When I picked up Rebecca Farnworth’s book Valentine last year, I certainly didn’t expect such an amazing debut! I absolutely adored the book, and it is definitely one of my chick-lit favourites of the year. Rebecca is also famous for being Katie Price’s ghost-writer, but now she’s writing superb novels under her own name, I can’t wait for more of her work! Rebecca was kind enough to give us an author interview, and even tells us a bit about her next book A Funny Thing Called Love due out this summer! Read on…

1. Tell us about your latest book in a sentence.

It’s the often comic story about the life and loves of an aspiring actress called Valentine Fleming who longs to make it in her profession but is finding it tough getting a break.
2. Did you base the character of Valentine on anyone? Why do you think readers like her character so much?

Valentine is not based on anyone, though I had a hard time convincing my sister of that, who just happens to be an actress! I think Valentine Fleming is a woman many readers will identify with. She is passionate, funny, feisty and warm. At times she is impulsive and can jump to the wrong conclusions. She makes mistakes but I think she gets the important things right. She is not too good to be true - her battles with her love life, weight and career are things that so many women go through. She’s also a wonderfully loyal friend.

3. You are also a ghostwriter, how different does it feel to have a book on the shelves under your name?

I am enormously proud of the books I have ghostwritten and get a thrill when I see them on the shelves, but nothing beats seeing your own name on the cover…

4. How long does it take you to write a book? Will you continue ghostwriting now you are writing for yourself as well?

I wrote Valentine in eight months, give or take school holidays, and editing another book. Yes I am continuing with ghostwriting as well.

5. Where do you get the ideas for your books? Are you inspired by anyone or anything?

Inspiration comes from a real mixture of my imagination, films, other people’s lives [I try not to be too much of a voyeur!] and my own life. I’m definitely inspired by things that have happened to me – for instance I lived in Westbourne Park in London like Valentine, in a dilapidated flat, but had the best time with my friends. And while Valentine isn’t my sister [I promise] the fact that she is an actress was very useful source material!

6. Have you started writing your next book? What’s it about?

I am currently writing my second novel, A Funny Thing About Love, which is about Carmen, a thirty something comedy agent who wants to be a writer and who is torn between sexy and ambitious Will and beautiful garden designer and single dad Daniel. There will be lots of humour, emotional baggage, exes and secrets…

7. What is the best thing about being a published author, especially under your own name?

Making a living doing something that you love and knowing that people have enjoyed your books – that is a brilliant feeling.

8. What advice would you give to any aspiring writers reading this?

I’ll go for a top three: 1] Don’t just talk about writing, get on with it!

2] Do a creative writing course. It’s a really good discipline of writing every week and of getting constructive criticism and it was fun meeting other people – writing can be lonely!

3] Don’t give up. I wrote for years without a thought of getting published just because I love writing stories and creating characters.
Thank you so much, Rebecca!

You can read our review of Rebecca’s book Valentine here

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