7 Things Readers Might Not Know About Imogen!
The Girl Across the Wire Fence: Imogen Matthews’ latest novel set in WW2 Holland
7 Things That Inspired My Writing
To celebrate the release of my new book, The Girl Across The Wire Fence, this week, @FemaleFirst_UK asked me to let them in on some interesting facts all about me!
Here's what I had to reveal...
My cosmetics career: Long before I became a novelist, I worked in the beauty industry as a journalist, industry commentator and author of market research reports tracking the latest trends. I often got invited to amazing fragrance, skincare and make-up launches in swanky London venues where I got to meet brand owners, learn about their amazing new products and come away with a gorgeous goody bag to try them!
Creative writing courses at Oxford University set me on the path of writing novels. I started with memoir writing as I didn’t think I had the imagination to write fiction, before plucking up courage to move onto a short stories course and eventually one entitled “writing a mass market novel.” I found it terrifying but extremely exciting in equal measure! What writing courses taught me was that whether writing about real life (memoirs) or fiction, the principles are the same. And that all you need is the germ of an idea to be able to work it up into a story.
Writers’ groups keep me going with their encouragement and critique of my work. Not everyone understand the solitary life of an author, so it’s important to find like-minded people to share the ups and inevitable downs associated with writing.
My first books I self-published under a pen name, Alex Johnson, on Amazon, as I didn’t used to want to use my real name for which I’m known professionally. They are contemporary romance novels which allowed me to mine my extensive experience of the beauty and fragrance industry. I particularly loved writing The Perfume Muse as I treated myself to a long weekend with my husband in the world’s perfume capital, Grasse in the South of France. It was heaven!
My Dutch heritage has deeply impacted my writing of historical fiction novels. All my life, my Dutch mother told the family her unbelievable stories of courage and survival at the hands of the German occupiers who invaded Holland from 1940-45. The most heartbreaking was that my mother kept parents and herself alive by digging up tulip bulbs from the frozen soil which they boiled for a barely-sustaining soup. It’s a sobering thought that had she not managed this, I wouldn’t be here today.
Cycling holidays in Holland: Every year since 1990, my family has holidayed in the beautiful Veluwe woods where we love to cycle. It’s in these woods that I came across a memorial site dedicated to the people who had been given shelter in underground huts from the Nazis for nearly two whole years. They stayed hidden because they were looked after by selfless individuals who brought them food, clothes and medicines. I remember the goosebumps I felt at this discovery and knew I had to write this incredible and forgotten story. It became my first historical fiction novel, The Hidden Village.
Discovering I had a cousin who lives in The Hague: By chance, I came across a Dutch cousin I had no idea I had through Facebook. We share the great grandparents and have been swapping family stories online. Because of lockdown, I’ve been unable to visit her, but I can’t wait to sit down over coffee or a glass of wine and have a proper chat.
If you liked this post please share on social media or drop me a line on the Contact Page.
If you have read and loved The Girl Across the Wire Fence, please post a review on Amazon
