Joanna Bolouri

Joanna Bolouri worked in sales before she began writing professionally at the age of thirty. Winning a BBC comedy script competition allowed her to work and write with stand-up comedians, comedy scriptwriters and actors from across the UK. She’s had articles and reviews published in ‘The Skinny’, ‘The Scottish Sun’, ‘The Huffington Post’ and ‘HecklerSpray’. She lives in Glasgow with her daughter.

1. Can you describe what your new book, ‘I Followed The Rules’ is about.
   ‘I Followed the Rules’ is the story of Cat Buchanan, a journalist and single mother who agrees to follow a really obnoxious dating guide for her weekly column.
2. To the readers of the website, tell us about yourself and how you got into writing.
   I’ve always written but I didn’t start doing it professionally until I hit thirty. I started doing little reviews and articles until I felt confident enough to move on to a novel. I’m now on the wrong side of thirty and I live in Glasgow.
3. Who is your favourite literary hero/heroine?
   I’ve read ‘Rebecca’ about a zillion times. I should say the protagonist but I really quite like Mrs Danvers.
4. If you could rewrite any book, which one would it be?
   ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. I’d throw some dinosaurs in there.
5. If you were to start your own book club, what authors would you ask to join?
   Stephen King, Louise O’Neill, Kirsty Logan, Marian Keyes and David Thorne.
6. What area do you suggest a budding writer should concentrate on to further their abilities?
   That all depends on what they’re writing. I guess getting your work seen is invaluable, whether it’s by a friend, on a blog or sending it out everywhere. It builds a thicker skin, which you definitely need. People are mean to writers.
7. What’s been the highlight of your writing experience?
   Having two novels published. Total rush.
8. What authors do you admire?
   JK Rowling and those above who are going to be forced to join my bookclub.
9. What has been your favourite book of 2015?
   I read Louise O’Neill’s Only Ever Yours this year and it’s wonderful.
10. If you were stranded on a desert island, which 3 books would you bring with you to pass the time?
    ‘A Choice of Magic’ by Ruth Manning Sanders, ‘Rebecca’ by Daphne du Maurier and anything by David Thorne
11. When sitting down to write, what is the one item you need beside you?

My e-cig. It comes everywhere with me.

12. And finally, do you have any projects or releases on the horizon that you would like to share with the readers of the website?
    ‘I Followed the Rules’ has just come out so now I’m bothering my agent with some really horrible third book ideas. She’s taking it well.

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