Interview with Fenella Miller whose new book is out today!

21.11.12

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing author Fenella Miller, who launches her latest book, Hannah's War today!

Hi Fenella! Can you tell us a little about your latest book. 

My latest book is Hannah’s War. 
World War II brings divided loyalties and tough decisions in this page turning drama from Fenella Miller.
Hannah Austen-Bagshaw’s privileged background can’t stop her falling in love with working-class pilot, Jack, but Hannah has a secret. Torn between her duty and her humanity, she is sheltering a young German pilot knowing she risks being arrested as a traitor. Hannah’s worst fears are realised when Jack finds out what she has done and their love begins to unravel.

What inspired you to write it?
I wanted to write about a girl in the land army and a pilot and set it somewhere I could research easily. Debden is only an hour from me and the airfield is still there to drive round.

Is it part of a series? 
No – although Barbara’s War, which I published last month, has a second part to come next year.

If your latest book was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters? 
It would have to be a fair haired northerner - Sean bean would have been perfect but he’s too old now. No idea about the female lead.

What made you want to become an author?
I’ve always written and intended to become a published author at some point. I had to wait until I stopped teaching to find the time to complete a book. I have 30 traditionally published titles out as well as several indie-published.

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers?
I love all mine – Jane Dixon-Smith is brilliant. Bernard Cornwall’s covers are always excellent.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
I would chose Jane Austen so that I could ask her about the way she wrote and how many characters were based on real people. Also I would like to have dinner with Charles Dickens because he understood the darker side of London.

Who, or what, inspires you?
Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer inspired me to write regency romances. Bernard Cornwall’s’ Sharpe books (with Sean bean as the hero) are the inspiration for most of my Regency heroes.

Where is your favourite place to write?
I work at my PC in my study upstairs – however for the past seven weeks I’ve been sitting on my bed using a new lap-top as I’ve broken my ankle. Now the cast has gone I’m back in my study.

Tell us a little about your favourite book...
Dorothy Dunnett’s Francis Lymond series are my favourite books. I re-read them every few years.

What is your favourite film that was based on a book?
There have been several good adaptations of Jane Austen but the best film adaptation is The Game of Thrones - seamless and fantastic. Again the sharpe films are terrific and the Hornblower series as well.

If your favourite book was made into a film, who would you like to play the main characters?
I’d love to see the Lymond books as a film with Rupert Penry-Jones as the lead.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
My mother was the daughter of the Rajah of Tajpur.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
Wivenhoe in 1845 was the centre for yachting. With the advent of the train from London rich middle classes could get down to their yachts easily.

For more information about Fenella and her books, visit www.fenellajmiller.co.uk  
Good luck with Hannah's War, Fenella!

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