This month my friend and partner in crime shares a view into her real world in Oz and her writing world in the mists of history. Welcome to Nomad Authors, Jan!
NA: How did you come up with the idea for your book, The Proposition?
JS: In 2015 I visited the WW1 battlefields in Belgium and France where 
millions of young men perished in that awful war. Thousands of those war graves bear the inscription Known Only to God. That made me wonder if it was possible for a soldier to swap identity discs with another whose body was unrecognizable. London’s Imperial War Museum and the Australian War Memorial told me it was indeed possible although very risky. If caught, the soldier could face the death penalty. That was enough for me to begin The Proposition.
NA: What sort of research did you do to write The Proposition?
JS: First, emails to London’s Imperial War Museum and the Australian War Memorial. I researched the huge Battle of Amiens which helped turn the tide of the war. I researched the military demobilizing process, post war London and the value of money at that time. I walked London’s streets, visited the pubs and inns and train stations featured in the book to ensure the background was as authentic as possible.
NA: What is the main thing you want readers to take away from The Proposition?
JS: I want readers to feel they are there with the characters.
NA: Do you have a day job? What was your job before you started writing full time?
JS: I’m retired now. My working years were in the dry world of accounting.
NA: What started you on the path to writing?
JS: I’ve always had the urge to write but career and family came first until a change of direction in life five years ago. I had stories to tell and the time to tell them.
NA: What do your friends and family think about your being a writer?
JS: I think most of them were very surprised I actually published a book!
NA: Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
JS: My books start with an idea and I am a seat-of-my-pants writer.
NA: What has been one of your most rewarding experiences as an author?
JS: Definitely the lovely, positive reviews, they make it all worthwhile. And, I must say the biggest thrill I had was holding a copy of my first book, Behind the Clouds, [that became] Perilous Love.
NA: Do you have quirky writing habits?
JS: Not that I know of. Perhaps what I think is normal might be very quirky to others!
NA: Which kind of scenes are the hardest for you to write? Action, dialogue, sex?
JS: Sex scenes are the hardest.
NA: What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
JS: Travel, if I can afford it.
NA: What are your top three favorite books of all time?
JS: Heck, I have dozens of favorite books but three that come to mind now are: Sara Dane by Catherine Gaskin, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, the biography of Sir Edward (Weary) Dunlop.
NA: A pet peeve.
JS: Someone sniffling.
NA: Why did you choose the shirt you have on?
JS: It was at the top of the pile this morning.
NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the in the morning?
JS: I’ll lie here for one more minute.
NA: What errand/chore do you despise the most?
JS: Ironing, although I avoid that like the plague. Coming home from shopping and realizing I must go back because I’d forgotten the main item.
NA: What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
JS: Sir David Attenborough.
NA: What are you working on now?
JS: This interview. Oh, other than that I am working on a story set in Boston and England during the late 18th century.
Thank you for this interview, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Jan
Author bio:
Jan Selbourne was born and educated in Melbourne, Australia and her love of literature and history began as soon as she learned to read and hold a pen. After graduating from a Melbourne Business College her career began in the dusty world of ledgers and accounting, working in Victoria, Queensland and the United Kingdom. On the point of retiring, she changed course to work as secretary of a large NSW historical society. Now retired Jan is enjoying her love of travelling and literature. She has two children, a stray live in cat and lives near Maitland, New South Wales
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Wonderful interview. The reseach you did, Jan, for The Proposition sounds heartbreaking, but also interesting. I haven’t read it yet but it should be another winner by you.
Callie
Thank you for commenting, Callie!
Thank you very much Callie
What a great Blog, a lovely Q and A. I love all Jan’s stories, I especially love her attention to historical detail. I find her books very addictive, once I start I just can’t put them down. I consider her work one of my guilty pleasures, I read her stories in the bath when I am chilling out. I can’t wait for her next story.
Thank you, Ric! Don’t tell Jan, but my favorite of her books is Perilous Love! The settings and the characters were spellbinding and I loved the love story she spun. I’m a sucker for second chances!
Thank you very much Ric. I appreciate your comments very much. In the bath?
Good interview Jan. I haven’t read The Proposition yet, but I did read Lies Of Gold. It was a great book. I could tell you did a lot of research for that book as well. Thank you for working so hard to keep your readers entertained .
Thanks for your comment, Suzanne! I’ve found all of Jan’s books have that touch of realism that lets us feel as though we’re there, back in history!
Thanks very much Suzanne. So glad you liked Lies of Gold
I read The Proposition and thoroughly enjoyed it. The detailed research Jan did really pays off. I felt I was plunged into that post-war world of train stations, tea rooms, rented lodgings, maimed men and sad women trying to rebuild their lives. The love story shines even brighter against the shadow of the war just past.
Alice, what a great comment! I also enjoyed the book a lot. Jan really does her research and then portrays what she learned beautifully.
Thanks so much Alice, a lovely compliment to know you were there in post war London.