Heavy on Fashion Talks to Author Pam Haynes

Mrs Pamela R Haynes is a Retired Senior Probation Officer and Awarding Winning Author of Loving the Brothers.

Pam grew up in Canning Town, London in the United Kingdom. Her parents hail from Barbados and the Londoner is a proud Bajan by descent. 

Pam is an international domestic abuse spokesperson, book mentor and guest lecturer. She seeks to empower and inspire people to write and publish their own stories. 

Loving the Brothers is fiction and based loosely on Pam's experiences of working in the Criminal Justice System; a career which spans over 30 years. Loving The Brothers was published on 8th January 2018 by Marcia M Publishing House based in Birmingham UK. The highly anticipated sequel called Loving the Sisters is due to be published later this year.

So without further ado, here is Heavy on Fashion Talks to Author Pamela R Haynes 

When did you realize that you wanted to be a writer?

I was previously a court report writer, writing Pre Sentence Reports for the judiciary. It was a form of storytelling; informing the magistrates and judges the offender's life story and issues which led them to appear before the courts. Secondly, I was approaching a milestone birthday and I always had writing a book as one of the things on my bucket list that I wanted to achieve. I met my publisher (Marcia M Publishing House) at an awards ceremony and told her about wanting to write a book and she took me on and the rest as they say is history. 

How has your hometown influenced you as a writer? 

Loving The Brothers is set in London and Jamaica in 2015 and is based heavily influenced by my knowledge and experiences of growing up in East London as I mention several places of interests. I also had the opportunity to travel to Jamaica twice and I include my experiences of holidaying in Montego Bay and Ochi Rios. Some LTBs fans tell me, they have used the book as a travel guide of London and Jamaica. 

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? 

Loving The Brothers has been a work in progress for 20 years and whilst I believe nothing happens before it's time, I would tell my younger self to bite the bullet and get writing sooner rather than later. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

What is your writing process like? What does literary success look like to you? 

With my first book, I worked methodically starting at chapter one with a few paragraphs, not certain where the story would take me. With my second novel I have written a schedule listing what is going to happen in each chapter. So far I am following my schedule quite closely. That said I am open to what my protagonists have to tell me about the direction of their stories. In 2018 was nominated and awarded Author of the Year and Author of Colour. I was delighted to be shortlisted for a BLAC award for Best Writer 2020.

Let's talk about your latest novel, Loving The Brothers. 

What is the most surprising thing you discovered while writing Loving The Brothers?

 I enjoyed the writing process, it took me on a journey far from my reality and from the pressure of work. Feedback from my reviewers and beta readers tell me I am a really good storyteller and I have been surprised about how well LTBs has been received; not only in my hometown, but also nationally and internationally. I was fortunate to have book launches of my book in London, Ireland and Barbados.

What were the key challenges you faced when writing this book? 

Having a demanding job as a Senior Probation Officer meant there were many occasions after working on a laptop all day, I was reluctant to pick up the laptop when I got back home. Secondly, I am a wife and mother of three children, so balancing my responsibilities, creating a healthy work-life balance was also challenging. 

What was the inspiration for the story? How has your experience working in the Criminal Justice System influence the Loving The Brothers Novel? 

My experiences of working in the British Criminal Justice System spans over 30 years. Therefore, my experiences was crucial in writing my book. There are stories about policemen, lawyers and criminals but none about the role of probation staff in the Criminal Justice System. So my main protagonist is a black female Senior Probation Officer and the reader can learn about her work through her lens.

What do you hope your readers take away from this book?

That domestic abuse occurs within our communities regardless of the women's age, education, status or profession. Also domestic abuse comes in different forms. But above all domestic abuse is survivable and there are a number of key professionals out there who offer support to victims and their families.

Can you share with all the divas and gurus something about the book that isn’t in the blurb? 

My late mother's recipe for Saturday soup.

If your book was to be made into a movie, who are the celebrities that would star in it? Oh my! 

What a question... I honestly dont know as there are so many talented actors to choose from, both in the States and in the United Kingdom. I would like Tyler Perry or Ava DuVernay to direct Loving The Brothers the movie. 

Let talk about the highly anticipated sequel, Loving The Sisters. What can you tell us about this sequel? 

I am so excited to announce that I wrote the sequel Loving The Sisters during the last lockdown. My manuscript came back from my editor last month and I am in the middle of a rewrite. I have no publishing deadlines, so I want to take my time, hone my craft and get it right. I am mindful I have a community of readers who are waiting for the next installment. 

When will Loving The Sisters be available?

 2021

Where can readers find out more about you and your books? 

I love social media, so look for me on Instagram @lovingthebrothersauthor 

Twitter @pampamhaynes

Facebook - https://m.facebook.com/prhaynes/

Where can readers purchase Loving The Brothers and more of your work?

You can buy my book on Amazon, just click here 

What advice do you have for aspiring writers? 

Do not purchase expensive laptops and software. Pen and paper will do. Join a writing community Always read books by authors in the same genre you would like to write about. A good reader makes a good writer.

What would you say is a must-have for an aspiring author? 

Have people in your inner circle that you trust to give you honest feedback about your

writing.

Finally, what does writing mean to you? 

I am grateful for the opportunities that have come my way as a result of writing a book. I have enjoyed the radio and TV interviews. I have even been a judge on the Miss Barbados UK pageant. Writing LTBs has been my opportunity to self actualise and realise my full potential. Publishing LTBs is my gift to my children and my children's children. 

I would like to thank Ms. Pam Haynes for the interview. Pick up a copy of Loving The Brothers Today!