Interview and Excerpt: The Darling Girls by Emma Burstall
Thanks to Emma Burstall for stopping by with a Q&A and excerpt from The Darling Girls. Please visit her tour page on CLP Blog Tours for more information and a giveaway!
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
From a very young age – when I used to sit for hours at my parents’ kitchen table writing long rambling stories about fairies and princesses and mermaids. I’m sure the stories were terrible but my mother was incredibly encouraging! Much later, I went into journalism because I knew I wanted a career that involved writing but didn’t feel I had enough experience yet to try my hand at novels.
How would you describe your books?
I’d say they’re commercial women’s fiction, written in an easy-to-read, accessible style with lots of twists and turns, complex characters and, I hope, thought-provoking psychological insight.
Why was The Darling Girls a book you wanted to write?
I’d been fascinated for quite some time with the idea of three women in love with the same man. I used to vaguely know someone in that situation and always wondered why she put up with it and what the man must be like to hold these three intelligent women in his thrall. The Darling Girls was an opportunity to explore these issues and really try to understand the feelings involved.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
The first draft – definitely – because at that stage you’re facing blank pages day after day that need to be filled. Once I’ve written my first draft I’m in heaven! I love polishing and re-polishing to make my book as good as I possibly can.
What are your favorite genres to read?
I like reading lots of things – from classics by authors such as Charles Dickens and Henry James to spine-tingling thrillers and romances. I’m really not fussy, so long as the writing is good and the story keeps me wanting to turn those pages.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
I hope it will make them think about the Kindertransport rescue mission, when nearly 10,000 Jewish children from Nazi Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland were sent without their parents to foster homes in Britain in the nine months prior to the outbreak of World War II. It must have been so frightening for them and it’s amazing that so many did so well in later life. I also hope readers will think about the unlikely bonds that can be forged between women in difficult circumstances and how, underneath it all, we’re really pretty similar, with the same hopes, fears, dreams and insecurities.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
Crucial. Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, writers’ and readers’ websites. They all help to spread the word and ensure good books don’t get lost.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Write! It sounds so obvious, but it took me a long time to get going. I knew for ages that I wanted to write a novel but I kept putting obstacles in the way – work, raising my children etc. I think the truth is I was nervous of failure. In the end I realized the only way I was ever going to know if I could write novels was just to get going. So I sat at my computer and wrote my first paragraph, then my second. Soon I had several thousand words and felt I was off at last!
**Excerpt**
Cat slid to the ground and rested her back against the hard knobbly bark, burying her head in her arms. Her tears soaked right through to the skin and she didn’t care that the grass was cold and damp. She was interrupted by a voice close by, which made her jump. ‘Are you all right?’ Someone touched her lightly on the shoulder. Cat looked up and saw, through her tears, a middle-aged woman. She had big kind grey eyes that were rimmed with red, and hair that was thick and wiry with a few silvery streaks of grey. It was tied up but messy wiggly strands fell around her face. She was wearing silver dangly earrings and a black jacket. Cat gave a start of recognition: Victoria. This was Leo’s ‘long-term partner’, the woman he’d been with for twenty years. She stood up quickly and nodded, her eyes fixed firmly on the ground, aware of being closely observed. ‘Fine,’ she mumbled, wiping away the tears with her sleeve. This was weird, freaky. She was way out of her comfort zone. She started to push past Victoria, who stopped her. ‘You’re Cat, aren’t you?’ Cat’s heart missed a beat. ‘It’s all right,’ Victoria said, sounding weary. ‘I know all about you. Leo told me. He told me everything.’ Cat’s head started to thump and she could feel the blood pounding in her temples. She was thinking fast. ‘Did he?’ She gave a tight little smile, not wanting to give anything away. ‘I’m sorry you’re upset.’ Victoria’s voice was so gentle that she sounded like a mother comforting her child. Cat felt her defences weaken. She didn’t want to look at the other woman but couldn’t stop herself; it was obvious that Victoria was taking the mickey but Cat needed to check. Her eyes, though, were big pools of sugary compassion. Cat couldn’t handle this; it was worse than being mocked or screamed at. ‘I’m going,’ she said, intending to push past Victoria who still stood in the way. Cat realised for the first time how tall the other woman was. She must be getting on for six feet - and broad with it. Cat stared at her defiantly, experiencing a surge of new-found energy. If Victoria wanted a slanging match or fisticuffs, so be it. Cat might be shorter but she was tough; she’d give as good as she got. ‘Excuse me,’ she said, straightening her shoulders. Victoria didn’t seem to hear or even sense Cat’s hostility. ‘He was a great man,’ the older woman said quietly, seeming to stare at something in the distance. ‘We’re going to miss him so much.’ She paused while Cat, fists clenched, wondered what was coming next. ‘Would you like to come to the reception? I know he was fond of you. It’s right that you should-’ Cat felt her face go hot. ‘Fond? He wasn’t fond of me, he loved me.’ Victoria shook her head and there were tears in her eyes. ‘Did he tell you that? Poor girl. That wasn’t fair, he shouldn’t have said that.’
**Giveaway!**
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Emma's tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of The Darling Girls before January 28 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bio:
Emma has written extensively for national newspapers and women’s magazines including the Guardian , Independent on Sunday , Red , Good Housekeeping , Woman & Home and Woman .
She read English at Cambridge University and began her career as a cub reporter on the Western Morning News in Plymouth, later becoming features editor of Woman and Family Circle.
She gets by in French and Spanish and works out – occasionally – at her local gym. After walking her youngest to school, you might also spot her jogging in Richmond Park with some friends. Slowly.
Emma lives in South West London with her husband, the political commentator Kevin Maguire, and their three children, aged 25, 20 and 10.
She’s currently working on her fourth novel.
Connect with Emma!
Website
Facebook
Twitter
**Interview**
When did you know writing was for you?
From a very young age – when I used to sit for hours at my parents’ kitchen table writing long rambling stories about fairies and princesses and mermaids. I’m sure the stories were terrible but my mother was incredibly encouraging! Much later, I went into journalism because I knew I wanted a career that involved writing but didn’t feel I had enough experience yet to try my hand at novels.
How would you describe your books?
I’d say they’re commercial women’s fiction, written in an easy-to-read, accessible style with lots of twists and turns, complex characters and, I hope, thought-provoking psychological insight.
Why was The Darling Girls a book you wanted to write?
I’d been fascinated for quite some time with the idea of three women in love with the same man. I used to vaguely know someone in that situation and always wondered why she put up with it and what the man must be like to hold these three intelligent women in his thrall. The Darling Girls was an opportunity to explore these issues and really try to understand the feelings involved.
What is the hardest part of the writing process for you?
The first draft – definitely – because at that stage you’re facing blank pages day after day that need to be filled. Once I’ve written my first draft I’m in heaven! I love polishing and re-polishing to make my book as good as I possibly can.
What are your favorite genres to read?
I like reading lots of things – from classics by authors such as Charles Dickens and Henry James to spine-tingling thrillers and romances. I’m really not fussy, so long as the writing is good and the story keeps me wanting to turn those pages.
What do you want readers to take away from your story?
I hope it will make them think about the Kindertransport rescue mission, when nearly 10,000 Jewish children from Nazi Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland were sent without their parents to foster homes in Britain in the nine months prior to the outbreak of World War II. It must have been so frightening for them and it’s amazing that so many did so well in later life. I also hope readers will think about the unlikely bonds that can be forged between women in difficult circumstances and how, underneath it all, we’re really pretty similar, with the same hopes, fears, dreams and insecurities.
How important do you think social media is for authors these days?
Crucial. Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, writers’ and readers’ websites. They all help to spread the word and ensure good books don’t get lost.
