Well - the real Amelia Carr is actually my youngest granddaughter - soon-to-be 5 year old Amelia Rose!
For many years I wrote under my own name - Janet Tanner. My publishers were Century and, latterly, Severn House. Then a move back to big, sweeping sagas called for a relaunch, and a new name! And very generously Amelia allowed me to borrow hers - or rather, her mum and dad did. She's still a bit confused about it. When I did a radio interview recently to talk about A Song at Sunset and the presenter announced that 'Now we are going to talk to Amelia Carr' her face was, apparently, a picture. I think she envisaged someone with a microphone knocking on her door ...
I am really enjoying the return to the multi-generational saga. It is so satisfying to be able to play out a story over a long period, and to watch the effects of past actions over many years. And I love getting to know my characters, who all feel like very real people to me, with the complex personalities we all have. Sometimes, like us, they make bad errors of judgement, sometimes they are overtaken by circumstances. But the results have long shadows.
I've revealed how I came to start writing, and something of my life in the bio of my alter ego, Janet Tanner. In brief, I've always written, and I certainly couldn't stop now! When I'm not working on a book, I feel aimless and bereft. But I do have lots of other interests, too. I've always been involved with my local drama groups, acting, singing, directing, selling tickets etc etc, and a few years ago I learned to tap-dance - a childhood ambition. When I got my first pair of tap shoes I felt as if I was six years old again! I have four grandchildren, ranging in age from 11 down to little Amelia, and love spending time with them. My long-suffering husband was a police officer until his retirement. We have a sweet little Italian dog who was rescued in Naples and is now, unbelievably, almost 14 years old. She's deaf now, but can still gallop about like a puppy. In the past we have had four German Shepherds (one a retired police dog!), a goldie and a labrador. I can no more imagine a life without dogs than I can one without writing! I also have a private pilot's licence, of which I am very proud, and which was really helpful to me when writing Dance With Wings.
If you want to know more about me, I have web sites under both my names - janettanner.co.uk and ameliacarr.co.uk. where I do try to keep up an occasional blog, though when I'm busy working on a book I sometimes get a bit behind with that!
