Interview: Jane Wenham-Jones

Jane, welcome to Romance Lives Forever. Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?

Prime Time is billed as a romantic comedy but it does have its dark corners. It is the story of Laura who has shocking PMT and is - ill-advisedly as it turns out - encouraged to go onto a daytime tv programme to talk about it. What happens next will change her life…

How do you come up with ideas?

I pretty much write down everything that ever happens to me...

What is the single most important part of writing for you?

That wonderful moment when you can type "the end".

What is the most important thing you do for your career?

I'll give anything a try. I've been on radio and TV, worked as a presenter and interviewer, written short stories and articles, features and columns, fiction and non-fiction. I could probably do with being a bit more focussed on just the one or two areas instead of trying to do it all, but it's been a lot of fun.

What do you enjoy most about writing?

Being able to "have my say" I suppose.

What do you enjoy most about life?

Variety. I am not one of these writers who can be pinned to the computer for a 16 hour stretch. I like to go out and do lots of different things. But I always consider that to be part of the process. If you never leave your study how you have anything to say?

Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or...?

A basic idea. My first novel was: the buy-to-let market, my second, infidelity, my third - running a wine bar… and so on.

What did you learn from writing your first book? 

That it's not as easy as it looks...

How many hours a day to you spend writing?

On theory 6 hours a day. In practice? Sometimes I don't write at all - too busy fiddling with emails and tidying the kitchen. But when deadlines loom I've been known to write all night. I finished wannabe a writer in a 36 hours stint with no sleep at all.

If you could give the younger version of yourself advice what would it be?

Get on with it!

What are some jobs you've done that would end up in a book?

I've been a barmaid, bought and sold property, worked as a secretary and a copywriter - all these have come in useful in books various.

If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?

When I am reading a new author I like to start with their first one. Mine  was  - Raising the Roof. But I've developed a lot since then. So I would say now - read the blurbs and see which one appeals to you most and I'll just hope you like it SO much you can't wait to read the others :-)

What do you hope readers take with them after reading your work?

A smile and a dollop of empathy

List two authors we would find you reading when taking a break from your own writing.

Joanna Trollope and Fay Weldon

What's your next writing ambition?

I want to be an agony aunt on a national newspaper - editors please note! :-)

A biography has been written about you. What do you think the title would be in six words or less?

Jacqueline of all trades.

If money were not an object, where would you most like to live?

By the sea plus a flat in London

If you were a tool, what would people use you to do?

Open wine bottles.

As a child, what was your favorite thing about school?

Reading my way through maths

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

Take in small doses

Please Fill in the Blanks

I love pizza with fresh basil.

I'm always ready for a glass of champagne.

When I'm alone, I relish it.

You'd never be able to tell, but I was once a model.

If I had a halo it would be constantly falling off.

If I could play the guitar, speak fluent French, sing like an angel, and only weighed seven stone, I'd consider it a good result.

I can never get to the end of my to-do list because I keep adding to it.

My Booklist

Raising the Roof

Wannabe a Writer

Wannabe a Writer We've Heard Of

Perfect Alibis

One Glass is Never Enough

Prime Time

Find Me Here

Website: http://www.janewenham-jones.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janewenhamjones

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JaneWenhamJones