Today I will be conducting a short interview with the extremely talented, Jill Mansell, an international, bestselling romantic comedy author.
I bumped in to Jill as she was gazing lovingly at her most prized possession, an artistic masterpiece, hanging proudly in her living room, which she commissioned Rose Popay to paint. The painting depicts Jill writing at home.
I bumped in to Jill as she was gazing lovingly at her most prized possession, an artistic masterpiece, hanging proudly in her living room, which she commissioned Rose Popay to paint. The painting depicts Jill writing at home.
Talking of writing, Jill is the Pukka Pad Queen. She ploughs her way through 6 Pukka Pads at a time, reviving the old fashioned virtues of authors from a bygone era by putting fountain pen to paper to write her novels. An amazing feat, particularly in this age of technology and ease, and one to be extremely admired.
Hmm... maybe there's an opener there for a wonderful new story of determination and courage Jill.
Right, on to the interview then...
As usual, I’d like to start with an easy question...
1. Could you explain, in your own words, what the Nyquist-Shannon
Theory is?
This is the theory that no matter how many weeks, months and years you personally spend shopping and buying gorgeous clothes and creating the
perfect wardrobe, the moment you're invited to an event where you want to look good, you find you have absolutely nothing to wear.
Hmm... I fear that you may have been misinformed about the nature of this theory Jill. Nevermind, we'll pass on that one, I would hate to think that you might be Pukka-padding your way to a real explanation, so let's move on.
As usual, I’d like to start with an easy question...
1. Could you explain, in your own words, what the Nyquist-Shannon
Theory is?
This is the theory that no matter how many weeks, months and years you personally spend shopping and buying gorgeous clothes and creating the
perfect wardrobe, the moment you're invited to an event where you want to look good, you find you have absolutely nothing to wear.
Hmm... I fear that you may have been misinformed about the nature of this theory Jill. Nevermind, we'll pass on that one, I would hate to think that you might be Pukka-padding your way to a real explanation, so let's move on.
2. How many books have you written and which one is your favourite
(excluding your newest one)?
I've written 26 books, but one of those doesn't come out until January. I have quite a few favourites but it's so long now since I wrote them that I have no idea why I like them more than others. For the record, I
particularly like Perfect Timing, Staying at Daisy's, Miranda's Big Mistake,
Don't Want to Miss a Thing and To the Moon and Back. (But everyone who reads my books has their own preferences, which is nice. There isn't one book that isn't someone's favourite.)
I haven't read them all yet but so far I would have to say that one of my favourites has been, A Walk in the Park.
(excluding your newest one)?
I've written 26 books, but one of those doesn't come out until January. I have quite a few favourites but it's so long now since I wrote them that I have no idea why I like them more than others. For the record, I
particularly like Perfect Timing, Staying at Daisy's, Miranda's Big Mistake,
Don't Want to Miss a Thing and To the Moon and Back. (But everyone who reads my books has their own preferences, which is nice. There isn't one book that isn't someone's favourite.)
I haven't read them all yet but so far I would have to say that one of my favourites has been, A Walk in the Park.
3. Your latest book, The Unpredictable Consequences of Love, has a large cast of characters. What process do you use to create your characters?
I would love to have fewer characters in my novels, I just don't know how to manage it! I start with the two main ones, then build up gradually from there. Plus, if I'm writing and get stuck and don't know what happens next, I'll just lob a new character into the story (like a little grenade) to liven things back up.
Hmm... I can imagine what's left of your Pukka Pads after you've thrown in little grenades.
I would love to have fewer characters in my novels, I just don't know how to manage it! I start with the two main ones, then build up gradually from there. Plus, if I'm writing and get stuck and don't know what happens next, I'll just lob a new character into the story (like a little grenade) to liven things back up.
Hmm... I can imagine what's left of your Pukka Pads after you've thrown in little grenades.
4. If you could be a character from one of your books, who would you be and why?
OK, I'm going to say either Miranda from Miranda's Big Mistake or Milly from Milly's Fling, because they were funny and uncomplicated and
lovely and a bit accident prone. But they're also young, which I'm (sadly) not.
Maybe I'll be Marguerite, the terrifyingly bossy and confident mega-bestselling author in The Unpredictable Consequences of Love, instead!
Hmm... now that's a scary thought.
OK, I'm going to say either Miranda from Miranda's Big Mistake or Milly from Milly's Fling, because they were funny and uncomplicated and
lovely and a bit accident prone. But they're also young, which I'm (sadly) not.
