Four girls have four dreams. Crow is on the way to becoming an international fashion designer. Jenny's been discovered by a Broadway composer. Edie still wants to go to Harvard. Nonie ... isn't really sure, but knows it's something fashion-related and wonderful. They're growing up and on the brink of glittering careers. So why are their lives so complicated? Why does success demand sacrifices, and which ones are they willing to make? In this, the final book of the Threads trilogy, Nonie discovers that life is just beginning. The girls have choices to make. Who will wait for fame? Who will emerge an outright star? Who will fall in love? And who will turn her back on all her dreams? This time the answers are in New York. It's a long way for Nonie to travel, especially with only one teeny-weeny wheelie bag. But for the sake of her friendships, Nonie will do whatever it takes.
And now for the interview....
And now for the interview....
This
is the first question my agent asked me. I remember wanting to be a
writer, preferably a poet, when I was seven. When I was eight or nine, I had to
describe a school trip in a diary, and I did it in rhyming couplets. (I know …
ew). I’ve wanted to be many things in my life, from Olympic gymnast to air
hostess, but I never really changed my mind about writing. Hearing I was
shortlisted for The Times/Chicken House competition was one of the best moments
of my life. I knew then that one day, I would be published. Nine months later,
my book was on the shelves. (Thank goodness. I was never, frankly, going to
make it as an Olympic gymnast.)
What would be your dream job,
apart from writing?
Am I
allowed screenwriting? I’d love to write a romcom. Travel writer would be good.
So would writer for Vogue … I’m
sensing a theme here. Of course, if I had
to be a successful fashion designer, I wouldn’t mind too much. Victoria Beckham’s doing OK. But what I love is that so
many actresses and pop stars and other celebrities (like Madonna and Sophie
Dahl) really want to be children’s writers. That always makes me smile.
Which author do you admire
most, and why?
There
are so many. Too many. Quite a lot of them are French or Italian, because I
studied both languages for my degree. Michel Butor. Proust. Boccaccio. Dante.
There’s Shakespeare, obviously. One of the authors I love the most is Dorothy L
Sayers, because I adore detective fiction and Lord Peter Wimsey is my favourite
character. But the author who most inspired me to write the way I do is Noel
Streatfeild. She wrote about creative children with big ambitions. I loved
that. I really admire JK Rowling for the way she’s using her millions to do
good. If I ever met her, I’d want to talk to her about that, actually, rather
than the books (which I love). And Jacqueline Wilson is the nicest possible,
most encouraging person for new writers. She’s very generous and I’m a big fan.
Are you a fashion guru, like
Nonie?
Quite
simply, no. I make an effort. Thanks to my very generous mother, I’m the proud
owner of a Vivienne Westwood dress and a pair of my very own Louboutins. But I
mostly live in jeans and cardigans. They’re comfortable to write in! One of my
friends used to be a model and dresses in a casual, relaxed, cool, trendy way.
She advises clients on what to buy. Actually, she is a professional fashion guru, come to think of it. I’d love to be
like her. But sadly, I’m not. I’m just a fashion enthusiast. And not of all
fashion – by any means. Just what’s creative and inspirational and makes people
feel good about themselves. If it makes you feel inadequate in any way, it’s
bad. Nonie dresses the way I wish I’d had the confidence to dress when I was
her age. I’m pretty jealous of her, actually.
What was your most disastrous
fashion moment : )?
I
have too many disasters to choose from. Possibly the one on the Threads
website, where I’m in the orange shorts, purple tights and a red top. Actually,
the shorts are fine – it’s the top that’s a killer. Then there’s the one where
I’m nineteen, in a strapless dress pulled down too low over my cleavage. Or the
electric blue pencil skirt and matching batwing jumper. Or the velvet
knee-length trousers with a white frilly shirt and velvet shoelace tie. All of
which I liked at the time. Growing up in the eighties was a nightmare.
Random question - if you could
live on day in the life of anyone, alive or dead, real or fictional, who would
it be and why?
I’d
love to have been a code-breaker at
Are you writing another book
at the moment, and if so, could you tell us a little bit about it?
I
certainly am. It’s a book called The
Look, and it’s about a girl who’s very tall and a bit gawky, but who’s
scouted to be a model. She’s not sure what she wants to do – she doesn’t know
much about modeling – but then her sister is diagnosed with a serious illness and she starts rethinking her life. It’s been a difficult book to write – I had
to research a lot about modeling – but it’s finally coming together. I’ve
finished the first draft and I’m doing the first set of rewrites now. I’m sure
there will be more to come. (Rewrites, I mean, not books, although I hope there
will be more of those too.)
And finally, what tips do you
have for aspiring writers?
‘Writers
are people who find writing more difficult than other people.’ This is a quote
from Thomas Mann and I’ve used it in the writing tips I give on my website. I
often get asked this question! I think what the quote means is that you just
have to get on with it. The first fan letter I ever wrote was to a journalist
(still working) called Susan Marling. She basically said ‘Keep writing’. So I
did, for the twenty-eight years it took between getting her reply and being
published. It takes time, patience and persistence. I think the people who are
successful are the people who never give up. They do it because they love it,
and they can’t help it, and they’re constantly learning and improving. So keep
at it. Read a lot. Go to movies and learn how they play with narrative. Don’t
expect your first manuscript to be published. Or your second. Or your third.
Create fascinating, unpredictable, unique characters. Believe in yourself.
There you go.
Quick round!
Pink or Blue?
Funnily
enough, blue. (Although my handbag is pink. My wallet is pink. My tube pass is
pink. My favourite Vivienne Westwood plastic shoes are pink …)
Twitter or Facebook?
Twitter.
Quicker.
Tea or Coffee?
Coffee.
Essential.
Very
tricky. At a pinch, New York
And a really hard one -
reading or writing?!
It
is hard, but … writing. Filling up the page. It’s my vocation. But I couldn’t
have done it without the reading. I recommend When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead, by the way. It won the
Newberry Medal last year and I’ve wanted to read it for ages. A fellow writer
called Sarah Webb gave it to me yesterday (she’s lovely and I recommend her
books!) and I’m half-way through. It’s brilliant. The kind of book that makes
you want to be a writer.
I also have, courtesy of Sophia, a signed copy of Sequins, Stars and Spotlights to giveaway to one lucky winner! All you have to do is answer the following question:
What is the name of Sophia's debut novel?
Hint: The answer is somewhere in this post!
Please send your name, e-mail and your answer to booksterreviews@hotmail.com. The winner will be chosen at random using the RandomNumberGenerator.
Rules:
If you are under 18, you must ask a parent/guardians permission before entering
The competition is open to UK residents only.
The closing date for the competition is Monday 14th February 2011.
One entry per person. Multiple entries will be disqualified.
Rules:
If you are under 18, you must ask a parent/guardians permission before entering
The competition is open to UK residents only.
The closing date for the competition is Monday 14th February 2011.
One entry per person. Multiple entries will be disqualified.
You can check out the other stops on the blog tour HERE and pre-order a copy of the book (you should) HERE. Sophia, thanks for stopping by, and I wish you the best of luck with Sequins, Stars and Spotlights and all of your other books in the future.
Threads Website
Sophia's Website
Threads Website
Sophia's Website
