The 15 Question E-mail Interview

with Jenny Colgan
author of "Talking to Addison"
and "Amanda's Wedding"
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GirlPosse: You took a roundabout path to becoming a writer. What gave you the confidence to finally pursue writing a book?

Jenny Colgan: It wasn't confidence- it was a process of elimination! I hated being a health administrator, I didn't like doing stand up comedy and nobody wanted to buy my cartoons. If it hadn't worked out I'm sure I would have been still trying to make it in contemporary dance or weaving or something.

GirlPosse: Is writing an easier or more difficult lifestyle than you imagined?

Jenny Colgan: Oh, even though everything becomes routine eventually, I absolutely don't forget how lucky I am to own my own time and have my days to myself. It's a wonderful lifestyle, I'm lucky enough to get paid well for it and I feel incredibly privileged. Plus I get a lie- in, especially in the winter when it's dark in the mornings in the UK.

GirlPosse: Your writing style for both "Amanda's Wedding" and "Talking to Addison" is very conversational and witty. How many real life conversations amongst friends have ended up in these books?

Jenny Colgan: Thank you! Uhm, occasionally I'll throw something into the conversation that I'm working on- very cheeky I know. For example, in Amanda's Wedding when they have the discussion about the ugliest person they'd ever fancied, and I asked that at a dinner. And sometimes a friend will say something that really makes me laugh and I'll steal it totally without apology- for example, a friend of mine after he broke up from his overseas girlfriend was mourning the fact that he'd never had sex 'in his country of origin', which I loved and gave to Josh immediately. People are mostly chuffed when they recognise their own comments.

GirlPosse: Are any of your characters based on people in your life? If so - were they flattered or offended by your portrayal?

Jenny Colgan: In little bits. I think my friend Ben was quite flattered when some of him ended up in the character of Addison- especially when his mates read it and went, God, Ben, she's written a book about you!- and he was definitely my technical advisor. Nobody is entirely somebody, but definitely, I think every writer makes composites of the people around them.

GirlPosse: "Talking to Addison" is a unique twist on internet-dating. I especially like how Addison and Claudia were truly attracted by their similar tastes and personalities - and not at all by appearances. How did the idea come about?

Jenny Colgan: Well, I wrote it in 1999, when it seemed the geeks were taking over- it feels like ancient history now but of course that's when NASDAQ ruled the world and I liked the fact that these nice, polite well brought up boys were suddenly incredibly wealthy. You kept seeing pictures in 'Vogue' with stupid society models hanging off these bemused- looking guys in Star Trek t-shirts who'd been living in their garages for six years and it really made me laugh. Also, I'm a terrible geek myself, so it was a good excuse to get lots of Dr Who jokes in and watch the X Files and call it research.

GirlPosse: Are there any plans for turning either "Amanda's Wedding" and "Talking to Addison" into film?

Jenny Colgan: Yes, a London- based producer bought Amanda's Wedding for Warner Brothers, which was very exciting. Unfortunately he's been a little busy producing a film based on another Edinburgh writer's work- you may have heard of it; it's called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. So, I think we are rather on the back burner! Columbia TriStar have bought Addison for tv, which hopefull we'll do something with next year, and Pathe have bought movie rights to 'Looking for Andrew McCarthy'- now they're trying to persuade him to be in it.

GirlPosse: Both Melanie ("Amanda's Wedding") and Holly ("Talking to Addison") are very "real" heroines. They embarrass themselves, make mistakes, and don't always make the best choices. They are so easy to fall in love with because they are so easy to relate to. Was that how you intended both characters when you began - or did their personalities develop as you were writing?

Jenny Colgan: I always hated books were the heroines were incredibly beautiful and rich and successful- if bad things supposedly were happening to them, I would always be thinking, yeah, but you're really beautiful, so so what? I wanted these to be girls I knew and could relate to, although I think Holly is really a bit of a walking disaster area; much worse than I intended! Finn definitely has his work cut out.

GirlPosse: What did you want to be when you were growing up?

Jenny Colgan: A writer and- mark of my childhood I'm afraid- a nun. I was going to be a nun all day and write books at night to keep the convent. My mother likes to bring out the essay I wrote on it when I was eight and wave it about at dinner parties. I try to discourage her. Mind you, if I don't meet a nice man soon, the convent may remain the only dignified option.

GirlPosse: What are you currently reading right now?

Jenny Colgan: I just finished 'A Foreign Field' by Ben MacIntyre, which is a lovely piece of history from the first world war. Also, 'Dot-Bomb' by Jonathan Kuo- a brilliant insight into how the crash came. 'Facing Up' by Bear Grylls was great, about a lad climbing Everest. I loved 'The Corrections', like everyone else, and I would really recommend 'The Mind Game' by Hector Macdonald, which is out now in the US. It's brill, and he's lovely.

Now for the fun questions.......

GirlPosse: What was the best piece of advice you've ever been given?

Jenny Colgan: Umm, write every day. Very mundane but tragically true if you want to write a novel.

GirlPosse: What is your biggest pet-peeve?

Jenny Colgan: Ooh, I HATE people using their mobile (cell) phones loudly in public. It's SO rude. I always want to take them and throw them out the window. How stupid do you have to be not to remember to switch off your phone in a cinema?

GirlPosse: Worst person to be stuck in an elevator with:
Jenny Colgan: I'd like to keep out of Pat Buchanan's way, if it's all the same to you.

GirlPosse: What is your worst bad habit?

Jenny Colgan: Losing or breaking anything I've ever owned or been given.

GirlPosse: Biggest perk to being a famous author:

Jenny Colgan: Getting to meet other famous authors. I abuse it shamelessly and namedrop all the time.

GirlPosse: As a total child of the 80's I have to know - are there any plans to release "Looking for Andrew McCarthy" in the US?

Jenny Colgan: OOh, gosh, I hope so! It's up to my publishers I'm afraid...

Warmest wishes,
Jenny

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