Interview with Sarah Mason
Q: Why did you decide to start writing? I had just finished a very demanding job and just got married. My fabulous husband suggested I take a few months off to decide what I wanted to do next and, without really thinking about it, I started writing. The result was Playing James.
Q: Where do you get inspiration for your characters? Everywhere! In cafes, from friends, from films, from family. I watch people the whole time. I probably look a bit creepy and people take very wide circles around me. My husband and I spent a very memorable Valentine’s evening when I was completely transfixed by the couple at the next table having an enormous – yet whispered – row. Our waiter kept missing bits as he went back to the kitchen and would ask me what happened when he came back. It went on for about 45 minutes.
Q: My first book I read by you was Playing James. How did you like writing about romance with a tinge of mystery and crime involved in the plot? I love writing books with a bit of a plot! In fact I would find it hard not to. It gives a real focus for the characters – something to revolve around.
Q: Do you have a favorite book or author? I love Atonement and I love Sarah Waters. I’m years behind and have piles and piles of novels next to my bed waiting to be read. It’s hard to read anything when I’m actually writing so they have to wait until a holiday and then I will take between 10 and 20 with me. My poor husband, I barely utter a word for hours. I LOVE reading.
Q: Is there a certain area where you get your writing done? Yes, I have a study which is covered with papers and research books. We moved house recently and I had some very posh and expensive cupboards built because I was convinced the reason that I was so messy in my office was because I didn’t have enough storage. That was not the reason. The cupboards remain empty and I remain messy.
Q: Is there such thing as a ‘typical day’ for you? I get up at 5 am every morning apart from the weekends and work until my children get up at about 7. Then we all get dressed and I take them to school. I start work again at 9 and finish roughly at 12. Then I pick up my little boy – who only does mornings at pre-school – and we do something together until it’s time to collect his big sister. Somewhere in all that I fit in some exercise and cooking and washing. Often not very well.
Q: Can you pick one of your novels that perhaps is your favorite, or you had the most fun writing? I think Playing James because I liked the sparkiness between the characters. I loved writing those conversations.
Q: What is a unique fact about you that others may not know? I have a degree in maths from Bristol uni.
Q: Are you working on new material right now? Yes. A change of genre. Still some mystery and some sparkiness though. It’s an ambitious novel and hard to write.
Q: Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? Read, read and read. Take notes on structure and plot of the books you love. Decide what sort of author you want to be. Do you want to entertain or shock or thrill? Drill your book into sections and work separately on characters, plot, period detail, dialogue, scene setting, etc.
Q: What would be or is your favorite place to travel? Cornwall. We visit at least four times a year. I grew up there and I adore it.
