December 2008

As I predicted, a very quiet three months.

Absolutely nothing has happened.

I have written some words.

I have read some books.

My children have grown a little taller and a little cleverer (not to mention, of course, a little more beautiful ;))

Hmmm, the last time I had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT, I think I answered some reader questions from my guestbook. So here goes:

Victoria, Norway: Why 31?

Well, you may have noticed the number 31 crops up quite often in my books, not least of all in Ralph's Party. Thirty one is actually my lucky number. When I was a receptionist at the Jermyn Street shirt-makers where I met my husband, 31 was his phone extension, therefore every time I pressed the number 31 I knew I would be very shortly speaking to my sweetheart. I then used the number as the road number in Ralph's Party, which did VERY WELL and made me think I might be on to something with this lucky number malarkey. And it is also the age I was when I got married. I like the number 31. It is a GOOD number.

Sarah Bowman, GB: When will you have a new book out?

Well, my new book is due out in the big format in April 2009. It is called The Truth about Melody Browne and you could pre-order it here , if you wished. And to whet your appetite, here is the synopsis:

“When she was eight years old, Melody Browne's house burned down, taking every toy, every photograph, every item of clothing and old Christmas card with it. But not only did the fire destroy all her possessions, it took with it all her memories – Melody Browne can remember nothing before her eighth birthday.

Now in her early thirties, Melody lives in a council flat in the middle of London with her seventeen-year-old son. She hasn't seen her parents since she left home at fifteen, but Melody doesn't mind, she's better off on her own. She's made a good life for herself and her son and she likes it that way.

Until the night something extraordinary happens. Whilst attending a hypnotist show with her first date in years she faints - and when she comes round she starts to remember. At first her memories mean nothing to her but then slowly, day by day, she begins to piece together the real story of her childhood. Her journey takes her to the seaside town of Broadstairs, to oddly familiar houses in London backstreets and to meetings with strangers who love her like their own. But with every mystery she solves another one materialises, with every question she answers another appears. And Melody begins to wonder if she'll ever know the real truth about her past…”

And here's the perfectly beautiful cover:

Niki Myatt, GB: Lisa, I feel like I owe you a massive thank you for all of your books. I recently gave birth to my second child and during the birth fell really ill, the next thing I knew I was in intensive care and was not able to have any contact with either of my children. In total I spent nearly a month away from my babies which was the worst feeling in the world.....this is where your books come in. My husband decided to bring your books into hospital for me and they made my time there a lot more bearable and easy to cope with. Each book just took my mind away from what was really going on and gave me the boost I needed each time I felt down. I can't tell you how excited I am to pass your books on to my children when they grow up so they can get as much enjoyment out of them as I have. I can't wait for the next book. Keep them coming, and thank you x

Wow, just thank you so much for sharing that moving story with me. I find it hard to be away from my babies for half a day. Let alone a month. I am deeply honoured that my books helped you through such an awful time. Yay!

Mrs Ladan R French, GB: I I loved The 31 Dream Street. I think Lisa should have it made into a film, with Hugh Grant (Toby), Gwyneth Paltrow (Leah)& Mini Driver (Ruby). or a TV series with Colin Firth & Emilia Fox.

Well, thank you Mrs French. What a lovely idea, though sadly I am not in a position to make my own films. If I were however I would probably have the slightly less photogenic Rhys Ifans as Toby, the slightly more homely Kate Winslet as Leah and the slightly younger and edgier Anna Friel as Ruby. Ooh, I like this game!

Sun, Korean Republic: Hi, Lisa, I'm Sun from South Korea. Today I got your book '31 Dream Street' I read the prologue and a couple of pages.. It was fantastic as usual,, Well this is not the first of your book that I've read ,, The first one is 'A friend of family',, It was brilliant.. There's lots of expression which strongly touched me. I wrote it down on the note and put them on the wall in my room so as to remember every piece of your words. I've been reading a lot from last year started with 'Harry Potter',,, even though I was never fond of Fantasy,,, but I can tell you now your book is much better than Harry Potter and much more delicate, and just oh.. so astonishing. Today, after having read several pages, I wonder who you are. I really wanted to know who Lisa Jewell is. And I found out myself will love you a lot more. ^^ Thank you so much to give me a chance to meet your beautiful world and have a nice dream ^^ I'll see you again..^^

Thank you, Sun, this is one of the nicest messages I have ever had in my guestbook. I particularly liked: but I can tell you now your book is much better than Harry Potter and much more delicate, and just oh.. so astonishing . And: Thank you so much to give me a chance to meet your beautiful world and have a nice dream . That just about sums up what I'm setting out to do when I write a book. Thank you so much x

Caily, GB: have recently read your book "one hit wonder", and to be honest what I really want to know is whether you will be writing a sequel to it, because I think it was a great book.

Hello Caily. I'm very happy that you enjoyed One Hit Wonder. Gosh, that feels like such a very, very long time ago. My books feel like they exist in two different worlds; the ones I wrote before I had children and the ones I wrote since. Anyway, to answer your question, I am currently writing a sequel to Ralph's Party, my first novel. It is – contrary to what other people I know who have written sequels have told me – very difficult. I think it could be because ten years have passed since I wrote Ralph's Party and, as I mentioned, a lot has changed in my life since then. Maybe if I'd just gone straight from one to the other I would be finding it easier. But I am finding it hard to make it a coherent follow up, it's weird trying to work out what to leave out, what to reiterate, what to put in. So, no, I don't think I will be doing a sequel to One Hit Wonder, or any of my other books. Particularly not Vince and Joy as, OF COURSE, they live happily ever after together and have lots of beautiful babies and that would make a very boring book indeed!

