Lucky 13 Interview With Tina Baker

1 – Can you start by telling us a little about your current book?

Call me Mummy (Viper Books) is my first novel. It’s terrifying having it out in the world. A launch in lockdown when I’ve never seen it in an actual bookshop is gutting.

Dame Lorraine Kelly said it’s ‘dark, heart breaking and totally absorbing.’ LBC’s Eddie Mair said he couldn’t put it down.

It’s a psychological thriller about a woman desperate for a child – so much so, when she sees a child being neglected by her mother, she steals it. It’s also the story of the mother who loses that child – one branded a ‘scummy mummy’ by the media and social media trolls. Some coal black humour amongst the horror too. 2 – Are you a plotter or a pantster?

Very much a pantster. On my MA in Creative Writing at City University we had 2 years of being told again and again to plot, then Julie Myerson, the professor’s wife turned up and said she never did any plotting and every woman on the course cheered. I think I did so out loud. 3 – Savoury or sweet?

I’m a total sugar ho. 4 – Three books to a desert Island. Go!

How To Survive and a Desert Island. I feel Non Fiction has a place here!

Complete works of Dickens. Cheating. But we could all do with a little Dickens on an island, ha ha!

Ditto Shakespeare. 5 – Star Wars or Star Trek?

Both. But, if forced to choose, I’m born on May the Fourth Be With You! 6 – If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

To magic away bastard Covid. 7 – Music or Silence when writing?

Used to be Radio1 when writing, until the pandemic. Now can only bear silence when working. 8 – If you could live anywhere in the world, and take everything that you love with you, where would you choose?

I’ve never been, but New Zealand. My mother-in-law lives there, and I’ve always wanted to live by the sea. Or somewhere a bit warmer – Barbados, where I got married, perhaps.

However, having shielded due to asthma for a year, pretty much anywhere where they have zero Covid! 9 - Your favourite karaoke song?

I Will Survive. A metaphor, innit. 10 – One piece of advice to an aspiring writer?

Just keep going. No matter the rejections, No matter that you don’t think you have anything new to say. No matter those days and nights when you’re totally convinced you’re a crap writer. No matter how old you are. No matter how little time you have to write. 11 – You win £1 million, but you must give half to charity. Which charity do you choose, and what do you do with the rest of the money?

Action for Children. I’m giving 10% of my royalties to this charity. I’ve supported them all my adult life because they help the most vulnerable kids.

For myself, I might finally move to the seaside. And probably rescue more cats. My husband, however, is campaigning for a vibrating chair and a new pretend steering wheel for his Xbox games. 12 – Horror films, yes or no? If so, any favourites?

Both yes and no. I’m jumpy at the best of times. I have to be steeled! Se7en, Silence of the Lambs, Misery and The Shining are my classic faves. 13 - What are you currently working on?

Currently editing Nasty Little Cuts, my second Viper Books – another psychological thriller. It explores those small niggles, resentments and cruelties that build and build within relationships, and then in highly charged situations like Christmas can erupt into something horrific. Bridget Jones meets Jack Reacher.