#IndieAuthor Spotlight | S. L Grigg

I am very excited, today is the first of my new monthly feature. Indie Author Spotlight! Championing indie authors. First up i have the lovely Brummie, Author of Coffee Break Companion S.L Grigg. More on the book later first lets meet her.

Question and Answer with Author of Coffee Break Companion S.L Grigg
Firstly, thank you so much Sharon for taking time to talk to me today.
Please can you introduce yourself to everyone.
Hi everyone, I’m Sharon a 40-something mom of two, Brummie born and bred. Now living just outside my hometown in Bromsgrove with my partner of almost 6 years. No pets but would like a dog (or cat). My children are grown-up but yet to fly the nest, both having disabilities it seems unlikely they will get to do so. I work in the NHS as a Contract Manager and enjoy working with spreadsheets for managing the financial aspects of the contracts and data analysis. When I’m not at work or writing I spend my time being creative in other ways, such as crochet, and I’m a trained Pilates instructor.

1) When did you start writing?
I started writing when I was very young, I couldn’t say exactly when, but my mom has a poem I wrote in primary school and I have a collection of stories I wrote when I was about 9-10 with teddies as the characters. One of my early stories written when I was 11 is included in Coffee Break Companion, it’s called Lost and is about two young girls who are shipwrecked.

2)Have you always wanted to write and be an author?
Yes, it has always been one of the things I wanted to do since I was small. I started reading at 2 and loved books so much I knew I wanted to write my own. But, as with most children as I grew up I wanted to be many other things too, some of the ones I remember most are air-hostess (too short), lawyer (changed my mind after para-legal training) and doctor (not rich or clever enough for medical school – plus I’m no good with blood! Haha).

3)Who influences your writing?
I don’t know, I don’t think I’m influenced by anyone in particular. Myself, I guess. Much of my writing comes from experiences, thoughts and feelings, and the rest can be random ideas inspired by music, news stories, word prompts or just pop into my head from nowhere.

4)What is your writing process?
I would definitely say I’m a pantser. I generally let the words flow, they lead me, the characters and plot develop themselves. When I try to plot, or force writing I end up with unfinished work that hits a full stop after putting an outline together. It feels unnatural to me. Most of the time I can’t just sit and write for set times like a lot of writers do, I have to feel it.

5)Where did the idea for Coffee Break Companion come from?
I had written a lot of short stories and poems and decided I wanted to put them together in a book, but I’ve never had much confidence in my own writing, so taking the plunge and publishing Coffee Break Companion was more about a personal achievement than if anyone else read it. I wanted to be able to hold a copy and say, ‘I wrote this!’. If other people then read it and enjoyed it, that was just a bonus. I wouldn’t have dreamed of trying to send something to a publisher!

6)Do you enjoy being an indie author?
Yes, the freedom of being fully in control of what I write and publish works for me. I don’t have deadlines to meet, which would be impossible with my work and homelife. It’s hard work, and very time-consuming and has cost more than I’ve made in sales, but despite all that it’s been amazing to meet some lovely people, bloggers, authors and most of all the people who have read Coffee Break Companion and loved it.

7)Are you writing anything at the moment?
I’ve got many projects on the go, when any of them will be finished is another thing, but I keep writing when I have inspiration. Most likely Coffee Break Companion 2 will be the next book I finish, as always I finish short stories more than any attempts at full novels, haha. Maybe one day I will finish one of the novels I am working on too…

8)Tell us an unusual fact about you.
I once auditioned for X-Factor. I got through three rounds, and you don’t even get in front of the judges or on TV getting that far! I’m kind of glad I didn’t get any further, I’m not brave enough to sing in front of a large audience. I don’t even know what possessed me to apply in the first place.

Facebook page –
https://www.facebook.com/SLGRIGG76/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/SLGrigg
Blog – https://slgrigg76.wordpress.com/
Instagram –
https://www.instagram.com/s.l.grigg_author/

Coffee Break Companion | S.L Grigg

Blurb Grab that cup of coffee (or tea if you prefer), maybe add a splash of something stronger, settle down and enjoy your break with this gripping collection of flash fiction and poetry that will send shivers down your spine. With an added bonus of a longer story at the end that will fill your lunch break. What are you waiting for? Dive in! Everything from a discovery in an Ice Cavern, to a tornado. Mermaids, and Dragons. Mystery and Horror. This collection of flash fiction and poetry has something to capture anyone’s imagination, with a final chilling thriller that will leave you gasping for air.

Extract ALTER EGO Allow me to introduce myself, I’m not sure if we have met. I’m ‘T’, take that how you will. It’s not my name, you know that already. ‘T’ for trouble. ‘T’ for teenager. ‘T’ for tears. ‘T’ for terrible. Tantalize, terrorise, tart, tattoo, tear-away, tease, tantrum, temper, temptress… the list goes on. You may have caught a glimpse of me occasionally. Other’s only know this me. Whatever your experience of ‘T’, you can be sure of one thing, you’ll never forget me. I come out to play when things get tough, emotions are high, and life is too much for ‘her’ to handle. I am the escape, the freedom, letting go, forgetting (not forgiving), fun, fun, fun … … I am out of control and I love it. I can do

anything, be anything, have anything, nothing is beyond my reach. I want, want, want. I take, take, take. Give me your attention, don’t stop. Thanks. Now I’ll move on to the next one. Line up, line up I’m here for the taking, I want you to want me. Dressed up to the nines, high as a kite. I’m going to dance all night. Knocking back shots, smoking pot. Anything goes, for this is my show. I flutter my lashes, wriggle my hips. Everyone watching, as they should be – don’t you wish your girlfriend was as hot as me – hahaha. I play with hearts, I play with minds, I play with bodies, including mine. I look in the mirror and what do I see, a sexy little minx winks at me, but behind those eyes the secret lies. The broken girl, the alter ego, the real person trapped beneath the mask. The eyes lie, the sparkle isn’t there, it’s lost like her.

I shake my head, straighten my hair, touch up my make-up and glare. I push her away for another day, she cannot have this she would not appreciate the effort it takes, with her emotions and feelings she is just a mess. Lock her up and throw away the key. There’s too much fun to be had to waste your life being sad. Get up and go, run and scream, dance and dream. Tonight is my night, get me another drink. Laughing, flirting, enjoying it all. Look at me, bad girl on the prowl, hunting a victim. Try to chase me, you may catch me, but you’ll never keep me, this girl is not for taming. Gimme your number, I’ll never call. One night is all, so do not fall. Leaving a hoard of devastation and destruction in my wake, I steal your mind, and your heart I will break. But she will be back when I awake, so no sleep tonight, try as she might. I won’t let her have this back, I need to rule it, possess it. This is my night. I am ‘T’, come to me, the alter ego who loves to be everything she could never be – free… Call me ‘T’

My Review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2426966027

GiveAway! Win!

S. L Grigg is kindly giving away a signed copy of Coffee Break Companion. All you have to do is follow the link and complete the actions to get yourself into the draw. Good luck!

https://kingsumo.com/g/fsswex/win-a-signed-paperback-of-coffee-break-companion

Many Thanks again to Sharon for taking the time out to talk to me. It’s been an absolute pleasure having you on my blog. 🙂