#Interview with Rachel Walkley/Rae Shaw, author of A Chance Encounter

Today you can find out more about Rachel Walkley, who wrote A Chance Encounter as Rae Shaw, and discover more about her inspiration, herself and her book! Thank you so much for answering my questions, Rachel!

Where did you get the inspiration for the book/series?

The inspiration came from the idea of a bodyguard who can’t help being nosey, and getting herself into things she shouldn’t. She often goes off and does her own thing, and whether her boss likes that or not is what led me to the idea of her working for somebody mysterious and possibly dangerous.

What is your writing process?

I plot the rough outline and but never add much detail to it. Maybe a paragraph per chapter, then I wing it, and hope it works. Many authors will say their characters speak to them, so they end up changing their minds about where the story is going, and this is true. As I write, voices develop, and it can mean abandoning some of the storyline. So I’m a bit of a pantser too!

Do you write using pen and paper or on a computer?

Both. Mostly on the computer, because writing on paper is double the effort as you have to write it up, but then you get the chance to edit it too. I recently bought a ‘writing’ tablet, like an electronic notebook that converts handwriting to text, hopefully this will mean I can write anywhere and not have to type it all up!

Who is your favourite character out of your stories and why?

I’m pretty fond of Julianna. It’s why I want to do a series and keep her going. She’s not perfect, and no character should be, and those flaws are emotional, not intellectual, and she’s trying to suppress them. She’s a great detective, and quite intuitive, but still she’s going to get it wrong sometimes. It gives me plenty to work on.

If you were a character in your story, which would you like to be?

Hettie – the artist with a devoted husband, plenty of cash, nice clothes and somebody to drive the car on long journeys. She’s also sharp, and people underestimate her. She’s the opposite to Julianna, who is uptight and struggles with socialising.

How and why did you choose the names for your main characters?

Julianna, Mark and Ellen were chosen in the first draft, and I stuck with them. The baddie too also was picked early because his name is significant, which is why I’m not mentioning it. I spent some time picking a surname for Julianna. Her grandfather originates from the Caribbean and I wanted something that alluded to an unusual heritage.

Thank you so much for answering my questions – your electronic notebooks sounds like a great idea, I hope it works well for you.

Read on to discover more about A Chance Encounter and its author!

Julianna Baptiste, a feisty bodyguard, finds her new job tedious, that is until her boss, the evasive Jackson Haynes, spikes her curiosity. Who is behind the vicious threats to his beautiful wife and why is he interested in two estranged siblings?

Mark works for Haynes’s vast company. He’s hiding from ruthless money launderers.

His teenage sister Ellen has an online friend whom she has never met. Ellen guards a terrible secret.

For eight years their duplicitous father has languished in prison, claiming he is innocent of murder. The evidence against him is overwhelming, so why does Mark persist with an appeal?

Keen to prove her potential as an investigator, Julianna forces Mark to confront his mistakes. The consequences will put all their lives in danger.

Pre-order Link

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08X1PN4VH

US – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08X1PN4VH

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57237006-a-chance-encounter

Trailer – https://youtu.be/g2U11opEcqs

Author Bio –  

Rae Shaw is a pen name for the author Rachel Walkley.

Rachel is based in the North West of England. She read her first grown-up detective novel at the age of eleven, which proved to be a catalyst for filling many shelves with crime books, which still occupy her home and grow in number whenever she visits a book shop.

As well as crime, Rachel likes to unplug from the real world and writes mysteries that have a touch of magic woven into family secrets.

Social Media Links – 

https://raeshawauthor.com/

https://twitter.com/RaeShawauthor

Rae Shaw Facebook page

Rachel Walkley

Follow the tour: