habit of yours, that helps you reach your goals.
I guess the thing is to have a habit. To develop a routine that works for you. I get up and walk the dog for an hour ensuring I talk to other dog walkers. Then I make us both breakfast and sit down to my day's work. I always set a word-count target or a list of tasks that need doing such as a blog update and I work all day until early evening when Angus needs walking again. I have other hobbies - I'm a member of the Rock Choir so I get the chance to switch off and I meet up with other writers to share news and ideas. My routine won't work for others but if you find your flow, it will be much easier to keep going.

What is one piece of advice you would share with an aspiring author?

You just have to keep going. There is a quote which I like "Genius does exist but it has to find you working" - just write - yes some of it will be deleted but you'll know why and you'll know where to go next. And ask for support  - writers know how it feels and I have genuinely found so much support when I reached out and asked for it.

Finish these sentences:

I am most grateful for...

My fabulous family and their continued good health.

If I could give my 18 year-old self one piece of advice it would be...
Trust your instincts - you know what's right for you.

My favorite thing about being a writer is...
Being amongst books all the time

My least favorite thing about being a writer is...
Having to promote myself!

My goals for the future are...
To keep writing and produce work that is loved

I love living a creative life because...
I get to make things up!

The last book I read was...
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

My favorite book, ever, is...
L'Assomoir by Zola - the first book ever to make me cry

Outside of writing, my favorite hobby is...
Hiking - I love the mountains

The most important thing to do if you want to achieve your goals is...
Focus and do something towards them every day

A few more questions...
Do you have any New Years Resolutions for 2017?
To publish 2 novels and write a third - and to walk 1000 miles!

Tell us about your books (genre, where we can find them, etc.)
You can find my debut Novel The Mercury Travel Club on Amazon. It's a comedy about starting over again and living the life you want, with the help of your very best friends. I hope that you'll have a few laughs reading it but also see that life is all about having the courage to get out there.

Where can readers find you (i.e. website, social media, etc.)?
I'm on Helen Bridgett and www.twitter.com/helen_bridgett

Anything else you'd like to add...
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the book!


What is the book about?

Meet Angie Shepherd who, after 24 years and 11 months of marriage, finds herself divorced and driven by friends and family to move on. From hangover to makeover, Angie steps firmly away from the sensible knitwear, and launches into every adventure on offer – from baking classes and book groups, to speed dating, and even 'The Granny-Okes', a 1980s tribute act and YouTube sensation.

But Angie needs more than a bar of galaxy and a night in with Murder She Wrote... what she dreams of is entrepreneurial success. Channelling her inner Richard Branson, the light bulb moment happens: it's time to take the plunge and invest her divorce settlement into The Mercury Travel Club, an exciting new business venture. But as the Travel Club gets going, things never go according to plan, and in this digital age a little chaos brings the fame she's been looking for.
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Set in present-day Manchester, this classic mid-life journey features the 1980s soundtrack from Angie's youth, and sees her travel the world whilst coping with life after the Ex.Angie's journey is the catalyst her friends need to examine their own lives; as they start to find their true callings, will Angie find hers? Witty, entertaining and laugh-out-loud funny, this feel-good debut novel shows it's never too late for a second chance.

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Stacey Ritz is a bestselling author and award winning writer. An empathetic and compassionate storyteller, Ritz wrote for a plethora of local and national news outlets, magazines, blogs, and websites (copywriter), prior to becoming a novelist. Her book, Covered in Pet Fur  has gained attention from RIVA Media and Animal Planet. She is the Executive Director and co-founder of Advocates 4 Animals, Inc. – a 501(c)3 non-profit animal welfare organization that has saved more than 11,000 lives (and counting). She currently resides in Ohio. Ritz is published through Rockville Publishing. You can interact with Stacey online via Stacey's Book Blog, on Pinterest, andInstagram.
Ritz writes the following genres:
Non-Fiction:
Motivation/Inspiration
Writing/Publishing
Animal Welfare

Fiction:
Love Stories


Click here to view Stacey's fiction books.

Click here to view Stacey's non-fiction books

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    The Lost Years: A Novel, explores the question - Why do some relationships fall apart while others endure?
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Books by Stacey Ritz...


Fiction

The Lost Years   

Intriguing Illusions       
Sixty Seconds of Love

The Perfect Divorce

Inconceivable Lives

The Obsession

Keeping Up Appearances
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All the Little Choices

Goodbye, Hello

The First & Last Everything

Motivational

Be Awesome: How to Live your Best Life!
Pursuing Greatness: Strategies to Gain a Mental Edge in Sports and Life

Writing

Write Your Story: How to Jump Start Your Writing Career

Must Love Writing: The Magic of Living a Creative Life
Animal Welfare 
Covered in Pet Fur: How to Start an Animal Rescue the Right Way

Pawsitive Connection: Heartwarming Stories

Cat Connection: Heartwarming Rescue Tales

Letters From Cats: Hilarious & Heartfelt Notes

Not Your Average Grandma: The Story of a Little Senior Rescue Dog with Big Life Lessons

​Fun(D)Raising: 150 Money Making Ideas

Poetry

 Love & Courage
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