How do you juggle the demands of writing with looking after four children?
The short answer is, with enormous difficulty! Thankfully, all four of my kids were contented little babies who slept through the night, thanks to Gina Ford’s The Contented Little Baby Book, which was truly a bible for me for several years. These days, I have to be extremely disciplined, and tend to write in the mornings when the children are in school. In the old days I would write whenever the 'creative urge' struck, often in the middle of the night, but now I have to treat it as much more of a regular job. If I can fit in three hours of writing a day, then I'm doing well.
Balancing motherhood with work responsibilities is one of the challenges faced by contemporary mothers. Do you think the next generation of mothers will be better prepared for this challenge?
I'm not sure mothers are ever prepared for the challenges, or that it ever gets any easier. I still struggle with enormous feelings of guilt, regardless of how much time I spend with the children. No matter how much I do with and for them, I always feel I could be doing more. For me, part of easing my struggle has been recognising my limitations. I know that when I find some time just for me, I am always a better mother - more attentive, more able to give them the undivided attention they crave.
Are the characters in your novels based on real people?
Sometimes my characters will start off based on real people, but within a chapter or so they invariably develop into strong characters in their own right. And these do tend to be the supporting roles - my heroines are always fictional (with a healthy dose of me thrown in for good measure!)
Have you always wanted to be a writer?
For many years I thought I would be an artist or a designer, but I always escaped into books, and read voraciously as a child. So when I fell into journalism in my early twenties, writing seemed to come very naturally.
Do you write with a particular audience in mind?
I started off writing for girls like me – single and in their twenties - and now, of course, I think I'm writing for women like me - married mothers in their thirties. Yet, the number of letters I get from very young girls, often in their teens, who adore my books, always astonishes me. So, even if I have an audience in mind, it is not always the audience I attract, which is a good thing.
What do you look for in a good novel?
I look for the ability to draw me in and make me forget about my life for a while. I have just finished Maile Meloy's A Family Daughter, which did exactly that and so much more.
Who is your favourite author?
Still, after all these years, and despite her not having written a new novel for a while, my favourite author is Barbara Trapido, and specifically her book, Brother of the more Famous Jack.
What is your next project?
I'm currently writing about a group of friends who reunite after many years for the memorial service of someone they all loved. It's partly about grief, partly about life taking you in unexpected directions and partly about friendship. Although already I'm itching to start the next one...
For more information on Jane Green and her books visit www.janegreen.com.
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