I’m a business management graduate so I always try to incorporate business into my stories. I liked the idea of a hotel business and throwing several siblings into the mix seemed to be a fun idea.
Gemma Stringer – 14 June 2026
The Back Flap
6 Siblings. 1 Failing Hotel. And a battle for power.
Meet the Dawclark Family
Lucy, a twenty-seven-year old princess who is more interested in shopping, drinking and sleeping until noon, than working in her family’s hotel.
Callum, a twenty-six year old work obsessed bore. All he does is shout at the staff, argue with customers and then wonder why the hotel only has two months worth of cash flow left before they face bankruptcy.
Elsie, a twenty year old lawyer in training and the only one of her family in a relationship, even if it is toxic. When she arrives back from her holiday engaged, things with her new fiancé go from bad to worse.
Joseph, a twenty-one year old superstar football player who earns far more than he can spend, even if he spends all his time benched and pining for the love of his life, high school sweetheart, Phoebe.
Hannah, a twenty-two year old who has dreamt of running the hotel since she was a little girl. From sixteen she worked reception at the family’s hotel hoping they would see her potential and promote her, but her brother has other ideas.
Stanley, a nineteen year old self-confessed baby of the family. Adored by his mother, a boy who can literally do nothing wrong. All he wants is someone to be interested in him, but it’s hard to compete when your older brother is a literal footballing superstar.
Follow the lives of the six Dawclark siblings as they explore relationships, power struggles, business problems, and what success looks like in this contemporary slice-of-life fiction novel featuring a family business that’s been in the Dawclark family for generations.
About the book
What is the book about?
The Dawclark Hotel is about a family business, a hotel that has been inherited by the father Vincent Dawclark. Unfortunately he loves holidays and drinks a little too much to be bothered to run it, so the job falls to his six children. The oldest daughter Lucy is her father’s favourite, always maxing out his credit card and not a care in the world about anything. His oldest son Callum is the CEO but the staff dislike him, customers find him rude and the business is losing a lot of money. Then there is a murder in the hotel so it’s all about the aftermath of that and how it affects the siblings.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing it in 2025. I spent some time plotting the ideas for the novel out and what I wanted to do with each of the characters.
How long did it take you to write it?
It took me around two months to write 100,000 words. It did get a bit longer in the edits. I do a fast draft so once I have my outline and I know what happens in each chapter I write and write without any thought about editing.
Where did you get the idea from?
I’m a business management graduate so I always try to incorporate business into my stories. I liked the idea of a hotel business and throwing several siblings into the mix seemed to be a fun idea.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Editing is always a struggle for me. My main issue is descriptions. I really struggle to describe things and I’m aware it’s something I need to work on. I find because I fast draft and essentially the words are a mess, and the characters tend to go off on tangents and do their own thing that my editing process takes a very long time.
What came easily?
Dialogue and the ideas for each character. I think once you have a clear plan it’s quite easy to get the words out.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
All fictitious.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
I think I just want to write the sort of things I enjoy reading, so I will say no for this question.
Do you have a target reader?
Someone who doesn’t need a huge high stakes plot. Someone who enjoys soap operas, stories about siblings and business. Maybe someone who enjoys family sagas where they can really connect with the characters.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
Plotting the story. I watch loads of videos on YoutTube to help me plot out my story and also plan the idea for my character. My second stage is writing. I fast draft. I can write 5000 words in a day. The important part is getting the words on the page. Then I spend ages reading through the story and making notes. Like does the whole plot, and character arc make sense. What gaps do I have? And then after that I go through line by line and make comments in the margins. Then another check through for spelling and grammar and then in a week or something I read the whole thing again to make sure it makes sense.
Also I use BETA readers in the process and have recently started employing editors to edit my work, as I found the editing process was taking me away from writing and I have so many ideas.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
Yes. I can easily write 200 words per chapter on the outline.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
Wait. If I edit as I go then I never get it finished. Believe me I have so many drafts over the last 6 years of writing.
Did you hire a professional editor
I have just hired someone to do a book launching later this year because I want to see what type of things they can catch. Also I’m self published and I couldn’t really afford it before.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
No. I need absolute silence.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No, not any more. I found it was too long that I was waiting to hear back. One of my queries, I got a response after nearly three years.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
I queried 3 books with so many agents and got all rejections. Then I went to a zoom with a self published author leading the session and she was talking about everything and so much made sense. I was like I’m going to self publish and then last August I finally did it.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I pay for my covers. I think the cover is the first thing people look at, and then the blurb.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I have a loose marketing plan. To be honest I spend too much time writing books and not enough time marketing. I have 6 books out, 1 on pre order, 1 waiting for a cover, 1 waiting for the editing pass, and another I am writing now so I am always too busy with something. Maybe at the end of the year, or next year I’ll put more focus into marketing.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Go for it. Read as much as you can. Learn everything you can.
About You
Where do you live now?
At the moment I am working on a epistolary novel for the young adult romance market. And also the sequel to my YA romance Hemmed In.
End of Interview:
Get your copy of The Dawclark Hotel from Amazon US or Amazon UK.
