Quercus Couch: S.B. Hayes
This week on the Quercus Couch we’ve got the wonderful Siobhan Hayes, author of Poison Heart, one of the most dark and magical tales of the year.
Alice Hill: Where were you born and raised?
S.B. Hayes: I was born and raised in Crosby, Liverpool, and I still live very close by, in an adjoining suburb.
Alice Hill: How many brothers and sisters do you have? Is anyone else in your family a writer?
S.B. Hayes: None of my family are writers. I have three children, all boys, and I hope that one of them will be interested in becoming a writer, but they show no signs of it yet!
Alice Hill: Did you enjoy school? What is your most vivid memory of your school years?
S.B. Hayes: I loved school although I was quite shy. I attended a single-sex convent school that was very strict and demanded the highest standard of behaviour. My most vivid memory is being caught swearing about a lengthy homework assignment. I thought I was safe at the back row of the class but my teacher excelled in lip reading. I was made to stand in the corridor for a double lesson with our headmistress, Sister Scholastica, on the prowl.
Alice Hill: What educational qualifications do you have? Have you had any formal tuition in creative writing? If so, where and what? Did you find it useful?
S.B. Hayes: I studied Humanities at university but my course didn’t involve any creative writing. My only tuition has been the literary agents and publishers who were kind enough to give me their feedback and advice on how to increase my chances of being published.
Alice Hill: Did you always want to be an author? If not, what did you originally want to be and when and why did you change your mind?
S.B. Hayes: Yes, I always wanted to be an author. I can remember being as young as six or seven and spending all my pocket money on a notebook to write in. I loved being faced with a pristine blank page because of the endless possibilities it presented.
Alice Hill: What were the first pieces of writing that you produced? e.g. short stories, school magazine etc.
S.B. Hayes: My first piece would definitely have been a poem. I was obsessed by rhyme, rhythm and the repetition of words. I would compose endless verses in my head when I was supposed to be doing math or something boring.
Alice Hill: Who were your role models? Which writers have influenced you the most? Which person do you most admire?
S.B. Hayes: I admire so many writers, both modern and classic, I couldn’t pin down just a few and, of course, I would love to be able to write as well as all of them, but it’s important to find your own voice and literary style.
Alice Hill: What jobs did you have before you started writing?
S.B. Hayes: I’ve always worked in offices in different roles but I don’t think I was a model employee. I was often sneakily writing poetry or short stories instead of processing pension applications or insurance claims.
Alice Hill: Do you write full-time? If so, when did you start?
S.B. Hayes: I would love to write full-time but it never seems to happen, though I do try to work on something every day, if only proofreading my previous efforts. If I’m found slacking I try to convince people that I’m mentally preparing, always important before beginning a story.
Alice Hill: What was your goal then? What is your ambition now that you have achieved success as a writer? What is the next challenge for you personally?
S.B. Hayes: My goal was always to have a novel published. My current ambition is simply to have the opportunity to continue writing for Young Adults and maybe younger teenagers. It’s such a pleasure and a privilege, I couldn’t ask for more.
Alice Hill: Have you ever written in other genres? Under pseudonyms?
S.B. Hayes: I’ve tried my hand at writing romance for women and a psychological thriller. I’ve also written children’s novels for middle readers. I’ve used pseudonyms in the past, some of which I’m really embarrassed about.
Alice Hill: What personal experiences do you feel have informed your writing? Do you have a connection with or fondness for particular characters or locations?
S.B. Hayes: I probably do draw on my own personal experiences but it isn’t a conscious thing. I’m just as likely to gain inspiration from being observant in everyday life; people-watching is one of my hobbies. I have a fondness for characters with plenty of flaws and definitely in jeopardy.
Alice Hill: What inspires you?
S.B. Hayes: I’m inspired by the whole process of creating something out of nothing and it still amazes me that one small idea can evolve into a full-length novel. Every other writer, published or unpublished, also inspires me for being brave enough to turn their thoughts into words and engage with a reader.
Alice Hill: How do you write each book? i.e. do you block out the narrative first, take each page at a time, create the central character, build a cast of characters etc? Any anecdotes about the research or writing of your books?
S.B. Hayes: I never have any trouble creating characters, they’re firmly fixed in my imagination and by the time I come to describe them they already feel like old friends. I take more time with the plot of a novel and often work out a chapter-by-chapter sequence of events with all the twists and turns before I begin, otherwise I literally lose the plot! If my inspiration wanes I’ve been known to take a long bus ride. The sheer boredom always concentrates my mind.
Alice Hill: Have any of your books been televised? Who by and when were they screened?
No, but I live in hope.
Alice Hill: What is a typical writing day? What time do you start? Where do you write? Do you break for lunch? What exercise do you do?
S.B. Hayes: My writing schedule is inconsistent and is often dictated by my other commitments. I always want to do more than I’m able and have guilty dreams where I’m sitting at my computer furiously tapping at the keyboard.
When I wake up I’m always annoyed that I can never remember what I’ve written! I write in my spare bedroom which is south facing and always warm. My lazy cat lies on the window ledge next to my desk, mocking my endeavours.
My daily exercise is sauntering to the nearest coffee shop for a latte and chocolate pastry.
Alice Hill: How long does it take you to complete a novel typically?
S.B. Hayes: With a coherent plot I could write a novel in less than six months but with the important editing process, it can take up to a year.
Alice Hill: What do you do when you are not writing? How do you relax? What are your hobbies?
S.B. Hayes: There always seems to be a million and one things to do and never enough hours in the day, but I’m not unique in that. My husband has his own business in which I’m gainfully employed. (Although he might disagree with this statement!) In general I find it really hard to relax but I love going to the cinema and theatre, or visiting flea markets to buy anything old, worn or slightly battered. I’m l lucky to live close to the sea and I like to walk along the beach, particularly in winter.
Alice Hill: Have you started your next book? Can you tell us a little bit about it?
S.B. Hayes: Yes, I have started my next book. It combines the quest for a missing person with a love story that to succeed has to defy the immutable laws of time. I adore my latest heroine; she has an attitude problem, is impatient and, after a brush with death, feels that time is slipping through her fingers.
She is drawn to an atmospheric manor house in the search for her brother where she has to undergo certain trials, but her ultimate test will be to preserve her soul and be reunited with her one true love.
Alice Hill: What single thing might people be surprised to learn about you?
S.B. Hayes: I was born on Friday the thirteenth, something I tend not to share.
Alice Hill: Anything else you’d like to add?
S.B. Hayes: So many talented people help in the production of a novel and without their dedication it wouldn’t get off the ground. It’s important that an author doesn’t get all the credit. The only other thing to add is – having my first novel published is wonderful. I’m still expecting to wake up!
