This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
We're talking to Henriette Gyland today, author of The Highwayman's Daughter, a story set in Hounslow in 1768, telling us about Jack Blythe, heir to the Earl of Lampton and a highwaywoman, their swashbuckling game of cat and mouse, and uncovering an intricate web of fiercely guarded family secrets. Henriette tells us more about her writing…
Can you tell us a little bit about your average writing day?
I don't really have average writing days because other things often intrude. However, when I'm in my stride with a book, I tend to write in the mornings, in long-hand with HB pencils, because this is when my thoughts are clearest. I then do admin in the afternoon, or translation work (the day job) if I have anything lined up, and stop around the time my children get back from school. I rarely write at the weekends because there's too much going on in the house. Some people hate Mondays – I love them.
When you are writing, do you use any celebrities or people you know as inspiration?
Not consciously, no, but I think it's very difficult not to be influenced by images of actors/actresses and celebrities because they're all around us. Just like images of many other things will inspire us on a subconscious level too. When it comes to characterisation, I'm not a very visual writer – instead I “hear” the characters in my head, what they say and how they say it. Trouble is, it's not easy to explain to other people that I'm quite sane even though I hear voices!
What is your favourite Women's Fiction book of all time and why?
Guppies for Tea by Marika Cobbold. I didn't really have any expectations when I picked up this book, but it literally blew me away. It treats the sensitive subject of caring for an elderly relative suffering from dementia with both humour and honesty, and is intensely moving in places.
What is your writing process? Do you plan first or dive in? How many drafts do you do?
I plan in great detail with a chapter by chapter breakdown, and try to stick to the plan as closely as possible. I write a draft which I send to my writing buddy, then take the feedback on board, re-draft the novel, and give it a final polish before sending it to the editor.
Because I write romantic suspense, my work has a mystery at its core, and I would find it very difficult to keep tabs on an intricate plot if I didn't plan. I know there are some mystery writers who just dive in without knowing who the culprit is, and I take my hat off to them! I know I couldn't. 
What was your journey to being a published author?
Long and arduous! No, joking aside, I started writing about 15 years ago, mainly literary short stories, with very little success, and it wasn't until I figured out that what I really liked to read was commercial fiction, that I started a novel. I then joined the Romantic Novelists' Association and submitted to their excellent New Writers' Scheme almost every year as well sending manuscripts out to agents and editors. When I heard of Choc Lit, who publish romantic fiction with a distinct focus on the hero, I thought perhaps they might be a good fit for my particular kind of fiction. I was over the moon when they accepted me
What do you think is the biggest myth about being a novelist?
That it's very glamorous and we make lots of money. When we hear of writers such as J K Rowling and E L James who have become millionaires, it's easy to see how this misconception comes about. However, the fact is that most writers don't even make the minimum wage and have to supplement their writing income with other work. Even though I now have three full-length novels and a novella out there, it'll be a few years before I'm able to give up the day job. If ever.
What advice can you give to readers who want to write a novel of their own?
Be true to yourself. Don't write in a particular genre or niche just because you feel this is the “sort of thing” you ought to be writing, or because you think this is where the money is. Write the story you're dying to tell, in your own words. Also, take on board the feedback and advice you get from fellow writers and professionals in the trade.
What are you working on at the moment?
At the moment I'm working on my third romantic suspense novel (which will be my fourth book), for which I’m hoping for a 2015 publication date, but I'm also doing the research for my fifth book. I apologise if that's a bit vague, but I'm a great believer in doing what Stephen King does: writing the first draft with “the door closed”. Talking about a work in progress can sometimes interfere with the thought processes, and until I have a firm grasp on where I'm going, I can't really risk that!
Thanks, Henriette!