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With sales of over 10 million books under her belt, Jane's career has gone from strength to strength since her first novel "Straight Talking: in 1996. Every book since has gone straight into the bestseller lists - and along with Helen Fielding she has been credited with founding the genre of 'chick lit'.
Jane's new book The Patchwork Marriage is out this week and explores modern family life, questioning whether love and devotion really are enough to create a happy family. Now in her 40s Jane, originally from the UK, lives in America - but is coming in to GNHQ to answer your questions. She will also be picking her favourite from the thread and the winner will get a signed copy of her book.
I think you manage to produce about a book a year. Is that difficult? How many hours a day do you write for? Does it all come out right first time or is there a lot of rewriting involved?
chazmax
Hi there Jane,
Great to be able to 'chat' with you like this!
Can I ask what your top three priorities are in life?
thanksx
Balance
Peace
Trust
Have you got any advice for novice writers?
CinnamonStix
Hello Jane! My Q is: Do you ever get writers block? And what do you do to try and combat it?
The only thing to do is to write through it. If you waited for inspiration to strike you'd never get anything done! It happens many, many times, and I have found the only way to unlock the creativity is to force myself to sit at the desk and keep writing, even when I don't know what to say. After a while, it gets easier, then easier still, and all of a sudden, it's back.
Do you still need to do book tours? Most authors claim to hate them. I'd have thought your books were guaranteed to be successful without having to do them any more.
charlottel
Hello Jane - I have seen from the blurb in your books that you have a 'blended' family and would love to know more about it - and also any advice you can offer to others who may find themselves in this position. My DD is about to set up home with her new partner and the children from both marriages and it would be lovely to have some positive and constructive advice I could offer
My best advice would be to read a book called Stepcoupling - it helped us enormously. The most important advice - and one that's often hard for fathers - is that the two of you have to be a united team. You have to set the rules, and stick to them. And new stepmothers shouldn't try to make stepchildren love them. Stepchildren can sniff out falseness from a mile away. Recognise that love develops over time, you cannot make it happen... Wishing everyone best of luck!
Have you read Fifty Shades of Grey and do you think 'mommy porn' is going to be a whole new genre or will it flare and fade away?
clarice
Yes nanamarion - me too! Especially if you have sold 10 million copies!!
Actually I wasn't going to ask a question but I will if that's ok? What do you think is the secret of your success?
After years of doing events and meeting readers, I think there is something in the way I write that touches my readers deeply. It's not unusual for my events to turn into Oprah-like episodes - lots of tears and hugging!
nanamarion
Is your life as a writer very different in America from how it was in England? I imagine it to be more glamorous and filled with celebrities
I can't lie...it is rather glamorous. Not always - most of the time it's deeply humdrum, just being a mum and running around frazzled, but when you do rub shoulders with celebrities, they're of a better quality!! Rather odd, and wonderful to find yourself at a party with Richard Gere!
Which of your novels do you like the best? Do you have a favourite?
How have you found having children has combined with being a writer? Has the pram in the hall been a problem? - or were you always well off enough to have help?
rosiemus
In one of your books - The Beach House I think but I may be wrong - there was a three generation family and the grandmother came across rather negatively. Is that based on any personal experience? What was (is?) your relationship with your grandparents like?
I actually think you might be wrong. I've never written a three-generation book, and would never write about a grandmother negatively. My Grandma just turned 102. We share the same birthday and I adore her.
Hello Jane, it's lovely to have you on Gransnet. I love your books and I wanted to ask whether you plot meticulously before you start or whether you work out the story as you go along?
katykat
How did you end up in America? Your earlier books are very UK centric so has the move meant you have had to change the way you write?
I definitely had to change, but it was gradual. At first I did half and half, finally feeling confident enough to do a full American book with The Beach House. I think I need to bring more British characters in for the future...
chicky
Is it true you have six children? How do you find time to write? And do you write about them?
Four are mine, two my husband's - we are the Brady Bunch. Except when we're all shouting. I'm very disciplined about writing - I write every day, as a job, and take my computer to a writer's room as soon as the children leave for school.
kittyp
Hello Jane - My daughter is a big fan and I must confess that I
pinchborrow all her copies and enjoy them very much. It seems to me that what you write about has changed a lot over the years. Does that reflect the changes in your own life?
Absolutely! The books have very much charted the course of my life, while never being about my life completely. You can almost follow my journey from single girl, through marriage, children, divorce, etc etc...
We're delighted that Jane is with us and she's ready to go, so we'll get started....
nanamarion
Is your life as a writer very different in America from how it was in England? I imagine it to be more glamorous and filled with celebrities
testing
Do you have a favourite Author if so whom?
When writing and the subject grinds to a halt what advice to restart or enliven the either the character or the topic? and does this happen or is it just me.....
many thanks sue (smile)
DiL introduced me to your books. I am 65 she is 36. We both enjoy your books enormously. Now my closest two friends enjoy them too because of my recommendations. They are 59 and 63. So I am guessing that your books appeal to a wide age range. Did you have an idea of an age group for whom you wanted to write when you started and has that changed?
Hi Jane, I love reading your books they always seem to have some experience that I have come across in my lifetime I find them so enjoyable,what career path would you have taken if you did not write these fab books,and at 60+ am I too old to consider putting pen to paper ??
Do you feel that it is ever too late to start writing? And is it important to get your work seen and accepted by an agent rather than contacting publishers directly? How did you begin to approach for publication when you started and has it change?
Hi Jane!
Where do you get your inspiration for stories? Do you draw from real life experience or simply from your imagination? You're one of the rare authors who can bring me into the story in no matter the plot/characters. From Mr. Maybe to the Beach House I love that I feel I can connect and relate to the story despite not having much in common in my real life.
Thanks for helping me escape into the wonderful world of your characters!
sorry - can I also ask what books you like reading?
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