Rowan Coleman

Rowan Coleman grew up in Hertfordshire secretly longing to be a writer despite battling with dyslexia. After graduating from university she worked in bookselling and publishing for seven years before winning Company Magazine Young Writer of the Year in 2001. Her first novel “Growing Up Twice” was published in 2002. Rowan has gone to write eight more novels and her latest “Dearest Rose” is available from September 27th. She now lives in Hertfordshire with her family.

1. Your latest story “Dearest Rose” is about Rose, a woman who turns up on a doorstep in the village of Millthwaite with her seven year old daughter, Maddie. She has left everything behind her in the search of the one person who once offered her hope. But almost immediately she wonders if she has made a terrible mistake. What inspired you to write this type of story?
   I suppose I always like to meet my characters that are at the most taxing or difficult time of their life – even in my more lighthearted books. In “Dearest Rose”, the central character has made a choice that changes everything, I wanted to follow her path after making that choice, and dealing with the consequences.
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 have always written, since childhood, but I became a published writer after winning Company Magazines Young Writer of the Year short story competition, and I have now been published for ten years. I write heartfelt, warm, humourous, sometimes dark always romantic and emotional fiction, no subject scares me!
3. Where do you get your ideas for your stories?
   All around me, all the time. Sometimes it’s from events in my past, life stories people tell me, things I read in the paper or over hear on the bus…I think that being a writer is collecting ideas constantly and filing them away until you need them!
4. What’s your favourite book of all time?
   My favourite book of all time is “Jane Eyre”, to me it is a revolutionary text, some of the best romantic fiction ever written, scary, gripping, groundbreaking and incredible. I really resent the so called erotic rewrite it’s getting, Jane Eyre’s true eroticism comes from what is repressed, what is not said or written.
5. What authors do you admire?
   There are many, but in particular Carole Matthews, Trisha Ashley and Katie FFord because they are not only brilliant writers, who have proved they can be creative and original over and over again, they are also really lovely people!
6. Out of all your books, who has been your favourite character?
   Hard one! Its used to be Sophie Mills from The Accidental Mother & Family – and I know a lot of readers love her, but I think at the moment it’s Willow from “Lessons In Laughing Out Loud” and also Rose, she goes through so much, poor woman!
7. What is your favourite part of the writing process?
   The first draft, when you can just let it all hang out and see what happens.
8. When not writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?
   Well I have four children, so I don’t have much spare time, but if I do I like to watch a good horror film and scare myself witless.
9. If you were stranded on a desert island, which three books would you bring with you to pass the time?
   “Jane Eyre” – I never get bored of reading it, complete works of Shakespeare because I’m a frustrated actress and go through all the parts, and “Bridget Jone’s Diary”, it still makes me laugh.
10. What area do you suggest a budding writer should concentrate on to further their abilities?
    Simply write, every day if you can. The more you do, the better you get. And one route to publication is through short stories, it’s a good way to hone your craft.
11. When sitting down to write, what is the one item you need beside you?
    A cup of coffee!
12. And finally Rowan, do you have any projects or releases on the horizon which you would like to share with the readers of the website?
    I am working on two top secret plans at the moment, I could tell you – but I’d have to kill you!

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