Follow Here To Purchase Burglar Boy

Author: Jackie Martin

ISBN: 1907552146

Publisher: Nightingale Books

Today, Norm Goldman Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is pleased to have as our guest Jackie Martin author of Burglar Boy.

Good day Jackie and thanks for participating in our interview.

Norm:

Please tell our readers a little bit about your personal and professional background.

Jackie:

Well, I've lived in the UK all my life. I'm 50 and married with a 25 year old daughter. I have many years' experience working with children as an entertainer, cartoon illustrator, private tutor and teaching assistant.

Since my lovely old German shepherd dog passed away last year, I've been training to become a full -time primary school teacher.

Norm:

How did you get started in writing? What keeps you going?

Jackie:

I'd always wanted to write a novel and I started this one about ten years ago at home on the word processor. I wrote a little bit whenever I had any spare time.

Determination and hope kept me going.

Once it was finally complete, the encouragement I received from Cornerstones and Kids' Corner helped me persevere in finding a publisher.

Norm:

What was your creative process like when writing Burglar Boy? What happened before sitting down to write? What inspired you to write Burglar Boy?

Jackie:

I don't start writing a story until I have it all, especially the ending, pretty much planned in my head first.

Before sitting down to write, I think of a scene and all its implications.

Burglar Boy was inspired by real-life characters I used to know. I also considered some of my own childhood memories and case studies from my psychology degree.

Norm:

What do you see as the influences on your writing?

Jackie:

I guess my favourite authors, James Herriot and Frank McCourt have had a profound influence on me. I am in awe of the beautiful way they portrayed stories that are very moving, but at the same time packed with humour.

Norm:

What do you want Burglar Boy to do? Amuse people? Provoke thinking? As a follow up, is there a message in the book that you want your readers to grasp?

Jackie:

I want Burglar Boy to provoke empathy, to uplift and entertain people. My aim is to make the unloved loveable.

Its message is that altruism and kindness to animals have far-reaching consequences.

Norm:

Whom do you think will most benefit from your book?

Jackie:

Animal lovers and sensitive souls. It's been put in the 'tween' section of my local library, but most of my readers have been adults and children aged 10+

Norm:

What was the most difficult part of writing your book? Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Jackie:

It was difficult and frustrating having to write it in snippets.

I had to do a lot of checking and re-reading to establish the flow of the story.

I learned that though literary agents might get excited about your book, it's still really hard to find a publisher when your book doesn't fit a particular niche market.

Norm:

Where can our readers find out more about you and Burglar Boy?

Jackie:

They can check out my WEBSITE  where they can upload the first four chapters for free.

Right now there are 11 five star reviews on Amazon.co.uk and 16 four and five star reviews on Goodreads.

Norm:

What are you upcoming projects?

Jackie:

I have another novel almost ready. I like it better than Burglar Boy, but everything's been put on hold 'cause teacher training is all-consuming.

Norm:

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers that we have not covered?

Jackie:

Just that Burglar Boy is cheapest to buy from Amazon, and it's now available as an e-book from smashwords.com for $4.99.

Or your local library might be able to get a copy.

And any budding novelists out there with the right determination can make their novel a reality. I'm living proof that it can be done writing a tiny bit at a time.

Norm:

Thanks once again and good luck with all of your future endeavors

Jackie:

Thank you.

Follow Here To Read Norm's Review of Burglar Boy

Follow Here To Purchase Burglar Boy