Monday, August 9, 2010

Interview with Rosy Thornton and book giveaway


Rosy Thornton lives in a village near Cambridgeshire(UK) with her partner, two young daughters and two spaniels. When she's not teaching Law at Cambridge University as a Fellow of Emmanuel College, she writes novels, which according to her "you might call romantic comedy with a hint of satire - or possibly social satire with a hint of romance." She is the author of "Hearts and Minds," "More than Love Letters," and "Crossed Wires."

Melissa Patafio and I received the opportunity to ask Rosy some questions about her book and other things that would allow us to get to know her better. She also gave me a signed copy of her latest novel, "The Tapestry of Love" to send to one lucky reader in the US or Canada.


MP: Your most recent book “The Tapestry of Love” is set in Cévennes, France. Have you or do you plan to return there for a holiday?
RT: My only acquaintance with the Cévennes is from a two-week family holiday there twenty years ago, but the place crept under my skin and nagged at me to be the setting for a novel. When I fantasise about escape and a new life away from the pressures of my crowded existence, that’s always where my mind wanders. I’d love to go back some day.

MP: What challenges did you experience while writing “The Tapestry of Love”?
RT: The worst part was being tied in knots, at the start, over language. My main character, Catherine, is fluent in French, and speaks French to most of the locals. I was therefore hearing the dialogue in French in my head, and then ‘translating’ it into English for the page – a strange experience until I got used to it. The main difficulty was when words or phrases were used which have no real translation in English. I tended to render them in French, with an explanation, but my editor found this rather cumbersome, and in the end a lot of the French words had to be dropped.

MA: What inspired you to write “The Tapestry of Love?”
RT: Partly my recollection of the landscape – and partly the experiences of my own family, who have all gone to live in France. My brother married a Frenchwoman and lives in the Rhône-Alpes; he runs a small business and his run-ins with French bureaucracy were useful fodder for the book. My parents retired to the western Loire seventeen years ago, to an old stone farmhouse in much need of renovation, so I have also stolen some of their experiences, especially in the plumbing and electrical departments! But I think on another level, many of us harbour some fantasy of escape to a new and simpler life, closer to nature, closer to the landscape, and this was me indulging mine in fictional form.

MA: Do you have any pre- or post- publishing rituals or traditions?
RT: Not that I can think of. I usually have an overwhelming urge to hide under my desk for a few weeks when a new book comes out and people are actually going to read it. It’s a scary moment!

MA: Do you feel you are similar to or different from Catherine, the main character of “Tapestry?”
RT: We are utterly different! Although I dream of a life in the mountains, I would never make a go of it, or not on my own as Catherine does. I am far too fond of having my family and friends around me. Her bravery in striking out on her own as she does earns my wondering admiration.

MP: Do you plan to keep doubling as a writer and law lecturer or are you going to “retire” one or the other in the foreseeable future?
RT: I would never give up my day job. I love teaching, I love the daily contact with students and colleagues, and arguing about ideas. Writing fiction full-time would be a sad and lonely life, for which I am not cut out – see my answer to the previous question! And writing… well, I don’t think I could ever give that up.

MP: Have you ever visited the United States? If so, where did you go? If not where would you like to go?
RT: Sadly, not. But my partner took our elder daughter (then aged twelve) to New York for a week a couple of years ago, and I have been insanely jealous ever since. I would also love to explore some of the glorious mountain wilderness areas with which your country is blessed.

MP:Are you fluent in French or any other languages?
RT: I speak French, but that’s about it – unless you count schoolroom German or being able to book a restaurant table in Italian.

MA: What is your favorite childhood memory?
RT: What an impossible question! How to pick just one thing? Maybe, in the spirit of ‘The Tapestry of Love’, it would be paddling in mountain streams on family holidays.

MA: What is your favorite quote or saying?
RT: Again, so many! But if ever I am feeling downtrodden, with my confidence at a low ebb, I like to think of that line from ‘Rebecca’, where the nameless heroine draw herself up and says to Mrs Danvers, ‘I am Mrs de Winter now.’

Special thanks to Rosy for her lovely answers and the book for the giveaway. Thanks, as always, to Melissa P. for her thoughtful questions.



**Giveaway is closed**

How to win "The Tapestry of Love":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted.)

For additional entries (each as a separate comment including your e-mail address, as well):
1. Please tell us: What is your favorite quote/saying?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Open to US/Canada residents only. Giveaway ends Thursday, August 12th, at midnight EST.

47 comments:

Kat said...

