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May 2

Fiona Gibson

Fiona GibsonFiona Gibson is an author and journalist who has written for many UK publications including ‘The Observer’, ‘The Guardian’,'Marie Claire’, ‘Red’, ‘New Woman’, ‘Top Sante’ and ‘Elle’. She writes a monthly column for Sainsbury’s magazine and is a Contributing Editor at ‘Red’ magazine. Fiona lives in Scotland with her husband, their twin sons and daughter. ‘Pedigree Mum’ is her eighth novel.

  1. Your latest book,’Pedigree Mum’tells the story of piano teacher Kerry who moves to the seaside town of Shorling hoping for th e perfect life, but instead things drastically fall apart. What inspired you to write this type of story?
    It really started when we acquired a rescue dog a couple of years ago – I knew I wanted to write a book featuring a dog, and about a mum who’d been nagged half to death to get one – as I had, by my own daughter. It set me thinking, why would the mum finally agree? What kind of upheaval would the children gone through for her to want to make it up to them?
  2. To the readers of the blog, that may not be familiar with you or your writing, can tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into writing?
    My background is in teenage magazines – I started working on the now-defunct ‘Jackie’ magazine straight from school, when I was 17. Over the years I also worked on ‘Just Seventeen’, ‘More!’ and ‘Bliss’, until I had my twin boys and decided to go freelance. Finally, as I no longer had a staff job on a mag, I felt I had the headspace to write a novel.
  3. Was there ever a book that you read, that didn’t live up to the hype that surrounded it and left you disappointed?
    I’m ashamed to say I got really bored reading ‘Norwegian Wood’. Not enough happened for me. But I know so many people who love it! Perhaps it was a bit subtle for me – I’m not terribly highbrow. I like things to move along and I don’t have a huge amount of patience.
  4. What part of the writing process do you find the most difficult?
    Just keeping going, really. Starting a book feels great as it’s all new, fresh and exciting – and towards the end it’s fun to start tying eveything up, plus there’s the relief at nearly reaching the finishing post. The middle bit is tough though – by which I mean from about page 70-350… ie, most of it! Self doubt creeps in and there’s really no alternative than to grit your teeth and plough on.
  5. I always thought the opening lines to “The Lovely Bones” was quite memorable, are there any opening lines to books that stuck out to you?
    I’m pretty partial to the opening line of ‘I Capture the Castle’: ‘I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.’
  6. How do you feel about the current state of the publishing industry? Do you feel like it is an exciting time for authors?
    It’s now so easy to self publish and, in some ways, authors are gaining more control of how things are done. Traditional publishing is in a state of flux, but I hope that by selling both paperbacks AND ebooks, authors can still earn a decent living. I have no problem with readers buying my novels as ebooks, as I know how brilliantly convenient it is – I love my Kindle and have been reading so much more since I got it. It’s a great way to try out lots of new authors.
  7. What authors do you admire?
    I’ve always loved Anne Tyler, Lisa Jewell’s books always hit the spot for me, and I’m a big fan of India Knight too. ‘A Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing’ by Melissa Bank is one of my favourite books – the writing is deceptively simple.
  8. What has been the highlight of your career so far?
    It’s hard to say, as the most recent book publication always feels like the most exciting. But I’d probably say getting my first ever job on ‘Jackie’, then the one on ‘Just Seventeen’. I loved my years on teenage mags – it didn’t feel like working, and pretty much all of my close friendships were formed then. But getting my current publishing deal with Avon has been great too, as we just seem to have clicked and they’ve been brilliant.
  9. If you were stranded on a desert island, which three books would you bring with you to pass the time?
    I’ll pick three books I’d be delighted to re-read – ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ by Mark Haddon, ‘Ladder of Years’ by Anne Tyler, and ‘About a Boy’ by Nick Hornby which just made me laugh so much.
  10. What area do you suggest a budding writer should concentrate on to further their abilities?
    It’s easy to become horribly self conscious – ‘Is this any good? Will anyone publish/buy this?’ And those thoughts can be really hampering and restricting. So anything you can do to write freely, without that self consciousness, will help your writing. I think it’s important to find a style and a voice, which feels authentic and that you feel comfortable with. A lot of it is instinctive – you know when it feels right, and the more writing you do – every day, ideally – the sooner you’ll arrive at that. There’s a lot of trial and error involved.
  11. When sitting down to write, what is the one item you need beside you?
    A mug of decent coffee. I drink FAR too much of the stuff and cannot write without it. It’s better than the towering ashtray I used to have…
  12. And finally Fiona, do you have any projects or releases on the horizon which you would like to share with the readers of the website?
    I’m writing a novel for Avon – it has a sort of sugary theme and it’s about a woman in her late thirties who’s just dipping her toe back into the dating scene. She is sort of thrilled but terrified too, and her two teenage boys are completely scathing. It’s due to be finished by summer and is out in Feb 2014.

