When a man is found murdered at Bethesda House, a home for adults with learning difficulties, local people start to accuse the home's residents of being behind the killing. The victim was a manager at the home, and seemingly a respectable and well-liked family man. DI Winter Meadows knows there's more to the case than meets the eye. As he and his team investigate, Meadows discovers a culture of fear at the home - and some unscrupulous dealings going on between the staff. Does the answer to the case lie in the relationships between the staff and the residents - or is there something even more sinister afoot?
Title: Frozen Minds
Author: Cheryl Rees-Price
Published By: Accent Press
Date: Oct 14th 2016
Link: UK: Amazon US: Amazon
Guest Post with Cheryl Rees-Price
Welcome to Sincerely Book Angels
Thank you for having me as a guest on your blog today.
What was the inspiration behind this novel?
The inspiration for the book came from a conversation with a relative. She was having a tough time with her boss and was on the verge of quitting her job. To cheer her up I suggested I turn her boss into a character in my next book. The boss ended up becoming the murder victim and there were plenty of suspects! As it turns out the real boss got sacked having been the subject of a serious police investigation.
Did you always want to be a writer?
I get asked this question often and people seemed surprised when I say, no. I left school at sixteen to work in a factory making jumpers. I was always a bit of a daydreamer and this helped pass the monotony of the day, I guess this should have been a sign that there was a host of stories stuck in my head waiting to get out on paper.
I didn’t have a career plan or a future mapped out and was happy to go where life took me. Six months later I left the factory, I took on a job as a legal clerk without a clue how to type or use a fax machine so returned to education, studying in the evenings.
I worked hard to gain my A-levels then took a completely different direction and studied accountancy in university. When I married and had my children I continued to study but my favorite part of the day was reading the bedtime stories. As the children grew I progressed to making up stories which included my girls as characters, still I didn’t have the confidence to write a book or share my work. Years later I was asked to write a play for a local church. I enjoyed the process and the reaction from the audience so much that it gave me the confidence to write my first book.
What other jobs have you had?
As mentioned above before my writing career I worked in a factory, then as a legal clerk in a debt recovery department. When my daughters were young I worked as a part time book keeper. Now I work as a finance director for a project management company. Ideally I would love to write full time.
How did it feel when your first novel was published?
It was the first time that I felt I could call myself a writer. Up until then I was full of self-doubt and at the point of giving up. It’s a wonderful experience to see your book out for all to see. I still sometimes feel like a fraud when I’m asked to give a talk or to sign a book.
Have you ever had writer's block? If so how did you overcome it?
I don’t tend to get writers block. I get panicked at the start of the process when it is just an idea. It seems like a mountain to climb to turn that idea into a full length novel. To combat this I go back to the notes of my first book, and see that I had a lot less to work with.
What motivates you to keep writing?
My mind is always buzzing with ideas. I love creating characters and seeing where a story will take me. Sometimes I get days where I don’t feel like writing and want to spend the evening curled up with a book or watching TV. To get through this I set myself a word limit each day. This usually motivates me to keep writing.
Do your characters moods ever affect your mood and vice versa?
Yes. I guess I put a little of myself into the characters so if they are in a bad mood you can guarantee that I’m not having a very good day.
What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
1) Finish that book.
2) Write for your own pleasure.
3) Never give up.
Which authors inspire you?
I’m an admirer of a great number of authors, among them, C.S Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. They have a wonderful ability to transport their readers into another world. I’m more than a little in awe of them and rather than inspire me to write I found that I was deterred, fearing that I could never write as well.
What are you reading at the moment?
I’m reading The Accident by Linwood Barclay.
If your book was made into a film what song would you choose for the opening credits?
Something by AC/DC I share the love of this band with my lead character.
Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book?
I think Misha Collins would be a good fit for Winter Meadows. He is close to what I imagine the character to look like.
What is your next book about?
My next book centres on the investigation of a missing child.
And now think about the books you've read and just give the first one that comes into your head for our quickfire 'Which book round.'
Which book has made you:
Laugh out loud?
The man on platform 5 by Robert Llewellyn
Cry your heart out?
The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by Martin Sixsmith
Want to read it again?
Before I go to Sleep by S.J Watson.
Think more?
The Shack by Wm Paul Young.
Wish it would be made into a film?
The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith
Shocked?
Flowers in the Attic by V.C Andrews
Scared?
Haunted by James Herbert
Thank you so much for joining us on our blog today Cheryl and good luck with the book.
Sincerely
Book Angel x
Thank you for having me as a guest on your blog today.
What was the inspiration behind this novel?
The inspiration for the book came from a conversation with a relative. She was having a tough time with her boss and was on the verge of quitting her job. To cheer her up I suggested I turn her boss into a character in my next book. The boss ended up becoming the murder victim and there were plenty of suspects! As it turns out the real boss got sacked having been the subject of a serious police investigation.
