I’d like to welcome Clare London to the blog today. Clare says: ”I’m an author of male/male romance and erotica, and have been publishing my work since 2007 in both print and ebook, from novels to short stories. My official bio says I enjoy both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic and sexy characters – and I believe that’s always going to be my way.”
1. If I was coming to the UK on vacation, tell me one place I MUST visit?
I’d take you on my hubby’s London Bridges Tour, where he drives us back and forth through London over every bridge over the Thames. That way you’d see the sights and the transport and the people, and be right in amongst it. Then supper at the George Inn in Southwark (near London Bridge), a 16th century coaching inn where Shakespeare used to pop in for a pint after a hard day at the Globe. Well, I’m using a little poetic licence there, but apparently both he and Charles Dickens really did visit.
2. Rolling hills and sleepy villages or fast paced city life?
Fast paced city life. Too much green makes me hyperventilate.
3. Do you really drink tea all the time? How do you take it?
Do you mean, how do I like my tea? Or how do I bear drinking it all the time? LOL. Actually, I’m one of those odd Brits who doesn’t drink it at all. I don’t like it and I’m a big coffee fan.
4. Have you ever met (or seen up close) a member of the Royal Family? Share the details.
I met the Queen once. Well, to be strictly accurate, I was standing outside Marks & Spencer in Exeter when she went past as part of her visit to the city. But I’m sure she would have said hello if she’d known I was there. I remember thinking how much younger she looked in real life, and how bright and cheerful her clothes were.
5. Who is your favourite British author/book (outside of your genre)?
I’ll have to say Lee Child (who’s British, even though he’s living in the US). But P.D. James and/or Ian Rankin run a close second.
6. Coronation Street or East Enders? Your favourite character?
If I have to choose – and I can’t say I follow either – it’d be Eastenders, and my favourite character would be the much-maligned Dot Cotton. EE never seems to be anything but relentlessly, fascinatingly depressing, but I haven’t watched Corrie for years. The character turnover there is too high, or maybe my attention span is too low? I mean, whatever happened to Bet Lynch?
7. Who is your favourite British actor or actress?
Ken Stott. Fantastic talent, fabulous voice. I’d watch him reading a cereal packet.
8. What was your first published story?
No relation to the story perhaps but too delicious to pass up.
A short called “Goes without Saying” in a local print anthology in 2005. It was an m/m original that I made more ambiguous before submitting, because I wasn’t sure if the antho editors would welcome m/m. That was both defeatist and dismissive of me, wasn’t it? My only excuse is, it was years ago, before I discovered the m/m publishing community. Plus they’re running the antho again this year and I’ve just had an unashamedly m/m story accepted into it! And you’ve reminded me to post that original story to my website, in case anyone’s interested.
9. I’m coming to your house for a traditional English meal (your choice from breakfast to midnight snack). What are you going to serve?
It must be a brunch. All those breakfast things that can satisfy at any time of the day, and incidentally *cough* one of the few things I can cook well. Fried egg, bacon, sausage, tomato, baked beans, fried bread, mushrooms, black pudding *g* etc.
10. Who is your favourite British musical artist?
David Bowie.
Thanks for sharing Clare. You can find lots of info about Clare and her list of books at the following sites:
Website: http://www.clarelondon.co.uk
Blog: http://clarelondon.livejournal.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/clarelondon
Twitter: http://twitter.com/clare_london
GLBT Bookshelf: http://bookworld.editme.com/clarelondonbooks
Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/clarelondon
Fried breakfast brunch, yummy!
I totally forget Ian Rankin, I like him too
I’m feeling hungry now LOL. I’m just reading a couple of the older Rebus novels at the moment, actually. A very flawed hero
. I liked the way Ken Stott played him – and it’s only now I realise I’d featured Ken in another of my answers. It’s either spooky coincidence or my subconscious taking control again 
.
Hi Clare!
I love the sound of your London Bridge tour and brunch – but I hope you do serve tea in your house, even if you don’t drink it yourself
I voted for Dot Cotton too – she’s magnificent.
Jo x
*heh*
.
