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