POETRY THAT COMES FROM THE HEART AND SOUL: #ASMSG An Interview with Teresa Joseph Franklin by Raebeth Budha

An Interview by Raebeth Buda with Teresa Joseph Franklin

1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I am a mum to three grown sons, not quite yet a grandma but would love to be one day.

My real name is Helen Moule, oh dear the cat is out of the bag! I adopted the name Teresa Joseph Franklin in honour of my mum Helen Teresa Nelson, the Joseph is my grandfather’s name and the Franklin is my father’s name. They have and will always have a great bearing with all my work as a writer and author must be something in the genes because at times I do not know where the words come from at times. But I know that they were accomplished writers in their own right in their days gone by.

I’m divorced and loving the single life once again to pursue a career as a poetry writer and novelist. I won’t give my away hehe a woman’s prerogative. Also I am currently studying with the Open University here in the UK as a part-time student, working my way to a BA (Honours) in Business Studies.

2. What do you do when you are not writing?

Gosh now that is a question to ask. In my spare time I write reviews for my author friends, and then there is proofreading as well. But my main interest is my writing poetry; I find it so therapeutic and relaxing.

3. Do you have a day job as well?

Not a present, but pursuing a career not just as a writer, there is a future in proofreading that I would love to do.

4. When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

February 2012 is when I initially started writing poetry. And my first poetry book is now published, which is called ‘Heartfelt Baring All’ an anthology of poems. With my first novel ‘Break a Leg’ I started that back in August 2012 which is still a work in progress.

5. How did you choose the genre you write on?

It chose me. I was given the challenge to write Break a Leg by a friend, long, long story

6. Where did you get your ideas from?

With my poetry it has come from real life situations, circumstances

7. Do you ever experience writer’s block?

Oh yes and on a regular basis as well, wish there was a cure for it

8. Do you work with an outline or just write?

It can be both with poetry, sometimes the words will just flow and other times I can sit for ages with just a few lines and work that way

9. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either by growing up or as an adult?

Jane Ayre was a great favourite book of mine, her struggles from being pushed into a school that was harsh and cruel and then she became a Governess, it is a great story with some tragic lines in the story but all comes well in the end. It is a story that still has me wanting to read time and time again.

10. Can you tell me about your challenges in getting your first book published?

There have been a couple of challenges insofar as the formatting of my poems into a book. I have always centered the poems in a normal document for presentation purposes, but with a few experimental changes I was still able to keep them centered right the way through the book. The other challenge that I had which I have never done before was doing a profile of me that was something! I have never been a one for talking about myself.

11. If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you would change?

No there is nothing I would change as I seemed to have got it right the first time. Lucky

12. How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?

I belong to quite a few social media groups which can give the book an audience. Twitter is another good place to market my work. Blogging, Pinterest, and I also have my own Author Page as well which really, really helps. Plus the added factor is that whilst I am studying a Business Studies Degree, Marketing is part of the Degree, so I know basically what to do, where to go, and who to speak to.

13. Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?

Not yet but I am sure there will be one in the future.

14. Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

Heartfelt Baring All is an anthology of poems are written from real life situations, circumstances, some are thoughtful, thought provoking and meaningful.

Break a Leg which is a work in progress is all about putting a concert on stage. The people behind the scenes who do the actual work, for example the lighting directory, the stage manager.

15. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

Heartfelt Baring All is based on real life experiences; Break a Leg is based on actual people who produce the concert. But the whole story is imaginary.

16. What was your favourite chapter (or part) to write and why?

So far with Break a Leg Chapter 5 and 6 are my favourite, the reason being is that I am bringing in several shifty, characters, and there has been an event happening that will hopefully keep the readers reading right to the end to find out who done the dirty deed on the producer of the show.

17. How did you come up with the title?

Heartfelt Baring All poems came about with coming from the heart and baring all from it. Break a Leg is a term that is used and spoken before anyone steps onto the stage before performances.

18. What project are you working on now?

Volumes two and three of Heartfelt Baring All

19. Will you have a new book coming out soon?

Volume two of Heartfelt will shortly be published within the next few months.

20. Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?

I love the characters that I am working with right now in Break a Leg, and there could be a sequel to it as it could and might be bringing more storylines and plots.

21. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

I do not think that I have had a really tough criticism at all; just the pointing out of some lines on my poems, but the best is when friends and family say they are the best they have ever read. That to me makes all the difference as a writer of poetry.

22. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers?

Never ever give up, if it is a dream follow it never let it fade away.

23. Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?

I really hope that you are getting hours of pleasure reading my poems.

I’ve now started some FUN and Wacky question for those interviewed on my site

1. Have you ever gone out in public with your shirt on backwards, or your slippers on, and when realising it, just said screw it!?

Oh yes! And what the heck my slippers were more comfy than my shoes.

2. Do you prefer fuzzy or tub socks?

Fuzzy socks they are warmer.

3. Are you a person who makes their bed in the morning, or do you not see much point?

I wait till later in the day to make it what is the point first thing in the morning when it needs an airing

4. Be honest, how often do you wash your hair?

I have longish hair so it needs washing at least three to four times a week

5. Do you get road rage? What pisses you off the most about other drivers?

I do not drive, but by heck I get pedestrian rage, they seem to come at you from nowhere or they have their blinkers on. And another rage is when cell phone users are on their phones oblivious to others, grrrrr.

6. Do you go out of your to kill bugs? Are there any that make you screech and hide?

I try not to kill any bugs little or large

7. Coffee or Tea?

Can I say both? A must is a strong tea first thing in the morning we British are known for our cuppas

8. What is your biggest phobia?

Snakes do not like them one bit

9. What’s your biggest pet peeve when it comes to social media, (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)?

Facebook when they put me in their prison for no reason whatsoever.