Q: When did you first decide that you wanted to be a writer?
I can’t remember when I didn’t want to be a writer. I absolutely loved books as a child (I still do) and devoured anything and everything written by Enid Blyton. ‘The Magic Faraway Tree’ series was my favourite and I loved escaping into the surreal world she’d created. When I was eight I started writing my own ‘books’ and sent them off to Penguin Publishers in the hope I’d become a published author too. I was rejected, of course, but that didn’t stop me dreaming, or writing.

Q: When and why did you start HEAVEN CAN WAIT?
Before ‘Heaven Can Wait’ I’d previously started two novels but ditched them when I ran out of steam/enthusiasm and kept telling myself ‘I’ll finish a novel one day’. In the summer of 2006 one of my best friends from school died suddenly and unexpectedly and, as people often do in such situations, I re-evaluated my outlook on life. Time was precious I realised, and I couldn’t keep putting off writing a novel. By March 2007 the idea for ‘Heaven Can Wait’ was so clear in my head I had to sit down and write it. Three months and three weeks later I finished the first draft.

Q: How did you go about getting your agent? Any tips for aspiring writers?
I got my agent by buying a copy of the Writers and Artists’ Yearbook and looking through the listings for literary agents who represented chicklit and/or women’s fiction. I drew up a shortlist of six agents who represented successful authors in the genre and sent them a cover letter, synopsis and the first three chapters of my novel (or whatever they asked for). My tip would be to choose the agents you approach carefully – don’t go for a scattergun approach. Agents receive so many queries a day (the Darley Anderson Literary Agency receive 1,200 a month) that they appreciate it when you show in your cover letter that you’ve done your research and chosen them for a specific reason.  If you’ve got short story credits to your name (print publications or competition wins) list the best ones in your cover letter – it’s proof that you’re a writer with potential.

Q: How long was your writing journey in total?  How long to write your book?  How long did take to find an agent?  How long did it take from book contract to getting that box of books in the mail?

The best way to answer this question is to do a little breakdown so here we go:
March 2007: Started writing ‘Heaven Can Wait’
End June 2007: Finished 100,000 word first draft.
June – September 2007: Edited ‘Heaven Can Wait’ down to 80,000 words.
September 2007: Sent out my first few chapters to six agents.
September 2007: Darley Anderson requested full manuscript.
January 2008: Darley asked me to make some changes before he’d consider signing me.
June 2008: Sent revised version of ‘Heaven Can Wait’ back to Darley
September 2008: Signed with Madeleine Buston at the Darley Anderson Literary Agency.
October 2008: Signed two-book deal with Orion.
October 2009: Received a boxful of my novel ‘Heaven Can Wait’!

So, *does sums*, from writing the first word of my novel to received a copy of it, all printed up as a proper book, took 2 years and 7 months.

Q: You worked a lot on short stories before getting a book deal. Do you think this was a factor in your success in finding an agent and book deal? Would you recommend that other writers starting out concentrate on one or the other, or work on both?"

I learnt a lot about the craft of writing by writing short stories before I wrote a novel and think that including your publications and competition wins in a cover letter to an agent shows you’ve got a good track record and that you’re a writer with potential.
I also think writing short stories helps you find your voice as a writer. Because it doesn’t take very long to write a short story (as opposed to a novel) you can experiment with different styles, characters, genres etc before you settle on what feels most natural and enjoyable for you.

I’d recommend writers start by writing short stories and then move onto a novel afterwards but that’s only because that’s what I did! I know of other authors who’ve never written a short story in their lives and never want to!

Q: What do you think every great story has to have?
I think every great story has to have a character whose actions are driven by some kind of unrelenting desire/motivation. I also think the character has to undergo some kind of transformation/change of perception or, if they don’t, the reader does.

Q: Writers often find redrafting and self-editing difficult. Can you offer any words of wisdom?

It’s definitely a good idea to give yourself a break between writing the first draft and editing/re-drafting so you’re not as close to your novel when you return to it. It also helps to split editing into different stages so you don’t tie yourself up in knots trying to fix everything at once.

I do an initial edit where I read through my novel and fix any immediate issues – like structure problems, filling in missing text or deleting redundant scenes. In theory the story should flow once I’ve finished that edit but I’ll still go through and check:

• the story arc
• the character arcs
• the balance between active and reactive scenes
• the time line, setting, weather etc
• the dialogue, making sure none of the characters have accidently lost their voice or stolen someone else’s
• that the funny bits are funny – if they don’t make me grin I rewrite them
• that the sad bits are sad – if they don’t move me emotionally I rewrite them

then I’ll go through and tighten up the prose and make sure all my chapter beginnings pull the reader in and my chapter endings compel them to turn the page.

My final edit is reading the whole novel aloud to hear how it sounds (reading a novel aloud is the closest you can get to ‘hearing’ how a reader would read it). I’ve probably missed out loads of other stages but that’s pretty close to my process.

Q: What’s the best bit about being an author?
Holding my book in my hands. That’s the biggest thrill of all. Oh, and getting emails from people who read and enjoyed my book - knowing that something you wrote touched or entertained a total stranger is an amazing feeling.

Q: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to write and publish a book?

Write what excites you. Don’t write about vampires because they’re ‘the next big thing’. Don’t try and write a Mills and Boon because you think it’ll be ‘easy’. Don’t write chicklit because you think it’s popular and bound to sell. Don’t write to make money.  Write the story that you can’t get out of your head, that makes your heart beat faster, that has you jumping out of bed at night to scribble down a new idea for a scene. Write the story that you can put your heart into. Write the story that makes you laugh and cry. Don’t try and write like another writer, or how you think a novel should be written to be marketable, write like you.

I really believe that when what you’re writing moves you it will move your reader too (whether that’s an agent/editor or book buyer). If you hate every second of what you’re writing you’re writing the wrong novel for you. Yes it’s hard to put your bum on the chair and I procrastinate as much as everyone else, but once I get going I enjoy it and wonder why I don’t sit down and write more often! If what you’re writing feels like constant torture – and it never gives you a buzz - write something else.

Q: If you could pick one person who would request a signed copy of 'Heaven Can Wait' from you, who would it be?

Richard Curtis. I’d be secretly hoping he’d requested it because he wanted to turn it into a film (well I can dream...)

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