Read more about Fiona Gibson online or follow her on Twitter Fiona Gibson

Apr 24

Sophie Kinsella Reveals Her Favourite Opening Line

Sophie KinsellaOn the days leading up to the highly anticipated release of ‘Wedding Night’ , author of the bestselling ‘Shopaholic’ series, Sophie Kinsella joined Twitter for a one – off question and answer session with her fans.

Via the social networking website, we were fortunate to be able to ask the romantic comedy author, whatever our hearts desired and I was lucky that she answered my question. Here’s what I asked.

What’s your favourite opening line, from any book?
“If music be the food of love, play on”
Twelfth Night

You can buy Wedding Night on Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

For exciting Twitter updates,follow her on Twitter Sophie Kinsella

Mar 28

Carole Matthews

Carole MatthewsCarole Matthews has written 16 books in 22 years, has been a Top 5 Sunday Times bestseller and has sold over 4 million books worldwide. Her novel Welcome To The Real World was shortlisted for the RNA romantic novel of the year award. Her book ‘Wrapped Up In You’ was shortlisted for The Festival of Romance Best Romantic Read award and for the RNA Romantic Comedy of the Year award. She was also inducted into The Festival of Romance Hall of Fame for her outstanding contribution to romantic fiction. She lives in the Costa del MiltonKeynes with her dearly beloved, Lovely Kev. Her latest book ‘A Cottage By The Sea’ is about three best friends who go on holiday to a seaside cottage only for all their lives to change in a week.

