Today on my blog I have the fantastic Isabelle Broom! Author of Then. Now. Always. My Map Of You ,A Year And A Day and most recently The Place We Met
Taggie is only a few months into her job as a tour guide in Lake Como. She’s rushed off her feet, but distraction is what she needs to forget why she left England. Lucy arrives at Lake Como with her perfect new boyfriend, Pete. Falling fast in love, she’s sure that life is about to start for her, it feels so right with him.But as New Year’s Eve approaches and the women meet by chance, it becomes clear this isn’t the perfect place of new beginnings. While Lucy is willing to do anything to keep hold of Pete, the past Taggie so desperately wanted to escape is catching up with her . . .
Isabelle never fails to have me planning my next holiday, so if you haven’t read any of her books now is the perfect time especially when you can settle down in a nice comfy chair and indulge in some great books!
I have a fantastic interview to share with you all from the lovely Isabelle! without further ado!
Your books are set in different beautiful destinations. What inspired you to write from different places around the world?
Ever since my first backpacking trip at the age of 19 (I’m not telling you how long ago that was!), I’ve loved travelling and exploring the world. I always knew that I wanted my debut novel to be set in Zakynthos, Greece, because I’d spent time living there and it had become such an important part of my life. Once that book, My Map Of You, was finished, it felt very natural for the next book to also be set in a location abroad, and so on. I love bringing place into my novels as a character, and writing escapist fiction gives me the perfect excuse to keep booking those flights.
Did you read much as a child, and if so, what were some of your childhood favourites?
Oh, yes – constantly! I was very into ponies as a child, and Silver Snaffles by Primrose Cumming was my absolute favourite for a long time. I loved the idea that there was a magical world where humans could talk to horses. I also loved Roald Dahl – The Twits and The BFG especially – all the My Naughty Little Sister stories by Dorothy Edwards, and I devoured everything Enid Blyton ever wrote. I used to have all the Secret Seven and Famous Five stories on cassette tape, and I would listen to them over and over.
Is there one book you wish you’d written?
Well, Harry Potter is the obvious choice, and not just because of the fame and riches that followed. I think it’s a perfect example of a flawless plot, engaging characters and genuine, heartbreaking emotion. JK Rowling has created a whole world – imagine being responsible for that! More recently, I was hugely impressed by Anatomy Of A Soldier by Harry Parker – the style of writing is so fresh and deeply affecting. It’s a modern masterpiece.
Do you ever feel any pressure when writing?
Yes, such a lot, but not in a bad way, I hasten to add. As an author, you have a responsibility to your readers and your publisher to create a story that’s as special as it can be, one that really means something – but I also feel a loyalty to my characters to give them the best novel that I can. They become so much like real people when you’re writing, and you spend so much time with them. I owe it to them as much as myself to get it right. All authors will get to a stage where they’re tearing out their hair and doubting their ability to produce anything worth reading, and I think it’s this pressure that stops us all from becoming complacent. I’m all for it, even if it does mean I’ll be bald by the age of 50!
How do you do all your research of the different places you set your books in?
I always go there. Honestly, I would never set a book in a place I hadn’t been. It just wouldn’t work for me, because I like to really get under the lid of a place and take my readers on a proper adventure through the pages of the book. Once I’m in the location, I take notes, make recordings, snap hundreds of photos, and just wander around for days at a time until I find what I’m looking for. I’m not going to lie, it’s definitely a HUGE perk of the job!
Would you ever go back to any of your characters in another book?
I do like to bring back past characters and give them cameos in new books, because I like to see what they’re up to. Each of them still have stories to tell, so I would happily revisit them in a full-length novel, yes. For now, though, I have lots of brand-new tales I want to tell. I do miss my characters, though – especially the ones who have been the most fun to write, like Hannah (Then. Now. Always.) and Aidan (My Map Of You).
What can you tell us about your next book?
I can tell you that it’s set in Sri Lanka, and that elephants are involved… That’s about it for now, I’m afraid. The first draft isn’t with my editor yet, so I don’t want to give away any spoilers. What I will say, though, is that it’s my most ambitious so far, in terms of character, and has been the most challenging to write, which I’m hoping is a good sign.
Who was your favourite character from The Place We Met?
Oh, such a toughie! I actually really love my girls, Taggie and Lucy, and can identify with both of them, but then I have a big soft spot for Marco, too. I love how loyal and stoic he is – both great qualities in a man – and I fell in love with him as the book went on, just like I hope many of my readers will. Oh, and I loved all the dogs, too – but that goes without saying.
Did you have to edit scenes out of The Place We Met, and were there any bits you wished you’d kept?
I did, but they all needed to go. A first draft is always just that – a draft. The finished article has been through a number of edits and been read by many people along the way, all of which is 100 per cent necessary to ensure that the novel is as good as it can be. I actually added scenes to The Place We Met during the edit – including the fun chapter with the seaplane – and the book gained so much richness during that process. I’m very proud of the finished book, and wouldn’t bring anything back that was cut.
Can you guess what any of your characters might want for Christmas this year?
The Place We Met’s Lucy would simply want everyone she loves together under one roof, enjoying family time and mucking in. She’s not a material person at all, and I think that would make her happiest. As for Taggie, if I was going to buy her anything and money was no object, it would be a new pair of shoes – some of those sassy, super-sparkly Jimmy Choo boots, with an extra-high heel. She would LOVE those.
What is your ideal Christmas?
I’m a bit like Lucy – I like having my family around me, switching off my social media for the day and simply having a laugh with lots of nice food and wine to boot. Christmas Day always involves a nice long walk with the dogs, too – and this year, thanks to my parents’ two new puppies – there will be five of the nutters coming out with us. It’s going to be an eventful one, that’s for sure!
A family member of mine is spending this Christmas in Las Vegas and I think it’s safe to say I’m super jealous. Imagine spending Christmas in Vegas SO FUN!!!
Liv's Wonderful Escape 