Interview With Hester Browne
Hester Browne is the fabulous author of The Runaway Princess and her latest novel, The Vintage Girl has just been published by Quercus. I had the chance to have a chat with Hester all about her new novel!
1. Can you tell us a little bit about what we can expect from The Vintage Girl?
The Vintage Girl is Downton Abbey meets Strictly Come Scottish Dancing! It’s the story of Evie, a young antiques dealer who loves old things so much that she can ‘feel’ their history when she picks them up, and the surprising family secrets she discovers when she’s sent to value the antiques in a castle in the Borders. Evie’s mission is to find something valuable for the new owners, the McAndrews, to auction off so they can afford the enormous repairs; whereas their unromantic businessman son, Robert, thinks that they shouldn’t take up on the burden in the first place. The story takes place around Valentine’s Day, which is also the night of the Scottish reeling ball held in the castle, traditionally used as a way of introducing the single girls of the area to the eligible bachelors. Not only does Evie have to find a gem of an antique and persuade Robert to fall in love with his inheritance, she also has to overcome her lifelong inability to dance…
2. What did you find hardest about writing this novel?
Not putting all the research in! It was so fascinating reading up about all the heiresses marrying into Borders families around the time that Violet, Robert’s great-grandmother, did, as well as the antiques and the dancing and the clothes, that I had to cut loads back to make room for the romance.
3. How long did it take you to write this book from start to finish?
It’s always hard to put an exact time on how long a book takes, because there are always gaps for editing, and second drafts and what I euphemistically call ‘thinking space’. But probably, from the first notes in my book to the typing The End on the final draft, about eight months.
4. What is your favourite thing about being a writer?
Being able to create worlds you want to slip into and stay in. It’s a bit like making enormous imaginary dolls’ houses. I still think about Kettlesheer, especially in the snow, as it is in The Vintage Girl – it’s a magical, romantic place. And you can give your characters the perfect witty retorts you wish you could come up so quickly with in real life!
5. Do you have a strict writing routine?
I spend a couple of weeks making notes and sketching out a sort of route map for the story, so I know what I’ve got to do. Then when I’m writing, I get up, feed my dogs, have two cups of coffee then write until lunch, or when the dogs demand a walk, whichever comes first. We go for a walk around the woods behind my house, have another coffee, then I write again until six-ish. I do sometimes work in the evenings too, though I probably shouldn’t; your brain needs some ‘off’ time! But if I’m very late or on deadline, I’ve been known to write through the night, which is probably the most useful skill my three years at university gave me.
6. Are you currently working on another book?
Yes! I’m about to start editing my new book for the autumn, The Honeymoon Hotel – about a reluctant wedding planner in a small but chic Mayfair hotel, and her struggle to deal with a supermodel Bridezilla, her own rollercoaster relationship with London’s rudest food critic, while handling the worst wedding planning intern in the world, in the shape of Joe, the broken-hearted, confetti-phobic son of the owner.
Quick Fire Questions
What is your:
favourite colour? Purple
favourite song? Night and Day by Ella Fitzgerald
favourite book? The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy
favourite word? Yes
favourite food? sushi
favourite season? Autumn
favourite TV show? The Thick of It
favourite author? Kate Atkinson
favourite animal? Herdwick sheep
favourite day of the week? Thursday
Thank you so much Hester for your time! It was lovely chatting to you.
1. Can you tell us a little bit about what we can expect from The Vintage Girl?
The Vintage Girl is Downton Abbey meets Strictly Come Scottish Dancing! It’s the story of Evie, a young antiques dealer who loves old things so much that she can ‘feel’ their history when she picks them up, and the surprising family secrets she discovers when she’s sent to value the antiques in a castle in the Borders. Evie’s mission is to find something valuable for the new owners, the McAndrews, to auction off so they can afford the enormous repairs; whereas their unromantic businessman son, Robert, thinks that they shouldn’t take up on the burden in the first place. The story takes place around Valentine’s Day, which is also the night of the Scottish reeling ball held in the castle, traditionally used as a way of introducing the single girls of the area to the eligible bachelors. Not only does Evie have to find a gem of an antique and persuade Robert to fall in love with his inheritance, she also has to overcome her lifelong inability to dance…
2. What did you find hardest about writing this novel?
Not putting all the research in! It was so fascinating reading up about all the heiresses marrying into Borders families around the time that Violet, Robert’s great-grandmother, did, as well as the antiques and the dancing and the clothes, that I had to cut loads back to make room for the romance.
3. How long did it take you to write this book from start to finish?
It’s always hard to put an exact time on how long a book takes, because there are always gaps for editing, and second drafts and what I euphemistically call ‘thinking space’. But probably, from the first notes in my book to the typing The End on the final draft, about eight months.
4. What is your favourite thing about being a writer?
Being able to create worlds you want to slip into and stay in. It’s a bit like making enormous imaginary dolls’ houses. I still think about Kettlesheer, especially in the snow, as it is in The Vintage Girl – it’s a magical, romantic place. And you can give your characters the perfect witty retorts you wish you could come up so quickly with in real life!
5. Do you have a strict writing routine?
I spend a couple of weeks making notes and sketching out a sort of route map for the story, so I know what I’ve got to do. Then when I’m writing, I get up, feed my dogs, have two cups of coffee then write until lunch, or when the dogs demand a walk, whichever comes first. We go for a walk around the woods behind my house, have another coffee, then I write again until six-ish. I do sometimes work in the evenings too, though I probably shouldn’t; your brain needs some ‘off’ time! But if I’m very late or on deadline, I’ve been known to write through the night, which is probably the most useful skill my three years at university gave me.
6. Are you currently working on another book?
Yes! I’m about to start editing my new book for the autumn, The Honeymoon Hotel – about a reluctant wedding planner in a small but chic Mayfair hotel, and her struggle to deal with a supermodel Bridezilla, her own rollercoaster relationship with London’s rudest food critic, while handling the worst wedding planning intern in the world, in the shape of Joe, the broken-hearted, confetti-phobic son of the owner.
Quick Fire Questions
What is your:
favourite colour? Purple
favourite song? Night and Day by Ella Fitzgerald
favourite book? The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy
favourite word? Yes
favourite food? sushi
favourite season? Autumn
favourite TV show? The Thick of It
favourite author? Kate Atkinson
favourite animal? Herdwick sheep
favourite day of the week? Thursday
Thank you so much Hester for your time! It was lovely chatting to you.