Helen Chandler
In To Have and to Hold I wanted to pick up the story where many romantic novels leave off. There are three couples in the book, all of whom thought at one point that they'd found their happy ever after, but things haven't turned out to be quite so simple. It also explores how even impulsive decisions can have far-reaching and unforseen consequences.
Please tell us about the characters of Ella, Imogen and Phoebe.
Ella had two children, quite close together, in her mid-twenties. She thought that all she wanted was to be a mum, but a few years on is feeling trapped and frustrated - but what, or who, exactly is she looking for? Imogen is an eco-chick who was very happy in her casual, laid-back relationship and casual laid-back life until the unexpected arrival of daughter, Indigo, made her re-think her priorities. Unfortunately her partner, Pete, seems intent on maintaining a child-free lifestyle and leaving her to shoulder all the responsibilities. Phoebe is fifteen years old, and bullied at school for being overweight. She has always been made to feel a disappointment to her gorgeous model mum, Liz, and has relied on her dad, Callum, as the one person to make her feel loved and secure. Unfortunately, when Callum is distracted his own problems, this leaves Phoebe lonely and isolated, and desperate to find a solution demonstrates to her parents she can take control of her own life.
Your books have been compared to Sophie Kinsella, Jane Green and Jenny Colgan, so how does that make you feel?
Obviously it's an amazing compliment! I've been reading and loving these authors for years, so it's just incredibly flattering to be compared to them. If I could achieve a fraction of their success, both in sales and in the pleasure they give to readers, then I would be very happy indeed.
Your book has been praised for being very addictive so tell us how you have developed this page turning quality to your writing.
I like to think that I can keep the reader guessing, and I do consciously try and achieve this when I'm writing. It's a bit like life really - we can start off by thinking we know how things are going to pan out, but there are always twists and turns, and surprises. Sometimes, even as the author, I'm surprised by the direction a character or storyline develops in.
What made you want to delve into the lives of three women for this book?
I've always enjoyed reading books which follow the lives of more than one character, and seeing how seemingly unconnected characters and situations can coincide. Actually, before I started writing To Have I had to vague ideas for what I considered to be separate books, and was discussing them with a friend when she suggested combining them. Suddenly it made perfect sense, and I could see a whole plot developing, based on how the lives of three very different women could affect each other.
What is your happy ever after for your writing?
People continuing to compare me to Jenny Colgan, Jane Green and Sophie Kinsella! I want to keep writing, I've got loads of ideas for future books, and I would love to write a bestseller and acquire a readership who wait eagerly for the 'new Helen Chandler'!
They say that the second book is always the hardest, so how did you find the process?
I was probably quite lucky in that I started writing To Have before I even had a publisher for my first novel, Two for Joy, so there wasn't any pressure at that point. By the time I had a publication deadline to meet I was well into the swing of it. However, it was much harder to write technically than Two For Joy, because of having three very different characters and story lines to juggle.
What is next for you?
Well, I've started the first couple of chapters of my third novel, which I'm provisionally calling First Comes Love. I've had about 6,000 words and an outline for the last few months, and once the excitement of publishing To Have dies down I just really need to get stuck in, stop making excuses and get writing.