When Alice's husband Ben dies suddenly, her world falls apart. They shared twenty years and two daughters and life without him is unimaginable.
Having lost her parents while young, Alice understands her girls' pain. At fifteen, Jools is at that awkward age and only Ben could get through to her. And eleven-year-old Holly looks for the answer to everything in books but this time she's drawing a blank. Alice realizes that for their sakes she must summon up superhuman reserves of strength.
Somehow all three of them come through the dark days. In time, it's even possible for Alice to consider marrying again, with the girls' blessing. So when Ben turns up after three years, her world is again turned upside-down. The girls assume that their family can go back to the way they were. Alice is not so sure.
Once more Alice has to find the strength to be the mother her daughters need her to be. But this time what that means is far from clear ...
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
1. If
you could work with any other author, who would it be and why?
I would have loved to work with Nora
Ephron. I am a huge fan of her writing and her wit. I’d love to
have got the chance to work with her. Sadly she passed away a few
years ago, but her wonderful books, movies and articles live on.
2. What
would be a typical working day for you? When and where do you write?
I write from about 9-2
every day when the children are in school and I protect that time. I
rarely take a phone call, never answer the door and try to stay off
the Internet (this does not always work as I do love to shop online!)
3. What
is the hardest part of the writing for you?
The middle section of the book can be
difficult as you begin to doubt yourself and you’re trying to keep
the story fresh and keep the pace up so it doesn’t flag.
4. When
and why did you first start writing?
I always wrote – diaries, essays in
school etc. But it was when I turned 30 that I gave myself an
ultimatum – write a novel this year. I set myself the goal of
writing a novel after work, early in the morning and on the weekends
and I did. Unfortunately it was turned down by all publishers but it
made me realise that I could write a full novel and so I wrote
another one – The Baby Trail – which was published!
5. How
did you come up with the idea for your book?
Back in the late 1980s
Brian Keenan and John McCarthy, among others, were kidnapped and
taken hostage in Beirut. They remained in captivity for over four
years and when they were finally released the two men talked about
this incredible friendship that had kept them sane. You could see the
deep connection and love between them.
To this day they are best friends and the bond between them remains. I was always fascinated by this and by the fact that John McCarthy’s girlfriend campaigned so tirelessly to get him released and then when he was released everyone presumed they’d end up together…but in fact they broke up and he married someone else. I wanted to somehow write a book with some of these themes worked into the storyline.
To this day they are best friends and the bond between them remains. I was always fascinated by this and by the fact that John McCarthy’s girlfriend campaigned so tirelessly to get him released and then when he was released everyone presumed they’d end up together…but in fact they broke up and he married someone else. I wanted to somehow write a book with some of these themes worked into the storyline.
6. Are
you a big reader? If so, what are you reading now?
I love reading, it’s the best from
of escapism. I’ve just finished A Little Life which was both
disturbing and incredible.
7. Do
you have any advice for other aspiring writers?
Believe in yourself, don’t let
knockbacks stop you achieving your goal, be passionate about your
story, be disciplined and enjoy it!!
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