Good Deeds Week 9th – 15th March

Welcome to my weekly roundup of my year long challenge to do one Good deed a day for a year. This challenge began back in April 2013 and is still going strong. My inspiration came from reading “A Year of Doing Good” by Judith O’Reilly. Here is what I’ve been up to this week.

March 9th – Making afternoon tea for the in-laws today and catching up with all their news.

March 10th – Had a lovely morning helping out at school. Posted my book review of The Royal Descendant by local author John P Ford  on the blog today http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4Ph and was delighted for him when he told me he’s going to be promoting his book at Costa Coffee in Fleet on Saturday 22nd March 10.00am – 2.00pm.

March 11th – Sent out an invite to a friend to come for a coffee next week. Did a little job for someone else at work this morning, who was busy elsewhere. Invited author Roy Dimond for a virtual coffee after finishing reading his book The Singing Bowl and thoroughly enjoying it, we had a lovely chat about his writing across the Universe. Roy will be a guest here on the blog on March 27th along with his co-author of Saving Our Pennys, Jeff Lietch.

March 12th – Good Deeds received, had a lovely gift in the post, Derek’s Revenge sent to me by the lovely Mac Black. Look out for a review of this book in May. Invited friends over for tea next Wednesday.

March 13th – Found that my neighbours had left their back gate wide open and then gone away for a few days, so I shut it for them making the garden less exposed. This isn’t the first, over the years I’ve shut neighbours garage doors and even a front door when people have rushed off leaving them wide open for days at a time. Finished reading three books today; Key of Valour by Nora Roberts, Me and Billy the Kid by Briana Vedsted and X by Jack Croxall.

March 14th – Tidied up the blogs that I follow in the reader section of WordPress, followed some new bloggers. Started reading Blackwater by Alison Willams. Good Deeds received, a friend has organised a girls night out for us in a couple of weeks time.

March 15th – Sue Koenig author of The Bench, let me know her book was now up on Amazon and Goodreads, I have previously read and reviewed it and have now posted my reviews. Her book is poetry and short stories. Sue is also a fellow A to Z challenger.

Guest Author John P Ford

Today my guest is John Ford author of yesterday’s book “The Royal Descendant”. John is a local author and lives in Fleet, this is his first book. If you missed the book review catch up by following this link http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4Ph

Lets find out more about John and his book.

1) Where is your home town?

Fleet, Hampshire

2) How long have you been writing?

On and off for fourteen years

3) From which key element did your idea for The Royal Descendant spring from?

The premise that the Queen may have had a child. What would happen if the present day descendant decided that they should be on the throne?

4) It took 13 years to write this book, did the plot change much over that time?

The basic idea remained unchanged but as I wrote, particularly after the ten year break, lots of ways to improve the story and the readers experience came to me. For example the letter was a fairly late addition which spawned a whole new method for me to join the past and present.

5) The book travels far and wide across Great Britain, did you travel to all of the places too during your research?

I have visited most of the places mentioned, but not all. Imagination and Google Earth came to my rescue!

6) There is a lot of computer technology in the book, did that come easy to you?

I am fairly IT literate plus I had the help of my son who is an expert.

7) I liked Andrew’s feisty mother-in-law, which was your favourite character to write?

That’s a difficult question to answer. I saw all the characters as parts of the whole and used them to realise my goals as regards telling the story. But it was fun to show Lambert emerging from being an emotional recluse.

8) Professor Lambert plays a big part, can you tell the readers a bit about him?

The character developed as I wrote it. I wanted someone who seemed ordinary and fairly geeky to start with, but had the potential to break out of his boring lifestyle. Making him physically attractive and intellectually brilliant, allowed me to explore elements of both. He hates new technology which gave me scope for some humorous moments. His relationship was also enjoyable to write. It gave me an opportunity to highlight how many normal people are out there who are lonely and find it difficult to find someone special, even though that’s not my own experience.

9) Can you tell us more about the coat of arms calling card used by the killer?

The Bear & Ragged Staff exists and was adopted by Robert Dudley and his brother who were fascinated by an ancestor who fought in the hundred years war. I thought it was a perfect symbol for the killer to use as it gave a clue that would show who had committed the crime, but was obscure enough not to give too much away initially. It also proved visually appealing on the cover and throughout the book.

10) Do you think Andrew Larkin would really resign and take up an easy life after living in the fast lane of National security? Or is there a sequel waiting to be written?

Who said he was taking up an easy life? He had just had enough of the manipulation and politics. I have two projects in the pipeline, neither of which involve any of the characters. But its possible we will revisit them as some point. Perhaps the readers have a view?

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

John will be having a promotional event at Costa Coffee in Fleet on Saturday 22nd March from 10.00-2.00, if you are local and free that day, please try and support him. Thanks.

Thank you John for a fascinating insight in to your book, good luck with the new ideas for your next piece.