A very warm welcome to the very talented
author, Teresa Joseph Franklin. This is her first ever interview, read on…
Title: Heartfelt Baring All, Volume One. An anthology of
poems
Volumes 2 and 3 will be published later this year and into
2014
Author: Teresa Joseph Franklin
Page Count: 40 pages
ISBN: ASIN B00CA6QUR4
Genre: Various poems on different subjects/topics for
example ‘New Beginnings’
Cost: $7.99 and £5.37
Can you tell me something about yourself?
I am a mum to three grown sons, not quite yet a grandma, but
would love to be one day.
My real name is Helen Moule, oh dear the cat is out of the
bag! And adopted the name Teresa Joseph Franklin in honour of my mum Helen
Teresa Nelson, Joseph is my grandfather’s name and Franklin is my father’s
name. They have and will always have a great bearing with all my work as a
writer and author, must be something in the genes because at times I do not
know where the words come. But I know that they were accomplished writers in
their own right in their days gone by.
I have to say both your real name and
adopted name are very attractive.
Divorced and loving the single life once again I can pursue
a career as a poetry writer and novelist. I won’t give my age away (hehe a
woman’s prerogative). Also, I am currently studying with the Open University as
a part-time student, working my way to a BA (Honours) in Business Studies which
is two thirds of the way through. I cannot
wait to get that all important Certificate at the Degree ceremony in 2017/18.
Yes a long way off it may seem, but taking a look back where has the three
years gone since I started?
Well it seems we have something in common.
I studied with the Open University and loved every moment of it (I smile!)
What inspired you to write?
It has been more who has inspired me to write! I was once in
a poetry group with some friends who wrote their own poems, then along came my
thoughts and feelings on how to write poetry, even though it was rudimentary
and not perfect like my friends were and still are. But I supposed they
inspired me from day one with my very first poem entitled ‘Forever Friends’ way
back in February 2012.
Not so very long ago in real terms.
Who are you favourite authors?
One of my greatest and favourite authors is John Grisham, in
real life he is an American Lawyer and most of his novels such as the ‘Street
Lawyer’ and ‘The Firm’ they are gripping novels and I like the way he weaves
the plots into the story lines and keeps you gripped right to the end of the
book. Also another novelist that I really like reading is Ian Rankin yet again
set against the back drop of legal dramas in and around Edinburgh. You can
probably guess I like Legal novels by now
Can you tell me something about your latest book?
My very first novel is called ‘Break a Leg’ which I am still
working on and working through. It is all about putting a concert on stage. The
main story line or lines are going to be about the people who are involved in
producing it, say for example the lighting director, musical director, stage
hands, props, costumes, oh and just a snippet body guards as well. But
‘Heartfelt Baring All’ the anthology of poems which will be published in a
total of 3 volumes tells its own story of life through time and space.
Oh my, a poet as well.
Wow! How long did it take you to write it?
‘Heartfelt Baring All’ – it has taken in total just over the
6 months to write the poems.
Can you tell us something about the writing
process, do you have a set time for writing, and did you do any research or
anything else of interest that was involved?
Writing ‘Heartfelt Baring All’ has been written in my spare
time. Well, when I have not been studying. There has been no research with the
Anthology, they have been written purely from life experiences, situations and
circumstances.
Break a Leg, I do try to set aside the whole weekend to
write, but sometimes other things can get in the way especially if there is
deadline to be met with submitting poems to a publisher or studying. There is a
lot of research that needs to be done and has been done so far on the novel. It
needs to be researched just in case there is, or will be someone reading and
saying ‘that is not right’. For example I have a plot in the book where a
Lawyer is involved in trying to find out what is happening with the funding ,
so there is a great deal of research that needs to be absolutely spot on.
I do know the feeling that things get in
the way when you are trying to write, it’s usually life in general for me.
What do you think readers will come away
with when they have finished your book?
I am hoping that they are going to ask ‘where is the
sequel?’ As I have ideas already for one
Oh, good luck with writing a sequel.
WOULD YOU BE KIND ENOUGH TO GIVE US AN
INTERESTING PARAGRAPH OR TWO FROM BOOK?
The morning
song birds have sung their songs, the dawn chorus, all ready for their day’s
busy lives, flying here and there. Catching the first moth, bug or butterfly
for their own breakfasts, stretching their wings whilst flying high on the
lightest of breeze in the skies first light, colours wondrous, red, orange,
yellow, with the glint of the skies blue hue. Nothing breaks their silent
world, except for the chirping to each other. It is their time where the other
world is silent and still; no hazards, no perils, except for the felines that
are still out and about, stalking for their last prey before going home and
sleeping the day away, ready and waiting for the next prowl at midnight.
Jelena
now feels as if what she is proposing to do with Danny and Gordon might now be
the best course of action. But the pair of them are up to something they looked
too cosy in that theatre. She wants to get to the bottom and find out. Her gut
feeling is telling her something is not right as per usual, and as for Gordon
oh yes he has changed and not for the better. The guy she once knew has gone
out of her life but not out of sight or mind right now, no stirrings of once
was that has been dealt with. This Gordon well maybe just maybe get the Private
Investigator and not let anyone know what she is up to.
Is there anything else of interest you would like to
share with us?
To conclude I have listed the nominations and awards that I
have won with my poetry since February 2012 below with the relevant website
links. The title of the book is listed first and the poem that won the
nomination is in italics, followed by the date awarded
What Lies Within. A Collection of Poetry – ‘I Stand My Ground’ 2nd July
2012
Into the Shadows. A Collection of Poetry – ‘Your Worst Nightmare’ 2nd
January 2013
End of Days. A Collection of Poetry – ‘Our World’ 14th January 2013
The UK Poetry Library’s Top Writers of 2012 – ‘Quiet Space’ 16th August
2012
Through The Eyes of a
Poet – ‘The Music Washing Over Me’ 9th
October 2012
Ten Of The Best Poets Of 2013 -Top Ten Poets of 2013 - There
are 20 poems that have been chosen for the inclusion. Far too many to list but
here is one of them being ‘A Dream
Unfolding’ 23rd January 2013
International Who’s
Who in Poetry 2012 – ‘Sucking the Life’
18th October 2012
International Who’s who in Poetry, 4470 W. Sunset Blvd, Los
Angeles USA
Best Poets And Poems Of 2012 – Featured Poet – ‘Are We So Blind’ 20th
January 2012
World Poetry Movement, 1776 Park Avenue , Suite 4-176, Park
City, UT 84060 USA
A foot note to all my
fellow poets, keep plugging away the rewards are out there for grabbing. I kept
plugging away with poetry competitions across the UK and USA. And now the
Poetry Publishers come looking for me!
Well thank you so much for this very
fascinating insight into your writing career to date and good luck with your
future ventures.
Very nice and congrats Teresa on your success! Also, thanks Diane for hosting Teresa for her first interview. Well done, Ladies.
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