I’ve enjoyed interviewing Jonathan Posner, the PLW’s only UK author. He has been an avid reader of fiction ever since he was old enough to own a flashlight. As a schoolboy he virtually lived in Narnia, and as he got older, he got into historical fiction – particularly Phillipa Gregory, Susan Kay, C J Sansom and the Flashman Papers.

He loves creative writing, and has written the book and lyrics for three full-scale Musicals, all of which have been performed by community or professional casts. There have also been two plays, poetry and several short stories. Jonathan has two adult sons and lives in Exeter (UK).

His next book is River of Fire, book 3 of Mary Fox series.

AR: I’m a big fan of Mary Fox and excited for your next book. Do you have a favorite scene in The River of Fire?

JP: I do – but to describe it in too much detail would be a massive spoiler! So just to say, a real and momentous event happened in Florence on the 6th January 1537, and a woman was involved. I have it that the real woman is replaced by my heroine Mary Fox, so we see the whole event through her eyes.

AR: Tell me three things nobody knows about this book.

JP: 1. Mary Fox finally finds a man who accepts her for the type of girl she is – will she fall in love?
2. Mary leaves England – this book takes place mostly in Holland, Switzerland and the Italian peninsula
3. The title The River of Fire was the very first thing I wrote for this book – even before I knew what it was going to be about.

AR: I love that. What are you working on next?

JP: The follow-up book to The Sovereign’s Secret – bringing the secondary character Olivia Melrose to the fore as Walsingham’s newest spy.

AR: Do you plan your books or just write it as it comes?

JP: I did try planning once. It didn’t work.

AR: You have a new venture Winter and Drew. What do you offer authors?

JP: Winter & Drew is a hybrid publisher, offering authors the best of both worlds. This means they get the larger share of royalties, creative control and rights retention of self-publishing, along with the credibility and support of a publisher.

AR: Let’s change the topic. Is your comfort food sweet or savory? Does food inspire your writing?

Definitely sweet. My books are written at a rate of so many HobNobs per chapter (other oaty chocolaty biscuits are available)

AR: Now I have to try these HobNobs. Do you have another creative outlet besides writing?

JP: I am a presenter on two different radio shows on a local station – a monthly Book show and a twice-monthly Musicals show. I love chatting away behind the microphone! Although it often dawns on me that I have no idea what I am chuntering on about, nor what I am going to say next. It’s the very definition of ‘winging it’, live on the radio.

I enjoyed getting to know Jonathan. For more about him and his books, visit his website and follow him on social media. He also can be found in Paper Lantern Writers’ Facebook group for readers of historical fiction.