This week we chat to “Friend” debut author, Alice Goulding, about her mesmerising story, “Against The Clock”.
Tell us about your story “Against The Clock”.
“Against The Clock” was inspired by the Doctor Who episode of “The Girl in the Fireplace”. I imagined what would happen to a village of clockwork people abandoned after the death of their creator and the story grew from there.
How long have you been writing fiction?
My grandmother was a wonderful storyteller and I have always been an avid reader, but did not start writing until 2013. I joined a writing group and got hooked. After being accepted to a selective writing course in 2018, I decided to write seriously and have been learning the craft ever since.
Did you read the “Friend” before entering our competition?
Before I entered the competition, I would read the “Friend” while waiting at the doctor’s surgery, or the dentist. I now have a subscription, love reading the stories, and have even tried out a couple of recipes.
Who are some of your favourite authors?
I still have my favourite childhood novel “The Little Broomstick” by Mary Stewart. I love Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, and Georgette Heyer. I discovered Julia Quinn before Netflix and my favourite authors are Trisha Ashley, Sue Moorcroft, Jessica Redland, Catherine Tinley and… honestly, I could write a very long list.
What are some of your favourite genres?
As you have probably guessed from my list of authors, Romance is my favourite genre. I am a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and support #RespectRomFic. There is so much snobbery around literary novels and Romance is not taken seriously as a genre. It is the second highest-selling genre and romance novels guarantee to take the reader on an emotional journey that tugs on the heartstrings.
What are your future writing plans?
At present, I am editing my favourite novel – “The Restless Statue”. I initially wrote it five years ago and every so often I take it out of the drawer to review and rewrite it. I have written a Regency Romance – “Colonel Westerbrooke and His Rose” – which is out in the query trenches. I enjoy writing short stories when the stress of writing a novel gets too much. There is a different skill set needed in writing a short story compared to writing a novel. Writing is a joy and a privilege. I love imagining characters and telling their stories and I hope the reader enjoys reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.
Thank you, Alice!
Tracey Steel Having worked on a number of magazines over the years, I have found my perfect place on the “Friend” as I’m obsessed with reading and never go anywhere without a book! I read all of our stories with a mug of tea close by and usually a bit of strong cheese too!