Maybe I'll be Marguerite, the terrifyingly bossy and confident mega-bestselling author in The Unpredictable Consequences of Love, instead!
Hmm... now that's a scary thought.
5. Could you tell us something we may not know about you?
Growing up, I was always desperate to be a spy. (Ha, maybe that's a neat double bluff and I am a spy. You'll never know.)
Hmm... well according to my spy-busting secret agents who have managed to decode the accumulated evidence from your old Pukka Pads - you are indeed a fully-fledged spy and everyone knows now!
Growing up, I was always desperate to be a spy. (Ha, maybe that's a neat double bluff and I am a spy. You'll never know.)
Hmm... well according to my spy-busting secret agents who have managed to decode the accumulated evidence from your old Pukka Pads - you are indeed a fully-fledged spy and everyone knows now!
6. What annoys you the most?
Oh God, so many things. People on trains eating noisily, sniffing, slurping drinks, listening to music through headphones, breathing... Thank goodness I don't have a daily commute.
Oh God, so many things. People on trains eating noisily, sniffing, slurping drinks, listening to music through headphones, breathing... Thank goodness I don't have a daily commute.
Ooh, apologies for that Jill - I hope it didn't annoy you too much...
7. List 5 things that you would want with you, if you were stranded on a deserted island.
Enough Salt and Shake crisps to last the rest of my natural lifetime. Ditto white wine. Which means I'm going to need a fridge as well. Um, plenty of lip salve because I'm hopelessly addicted to it. And fifth...hmm, better be something really important. I'll have my bear with me to keep me company. He's fab and doesn't eat noisily, sniff or slurp his drinks.
Enough Salt and Shake crisps to last the rest of my natural lifetime. Ditto white wine. Which means I'm going to need a fridge as well. Um, plenty of lip salve because I'm hopelessly addicted to it. And fifth...hmm, better be something really important. I'll have my bear with me to keep me company. He's fab and doesn't eat noisily, sniff or slurp his drinks.
Hmm... he looks a bit of a party animal to me Jill. I've seen drunk bears that slurp before...
... and judging by the documented evidence, your bear definitely likes a good old, slurping party. Maybe he's even throwing birthday parties for himself when you're not around.
8. Do you prefer sunrise or sunset and why?
Not being an early riser, I seldom see sunrises and am most definitely a sunset person. It means a day of work is over and now I can relax and have fun.
Hmm... would your definition of 'fun' be more drunken-bear parties, I wonder.
9. What part of the day is the best time to write?
I probably do most of my writing between 1pm and 5pm.
Not being an early riser, I seldom see sunrises and am most definitely a sunset person. It means a day of work is over and now I can relax and have fun.
Hmm... would your definition of 'fun' be more drunken-bear parties, I wonder.
9. What part of the day is the best time to write?
I probably do most of my writing between 1pm and 5pm.
10. If you could be someone else for a day, who would you like to be and why?
Ok, this is a hard question. The thing I'd love to do that I really can't do is sing in tune, so I'd choose to be either Mariah Carey or the woman in the Shake'n'Vac ad.
Ok, this is a hard question. The thing I'd love to do that I really can't do is sing in tune, so I'd choose to be either Mariah Carey or the woman in the Shake'n'Vac ad.
Hmm... I'd definitely go for Mariah Carey if I were you Jill.
11. Could you tell us something about the future of Jill Mansell?
I just hope I can carry on writing. On a round-the-world cruise would be nice! And when I die I really want it to happen when I've just finished
a book and not when I'm right in the middle of one!
11. Could you tell us something about the future of Jill Mansell?
I just hope I can carry on writing. On a round-the-world cruise would be nice! And when I die I really want it to happen when I've just finished
a book and not when I'm right in the middle of one!
And finally, the most important question of all.
12. Why do people push the buttons of a remote control harder, when they know the batteries are flat?
Because occasionally...very occasionally... if you give the remote control a really hard shake at the same time... it will do the trick.
12. Why do people push the buttons of a remote control harder, when they know the batteries are flat?
Because occasionally...very occasionally... if you give the remote control a really hard shake at the same time... it will do the trick.
Well that’s it. Thank you so much for taking the time to join me in this
interview today Jill. I wish you well for the future.
You can find out more about Jill either on the Showcase here or visit her website: http://www.jillmansell.co.uk/
interview today Jill. I wish you well for the future.
You can find out more about Jill either on the Showcase here or visit her website: http://www.jillmansell.co.uk/