Half-Truths & White Lies is Jane’s first novel and was published in April 2009 by Black Swan after it had won The Daily Mail’s First Novel award.
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BCC: I would just like to say welcome and thank you for being Book Chick City’s first author interview. Can you remember the trigger that gave you the idea for half-truths & white lies?
JD: The inspiration came from my mother’s partner who discovered that her parents were not who she thought they were at the age of eleven. Hers was a war-time story when this was not quite so uncommon, however, the impact on her life was enormous. In her case, she grew up believing that her grandmother was her mother, whilst her real mother was living in the same house as her sister. Unfortunately, it seemed that everyone n the local community knew the truth but her. There seems to be a belief that family life is far more complicated today, but there is plenty of evidence that this is not the case. Whilst some people have suggested that the story is far-fetched, several women have written to me with tragic stories about how either they or family members were forced to give up their own children.
BCC: How long did it take you to write the book?
JD: It took a year of my spare time to complete the first draft and a further six months to edit. While working full-time, I set aside weekend mornings and two evenings a week to write and stuck to this routine.
BCC: Is it true that you initially named the book Venn Diagram? What made you change the title to what it is today?
JD: Yes, my name for the book was Venn Diagrams because of the concept that this was a more useful illustration of a family tree. I didn’t realise that the phrase was only coined ion the 1950′s, so there was concern from Transworld that I would alienate some of my potential readers. They also felt that a mathematical reference would be off-putting. We played around with various combinations of the words ‘secrets’ and ‘lies’ for a long time, but most had already been used. The final title was the end result of days of brain-storming by the marketing team.
BCC: Without giving too much away, you covered some sensitive issues in the book. What was your goal.
JD: I didn’t set out with a game plan. I don;t tend to write in a linear fashion, which means that I don’t develop a plot before I begin. I started with a concept of ‘what if?’, developed the characters and let then take over the telling of the story. I was concerned to admit this until I read Stephen Kin’s ‘On Writing’ in which he says that he works in the same way.
BCC: On your website you openly admit to suffering from depression in your early twenties. Do you think this part of your life helped you become the writer you are today and helped in writing about sensitive subjects?
JD: Yes, in that the reason I started to write was in reaction to a specific event and it was a better form of therapy than anything else. However, the first book that I write was too personal and for that reason it will never see the light of day. When I started to write Half-truths and White Lies, I deliberately chose a family setting and issues that I was removed from emotionally. I think that the greatest quality a writer needs is empathy so that they can fully understand the interaction and relationships between their characters. When dealing with sensitive issues, I try to think of the writing of John Irving who deals with complex issues in the simplest of language. Sometimes a shocking scene can be all the more so when told in the way.
BCC: This is your first novel, any plans for a second?
JD: I have completed three novels and am currently working on a fourth, but this is my only published novel.
BCC: Well, I look forward in seeing them in print some day soon! Are there any authors who influenced you as a writer?
JD: Apart from John Irving, Pat Conroy, Louis de Berniers and Markus Zusack are favourites. In terms of the use of more than one narrator, Jodi Picoult was an influence.
BCC: Tell us about your journey to becoming a writer
JD: I don’t have a degree and have never attended a creative writing class. All that I had was some spare time, a very old laptop and the willpower to stick at it. I started to write as a release from my very stressful day job as a director of a firm of insurance brokers. Over a birthday meal I described an idea I had for a book to my partner and asked if he thought anyone would be interested in reading it. He agreed that he would read it if I would write it and that was enough for me.
The greatest leap of faith was asking family and friends to read what I had written as it is very difficult to be subjective about whether you are any good. Encouraged by what they said, I started to send submissions to agents and very quickly became accustomed to the standard rejection letter, which says ‘we are not taking any new clients at the moment’. One reply told me that I could write but that my work was completely unmarketable and suggested I invested in a professional review. I took the advice and was told to re-write the book as a crime novel. This was not what I had intended so I put my manuscript away where it sat for six months until, bored, I decided to play with it.
A year later I had a second draft and when I started to send it out again I immediately got positive feedback. Incidentally, I hadn’t written a crime novel – I had just added something that worked. After signing to an agent, we had one possible bite but the deal fell out of bed with the publishing house amalgamated with another. In the mean while, I had finished what became Half-truths and White Lies and learned about the Daily Mail First Novel Award completely by chance only two days before the closing date. It was four months later that I found out that I had won. The prize was the publishing deal. This journey took about six years and I look at the writing of my first manuscript as the learning process.
BCC: What is the most rewarding and most challenging part of writing for you?
JD: The most rewarding part has to be seeing your book on the shelves in shops. The most challenging part is knowing when the book is finished. And getting started. And knowing if it is any good.
BCC: Tell us about your writing day?
