About

A little bit about me

Do send me your questions

A little bit about me

Claire Letemendia

JUST READ YOUR NEW NOVEL, FANTASTIC! ARE YOU GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH A ANOTHER JOHN SHAKESPEARE NOVEL?

Gortner

16th century

to the Norfolk Show

Poppies

Leaves of Grass

Holland

Before coming to Norfolk, in the east of England, I was a national newspaper journalist in London. I loved the city, but felt it was time for a change. At first, I feared we would miss the pace and noise, but we couldn't be happier. Norfolk is simply magical - full of wide open spaces and birdsong. We live in an old farmhouse, parts of which are believed to date from 1675. It has a mellow redbrick frontage which was probably added in about 1800. The good thing about old farmhouses is that the ceilings are low, which means it is easy to keep snug and warm in winter.

When not immersing myelf in the Elizabethan world, I enjoy village life and a game of tennis with friends. Martyr is my debut novel, the first of a series featuring John Shakespeare, an Elizabethan secret agent, then known as an ‘intelligencer’.

Have you always written?

Well, I won the poetry prize twice at school - if that counts as writing. In my teens, I wrote a play when I should have been studying for exams. It was called The Hunting Game and I can't really recall the plot too clearly. It was never performed, obviously. Since then, I have always scratched away - both as a journalist, and for my own pleasure.

Do you listen to music when you write?

Sometimes. Other times I just want silence. When I do want music, I switch on Spotify and listen to my latest play-list. At the moment, my top ten reads like this: 1). Forever After Days (The National); 2). Sweet And A Lullaby (Natalie Merchant); 3). Here With Me (Dido); 4). Sean Flynn (The Clash); 5). Thousands Are Sailing (The Pgues); 6). Love Is Strange (Buddy Holly); 7). Station Approach (Elbow); 8). Harvest Gipsies (Kris Drever); 9). Dead Sound (The Raveonettes); 10). After The Storm (Mumford & Sons). Read what you like into that little lot - it'll probably be completely different next week.

What do you do when not writing?

I'm a bit of a tennis addict. I like to watch it but I like to play it even more. It's the most infuriating game. You make a shot which everyone appaluds - then you serve a double fault. One day, all your shots go in by a couple of inches, the next day they all go out. Maddening! wish I was better. Most of all, though, I like the company of friends and family.

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