Don’t panic, we have plenty of tea for the rest of the household and visitors. It’s only (wacky) me who pitches in for the coffee instead
Isn’t Dot fab? I often think it’s the mature characters that mark a show’s true success.
^_^
Oh yes, it’s easy to get the young, pretty ones in, but the older characters add a bit of much needed experience and gravitas. I always loved Ethel and Arthur too. They seem to be willing to stay in the show longer than younger actors, which adds a bit of continuity.
Another great interview. Thank you
Hi Helena! Thanks for dropping in! This was fun to do
“Too much green makes me hyperventilate”
Aww, sad. I find London/any big city utterly terrifying but I can see how the opposite might be true. I’m with you on Ken Stott though. Living proof you don’t have to have a six pack to pack a punch.
And thanks for the reminder to read all the others.
*lol*
.
That was a bit too flippant of me, wasn’t it? I do love the countryside and the awesome natural sights of Britain – but only for a while. I like lots of stuff going on around me, even when I complain about noise and chaos
Ken is marvellous. His voice is in my top 10 toe-curlers *g*.
Thanks for playing Clare. I’m afraid I’m a bit of a city girl too. Although I grew up on a farm 6 hours from the nearest city, now I’m too spoiled to give up my conveniences. I may only go to a hockey game once every 2 years, but I want to know I can if the urge strikes me.
Must be close to an airport as well of course.
Hurrah for us city girls! I agree with you, we get used to the facilities, even if we don’t use them. For example, it’s a couple of months since I went into central London for anything other than work. But I know it’s there if I need it!
Hi Clare *waves*
I love Ian Rankin and PD James too, which reminds me that I have her latest Dalgleish book yet to read.
And yes, Dot Cotton. She’s had a hard life, hasn’t she poor lady
.
She’s had to contend with the original Nasty Nick *and* running a launderette – what more should anyone have to suffer?! LOL
Tea-haters of the British Isles, unite!
Great interview!
I reckon we should have a “What Stinking Tea?” t-shirt made LOL.
I’m off to read *your* interview now
.
Great interview, Clare! I love the idea of the London Bridges tour, and I need to read some more Ian Rankin (his series is so long right now that it’s almost intimidating thinking about trying to find the first one and reading through it in sequence — I jumped into the middle with Resurrection Men)
And I didn’t think there were any tea-haters in the British Isles, ha, ha! You and JL Merrow will have to form a society of two.
Count yourself lucky that he finished then Val. Only a few more books to go. I love his writing. I have been to Edinburgh and it is exactly as he describes
*ha*
.
Our Anti-T club is small and exclusive
I admit I haven’t read all the Rankin novels, but luckily they stand on their own very well, even if they also follow the theme of Rebus’ career.
The London Bridges tour was something hubby thought up himself but it’s a great and relatively short way to cram in a lot of London sightseeing
.
I love Bowie! I got really into him when I was 12 or 13. Hmm. Probably explains a lot about my later fascination the m/m…
I think he’s close to genius
. I love the way he’s reinvented himself over the years. I don’t necessarily like all his phases, but his “Boys Keep Swinging” is in my top 10 tracks of all time – and “Golden Years” is close on its heels 
.
I like living in a city but I miss having a garden
Great answer Clare.
All these interviews make me realise it has been 10 months since I last was in the UK. Feels time for another visit.
Ooh Ingrid great to see you – and you must come over and visit again soon! We can grab a coffee under the shade of the London Eye
.
Hello, Clare! Lovely to find out more about you! And I was always a fan of the amazing Dot Cotton too
Anne
xxx
Hi Anne! Isn’t she a marvellous character? A fab blend of humour and pathos – and brilliantly acted by June Brown
.
So, where can we sign up for the London Bridges Tour?
I’m sort of a city girl myself as well, although I can take a bit of green, it never made me hyperventilate so far, lol.
Hmmm … I think I’ll have to franchise him out
. He’s also the one in the family who loves the wide open spaces and rolling hills. I think I’m a disappointment to him!
[...] Black, Anne Brooke, Sue Brown, Kate Cotoner, Kim Dare, Chris Quinton, Alex Draven, Mara Ismine, Clare London, and JL Merrow. Go and read and leave comments to be entered into a free ebook [...]