I’m delighted to welcome friend, Elaine
Roberts, to the blog to celebrate the publication today of her debut novel, The Foyles Bookshop Girls. Congratulations, Elaine, and thank you for answering my questions:
Every unpublished writer dreams of that
offer of a contract. But for you it was like the proverbial bus. You wait an
age for one and then three come along at the same time! Fantastic – but what
did it feel like?
The
day I received the email, I was in a bit of an emotional state and I was
talking to my husband, Dave, about giving up writing. He went to answer a knock
at the front door and by the time he got back, an email had arrived from Aria
saying how they loved my book and wanted to publish it. To be honest it didn’t
really register at first. I showed it to Dave and he was thrilled. I believe I
said something along the lines of “I don’t know if I want it now”, to which he
replied rather incredulously, “You’re having a laugh, aren’t you. You’ve worked
so hard for this.” As I’m sure you can guess, it was a strange feeling. I think,
within half an hour, I’d had two emails, a phone call and a contract to sign,
so after years of waiting for this moment to arrive, it all seemed to happen
very quickly. I’m obviously thrilled to have a three-book contract, but it
still feels rather surreal and of course I am now on a steep learning curve on
marketing and promotion.
Alice, Victoria and Molly are very
different characters. What is it that binds them together?
They
have a history together that goes back to their childhood, before they were
aware of life’s protocols. Originally, circumstances brought Molly and Alice
together, but more of that is revealed in The Foyles Girls at War. They also
have their love of books, which is what brings them to Foyles Bookshop. The
trials that the Great War forces on them binds them together, creating a bond
that can’t be broken.
Many people find unknown depths in times of
adversity. What does Alice learn about herself in these terrible times?
Alice
was always the peacemaker, never wanting to rock the boat. She believed in the
suffragette movement, but she never wanted to upset her father and be forced
into a marriage she didn’t want. She felt she could pave the way for her
younger sister, Lily, to have more freedom, by doing things slowly and quietly.
During this first novel, she realises she’s stronger and more capable than she
ever realised. She faces difficult situations, some of which she totally
mishandles. She doesn’t understand why her actions are misunderstood, but she
comes to realise that being the eldest didn’t necessarily mean she knew
best.
As a writer I know how one’s characters
become real. Which is your favourite, and why?
You
are right, they do become very real and part of your life. You ride the wave of
emotions they are on. I love them all for very different reasons, but if I had
to choose one, it would have to be Lily, Alice’s sister. She’s not afraid to
take on the world and she’s all about justice and not afraid to speak out, even
if it’s not the right time to do so. Haha, she sounds a bit like me - now
that’s rather worrying!
As
you know, I started writing contemporary women’s fiction. I believe it was a
conversation we had when we were going to a Romantic Novelists Association
London Chapter meeting. We were sitting in a cafe when I spoke about maybe
trying to write something in the Victorian era and you told me I should give it
a go. I was full of insecurities of whether I could do all the research, as
well as plan and write 100,000 words, but I gave it a go. Once I put my fear behind
me and realised I had nothing to lose, I thoroughly enjoyed creating the
fictional story to weave around the historical facts. After the Historical
Novelist Society conference, I was then encouraged to write a World War One
novel and that turned out to be The Foyles Bookshop Girls.
Setting your novel in what is perhaps the
most famous bookshop in the world seems inspired to me but what, in today’s
context, does Foyles mean to you?
Ask
any writer and they will say they love a bookshop, whether a big named store
like Foyles or a small second hand one. I wanted one of my characters to work
or own a bookshop and originally that was my male lead character, but as always
it evolved in the planning.
Foyles
in Charing Cross Road held Discovery Days where authors could have a one to one
with an agent. I remember rehearsing my thirty-second pitch over and over again
and memorising the premise of my story, which was a modern one the first time I
attended, and then the Victorian one, the second time. I remember everyone was
so nervous, and yet there was a real camaraderie as we waited in line for our
moment. Foyles is books, books are authors and the Discovery Days they held
were all about encouraging talent to rise to the surface. I came away with
their motivational words ringing in my ears. Those days gave me the belief that
I could actually write a book and be published.
Could we have a little background
information please? Have you always been a writer, or an aspiring one? Tell us
about your journey?
I have
always kept diaries and, as I got older, journals. When I was in my twenties, I
wrote a modern love story and sent it to Mills and Boon. They sent me a very
nice rejection, which said they would have taken it, but they were in the
process of changing their image, and it wouldn’t fit in with them going
forward. This gave me encouragement, but life got in the way and I didn’t write
anything else for several years. I think it wasn’t my time then, but I took it
up again about eight years ago. Thanks to my son, I joined The Write Place
Creative Writing School and was encouraged to join organisations like The
Romantic Novelists Association New Writers Scheme, which I would definitely
recommend. I wrote and submitted short stories, which is a real lesson on word
choice and writing to a word count. I was thrilled when I sold my first short
story and couldn’t believe someone wanted to buy a story I had written. All the
time I was doing that, I was still working on my novel. Joining a class and an
organisation tells you you’re not alone and everything that is happening to you
has happened to others. That is very encouraging to know.
With the publication today of The
Foyles Bookshop Girls, promotion is already in place for this
three book series. How far are you into the writing process for the next two?
My
second book, The Foyles Girls at War is finished and waiting for a final edit,
before being printed off for a final read through, in case there are any
glaring errors.
The
third one, Christmas at the Foyles Bookshop, is planned and the historical
timeline is written. I’ve written one chapter at the moment so that is
definitely a moving storyline.
I
have also written an idea down for the book after that, but I’m not saying
anymore than that at the moment.
It’s obvious from your previous answer what
is next for Elaine Roberts on the writing front. When you’re not creating other
worlds, what do you do for your own pleasure?
My
life outside of writing is about my family; I’m at my happiest when I’m spending
time with them. When Dave and I aren’t on babysitting duties, we will book a
few days away, but my laptop always goes with me, as you never know when an
idea will come and the urge to write will take over. I obviously love to read
and still write short stories, although not as many as I used to. I enjoy
playing Sudoko and doing crosswords, if they aren’t too difficult. I love
spending time with my friends and going to the theatre, which is something I do
more and more.
Thank you for inviting me onto your blog, Natalie.
It's been a pleasure.
The Blurb:
London,
1914: one ordinary day, three girls arrive for work at London's renowned Foyles
bookshop. But when war with Germany is declared their lives will never be the
same again...
Alice
has always been the 'sensible' one in her family – especially in comparison
with her suffrage-supporting sister! But decidedly against her father's wishes,
she accepts a job at Foyles Bookshop; and for bookworm Alice it's a dream come
true.
But
with the country at war, Alice's happy world is shattered in an instant.
Determined to do what she can, Alice works in the bookshop by day, and risks
her own life driving an ambulance around bomb-ravaged London by night. But
however busy she keeps herself, she can't help but think of the constant danger
those she loves are facing on the frontline...
Alice,
Victoria and Molly couldn't be more different and yet they share a friendship
that stems back to their childhood – a friendship that provides everyday solace
from the tribulations and heartbreak of war.
Amazon
Link: The
Foyles Bookshop Girls
Kobo
Link: The Foyles
Bookshop Girls
Facebook
Author Page: Elaine
Roberts Facebook Author Page
