Tag Archives: New York Times bestseller

My Writing Process Sandie Jones

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Sandie Jones, AuthorI’ve been a journalist for the past 25 years, interviewing celebrities for national newspapers and magazines. I started writing fiction in 2017, because writing a book was on my bucket list, but I never imagined it being read by my mother, let alone be published and reviewed by thousands!

My debut The Other Woman was published in 2018 and was a New York Times Bestseller, as well as a Reese Witherspoon Pick. My second novel The First Mistake was published last summer and The Half Sister is out on 25th June.

What is your latest book?

The Half Sister, which is about Kate and Lauren,  two sisters who each feel that the other has the perfect life. When a woman turns up, whilst they’re having a family Sunday lunch, claiming to be their half sister, their worlds are turned upside down and it sends them in opposite directions, in their quest for the truth. But neither of them could ever imagine what they’re about to discover.

Please could you tell us a bit about your process of writing?

It’s changed since writing my first book, as I’m no longer doing it just for myself. There are editors and publishers involved now so instead of, quite literally, making it up as I go along, I now have to have a clear idea of what the story is, where it’s going and how best to get there.

Do you plan or just write?

It goes against my natural instinct to plan anything – I love to just write and see where we takes me, but as I say, I do have to have a solid outline of an idea before I start, which involves lots of spider diagrams and boxes on a whiteboard. Though once I get started, it all tends to change anyway!

How do you think about structure?

I used to think that the books I liked to read had one big twist at the end, but since writing myself, I’ve found that actually, reveals are peppered throughout. I tend to drop a bomb of some description at each third, so as to keep the reader interested and engaged.

Is there anything you find hard about writing?
The planning stage is particularly difficult for me as I feel I’m forcing myself to come up with every twist and turn in advance. However, I am learning that it’s good to have a loose structure to work to and I have understanding editors who know that my best ideas are likely to come when I’m writing.

What do you love about writing?

Everything else! I adore creating characters and getting to know them. I’m at the stage with my fourth book where I don’t want to put it down. It feels like I’m reading a story I’m really invested in and can’t wait to get back to it, to see what happens next. I forget that’s down to me to decide and that’s a great feeling!

Sandie Jones’s books are available here.

More information on Sandie Jones.

New York Times Bestselling Author Elizabeth Buchan | Writer Interviews

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Elizabth Buchan I Can't Begin to Tell YouWhat is the key to writing a good romance novel?

Good question and I think the answer is the same as it would be if you asked: what is the key to writing a good novel…? The answer must be absolute commitment to get the material down onto the page in a way which is truthful, resonant and as gripping as you can make it. That includes the love story and the emotional roller coaster of it, the thriller, the war drama and delicious social comedy. I would like to point out that these aims sound very simple and easy to achieve … but, in my experience, they are anything but.

Do you have a favourite book that you have written?

No, they are all my children… having said that some were easier to produce than others. Revenge of the Middle Aged Woman tripped off the pen. So did Daughters and I Can’t Begin to Tell You

What is your writing routine?

Breakfast with newspaper (and cats). I cannot go without any of those. Then, out for power walk around Clapham Common (can’t go without that either). I usually settle into the office about 9.30 where I write until lunch time and then again through the afternoon. If I am on the final stages of a book, I will be work until quite late.


How do you come up with your ideas?

I wish I could tell you. I just pick up something – from a book, the paper, a conversation and, suddenly, I seem to have a subject. But I have to wait for that coup de foudre to happen. It is useless to try and force yourself to write about a subject with which you haven’t fallen in love.


Do you ever get writers block?
Yes. The trick is to do something deeply boring – such as the ironing. Exercise is another way of letting the brain solve a problem without you being aware of it consciously. Also… ahem… I find a little light retail therapy works as well.


How long does it take you to write a book?

Anything from about eighteen months to two years


Advice for wannabe writers?

Do it. Don’t talk about it. Don’t dream about it. Don’t put it off.
Do it. Try and isolate a part of the day in which you function best (are you a night owl or a lark?) and set yourself a realistic target a day. Half a page. A page. It is amazing how it grows and observing it grow encourages you onward.


Best piece of advice you have ever been given?

Was it Bernard Shaw who said: ‘If you fail, pick yourself up and fail again better’. (I am sure someone will know the quotation).

Favourite authors/books?

Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, Ian McEwan’s Atonement, Anne Tyler’s Breathing Lessons Richard Holmes’ Footsteps, Kingsley Amis’ Lucky Jim, William Boyd’s Any Human Heart and Robert Harris’ Enigma. I have many more.

You are a judge for the Costa awards. Is it hard choosing a winner?

Extremely.

You review for The Sunday Times, how do you write a good book review?

Reviewing is a different animal from judging. It acts as a form of introduction to the reader. In effect you, the reviewer are saying: this is the book, this is what it is, this is how well I think it works and, now, it is up to you. If you can relay over the flavour and substance, offer acute reflection and perceive it fairly you are doing a good job. You are not really there to entertain. Having said that, reviewers who write brilliantly deservedly have a following.


What’s next for you?

I am writing the next novel, Aftermath, which is set in South London just after the Second World War. In it, I will have a fractured family who show how difficult it was to pick up the pieces having experienced violence, disruption and hatred of an enemy. There is also a death. Is it suspicious or not?

Elizabeth Buchan’s latest novel, I Can’t Begin to Tell You, is published in Penguin.

The Widow’s Guide To Sex & Dating Carole Radziwill | Book Review

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The Widow's Guide to Sex & DatingThe Widow’s Guide to Sex & Dating is not a guide. But if you thought it was then don’t be bothered, because, actually, it is a rather brilliant novel. Full of funny moments, great characters and wisdom filled ‘rules’ dotted throughout. Rule #29 says: A boy says, Have a good trip. A man says, Call me when you land. Wise words indeed.

Carole Radziwill has herself been widowed. She was married to ABC News producer Anthony Radziwill. He died of cancer after a five year battle at the obscenely young age of 40. Her book on the death of her husband, What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship and Love, became a New York Times bestseller.

Which leads us on to The Widow’s Guide to Sex & Dating. The novel follows Claire, wife and then widow of sex writer Charlie. When Charlie was alive Claire lived in his shadow, now he is dead and through the shock and grief she has to find herself again, and, possibly, love.

Claire is a brilliant character. Widowed at only 32, she is talented in her own right but sometimes finds it hard to blossom. Her group of friends are funny and have her best interests at heart. Claire struggles, she even has a second opinion therapist, but will she find her way and true love?

Finding out is fun. I loved this novel and found it hard to put it down. It is a must read. I cannot wait for the TV series that Radziwill has in development. TV is something that she should know about as she is also a cast member of The Real Housewives of New York City.

The Widow’s Guide to Sex and Dating