JD: I try to stay as disciplined as possible and treat writing as a days’ work. I always start by reading what I have written the day before and hope that gets the brain cells working. I generally aim for a least 2000 words a day. In the afternoon I go for a walk, answer emails and correspondence and read (usually research). If I am not being productive I do something completely different but refuse to get sidetracked by housework/odd jobs. When I wrote in my spare time I was happy if I wrote a chapter a week. Now I might write several chapters a week, but I don;t think you can force the story and it would be a mistake to write too quickly.
BCC: What music do you like listening to?
JD: Favourite albums are:
David Sylvian, Brilliant Trees,
Yazoo, Upstairs at Erics
Muse, Absolution
Bjork, Debut
Tom Waits,, Closing Time
Counting Crows, August and Everything After
Dr John, Afterglow
Elbow, The seldom Seen Kid
Goldfrapp, Seventh Tree
BCC: After twenty-three years in insurance was it difficult for you to settle into writing full-time?
JD: I am finding the transition to writing as a hobby and as a job very difficult. I still do some consultancy work as I think I found being at home very isolating and to write you need to be out in the world, taking inspiration from what is around you and observing human behaviour. I work better with deadlines and the lack of them at the moment is not helpful. I also find the lack of people to bounce ideas off very hard.
BCC: When did you realise that you wanted to be a writer?
JD: As i had started to write as a hobby, I didn’t realise that I wanted it so much until I was short-listed for the Daily Mail competition. I am still not sure if I am entitled to call myself a writer. I will feel far happier when I have a follow-up in print.
BCC: I read that you are a fan of the Lake District here in the UK. I love this part of the country and visit yearly to hike and enjoy the mountains. Is this the place you find easiest to relax or do you find that no matter where you are your mind is always thinking of the next book? Can you ever switch off?
JD: I have never been someone who is good at relaxing, which is probably why I chose to write as a hobby. I find I do some of my best thinking when I am walking, so a holiday can be very productive from a creative point of view. While I am writing I tend to ‘live my characters’ in the way that I imagine an actor relates to the part they are playing. The next project is never far from my mind.
BCC: What books are you reading right now and who are your favourite authors?
JD: I have just finished reading The Great Lover by Jill Dawson as research for my current project. Recent reads include:
The Conjourer’s Bird – Martin Davies
East of the Sun – Juloa Gregson
The Island – Victoria Hislop
The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafron
The Glassblower of Murano – Marina Fiorato
Inside the Whale – Jennie Rooney
My current favourite nov el is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. This is the book that I recommend to people who tell me that they don’t enjoy fiction, because it is based in fact. The author tackles extremely sensitive subject matters with originality and simplicity, which is perfection. I got to the very end before I learned that he is the author of several award winning children’s books, and it explains much about his writing style and his depth of understand of his main characters.
I find myself coming back time and time again to Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas HArdy. It stays relevant and contains the most perfectly flawed heroine; innocent, naive, wronged. And, ultimately, deadly. I feel that I catch glimpses of the England that he describes when I am out walking in the mountains.
The prince of Tides by Pat Conroy is a difficult, rich and rewarding read. Don’t be put of by the film which focused on everything that is romantic in the book, detouring neatly around the more shocking elements of the storyline, leaving very two dimension characters.
My favourite author is John Irving and it would be difficult to include only one of his novels in a shortlist. I am torn between Cider House Rules and A Preyer for Owen Meany. Both are life-changing. I particularly love John Irving’s use of themes and challenging viewpoints. I have never been to New England, but I feel that I know the area well through his writing.
E. Annie Proulx write the most extraordinary main character in Quoyle in The Shipping News but her use of language is so full of warmth and humour and sadness that we cannot help by love him.
Local history has become a bit of a fascination for me and we have a local historian called Alison Wier who has written some wonderful history books, particularly on the Tudors.
BCC: Anything else you would like to share with the Book Chick City readers?
JD: If you are thinking of writing and have limited time, my advice is just do it. You will learn as much by your writing your first book as you will by attending a creative writing course. Good luck!
BCC: Well, thank you again Jane for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions. It has been lovely talking with you and good luck with all your future projects.
If you would like to find out more about Half-truths and White lies and Jane Davis then visit her website here. You can find my review here.
4 Comments
great interview! this book looks interesting..
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Yes, great interview. I loved reading about the rejections and then the BIG WIN with the Daily Mail's First Novel Award – absolutely marvellous! It just goes to show what you can do if you don't give up – and of course, take a chance.
And I now have two books on my Friday Find from you! LOL
Thanks, both of you!
Sassy
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Thanks SO much for the Great Review! This one looks really interesting!
xoxo Amy (Park-Avenue Princess)
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Eleni – thanks, it was a good interview. Jane was very nice
Sassy – i thought the interview was interesting too. Jane was great in answering all of my questions. The book is good too so definitely another one for your TBR list!
Amy (Princess) – thanks so much for stopping by. Your comments mean a lot. Glad you enjoyed the interview
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