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AN AUDIENCE WITH THE WRITERS OF PSYCHIC

April 30, 2022 | By Women Writers Women Books | Reply More

Sharon and Tammy Rose, a mother and daughter duo currently living in England, came together to write Psychic, a crossover book that deals with terrorism, racism, and psychical talent. The book is being published by Apprentice House Press in the US and will be released in June 2022.

Sharon is the Town Clerk of a medium-sized town in the United Kingdom, just 40 miles outside of London. She started her career in politics at a young age, when she lived in South Africa, joining the ANC to work towards a reconciliation and new government to replace the apartheid regime. On moving to England, she continued this interest in politics, but at a very much more practical level in working for local government at a Town Council, serving local residents. However, she has always dabbled in writing and has written several novels for children, including a series of gardening books for kids. She also volunteers for a national charity, taking some very sad phone calls from young adults who are experiencing all manner of abuses.

She wrote the outline for Psychic around fourteen years ago, but as her job as a Town Clerk pressed her for time, she had never gone around to writing the story itself. Psychic, along with several other novels and draft novels, simply sat on a shelf at the top of her wardrobe for all this time.

Then Covid-19 struck, and lockdown meant that everyone had to spend all their time at home. Tammy, Sharon’s daughter, delved into the top shelf of the wardrobe. On reading the outline of Psychic her first comment was, ‘Well, this needs a bit of a rewrite.’

Sharon laughed, and challenged Tammy to engage in the project. Tammy had just finished her joint English/History degree at Queen Mary University, London, and was about to commence on a teaching career, teaching English to secondary school students.

Tammy’s first job in relation to Psychic was to redesign the characters. ‘The story is clearly an action based who-done-it, but young people at this age need a glimmer of romance in their lives,’ she stated. An older girl in the novel was dumped in favour of a young man with a terrible past and an unbelievably frightening ability. Younger psychics were grouped together to make it easier for the reader to remember them. The main character, Alpha, became darker, and more introverted in her personality. Her friend Janna became the rebel rousing psychic who wouldn’t take no for an answer. However, Tammy left Sunday alone, as both she and Sharon loved this character from the outset. Many readers who have read Psychic (the novel first became popular when uploaded on the site Inkitt) feel the same about Sunday, the beloved would-be thief, with a few readers even commenting that they wished to adopt him.

The plot was already in good shape with many twists and turns, which meant that what was to happen in each of the chapters was already mapped out. So then the hard work could begin, with Tammy and Sharon each producing a chapter every few days. After each chapter, they would read each other’s work, discuss and agree on changes, and plan for the next chapter. The outline changed a bit, as one or two of the characters developed minds of their own and forced it into a different direction. There were a few minor disagreements between Tammy and Sharon over where the book was going, but it soon became evident that Sharon was better at punctuation and creating tension in the action scenes, whilst Tammy’s talent lay in producing the witty dialogue of her newly-formed characters.

The experience has brought the pair closer together, allowing them to move out of a parent/child relationship towards one of mutually respecting colleagues, working together to make something better than it would be if either of them did it alone. Writing together is not for everyone, but it is certainly something Tammy and Sharon can recommend trying.

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About the Authors:

T (Tammy) Rose is the daughter of S Rose, her co-author. T is an accomplished writer, having earned five academic prizes and recently graduating from Queen Mary University of London. Over the years, she has worked with various charities focusing on promoting reading as well as organizing events and activities to help children and adults in need. She was born in England and now lives in a rural town surrounded by trees and nature, but which also lies only twenty-five minutes by train from the bustling metropolis of London.

S (Sharon) Rose was born in South Africa, partially schooled in Germany and the UK, and lived for a while in Kissimmee, Florida. Now living in London, she has published a gardening story for young children, as well as a fantasy tale for young adults. Her career as a Town Clerk, working for the good of the community, keeps her exceptionally busy, so writing takes place during stolen moments just before bed.

About Psychic

In modern-day Britain, the terrorism threat level is ever-growing. A team of students with psychic abilities might be the answer the country is looking for. Alpha, a young woman who is frightened of her own power, must form a bond with Sunday, a would-be thief and unlikely hero, if they are to stand even the slightest chance of averting the most catastrophic terrorist attack on British soil for many years.