The Writing Life of: Bella Osborne
Bella Osborne
This week I am thrilled to be interviewing author Bella Osborne, who will be sharing with us details of her writing life, telling us all about her new book ‘The Girls‘, which was released today, 14th April 2022 and answering a few fun questions. This post contains affiliate links.
Bella Osborne has been jotting down stories as far back as she can remember but decided that 2013 would be the year that she finished a full length novel. Since then she’s written a number of best-selling romantic comedies and book club reads. She’s been shortlisted three times for the RNA Contemporary Romantic Novel of the Year Award.
Bella’s stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She likes to find the humour in the darker moments of life and weaves these into her stories. She lives in Warwickshire, UK with her husband, daughter and a cat who thinks she’s a dog. When not writing Bella is usually eating custard creams and planning holidays.
1) Did you enjoy writing when you were a child?
I absolutely loved it! I remember writing a very long story in primary school and my teacher typed it all out and pinned it on the wall. It was a very proud day.
2) Which author shaped your childhood?
read a lot of Enid Blyton books growing up but my absolute favourite book as a child was The One Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith.
3) What motivated you to begin your first novel?
I had been writing as a hobby for a long time and had amassed a number of partial manuscripts where I had started a story and then been distracted by another. It was a chance encounter with a life coach which made me focus on trying to see if I could finish a whole novel.
4) Do you plot your book, or are you a pantser?
I am a dedicated plotter. There is nothing I love more than getting out the brown paper and post-it notes and planning out my next story.
5) What is your average writing day?
Generally I catch up on social media over breakfast and then I go through my To Do List with my admin assistant who is rarely of any help whatsoever (see photograph).
I’m usually at my desk working by 9.30am at the latest. I can be working on anything from a first draft, a variety of editing stages or promotion and usually I am doing all three things across a number of books.
6) What is the best thing about being an author?
Being able to write every day and disappear into my imaginary world. Closely followed by having a legitimate reason to buy post-it notes in every conceivable size and colour.
Publisher – Aria
Pages – 399
Release Date – 14th April 2022
ISBN 13 – 978-1801100519
Format – ebook, paperback, audio
Synopsis
Four old friends. Thrown back together after forty years apart. What could possibly go wrong?
In the 1970s, The Girls were best friends sharing a house and good times: Zara the famous diva actor, Val the uptight solicitor, Jackie the wild child and Pauline the quirky introvert. Now they’re in their twilight years, and Zara suggests that they live with her to support each other through old age.
Initially, being housemates again is just as much fun as in their heyday. But then Zara reveals the real reason she asked them to move in with her, and suddenly things take a sinister turn.
As the women confront their demons they come under the spotlight of the press, the police and an angry parrot. With their lives spiralling out of control can they save their friendships and each other?
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7) How did you go about researching the content for your book?
It’s a contemporary novel so thankfully that instantly cuts down the research. As this book was written during the pandemic I have relied a lot on the internet as sadly I wasn’t able to visit the locations in person.
8) How long did it take to go from the ideas stage to writing the last word?
About a year, although the bulk of the first draft was completed during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) which is where writers attempt to write 50k words in 30 days. I’ve been doing it for a number of years and it’s a great way to kick off a new novel.
9) What made you choose the genre you write in?
I think the genres choose me. I had written eight romantic comedies when some characters popped into my head and I knew they were very different. They were Tom and Maggie and that book became The Library which was a book club read. My agent, Kate Nash, found a home for that book and when the publishers wanted a two book contract I floated the idea of The Girls which thankfully they loved. So I’m now writing in two genres but who knows what might pop into my head next?
10) How did you come up with the name(s) for your lead character(s)?
I’m someone who has to get the main character names right before I can start really building their personalities. In The Girls there are four main characters: Zara, Val, Jackie and Pauline. As I could picture the characters and their distinct personalities quite quickly their names became obvious.
11) Can you give us an insight into your characters?
Zara is a famous diva actor, Val an uptight solicitor, Jackie the wild child and Pauline the quirky introvert. They are very different people but they all treasure the time they spent together in their youth and their bond is still strong. When they are thrown back together after over forty years apart there are old issues and new challenges to face.
12) How did you feel when you had completed your book?
A little sad to be leaving their world because it was a joy to write and I really did have a blast with The Girls as I hope my readers do too.
Fun Questions
1) Do you have a favourite quote?
Treat others as you would like them to treat you.
2) Do you have any pets?
My admin assistant and a teenager. We are also a release site for rescue hedgehogs so we always have one or two living in our garden as well as lots of visitors who come for their tea.
3) What are you currently reading?
I’m currently rereading Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes and I have the following all vying for attention on my To Be Read pile:
Should I Tell You by Jill Mansell
Wham! George and Me by Andrew Ridgeley
Love Blooms At Mermaids Point by Sarah Bennett
4) Your book has been made into a movie, you’ve been offered a cameo role, what will you be doing?
I would be sipping champagne at a star studded party in the Dorchester Hotel rubbing shoulders with Patrick Dempsey and George Clooney!
5) If you could travel to a fictional world from any book for the day, which would you choose?
Hogwarts.
6) There’s a penguin sitting in your chair, what’s the first thing he says to you?
‘It’s time to open the good biscuits.’
A big thank you to Bella Osborne for sharing her writing life with us and for a wonderful interview.
Author links
Goodreads
Website