Heidi Chalfont, GB: Last year I retrained as a Teaching Asst. and it unleashed something else in me, having to study and write. I have started a Creative Writing Course and started writing a book. I just hope I can find the words to get through each chapter and finish it. Then I hope it is readable and not a pile of nonsense. Some days I feel vaguely confident, I have had some good feedback from my teacher, but most days I can see my confidence fast dwindling.

I just wanted to say keep going ! Finding the words, as you say, is so incredibly difficult. In fact when anyone asks me what the hardest part about being a writer is, that is what I say: finding the words to tell the story. The story is the easy part – well for me, anyway – telling it is what's so hard. Don't let anyone or anything knock your confidence, just keep forcing out those words until you get to the end. And thank you also for your lovely words about my books, it means a lot.

JJ Lair, US: I'm a novelist and my last book didn't sell well enough. I was set to quit fiction, possibly writing and move to another field, but I just finished "Vince and Joy" and "Roommates Wanted." You made me love fiction again. You describe people so simply yet complete and the stories are deeper than American book reviewers say. You made or possibly challenged me to start another novel

Wow, JJ. I don't really know what to say. I am just deeply flattered and touched that my books have motivated you not to give up on writing fiction. Just delighted. I really hope you are still feeling inspired and I will look out for your name in the future.

Abigail Bosanko, GB: Did you know you feature in today's Word of the Day - an email sent out to subscribers by the Oxford English Dictionary? It's a citation from 'Girls Night Out' about 'personal space'?'.

Ooh, double exciting. I am in the dictionary, and another writer has written to tell me this! Thanks Abigail, I did check it out after I read your message, and yes, it was a lovely little thrill. Made me feel very establishment!

Niamh Holleran McGing, Ireland: Hi Lisa, My name is Niamh and I am currently in the process of writing my first novel, a nonfiction personal story. I would be so grateful if you could give me any advice on getting published.

Niamh, I'm really sorry I didn't get back to you at the time. I have no wonderful excuse, just general lack of organisation. Anyway, I have a page of advice up on my website here. It's all very practical and beyond that all I would say is that you need perseverance, discipline, patience and a thick skin. Some people might also say that you need self-belief, but I didn't have any and look at me now (and look at all those people on the X Factor who have oodles of the stuff and then can't actually sing). The hard work is more important than the attitude. Oh, and raw, natural talent, but you won't know whether or not you've got that until you try. Just go for it and then do the nuts and bolts stuff on my advice page. Good luck!

Cameron Wright, Australia: Dearest Lisa, If I could swear (Can I swear?) I would say you F***ing rock my world. I first read Vince & Joy and it was what I always wanted in a book - it took me to a whole new world, it made me want to be in love again and it made me feel a mix of so much wonder and joy that I forgot existed. So now I am the proud owner of all your books. I recommend them to my friends but never loan them - they are my children and I don't trust my friends with them! I just truly admire your wit, your way of writing from the heart without being cheesy and your honesty. You write like a poet, I finish reading one of your works and I feel like I have received a piece of you. Yes, I'm drunk, but I'm also compelled (in a wine induced rampage) to Google you, find your site and tell you how wonderful you are. If you are ever in Australia I demand you let me take you for a wine and force you to sign my chest. hahahah Take care and please release another book now - I don't care if it's a Cook Book, I need more Lisa! Thank you!

I felt compelled to reproduce your whole message, Cameron because I LOVE IT SO MUCH! I love that you put in a swear word, I love that you are a boy (you are a boy, right?), I love that you wrote this whilst not only drunk but in a ‘wine-induced rampage', I love that you refer to my books as your children and I love that you want me to sign your chest (you are a boy, right?). New guest book rule: everyone must write to me whilst half-cut, yeah. And yes, if I am ever in Australia (please God please!) I will definitely let you take me out for a wine.

Oh, now I am still reading through my guestbook and could go on indefinitely but have reached my diary limit. I usually read my guestbook day-by-day, a message or two at a time, which always leaves me feeling breathless with gratitude, but to read them one after another after another after another, wow, I am utterly overwhelmed and really quite moved. And no, I am not on a wine induced rampage! I am so, so lucky to have readers like you, so genuine and intelligent and romantic and real, and also so very generous with your words and your praise. Thank you to every last one of you. I am not worthy.

Girl news: Amelie has discovered computers. It is strange that this discovery has come to her so late given that her mum and dad spend ALL DAY using one, but at five and a half she is now internet friendly, and yesterday finally found the YouTube SpongeBob Squarepants gangsta rap clip which starts with the words; ‘yo, mother****er.' Time to put the restrictions in place. Evie is now talking. Yes, properly. I thought Amelie talking at eighteen months was a weird fluke, but must now assume that it is genetic. She can say: What man doing? Where Amelie going? Back in a minute. Bootipull monkey. Amelie at school. Charlie and Lola. And Night Gargle (it's so cute, I can't bear to correct her). She is still the loudest baby in the world and still the most popular baby in Hampstead. I swear, it is like hanging out with Norm from Cheers (without the excessive beer-drinking).

In other news. Well, there is no other news. I'll see you the next time. And until then, here's the usual gazillions of pictures.

Sisters

Changing Seasons

Random Cuteness

Have a fantastic Christmas, a rip-roaring new year and hopefully next time I'll be absolutely stuffed full of news.

Loads of love,

Lisa xxxxx

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Previous updates:

• December 2008
• September 2008
• June 2008
• March 2008
• December 2007
• September 2007
• June 2007
• March 2007
• December 2006
• September 2006
• June 2006
• March 2006
• December 2005
• September 2005
• June 2005
• March 2005
• December 2004
• September 2004
• June 2004
• March 2004
• November 2003
• August 2003
• April 2003
• September 2002
• Lisa's Big US Tour
• April 2002
• November 2001
• September 2001
• July 2001
• April 2001
• September 2000