Because we all need something to smile about!
She may be down but don’t count this determined single mum out just yet…
Nine years ago, Zoe Taylor returned from London to the quiet hamlet of Westholme with her tail between her legs and a bun in the oven. Where once her job as a journalist saw her tearing off to Paris at a moment’s notice after a lead, now the single mum covers the local news desk. At least, she did…until she’s unceremoniously let go.
When Zoe invites her friends over to commiserate, wine and whining soon turns into something more… and before the night is out she’s plotted her next step: The Good News Gazette.
Now, as a developer threatens to force Westholme into the twenty-first century, Zoe’s good news movement finds her leading a covert campaign as a community crusader. She may have started The Good News Gazette as a way to save herself, but she might just be able to save Westholme in the process…
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Q&A
– When and where do you prefer to write?
In an ideal world, I’d write on a balcony in Playa de Palma, Majorca, looking out at the waves crashing onto the beach and breathing in that hot sea air. Writing in the real world is a slightly less relaxing affair. I work as an independent financial adviser during the day and have two children to see to when I get home, so I need to set my alarm for 5am to make sure I’m at the kitchen table and writing by 5.30am. This way, I’ll usually manage to fit in an hour of writing time before my son wanders down for a chat before breakfast.
I’ll often write late into the night once the children have gone to bed too. It’s not ideal, but at least it means I’ve learned to write to order, and can write pretty much anywhere, whenever I have a few minutes to spare.
– Do you have a certain ritual?
Not really – the only one I religiously stick to is making sure I always start my writing day with a cup of coffee next to me.
– Is there a drink of some food that keeps you company while you write?
I’m now starting to realise just how integral coffee is to my writing routine!
– What is your favourite book?
Gosh, that is such a difficult question to answer, as there are so many different books that I love for many different reasons.
I adore books that capture my attention and reel me in from the first moment. I recently read The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and thought it was witty and clever. Pretending: A Novel by Holly Bourne is another fantastic example of how to draw in readers.
There are many other books that have remained in my mind over the years, The Island by Victoria Hislop being one, Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner being another. And then, of course, there are the classics, with the wonderful Jane Austen leading the charge for women’s fiction. So, as you can see, I have so many favourites, I couldn’t possibly pick just one.
– Do you consider writing a different genre in the future?
I love romance in its many different forms, so it’s hard to imagine a book that didn’t include it somewhere. However, there are lots of other genres in which I’m also interested, so never say never is my motto.
– Do you sometimes base your characters on people you know?
I wouldn’t dare! In fact, I make a conscious effort to ensure that the characters don’t resemble people I know, either in looks or in personality. I think basing characters on people I know would be the quickest way to lose friends.
That said, Zoe, the protagonist in The Good News Gazette was really created out of conversations I’ve had with friends over the years. She’s intelligent, caring, vulnerable and stronger than she knows – which sums up all of us at times.
– Do you take a notebook everywhere in order to write down ideas that pop up?
No – which means that any ideas are usually written down on scraps of paper and mainly lost or thrown away. Maybe that will be my New Year’s Resolution for 2023 – it will make a nice change from my usual ‘give up coffee and be a size 8’ pledges.
– Which genre do you not like at all?
I wouldn’t say I don’t like it, but I’ve never really been drawn to horror. I should probably try it, but it’s not up there on my ‘would love to read’ list.
– If you had the chance to co-write a book. Whom would it be with?
Richard Branson, purely so that I could hang out on Necker Island for six months.
– If you should travel to a foreign country to do research, which one would you chose and why?
After Necker Island, my next project would take me to Cuba. I’ve never been, but the combination of the food, the music and the history has me convinced that it would be a truly fascinating setting for a book.
Thank you
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About the author
Jessie Wells lives with her husband and two children in Merseyside. She has always written in some form, and previously worked as a journalist on the Liverpool Echo and Sunday Mirror and as a freelancer for various national women’s magazines and newspapers before moving into finance. She loves nothing more than getting lost in her imaginary worlds, which are largely filled with romance, communities bursting with character and a large dose of positivity.
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Author Links
https://www.instagram.com/jessiewellsauthor/
https://www.facebook.com/JessieWellsAuthor
https://www.tiktok.com/@jessiewellsauthor
https://twitter.com/JessieWells22
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Book Links
https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9780008475840
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-News-Gazette-Book-ebook/dp/B0B2CTQRNN/
https://www.amazon.com/Good-News-Gazette-Book-ebook/dp/B0B2CTQRNN/
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B for Bookreview 