Did you always want to be a writer?
I get asked this question often and people seemed surprised when I say, no. I left school at sixteen to work in a factory making jumpers. I was always a bit of a daydreamer and this helped pass the monotony of the day, I guess this should have been a sign that there was a host of stories stuck in my head waiting to get out on paper.
I didn’t have a career plan or a future mapped out and was happy to go where life took me. Six months later I left the factory, I took on a job as a legal clerk without a clue how to type or use a fax machine so returned to education, studying in the evenings.
I worked hard to gain my A-levels then took a completely different direction and studied accountancy in university. When I married and had my children I continued to study but my favorite part of the day was reading the bedtime stories. As the children grew I progressed to making up stories which included my girls as characters, still I didn’t have the confidence to write a book or share my work. Years later I was asked to write a play for a local church. I enjoyed the process and the reaction from the audience so much that it gave me the confidence to write my first book.
What other jobs have you had?
As mentioned above before my writing career I worked in a factory, then as a legal clerk in a debt recovery department. When my daughters were young I worked as a part time book keeper. Now I work as a finance director for a project management company. Ideally I would love to write full time.
How did it feel when your first novel was published?
It was the first time that I felt I could call myself a writer. Up until then I was full of self-doubt and at the point of giving up. It’s a wonderful experience to see your book out for all to see. I still sometimes feel like a fraud when I’m asked to give a talk or to sign a book.
Have you ever had writer's block? If so how did you overcome it?
I don’t tend to get writers block. I get panicked at the start of the process when it is just an idea. It seems like a mountain to climb to turn that idea into a full length novel. To combat this I go back to the notes of my first book, and see that I had a lot less to work with.
What motivates you to keep writing?
My mind is always buzzing with ideas. I love creating characters and seeing where a story will take me. Sometimes I get days where I don’t feel like writing and want to spend the evening curled up with a book or watching TV. To get through this I set myself a word limit each day. This usually motivates me to keep writing.
Do your characters moods ever affect your mood and vice versa?
Yes. I guess I put a little of myself into the characters so if they are in a bad mood you can guarantee that I’m not having a very good day.
What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
1) Finish that book.
2) Write for your own pleasure.
3) Never give up.
Which authors inspire you?
I’m an admirer of a great number of authors, among them, C.S Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. They have a wonderful ability to transport their readers into another world. I’m more than a little in awe of them and rather than inspire me to write I found that I was deterred, fearing that I could never write as well.
What are you reading at the moment?
I’m reading The Accident by Linwood Barclay.
If your book was made into a film what song would you choose for the opening credits?
Something by AC/DC I share the love of this band with my lead character.
Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book?
I think Misha Collins would be a good fit for Winter Meadows. He is close to what I imagine the character to look like.
What is your next book about?
My next book centres on the investigation of a missing child.
And now think about the books you've read and just give the first one that comes into your head for our quickfire 'Which book round.'
Which book has made you:
Laugh out loud?
The man on platform 5 by Robert Llewellyn
Cry your heart out?
The Lost Child of Philomena Lee by Martin Sixsmith
Want to read it again?
Before I go to Sleep by S.J Watson.
Think more?
The Shack by Wm Paul Young.
Wish it would be made into a film?
The Seventh Scroll by Wilbur Smith
Shocked?
Flowers in the Attic by V.C Andrews
Scared?
Haunted by James Herbert
Thank you so much for joining us on our blog today Cheryl and good luck with the book.
Sincerely
Book Angel x
About the Author
Cheryl Rees-Price was born in Cardiff and moved as a Young child to a small ex-mining village on the edge of the Black Mountains, South Wales, where she still lives with her husband, daughters and two cats. After leaving school she worked as a legal clerk for several years before leaving to raise her two daughters.
Cheryl returned to education, studying philosophy, sociology and accountancy whilst working as a part time book keeper. She now works as a finance director for a company that delivers project management and accounting services and sits on the board of a local circus company.
In her spare time Cheryl indulges in her passion for writing, the success of writing plays for local performances gave her the confidence to write her first novel. Her other hobbies include walking and gardening which free her mind to develop plots and create colourful characters.
LinksCheryl returned to education, studying philosophy, sociology and accountancy whilst working as a part time book keeper. She now works as a finance director for a company that delivers project management and accounting services and sits on the board of a local circus company.
In her spare time Cheryl indulges in her passion for writing, the success of writing plays for local performances gave her the confidence to write her first novel. Her other hobbies include walking and gardening which free her mind to develop plots and create colourful characters.
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Thank you for hosting me today.xx
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome Cheryl X
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