insideSUSSEX Magazine Issue 09 - November 2015 | Page 15

ARTS+ENTERTAINMENT

Sci-Fi in Sussex: Linda Stratmann
With a black belt in aikido, a first-class honours degree in psychology, and a past that includes
being a chemist’s dispenser and a tax inspector, author Linda Stratmann has lived a colourful
and interesting life. From Leicester to London, she has brought her style, wit, and interest in all
things (including Star Trek, astronomy, and zoology as well as much, much more) to her books
set in stunning Sussex. I N T E R V I E W B Y L I S A M A R I E L A M B

You’ve loved books since you were two,
and started writing at six. You wrote your
first novel when you were 11 — can you
tell us what it was about?
It was about an expedition into outer space,
inspired by science fiction and an interest in
astronomy.

Do you plot your books in advance, or does
the story come to you as you’re writing?
I construct an outline plot and determine the
hidden things that will be revealed. Then I have
to work out how my sleuth will solve the mystery.
As I write, the story becomes more detailed and
weaves all the threads together.

How long does it take you to write one
book?
For fiction, planning takes two or three months,
and writing, another seven or eight. A large
non-fiction project takes two to two-and-a-half
years, but I work on things concurrently. Right
now I have three projects on the go.
)]