Kimberley Chambers
Payback is the sequel to my Top 20 bestseller, The Trap. It starts in Whitechapel in 1976 and continues with the trials and tribulations of the rather notorious Butler family. Eldest son Vinny has made a lot of enemies over the years, but is still shocked to the core when his beloved three-year-old daughter goes missing. Has she been taken as an act of revenge against him?
Please tell us a bit about the support that you have received from your readers.
I have a wonderful bunch of readers. Very loyal and supportive. I often chat to them on my Facebook and Twitter pages. I get emails from all over. America, Australia, South Africa etc., and I always reply personally.
Why has your life been different from most authors?
Well, I was a market trader, DJ and a mini-cab driver before I turned to writing. I have also written all nine of my books by hand. Technology and I just do not get on lol.
How important is feedback from your readers for you?
It's lovely that my readers enjoy my books so much that they take the time to write reviews, or drop me an email. As an author, your readers are your bread and butter and I tend to treat mine as friends, rather than fans.
It was a gloomy day waiting for your taxi fare that you realised that you wanted something more, so please tell us about this light bulb moment!
I remember being so bored that day and had waited for over an hour for a fare. My mate Hazel rung me, told me she had booked some hairdressing course and asked did I want to go on it with her. My reply "No. I’ve just decided I am going to have a bash at writing a book." I started Billie Jo that very same week.
You left school with few qualifications, so what advice would you give to someone who is in the same boat as you were?
Well, I did not have a clue that I would be able to write a book until I tried. My advice would be, if you think you might have a talent for something, give it a try. You will soon know if you have what it takes and you have nothing to lose.
Why were your family so sceptical in the beginning?
My mum had seen me try and fail at most things. I was a bit like a female Del Boy back in the day lol. I really can't blame my mum for not believing me when I told her my new idea was to become a bestselling author ;-) My aunt and uncle fell about laughing too......
Why was writing so easy for you after the first four chapters?
I think because as soon as I ended one chapter, I immediately knew my next. I don't find writing quite so easy now though. I like to put more thought into my plot lines, therefore have slowed down a bit. I also blame old age ;-)
How is it that you can writer without the aid of any notes?
I do make some notes now. Usually, when I end a chapter I scribble down a few sentences, so I don't forget my next. The Trap and Payback have so many characters, that I’ve got a list longer than my arm of peoples' names, ages, eye and hair colour etc. Would be lost without that.
What is next for you?
Just started the third in the Butler series, which will be my tenth novel. I wrote a trilogy called The Feud, The Traitor and The Victim which was a big hit amongst my readers. Eddie Mitchell was the main character in that, and he pops up in Payback once or twice in scenes with Vinny Butler. I have a feeling that one day a book featuring both families will get written. Watch this space.........