Louise Candlish’s latest novel - in bookstores from July 9th 2010.
“What a brilliant book this is – clever, engrossing and unputdownable. I absolutely loved it and demand a sequel!” - Jill Mansell
See for yourself by reading an excerpt from the first chapter.
Recommended Links
Since I’ve been writing novels I’ve been asked many, many questions about my background and working methods and I think this is a good place to answer some of them.
Did you always want to write?
Yes, but I spent a lot of my adult life having a good time and so I always thought I might turn my hand to fiction in my sixties, like Mary Wesley. I surprised myself when I knuckled down and did it in my early thirties. I grew up with lots of books about the place and always loved stories. When my sister Jane and I were about eleven and twelve, we were grounded one summer and decided to write a novel. Mine was called Chopping and Changing and featured a hero called Chip. I was obviously into ‘ch’ words.
Are you the only writer in your family?
Yes, professionally. My brother, for one, is a very talented writer, though he prefers, for some reason, to be a lawyer! One of my grandfathers was a cartoonist, so there’s a bit of artistry in the blood.
Your books are often very sad, but in person you seem quite cheerful?
I am often told this, especially by people who follow my column in SW magazine, which is frivolous to say the least. What can I say? You know how you hear of comedy actors being very morose In Real Life, well maybe the opposite is true of people who write heartbreaking stories. I very much enjoy gossiping and other shallow behaviours.
Which of your books do you like best yourself?
I tend to be most pleased with whichever is the latest one, because the hard work and sense of accomplishment is so much fresher in the memory, but if you gave me a Chinese burn I’d have to admit a soft spot for The Second Husband. I felt I’d achieved exactly what I set out to, which was to create a very intense, claustrophobic little ménage.
What do you like to read on holiday?
Contemporary fiction all the way. I love Anne Tyler and Anita Shreve in particular. Also thrillers. I have dashed down plenty of highly acclaimed works because I found I wasn’t turning the pages fast enough. I’m revisiting lots of children’s books at the moment because I read them aloud to my six-year-old daughter Greta. We are working our way through Malory Towers and St Clare’s. We were both in tears when Darrell wrote the school play and got called to the stage to take a bow. We were so proud of her!
Are all authors friends with each other?
No, we work far too hard to be out meeting each other. Also we’re deadly rivals. There are two other authors I am chums with, Dorothy Koomson and Bernadette Strachan, and it’s no surprise that I love their books too.