Julia Llewellyn

Julia is the author of The Model Wife, Love Nest and Amy’s Honeymoon. Her latest novel, Ten Minutes to Fall in Love is now available. Novel Kicks chat’s to Julia about her new book.

Your latest book is called Ten Minutes to Fall in Love. Can you tell us a little about it?

Ten Minutes is about a mixed-up young woman called Zu. Her mother was an alcoholic, who made her teenage years a misery. After she died, Zu left home, hoping never to return. But now she’s been forced back and she decides to clear her conscience she needs to find a new girlfriend for her father, Tony. Nothing goes to plan, however. There are dominatrixes, drug addicts and a trip to Ukraine with men who are desperate for a wife. Action-packed in other words.

Can you tell us about your writing day? Do you have a favourite time and place to write?

I try to write in my home office from 9am to 6pm four days a week, but the reality is probably three hours writing a sentence here and there, interspersed with three hours internet shopping, an hour on Twitter, an hour separating fighting kids and unloading the washing machine and an hour having lunch with my best friend (writers need to get out and about and talk to real people, you see!).

Do you work with a detailed outline or just write and see where the idea leads?

I try to make a detailed outline but by about chapter three I always veer wildly from it. My finished novel never bears any resemblance to the idea I set out with.

How do you approach the editing process? What’s the variation between the length of your first and last drafts?

I edit, edit, re-edit and edit some more. I probably write about six drafts of a book. Hemingway said “first drafts are ****” and he was right. In my case I have to be prepared to bin almost everything I start with and take some completely new turns.

What (if anything or anyone) influences your writing?

Whatever I’ve last read influences my writing, usually disastrously. If I’ve reread Jackie Collins my heroine will suddenly morph into a sultry megabitch, but then I’ll reread Bridget Jones and she’ll be a bumbling sweetheart.

Who is your favourite author(s) and do you have a favourite book?

I’ve loads of favourite authors – Marian Keyes, Jaclyn Moriarty for chicklit, Sophie Hannah for crime. I also adore the late Antonia Forest who wrote a series of books about the Marlow family. They’re billed as children’s novels but they’re as sophisticated as anything by Jane Austen. I’ve read them all time and time again.

Do you ever experience writers block and if yes, how do you overcome it?

I’ve been a journalist for nearly 20 years and when your editor expects copy you can’t say the words won’t come. The fantabulous, multi-billion Nora Roberts has one piece of advice for writers “ass in the chair.” Just write something, it doesn’t matter how bad, you can later edit it to improve.

What attributes do you feel are essential for being a writer?

Patience, humility and a sense of curiosity about the world around you.

What three things would you need with you on a desert island?

Things – not people? The collected works of Antonia Forest.An iPod. Matches because I’m so inept I’d never work out how to make a fire.

Is there a character from fiction you’d like to meet?

I’d love to meet Jilly Cooper’s Rupert Campbell Black and rebuff him when he made a pass at me (I wish!)

Which one of your characters are your favourite?

My favourite character’s currently Zu from Ten Minutes, she’s adventurous and tough but also extremely kind, though she’d hate anyone to know that.

Who would be at your ideal dinner party?

My adored late granny who was the best company of anyone I’ve ever known. And old friends who, now, we’re also so busy with kids and work, it’s hard to see enough of. No one famous, I meet them through work and with the odd exception, they’re nearly all let downs.

What are the best and worst things about being a writer and what would you be doing if you weren’t writing?

The best is the thrill of people telling you they enjoyed your book. The worst is the loneliness of just you and your computer, day in and day out. I have to combine writing fiction with journalism – because that gets me out meeting people and stimulates new ideas. If I didn’t write fiction I’d just do the journalism.

Chocolate or Vanilla – Chocolate

Dog or Cat – Cat

Warm or Cold – Warm

Tea or Coffee – Coffee

Quiet or Loud – Loud

Summer or winter – What’s summer, I’ve forgotten?

Red or Pink – Pink

Ten Minutes to Fall in Love is available now via Amazon.

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by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.