We are thrilled to welcome best selling romantic novelist Katie Fforde to Strictly Writing. Thanks so much Katie, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to join us.
The first story I remember reading was...
The first book I read on my own was ‘Snowball the Pony’ by Enid Blyton. I was a slow reader. The fiction I really loved- a couple of years before I could read myself- were the Arthurian Legends. I used to make the children I played with take the parts. I was always the noblest knight.
The first book I read on my own was ‘Snowball the Pony’ by Enid Blyton. I was a slow reader. The fiction I really loved- a couple of years before I could read myself- were the Arthurian Legends. I used to make the children I played with take the parts. I was always the noblest knight.
Which writer would you be for a day?
The writer I would be for a day would be one who can write 3000 words. Don't care which!
The writer I would be for a day would be one who can write 3000 words. Don't care which!
Amazon or independent bookshop?
Independent bookshop every time. I'm now Twitter mates with someone at my local Indy, and she'll order things for me. Bliss!
Independent bookshop every time. I'm now Twitter mates with someone at my local Indy, and she'll order things for me. Bliss!
You really must read...
An awful lot of books! I think a lot of Jenny Rooney, whose first book, 'Inside the Whale' was short listed for the Costa. I've just read her second.
I know I have my story when...
I know where to start and how it will end. Fortunately I can start before I know the end. I just get half the story at a time.
An awful lot of books! I think a lot of Jenny Rooney, whose first book, 'Inside the Whale' was short listed for the Costa. I've just read her second.
I know I have my story when...
I know where to start and how it will end. Fortunately I can start before I know the end. I just get half the story at a time.
If I wasn't a writer I'd be...
A therapist. I love listening to people's stories. Maybe there's a way I could do it without getting too distressed?
A therapist. I love listening to people's stories. Maybe there's a way I could do it without getting too distressed?
Favourite writing snack?
Carrots. Crunching down on a raw one helps with scenes requiring confrontation.
Carrots. Crunching down on a raw one helps with scenes requiring confrontation.
Longhand or computer?
Computer, every time. My hand writing is terrible. Fortunately I can type.
Computer, every time. My hand writing is terrible. Fortunately I can type.
My biggest tip for a Women's Fiction writer is...
To read a lot - you learn so much. And keep at it! (Second tip slipped in there as I couldn't quite decide.)
To read a lot - you learn so much. And keep at it! (Second tip slipped in there as I couldn't quite decide.)
My proudest writing moment so far has been...
When I heard from a female vicar who said she'd borrowed a bit of ‘Thyme Out’ as a basis for a sermon. (It was the bit about bereavement.)
When I heard from a female vicar who said she'd borrowed a bit of ‘Thyme Out’ as a basis for a sermon. (It was the bit about bereavement.)
Three authors dead or alive I’d like to invite to dinner are:
Well, Georgette Heyer. She might be a bit spiky but I bet she'd be fun. Mark Twain, ditto and probably Shakespeare. I've chosen dead ones because I might yet get to invite the living ones to dinner...
Well, Georgette Heyer. She might be a bit spiky but I bet she'd be fun. Mark Twain, ditto and probably Shakespeare. I've chosen dead ones because I might yet get to invite the living ones to dinner...
Katie has published fifteen novels and her latest, 'A Perfect Proposal' is due out on June 10th.
