Room 119 Archives - Clare Rhoden

Trev Lince, today’s guest on Last Word of the Week, originates from Marske-by-the-Sea on the North East coast of England, but now lives in Darlington with his wife, Claire. A keen golfer and frustrated Middlesbrough FC fan, Trev gets to as many matches as work and leisure time allow. He writes in what little spare time he has. Room 119 – The Whitby Trader was Trev’s first book but he may have a few more stories bursting to get out of his head…

LWOTW: So pleased to meet you, Trev. I won’t mention Middlesborough, or golf come to that 🙂

Thanks for talking with me about your writing. Can you tell us about when you first realised that you are a writer. I gather you started quite late?

Trev: I attained an ‘e’ in English and am borderline dyslexic and only read 11 books in my entire life before I had the crazy idea of writing Room 119.

So I guess I am not your stereotypical author. I had a dream, told a few people and after a year or so banging on about it my lovely wife said

‘Well why don’t you write it Trev, you never finish anything you start EVER.’

Next day was 2 Jan 2017, 4 months later I wrote The End.

Good for you! Nothing like a spousal challenge, eh? Do you rely more on dreams, imagination, and planning?

Room 119 and Funicular were both born from dreams, or at least the idea and out line was.

I generally sort of know what’s next as I type. I never really have moments looking for inspiration. I can write 5 or 6k words every sitting when I’m in the mood.

I have, on both books, had a couple of nights after a heavy writing session gone to bed and had 6 or 7 dreams the continue the plot.

It’s actually hard to explain as you’re not asleep but not quite awake and I have to get up for water every hour, frustrating and tiring when it happens, but I’m glad it does.

That’s wonderful. Such a creative process. What’s the highlight of your writing career so far?

Seeing Room 119 – The Whitby Trader arrive in paperback in a box from amazon. That might be eclipsed if it becomes a film!

Screenplay done and I’m in talks with a few directors.

Wow that’s impressive. Congratulations! What are you most looking forward to at the moment?

It’s all about the next book, which I have been neglecting due to a new job and working hard to get Funicular out as an audiobook. Now that’s done I’m back on it.

If you could say one thing to aspiring writers, what would it be?

Don’t listen to anyone who says you can’t do it, if I can, you can.

Also when you get a bad review (I’ve only had one so far) then take it with a pinch of salt.

Equally don’t go overboard with your good ones, you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

It is nice when you get a good one though!

And finally: Who would you be if you were a fictional character?

Of my characters I would probably like to be Benjie the clown because I love him, it’s funny how you can make someone up and then they end up so real in your head.

When people say they hate clowns in books I end up sticking up for him like an old friend.

If not mine, then I said earlier I’ve only read 11 well 15 now, probably DEATH in Terry Pratchett books, quite a cool bloke, he’s just got a dodgy job.