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An Interview with Jenny Colgan

Q: Tell us about the inspiration behind your latest novel, Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend. What made you want to write it?

Jenny: In truth, I wanted to write a Cinderella story - I love that story! Plus we seem to have been surrounded by WAGs and conspicuous consumption for so long, and I wanted to see a kind of Paris Hilton figure brought down to earth a bit!

Q: What is it about Sophie, do you think, that will appeal to readers?

I hope readers will find Sophie a bit daft to begin with - she's been so horribly spoilt - but will sympathise and enjoy following her journey to hard work and happiness!

Q: Diamonds raises some interesting questions about the value we put on material wealth. Do you believe money can buy happiness?

There's no doubt money helps, and it's daft to say otherwise, but I have met plenty of people with money who aren't happy. The people around you come first, always.

Q: What do you think losing everything teaches Sophie about love, life and friendship?

Well, I think Sophie certainly finds out who her friends are! We've all been down on our luck at one time or another, and I think - and hope - it's reassuring to think that even if the worst happened, there would be light at the end of the tunnel, and fun to be had!

Q: Which of your characters do you most identify with: Lizzie or Penny Berry (West End Girls), Evie (Operation Sunshine) or Sophie?

Evie in Operation Sunshine is, I think, most like me: she's very impulsive, a bit daft, and up for anything. Lizzy is much quieter than me; Penny definitely a lot brasher and Sophie is the kind of person I've met, but she's nothing like me!

Q: Did you always know you wanted to write stories? How did you become a novelist?

I did like writing stories at school, but I didn't think anything would ever come of it. I tried my hand at lots of things in my spare time - cartooning, and stand-up comedy, which I was TERRIBLE at - whilst working in a hospital, and then I joined a writing class and started writing Amanda's Wedding, and I was lucky enough that it took off from there.

Q: Which writers inspire you?

Oh, loads. I love the non-compromising ones - the Dan Rhodes or A L Kennedys - who refuse to write for a market or write anything other than what they want, although I think it makes the job harder; and I love the ones who make it look easy, like Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes, even though obviously I know it isn't easy at all.

Q: How do you begin writing your novels? Does the story come to you first, or the characters?

I normally like to start with a problem or a dilemma - e.g. someone who loses everything, or, in the book I'm writing just now, The Near Missus, someone who isn't sure whether or not to accept a marriage proposal - and see where it takes me.

Q: If you could invite three fictional characters to a dinner party, who would they be and why?

Ooh I would have Thursday Next, the literary detective from Jasper Fforde's novels, who jumps in and out of books at will - it's such a fun idea. Sherlock Holmes, probably, although having two detectives might leave me out of the conversation. And Tom Sawyer, I bet now he's all grown up he's utterly charming.

Q: Tell us the best thing and the worst thing about being an author.

Best thing: it's a wonderfully flexible job to have. Worst: writer's bum. It's like tennis elbow, only fatter.

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