1.
Did you always dream of being a writer?
As a
child, books absolutely captivated me. I was always coming up with stories full
of adventure and I could never see another career which held so much wonder to me.
2.
How did your writing career develop?
I was
very unwell for a long time with Lyme disease and as I started to recover I
felt more and more that I needed to write about this illness. So many people
have Lyme disease but it’s very misunderstood and few people understand what it
is like to live with it. I felt that this novel was the one I needed to publish
and I’m delighted to say that it will be released on the 31st of
May. I really hope that the book can help raise awareness for Lyme disease and
can help to prevent other people from contracting it.
3.
Your debut novel is called Finding Joy, what is
it about?
The story follows a young woman
as she battles an increasingly debilitating illness, which has left her
housebound and often bedbound. The main character, Joyce, is diagnosed
with ME/CFS but when she and her family start questioning this diagnosis, Joyce
is told her illness is inside her head. The story shows her fight to be
correctly diagnosed and treated for an illness which is slowly killing her and
destroying those around her. I decided to tell the story from three different
points of view because I wanted to show the ripple effect this devastating
illness has on all the people close to the person who is sick.
4.
What was your inspiration for the book?
My
inspiration for the book came from all the stories I had heard and read from
people who have had their lives destroyed by Lyme disease and have had their
loved ones die from it.
5.
Can you tell us more about the main character(s)?
The Lyme
disease is really the main character of the story, even though it doesn’t get
much one to one conversation with the reader. It’s the puppet master that ties
all the characters together and it’s the thing that each of the characters
revolve around.
Joyce,
who has Lyme disease, has her life devoured by this illness. She becomes so ill
that she has to drop out of school, her university applications have to be cancelled
because it becomes clear that she will not be able to attend any form of
education. As her illness takes over her life, she becomes increasingly
isolated as her friends move on without her.
Aunt Beth
is Joyce’s aunt and is Joyce’s only parent figure. Aunt Beth really struggles
to cope with Joyce’s illness as she doesn’t know how to help her once very
independent niece. Aunt Beth’s life is put on hold and all of her plans for the
future have to be set aside as she has to look after Joyce. She craves freedom
yet she’s as trapped by this illness as Joyce is.
Logan is
Joyce’s closest friend but even at that, he fails to notice or realise how
severely ill she is. He inadvertently pushes her to do things she’s not well
enough to do and he learns the hard way what the consequences for Joyce are.
6.
The book is part of a series. Can you tell us about the rest of the
series?
Currently,
the book’s not part of a series but I have a few ideas in my mind for a
follow-on book – so you never know!
7.
Where and when do you write your stories?
Because
of my illness, I have to write when I’m feeling able to - which can be
frustrating at times. I mostly sit at my desk to write, with a very large cup
of tea!
8.
What do you do and enjoy when you’re not writing?
I’m still
recovering from the Lyme disease which means I’m a bit restricted about what I
can do but I really enjoy being able to take my dog for a walk and spending
time with my friends.
9.
If you could switch places with a character from a book, who would it be
and why?
Aww,
that’s a really hard question. I actually can’t decide, there are so many
characters who have lives that I think would be fascinating to experience.
10. What
books have influenced your life most?
The
thing I find so wonderful about books is that every book has something to teach
you. Even if you hated the book, the reasoning behind why you dislike it can
teach and influence you and your writing.
11. What
are you working on at the moment?
At the
moment, I’m not really working on anything other than promoting my current
novel ‘Finding Joy’. I’m feeling the withdrawal from writing though, so I think
I might explore the ideas I have for a possible sequel.
12. What
do you enjoy most about writing?
I find the
whole process fascinating but I think there is nothing better than sitting down
to write and finding the world around you just disappearing. It feels like only
minutes have passed but when you look up, it’s to discover that it’s been
hours, it’s dark outside, your stomachs grumbling and people are in a panic
because you’ve not even noticed your phone ringing!
13. Pick
three authors you want to have dinner with and tell us why.
Sir
Arthur Colon Doyle, Winston Churchill and Emily Pankhurst… each have very
interesting and different books to their name and I think that combination of
guests would create some interesting conversation!
14. How do
your own experiences influence your writing?
I think
the Lyme disease has given me a huge insight into how and why people act the
way that they do, it’s made me questions every aspect of my life and I try my
best to apply that when I’m writing.
15. Coffee
or tea? Predominantly
tea.
16. Paperback
or e-reader? Paperback,
nothing can beat it… except maybe a hardback.
17. Mountains
or the sea? Can I
have both?
18. Summer
or winter?
Haha,
that’s the good thing about living in the Highlands of Scotland… you can have
both on the same day.
19. Sweet
or salty? Sweet I
think.
About the author
I live in the Highlands of
Scotland, which is a beautiful place to live. When I was a teenager I
contracted Lyme disease and now, as a young adult, (and with my health vastly
improved) I have decided to publish my debut novel, Finding Joy. I hope
to use the novel to raise awareness for the illness.
Twitter
- @MorvenMay
Facebook
- @morvenmay
Website
– www.morven-may.co.uk
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