Jane, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Tell us about your latest book, including its
genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?
Prime Time is billed
as a romantic comedy but it does have its dark corners. It is the story of
Laura who has shocking PMT and is – ill-advisedly as it turns out – encouraged
to go onto a daytime tv programme to talk about it. What happens next will
change her life…
How do you come up with ideas?
I pretty much write
down everything that ever happens to me…
What is the single most important part of writing
for you?
That wonderful moment
when you can type “the end”.
What is the most important thing you do for your
career?
I’ll give anything a
try. I’ve been on radio and TV, worked as a presenter and interviewer, written
short stories and articles, features and columns, fiction and non-fiction. I
could probably do with being a bit more focussed on just the one or two areas
instead of trying to do it all, but it’s been a lot of fun.
What do you enjoy most about writing?
Being able to
“have my say” I suppose.
What do you enjoy most about life?
Variety. I am not one
of these writers who can be pinned to the computer for a 16 hour stretch. I
like to go out and do lots of different things. But I always consider that to
be part of the process. If you never leave your study how you have anything to
say?
Where do you start when writing? Research,
plotting, outline, or…?
A basic idea. My first
novel was: the buy-to-let market, my second, infidelity, my third – running a
wine bar… and so on.
What did you learn from writing your first
book?
That it’s not as easy
as it looks…
How many hours a day to you spend writing?
On theory 6 hours a
day. In practice? Sometimes I don’t write at all – too busy fiddling with
emails and tidying the kitchen. But when deadlines loom I’ve been known to
write all night. I finished wannabe a writer in a 36 hours stint with no sleep
at all.
If you could give the younger version of yourself
advice what would it be?
Get on with it!
What are some jobs you’ve done that would end up
in a book?
I’ve been a barmaid,
bought and sold property, worked as a secretary and a copywriter – all these
have come in useful in books various.
If I was a first time reader of your books, which
one would you recommend I start with and why?
When I am reading a
new author I like to start with their first one. Mine was –
Raising the Roof. But I’ve developed a lot since then. So I would say now –
read the blurbs and see which one appeals to you most and I’ll just hope you
like it SO much you can’t wait to read the others :-)
What do you hope readers take with them after
reading your work?
A smile and a dollop
of empathy
List two authors we would find you reading when
taking a break from your own writing.
Joanna Trollope and
Fay Weldon
What’s your next writing ambition?
I want to be an agony
aunt on a national newspaper – editors please note! :-)
A biography has been written about you. What do
you think the title would be in six words or less?
Jacqueline of all
trades.
If money were not an object, where would you most
like to live?
By the sea plus a flat
in London
If you were a tool, what would people use you to
do?
Open wine bottles.
As a child, what was your favorite thing about
school?
Reading my way through
maths
If you came with a warning label, what would it
say?
Take in small doses
Please
Fill in the Blanks
I love pizza with fresh
basil.
I’m always ready for a
glass of champagne.
When I’m alone, I relish
it.
You’d never be able to
tell, but I was once a model.
If I had a halo it would be constantly falling off.
If I could play the
guitar, speak fluent French, sing like an angel, and only weighed seven stone,
I’d consider it a good result.
I can never get to
the end of my to-do list because I keep adding to it.
My
Booklist
Raising the Roof
Wannabe a Writer
Wannabe a Writer We’ve
Heard Of
Perfect Alibis
One Glass is Never
Enough
Prime Time
Find
Me Here
