In my latest interview, this time with The Writers’ Lens, I talk about finding inspiration, writing whilst travelling the world and following your heart to create the life you want. I had a great time answering these questions and hope you enjoy it as much as I did! http://www.thewriterslens.com/2015/06/hodgsons-no-damage-follow-your-heart-to.html
It is difficult finding time (and mains power!) to write whilst travelling the world in a VERY small campervan and completing a 10-month world charity tour with my other major love, Friends for Sharks. I have been lucky lately though and have found a moment or two to begin my novel. I thought you may enjoy a sneak peak, so here it is. This has to be my favourite part so far:'The beauty of George’s garden in all seasons drove Beatrice to distraction as she twitched her curtains, watching and knowing she could never create the same. Her garden was a riot of mismatched floppy tulips, out-sized chrysanthemums and every shade of fleshy begonia imaginable in summer. In winter it bore resemblance to a graveyard with its barren beds and occasional woody lavender shrubs with frost-damaged leaves.Quite whether Jonathan the gardener had created Beatrice’s vision of horticultural bliss or not was to be debated, though Beatrice didn’t entirely mind either way. So long as he kept tending her garden each summer, she could inadvertently admire his muscular backside and bronzed thighs under the cover of sunglasses whilst enjoying morning tea. It mattered not that he was a somewhat feckless man with more dirt under his fingernails than intelligence between his ears; the beads of sweat that trickled down young Jonathan’s neck as he arched his back to the sunshine had caused many a tea-soaked biscuit to drop into Beatrice’s tea cup as she gawped. Long summer nights went by in a frenzy of creativity as she imagined all sorts of ungodly ways to tame him and fulfill her unmet desires.'What do you think? I have a love-hate relationship with Beatrice but she certainly adds something with her attitude! I think I may be modelling her on The Golden Girls as she develops...
When I found myself with two runaway grooms to my name (who knew that was even possible), I searched for a book that would bring me comfort, laughter and inspiration when I needed it most. I scanned book covers, authors, websites and more but nothing quite fit my palm or helped me find all that I longed for.Because of that I wrote the book I needed, in the hope that it would uplift and inspire people going through difficult times of their own.I scribbled my story to help dispel the taboos of runaway grooms, abuse, cancer and more. To help others recognise the good in their lives, laugh often and find their will to survive.My own laughter and outright refusal to give up when life could not get much worse (but did) pulled me through every day! I created the life I truly dreamed of from the ashes and I found ways to laugh that I never knew existed – even now I recall the day I attempted to return my wedding underwear to an exquisite bridal boutique with a smile upon my face.That was a tough moment trying to explain why on earth I would return wedding underwear….http://www.amazon.com/No-Damage-survive-everyt…/…/B00R2ZF14Q
