Pedigree Mum (46 page)

Whenever I do readings or author events, someone usually asks, ‘Where do you get your ideas from?’ A book is often sparked off by a phrase overheard, an idea for a particular character, setting or theme, or events that have happened in the writer’s life. Here’s what inspired
Pedigree Mum
…

We’ve had Jack, our rescue dog, for two years – we adopted him from Dog’s Trust in Glasgow and my whole family is madly in love with him. As soon as he’d settled in with us, I knew my next book had to have a canine theme. In
Pedigree Mum
, I liked the idea of Kerry acquiring a dog almost as a way of getting back at her ex-husband Rob – as a sort of act of rebellion. The fact that her children had begged for a dog was based on my daughter, who’d nagged for one for years. And now I love the ‘doggie’ community – I’ve discovered that the world’s loveliest dog sitters live virtually next door, and have befriended a bearded collie who can salute.

My husband and I left London fourteen years ago when our twin boys were toddlers. We moved to a small rural town in Lanarkshire, Scotland, which
isn’t
like Shorling in the book – it’s not snooty or remotely Boden-esque. But I still remember the feeling of being ‘new’, with young children, wondering how on earth I’d make friends – whilst desperately missing my old ones, of course.

I found myself eyeing up prospective new friends in the park, whilst not wanting to come across as a creepy stalker. When someone asked me round for coffee I nearly cried with relief. We did settle in and find our feet – but moving can be tough when you have a young family and feel pretty vulnerable.

In
Pedigree Mum
, Rob works for an upmarket men’s magazine. I worked on various magazines from the age of seventeen until my early thirties (although never a men’s one). I’ve always found it funny how there’s an obvious pecking order amongst the magazines – and how, at industry awards parties, people from the posh glossies would rarely lower themselves
to mingling with staff from the ‘grubby’ celebrity weeklies
or – horrors – the hobby and specialist magazines.

I used to write about my kids’ antics for various magazine and newspaper columns. However, as they grew older – and could read what I’d written about them – this became somewhat trickier. These days, I have to be aware of their privacy and rarely write about them at all. However, in fiction, anything goes …

1. When did you start writing?

I wrote stories as a child, but just for fun – my ambition was to work on a magazine, as I was obsessed with them. At seventeen, just after I’d left school, I landed a job on now-defunct teen mag Jackie, which was the best fun. It didn’t even feel like work. My first ‘task’ was to write the horoscopes!

2. How did you decide what sort of books you wanted to write?

I write commercial women’s fiction – fast, fun reads which hopefully make my readers laugh and recognise themselves. They’re the kind of books I love to read, and also, I can draw on lots from my own life. Writing about families, relationships and kids throws up endless potential for humour, especially when all seems to be going horrible wrong.

3. Do you belong to a writers’ group?

Yes – I found one when we moved from London to Scotland fourteen years ago. My reason for joining was to get to know some like-minded souls, and also to develop ideas for short stories and, hopefully, full-length novels. But mainly it was a social thing. We’re now a close-knit group of friends – we chat, gossip, drink wine, share our work in progress – and even write occasionally.

4. Paperback or e-book … what do you prefer?

I think e-books are great and I have no problem reading in this way, although I still love sinking into a bubble bath with a paperback. But we’ve reached the point of clutter overload – I have three children, all big readers – so it’s great to download instead of stuffing our house with yet more paper.

5. Does someone read over your books before you submit them?

I used to send chapters to friends but realised all I wanted was for someone to say, ‘This is great!’ If they didn’t, I’d be thrown into despair. So now I trust my instincts. My editor is usually the first person to read my books.

6. What’s your favourite part of the writing process?

I love the ideas stage – scribbling in notebooks, usually sitting in cafes and letting the thoughts come.

7. And what’s the hardest?

I find the ‘middle stage’ of a book very difficult, and often want to give up! You have to force yourself to plough on, though.

8. What’s the best piece of writing advice you’ve ever been given?

Getting started is the hardest part – once you’ve done that, the words start to flow. But it’s important to write what feels authentic and true for you – and not what you think might sell, or grab an agent’s attention. Play around with different styles and genres until you find the voice that feels right, and then your book will take flight.

9. Do you have a daily writing routine?

Yes, I usually start at six am. It’s scarily early but for me it’s better than slogging away late at night, feeling exhausted and desolate. Then I make breakfast and I see my kids off to school, walk my dog – or go for a run with him – and come back to get started in earnest. I’ll work right through until four pm when my kids come home from school – and when deadlines loom I’ll often carry on at night and at weekends too. It’s all consuming sometimes.

