Interview with Richard Frost: Living the Difference

It’s a pleasure to welcome author Richard Frost to my blog.

Richard’s new book, Living the Difference was published in November, and is a sequel to Looking to Move On. Looking to Move On was a finalist for a book award (congratulations, Richard!).

I asked Richard some questions:

Tell me three things about yourself.
I’m married to Jane, who’s a vicar, we live in Devon with our cocker spaniel, Daisy and we have two
adult children. I’m a former mental health and employment specialist and a lay licensed minister. I
was appointed MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2018…. Sorry, that’s more than three!

Congratulations on your book, Living the Difference. I enjoyed it, and found it hard to put
down!
Thank you. It’s always nice to know how people react to my writing.

When you wrote Looking To Move On, the first book in the series, did you know there’d be a sequel?
No, not at that stage although I did begin writing Living the Difference when the first book was in
editorial/pre-publication stage. I could see there was scope for a follow on story and as the second
one progressed, my publisher, Chronos Publishing, suggested it became a series which we’ve called
Eastwood Stories.

What gave you inspiration to write these books? Where did the idea come from?
Writing fiction was a lockdown surprise. During that time I started reading more fiction and then
suddenly started writing it. I remember quite distinctly getting the idea for the opening paragraph of
the first book and it went from there. In both, I draw a lot on personal and professional encounters,
knowledge and events. The first book contains little that I have not witnessed in other people or
have experienced for myself – although all are ’disguised’ so ‘any resemblance is coincidental’! The
second book contains more completely fictional elements although there is one chapter which based
is based on true events.

Did you set out to write novella length?
No. To be honest I didn’t even know what a novella was! In those lockdown months I wrote a few
short stories which have found their way in to the books. As the books developed I felt I reached
points in both where I didn’t want to write more just for the sake of increasing the number of words.

I enjoy your writing style. Succinct yet eloquent.
Thank you. I am not an ‘every single detail’ person in the way many full-length novels are. That
approach in my writing is reflected in my non-fiction books, articles, blog at workrestpray.com – and
in preaching too. I want to be able to help the reader think things through for themselves – to
become part of the story almost. One of the greatest compliments I received was in a review of
Looking to Move On – ‘Richard’s style of writing reminded me of John Steinbeck. Concise, brief,
meaningful.’

In a sentence, what is Living the Difference about? What’s the heart of the book?
Like the first book, it’s a story of hope over adversity.

If you could have dinner with a character from Living the Difference, who would you choose and
why?

It would have to be Matt West – together with Sophie and Tilly. Writing the first book, I was left with
a feeling that I really would like to meet them. Although the second book changes the main focus on
to another character who appeared briefly in book one (the local vicar), Matt, Sophie and Tilly
remain central to the series.

What did you find to be encouraging about writing Living the Difference?
The way the story developed and that altering of focus led to being able to take new storylines in to
the same basic setting of life in Eastwood Minster, the imaginary place where both stories are set.

What did you find to be challenging about writing Living the Difference?
Thinking up those new storylines!

Who did you write the book for?
As with all my books (I have had three other books published which relate to the Christian faith), my
overwhelming desire is that the reader can find something they can relate their own life to – and that
it might be helpful to them. Sometimes exploring difficult life issues, such as bereavement, disability,
relationships etc can be achieved through fiction – and of course novelists and poets have done that
for years. So all in all I hope readers find the book helpful as well as an enjoyable read.

You write sympathetically about disability, from all experiences/viewpoints. Have you experienced
disability yourself?
Yes, that comes from a lot of my personal and professional experience. My mum was disabled and
spent the last few years of her life using a wheelchair. She died aged 52 when I was 17. I have had
three periods of chronic fatigue and experienced depression and anxiety at times. My professional
career focussed on helping people with health problems (physical, mental and learning differences)
to find or remain in employment – and supporting employers too. So disability in it’s broadest sense
has been a thread – a golden thread, if you will – running through my life.

There is a strong implication that the vicar is in a same-sex relationship. Why did you choose to
include that, especially given the current debates and differences on the topic within the Church of
England?
I deliberately left it for the reader to determine for themselves whether (or not) that is the case. The
current debates and differences are important and I guess it comes back to raising issues that
readers can think about for themselves rather than telling them what they should and shouldn’t
believe.

What’s next?
Eastwood Story Book Three! I’ve written quite a bit so far, so we’ll see how it goes!

Thank you for talking to me, Richard. I’ll look forward to book three!

Richard’s Website: https://richardfrostauthor.com/

Living the Difference is £9.99 RRP, and available from Richard direct at £9 plus p&p: https://richard-frost.sumupstore.com/