What genre would you
say your novels fall into, or do they defy classification?
What made you choose
that genre?
I’ve always been passionate about history, having taken a
degree in the subject. Since moving to France in 1997, I’ve become increasingly
fascinated by French history. I am also very attached to Corsica, where
The House at Zaronza is mostly set. The
island has a turbulent history and enthralling culture that sets it apart from
the rest of Europe. I find it more appealing to write about the past than the
present.
How long does it take
you to write a book?
I wrote
The House at Zaronza during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in 2012. However, I
spent some time planning it beforehand. I wouldn’t have been able just to sit
down and write it without that. Also, I wasn’t happy with the beginning, so I
changed it later on and added another 10,000 words or so.
What is your work
schedule like when you're writing?
I wish I were organised enough to have a schedule! During
NaNoWriMo, I wrote about 2,000 words per day and I did it in the morning, so
that I got it off my plate early on in the day. I also write non-fiction for a
living, so my fiction has to fit around that. It’s not uncommon for me to be
scribbling at midnight, long after my long-suffering husband has gone to bed.
Where do you get your
ideas for your books?
Largely from historical events. A true story was the
inspiration behind
The House at Zaronza.
We went on holiday to Corsica and found framed love letters on the walls of our
B&B. The owner told us the story and I adapted it for the novel. I am
particularly interested in the stories of “ordinary” people who are caught up
in historical events.
When did you write
your first book and how old were you?
I wrote my first magnum opus at the age of six – but I’m not
admitting how long ago that was. It was entitled The Kind Little Imp. I blush to recall it now, but it featured an
imp who finds an injured butterfly and nurses it back to health. I illustrated
it, too.
What do you like to
do when you're not writing?
I sing in a couple of choirs, which I find relaxing. It’s
good to do things with a team of people, since writing is a solitary,
anti-social occupation. I am also fond of walking, yoga and food and drink
(what else, in France?). We are also helping to restore a ruined 15th-century
chapel nearby – also a team activity.
What was one of the
most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
That I could do it! Previously, I had written only short
stories. A much more extended piece of work is a different undertaking,
especially at a certain age. Now I’m hooked on novel-length writing.
How many books have
you written?
If you count the one when I was six, then two.
Which is your
favourite and why?
The favourite so far is
The House at Zaronza, naturally. As a writer, you want to develop constantly,
though, and if I continue to write and publish novels then it’s possible that a
later one will overtake it. However, as my first novel,
The House at Zaronza will always occupy a special place in my
thoughts. I actually shed a little tear when I typed “The End”!
As a child, what did
you want to do when you grew up?
I was going to be the UK’s first woman prime minister, but
someone pipped me to the post. At another time, I wanted to be a doctor, but my
maths wasn’t good enough. I never thought of being a full-time writer, although
that is what I have become after a varied career.
What are you working
on now?
Novel number two, set in France during World War II. It is
beginning to develop into a sequel to
The House at Zaronza, although it didn’t start out like that. But you know how
it is: your characters take you over.
Bio
Vanessa Couchman is passionate about French and Corsican
history, from which she derives the inspiration for much of her fiction. She
has lived in France since 1997, where she runs a copywriting business and also
writes magazine articles. Her short stories have won and been placed in
creative writing competitions.
The House at Zaronza is her debut novel.
Twitter: @Vanessainfrance
Facebook: vanessa.couchman.3
Published works:
Foreign and Far Away:
Writers Abroad Anthology 2013 (Contributor)
Foreign Encounters:
Writers Abroad Anthology 2012 (Contributor)
Foreign Flavours:
Writers Abroad Anthology 2011 (Contributor)
Fifty Stories for
Pakistan, 2010 (Contributor)
Yesterday, ed.
Marit Meredith, 2011 (Contributor)
Critique Service for Writers
Flash 500 Home Page: Flash Fiction, Humour Verse
and Novel Opening Chapter and Synopsis Competitions
