Writing Magazine March 2020

http://www.writers-online.co.uk MARCH 2020^87

privileged position of having two

deals from which to choose.

‘It sounds like the whole

process was fairly easy, and I

frequently say how lucky I was,

but the truth is that behind this

luck were years and years of hard

work: of writing, of learning

how to improve, of educating

myself about the industry and

networking. I guess it’s like

everything else: if you put the work

in, it looks easy enough.’

Does Kitty draft outlines, synopses

or treatments before she starts writing

her novels, or does she start writing

and let her characters lead the way?

‘Initially, I just wrote,’ she says.

‘But, once I had my contract and

deadlines – short deadlines, at

that – I started to plan. I thought

planning might sap all my creativity,

but I was wrong. Nowadays, I love

planning, and each new book is more

planned than the previous one. Once

I discovered Save the Cat! Writes a

Novel by Jessica Brody (check it out:

it’s invaluable), my commitment to

planning was complete.

‘As for a typical writing day – I am

neither owl nor lark, more sloth.

I get up late and go to bed early.

But in that short window of time

I work every weekday and, if I

don’t hit my word count during the

week, I work weekends as well.

‘Once I am awake, I have breakfast,

catch up on social media, and from

that point on I work until evening. I

regularly take breaks, however, otherwise

I fear my brain might implode.

‘During my leisure time I read

widely. I have so many favourite

novelists. Growing up, they were Anya

Seton, Jilly Cooper, Jean Plaidy and

the classics: the Brontës and so on.

But I love poetry and plays as well,

so Shakespeare, Donne and Euripides

featured heavily in my adolescence.

These days, my favourite writer is

probably Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie,

but I love to escape with Jill Mansell

and Julia Quinn, too.

‘As a novelist myself, I am

constantly learning and (hopefully)

constantly improving, too. I am so

excited about the books I plan to

write. Opening my laptop, then

making myself giggle as I type is

heavenly, and the bonus is that I get

to do this in my own home.

‘I have complete control over the

world I create, and this is rather

fun. Penmenna, the village in which

Cornish Village School series of books

is set, is the perfect community, so to

think up daft escapades and set them

in Penmenna is a fabulous way to

spend the working day.

‘I get lots of messages from readers

thanking me for writing books

which give them an escape from the

harshness of everyday life. This is the

best thing about being a writer, and

means the world to me.’

BEHIND THE TAPE

Expert advice to get the details right in your crime

fiction, from serving police officer Lisa Cutts

BEHIND THE BEHIND THE BEHIND THE BEHIND THE BEHIND THE BEHIND THE

If you

have a query

for Lisa, please send it

by email to enquiries@

lisacutts.co.uk

Q

What is the current position regarding what is and isn’t allowed to

go on in rape trials? Defence teams used to be ruthless in exposing

the complainant’s sexual history and could demand to see material

on their phone that damaged their credibility when the defendant

claimed consensual sex. Does that still go on?

Dave Sivers

A

In very brief summary, it would come down to what the judge

allowed to be heard in open court, as well as whether it was

relevant. Judges can and do halt questioning by defence barristers.

Bullying by the defence also runs the very real risk of alienating the jury,

so it can be a risky tactic to use.

For cases involving sexual offences, the complainant’s main evidence

is given via an interview carried out by the police as soon as the rape

is reported. The idea is that this is the complainant’s main evidence,

so she/he doesn’t have to go over it again and again. The recorded

interview is later shown to the court during the trial. The complainant

will still be required to answer questions after the interview has been

shown, but the police must ask her how she would prefer to do this.

She can request to do this either by live link from another part of the

building or another building – I did one for a complainant who was

in prison – or she appears in the witness box but with a screen around

her. The judge, jury and barristers are still able to see her, but she is

shielded from the rest of the court. The idea is that this cuts down

on the trauma of giving evidence, although in all honesty, it’s still a

terrible ordeal to go through.

Phones and electronic devices are a very tricky and hot topic. The

average printed download of an iPhone would be 23 times the height

of the Shard. It is impossible for the police, CPS or defence to go through

everything in detail. The agreed way forward is to search the digital

download on keywords. These keywords should be agreed between

the police and CPS, and then defence. To ensure a fair trial, it’s

vital the information is looked at or trials fall apart, as has recently

happened on more than one occasion.

It comes down to fairness at the end of the day and making sure

that the correct person is convicted in a safe trial. If it is not evidence,

so not a part of the trial that the police or CPS are relying on, it is

unused material. If the unused material undermines the prosecution

case or assists the defence, it should be flagged up, making the

defence aware of its existence.

http://www.writers-online.co.uk MARCH 2020 87

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