Chances is my 11th novel – and writing it coincided with a very difficult time for me behind the scenes. Perhaps, therefore, more than any of my other books, I am extremely proud of the result.
Essentially, though, Chances is an upbeat book and unapologetically romantic. Parts of it made me laugh out loud, other interludes brought tears to my eyes. The characters became very real to me and now that the novel is done, I miss them all very much and think of them often. I really ‘felt’ this book.
Writing this novel provided me with an opportunity to explore a new location – and I chose Hertfordshire as my move to this beautiful county coincided with writing this novel. The town of Wynford, however, is fictitious.
Vita and Oliver are my heroine and hero. Oliver I adored – just as much as Joe from Secrets or William from Chloe. Early on, I was struggling to find a name for my heroine and posted my dilemma on my facebook page – suggestions came in thick and fast! I decided on “Vita” because of course the name means LIFE – and whilst I was writing this book my mum was battling cancer, so it seemed a symbolic name to choose.
The working title for this novel (which I still prefer – but would have looked rubbish on the jacket design) was “Between Two Women” – and this is one of the major themes of the novel. We reach a stage in our lives when we’ve lost love and are on the cusp of finding it again – and that’s when all parties can concerned find themselves ‘between two women’. For the men, they are caught between the woman they loved and lost and the one they have now. For the woman, it’s the previous love of their current beau and the new interest of their ex. However, the novel is also about the relationships women can foster between themselves – the way we talk to one another, the profound feelings our friendships can foster.
Vita and Oliver have had love in the past – but lost it in very different circumstances. Brought together by an elderly shoplifter and a troublesome pear tree, will Vita and Oliver take a chance on love again?
Browse inside Chances
Spring was dominated by the publication of Secrets in May. Leading up to a book’s launch, the author commits to all manner of publicity and marketing. This can range from writing articles commissioned by mags and papers in return for a plug (of the book, not of the bath…), to interviews across the media (tv, radio and press) to events up and down the country, plus signings in book shops and finally, undertaking daft things to secure any publicity going. In fact, all authors become a little shameless in giving their new books a leg-up! As you may remember from my blog, the leg-up for me came in the form of a ladder propped against a bus. It was fantastic to don a hi-viz jacket and physically fix one of the amazing posters to the side of a London double-decker!
The shenanigans that take place around publication can be as exhausting as they are fun – and the rewards are always well worth it. You must remember, we authors spend most our year in utter silence in the company of people who don’t actually exist – so I for one find it a real thrill to be out and about, meeting the people who really matter (you lot who buy my books, the staff who ensure the shelves are well stocked, the journalists who take shorthand while I gabble nineteen to the dozen, the producers who let me witter on and on, on radio and tv….) (more…)
I KNOW it’s been a long time since I updated my blog and I apologize profusely. I’m going to make it up to you with a lengthy post in the journal section. And when I’m feeling particularly brave, I will try and upload some of the videos I’ve been taking over the last few months.
Anyway, welcome back to all of you – it’s nice to chat after a prolonged silence.
I am extremely excited and honoured to tell you that the magical, awesome Beth Tweddle – Great Britain’s recently crowned World Champion gymnast – is currently reading Secrets. Not just in her spare time, mind. She was reading it in the preparation room just before she took to the floor to win a couple of weeks ago. She recommends reading as a way to focus and prepare and to block out the sound of the crowd. I am thrilled, flattered and humbled, Beth, and I know that all my readers will want to congratulate and thank you for your fantastic achievement (all the more awesome when you consider she is just a month off an op on her ankle). We are very proud of you! Roll on 2012, Ms Tweddle.
666!
nope, not the devil in me… but a very very lucky number for us.
Secrets was published 6 weeks ago
Secrets has spent 6 weeks in the national Top 10
Secrets is number 6 in this week’s chart!
I’m just back from a week in Spain – and top of my to-do list is to update you with all my news, photos and videos…
In the meantime, follow this link… It’ll take you to my first short story written for radio, which BBC Radio 4 commissioned. Many of you will know that I famously HATE writing short stories – give me 140,000 words to play with, any day!
For ‘Fish And Chips‘, I was allowed 2,000 words…and I was told “No sex and no swearing, Ms North”
Listen and enjoy…and please let me know what you think!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00ktbf2/Afternoon_Reading_More_Love_in_the_Afternoon_Fish_and_Chips/
stop press!
You’ve done it again, you lot!
Your support and enthusiasm has seen Secrets climb the Top Ten to a fabulous no.5 this week – just 40 copies off the no.4 spot! Thank you so very much.
I’m just back from a jam-packed but fun and fantastic trip to promote the book – and I’ll be blogging AT LENGTH in the next day or so. For the time being, sending you my gratitude, I wish you all a great weekend. Freya x
Thank you Thank you Thank you!
I’m delighted (over-excited) to be able to tell you that… after only 3 days sales, Secrets has gone straight into the national Top 10!
I’m absolutely cockahoop and want to thank you, one and all, for your incredible support….
That’s all for now – I need to run around the garden like a mad thing… x
Well, what better way to spend a glorious sunny Tuesday…than down the local bus depot!
In London, Secrets is being advertised on the sides of 150 double deckers all over the network! I thought it would a giggle – and a bit of a thrill – to put up one of these impressive ads. They’re HUGE!
First, you have to stick the visual on a board – and it’s a massive sheet of sticky back plastic!
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Here I am at the CBS warehouse in Walthamstow with the lovely John Steer and his team
Next it was off to the Arriva bus company’s London North depot, at Enfield, with the wonderful Mick who kept the ladder steady and told me what to do!
off with Nokia! Up with Freya!
There are 150 buses across the London network, emblazoned with Secrets! If you see one – give it a big wave… and let me know!
A hearty thank you to all the great guys at CBS, to everyone at the Arriva depot – and especially to the fab CBS girls – l-r: Catherine, Michelle and Stephanie.
You made my day – you really did!
The Author and Her Assistant
(who tried to charge me 50p)
(we settled on an ice-cream… which turned out to be a damn sight more expensive!)
Well! What an exhausting, exhilarating day! My 10th novel is now, officially, published – and it was an utter thrill for your author to be out and about, nipping into book shops left, right and centre and seeing Secrets on the shelves! For me, the excitement of publication simply has not diminished one jot over the years.
Bizarrely, in Selfridges, the sales assistants refused to let me sign copies of Secrets until they’d had a long (rather stern) look at my author pic in the book to verify I was indeed who I claimed to be!
There are currently signed copies at Selfridges, at Waterstones opposite Selfridges and at Borders, Oxford Street. I’ll be sure to let you know as and when and where I sign more!
Hope you’re enjoying the new video section on the website – and that you’ve found the competition too!
What a day! So many lovely messages from you lot. Where would I be without you? Your seal of approval is more precious, more ‘real’ to me, than a month in the Top 10 (though that’d be rather nice too!)
Chances is my 11th novel – and writing it coincided with a very difficult time for me behind the scenes. Perhaps, therefore, more than any of my other books, I am extremely proud of the result.
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