Inspiration is a funny thing. It can come to us like a lightning bolt, through the lyrics of a song, or in the fog of a dream. Ask any writer where their stories come from and you’ll get a myriad of answers, and in that vein I created the WHAT (What the Hell Are you Thinking?) interview.
Today’s guest for the WHAT is India Holton, author of The Secret Service of Tea and Treason, the story of two rival spies who must brave pirates, witches, and fake matrimony to save the Queen.
Ideas for our books can come from just about anywhere, and sometimes even we can’t pinpoint exactly how or why. Did you have a specific origin point for your book?
The Secret Service of Tea and Treason originated with the character of Daniel Bixby, who was the hero’s butler in The League of Gentlewomen Witches. I hadn’t intended him to be anything more than a bit player, but then he walked into a scene with his deadpan attitude and his sexy glasses, and I was instantly smitten. Plus the gossip network of servants to which he belonged intrigued me, if you’ll pardon the pun.
Once the original concept existed, how did you build a plot around it?
This is the most fun part of the writing process! When I have a concept, I first create a blurb for it, which is just a few lines capturing the heart of what I want to tell. If it’s impactful, I know I’m onto something. Then I write a synopsis of the plot. I work on this for quite a while, layering in hooks and character arcs until I have a comprehensive overview of the story that still gives me breathing space while writing. This approach helps me see very quickly if a plot is engaging and will hold its momentum.
Another thing I find helpful is to have a few scenes vividly in mind so I’m sure my imagination as well as my intellect are up to the job. Ironically, the scene that I used as a foundation for Tea and Treason’s plot ended up being just one line in the book!
Have you ever had the plot firmly in place, only to find it changing as the story moved from your mind to paper?
Always! This is why I use the synopsis method rather than a detailed plan. It’s like having a blueprint of a house and then being free to decorate each room, maybe even take down a wall or two. For example, the main characters in Tea and Treason, true to their rule-obeying nature, tried to follow the synopsis nicely, but the side characters went off on tangents, created unexpected twists, and generally had a field day with my ideas.
Do story ideas come to you often, or is fresh material hard to come by?
They used to come thick and fast, but these days they’ve slowed right down, probably because I’ve developed a better sense of what ideas will work as a novel. This is a relief, because having a wealth of stories you can’t wait to write is less fun than it sounds!
How do you choose which story to write next, if you’ve got more than one percolating?
I look at my body of work thus far and what I want to do with my brand going forward. I consider the market and consult with my agent. Then I make a rational decision wild guess based on that.
I have 6 cats and a Dalmatian (seriously, check my Instagram feed) and I usually have at least one or two snuggling with me when I write. Do you have a writing buddy, or do you find it distracting?
I’m not able to have pets in my current home so unfortunately am catless for the first time in my life, which is a sore trial to me. Writing goes so much more easily when you have a purring ball of fluff curled up on your lap. On the other hand, I recently puppy-sat for a couple of weeks and barely got any work done. Puppies and writing are not a productive mix!
National bestselling author India Holton lives in New Zealand, where she grew up running barefoot around islands, wandering forests, and messing about in boats. She writes historical fantasy romcoms featuring unconventional women and charming rogues. Both her books have been Indie bestsellers, Amazon Editors Picks, and featured on several Best Of lists. The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels was a New York Times Notable Book of 2021. India's writing is fuelled by tea and thunderstorms.
