Notes on an Island life.
Although I write about London’s East End, my husband and I now live in the south of England. We’ve always got lots to talk about as we love technology, art and writing.
I left school without qualifications and went to work in my dad’s shop. As the only child, I have always kept notes and believe the creative juices flow accordingly. I notice people who write or paint all have their own methods and unique style. Body, mind and spirit rhythms make the arts a perfect vehicle for expression.
People are curious about how I began writing. In 1999 I completed a full-length novel and sent it to an agent.
LIZZIE OF LANGLEY STREET was accepted by the Dorian Literary Agency and after many drafts of rewriting, was taken up by Simon & Schuster.
I come from a large and colourful cockney family, who were evacuated from the East End. So, after LIZZIE, I wrote another London novel, ROSE OF RUBY STREET, published in 2006. CONNIE OF KETTLE STREET followed, then BELLA OF BOW STREET, LILY OF LOVE LANE and EVE OF THE ISLE. My latest book is EAST END ANGEL published October 2011. I have a new book out this October, IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER and am working on a novel for next year with an exciting show-biz influence.
My parents grew up on the Isle of Dogs. This is a horseshoe-shaped piece of land surrounded by the River Thames. The island was almost erased by the Luftwaffe during World War II. Elizabeth I was said to have used the land to exercise her hunting dogs. In 1940, the East End was bombed by the Luftwaffe for nine consecutive months. During this time a doodlebug demolished my parents’ house, but luckily they escaped.
There’s only one thing you have to do if you really want to write, and that is practice. Each day, every day, write a little, read a little, think a little. With the internet at our fingertips, research and information is abundant. Keep a notebook and keen ear for conversations!
I have had many emails from people who now have ereaders, such as the Kindle. So I’ve added a number of links to my LINKS page, reflecting the topics and authors involved with the digital revolution. More and more people are reading digitally and I’m happy to say that EAST END ANGEL and EVE OF THE ISLE are both available in Kindle form.
Happy reading everyone! I do hope you enjoy my novels!
Carol Rivers