What would be your advice to aspiring writers?
Write! It sounds so obvious, but it took me a long time to get going. I knew for ages that I wanted to write a novel but I kept putting obstacles in the way – work, raising my children etc. I think the truth is I was nervous of failure. In the end I realized the only way I was ever going to know if I could write novels was just to get going. So I sat at my computer and wrote my first paragraph, then my second. Soon I had several thousand words and felt I was off at last!
**Excerpt**
Cat slid to the ground and rested her back against the hard knobbly bark, burying her head in her arms. Her tears soaked right through to the skin and she didn’t care that the grass was cold and damp. She was interrupted by a voice close by, which made her jump. ‘Are you all right?’ Someone touched her lightly on the shoulder. Cat looked up and saw, through her tears, a middle-aged woman. She had big kind grey eyes that were rimmed with red, and hair that was thick and wiry with a few silvery streaks of grey. It was tied up but messy wiggly strands fell around her face. She was wearing silver dangly earrings and a black jacket. Cat gave a start of recognition: Victoria. This was Leo’s ‘long-term partner’, the woman he’d been with for twenty years. She stood up quickly and nodded, her eyes fixed firmly on the ground, aware of being closely observed. ‘Fine,’ she mumbled, wiping away the tears with her sleeve. This was weird, freaky. She was way out of her comfort zone. She started to push past Victoria, who stopped her. ‘You’re Cat, aren’t you?’ Cat’s heart missed a beat. ‘It’s all right,’ Victoria said, sounding weary. ‘I know all about you. Leo told me. He told me everything.’ Cat’s head started to thump and she could feel the blood pounding in her temples. She was thinking fast. ‘Did he?’ She gave a tight little smile, not wanting to give anything away. ‘I’m sorry you’re upset.’ Victoria’s voice was so gentle that she sounded like a mother comforting her child. Cat felt her defences weaken. She didn’t want to look at the other woman but couldn’t stop herself; it was obvious that Victoria was taking the mickey but Cat needed to check. Her eyes, though, were big pools of sugary compassion. Cat couldn’t handle this; it was worse than being mocked or screamed at. ‘I’m going,’ she said, intending to push past Victoria who still stood in the way. Cat realised for the first time how tall the other woman was. She must be getting on for six feet - and broad with it. Cat stared at her defiantly, experiencing a surge of new-found energy. If Victoria wanted a slanging match or fisticuffs, so be it. Cat might be shorter but she was tough; she’d give as good as she got. ‘Excuse me,’ she said, straightening her shoulders. Victoria didn’t seem to hear or even sense Cat’s hostility. ‘He was a great man,’ the older woman said quietly, seeming to stare at something in the distance. ‘We’re going to miss him so much.’ She paused while Cat, fists clenched, wondered what was coming next. ‘Would you like to come to the reception? I know he was fond of you. It’s right that you should-’ Cat felt her face go hot. ‘Fond? He wasn’t fond of me, he loved me.’ Victoria shook her head and there were tears in her eyes. ‘Did he tell you that? Poor girl. That wasn’t fair, he shouldn’t have said that.’
**Giveaway!**
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Emma's tour page will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! Anyone who purchases their copy of The Darling Girls before January 28 and sends their receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, will get five bonus entries.**
Author Bio:
Emma has written extensively for national newspapers and women’s magazines including the Guardian , Independent on Sunday , Red , Good Housekeeping , Woman & Home and Woman .
She read English at Cambridge University and began her career as a cub reporter on the Western Morning News in Plymouth, later becoming features editor of Woman and Family Circle.
She gets by in French and Spanish and works out – occasionally – at her local gym. After walking her youngest to school, you might also spot her jogging in Richmond Park with some friends. Slowly.
Emma lives in South West London with her husband, the political commentator Kevin Maguire, and their three children, aged 25, 20 and 10.
She’s currently working on her fourth novel.
Connect with Emma!
Website
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