INTERVIEW
February 2010
CAROLE MATTHEWS
English author Carole Matthews has written more than 15 novels. Her debut, Let’s Meet on Platform 8, was published in 1997. This year she is publishing two more – It’s Now or Never and The Only Way is Up. (Interview by Christy Goldstein)
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1. In It's Now or Never, Annie plans to go to Peru. Have you been to Peru and why did you choose this country for your book?
The book has a very aspirational storyline and Annie wants to do something adventurous in her life before she’s too old. In talking to a lot of women about what was on their ‘to do’ list, the Inca Trail kept popping up as one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ things. It’s always been on my list too – but then I live with Milton Keynes’ answer to Indiana Jones and am used to being dragged up mountains – so I thought it would be a great thing to write about. The place really lived up to expectations and was a fabulous location to set a few chapters.
2. Do you think you will write a follow-up to the twins’ story?
The only sequel I’ve done so far is The Chocolate Lovers’ Club and The Chocolate Lovers’ Diet and I haven’t finished with those girls yet! I’m not sure that I’d do it with this book as the difficulties they encountered had been resolved by the end. I never say never though!
3. If you could live/travel anywhere, where would it be?
We travel extensively, but I’ve never found anywhere that I’d like to live better than England. Though we did toy for a while with moving to New York as it’s one of my favourite cities in the world – there’s always such a buzz about it. Where we live is a modern city in a very green county with rolling hills – typically English. All our neighbours are great here, so I feel very blessed.
4. So many funny incidents happened in That Loving Feeling. What was your favourite scene to write?
I enjoyed writing all of that book and, in particular, Rick’s scenes as he was always getting into some awful trouble which was never of his own making. It’s very exaggerated but I think it portrays a lot of the difficulties that families have these days. Actually, for all the emails I get from my readers saying their family is just like that, maybe it’s not so exaggerated!
5. Out of all your novels, do you have a soft spot for one particular character?
Lucy Lombard in The Chocolate Lovers’ Club – there is far too much of me in her!
6. What is your favourite book?
Out of my own? That’s like asking someone to say which of their kids they like the best! I have several favourites, for different reasons. With or Without You as that was set in Nepal and the research for that was awe-inspiring. For Better, For Worse as that was a Kelly Ripa pick and did really well for me in the USA. My other favourites are The Chocolate Lovers’ Club and Diet – how could anyone not enjoy researching chocolate for two years!
7. You are contracted to write two books a year - how do you generate all these fresh ideas?
Ideas are never a problem. With my genre, a night out with my girlfriends and a few bottles of wine normally generates a dozen plots. I also read the newspaper every day which is also a great source of inspiration. There are stories all around if you’re a bit of a nosey parker like me!
8. What book do you wish you had written?
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. Fabulous book. I’m just about to re-read it again. It’s a very bittersweet love story – just the sort of thing I love. Haven’t been able to bring myself to see the film yet in case I’m disappointed.
9. Tell us about your next novel, The Only Way is Up.
This was influenced by all the stories of people who have lost everything in the global credit crunch and I wondered just what it must feel like – with a little romance and comedy along the way! Lily and Laurence Lamont-Jones have it all: lavish holidays in exotic locations, a top private school for their children, Hettie and Hugo, and a beautiful Buckinghamshire home with horses and stables. But their perfect world is about to be turned upside down. Laurence has lost his job and, on their return from holiday, they find their house and all their belongings have been repossessed. Forced to live in a council house on one of Milton Keynes's roughest estates, the Lamont-Joneses are about to discover how the other half live. And with the help of true friends, a little luck and a lot of determination they learn that when you've reached rock bottom the only way is up ...
10. What made you decide to become a writer?
It wasn’t really a conscious decision – just a series of happy accidents. I was writing articles for a wide variety of magazines – mainly on the subject of aromatherapy – when I entered a short story competition in Writing Magazine and won £1000! Very sensibly, I didn’t blow the money on shoes and handbags, but instead – flushed by success - booked on a writing course. By the time the course came around, I thought I’d better start a novel. When the tutor read it, she loved it and recommended an agent. He sold it within a week – that book became Let’s Meet on Platform 8.
11. If you did not write for a living, what would be your second choice as a career?
Hmm. I have an interest in so many things that I’d be pushed to choose. I used to be an aromatherapist, so I’d quite like to go back to that again as I sometimes miss the interaction with all of my clients. Writing is a very solitary profession. I also love my garden so being a landscape gardener would appeal. I would also consider opening a coffee and chocolate shop as featured in The Chocolate Lovers’ Club – that would be a nice way to spend a day.
12. Has your partner, Lovely Kev, ever made it into one of your books?
Not yet! But I do keep threatening to write ‘our story’ which is quite an interesting one. Maybe one day!
13. Could you survive without chocolate?
Er… No.
14. How has being from Liverpool influenced your life?
I think being from Liverpool gives you a genetically programmed sense of humour. I can’t help but look at the funny side of life even in dark situations – which I think is reflected in my books. They’re always bittersweet.
15. What do you think of the chick-lit label?
I don’t mind. The only annoying thing is that ‘chick-lit’ seems to lump a whole range of books together from straightforward teen ‘boy meets girl’ books to very complicated relationship stories featuring older women – some even in their 40s and married for 25 years! I’m not so keen on the plethora of pink covers that publishers seem to love – even though my books have more than their fair share.16. Name your favourite:
- TV show: 24, Desperate Housewives – can’t pick between the two
- Movie: Currently Avatar
- Song: Couldn’t Bear To Be Special – Prefab Sprout
- Celebrity crush: Oh, so many! None of them very original. Johnny Depp, Kiefer Sutherland, Gorgeous George Clooney, Colin Firth, Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant as he was 10 years ago.
- Holiday destination: Anywhere. I just love to travel.
- Hobby: Reading
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