Joan Hessayon Award winner Jo Thomas

Today we are chatting to Jo Thomas about her time in the New Writers Scheme and winning the Joan Hessayon Award.

Welcome, Jo and congratulations on your fabulous win.

When did you join the NWS?

Hmm, it was quite a few years ago! I joined after going on my first residential writing course with Anita Burgh. I had three small children and writing was my very precious ‘me’ time. Annie introduced me to the RNA and the New Writers’ Scheme.

How many books did you submit to the scheme?

The Oyster Catcher was my fifth book. But the book I am writing for my publishers now, was the idea for my fourth book.

Would you encourage new writers to join the NWS?

Oh yes. I would never have been published if it wasn’t for the support and encouragement I’ve found in the RNA.

How did you find your publisher?

I met my first publisher at an RNA conference. We met again at a number of RNA do’s and she offered to publish me. I was published as an e-book and the book went to number 2 in the Amazon charts. I was then approached by a larger publisher and there was an auction which was won by Headline who I’m now with. 

How did you promote your book? You have many reviews on Amazon. Did you find certain ways to promote your book worked better than others?

I did a blog tour and lots of tweeting. It must have worked as the book went into the Amazon top 100. Once it got into the top 100, the reviews themselves generated more sales and more reviews.

 

As the big day approached did you think you had a chance of winning?

I didn’t think I’d win. It was such a big list this year, with so many good writers on it. I was really shocked and surprised.

Your acceptance speech was beautiful (I had a tear in my eye). Did you speak from the heart or had you prepared something ‘just in case?’

A bit of both. I always knew there were people that I wanted to thank for their help; their faith and friendship. I had hoped to get the opportunity to thank them properly one day and it seemed the right place. I also think it’s important to thank the writers who stories we’ve loved and enjoyed. They’re the ones who made us want to write in the first place.

 

How has life changed for you since The Oyster Catcher was published?

Well, I still write every day; only now, with deadlines. I have to be much more focused on what I’m working on that day and plan my week carefully. But it is wonderful to know that I am working as a writer; that it’s my job!

What are your plans for your writing future?

I’m re-editing The Oyster Catcher which will come out in paperback in November. I’ve also just finished a draft of my second book, The Olive Branch which will be out early 2015. And then once I’ve finished the edits on The Oyster Catcher I’ll be working a novella for the autumn, The Chestnut Tree.  I have a four book and three novella deal with Headline so I’m going to be kept busy!

 

Do you have plans for prize money?

Yes, I’m going off to a writing retreat in France called Chez Castillion, with some really good writing friends to start book three. So some quality writing time and a lovely break too, a real treat!

What was it like to wake up the next morning and realise you had own such a prestigious competition?

It felt fabulous, because winning this competition was very simply about the words that I’d put on the page. And that was a great feeling.

How do you plan to celebrate your win?

In my favourite restaurant, with champagne and oysters of course!

 

Amazon: The Oyster Catcher

Thank you for chatting to us today, Jo. It was truly a memorable evening.

This blog is brought to you by Elaine Everest and Natalie Kleinman. If you wish to contribute to the blog please contact elaineeverest@aol.com

TALKING WITH JO THOMAS

When runaway bride Fiona Clutterbuck crashes the honeymoon camper van, embarrassed and humiliated she knows for sure she can’t go home. Fi’s thrown a lifeline, a job on an oyster farm.  But nothing could prepare her for the ride ahead or her wild and unpredictable boss Sean Thornton.

 As oyster season approaches, will there be love amongst the oyster beds of Galway Bay or will the circling sharks finally close in?

Jo tells us she got the idea for her book, The Oyster Catcher, while enjoying dinner in Galway with her husband. They were in a restaurant overlooking the sea. The candles were lit, the fire was roaring and they were eating Pacific oysters. Both the view and the delicacy inspired her. When we asked how long it took to write she said as long as an oyster takes to grow, some three years. 

A keen fan of romance, she grew up with Little Women and Gone with the Wind, later moving on to authors like Christina Jones, Katie Fforde, Carole Matthews, Wendy Holden. Her comment on being asked how it felt graduating from the NWS to full RNA member…“Absolutely delighted. It’s only because of the friendship and faith from others that I’ve finally become a published writer,” a sentiment many will recognise. She was lucky enough to meet her publisher, Hazel, from Accent Press, through mutual friends in the RNA, telling us, “those parties are great for meeting people”.

Jo began writing when she realised as well as reading romance she wanted to create it. At the time she had three children under three but she was able to go to that place in her head, relegating the untidy toys, piles of washing and other housewifely things to a more convenient time. Later, she would drop one child at school, the next at nursery and, when the baby fell asleep in the car she would stop at the first suitable place and pull out her laptop.  

Research for Jo must have been a bit of a mixed blessing, eating lots of oysters in restaurants and at home. She bought them at farmers’ markets then went on a seafood cookery course. Returning to Wales she took a weekend off one cold November to visit an oyster farm in Scotland, donning wet weather gear and wading into water, working in a shed, grading and washing the oysters ready for market. Nothing, she assures us, had ever tasted as good as the champagne and the oysters she had herself picked from the sea. 

She is already writing her next book, A Festival Fling, about three women who discover that sometimes in life you have to go back before you can move forward.

Jo celebrated publication day having Sunday lunch at her local pub. I wonder what she ate? 

Jo Thomas started her broadcasting career as a reporter and co-presenter with Rob Brydon on BBC Radio 5, reported for BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and went on to produce at BBC Radio 2 working on The Steve Wright Show.  She lives in the Vale of Glamorgan with her writer and producer husband, three children, three cats and a black lab Murray.  She writes light hearted romances about food, family, friendships and love; and believes every story should have a happy ending.

 

The Oyster Catcher is available from Amazon and also Accent Press

Blog: jothomaswrites.blogspot.co.uk

Facebook: Jo Thomas Author

Twitter: @jo_thomas01

 

 

Thank you for joining us today, Jo.

Compiled by Natalie and brought to you by the blogging team, Elaine Everest, Natalie Kleinman and Liv Thomas

Please contact us at elaineeverest@aol.com if you wish to be featured on our blog.