  1. Your latest book “A Cottage By The Sea” is about three best friends who jump at the chance of having a holiday together. However, it doesn’t quite turn out as they planned. What inspired you to write this type of story?
    I love to write books about relationships, friendship, group dynamics and the power of love. And A Cottage by the Sea has it all! Sometimes when you confine your characters to one place and a short space of time it brings out the best in some of them and the worst in others. That’s what Grace, Ella and Flick experience when they spend a week together with their partners in Ella’s beautiful cottage by the sea in Wales. The relationships that they thought they had will never be the same again.
  2. To the readers of the website, that may not familiar with you or your writing, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into writing?
    My first book – ‘Let’s Meet on Platform 8′ – was published about 17 years ago now and it was at the very start of the whole chicklit wave. I’d won a short story competition and, very sensibly, spent the money on a writing course. On the course, I showed the tutor my novel and she recommended an agent. Within a week he’d sold the book. I just hit the right desk at the right time with the right book. I’m currently writing my twenty-fifth novel and am really grateful that people keep reading and enjoying my books.
  3. How do you feel about the current state of the publishing industry? Do you feel like it is an exciting time for authors?
    It’s a very turbulent time in publishing and no one quite knows what’s going to happen in the future, but I think there’s an excitement in that too. There are a lot more digital opportunities for writers to be published at the moment rather than having to go down the route of finding a traditional publisher and that’s very liberating. There is, however, a lot of competition and it’s hard to get your book to stand out from the crowd. It’s a tough time for bookshops and libraries though.
  4. Who is your favourite literary hero/heroine?
    I have to go back to chicklit bible, ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’ for my choices. Both Daniel Cleaver and Mark Darcy are just perfect in their roles and we’ve all been Bridget at some time in our lives. Just a great book.
  5. I always thought the opening lines to “The Lovely Bones” was quite memorable, are there any opening lines to books that stuck out to you?
    From Michael Ridpath’s book, ‘Free to Trade’: ‘I had lost half a million dollars in slightly less than half an hour and the coffee machine didn’t work. This was turning into a bad day. Half a million dollars is a lot of money. And I needed a cup of coffee badly.’ That’s a cracking way to open a book!
  6. Out of all the books that you have written, which one is your favourite?
    I think both ‘The Chocolate Lovers Club’ and ‘The Chocolate Lovers’ Diet’. I had such great fun researching them and who doesn’t like chocolate. I think they’re the favourites of my readers too and I’m always being asked if I’d write another one in the series.
  7. What authors do you admire?
    I love all of Philippa Gregory’s historical novels. She’s the only writer I rush out and buy in hardback. I particularly like the ones she writes about the Tudor court. For me, she brings it all to life.
    Beyond that I read a very eclectic variety of books and am always looking for something new to try.
  8. Was there ever a book that you read, that didn’t live up to the hype that surrounded it and left you disappointed?
    There are so many! Hype is so often due to fabulous marketing rather than the quality of the book. The most obvious is ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ which I hated everything about. I really can’t see why so many women enjoyed reading about a young girl being terribly abused in the name of lurve. I also struggled with ‘Wolf Hall’ by Hilary Mantel which has won every prize known to man. I found it very dry even though I usually adore anything written about those naughty Tudors. That won’t stop me from reading the sequel, ‘Bringing up the Bodies’, though! One book that I did enjoy despite the mahoosive hype was J K Rowling’s first adult novel, ‘The Casual Vacancy’. I thought it was beautifully written and keenly observed. I would, however, have liked just one nice character, they were all a bit too horrible to make me care about them. A hyped book that I did thoroughly enjoy though was ‘One Day’ by David Nicholls which is now firmly in my top favourite books.
  9. If you were stranded on a desert island, which three books would you bring with you to pass the time?
    ‘One Day’ by David Nicholls
    ‘The Time Traveller’s Wife’ by Audrey Niffenegger
    ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ by Philippa Gregory
  10. What area do you suggest a budding writer should concentrate on to further their abilities?
    I think the mistake that a lot of writers make is to try to chase the market and write what’s in fashion at the time. My advice is to write the book that you want to and make it the very best you can. Without wanting to sound too clichéd about it, a book really does need to come from the heart to make it work.
  11. When sitting down to write, what is the one item you need beside you?
    A big mug of tea!
  12. And finally Carole, do you have any projects or releases on the horizon which you would like to share with the readers of the website?
    I have another Christmas book out this year which I had a lot of fun researching – ‘Calling Mrs Christmas’! The hardback will be out in August, followed by the paperback in October.

Read more about Carole Matthews online or follow her on Twitter Carole Matthews

Jan 23

2 Comments

Victoria Fox

Victoria Fox at the Now Magazine and Fake BakeVictoria Fox was born in 1983, went to boarding school in her teens and studied English at university. While there, she wrote her first (unpublished) bonkbuster: The Hardest Part. Despite not getting published, the genre for Victoria never lost its sheen, and she continued to work hard at it. After being a long term admirer of Jackie Collins, she often wondered what it would be like to be a bonkbuster author and after working in publishing for a number of years, she decided to quit and see if she could make it as an author. Her first book was called “Hollywood Sinners” which was then followed by her second book “Temptation Island” which was released in June 2012.

