Miranda Dickinson

Miranda Dickinson has always had a head full of stories. From an early age she dreamed a writing a book that would make the heady heights of Kingswinford Library. Following a Performance Art degree, she began writing in earnest and wrote her first book “Fairytale of New York” in 2010 and then went onto write “Welcome To My World” and “It Started With A Kiss”, all of which have been Sunday Times bestsellers. As well as being a bestselling author, Miranda is also a singer/songwriter.

1. Your latest book “It Started With a Kiss”, is about Romily Parker, who as a wedding singer has seen her own fair share of happy endings but unfortunately her own love life isn’t quite as simple. But on the Saturday before Christmas, she has a chance encounter with a handsome stranger that changes everything. Determined to find him again, she sets out on a quest to see if she can find the man of her dreams or could love be closer than she thinks? What inspired you to write this story?
   I’m fascinated by ‘what-if’ moments – the possibilities of what could happen if you chose a different course of action in a situation. When I started writing the book, I chatted with my friends about it and discovered that every one of them (male and female) had experienced moments like this. So I wondered what would happen if a character had one of these moments and, instead of letting it pass by, made it her mission to pursue it.
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?
   I wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember, but never had the nerve to send my writing to anyone. Then I heard about Authonomy.com, HarperCollins’ site for unpublished authors, and uploaded my incomplete novel, “Coffee at Kowalski’s”, onto the site to see what the other writers on there thought about it. To my utter shock, an editor from Avon (an imprint of HC) emailed me to request the full manuscript and two weeks later I was offered a three-book deal! My first novel was renamed “Fairytale of New York” and became an instant bestseller – much to my surprise! It went into the Sunday Times Top 10 Bestsellers, sold 100,000 copies in its first six weeks and was translated into five languages. I’ve since released two more novels, Welcome to My World, and “It Started With a Kiss”, which have also been Sunday Times Bestsellers and have since signed a second three-book deal with Avon. I feel incredibly lucky and I can’t believe that almost half a million people around the world have read my books now!
3. What part of the writing process do you find most enjoyable?
   The writing bit! About two-thirds of the process of writing and publishing a novel is editing, which can be enjoyable in its own way, but I’m never happier than when I’m creating words rather than critiquing them!
4. Out of the many books that you have read over the years, which one would you have liked to have said “I wrote that”?
   Absolutely definitely “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. I’m a massive fan of comedy fantasy and science fiction and adore the complete silliness coupled with the imaginative brilliance of Douglas Adams. And I wish I could have written “The Sugar Queen” by Sarah Addison Allen – it’s such a magical, otherworldly story.
5. What authors do you admire?
   I adore Sarah Addison Allen, Isabel Wolff, Cally Taylor, Erin Morgenstern, Cecelia Ahern and Dorothy Koomson for beautifully crafted characters and stories you can’t help but fall in love with. I love Douglas Adams, Neil Gaiman, Jasper Fforde and Sir Terry Pratchett for crazily fabulous comedy. And I am in awe of Simon Toyne and Charles Cumming for the way they combine action and breathtaking pace with characters you care about.
6. How do you feel about the current state of the publishing industry? Do you feel like it is an exciting time for authors?
   I think it is an exciting time, yes. I believe that the phenomenal success of ebooks has given authors more opportunities to get their work seen by readers than ever before and, to a certain extent, more control over their writing careers. Talli Roland is a real inspiration to me for the way that she has established a successful self-publishing career for her awesome novels. That said, it’s also a very challenging time for authors because there are now so many voices competing for readers’ attention. I don’t think you can be a successful author today without accepting that a lot of your time will be spent promoting your work and, crucially, interacting with readers online and in person.
7. Of all the characters in the books you have written, which has been the one you relate to the most?
   I love all of them and in many ways there are bits of me represented in all my characters – even the supporting casts. I suppose the character I will always feel most affinity for is Rosie Duncan in “Fairytale of New York”, because it was my first novel and, looking back, I’m surprised of how much of ‘me’ made it to the page through her.
8. 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 love the opening line of “I Capture the Castle” by Dodie Smith: ‘I write this sitting in the kitchen sink.’ It’s just such a perfect line, and right away gives you all you need to know about Cassandra Mortmain.
9. If you were stranded on a desert island, which three books would you bring with you to pass the time?
   I’d probably choose something really useful like “Raft Building for Desert Island Emergencies”! Sorry… I’d take “Pride and Prejudice” because I never get tired of reading it, ‘The Truth” by Terry Pratchett because it makes me snort with laughter and I imagine I would need to maintain a sense of humour being stranded on a desert island, and “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern because it is one of the most remarkable books I have ever read and would keep me believing in the impossible!
10. What area do you suggest a budding writer should concentrate on to further their abilities?
    Writing! I’ve met so many aspiring writers who feel frustrated because they read lots of books about how to write and go on countless writing weekends and conferences but come away with conflicting advice that makes them doubt their own ability. Truly, there are no quick fixes to being a writer: it’s a lifelong apprenticeship and the only way to become a better writer is to do it. Don’t worry about whether you’re a meticulous plotter or a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants adventurer; if you write 2,000 words a day or only write when you’re inspired; if you write about what you know or dream about things you don’t: there really is no right or wrong way to do it. Just find out what works best for you and learn how to do it better by doing it! Most of all, write because you love it: that has to be at the heart of everything to keep you going.
11. When sitting down to write, what is the one item you need beside you?
    My blanket! I have to have it over my knees whenever I write, even if it’s in the middle of summer. I think it makes me feel settled and that’s when I can relax and let my imagination run free.
12. And finally Miranda, do you have any projects or releases on the horizon which you would like to share with the readers of the website?
    My new novel, “When I Fall in Lov”e, is published on 8th November this year. It’s set in Brighton and Paris and features my favourite protagonist so far: Elsie Maynard. It’s a story about love, life and second chances and I know you’re going to love it! I’ve also written a short story that focuses on Uncle Dudley and Auntie Mags from “It Started With a Kiss”, which will be released in a free short story collection from Avon next month. And I’m just about to begin writing my fifth novel for 2013!

Read more about Miranda Dickinson online also see her videoblog Coffee and Roses online or follow her on Twitter Miranda Dickinson