Book Chick City: Author Interview: Jo Rees

Author Interview: Jo Rees

Wednesday, August 26, 2009 | Posted by Book Chick City |

Jo Rees published her first novel when she was 26. She went on to write several screenplays and internationally successful novels with her husband, Emlyn Rees, including the number one bestseller, Come Together. Platinum is her first solo outing since.

BCC: Welcome to Book Chick City - it's such a pleasure to have you.

JR: Thanks - I'm thrilled to be asked.

BCC: Tell us a bit about your latest book, Platinum

JR: I wrote Platinum to be the kind of book I wanted to read on holiday. It's a total slice of escapism - so there's loads of glamour, sex, exotic locations and a roller-coaster plot. My three heroines are all from completely different walks of life, but they all get together to take revenge on a ruthless Russian. Juicy stuff!

BCC: You wrote several bestselling novels with your husband, but Platinum is your first solo novel for some time. How was it writing on your own again?

JR: Hard work! I loved all of the seven books I wrote with Emlyn, but I've always wanted to write a big, juicy blockbuster like Platinum and I needed to do it on my own. He's writing screenplays, so it seemed a logical time for us both to go it alone. That said, lots of our writing method from working together remains, for example, Emlyn helped edit Platinum as I went along. He was invaluable.

BCC: I read that you are now working on your next novel, Tycoon. Can you give us a sneak peek into what it's about? When is it set to be released?

JR: I've renamed Tycoon, 'Tempting Fate'. I'm not going to say too much, but it's another glamourous, sexy story, this time about two female rivals at the top of their game in the international world of mega-casinos. I've just finished it and I'm thrilled with it. It'll hit the shelves next May.

BCC: Do you have fun while writing your novels?

JR: Of course! I love writing. I've been writing now professionally for 12 years and every day is a blessing to be able to do what I love best. As a writer, you have to completely care about the characters you're writing. If I'm not 100 per cent absorbed in them, then I can't expect my readers to be either. If I'm not in tears by the last page having given it my all, then I haven't done my job properly. It's often harrowing, or frustrating, but for me, it beats almost every other kind of job I can imagine.

BCC: How do you research your novels?

JR: My books are character based, so I start by working out emotionally what I want to happen to each of my girls. Then I research the locations as I go along. I'm a great believer that a reader who is hooked is reading because they care about what happens to the characters. They're not scrutinizing all the details. You just have to give enough details to set a scene convincingly. Of course I check all my facts, but I don't let research get in the way of writing too much, otherwise you can tie yourself up in knots. I tend to pump all my friends for information and facts. I had friends who had worked on a mega-yacht in the Med, so they were very helpful when I was writing Platinum. I also think the lives of all the celebrities we read about in Hello! and Grazia are fascinating, so I'm constantly flicking through magazines to get up-to-the-minute looks for my characters.

BCC: How do you combine being a mother of three, a wife and a writer?

JR: It gets complicated sometimes, but I've learnt that the only way to get everything done is to be very disciplined. At school I was the kind of girl who crammed for exams right at the last minute, but you can't rustle up a 130 thousand word novel overnight. I've had to change my ways and now I'm organized and only do the stuff that matters - for example, I've almost totally given up ironing! Two of my girls go to school and the little one has a babysitter who takes her out in the mornings. The moment everyone is out of the house, I sit at my computer and I force myself to stay there and not email friends, or look at Facebook. Somehow, it all gets done. I'm not sure how, but it does. It helps that I live with a fellow writer, so Emlyn and I understand the process and that sometimes in the middle of dinner, one of us will have to rush off to write something down.

BCC: What books do you like to take on holiday?

JR: I guess like lots of people, I always take a couple of books that I think I ought to read, but never read them. I keep a list of books that friends recommend, so if someone says something has been a good read, I get it. I love the feeling of being absorbed by a book, but because I write for a living, I can't read similar types of books for fun anymore. It feels too much like work. I read thrillers and crime fiction. This summer I read the first two Stieg Larsson books, which were great.

I also take a couple of copies of my latest book, just in case I meet a reader in need, which I often do. A glowing recommendation from a satisfied reader is the best thing that can happen for an author.

BCC: Thank you so much for answering my questions. It's so nice of you to take the time. Good luck with Tempting Fate and all your future projects.

JR: Thanks!

Platinum - Published by Corgi

Hell hath no fury like three women scorned…

Peaches Gold – a tough-talking, knockout brunette. She’s LA’s most infamous madam, with a flourishing business and ambition to match.

Emma Harvey – a happily-married, multi-talented redhead. She's English society’s darling, but her latest investment has just put her whole future at risk.

Frankie Willis – a super-smart, adventurous blonde. She’s the new stewardess on board a luxury mega-yacht and is about to find love where she least expected.

Three very different women. One common enemy. Yuri Khordinsky – the ruthless, all-powerful billionaire. Whatever he wants, he gets.

But this time he’s crossed the wrong women. And now it’s revenge time… female style.

Order Your Copy

Labels: Author Interviews

2 comments:

Kristen said...: Can I just say that I love the fact that she takes her own books with her on vacation in case she meets a reader in need? That is completely and totally fabulous!; 26 August 2009 16:30
Linda Ellen said...: Great interview! I need to learn to be disciplined. I'm still cramming for exams. XD; 26 August 2009 21:29