  1. Your latest story “Temptation Island” tells the story of three girls all from different sides of the tracks and an island that hides a terrible secret. What inspired you to write this type of story?
    Bonkbusters have a special place in my heart and I wanted to write a big, bold, sexy book that was genuinely shocking and exciting. I want to make my readers gasp! I think the canvas always has to be big in a bonkbuster so I chose an exotic, far-flung setting and let my imagination run wild on a number of different storylines that collide in a scorching denouement. “Temptation Island” is a real holiday book and the kind of thing I love to read while lounging by the pool and soaking up the rays.
  2. To the readers of the website that may not be familiar with you or your writing, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into writing?
    Becoming an author was always the dream but one I didn’t think I’d pursue until later in life. After studying English at university I moved to London and landed an editorial job in publishing, where I learned a great deal not only about how books are produced but also about the women’s fiction market. I saw a gap for a sexy celebrity bonkbuster, the kind of thing that would appeal to readers of Heat and Now, and the bug to try one of my own caught up with me. I wrote a partial manuscript (about 30,000 words), submitted it anonymously to an agent and when she agreed to represent me I quit my job, wrote the novel and managed to get a deal.
  3. If “Temptation Island” was to be adapted for screen, who do you imagine would play your leading ladies?
    Love this question. My favourite actresses are Emma Stone, Amanda Seyfried and Jennifer Lawrence from The Hunger Games. Casting the men would be more fun, though, as they’d have to take their tops off for the beach scenes. James Franco, Leo DiCaprio and Ryan Gosling. Naturally I’d look after the auditions.
  4. Your writing reminds me of fellow British authors Louise Bagshawe and Lulu Taylor, what authors do you admire?
    That’s a great compliment. I adore Bagshawe’s and Taylor’s books, and in the bonkbuster genre I also enjoy Rebecca Chance, Aita Ighodaro and J J Salem. My all-time ultimate, though, is Jackie Collins: she’s a legend. I devoured her novels as a teenager and she’s influenced my own books massively.
  5. Who is your favourite literary hero that you wish could whisk you off your feet?
    Jake Lovell from Jilly Cooper’s “Riders”. With his gypsy vibe and dark, brooding looks, he’s gorgeous. A tortured soul is always an irresistible fantasy.
  6. What part of the writing process do you least enjoy?
    The same part that, on a good day, I most enjoy: being by myself. To write you have to like your own company, and that means taking the good times with the bad. Sometimes, if I’ve had an unproductive day, it’ll be frustrating not to be able to share it with someone, and a novel gets so detailed that it becomes difficult to describe what part of it is troubling you and to bounce ideas off friends. That said when it comes together there’s a great sense of personal achievement, so like anything it’s swings and roundabouts.
  7. If you weren’t an author, what do you imagine yourself doing?
    When I was little I wanted to be a vet, so despite being dreadful at sciences I’d like to imagine I’d be doing that. Otherwise I’d run away with the circus and learn how to trapeze, or join NASA and become an astronaut.
  8. I always thought the opening lines to The Lovely Bones were quite memorable, are there any opening lines to books that stuck out to you?
    It’s not quite an opening line because it comes at the end of the first chapter, but Shirley Conran’s “Lace” has one of the best ever. A young film star gathers together four women, old-time friends, who we know share a history but we’re not sure yet what. She sweeps in and demands, ‘All right, which one of you bitches is my mother?’ Amazing.
  9. If you were stranded on a desert island, which three books would you bring with you to pass the time?
    “The Magus” by John Fowles, a brilliant book about a young man who enters a psychological labyrinth on a remote Greek island – I first read it when I was fourteen and it changed the way I thought. “Sacred Country” by Rose Tremain: she’s one of the best writers alive, and this book is full of ideas so beautifully articulated that you find yourself reading particular sentences over and over again. I’d also take an encyclopaedia so I could learn a fact a day – I’d be the cleverest person ever once I was rescued, even if I did need a shower.
  10. What area do you suggest a budding writer should concentrate on to further their abilities?
    Every author says it because it’s true: persevere. Not just with the submission process but with producing material in the first place. Lots of people say they want to write a book but few actually sit down and slog out 100,000 words. If you want to write a book, write it. Only then, whatever the initial standard, will you have an entirety to work on, edit, polish, and eventually show an agent and publisher.
  11. When sitting down to write, what is the one item you need beside you?
    My favourite mug, full of tea. It’s a Penguin Classics, white and purple: Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own.
  12. And finally, Victoria, do you have any projects or releases on the horizon which you would like to share with the readers of the website?
    At the moment I’m hard at work on my third book, which is a glamorous, sexy revenge thriller set in the music industry. It’s coming out next summer, so watch this space!

