NK Chats To… Kerena Swan

Hi Kerena, thank you so much for bringing your blog tour for Driven to Novel Kicks. Which part of the writing process do you enjoy most?

I like planning the novel and defining the character traits but I sometimes struggle with writing the first draft. I always think it’s complete rubbish but once I re-visit it and start tweaking and editing it (a process I really enjoy) I then find it’s not as bad as I first thought. When I was training to be a social worker, we had to write assignments of 750 words. This sounded easy but in truth it was doubly difficult. Every word had to count so I used to write 2,000 words to get all the necessary facts and theories in then I’d have to cut out nearly two thirds of it. I learned to enjoy the challenge, though, and the skill has really helped me in my writing. I have to write council tenders for my care agency and the word counts are tight. I enjoy cramming loads of information into short paragraphs.

Some authors don’t read their reviews. Do you read yours?

For me, the most rewarding part of the whole writing process is reading the reviews. Whilst they may not always be positive – although all my books have ratings of 4.3* or above – I’m just thrilled to know that people are reading what I’ve written. What would be the point otherwise? Negative reviews that give reasons are really useful as they help me to improve. Also, if someone has taken the time to write a review the least I can do is read it.

In several of your books you feature a man with Down syndrome. Do you have personal experience with people with Down’s?

I have worked with children and adults with disabilities for the past forty years so have a pretty good understanding of how they cope with life, think, behave and communicate. I utilised my experience to write Who’s There? from the first-person perspective of a man with Down syndrome. The positive reviews were so encouraging, and everyone said how much they loved his character, that I recreated him – with a few minor changes – into the character Tommy in the DI Paton series. I had the privilege to work with a particular young man with Downs many years ago. He used to love dressing up and playing a part. He was funny, helpful and a joy to be with. Tragically, he died jumping off a bus because he’d forgotten his fare but I still think of him and dedicated Who’s There? to him.

Do you read other people’s books and if so what genre?

I’ve always been an avid reader but for the past couple of years I’ve had a lot of problems with my eyes and find reading too much very difficult. I tend to ration myself to writing instead. Because of this I mostly listen to audiobooks. Some are fantastically written and the narrator really brings the story to life. Other times the book is well-written but the narrator can be really irritating – pausing unnecessarily or emphasising the wrong words. It doesn’t matter how good an author is, the book is only as good as the narrator.

I mostly enjoy psychological thrillers but also read crime thrillers. Occasionally I listen to literary fiction as I belong to a book club and I’m currently listening to Peter Kay’s autobiography for a spell of light entertainment. I love Robert McCammon’s Matthew Corbett series as the narrator is on another level of excellence and I really enjoyed Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce and The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare.

What advice would you give to would-be writers?

Write in a genre you enjoy reading and write for pleasure. There are only a handful of authors who make a living from it from the thousands that try. I participate in a lot of writing courses and festivals and pay for professional checking and editing so when I do my tax return I’ve always spent more than I’ve earned. I thoroughly enjoy writing though, and find it gives me a release from what can be a stressful day job.

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About Driven: 

Every mother’s worst nightmare
It was only for a couple of minutes, while dropping Noah off at nursery. Little did Melanie realise that leaving her sleeping son in the car would end up being the biggest regret of her life.

A teenage challenge turns sour
For teenager Woody, stealing cars with his new friend helps alleviate the tedium of a life of poverty and boredom. This isn’t what he wants to do with his life but for now, he feels accepted. Except on this occasion, his actions have consequences that could change his life forever. Is it too late to turn his life around?

How far would you go to save those you love?
While DI Paton is on the case of the missing child, he is quickly drawn into a web of deception that hits dangerously close to home. He soon finds himself torn in two, not knowing which way to turn: save his career or his family? Will he be able to crack the case before he himself cracks?

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About Kerena Swan

​We are thrilled to be introducing DI Dave Paton and his son Tommy, the stars of the first novel in Kerena Swan’s new series, to the world.

Before coming to Hobeck, Kerena had published three novels, Dying To See You, Scared to Breathe and Who’s There? and has built a solid fan base around her writing career thus far.

She is a juggler extraordinaire: driving forward a successful care business she runs with her husband yet finding time to write.

She loves to write, here and there and everywhere when she’s not working. We don’t know how she does it but we are glad that she does! Kerena talks about her writing, her influences and how she came to Hobeck in this video.

​Say hello to Kerena via her website, Twitter and Facebook. 

Click here to buy on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

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Win a paperback copy of Blood Loss by Kerena Swan.

Would you like to win a copy of Blood Loss by Kerena Swan? Here is your chance. Simply enter by clicking here. Open to UK only.

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UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter link above.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email.

If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner.

Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. 

Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. T

his will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.