In conversation with author Fiona Robyn

What was the inspiration for The Letters?

My novels always start with the central character ‘turning up’ in my head. As I get to know them, their story gathers around them like candyfloss.

Why an older central character? You’re pretty young and I understand that publishers say it’s hard to sell books with older female protagonists…

Violet just WAS old when she appeared. I don’t seem to have a choice in these things! I’m lucky enough to have faith in my novels ‘as they appear’ and I don’t think about what might be commercial (or not) until the book is finished and I start thinking about how to ‘sell’ it.

Your central character, Violet, is somewhat prickly and rather ‘difficult’. Was it hard to live with her for the duration of the creative process?

She certainly is! Personally, I am incredibly fond of Violet. Readers have been split – most have also grown to love her but a few have been very annoyed and frustrated by her.

I love the evocation of village life in your book. Is the eccentric village committee based on your own experience of moving to a rural community (careful here!)?

I might not tell you even if it was based on people I know, but luckily it’s not! Although I have served on a Committee or two in my time…

I like the way you shift from present tense to past – is this a technique that comes easily to you?

Thank you. I wrote every third chapter in the past tense as I wanted the readers to slowly learn more about Violet through her family, her ex-boyfriends, her body… I write more naturally in present tense, and I think this is a relic of my years of writing poetry.

Snow Books are a promising up and coming independent publishing company with a keen commercial eye. There has been some criticism of the cover design of The Letters. Can you tell us your views on this debate?

Emma (MD of Snowbooks) answers these criticisms at http://www.snowbooks.com/weblog/2009/03/why_we_design_covers_the_way_w.html#more. I did have misgivings about the covers at the beginning, but in retrospect I think Snowbooks have made the right decision – my priority is to get my books out there to as wide an audience as possible.

Is The Letters your first novel or are there others sitting in a back drawer somewhere at home?

It’s actually my third – my second (The Blue Handbag) comes out in August and my first (Thaw) comes out in February 2010.

How long did you take to write the first draft?

First drafts are the most painful, and usually take five or six months by the time I’ve faffed around. They are very, very rough.

How many revisions/redrafts did you do before you were happy?

I usually do a major revision, then a less major one, and then a read-out-loud.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I knew I wanted to be a reader first, and only started writing when I was 20.

Did you write prose or poetry first?

Only poetry for almost a decade – I wrote my first novel as ‘an experiment’.

What does ‘being a writer’ mean to you?

It is a way of living. Selima Hill once described poems as ‘the by-product of living as a poet’ – I love this idea.

Any peculiar writerly quirks?

I light a candle before I start work on my manuscripts.

Favourite authors?

Raymond Carver, Lorrie Moore, Richard Ford, John Irving.  Recent favourites are Michael Kimball and Michael Chabon. I read a LOT of non-fiction – poetry, books about Zen Buddhism, travel writing…

Tell us a little about your next book – out this summer.

The Blue Handbag follows 62 year old Leonard, a gardener, as he discovers some odd facts about his beloved late wife. Accompanied by Lily, he becomes a reluctant detective as everything he thought he knew about his wife is brought into question.

Plans for the future?

I’m currently working on a novel set in Amsterdam, and the character for the novel after THAT has just turned up (she’ll be called April) so there’s plenty to be getting on with! I’ll also carry on writing my blogs, which give me great pleasure.

Thank you Fiona Robyn

www.handfulofstones.com .

www.asmallstone.com 

www.plantingwords.com

www.fionarobyn.com