ingénu/e chats to writer Patricia M Osborne

Since ingénu/e met Sussex-based writer Patricia M Osborne at a gathering of literati a few years ago we have enjoyed and reviewed her House of Grace trilogy and two poetry collections. We interrupted her busy writing schedule to ask these questions.

It's been a while since we reviewed The Granville Legacy, the final book in your House of Grace debut trilogy, what have you been up to since then?

Thank you, Gill, for inviting me to this interview, and thank you for asking me this question. Wow! I’ve been busy since the publication of The Granville Legacy. Publication-wise I’ve had two poetry collections published with The Hedgehog Poetry Press: in July 2022 my winning poetry conversation with Brian McManus, 'Symbiosis' (which you kindly reviewed), which was followed up in August with 'Spirit Mother: Experience the Myth'.

However, I’ve not been idle in the novel world, on the contrary, and this summer will see the launch of The Oath. The Oath is a heartbreaking historical fiction, coming of age saga, set in the late Victorian era. I’m hoping the reader will like reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Did you always want to be a writer? When did your writing journey start?

I’ve always loved writing, mainly poetry, but never took it seriously, that is, until I started a creative writing course as part of my Open University degree back in 2012. I must admit when I began this course, I thought I knew the lot! How wrong I was. Once I’d got over the initial loss of my muse due to grappling with all the technical tools my creative inspiration returned. However, my main mode of writing was poetry. It was only after writing a screenplay as part of the BA degree that I was sent on the novel route. Prior to that I’d never imagined myself writing such a long piece of work, but I could now see my story in pictures and told my good friend, Maureen Cullen, that I was going to write a novel. Maureen has been with me all the way on my writing journey. I not only see her as a close friend but also my mentor, and I can’t thank her enough for the support she’s given me both in my writing and friendship.

I followed up the BA degree with an MA in Creative Writing via Brighton University which gave me the confidence to become a professional writer.

Writing can be a very solitary occupation, is that something you embrace or is it a necessary drawback? And if the latter, what do you do to combat that solitude?

I suppose writing can be a solitary occupation for some, but I don’t find that at all. Maybe it’s because I have numerous writing friends who are always ready to offer their support.

Since finishing the MA in 2018, my writing bestie and I meet on a regular basis. We plan outings for writing inspiration and even venture on our own mini writing retreats together. We inspire one another. I live in a writing world and I simply love it.

What do you find the most challenging part of creating a novel? And the most interesting part?

Time has to be the most challenging part. The most interesting is all of it! No, seriously, I love the whole process. I love research because I learn so much, but then I love the editing and layering when I watch my story spring to life.

You seem as busy writing poetry as you are working on your novels. I would imagine these are very different disciplines, can you work on both concurrently or are they mutually exclusive?

My novels and individual poems work hand in hand. This works because if I don’t have time to lose myself in my novel, I can start the beginning of a poem. However, when I’m working on a poetry collection, it becomes a little more difficult. Mentally, I could still manage both but would need more hours in the day.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to start out on a career as a writer?

Write for themselves first and foremost. Publication comes later. Once they get to that stage then don’t be afraid of rejection. Rejection is what makes writers stronger. Keep going. Oh, and join a critique group, either face to face or online. Don’t be afraid to show others your work.

What's next for you?

I’ve written another trilogy, titles subject to change, Fractured, Spiral Fracture, and Spiral Strands. This series is set in the 1970s and wouldn’t leave me alone until it was finished. I managed to write the three books in one year.

The story is quite different to the House of Grace trilogy, and The Oath, but I hope my readers will love it just as much. The first two books have certainly gone down well with my beta readers. The last book is in the editing process and my beta readers are anxiously waiting for the file to drop in their inbox.

On the poetry front, I’m planning a new poetry project, titled Embracing my Roots, which is going to need a lot of research, and another, or maybe two, poetry conversations are on the cards too.

Visit www.patriciamosbornewriter.com for more information or follow Patricia on social media.