A Life in Books with Rita Wilkinson

 

Today I welcome author Rita Wilkinson to my blog to discuss A Life in Books.

 

Could you tell me a bit about yourself ?

I was born in Dundee in 1943. I then lived in Newcastle until 1956 when we moved to Heighington a beautiful village in County Durham. I’m married with two daughters, and it wasn’t until I was 69, after years of wanting to write a book but never felt I had the ability, that my first novel ‘Three Feet of Lightning’ was accepted by the first publisher I sent it to and it came out in print in 2013. Since then I have self published my second novel ‘Kitty’s Torment’ in 2016 and my first children’s book ‘Don’t Tell Isabella’ came out in April 2017. I have a great passion for writing now, both women’s fiction and children’s books so I currently have two on the go. A sequel to Kitty’s Torment is being written by special request, and I’m loving writing my second children’s book. Both are currently unnamed but I’m hoping to have them both in print and e-book later this year. All my three books are available in paperback and e-book.

 

1. What was you favourite book from childhood?

Possibly anything by Enid Blyton particularly The Famous Five, but had it been out when I was a child it would have been Cops and Robbers by Janet Ahlberg. A book I loved reading over and over again to a little girl several years ago.

 

2.  What type of books did you read as a teenager?

Perry Mason Mystery books I loved them. I also read lots of book about the Second World War particularly about the horrors of the concentration camps. I’m sure I must have read them more from the shock of what happened than for pleasure!

 

3. When you were at school what was your favourite book you studied?

I don’t really remember ever focusing on any specific book at school perhaps that’s because it was so long ago.

 

4. What is your favourite classic book?

Possibly Little Women but to be honest I never read a lot of the classics. Perhaps that can be something I will consider reading in the future.

 

5. What would you consider to be one of the best books you have had over the last 5 years?

The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak. Can I be cheeky and add The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Anne Shaffer and Annie Burrows. This book was bought for my neice but as she is not a reader this was not a book that could tempt her so I read it on her behalf – it is a truly fascinating read.

 

6.  What book to you think you should read but never get round to?

The Kite Runner /A Thousand Splendid Suns–both by Kahled Hosseini or now I feel I should be reading some of the classics!

 

7. What do you consider to be your favourite book ?

Falling Leaves – Adeline Yen Mah

 

8. Is there a book that you have started but been unable to finish?

Can’t think of one off the top of my head, but I have just struggled reading No-one’s Girl by Rosie Goodwin but I did finish it.

 

9. If you were stranded on a desert Island which 2 books would you want to have with you?

The Island by Vicotria Hislop and Philomena by Martin Sixsmith

 

10.Kindle or Book
Prefer book by must admit I do have a kindle. I often forward my own manuscripts to my kindle and read them on my ipad when I am editing, somehow it seems easier.