In conversation with... Claudia Carroll
A: Of course, and thank you so much for asking me to take part in your blog – I really am delighted! Just to tell you a little about Primrose Square, the book is essentially a number of interwoven stories based on a simple quote by Eleanor Roosevelt.
‘A woman is like a tea bag. You can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.’
So we’ve got Susan, a middle aged woman who’s out of her mind with grief. She spends night after night standing in the pouring rain outside a teenage boy’s bedroom window, determined not to let him forget what he’s put her through. But why? Then we meet Melissa, her twelve year old daughter, desperately trying to keep the show on the road and to keep social workers at bay. Next door to them on Primrose Square is Jayne, a sixty-something super-ager, who finds romance in the most unlikely place and whose only son isn’t best pleased, to put it mildly! And lastly, we have Nancy, whose just arrived over from London to rent a house on Primrose Square, and who finds herself in an intriguing virtual relationship with her mysterious landlord, who none of the neighbours have met.
And no, I’m not
telling you any more! But can I just say, this book was a JOY to write and I
really hope readers everywhere have fun with it.
Your novel has a host
of unforgettable characters, regardless of how big or small a part they play in
the narrative. How do you develop them?
A: For starters, I do
a skeleton outline of any new story before I’d even sit down to write a line.
It makes life so much easier later on, on the days when I find I’m a bit stuck.
It takes me quite a long time to get to really know my characters, so I’d begin
by writing out a rough biography for everyone of them, to try to make them as
three dimensional as possible, it helps me hugely.
A reader will quickly
lose interest if they just don’t like the hero or heroine. You really have to
try to layer them carefully so that they really jump off the page! Remember at
the start of a new book, you’re asking a reader to go on a 400 page journey
with your characters, and particularly your leading lady, so it’s vital to get
character right early on.
Woody Allen once said,
‘there’s nothing to writing, all you have to do is sit down at a computer and
open a vein.’ And believe me we all have plenty of days where I know just what
he meant!
But equally you get
great days, where the words are just flying and where without even noticing it,
it’s five hours after you first sat down and you completely forgot to even eat.
Writing is without doubt the single best job in the whole entire world and I’m
so lucky and privileged to be doing it.
Even on the days when nothing’s coming and I’m half ready to fling my
computer up against a wall, I wouldn’t change it for anything. But I have to
say the thing that keeps me going is when I enjoy spending time with
characters. That’s the part of the whole writing process I think I love the
most!
If this novel could be
turned into a film, who would you cast in the roles of Jayne and Eric, my
favourite characters in the book?
A: What an interesting
question! I’ve always loved Julie Walters as an actress, she’s always wonderful
if everything, and wouldn’t she make a fabulous Jayne? And for Eric? Let’s
throw caution to the wind and say Pierce Brosnan…..sure why not??!
Without giving too
much away, can you tell us about a scene in the book that you love or that was
particularly difficult to write?
A: I found the scenes
where Susan has to finally confront her own grief, and the fact that her
daughter may not have been everything she thought, to be harrowing. I had to
take a break from writing just to go off and cry. Mad, I know, an author crying
over a fictional character, but that’s how real they are to me.
If you are already
working on your next writing project, would you mind giving us a little
anticipation of what we are to expect?
A: I’m not allowed to
give too much away, but here’s a clue. My research has led me into a lot of
drag clubs which are probably the closest I’ll ever come to being at Studio 54
in New York……..and I’ll leave you with that thought!
Due to the popularity
of social networking websites, interacting with readers – be it via Twitter, Facebook
Instagram etc. – is becoming increasingly important. How do you cope with these
new demands on authors and do you think that they somehow disrupt your writing
schedule?
A: I have to say I
think Twitter and Facebook have been a Godsend. Do you remember years ago when
if you wanted to contact an author, you had to write to their publisher or
agent via snail mail, then wait for a response? Nowadays, it’s all so instant
and immediate and it’s a wonderful way to be able to contact authors. I love
that I can tweet Marian Keyes and that she’ll respond too…..it’s just amazing.
What one piece of advice would you give to aspiring writers?
A: Persevere,
persevere, persevere. And write every single day, as every day that you do is a
day that your work is improving, trust me. Be brave too; remember it’s highly
unlikely that a publisher is going to knock on your front door and ask if
you’ve any manuscripts lying around they could publish. Nothing will happen
unless you take the first step and get your work out there. An agent is your
best friend though, and I’d advise anyone starting out to secure an agent
first and the rest will follow. And best of luck!
Thank you for your
time!
A: Thank you for reading this and thanks also for letting me take part in your
blog. It’s such a pleasure!
Have you read my thoughts on The Secrets of Primrose Square? Find them here and enter to win a copy of the book!
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