BABBLING BOOKS

lisa2062

Hi Everyone, Babbling Books is thrilled to be able to inform you that Sophie Hannah has very kindly agreed to take part in a Q&A session with us.

As Hannah is so busy she will not be taking part in a live chat, but has asked me to email her our questions, and I'll post up the answers.

Please make sure that any questions you want to ask Sophie are therefore posted by that date. Sophie will answer as many questions as she can, but due to her busy schedule she mightn't be able to answer all of them.

For more information about Sophie Hannah, and her books to date please visit -

http://www.sophiehannah.com/

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Currently Reading - Want to Play? By P.J Tracy (again)

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annecater · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject:

Excellent Lisa - thanks for doing this.

I met Sophie last year at a Waterstones talk and signing - she is incredibly funny - I really enjoyed the evening.
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Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden

1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13

katey · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:24 pm Post subject:

I am seeing her later in the month!
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Katey
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Books 01.09- 18 (5)
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Books 06.09- 8(1)
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Target for 2009- 100 (15)- 16(2) to go!

heathera · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject:

I have fancied reading Sophie Hannah's books for ages, got one on my tbr but haven't managed to get to it yet. Will have to bump it up my reading schedule a bit and try to think of some questions!
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Currently Reading:

The Moonlit Cage - Linda Holeman

1001 Book Challenge:
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lisa2062 · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

Thank you once again Sophie for taking part in a Q&A session with us .

I'd like to know who are your literary heroes and heroines?

My second question for you is what atmosphere do you require when you're writing? I for one prefer music on in the background as that helps me concentrate more.

Finally I know you write short stories plus poetry as well, and I wondered if you enjoyed writing in one style more than the others, or do you get equal pleasure out of them?

Lisa x
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Currently Reading - Want to Play? By P.J Tracy (again)

http://www.we7.com/user/view-playlist?playlistId=537463&m=0

annecater · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 3:05 pm Post subject:

Hi Sophie - thanks for joining us here.

A couple of questions from me:

1. Do you agree that your heroines are usually obnoxious? I dont meant that in a bad way - they are fascinating and well drawn, but tend to be not very nice. Do you grow to like them as you write them?

2. Are you going to stick with the crime genre from now on? I have a couple of your really early novels, although I've not read them yet but will be interested to compare them
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Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden

1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13

katey · Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:34 pm Post subject:

Are there any books which you have read that you wish you had written?
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Katey
xxx

Books 01.09- 18 (5)
Books 02.09- 12 (4)
Books 03.09- 9 (1)
Books 04.09- 3 (0)
Books 05.09- 3(0)
Books 06.09- 8(1)
Books 07.09- 9(0)
Books 08.09- 10(1)
Books 09.09- 3(1)
Books 10.09- 9(1)

Target for 2009- 100 (15)- 16(2) to go!

lisa2062 · Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject:

1) Who are my literary heroes and heroines?

Novelists: Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine, Iris Murdoch, Howard Jacobson, Nicci French, Val McDermid, Tana French, Jill McGown. Poets: Wendy Cope, Edna St Vincent Millay, Dorothy Parker, CH Sisson, George Herbert

2) What atmosphere do I like/need when I'm writing?

I need to be in my study at home, and to have silence, or as close to silence as possible. I can't write while listening to music, which is a shame. Ideally, I also need to be able to go on as long as I want once I've started. I hate being interrupted and having to stop writing before I'm ready. I usually know when I'm ready to stop when the words start to swim in front of my eyes and I feel slightly sea-sick and start to hyperventilate a bit. I call this condition 'novel head'. The only cure is a takeaway, wine and a TV property programme.

3) What's my favourite genre/style to write in?

At the moment, it's definitely psychological crime fiction. For a long time it was poetry. I think those two genres will always be my main passions as a writer because I'm a structure freak, and in both poetry and crime novels, structure is crucially important.

4) Do I agree my heroines are obnoxious and do I grow to like them?

Well, although I'm not at all offended and can see what the person who asked the question means, I don't agree that any of my heroines are obnoxious. I think Alice in Little Face is a tad drippy at first - but in a way she has to seem drippy because she's really not. In fact she's very clever and brave (I think!). But, of all my heroines, she's probably the one I'd least like to go for a drink with. I love Naomi in Hurting Distance - she's my favourite of all my heroines - I don't care that she does illegal things and is a bit of a madam, I like her that way. She does exactly what I'd do in her position. And Sally in The Point of Rescue is a stressed working mum, as am I, so I identify with her hugely and therefore couldn't possibly dislike her. No, seriously, I think that when people are really up against it, they don't always behave well. Similarly, if you have access to someone's innermost thoughts and feelings, not all those thoughts and feelings are going to show them in a good light. So I suppose I feel that if I present my characters realistically, there's going to be likeable and less likeable aspects to them. Plus, as a reader, I get very bored reading about 'good sorts' who obey all the rules.

5) Will I stick to writing crime?

Definitely - crime fiction is my favourite thing to read, and I think it'll always be one of my favourite things to write. Which isn't to say I might not write other things too. I've got a brilliant idea for a women's popular fiction novel, but no time to write it. But one day I might find the time and give it a try.

6) Books I wish I'd written:

I think if I'd written A Dark-adapted Eye or Asta's Book by Barbara Vine, I'd feel very pleased with myself and probably do nothing else for the rest of my life apart from smoke cigars on a Mexican beach. Actually, the book I really wish I'd written is my next one - it'd be great if I'd already done all the hard work - then I could have the next year off!

Hope those answers are okay!

All best

Sophie

_________________
Currently Reading - Want to Play? By P.J Tracy (again)

http://www.we7.com/user/view-playlist?playlistId=537463&m=0

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