Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I live in the English countryside, in an old farmhouse. This may give you an idyllic vision of me skipping round a striped lawn talking to the animals Snow White or Doctor Doolittle style, or merrily trudging through charming mud in a pair of green wellies, as I feed chickens and pat the heads of gamboling rabbits. The truth is I am a bit of a countryside wuss. We had a bat in our sitting room last week. Whilst my two youngest children excitedly waited for Daddy to come home from work and rescue us all, I was cowering with a beach towel over my head in my eldest daughter’s bedroom. I also jump three foot in the air if I see a mouse and scream if I step on a twig and it makes a loud noise.
I’ve written one book so far; there’s another on the way…
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My current book is The Anti-Ageing of Harmony Richards, a funny chick lit novel. I was inspired by the youth-obsessed culture we live in. No woman, especially in Hollywood, is allowed look over thirty-five these days, it seems, and once we are, every wrinkle, sag or sign of ageing is sneered at. We all have this weird choice – either age gracefully and slowly become invisible, or have ‘work’ done and look very, very strange.
I wanted to explore the subject in a humorous way, and give this issue to a character who has other things on her plate making it all seem so much worse: a husband she’s never been sure of and a much younger rival who’s after him.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
I mainline chocolate at twenty minute intervals. Does that count?
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Ooh, there’s a question. I have been influenced by other writers in the chick lit genre, namely Adele Parks, Jane Fallon and Marian Keyes. It was Marian Keye’s novel, The Other Side of the Story, that inspired me to give writing a go. So we can blame her!
I also adore Graham Greene and John Irving
What are you working on now?
My second novel, Total Eclipse of the Harriet, is coming out soon. It’s about a single mum who meets a female rock star from the 80s on the school run and finds herself stepping into the spot light of her life for the first time.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I am still learning on this front. What I have learnt is that I am hopeless at Twitter and not much better at Facebook! Must. Try. Harder!
Do you have any advice for new authors?
As I’m new, I don’t feel highly qualified to give any, but if I must, I would say just get on with it and write, write, write! Write until you can no longer remember your own name.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t be afraid; you have nothing to lose.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading the Time Traveler’s Wife. I know I’m about ten years too late, unless I travel back in time, of course…
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’ve started book number three. I’ll just keep plodding on and hope that people want to read what I write.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
A Widow for One Year by John Irving
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Playing Away by Adele Parks
The Quiet American by Graham Greene
Author Websites and Profiles
Fiona Jane Collins Amazon Profile
Fiona Jane Collins’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
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