Today, we’re thrilled to interview A. H. Richardson, a versatile London-born author and artist. With a background in drama, music, painting, and sculpting, she now excels as an author, known for the Jorie series of children’s chapter books and the Hazlitt/Brandon murder mysteries. Her debut novel, Murder in Little Shendon, sets the stage for a captivating post-World War Two English village murder mystery. Residing in East Tennessee, A. H. Richardson continues to weave engaging tales with her distinctive British flair, promising more literary treasures in the future.
Favorite quote from your book?
I do have a favorite quote, the truth is I have quite a few, but the one I think I like the most, and one I hope that youngsters reading this book will espouse, is where the Great Wizard Grootmonya, thanks the children and tells them: “You have shown immense loyalty, courage, duty and responsibility, for one so young. You will go far in life with these qualities.” This summed up the Great Wizard’s appreciation for their exploits, and his recognizing that there were brave and wonderful children.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
What did I want to do as a child? Good gracious! My aspirations were legion. I wanted to be a vet, I wanted to be a painter (a great one), I wanted to be a writer… but what I most wanted to be was… (hang on to your hats here, folks!)–was a movie star, Capital M and capital S!
When did you write your first book and how old were you?
I am embarrassed to say that, other than essays and compositions written at school, which according to the nuns, (yes, I was educated at a convent) showed enormous talent! My first book was written when I was (slight drum roll here) 74! I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘aren’t you a bit long in the tooth to start a writing career?’ Actually one does one’s best thinking when one is just slightly older, only because we can really allow our imagination to take wing in a way that wouldn’t have been possible earlier… at least, that is my personal experience.
How did you begin writing? Did you intend to become an author, or do you have a specific reason for writing each book?
The idea for this book had been cooking in my ‘noggin’ (cute British word for brain) for a long time, and I made myself promise that I WOULD write it at some point. When I bought my snug little mountain house in Tennessee, I finally had some time… and that was all it took. Just time, and a keyboard, and unleashing that wild imagination, and let it romp! Becoming an author took a gradual sort of state of mind… once it got a hold of me, I really couldn’t let go.
Once I created Jorie I realized that she could not just have one book, so I wrote a second Jorie and the Gold Key, and am working on a third, which is almost done. The other genre I love, is writing murder mysteries, all with a British flavor, as they take place in cute little English villages, where there is more scandal and skullduggery (I LOVE that word) than you can imagine, and I have written three of those.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
A ‘quirk’ can be many things, one of which, if this makes any sense at all, is that my ‘characters’ start talking to me during the day, and then I know I have to follow through on their instructions–it’s actually a lot of fun!
Do you like to create books for adults, youth and/or children? Why?
I do enjoy writing for adults, and the who-dun-it has always appealed to me–I think we write about what we know. Wait a minute, don’t think that I know a lot about murder, dear me ‘no’, but I do know about little villages in England, and there is something about trying chase down the wicked and the vile that is so much fun. As for writing for children, I am strictly speaking not a grown-up yet myself, and it is not one of my goals! You write so much better when you can hold on to your childhood!
How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
I have written almost six books, and it is hard to choose a favourite. Possibly Jorie and the Magic Stones takes the blue ribbon, after all, it is the first-born. Among the murder mysteries, I loved writing Act One, Scene One, Murder. Having had an interesting life in the theatre, I feel very at home writing about actors and all their nutty idiosyncrasies!
How long does it take you to write a book?
It takes me about three months to write a book, because once I start, I just go!
How many hours a day to you devote to writing? Do you write a draft on paper or at a keyboard (typewriter or computer)?
There is nothing mundane about writing, it is all, in its entirety, exciting. I write on plain old computer paper at my computer (which I fail to understand completely at times!) I may write three hours a day, or when my characters command me! The most mundane part of writing is when you say, “Oh Lord! I just ran out of ink!!”
What does your family think of your writing?
Family is very supportive of the writing, and think that mum is ‘a genius’–I have educated them well!
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
When I am not writing, I am painting. On canvas, on plywood, and they are mostly wild looking landscapes, and I paint with a palette knife.
What do you think makes a good story?
What makes a good story? Fabulous, believable, irritating, funny, scary and wonderful characters.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating/writing your books?
What did I learn writing? Trust your instincts, they are nearly always spot on.
What authors do you like to read? What books have had a strong influence on you or your writing?
I loved the Bronte sisters, absolutely magnificent writers, and W. Somerset Maugham, and the indomitable Agatha Christie. AND Shakespeare, I did almost all his plays in England.
Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
Readers tend to ask, “How do you manage to imagine all that stuff?” This is usually a huge compliment.
Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
The ideas for my books are out of my head, and I make up village names, and strange languages, much more fun thataway!
Do you have any suggestions to help one become a better writer? If so, what are they?
Make your characters jump out of the pages; yes, you should have a good plot, but you hold your readers’ interest with the characters I believe.
Do you write every single day?
I write every day, it’s not a chore.
Any writing rituals?
Rituals, well I don’t sacrifice a goat or anything before I begin… usually two cups of coffee, put on makeup (most important) love my two pugs, then sit and write.
Tell us some more about your books.
Jorie and the Magic Stones is the first book in my new children’s chapter book series. It follows one heroic nine-year-old girl on an unforgettable adventure.
Any last thoughts for our readers?
Readers, I would say this, read, read, and read. And, IF you want to write, then do it… it takes determination, patience, drive and undying enthusiasm.
Find the author
Jorie and the Magic Stones
When Marjorie went to live with her frosty maiden aunt, she couldn’t imagine the adventures she would have with dragons — good and bad — and all the strange creatures that live in a mysterious land beneath the Tarn. The spunky 9-year-old redhead forges an unlikely friendship with an insecure young boy named Rufus who lives with his crusty grandfather next door. When Jorie — for that is what she prefers to be called — finds a dusty ancient book about dragons, she learns four strange words that will send the two of them into a mysterious land beneath the Tarn, riddled with enchantment and danger. Hungry for adventure, the children take the plunge, quite literally, and find themselves in the magic land of Cabrynthius.
Upon meeting the good dragon, the Great Grootmonya, Jorie and Rufus are given a quest to find the three Stones of Maalog — stones of enormous power — and return them to their rightful place in Cabrynthius. Their mission is neither easy nor safe, and is peppered with perils in the form of the evil black half-dragon who rules the shadowy side of the land. They have to deal with a wicked and greedy professor, the tragic daughter of the bad dragon, caves of fire, rocky mountainous climbs, and a deadly poisonous butterfly.
Jorie must rely on her wits and courage to win the day? Can she do this? Will she find all three Stones? Can she save Rufus when disaster befalls him? Will she emerge victorious? She and Rufus have some hair-raising challenges, in which they learn valuable lessons about loyalty, bravery, and friendship.
