Featured Interview With Tash Bell
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
A London girl originally, I went to Oxford University (to study English). After diverting briefly to Australia (to study men in surf-shorts) I returned to London, where I worked in TV for several years.
I’m now living in Salisbury, a beautiful cathedral town in the Wiltshire countryside. I’ve got three exhausting children, two enormous eye-bags and one over-worked husband.
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I’ve always read a lot. As a young child, I read most of Dickens – not understanding a lot of it, but loving the bits I did! I also became a great fan of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boy mysteries, which is probably why I’m such a fan of ‘whodunits’ now: anything from Agatha Christie to Agatha Raisin is good by me!
That’s why – when I decided to try and write, but worried I had nothing ‘special’ to say – my husband suggested I stop trying to be deep, and just attempt a cracking good murder mystery instead. “Write what you read,” was his (slightly exhausted) advice, so this is what I’ve done! If DEATH ON DAYTIME keeps a bright reader even halfway hooked, I’ll be so chuffed.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
My favourite authors are a mix of old and new: I love Dickens, Austen, Trollope and Oscar Wilde – but I’m also a big fan of Jilly Cooper, Lee Child, Helen Fielding and Caitlin Moran.
When it comes to detective fiction, I’m a great fan of the Victorian writer, Wilkie Collins – he’s really gripping and I love the period feel. I also enjoyed Tony Parson’s first attempt at the genre – “The Murder Bag” is a real page-turner – and was hooked by JK Rowling writing as Robert Galbraith.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
DEATH ON DAYTIME is the first book in my Tess Darling Mysteries – and took me several years to write – hopeless, I know! As a first-time mystery writer, however, I kept getting tangled up in my plot, and killing off characters I then needed to ‘raise’ from the dead (or re-write furiously, at least!) I was also producing three children in between drafts, which meant I was permanently knackered and fitfully deranged. Hopefully the plot benefited as a result! Here’s an upsum –
Tess Darling is a feisty blonde TV producer, who solves media murders with the help of her hunky (but hapless) cameraman Miller. In this first adventure, Tess is forced to investigate when a ruthless presenter is murdered – live on TV. Digging up the dirt on daytime, can Tess outwit devious TV stars, bristling talent agents and vicious competition from her own (very famous) father?
When the killer strikes again, Tess finds her own life threatened. As the stakes rise, inhibitions drop: Tess may have Miller by her side, but it’s hunky Detective Selleck she’s got her eye on…
I hope DEATH ON DAYTIME is a funny, fast-paced read – a bit of escapist fun that will have readers rooting for Tess (and looking forward to Book Two!)
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