Ros Kind is a long-term email friend, prolific writer, and my mentor for book marketing. Of course, the first requirement for book marketing is to have a good book to sell, and Ros has a new one.
- Tell us a bit about yourself. Where are you from and when did you start writing?
I was born in a place called South Wigston which is four miles south of Leicester city centre. My family had lived there for about 80 years before I was born, since the place began really. As to when I started writing, it went with learning to write. As a youngish school child I filled exercise book after exercise book with stories. Sadly, I don’t have any of them now. I’d love to be able to look back and see what my outpouring involved in those days.
2) Tell us a bit about your new book
Violet’s War is the story of women’s football during WW1. Violet is a working class girl in the north-west of England, she’s married to Billy. Money is tight and they live with Billy’s parents. Playing football is driven by two things for Violet. Firstly, Billy signs up and goes to fight on the Western Front, leaving their young son, Tommy wanting his mother to take the role his father had done in the past. Then she goes to work in a munitions factory and like many factories at that time they have a women’s football team.
3) Where did you get the idea?
I read a very interesting article in BBC History magazine about women’s football being banned by the Football Association in 1921. I wanted to play football when I was at school, but grew up in an era when ‘girls weren’t allowed to play football’. The two things together made me want to know more and to tell the story to people who wouldn’t otherwise know about it.
4) Who is your favourite character?
That’s a really interesting question. I think it has to be Violet. She overcomes so much, but I like her neighbour Tessie too. Tessie is much younger and it hasn’t yet occurred to her that she can’t do anything.
5)Will there be a sequel?
Yes, the sequel will come out later this year. I can’t tell you too much about it as I don’t want to spoil the story, but it picks up where Violet’s War leaves off.
6) What else have you written?
I’ve written quite a wide assortment of books. My Flynn and Reilly series are historical fiction and are what got me hooked in the genre. I’ve written contemporary novels too, such as The Appearance of Truth. I also write non-fiction and have written everything from a book about the art of writing, From Story Idea to Reader, co-authored with Patsy Collins, to The Complete Entlebucher Mountain Dog Book, which gives you a clue to my major hobby.
I have a blog too, Alfie’s Diary, which has been listed for the last few years as one of the UK’s top ten pet blogs.
7) You self publish. How much of your time goes on writing and how much on marketing?
It’s about two-thirds writing and publishing and one-third marketing. It is a completely different skill set and has taken a lot of learning. It is great to see that rewarded with increased sales. I love that my books are reaching ever-increasing audiences.
You can buy Violet’s War from Amazon: https://geni.us/VioletsWar
You can sign up for Ros’s newsletter
E: rosjkind@gmail.com Web : www.rjkind.com
M: 07712 647754 Blog: www.alfiedog.me.uk
T: 01347 838747 Facebook: www.facebook.com/rjkind
Find me on Amazon Twitter: @therealalfiedog
Download The Blight and the Blarney – FREE – Whatever it takes for Michael Flynn to stop his family from starving
It’s a great book!
I think my favourite character might be Tommy. He’s just so nice, and I like his simple view of everything.