Photo Credit: Joyce RavidInterview
How would you spend your perfect day?
It would have to involve, a lie in, a great movie, an hour in a great store, where everything fit me, a venti latte, a head massage, a great book, dinner at a huge table of loved ones, on a beach at twilight, with dozens of children running around, a margarita, out of control laughter, and fireworks…
When and where were you happiest?
The day my daughter Ottilie was born, in May 1999. She was the easiest, quickest birth (no run-over-by-a-truck feeling, like I had with Tallulah), on a warm, sunny Sunday morning, and as I watched my husband and my beautiful toddler with my newborn, I felt like I was complete.
Who would be at your fantasy dinner party?
When you live a long way from home, you’re always going to say family and old, great friends, but I’d have to add some people for whom I have unanswered questions…(Edith Piaf – REALLY, you regret NOTHING – tell me how that works?), some eye candy – and I’m not naming names, the film directors Anthony Minghella, Joe Wright and Sam Mendes (and not just to pitch them my novels, honestly!)…better make it a big table.
What’s on your ipod?
My ipod is completely schizophrenic. This is not my fault, since I haven’t completely figured out how to load songs, and thus am at the mercy of my husband and kids. I have Pop Princesses, 1 and 2, and a severely cheesy collection of Christmas songs. So, shuffle is not an option for me. Most listened to albums right now would be Damien Rice, Goo Goo Dolls, Indigo Girls. But I put a whole load of 80s and 90s love songs on it the other day, and so at the moment, I keep repeating Elvis Costello, Boyz to Men, Phil Collins, Whitney Houston and Crowded House. I probably should not admit to this…
What makes you angry?
Packaging. And that’s angry and scared. All the obvious things, obviously – unkindness, bigotry, injustice…but mostly packaging.
What writing rituals do you have?
Would you believe ironing? Reorganising the kitchen drawers? Throwing away out of date medicines? Washing my make up brushes? And other forms of procrastination…once I force myself to sit down, the writing carries me away, but it is sometimes a struggle to get to that sitting down part.
Who are your favourite authors?
I love Armistead Maupin, Sebastian Faulks, Anita Shreve, Paullina Simons, Lionel Shriver, Jeffrey Deaver, Dodie Smith, Nancy Mitford, F Scott Fitzgerald, Willa Cather, Tony Parsons, and a thousand other writers, across a hundred different genres. I save my favourites for holidays, when I can read relatively uninterrupted, rather than 5 pages at a time at night, before I fall asleep!
Favourite movies/television?
I have many dark secret tv habits. My husband despairs of me. My most peculiar weakness, even as a grown woman, for "Dawson’s Creek" has given way to a similar addiction to "One Tree Hill." I’m a sucker for teenage angst and unrequited love… I like to shout at contestants on "Deal or No Deal," and I sometimes watch whatever is on BBC America just so I can listen to the familiar accents.
My favourite movie of all time is Gone with the Wind, and I watch It’s A Wonderful Life every Christmas – big year, 2007 – the girls sat and watched it the whole way through for the first time, Kleenex in hand beside me on the sofa. Bliss. I love old black and whites, and musicals – hurrah for Netflix – and my best movies of recent times are Atonement, Feast of Love, Waitress.
What do you miss the most about England, and love the most about New York?
My ‘misses’ are cultural and dietary – I miss English newspapers on Sunday morning, fish and chips on Friday night, Galaxy chocolate (I love America, but their chocolate is wax), Marks and Spencers, television and my friends.
I love the speed and pace of New York, 24 hour food delivery, iced water with every meal, the reservoir in Central Park, and doormen.
Which of your novels is your favourite?
It’s usually the one I’m just about to write. I love that excitement phase, when the characters and plot are coming together, and you can’t wait to get started. But I’m especially proud of Things I Want My Daughters to Know.