A Good Enough Mother is out today! Get your copy here 🧡
One of the questions I’m most often asked about my writing, is why I’ve changed genres. Well, to be fair, I’ve done it more than once!
I started my career as a novelist by writing ‘chick lit’. It was very popular back then in the early 2000s, with the Bridget Jones books leading the way, and my eleven novels in that genre sold well. But like every trend, this one began to fade in popularity (it’s come back again since of course, as ‘rom coms’), and eventually, for a change, I wrote a couple of books set in the 1960s – the era of my own teenage years. Then an editor asked me if, because of the success of A Street Cat Named Bob, I’d like to write a couple of books in the voice of a cat, and as a cat lover, how could I refuse! My first ‘cat’ book became one of my best sellers. But once again, fashions changed and after this, my editor suggested catching another trend: for Feel Good Fiction.
The popularity of the genre has lasted well, and I’ve had eight such novels published, mostly set in Devon, including Winter at Cliff’s End Cottage which won me an award. On moving to Boldwood Books, though, several Boldwood authors were already writing successfully in this genre, so my editor suggested another slight change. While my new books are still very character-driven, they are focused on emotional and difficult issues within families – but I’m pleased to say, with happy endings! I’ve always been prepared to try something different. It can be a very positive experience and prevents us authors from becoming ‘typecast’ by always writing a similar kind of book. Of course, I’d have to draw the line somewhere; for instance, apart from my 1960s books, and some passages of Winter at Cliff’s End Cottage which were set during the Second World War, I’ve never wanted to venture much into the historical. Nor could I write supernatural.
I thought, at my age, with six grandchildren heading into their teens, I’d find it tough writing in the voice of a young mum with little children. But all my experience from my days as a mum and nan has helped hugely, and I’ve always loved writing realistic emotional dialogue. So I’m loving this new genre and I really hope my readers do, too! My first Boldwood novel, A Good Enough Mother, is published on 13 March 2024.