Hello. Thank you for visiting my blog today. I’m Rebecca Scarberry (Scarberryfields on Twitter). My next interview is with author, Zoe Sharp. I’m very impressed with the success of the many books she’s written. I have asked her some very candid questions and I think you’re going to enjoy her answers. I did.

Scarberryfields: Can you tell us a little about your nationality/ancestry?

Zoë Sharp: I’m a Brit with all the usual mongrel ancestry, I think — Scots and Irish and Welsh all mixed in. Much like my accent, which is also a mishmash of bits and pieces from all over the northern half of the UK.

Scarberryfields: When you finished your debut novel, did you miss the characters?

Zoë Sharp: Yes I did. Maybe that’s why I started on a sequel almost right away, and I’ve now just finished edits on book ten in the Charlie Fox series, DIE EASY.

Scarberryfields: While writing, if you need help with punctuation, grammar, etc., where do you turn?

Zoë Sharp: I usually muddle through, mainly because I use punctuation for its original purpose, which is to tell the reader where to pause. Therefore, I write with a definite rhythm in mind and try to use punctuation to give the reader that same rhythm as they read the book. However, if I’m really stuck I turn to my father, who was a technical editor and learned Latin. His grasp of the rules of grammar are far superior to mine.

Scarberryfields: With the number of hours spent writing, do family members support you or complain about the time spent away from them?

Zoë Sharp: I think the people around me accept that being a writer is as much a part of who I am as my height or the colour of my eyes. Some things are just hard to change and you simply have to accept them.

Scarberryfields: Does writing benefit you in any way and if so, how?

Zoë Sharp: In one form or another, I’ve made a living from words since 1988, so that’s been a huge benefit, of course! But, more than that it’s an outlet for my creativity and my imagination. What’s that saying? “The biggest journeys a man can make are inside his own head.” That about sums it up for me. Even on the most frustrating days, I wouldn’t contemplate doing anything else.

Scarberryfields: When you’re writing, do you shut-off all social networks?

Zoë Sharp: I try not to, but inevitably other things tend to be a little neglected when I’m in the throes of a book. If it’s flowing, then I want to keep writing. And if it’s not going well I don’t feel I can stop until it is. Real Catch-22 situation.

Scarberryfields: Did you use any family members as Beta readers for your debut novel?

Zoë Sharp: Yes, and I still do — the ones I know will be absolutely ruthless and give me a totally honest opinion, even if it makes me mewl a bit. No point in them reading it otherwise.

Scarberryfields: Do you read ebooks? If you do, and write reviews, do you have any special process you use to write a review?

Zoë Sharp: I do have a Kindle, which I bought when I was converting my backlist for that format and wanted to make sure it would read without coding errors. And although I still prefer the ‘dead tree’ version, I do read and increasing number of ebooks. I occasionally post reviews on Goodreads, which copy through to Facebook, but only of books I like or really like. There are enough critics in the world and if I don’t like something I’d rather not say anything at all. I try to pick out the elements that most appealed to me, without giving away any plot spoilers.

Scarberryfields: What is the last book called that you completed and published?

Zoë Sharp: Hmm, well, edits are done for DIE EASY: Charlie Fox book ten, which will be out in the UK in October and US in Jan next year. The previous book was FIFTH VICTIM: Charlie Fox book nine, but I also have a standalone crime thriller that will be out later this summer called THE BLOOD WHISPERER, and short stories in ACTION: Pulse-pounding tales edited by Matt Hilton, and this year’s MWA anthology VENGEANCE, edited by Lee Child.

Scarberryfields: Where can readers go to find your books? 

Zoë Sharp: Bookstores, the libraries, or online, particularly on Amazon. The full list is on my website — http://www.zoesharp.com — with links as appropriate.

Scarberryfields: I want to thank you, Zoe for taking the time out from your very busy schedule to answer these questions.  I’ve enjoyed getting to know you better and again, I am very impressed with your writing.