Claire Williams
Claire grew up among the bottle kilns in Stoke-on-Trent on a childhood diet of darts, cigarette smoke, and finger dipping her mum’s barley wine. She now lives in Devon by the sea where she tries to stand up on a paddleboard. After sunset, or maybe a bit before, she takes her gin dry like her northern humour. She is an alumni of the Curtis Brown Creative writing school and has won the BPA pitch prize. Her writing has also been shortlisted for the Sid Chaplin Award for underrepresented writing, the London Independent Story Prize, and published in the 2023 Mslexia’s best women’s short fiction anthology. She is now represented by Millie Hoskins at United Agents.
What made you enter the Cheshire Novel Prize?
Cheshire has long been my home so the competition title drew me in. However, I’ve followed Sara and the team on social media for some time and it’s clear from the feedback the competition gets what a great competition it is for writers, not only because it provides feedback on every entry but because of the agent showcase for shortlisted and longlisted writers.
What did it feel like when you were LL and SL?
I was really surprised to be shortlisted as I wasn’t expecting it at all. Perhaps my confidence has been dented over the last few years, as I’ve had plenty of near misses, but it was definitely the boost I needed to keep going.
What was the reaction like from those around you? Family? Friends?
They are always supportive of my writing, my husband especially, and were pleased for me. It takes a lot to be a writer and they are always cheering me on.
How did you come up with the idea for your book?
I love anything that’s a bit strange or out of the ordinary, including paranormal happenings. The main genre I write in is speculative fiction and as one of my closest friends lives in Liverpool I got to hear about the urban legend of the Bold Street timeslips whilst visiting. I knew I had to write a story about it. I love representing the north in my writing, the characters and locations write themselves.
How long did it take you to write it?
This was the quickest manuscript I’ve written, just over six months start to finish.
What advice would you have for anyone thinking of entering?
Start by thinking of your story in terms of a one-line pitch that gets to the heart of the story very quickly.
What’s changed for you since entering?
I now have agent representation and the book is already on submission to publishers. Fingers crossed! I was lucky to sign with Millie Hoskins, United Agents in the summer, after querying my book. I also received two other offers of representation, but Millie was my dream agent so it was an easy yes.
What’s your novel about?
A father spends 20 years looking for his missing son in the same bookshop in Liverpool, believing he has disappeared in a timeslip to a past decade. It’s based on the urban legend of the Liverpool Bold Street timeslips.
What’s your writing routine?
I’m a morning writer so I have to get up early to write before work, sometimes as early as 5am. I try to set myself a target of a few thousand words. I also spend most weekends writing.
What’s next for you?
Hopefully, I will sell this novel to a publisher, but even if I don’t I’m in this for the long haul. I’m working on another book and rewriting one other I wrote a while ago.
Have you done any writing courses?
I have completed the Curtis Brown Creative six-month course last year and been mentored by author Laura Barnett.
What are your two favourite books and why?
Oh my goodness that’s a really tough question! I’m such an eclectic reader, I’d probably have to go for a classic first with a northern heart like D.H. Lawrence’s Sons and Lovers. My second book would be contemporary and one I’ve enjoyed recently was Tomorrow, Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Although I’m not a gamer, I do work in technology and I loved how that brought a new setting to life, and a relationship formed on friendship rather than romance.
What advice do you have for any aspiring writers?
Keep honing your craft. Writers are made over many years, not months. And most of all keep writing. It’s an incredibly hard industry to break into, make sure you appreciate the wins when they happen.