Read more about Victoria Fox online or follow her on Twitter Victoria Fox

Dec 21

Belinda Jones

Belinda Jones
Belinda Jones was born in Tunbridge Wells, moved to Oxford at one year old and then shifted to Exeter at 14 years before finally moving to the big city of London at 19. Her first paid job in journalism was for kids comic Postman Pat, at 20 she became a features writer for Woman’s World before moving to more! for four years. She then became a Travel writer and was fortunate to travel around some of the world’s most exotic places. In 1997 her first book was published, “Peter Andre Official Biography, but her first novel “Divas Las Vegas” was published in 2001, she then went onto write ten more books, her latest book “Winter Wonderland” is set in magical Quebec.

  1. Your latest book is “Winter Wonderland”. What inspired you to write this type of story?
    I was looking for a snowy-wintry destination as a total contrast to all my beachy summer reads… I had already been to a ski resort but that wasn’t doing it for me and I was considering visiting the polar bears in Manitoba, Canada when I stumbled across the website for the Quebec Winter Carnival. Instantly it got my imagination flaring – so many activities to choose from! – and when I saw the images of the magical Hotel de Glace, I knew exactly how I was going to start my book: “I’m lying on a bed of ice…”
  2. To the readers of the blog, that may not be familiar with you or your writing, can tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into writing?
    After about ten years having the time of my life writing for women’s magazines like “more!” and “New Woman”, I pitched the idea for “On The Road To Mr Right” but the agent I sent it to didn’t feel a love-quest/travel memoir would fly and suggested I try chick lit fiction. I told her I wouldn’t have the first clue where to begin – I was a trained journalist and only knew how to write from first-hand experiences. She was insistent I try so I chose to write about my spiritual home – Las Vegas – and fictionalise certain wayward events that had occurred there with my best friend Emily! Months and months of re-writes later she finally took me on and then many agonising rejections later, Random House gave me a break. I had to write three books – “Divas Las Vegas”, “I Love Capri” and “The California Club” – before they agreed to publish “On The Road To Mr Right” but I got there in the end and it became a Sunday Times Top 10 Bestseller! Now I’m on book number 12! Just thinking about it makes me want to lie down…
  3. All your books covers have been quite eye-catching over the years. Do you find that you judge a book by its cover?
    Absolutely! I think a nice cover makes the book all the more of a treasure! My publisher sent me “The Rules of Civility” by Amor Towles last Christmas and it has such a luxe Art Deco style to it, I felt I been presented with some kind of collectible vintage cigar box! My personal favourites in the Chick Lit realm are Jenny Colgan’s “Cupcake Café” books and especially the purple-gold-cream combo of “The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris”, out next March.
  4. How do you feel about the current state of the publishing industry? Do you feel it is an exciting time for authors?
    It’s exciting and daunting in a way because it seems to be changing every day and there’s so much to know and learn! I just published my first ever eBook in the USA – after all these years finally being able to have my books available in the country where I live is amazing! That’s only been possible in the past few years, it’s incredible that authors have their own power now! You are no longer limited by publishers saying yay or nay, it’s up to the people!
  5. I always thought the opening line to “The Lovely Bones” was quite memorable, are there opening lines to books that stuck out to you?
    That is a ‘killer’ first line for sure! I liked the a-typical chick lit-ness of Marian Keyes opening for “Rachel’s Holiday”: “They said I was a drug addict.” And “I grew up rich.” Which is the first line of Charlotte au Chocolat (Memories of a Restaurant Girlhood) by Charlotte Silver. Especially because of what comes next…
  6. You do a lot of travelling for research for your books. What has been your favourite research experience?
    That’s a tricky one! It’s hard to beat those aquamarine waters in Tahiti – I loved having a stingray slime over me and jet-skiing around Bora Bora! But I truly fell head-over-heels in love with Quebec. I remember when I first saw the snow-spangled city from up high in an observation lounge, I felt this childlike wonder and literally got tingles. It was just so magical and beautiful, I wanted everyone to see it for themselves. That sense of amazement stayed with me the whole week I was there. So many new experiences, half of them up to your armpits in snow! And don’t get me started on the maple syrup pie!
  7. What authors do you admire?
    Marian Keyes, Bill Bryson, Marlena de Blasi… I also admire those Chick Lit writers who can knock out two books a year! How do they do it?! I’m sooo slow! (Or am I just easily distracted…)
  8. What area do you suggest a budding writer should concentrate on to further their abilities?
    I personally feel at my most inspired during book festivals, workshops and writing classes – I love the classroom environment, probably because college is such a distant memory for me now! There’s just something about being in a room with a group of fellow writers all striving to be better. You always learn so much in the discussions and talks. The only bit I don’t like is having to read your work aloud. I get all shaky and self-conscious and my voice contorts but the feedback you can get is invaluable. So that’s what I would recommend. It’s still a learning experience for me 12 years after my first book was published!
  9. If you were ever stranded on a desert island, which three books would you bring with you to pass the time?
    I’m trying to think of the thickest possible books, like the “Encyclopedia Brittanica!” Maybe some whopping great Dickens anthology and then Bill Bryson’s “Notes from a Small Island” (which sounds appropriate but is actually about the UK) and finally some self-help book to help me maintain a positive attitude! “The Bounce Back Back (How to Thrive in the Face of Adversity, Set-Backs and Losses)” by Karen Salmansohn is funny and wise and comes with a waterproof cover, which could prove useful considering the circumstances!
  10. I’m always reading and I’m always on the look out for book recommendations from reliable sources. What are you reading at the moment and would you recommend it?
    I’m just about to start re-reading “West With The Night” by Beryl Markham. It’s the beautiful memoir of an adventurous aviator growing up in Nairobi, Kenya (co-incidentally where my step-sister Annabelle lives!) Her words totally transport you to Africa in the 1920s and 30s… Ernest Hemingway called it a ‘bloody wonderful book’ and it is!!
  11. When sitting down to write, what is the one item you need beside you?
    I have one essential item ON me – as in a pillow between my laptop and my thighs because my machine gets so scaldingly hot. As for BY me… I like having my dog Bodie as a foot warmer whenever possible. He’s good company even when he’s sleeping, which is 90% of the time these days…
  12. And finally Belinda, do you have any new projects or releases on the horizon which you would like to share with the readers of the blog?
    I have a few!

