Plz RT: Help Bekki Pate Reach her #Target of 250 pre-orders to become a #Published #Author:

This is an altruistical campaign to help Bekki Pate realize her dream to become a best-selling “PUBLISHED” author. As you read this Interview you’ll soon discover that she is an exceptionally talented creative young writer.

Cap’n Joe: Can you tell my readers a little about your background nationality/ancestry?

Bekki Pate: Most of me is English, although I have one Grandad who was Irish, which is probably where I get my strange sense of humour. My other Grandad is Scottish, and at the grand old age of ninety-one, he can still drink me under the table. I grew up in Nottingham, and spent a few years in Spain when I was in my teens. Ultimately I missed the green lushness of my own country, and I was glad when we came back. I currently live in Cannock, Staffordshire, home of the famous Cannock Chase – I find it both peaceful and creepy when walking through it. It’s where part of my book trailer was filmed, too.

Cap’n Joe: When you finished your debut novel, how did you feel?

Bekki Pate: I think in my head it will never be finished – I can’t stop my mind from thinking ‘hang on, if I change this bit, and alter the plot here, it will be so much better!’ and so I embarked on another arduous journey through draft number 453, coming out the other end with a headache and caffeine jitters. I have learned to leave it alone now, so the version that is up for Britain’s Next Bestseller is the absolute final one…unless I have another Eureka moment. 

Cap’n Joe: While writing, did you need help with punctuation, grammar, etc., if so where did you turn?

Bekki Pate: I am a qualified editor and proofreader, so a lot of it I did myself. Although a golden rule is that the worst person to review your own work is you, so I ‘gently pressed’ a few friends to read my work. Their feedback has been so valuable to me – things that I had missed over and over again were suddenly pointed out to me, glaring back from the page. 

As a writer you don’t notice some things that would be obvious to readers – one example was that I had got the colour of Jim Bean completely wrong, and another was that in one moment, a character had a cup of tea, and in the next moment they had a glass of water. Embarrassing!

Cap’n Joe: With the number of hours spent writing, did your family members support you or complain about the time spent away from them?

Bekki Pate: My partner actually helped me set up my own writing room, filled it with flowers and a new desk and chairs, so I had my own space. He doesn’t really mind as I am quite good at balancing my writing with other important daily activities like work and slobbing in front of the TV. 

The only other person who got to know my writing habits was my sister, but she hates books so she didn’t really ask about it. I remember walking into a WH Smith bookshop with her once and she looked around in horror, covered her ears and made a strange mewling sound. It was hilarious.

Cap’n Joe: Did writing your first novel benefit you in any way and if so, how?

Bekki Pate: It taught me patience, self-loathing, self-criticism, and the fact that no matter how long I work at it, it won’t be completely perfect. I’m not sure these are benefits but it was great for character building! 

It also taught me that, instead of flogging a dead horse, rip the horse into pieces, throw it in the bin, and start again with a fresh, new, crisp horse, and start over. My mantra is that you are limited by nothing but your own imagination, so the only thing limiting you is yourself. Since the imagination is – in theory- limitless, sometimes you have to go on that extra pilgrimage to find the best idea, rather than go with what’s easy. This is what I mean by patience. I have spent weeks mulling something over sometimes, and only when I feel that giddy excitement about an idea, do I write it down.

Cap’n Joe: When you were writing your book, what kept you going?

Bekki Pate: The knowledge that I will never want to do anything else with as much passion and with as much love as I want to write. That even if I’m tired, or feeling uninspired, or I just want to give up and be a ‘normal’ person, I knew I had to tell my story, I had to keep my characters alive. It’s not a choice for me, it’s like a drug, a need. 

Cap’n Joe: Did you use friends or family members for inspiration as characters for your novel, if so who?

Bekki Pate: Most of my characters are based on real people, but I have chosen snippets of their personalities and mixed them up to create them. My character Beth is based on different aspects of three school friends – I don’t even think they know this! The male protagonist Nick is purely fictional, but I got his name from my partner – who at the time wasn’t even my partner! We have been friends for years.

There is of course a little bit of myself in all my characters (except for the murderous demon rapist who goes by the name of Freya, I guess…) I think this happens for most authors – you can’t help but put something of yourself in there. 

Cap’n Joe: What do you do when you aren’t writing? Do you have any hobbies?

Bekki Pate: No, I’m all work and no play. Okay, that’s a joke! I love reading – anything from Sarah Waters to Sebastian Faulks to Stephen King. I am a sucker for anything paranormal really, or anything romantic.

I’m also a huge film buff – the best film I have been to see recently is The Grand Budapest Hotel – it is a masterpiece – if you haven’t been to see it yet, it’s still out at the cinemas, so go! You won’t be disappointed.

I’m also an avid people-watcher…purely for research purposes of course. Sometimes you witness things that are too funny or too tragic to have been made up, and they subsequently appear in my books. If some of the strangers in the street knew exactly how much they had helped me with a scene or a phrase!

Cap’n Joe: Where can readers go to find your book?

Bekki Pate: To pre-order my book, and help me reach my target of 250, you can visit me

HERE: https://britainsnextbestseller.co.uk/index.php/book/index/TheFragmentTrilogyTheWillowTree .

My book only gets published if I reach this target so if you like what you see, please click the pre-order button! You won’t pay anything until the campaign ends in September, and that’s only if I am successful.

Cap’n Joe: Thank you Bekki for taking time out from your busy day to answer my questions. I’ve enjoyed getting to know a lot more about you. It’s a pleasure having you join my blog. I wish you the very best with your book and any you publish in the future.