10. Do you plan a book from start to finish before you start writing?

Not really. I have my main characters clearly drawn in my head, and a setting and theme – but the plot can be fluid. Knowing every twist and turn would be very boring to write, like painting by numbers. When things are going well, the book takes on a life of its own – even I can be surprised at how everything turns out.

It took a ton of nagging before I agreed to get a canine companion – but a week or two after Jack moved in, I realised I’d been mad not to do it years before. I’m not making light of the huge responsibility; obviously, it’s a massive commitment. But if you can offer company, walks, affection and all the things that keep dogs – and humans – perky and happy, then, in my experience it’s a wonderful thing. Here’s why …

Someone to talk to …
who doesn’t talk back. Yes, it’s thrilling to see your novel on the shelves of a bookshop, or glimpse someone reading it on a train – but a lot of what goes on is far less exciting. It’s lonely as hell sometimes. Now my kids are older, I can work when they’re around – but most of the time’s it’s just me here, in a deathly quiet house. I love having Jack plonked on the floor at my feet or nudging my hand off the mouse when walk time is upon us. And I’ve never felt lonely since he moved in – not for a second.

Fresh air, exercise and all that health-giving stuff
…
As a breed, writers tend not to be the healthiest types. We spend ridiculous amounts of time holed up in gloomy little rooms, hunched over keyboards, often surviving on coffee and random bits and bobs grabbed from the fridge. Before I had a dog, ‘taking a break’ meant fiddling about on Facebook, Twitter or eBay – ie, yet more gawping at a screen. But a dog has to go out, which requires the shifting of the butt – away from that shimmering screen. Then you remember that the outside world actually does still exist.

A dog helps to write your book …
Yes, really. Often, after a brisk forty-minute walk with Jack, I find that an annoying plot problem has miraculously untangled itself. Ideas flow more easily when you’re striding through a park, or up a hillside, than when you’re glaring at a screen, feeling stuck and tired and anxious.

Encountering other dog-type people …
Get a canine pal and you’ll find yourself catapulted into a whole world of doggie-loving types – most of whom are incredibly friendly, viewing you as ‘one of them.’ After a long morning of writing, this raises the spirits (if nothing else, you’ll be relieved to note that you are still capable of conversing with other humans). You might even find yourself putting some of these people in your books. Although months or even years can go by, and you still won’t know them by name – but you
will
know the name of their dog.

All the stroking and cuddling that goes on …
If you’re stuck on a difficult sentence/chapter, stepping away from the computer and messing about with your dog can help to dispel those stressy moments. What is it about stroking an animal that lifts your mood instantly? I have no idea – but it works. Sometimes I write on my laptop stretched out on the sofa with Jack curled up at my feet as a sort of living, breathing foot-warmer. He’s good like that.

(
¹
or, failing that, any house-residing pet will do – even fish. A writer friend told me that she dreamed of owning a huge aquarium, convinced that gazing at its slowly-moving inhabitants would soothe her frazzled mind).

A big bark of thanks to Caroline Sheldon, Bryony Woods, Sammia Rafique, Becke Parker and the wonderfully talented and bushy-tailed Avon team.

Special tail-wags to Carolann for our daily head-clearing walks and to Dee for medical expertise (on what happens when children stuff small objects into ears).

Messy but hugely affectionate face licks to Jen, Kath, Cathy, Michelle and Wendy V – my lovely friends since we were young pups. Unlimited treats to Tania, Vicki, Amanda, Sam, Hilary and Pauline, collectively known as the Dolphinton Writers – truly an author’s best friend.

Tons of love to my parents, Margery and Keith, and to my own gorgeous though rarely obedient family – Jimmy, Sam, Dex and Erin, plus our rescue dog Jack who’s a bundle of loveliness, even when forced to wear an embarrassing head cone.

Fiona was born in a youth hostel in Yorkshire. She started working on teen magazine
Jackie
at age 17, then went on to join
Just Seventeen
and
More!
where she invented the infamous ‘Position of the Fortnight’. Fiona now lives in Scotland with her husband Jimmy, their three children and a wayward rescue collie cross called Jack. Jack’s special talent is to nudge her hand off her mouse to announce that it’s Walk Time. She is currently attempting to train for a marathon, but at present, Jack is outpacing her.

For more info, visit
www.fionagibson.com
. You can follow Fiona on Twitter
@fionagibson
.

Laugh-out-loud funny, Fiona’s writing deals with the real life cringe-worthy moments we all know so well …

Buy
Take Mum Out

Mum On The Run

The Great Escape

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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Publishers

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First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins
Publishers
2013

Copyright © Fiona Gibson 2013

Fiona Gibson asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

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Source ISBN: 9781847562616

Ebook Edition © February 2013 ISBN: 9780007478439

Version: 2013-12-10

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