    1. My next novel is entitled “The Travelling Tea Shop” and will be published September 2013. It’s basically a cake-themed caper around New England in a double-decker bus! Lots of yummy recipes for American favourites like Red Velvet Cake and Boston Creme Pie being traded for UK classics like Battenburg and Victoria Sponge! The story features New York, Boston, Cape Cod and my new favourite yachtie destination – Newport, Rhode Island.

    2. I also have a non-fiction dog-themed memoir called “Bodie On The Road” which is about our travels around the US – and possibly on the Queen Mary 2 if I can persuade him to become a Sea Dog for a week!

    3. This last one is something you and your readers can get involved with. I am running a Jet Set Chick Lit Short Story competition! Here are all the details:

    CALLING ALL ASPIRING WRITERS!

    You can write between 1-5,000 words, whatever best-suits your story, the only criteria that it has to be set in a summer destination outside of the UK! I know you all have some fabulous trips coming up in 2013 – Morocco, Murcia and Majorca to name but 3! It doesn’t have to be super-exotic, it just has to be fun with some local flavour! Basically the kind of story you would love to read while swaying in a hammock slung between two palm trees!

    If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all things Christmas, fret ye not! You have plenty of time – the deadline is March 31st 2013. (3/31/13!) So while you’re standing in line at the supermarket or freezing at the bus-stop or having trouble sleeping – just let your mind float off to a fantasyland…

    Once you’ve written your mini work of genius just attach it as a file and send it to divabelinda@me.com

    We’ll be announcing the winners (plural!) and your very special prize in May 2013! And it’s a goodie!

For more information about the competition see Belinda’s Facebook page – Belinda Jone’s Travel Club or follow her on Twitter Belinda Jones

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