Beginner’s pluck: English writer Miranda Acland
Miranda Acland's book had sat in a drawer for years until a friend encouraged her to send it out to agents.
As a teenager, Miranda wanted to be a journalist.
“But my mother discouraged me, and I went to secretarial college and then worked in an art gallery instead. But I freaked out and spent time in between in a kibbutz close to Gaza.”
A series of secretarial jobs followed.
“I joined the Conservative Party research department and worked for Margaret Thatcher for a brief time.”
And then, after doing two seasons of skiing, she worked for ITV association, in charge of their central promotions.
“From there I went to Thames TV as a marketing HR person in advertising, and then to Capital Radio as communications director.”
After a spell as communications director at EMAP, a media conglomerate, she was recruited to work at a financial PR advisory firm in the city, on financial communications, mergers, and acquisitions.
“Then I stopped,” she says, describing a stress-related breakdown. “I emerged from that after two years to do a course in psychotherapy. I continued to study it.”
She also travelled and began to write her book.
“It sat in a drawer for years.”
After a Faber writing course in 2012, she sent it out to agents, and, years later, a friend encouraged her to send it out again.
1958/ Woking, England.
Queen Anne Caversham; Marlborough College in Oxford, secretarial.
Chale Green, Isle of Wight. “We moved out of London eight years ago.”
Husband Michael, daughters Tara, 34, and Susanna, 31, three Spaniels, a horse, some sheep, ducks, and chickens.
“I volunteer with young offenders and those into maritime careers as a psychotherapist.”
“If I was brave enough, I’d join an alternative community.”
Rose Tremain; Kate Atkinson; Stef Penney; Deborah Levy; Gail Honeyman; Douglas Stuart; Barbara Kingsolver.
“I’m working on an idea.”
“Be authentic. Write about your truth.”
www.mirandaclandwriter.com
@mirandaaclandwriter
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When Emma’s lifelong friend, Alex, goes missing in Nepal, she’s determined to find him. While she’s investigating, she learns unsettling truths about her mother.
This multi-faceted and atmospheric story spans continents, as it explores identity and loss.
