Big Sweeping Novels: An interview with Adele Geras by CambridgeICE published on 2019-06-12T11:05:23Z For the final episode in our Crime and Thriller series, Dr Lucy Sheerman is speaking to author Adèle Geras. Adèle has authored over 100 books and is one of Britain’s most celebrated writers of children’s and young adult fiction. Her book TROY was shortlisted for the Whitbread Award, the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Award. Adèle spent her early childhood growing up in Cyprus, Nigeria and North Borneo and graduated from St Hilda’s College, Oxford. Adèle started her career as an actress and French teacher before becoming a writer. After several years of publishing as a romance author she will be releasing her first crime fiction novel later this year. Dr Lucy Sheerman is a creative writing tutor at ICE and also worked at Arts Council England. She has a PhD in English from Jesus College, Cambridge University. We also talk about: Wanting to be a star and the performance elements of teaching French Switching agents and embracing crime at the age of 75 Having the hide of a rhino and learning to love your own work The concept of a ‘Fat Shiny’ and big sweeping novels for big sweeping women Resurrecting under another name and how to avoid becoming a recluse Constructive criticism and support from her daughter, Sophie Hannah The art of 40 page planning and writing in the afternoon The beauty and independence of cats Genre Storytelling