Billy and Me (28 page)

Billy and Me
looks at the price of fame and having a relationship in the spotlight. What made you decide to write about this subject? Did you draw from your own experiences?

Thanks to the media, people have certain ideas of what dating a celebrity must be like – some girls even claim that it’s all they want from life. All us ‘WAGs’ just shop and eat lettuce leaves all day, don’t we? Erm, no. In
Billy and Me
I wanted to capture a more rounded version of that supportive lifestyle. There are incredible highs, but there’s also the hurt, the insecurities and the loneliness to contend with. And yes, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t inspired by my own experiences at first, but that was only when I started. The novel had a life of its own after those initial ideas.

What made you decide to set the majority of
Billy and Me
in a tiny village in Kent? Do you have a particular connection to this area?

I have lived in Kent – I studied there for three years – but I don’t think Sidcup can be compared to Rosefont Hill. With Kent known as ‘The Garden Of England’, it
seemed fitting to set my idyllic village there. Also, I wanted somewhere small and safe for Sophie, with a close-knit community, somewhere vastly different to the busy streets of London.

One of the main themes of
Billy and Me
focuses on keeping hold of your dreams and not losing sight of who you really are and what you want out of life. What is it about this theme that made you want to write about it?

Being an actress it’s important to keep focused and positive, which is hard when there’s so much rejection out there. I think of it like being on a bucking bronco – you sit there holding on for as long as you can, trying not to get flung to the ground. It’s inevitable that you will be at some point, what’s important is how you handle it when you do. You get up, get back on and keep striving towards your goal. I’ve had my fair share of setbacks and it’s so easy to get sidetracked and lose sight of what you cherish and value – but it’s those little things that make everything worthwhile! That’s where the magic happens.

How and where do you write?

First, I create a big summary, letting me know where I’m going with the plot and helping me focus my thoughts. Then I just get cracking. I aim to write 1,500
words a day. On a good day I’ll do double that, on a bad day I’ll do half. I write in my office at home, which is like my little den – it’s full of posters, Venetian masks, inspiring quotes, books and photos of almost everyone I know and love. I usually write in there but sometimes, if my room becomes a distraction (there’s so much to look at), I sit in the garden room looking out at the greenery – just me, my laptop and a glass of water. Oh, and a cat, or two, or three, or four …

Who or what was your biggest influence in deciding to become a writer?

A couple of people said they thought I should do it – my husband and my friend Karen. I knew I’d love to, but had no idea where you start with something like that. Then I met Hannah, an agent, who told me she thought I’d be good at it … again, where do you start? Then, I was out for lunch with author Dorothy Koomson one day and she told me her biggest piece of advice to aspiring authors was, ‘do it’. So I did!

What are your favourite books?

I have so many – I’m a real bookworm. Three books that I read years ago that have stuck with me are
Jemima J
by Jane Green,
My Best Friend’s Girl
by Dorothy Koomson and
Playing Away
by Adele Parks.
Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Brontë is my absolute favourite though.

How do you most love to spend your time when you’re not writing?

I’d love to say lying in bed while eating chocolate, but I don’t want to appear like a complete slob. In my downtime I read anything I can get my hands on, see my friends and remember what it’s like to have a life, and go on great walks in the country.

Where’s your favourite place to escape to?

I’d have to say my bed!

I’d like to send a gigantic thank you to:

My agent Hannah Ferguson, who not only believed in me from the start, but also guided me through this whole adventure with a friendly smile and lots of cake.

Claire Pelly, for turning my creation into an actual book for others to enjoy!

Beatrix McIntyre and Fiona Brown for making the copyediting and page-proofing process so painless! Plus everyone on the sales, marketing and publicity teams who have supported
Billy and Me
.

Dorothy and Karen, for unknowingly prompting me to sit down and actually write – it was time to stop thinking and start doing!

Scabby, Savvy, Emma, Hayley, Lauren, Kara and my other gorgeous friends, for letting me get on with this and not being too annoyed with me when I couldn’t come out to play.

Izzy, for being open and honest and helping me fit together the pieces of the puzzle, and to the rest of the McFamily.

The Falcone/Fletcher gang – Mum, Dad, Giorgie, Mario, Debbie B, Debbie F, Bob and Carrie … The most encouraging family I could ever wish for. You’re the best!

My husband Tom, for letting me talk his ears off about characters and situations. For giving me endless advice and support … and for not minding that I’ve been sat around the house for most of the past year.

To all my Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook followers who have kept me entertained along the way – you’ve never failed to put a smile on my face!

And finally, Molly, for teaching me so much and making such a huge impact on my heart – I love you too.

Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London
WC2R 0RL
, England
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M4P 2Y3
(a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Ireland, 25 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd)
Penguin Group (Australia), 707 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3008, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd)
Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd, 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi – 110 017, India
Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd)
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, Block D, Rosebank Office Park, 181 Jan Smuts Avenue, Parktown North, Gauteng 2193, South Africa

Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London
WC2R 0RL
, England

www.penguin.com

First published 2013

Copyright © Giovanna Fletcher 2013

The moral right of the author has been asserted

Cover illustration: Sarah Gibb/
theartworksinc.com
.

All rights reserved

ISBN: 978-1-40-590996-9