Olivia Hayfield
Author Interview - Olivia Hayfield
Author I draw inspiration from: Philippa Gregory. Her books are impeccably researched and they bowl along – she’s such a terrific story teller. Yet she’s not afraid to take liberties with her historical characters (which makes me feel more confident about doing the same) and she fills in the gaps with her own take on things. She’s pretty hard on Anne Boleyn though! I’m far more of an Anne-Fan than she is.
Author Interview - Olivia Hayfield
Favorite place to read a book: In the bath, with bubbles (some in a glass and lots in the water).
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: Am I allowed one of my own? Then who else but the deliciously bad Harry Rose. If not, then Mr Darcy, though I doubt the conversation would flow. But that probably wouldn’t matter.
Author Interview - Olivia Hayfield
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: probably when my mother said to my young, forever-scribbling self that I couldn’t be one because only the very cleverest of people with degrees from Oxford and Cambridge could be authors
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: paperback, because I like a book to feel lived in - I’m a bender of corners, a marker of pages, and a hardback is too risky in the bath
The last book I read: The King’s Curse, by Philippa Gregory. Just can’t stop obsessing about Henry!
Author Interview - Olivia Hayfield
Pen & paper or computer: paper and pen for research, computer for writing. The very best part of starting a project is cracking open that brand new notebook, scribbling character notes, timelines, swirly circles and lines for plot threads and twists. But for writing, my computer. I can’t begin to imagine how people wrote books before there was such a thing as the delete key.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: Bridget Jones. We have much in common.
Author Interview - Olivia Hayfield
If I wasn’t an author, I’d be a: my day job is editing other people’s books. I wouldn’t change it for the world!
Favorite decade in fashion history: The sixties, in London. Mini skirts, wet look boots, Mary Quant, Biba. Totally over-the-top eye make-up, bangs. It was such an expression of freedom – women were finally casting off their aprons.
Place I’d most like to travel: back in time to Tudor England, to the seat beside Henry VIII at one of his feasts. Before he entered the wife-beheading phase.
My signature drink: Pimm’s loaded with fruit and mint on a hot summer’s day
Favorite artist: I could be pretentious and name some cool enfant terrible of the London art scene, or I could be honest and say Van Gogh.
Number one on my bucket list: I’d love to see the Northern Lights from somewhere magical, like Finland, tucked up under blankets on a dog sled.
Anything else you'd like to add: Thank you for asking me these fun questions! I hope you enjoy reading Wife After Wife as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Find more from Olivia Hayfield:
Facebook: suecopseyauthor (Sue Copsey/Olivia Hayfield)
Twitter: @suecopsey (Sue Copsey aka Olivia Hayfield)
Instagram: suecopsey1 (Sue Copsey/Olivia Hayfield)
Website (coming soon): Oliviahayfield.com
