ℚ Songs for Lucy - Philip Wilson

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Philip Wilson to talk about Songs for Lucy (23 March 2018, Philip Wilson, 402 pages), a Women's Fiction Novel.

Praise for The Librarian:

“Wilson has taken a tired old genre, and breathed new life into it by giving what has been a male superhero fantasy to a female, and a desk-bound one at that.” ~Ron Capshaw for IndieReader

“I could not put this book down. Very suspenseful, loved the characters. Perfect book for these cold days. Now I must read everything this author has written.” ~Janis, Amazon Customer Review

“Incredible read. [...] I am sad this is Mr. Wilson’s first book. If he had any others, I would read them immediately!!” ~Chris Bish, Amazon Customer Review

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

---

A very warm welcome to Philp Wilson; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter!

What was the inspiration for Songs for Lucy ?

"My first book, The Librarian, was a revenge thriller and while it’s certainly gained traction, especially over the past few months and was featured by the Huffington Post as one of the best Indie books in 2017, I wanted to try something different.

It certainly would have been easier to try another book in the same suspense/thriller genre knowing that it might appeal more so to the same audience. However, I was interested in writing something more thoughtful, emotive and hopefully more inspirational, with more of an emphasis on character development.

In considering possible plots, the story of a talented young woman struck down in the prime of life with a terminal disease seemed to provide a solid premise for developing these objectives."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"Not a great deal actually. I’ve known some people with serious health challenges and been impressed with their determination and spirit.

There’s probably a bit of me in Jack Rollins, the pub owner, in terms of aspirations. (I do own a sailboat but I don’t own a pub.) Otherwise, the story really took form on its own, without much influence from my personal experiences."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Songs for Lucy - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"I enjoy sailing. When you’re out on the water out of sight of land in all directions, it’s a magical feeling like you’re in another world. There’s not a sound except the hull through the water and the wind in the sails.

Given the storyline, I thought an image of a sailboat on a peaceful sea with the sun setting at the horizon conveyed the mood I hoped to capture."

Why should we read Songs for Lucy and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"Hopefully I have captured the devastation and emotional turmoil of a young woman receiving an almost certain terminal diagnosis and her journey to find peace, happiness and a sense of fulfilment in the time remaining to her.

While not everyone could personally relate to that sort of diagnosis and resulting devastation, I hope the character development – notably of Allison the girl who ‘had it all’ keeps readers engaged. On a secondary level, I hope it draws some reflection on what it really means to live a fulfilling life."

Can you tell us something quirky about Songs for Lucy , its story and characters?

"One of the characters, Jack Rollins, had a career in finance but gave it up to buy a pub and a sailboat. I had a career in finance and always dreamed of doing that – but never did. The sailboat had to wait until my retirement and I don’t own a pub (yet?)"

Who would you recommend Songs for Lucy to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"My first book, The Librarian, is precisely the kind of book I would buy myself. Songs for Lucy is not the kind of book I would normally choose to buy, and not the kind of book I would ever have imagined writing.

That said, I like it and I am glad I wrote it. My point being, if it’s the kind of story that appeals to you, go for it. If it’s not the kind of book you would normally read, give it a try anyway. It just might work for you."

If you could / wished to turn Songs for Lucy into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"The story is set in Cape Cod which I think would be a perfect setting.

As to casting the heroine, one thought is to pick an actor who is not established to avoid the audience coming with preconceived expectations about her personality or mannerisms. If I had to pick an established actress, I would choose Blake Lively for the role of Allison Connelly."

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"After a career in finance, writing is an entirely new venture and I’m still figuring it out.

My first book, The Librarian, was a revenge thriller with a female protagonist; and it’s done well both in sales and reviews.

My first inclination was to stick to what had worked, especially as many readers wanted a sequel. However, I wanted to try something different. This book, Songs for Lucy, is a thoughtful exploration of the emotions and reactions of a young woman diagnosed with a terminal disease.

I’ve now started a third book which is more similar to The Librarian, in terms of its genre and style.

I find myself reading more books within the thriller / suspense genre than the women’s fiction genre, but in writing I like to follow my instincts in terms of storyline and plot development."

What is your writing process?

"Not sure I really have one yet. I’ve never taken a writing course but I’ve come to believe a couple of things are true. Firstly, you need a good idea. If you’ve got one, you’re halfway to a good novel before you write the first word. Secondly, each chapter or section must do more than advance the plot. It must be interesting and satisfying on its own. Accordingly, and with this in mind, I have a pretty good idea of what I’m going to write before I even sit down at the keyboard."

What is in store next?

"I’ve started a third book which is more similar to The Librarian. It follows a young Syrian woman who is orphaned during the recent civil war there and goes to work for the CIA in the Middle East, first as an interpreter, then as a spy and ultimately as an assassin.

While she becomes one of the most successful and prolific assassins on the CIA payroll, she realizes she can’t do it forever. She eventually gives it up and moves to New York to pursue a legal career; but still finds the occasional need to fall back on her old skills."

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"Tough question. One possibility: Talisker is a brand of single malt scotch that I buy. I’m working the name into my novels. In The Librarian, it’s the name of a dog. In Songs for Lucy it’s the name of a sailboat."

I like that! And I am very familiar with Talisker as I am very partial to peaty single malt scotch (this is part of my whisky collection). Lagavulin and Caol Ila are my favourites.

Thank you for sharing this with us :-)

What if the 'perfect' life isn't enough?

Songs for Lucy
Available NOW!

back to top