Author Interview with Bev Allen!

I got to interview wonderful Bev Allen, she is the author of 'Jabin and the Space Pirates'

You can find my review Here

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am married with two grown up children. I'm a mad keen quilter and I divide my time between writing and sewing. I even keep my computer and my sweing machine in the same room, so I can turn from one to the other as the inspiration takes me.
When I work (writing and sewing don't count), it's as a volunteer administator for a small charity called The Victorian Military Society. They publish orginal research articles on the period 1837 to 1914. Ad you've probably guessed, I have a deep interest in military history.

2. What was your inspiration for this book?

I wanted to write a story about those people who fall through the cracks in society and how, with the right sort of help, they don't have to be left behind. I also wanted to show the softer side of soldiering, the police actions and the peace keeping. I also wanted to show heroes have human hearts.

3. Jabin and Antonia have such wonderful personalities. Which of the do you find more related to?

I created Antonia to be the face of all those poor girls who are forced and tricked into the sex trade every single day, but it is Jabin who I relate to. My father was a very difficult and troubled man who found release for his own unhappiness by the verbal and physical abuse of his children, mainly me. He convinced me I was utterly worthless and that everything horrible that happened to me was my fault and what I deserved.
It took me years and years and a wonderful and loving husband to show me nonethis was true and none of it was my fault.
I know exactly how Jabin's thought processes work, because I've been there. And I know he and I are not alone.

4. Can you describe your book with one word?

One word :-) I'm not sure if I can. Perhaps Deliverance or maybe Redemption. You chose.

5. Do you have a favorite reading/writing place?

I don't have a favorite reading place, I just read where and when I can. I've been known to read while stirring the dinner. For writing, that is easier, in the room where I sew and have my computer. Its really the dining room, but I've convinced everyone they much prefer a tray on their lap to sitting at a table.

6. What's your favorite music genre? 

I love traditional English and Irish folk music, preferably played live. I also have a passion for Mozart and for choral music.

7. Are you currently working on any books? 

I have not long sent ''Lucien and the Tattooed Tribes'' off to my publisher. I am hoping it will be out in not too distant future. Its another adventure story, this time with a strong ecological theme. It's not as dark as Jabin, because Lucien is a very different sort of young man. I this its fun and I am hoping others will think so as well. 
I'm working on two things, one is a fantasy (with no magic, I can't do magic), it follows the fortunes of a young deposed princeling, a band of mercenaries and the introduction of flintlock muskets. I've got the first ten chapters drafted.
The other I'm not sure about, I will have to see what editors etc say, but I am thinking of a family saga with a bit of a murder mystery attached. It will deal with racial and cultural predjuices. It is all still the very early stages, so I think I will leave it at that.


Thanks so much Bev for you time.