One of my all-time favourite quotes is from Hamlet, and was also quoted in Clueless. "To thine own self be true." -- Polonius

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Kat said...

I am a follower. :)

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Kat said...

Posted it to facebook

Clodagh said...

Thank you both for a lovely interview!

clomurphy.spud@gmail.com

Clodagh said...

I've also posted this on Twitter.

Sarah said...

Thank you for the chance to win:)

foxchick0323@live.com

Sarah said...

my fave quote is Dance like no one's watching,Sing like no one's listening,Love like you'll never be hurt and live like it's heaven on earth."

foxchick0323@live.com

Sarah said...

I am a loyal follower!

foxchick0323@live.com

Colleen Turner said...

This sounds just wonderful! Please include me in the giveaway!
Thanks,
candc320@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I am a GFC follower.


CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

My favorite was written by Emily Dickenson:

" I'm Nobody! Who are you?
Are you Nobody----too?
Then there is a pair of us!
Don't tell! they'd advertise---you know!"

Anonymous said...

Sorry! I must really be nobody! I forgot to add my e-mail address after the quote from Emily Dickenson.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Myra C said...

I enjoyed the interview and the book sounds great! Thanks for the giveaway.

myra0502@yahoo.com

Myra C said...

I am a follower!

myra0502@yahoo.com

Heather said...

I am a follower.
ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com

Heather said...

posted to fb
ra6352 (at) gmail (dot) com

Meg @ write meg! said...

Ooh, this sounds great! I loved Thornton's Crossed Wires, and really enjoyed the interview.

writing.meg [at] gmail.com

Meg @ write meg! said...

I'm also a follower!

writing.meg [at] gmail.com

karenk said...

thank you for the opportunity to read this beautiful novel :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

karenk said...

i'm a follower :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

StereoQueenBee said...

I am a follower - posted to @stereoqueenbee on Twitter and my favorite quote is "Those who don’t know how to weep with their whole heart don’t know how to laugh either."

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I loved Crossed Wires so I'm anxious to read this one too! Please enter me!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I follow.

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

favorite quote:

there is no frigate like a book to take you lands away...

emily dickenson

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

KV said...

This looks like a good book!

mommyk18@hotmail.com

KV said...

My favorite quote is "Never, never, never give up." - Winston Churchill

mommyk18@hotmail.com

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

I LOVE that favorite quote!

No need to enter me, ladies, as usual (sadly). I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

Margie said...

Thanks for the giveaway. I'd like to read this one.
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

I have always liked
"Laughter is the best medicine."
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

Margie said...

new follower via GFC
mtakala1 AT yahoo DOT com

ChristyJan said...

This sounds like a wonderful book ~ please enter me to win a copy.

hawkes(at)citlink.net

ChristyJan said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ChristyJan said...

One of my favorite quotes:

"You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are." ~ Alice

hawkes(at)citlink.net

shel said...

Thanks for the interview, I've read Rosy's More than Love Letters, which I really liked.

star_gazer11 at hotmail dot com

shel said...

Happiness is a warm puppy. - Charles Schulz

star_gazer11 at hotmail dot com

shel said...

http://twitter.com/jays7/status/20847109097

star_gazer11 at hotmail dot com

Unknown said...

I'd love a chance to read this, thanks for entering me into this giveaway.

unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I love this quote (not sure who wrote it though)
"Even if you have nothing else to give, you can give encouragement."

unforgetable_dreamer_always(at)hotmail.com

Leslieg said...

Really looking forward to reading Rosy's latest, as I have all her previous books! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

polar@myself.com

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I follow the blog!

BRN2SHOP9 said...

I twittered it.

BRN2SHOP9 said...

Favorite Quotes:

"The best & most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." ~Helen Keller


"I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done." ~ Lucille Ball

Audrey said...

Thanks for the chance to win!
twigerina@hotmail.com

Bonnie said...

My favorite quote is from Plato..."Be kind, for everyone you meet if fighting a harder battle."
I am a follower!
intrepid9923@yahoo.com

Susan O'Bryant said...

Seems like a beautiful place for a novel setting. Would love to win! Thanks for the chance.

safoga at gmail dot com

Susan O'Bryant said...

One of my favorite quotes/sayings is "If the sky falls, we shall catch larks." It's an American proverb that just shouts optimism to me!

safoga at gmail dot com

Ruthie said...

Our book club loves 'Tell me what you read & I'll tell you who you are.'

Please enter me, thanks.

ruthiekb72@yahoo.com