Today iit’s my turn on the blog blog tour for All Grown Up. I’m sharing my Q&A with the author with thanks to Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on the tour and Catherine Evans for answering my questions!

Have you always wanted to write?

Yes, always. Eventually, I realised I had to do something about it.

What were your previous jobs? Have they helped you with your writing process?

My first job was franking post for Marie Curie Cancer Care. My second was as a dancer in a Greek night club. This was some achievement as I have two left feet (amazing what you can get away with when you’re 18.) I worked in investment for twenty years. Even today, I have a day job – I’m on the board of a mining company. It’s interesting and I work with fabulous people. Writers should always have a life outside of writing, otherwise they risk churning out solipsistic rubbish.

What was your inspiration for All Grown Up?

I saw an incredibly striking teenage girl on a bus, and I found myself thinking about her long after the journey was over. The whole story was constructed around her.

How do you construct your characters? Do they have traits of people you know?

My characters start as a wisp of an idea, then gradually flesh out as they’re being written. They often surprise me. They all have traits of people I know. Sometimes a minor character takes over the entire show.

What does your writing process look like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Definitely a pantser. I type directly onto my ancient Big Mac, now 16 years old. When away from home, I use my laptop, also pretty ancient. My husband claims to be grateful that I never throw old or knackered things away.

How did you research? Did you enjoy it?

I do enjoy research, but always try to sprinkle it lightly.

Who are your favourite writers? Are you influenced by them?

I love classic literature: George Eliot, the Brontes, Henry James, Chinua Achebe to name just a few. My favourite modern author is probably William Boyd. I also love Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie. Without question, I’m influenced by other writers.

If you could invite three people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be and why?

David Kosoff – actor and father of Free guitarist Paul Kosoff. He visited my school after the death of his son, and did such a haunting impression of Paul on heroin that I never touched the hard stuff. Ever. I think about him often, and wish I’d made the effort to tell him how much he’d influenced me.

Isaac Newton – for his genius, his inspiring ability to multi-task (writing Principia while Chancellor of the Exchequer) and for sticking a pin into his eye ‘just to see what would happen.’ (Nothing, since you ask.) 

Larry McMurtry – I was writing him a fan letter to tell him how much I loved Lonesome Dove when he died. It’s a shame people are snobbish about Westerns. His books are brilliant. Even the mules and the babies have distinct personalities.

Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

Anyone boring, claustrophobic or suffering from bladder issues.

Who would play the main character/s in a film version of All Grown Up ? 

This is so difficult… A 50 year old Gregory Peck (RIP) or Bill Nighy as Giles. A 45-year old Alison Steadman as Christine. I can’t think of anyone young enough to play Neveah – it’s a really meaty role for a young aspiring actor. A teenage Amandla Stenberg, perhaps.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I read! I’m also addicted to Duolingo. I started it to keep up my French. Now I’ve added Spanish and Swahili.

What is next for you?

A collection of short stories based on missing scenes from great literature. Starting with Dorothea Brooke’s Wedding Night.

Favourites:

Book?

Any Human Heart by William Boyd. If I can have two, I’d say George Eliot’s Middlemarch.

Film?

Fiddler on the Roof

Band/Singer?

 Nina Simone

TV show?

 The IT Crowd

Colour?

 Green

Place?

 Malawi 

Biscuit?

Ginger Nut. Every time.

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All Grown Up is available from Amazon.

You can follow the rest of the blog tour here: