Interview with Jill Rutherford, author of The Rocking Stone

What can you tell us about your new release, The Rocking Stone?

The Rocking Stone is the story of a young woman in the early 20^th century who lives in the poverty stricken area of the South Wales Mining Valleys. She thinks she is incapable of loving someone but then meets Tom. However, she has a secret she must keep from him at all costs.

This is a story of love and betrayal and the struggle of a woman to keep her family together and survive in the social unrest of the world she lives in. The social history and atmosphere are authentic.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

 As I’ve been an avid reader all my life I also wanted to be a writer but never really had the confidence to think that I could be. But it was always a dream. Finally, in life, you reach a level where you find the confidence to join creative writing classes and then spend years learning your craft. The final challenge is to achieve success and for me, that is giving pleasure to the people who read my books.

What’s on your top 5 list for the best books you’ve ever read?

Arthur Golden’s, Memoir of a Geisha, it has everything.

Sarah Walters, Fingersmith for the quality of the storytelling and writing.

Agatha Cristie – anything by her – she’s grossly underrated in my opinion.

John Grisham, anything by him is fine by me.

Robert Goddard, again, anything by him is fine by me.

Say you’re the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

Agatha Christie, I’d ask her how she plots her novels.

What’s your favorite thing about writing?

I like the whole process even though it’s hard work but holding your book in your hands when it is published is so very satisfying.

What is a typical day like for you?

I always write between 9am and 1pm as that is my creative time. I do this five days a week. Then I try and do something physical, walking the dog, going out somewhere, gardening, whatever gets me moving.

What scene in The Rocking Stone was your favorite to write?

The last two chapters are my favourite, but I won’t say anything more as they would be spoilers.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Never give up! If you really want something, persistence often pays off when you think all is lost.

Jill Rutherford is the author of the new book The Rocking Stone. 

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