AUTHOR INTERVIEW - Jane Green, Author of SECOND CHANCE

The Writer's Life is pleased and privileged to have the honor of interviewing NY Times bestselling author Jane Green, author of nine books: Straight Talking, Mr. Maybe, Jemima J, Bookends, Babyville, To Have and To Hold, The Other Woman, Swapping Lives, Second Chance, and one novella, This Christmas, all of them New York Times bestsellers.
Seven was always my lucky number and it couldn't be more true as this is Jane's seventh stop on her virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion Virtual Book Tours. What an honor to have Jane in our July lineup!

If you'd like to visit Jane's website, you can visit http://www.janegreen.com/ or if you want to visit her tour page to see where all her stops will take her throughout the month of July, visit http://virtualbooktoursforauthors.blogspot.com/2007/06/second-chance-virtual-book-tour-07.html.

And now, I give you the talented Jane Green!

The Writer's Life: Jane, it is such a pleasure to have you here. When did your passion for writing begin?

Jane: I was a voracious reader as a child, never happier than when buried in a book, and writing always seemed to come very naturally. I was a journalist first, then turned to novels at twenty seven.
The Writer's Life: Can you tell us what your typical 'writing' day is like?

Jane: Laden down with large skim latte, lap top computer, notebook and pen, I huddle away
at a cubby in the library, plug in, and lose myself in the book for around three hours. I always finish at lunchtime, and spend the rest of the day being mummy.
The Writer's Life: Do you write full time?

Jane: I did prior to children. Now as the mother of four it has become a distant memory.
The Writer's Life: Can you tell us a little bit about your book?

Jane: Second Chance is the story of a group of people who were best friends in high school, and have drifted apart in the years since.

Now, approaching their forties, one of them, Tom, boards the train for New York City as he has done many times before, for a run-of-the-mill business trip. When the train is destroyed in a terrorism attack, he leaves behind him a wife and children, and, scattered across the globe,
four friends whose lives he has touched forever.

In this new book, I explore how loss and grief can make way for a new start in life, and new possibilities. My four heroes have barely spoken to each other since college, but come together one night to remember and celebrate their lost common pal, Tom. And in the weeks and months that follow, Tom himself seems to be setting life-changing events into action.

For Paul, it means a second chance at a family, even though he and his wife are beyond hope. For Saffron, it means a chance to conquer her addictions and really learn how to love. For Olivia, it means a one-night stand with a friend of Tom's that leaves her pregnant with a big decision to make. And for Holly it means another chance to escape her unhappy marriage and meet the dashing man who might be the key to changing it.

From midlife crises, adultery, divorce, infertility and pregnancy, Tom binds them all together, encouraging them to make difficult decisions about living their lives every day. The result is a second chance at happiness for all of the characters, if they are brave enough to take the next step.

The Writer's Life: Who published your book and how has your experience with them been?
Jane: First Random House, then Penguin, both of whom are huge publishing houses with a wonderful list of authors.
The Writer's Life: Can you tell us the inspiration behind your book?

Jane: This one was inspired firstly by losing a friend in the Tsunami, and then by my marriage
unravelling, and realising that approaching forty is a seminal point, and that the only way to deal with a mid-life crisis is to work through it, and life is really far too short to try and turn a blind eye.
The Writer's Life: Can you tell us ways you are promoting your book? Have they been successful?
Jane: Interviews, radio, television, book tour that incorporates bookstore signings and library readings, online marketing through blogs.
The Writer's Life: Do you have a mentor?
Jane: Yes, but they change at any given time...
The Writer's Life: What future projects do you have in the works?
Jane: I am desperate to turn my hand to a mystery - we'll see if it works out!
The Writer's Life: Can you give aspiring authors words of advice towards getting published?
Jane: Perseverance and resilience. The first person I sent my book to wrote back to say the characters were immature, the situations unrealistic, and the book was, 'frankly unpublishable.' Nine bestsellers later, I would say never let one person's opinion put you off or stop you from
pursuing a passion.
The Writer's Life: What’s one thing about your life that you think is important, but nobody asks?
Jane: If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take three foods, two CDs, and one book, what would they be?

Bread, cheese and chocolate.
Anything by Rufus Wainwright or Damien Rice.
The Bible, just because I've never read it and I figure it will keep me
busy for a while.

2 comments:

  1. Another awesome interview! It is great to see how other writers approach their craft and to hear how ideas are turned into books.

    Cheryl M.

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  2. Great interview and now I am really anxious to read "Second Chance"! What a great premise! It's true that out of great pain and tragedy comes great art. I hope this ends up #1 on the NY Times Bestseller list for Jane Green! Good luck, Jane!

    Laura :)

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