Today it’s my honour to speak to Sarah England, author of Expected which has been released as a Kindle ebook. Expected which Sarah describes as bad girl’s anti-chicklit is a tale about a working class girl, Samantha Sweet, trapped with the wrong man, Simon. A voluptuous redhead, Samantha has little self-belief and seems to be stirring up a whole lot of trouble. Then she meets Joel, every girl's fantasy; he is a cowboy from the Southern States. Will Samantha make her mother happy and marry Simon or is Joel part of her future.

Sarah England is a freelance writer based in Dorset, in the UK. To date she has around 100 short stories published predominantly in women's fiction magazines such as Woman's Weekly, My Weekly, Take a Break, Yours, and That’s Life Fast Fiction and in newspapers including The Weekly News, The Sunday Post and The Sunday Telegraph. Sarah also has stories in four anthologies published by Bridge House Publishing.

Sarah, what inspired you to write Expected?

I have long thought our lives are largely dictated to us by the expectations of others. Particularly for women who are expected to marry and have children – eventually. When I was hitting my late twenties I felt pressured and married the wrong person. I quickly realised what a terrible mistake I had made and that I was expected to have his children. I was a career woman with a man I didn’t love or even like very much. I had married to make others happy and to fulfil their expectations rather than my own needs and dreams. To have children would have tied me to him forever and I started to panic. It was difficult to extract myself from that situation and it caused a great deal of upset all round. How much better to have stood up for myself in the first place. I’ve also had a stormy career journey, mostly working in sales and marketing for global companies. So lots of life material meant the book was forming for a long time.

How long did it take you to write Expected and what did you enjoy the most about it?

It took a long time because the initial draft was not well written as I was a complete novice. I started writing short stories after I wrote the novel, then once I became published and a much better writer, I went back to the book and was appalled at how awful it was. I re-wrote it about 4 times before I was happy to publish it, and that was after it was critiqued and I had received a wonderfully positive letter from a leading literary agent. There was a lot I enjoyed about writing it - particularly the cathartic exercise of demonising Simon. I love writing comedy and satire - so I can say hand on heart that I really enjoyed writing Expected from start to finish.


Did you plan Expected before you started writing? Are you a planner or a pantser?

I roughly planned out how the story would be told but really my 'pen' flew, and I had to edit, edit, edit afterwards. I write from the heart and soul and am not a particularly good planner/plot organiser. My characters take a hold and I'm in their heads – reacting.

What do you like most about being a published author?
To be honest I write to be read, and the more people who read and more particularly are entertained by, what I write the better. I don't write for my own entertainment - although I feel compelled to write - but to put some joy into the world, some smiles, something nice. If that's recognised then I'm pleased for a job well.

You’ve written many short stories, do you have a favourite genre and why?
Yes I've written loads and had over a hundred published in various magazines and newspapers and anthologies around the world. My favourite genre is comedy/satire, the reason being that hopefully I have made someone, somewhere, smile.

What is your writing routine?

An idea will come into my head at the most inconvenient time - like the middle of the night or just as I'm waking up or out walking the dog - then I will jot it down and allow the whole story to take seed. Writing the story up will be quick and frantic. I'll then go over it in a more methodical way and edit, edit, edit - then decide who will like it best and send it to them. Recently I have been writing almost exclusively for Woman's Weekly as I've had several family dramas come to mind. There is no particular time of day or routine - but the actual writing and editing process is usually morning when I'm at my most awake.


How long have you been writing and what started your interest in it?

I was good at creative writing and English at school but never considered being a writer. I fancied being in publishing but it wasn't to be and I found myself pushed into nursing. Like most other people I had to earn a living to pay the bills and soon I was working in pharmaceutical companies. I didn't have the time or the circumstances to consider writing until my husband (2nd one and we've been happily married nearly 20 years) was relocated to the South of England and we bought a house in the middle of nowhere - lovely and quiet. I've had to forget about earning money and buying things, and just write and write and write until one day someone bought a story. Since then I haven't looked back. I've been writing seriously for about 6 years. What started my interest? I can only say I felt compelled. Driven. Needed to do it.

What are you working on at the moment?
I am currently working on a serial for Woman's Weekly. It will be my first as the editor asked me to have a try just a few days ago. I want it to be very special so I don't let myself or her down.

What advice do you have for other writers wanting to be published?
First of all I would have to say it needs to be something you  want to do very badly because it sure ain't easy! You've got to work hard at getting good - read other people's work, accept all the constructive critiques that come your way, take the rejections on the chin and keep getting back up and trying again. Believe in yourself and have masses of tenacity.

The Kindle edition of Expected is available from Amazon http://amzn.to/orgYUS

Sarah’s website and blog are at http://sarahengland.yolasite.com/

Or find her on Facebook http://on.fb.me/q32kIU

Or Twitter @SarahEngland16