Lucky 13 Interview With Helen Trevorrow

1 – Can you start by telling us a little about your current book? In New Brighton we meet Robyn who appears to be a regular girl going about her life as a waitress in Brighton. One night a ship runs aground in the city and hell breaks loose for Robyn. She comes to understand that her version of Brighton is not what it seems, and that she and her family are embroiled in something much more complicated and dangerous. 2 – Are you a plotter or a panster? I am definitely a plotter now. I tend to create a detailed plan with main plots, twists and character arcs. I find that once I get into the writing that more changes occur so I will re-edit my plan as that happens. 3 – Savoury or sweet?

Oh sweet for sure – especially nice bar of choc.

4 – Three books to a desert Island. Go!

Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters – Just love it, blew my mind, reshaped history for me and I can very happily read again.

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver – Dreamy, a side-bar to a revolutionary period, and with Frieda Kahlo including.

A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki – Lyrical, sad and contemporary. There’s just so much to consider in this book and there’s Old Jiko, possibly one of the best characters ever created.

5 – Star Wars or Star Trek?

100% Star Trek. Started aged 6 and love all the new stuff, Picard, Discovery and like the look of New Worlds too. I love 7of 9 and Picard obviously – I May have outed myself as a Trekkie here…

6 – If you could have any superpower, what would it be? To shoot lasers from my boobs 7 – Music or Silence when writing?

I have specific playlists for books and characters so yes I always listen to music when writing

8 – If you could live anywhere in the world, and take everything that you love with you, where would you choose? Maybe Malibu beach 9 - Your favourite karaoke song?

The Smiths – This Charming Man. I can get 100% on Sing Star.

10 – One piece of advice to an aspiring writer?

Don’t ever stop. Keep going.

11 – You win £1 million, but you must give half to charity. Which charity do you chose, and what do you do with the rest of the money?

I think it would be the Alzheimer’s Society as both my parents had this horrible disease. With the rest I’d open a really cool lesbian bar in Brighton

12 – Horror films, yes or no? If so, any favourites?

I have two older brothers who babysat me when I was tiny so I watched Friday 13th, and Halloween by the time I was 6. I can watch anything like that now. I have an over-active imagination and can make myself really scared. Amityville Horror still makes me scared just thinking about it. Obviously, Poltergeist is horrendous. I can watch anything like that now 😊

13 - What are you currently working on? I am writing a contemporary thriller set in Ireland and London and I can’t say any more than that!