Our Writer Of The Week is author Hazel Meredith-Lloyd. Hazel’s short story, “Mystery By The Book”, appears in the May 31 issue, on sale this week.
Humour and intrigue work well in “Mystery By The Book”. Is a well-balanced plot something you enjoying crafting?
Absolutely. I really enjoy studying story structure, plot, characterisation and setting. My sister introduced me to a book by John Yorke about story structure, titled “Into The Woods: How Stories Work And Why We Tell Them”. I love going to literature festivals and had the great pleasure of meeting John Yorke at the Hay Festival last year. Whenever I’m watching or reading something, my notebook is never out of reach. I jot down notes about why favourite stories are so effective, so that I can learn from them and incorporate learning into my own writing.
Are the stories you write the same type of stories you enjoy reading?
Yes. I enjoy reading and writing all sorts of stories, but the common theme is that I tend to include humour in most of my writing, regardless of genre or form. Currently, I am studying for a Masters by Research in Storytelling and am writing a cosy crime novella for my dissertation. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading and watching all sorts of cosy crime fiction as part of my research and am now getting stuck into writing my own story. I can’t believe how lucky I am, doing something I love. Having a cosy crime story accepted by “The People’s Friend” is a dream come true.
Jane Austen features in your story. Has the great author inspired you in any way?
Definitely! Jane Austen’s work played a huge part in me enrolling on an English Degree in 2018 at the age of 48. My local university was having a summer school session on “Pride And Prejudice”, which is my sister’s favourite book. She asked me if I’d like to go along. We both really enjoyed taking part in the session and, at the end, the tutor asked us if we had English Degrees already. Neither of us had and the tutor encouraged us to enrol.
We both enjoyed every minute of the degree, meeting a wonderful group of tutors and fantastic fellow students, and studying a wide range of literature. One of our favourite parts was creative writing, and we have both gone on to write novels, short stories, poems and articles. To link to Austen again, my sister’s novel is a retelling of “Pride And Prejudice”, which she is currently submitting to agents.
As a reader, what do you look for in a good book?
Quite simply, I want to be taken on a journey – either literal or emotional. I love interesting, layered characters and humour. I don’t mind there being difficulties to overcome in a book, and I do enjoy crime fiction and books that tackle difficult subjects. Ultimately, there to be warmth, hope and love at the heart of a book and an uplifting ending.
Do you ever include snippets of conversation you hear every day in your stories?
Yes, I often note down things that grab my attention when I’m out and about. I like to imagine what the story is behind overheard snippets and create a new story out of it.
Do you find writing for the “Friend” an easy practice?
It’s absolutely wonderful. As soon as you get your first story accepted, you are assigned your own editor. I love the cosy, uplifting tone of “Friend” stories and am enjoying writing ones in different genres.
You can find out more about Hazel’s stories on her Amazon page.
Thanks, Hazel!
You can buy issues of “The People’s Friend” on Mags Direct, in newsagents and supermarkets every Wednesday, or by money-saving subscription.
If you enjoy fiction, don’t miss our stories and serials online, too.
Alan Spink I am a member of the “Friend” Fiction Team. I enjoy working closely with writers and being part of the creative process, which sees storytelling ideas come to fruition. A keen reader, I also write fiction and enjoy watching football and movies in my spare time. My one tip to new writers is “write from your imagination”.
