Blog Tour: Q&A with Giovanna Fletcher.

Published May 18, 2013 | By Laura

Giovanna Fletcher

Giovanna very kindly had a chat with us as part of her blog tour. We had a chat about her typical writing day, how she combats writers block and how she’d like to eat cake and drink champagne with Marilyn Monroe…

Can you tell us about your route to publication and the moment when you got your book deal?

I was encouraged to write by others after years of reviewing books for magazines and my blog. Sitting down and writing it was one thing, but nothing prepares you for the anxious wait once it’s been sent out to publishers. I loved the book, and so did my agent, but would anyone else? Luckily, yes! I was on the way to a wedding dress fitting when I got the news that Penguin had offered a deal… Needless to say it was quite a special day.

Can you tell us a bit about your debut novel, Billy and Me? 

Billy and Me follows Sophie May as she falls for teen heartthrob Billy Buskin – a huge movie star. Like most of us, Sophie comes with baggage, and as a result she doesn’t cope very well in BIlly’s world.

When starting a book, are you a planner or do you have an idea and just see where it leads?

I like to start with a plan. For Billy and Me I wrote out a massive summary, so I knew all the different points I wanted to hit and where I wanted to go with it. It did change though as the characters and story developed and more layers were added. For book two I’m working in a different way – I have a beginning and an end, the rest is all up for grabs. It’s an exciting way to work, but also a little scary!

Do you edit as you go or wait for a complete draft?

I edit as I go. I don’t think I’ll ever be one of those writers who spills out thousands and thousand of words a day just to delete them on mass later on. I couldn’t cope with that. I like developing what I’ve already created, rather than starting again.

Which book/author has had the most impact on you?

The first chick-lit book I ever read was Jemima J by Jane Green, I must’ve only been about 14/15, but I totally feel in love with Jemima and related to her. I was in my teens and a bit chubby, she let me know that I wasn’t alone in a way. I identified with her in a way I’d never done before… Saying that, I’d always related with Roald Dahl’s Matilda growing up. I have been know to stare at a pencil for hours, willing it to move, just so that I could prove how similar to her I was.

Is there a character from fiction you’d like to meet?

This is an easy one. Edward Cullen. I don’t think I need to explain that one, do I?

What makes you laugh/happy?

People make me happy. Witnessing human kindness or an unexpected smile can lift my spirits for a whole day. As for laughter, my husband makes me laugh, a lot!

Who would your ideal dinner guests be?

I’d love a girlie afternoon tea with Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn and Judi Dench. We’d all sit around laughing, singing, drinking champagne and eating cake. It would be wonderful… Argh, that sounds amazing. If only.

What three things would you take with you to a desert island?

Tricky! I’d take my husband as I think he’d be entertaining, a ukulele so that he can teach me to play it (might as well do something useful while we’re there), and funny photos of everyone I know and love.

What’s your typical writing day like?

Gosh, do you want the truth? I wake up at 8, get fed, showered and dressed, and am down with my laptop at about 9:30. I might go online and check what’s going on with the world… I usually get distracted by this point and suddenly find it’s lunchtime. I have lunch while reading what I wrote the day before. I get a bit sleepy around 2 so sometimes have a nap… Then at 3 I give myself a kick up the butt and write until 9. Ha!

Do you get writers block? If so, how do you combat it?

I don’t usually, but if I feel I need some thinking time to gain perspective I take myself away from the desk and off for a walk. Fresh air always helps.

What are your TV/Music guilty pleasures?

I’m a sucker for ‘The Real Desperate Housewives’ franchise. I know, I know… I should be ashamed of myself. But it’s so addictive! I don’t think I have guilty pleasures when it comes to music. I have an eclectic taste and am proud of everything I listen to. Although I’m sure others would say I should hang my head in shame for my love of musicals, but boo to them.

Do you like to write in silence or are you better with noise?

I’m so easily distracted by EVERYTHING life has to offer, so I need to works in silence, otherwise I’d be singing along to music and getting no work done. I sometimes use music to help in a scene though… To set the mood, as it were.

Five pieces of advice for new writers?

1. Just sit down and write!

2. Realise that you will occasionally look at what you’ve written and think it’s crap. Don’t panic at that – I’ve heard it’s very common.

3. Write from the heart, then you can never go wrong.

4. You will get distracted, it’s inevitable, just make sure you give yourself a good telling off and get back to work.

5. Give yourself a target word count everyday. Something realistic and achievable. My target is 1,500 a day – that might seem a small amount to some people, but it works for me.