Earlier this year I got to read the first book in Cathy Woodman’s new vet series Trust Me, I’m A Vet, then in September I read the second book Must Be Love. I was a huge fan of both books, they’re such great reads (and I can’t wait for book three The Sweetest Thing) and I was thrilled when I got the chance to ask Cathy some questions! Enjoy!
1. Tell us about the second novel in the ‘Talyton St. George’ series, Must Be Love?
It must be love. City vet Maz has never been happier. The vet’s practice where she’s a partner with her best friend Emma is thriving, and so is her relationship with the gorgeous Alex Fox-Gifford. But then circumstances force Emma to take a break from the practice, and Maz’s life suddenly spirals out of control. What with working all hours trying to keep things going, fending off insults from Alex’s parents, keeping an eye on the lusty locum, and dealing with Emma’s precarious mental state, it won’t take much to upset the apple cart. So when she gets some unwelcome news, only time will tell whether Maz and Alex’s love can withstand the fallout.
2. According to Amazon, your next book will be called The Sweetest Thing. Can you tell us anything about it? Is it the third book in the Talyton St. George series?
The Sweetest Thing is set in Talyton St George, so we meet a few of the people who have appeared in the first two novels. However, this one isn’t about the vets, but a set of new characters, the Copeland family and their animals. Unexpectedly single at 40, Jennie Copeland decides to change her life, by gathering up her three children and moving them to the countryside where she buys a rundown cottage. To make ends meet, Jennie starts a business baking and selling cakes at the farmers market in Talyton St George. The cakes are a hit with the locals, but Jennie can’t say the same for her impact on local farmer Guy Barnes who seems amused and somewhat scornful of her optimistic townie ways. When the children start to rebel, Guy’s cows break into the garden, and the dog snaffles a wedding cake, Jennie begins to wonder if she’s made a huge mistake.
3. How far do you see yourself taking the Talyton St. George books? Is it the kind of series that could run and run, or do you have a specific time frame for when the books will end?
I’ve planned for the vet series to run to three books, but there’s always the potential for further storylines!
4. Why did you decide to write the Talyton St. George series from Maz’s point of view instead of using third-person? If you do carry on the series past the second book, would you carry on with Maz narrating?
I decided to write from Maz’s point of view because I feel that it makes her relationship with the reader much closer than if I were to use third-person. It also makes it easier to control all those other characters in the book because I can see them only through Maz’s eyes. I plan to carry on with Maz narrating for one more book.
5. Where did the inspiration
come from for the village of Talyton St. George? I know that it’s fictional, but did you take parts from actual villages and put them together or is it totally fictional?
I lived in Devon for much of my childhood so I know it well. Talyton St George is fictional, but I’ve taken inspiration from the market town of Ottery St Mary (also mentioned in Harry Potter as Ottery St Catchpole), the villages with cob and thatch cottages that can be found along the Otter and Exe valleys, and one of my favourite places in the world, the beach and dunes at Dawlish Warren.
6. You’ve written four previous books before the Talyton St. George series, why did you suddenly decide to write a series based on a vets’ practice?
Because Maz appeared. I don’t understand why it happens, but my heroines usually roll up in my head and announce themselves, triggering ideas for the next book, or books.
7. The Talyton St. George series is a bit different to most Chick Lit books and seems more like a soap opera most of the time with so many different happenings and characters, how do you manage to juggle so many different characters and animals featured in the books? Is it hard to remember to fit in everyone from previous books?
I guess it’s partly because I’m old enough to be a hen now rather than a chick! As for the juggling, I always have a plan, a timeline and lists of characters so I can track what they’re all getting up to.
8. Your original book deal was with Headline, before you moved to Arrow for your new series. How did both book deals come around?
In 2002, I was joint winner of the Harry Bowling Prize for a novel set in London. Through that lucky break I met my agent Laura. She sold four books that were all set in south London to Headline, then, when I started writing the vet novels, she arranged the deal with Arrow.
9. Your biography tells me you’re a qualified vet, how much of yourself did you put into Maz if anything?
Probably more than I care to admit!
10. Trust Me I’m A Vet and Must Be Love came out within 6 months of each o
ther, how long did it take you to write them both as I know it sometimes takes authors up to a year to write just the one book?
Although the books came out close together Trust Me I’m A Vet was already well prepared. It does take me 8-12 months to write a book.
11. When you’re not writing your own novels, whose books do you like to read?
I belong to a Book Club and read all kinds of fiction from the classics to contemporary. I enjoy Katie Fforde, Jilly Cooper and Rose Tremain, and I’ve just read the Stieg Larsson trilogy and re-read Great Expectations.
12. What would you say is the best thing about being a writer?
It’s being able to be anyone you want to be, fall in love with anyone you like and go anywhere you choose – and still be home in time for tea.
13. If you were to be banished to a desert island, and could only take three items with you, what would you take and why?
I’m assuming you won’t let me take my nearest and dearest, or my dogs, so I would have to take my iPod (eternally charged), an everlasting blue Papermate pen and an endless pad of A4 lined paper, narrow feint with margin. Then I could write every day without interruption while listening to music. The idea is quite appealing…
14. Finally, what advice would you give to people hoping to someday be a published author?
Join a supportive writers’ group, learn as much as you can about the craft of writing and the practical stuff like how to create a synopsis and submit your work to agents and publishers. Make time to write. Accept criticism gracefully and, more than anything, never give up.
Thanks so much Cathy!
Since November 2009
Posted in 2010 releases, Book Reviews, Rating: 4/5 | 2 Comments »
A brand new feature on Chicklitreviews.com is Cover Stories! We have noticed that book covers are a huge part of a books appeal whether we like to admit it or not, and the age old adage “don’t judge a book by it’s cover” is less relevant now than it has ever been! Therefore, we’ve taken it upon ourselves for this new feature to quiz a whole lot of chick lit authors, some who have been around the genre for a good few years, some debut authors, about the importance of their book covers, and what they mean to them. We hope you like the feature!
When my first six novels were published many years ago, the covers lacked cohesion; as each new one came out, my publishers attempted a different look and my sales dropped like a stone. This isn’t a criticism – we were all on the same side and wanted my books to do as well as possible, but sadly the magic doesn’t always happen. For me, my worst cover was the one for Two’s Company, featuring the face of a girl who would never star in one of my novels and who appeared to have one enormous eyebrow and one normal one! (FantasticFiction has a cover shot of this.)
