Deborah Wright

Deborah Wright was born in Surrey in 1975 and has been writing novels since she was eleven years old. She graduated from Lincoln College, Oxford University with a degree in English lang & lit. She finally received her first publishing deal when she was 22 years old with Olivia's Bliss, a black romantic comedy about a young writer caught in a love triangle between a father and son. It won the Ireland on Sunday 'Write a Bestseller' competition and was published by Poolbeg Press in 2000. Her next book, The Rebel Fairy, was a modernised version of A Midsummer Night's Dream. It was published by Time Warner in March 2002 and shot straight into the bestsellers on publication. Since then she has published Under My Spell, 'A History of Lucy's Love Life in 10.5 Chapters' and The Celebrity Mother.

Envisage yourself as a butterfly, which colour would it be and why?

Blue - the colour of the sky

Describe your writing style in one sentence

Quirky

Without the naughty bits, describe your typical writing day

Would be better if there were more naughty bits! Normally breakfast meditation, lunch, writing, dinner, writing, party, sleep. Etc. And I always begin the day with chocolate cake, because it's the perfect breakfast for a writer: consoling yet caffeinated, so it sparks up the mind and imagination.

Who would you like a screen snog with?

I don't like conventionally good-looking men; prefer men who are interesting, or charismatic in an unusual way. So maybe John Malkovich (especially as the JM of 'Dangerous Liaisons'!). Or Ian McKellan (if he could not be gay for 5 minutes).

Describe your road to a publishing deal

I got rejected by 40 agents then won a competition to 'Write a Bestseller' and things unrolled from there.

The last book you borrowed from the library?

'Ludmila's Broken English' by DBC Pierre, which was very good

Describe your fantasy writing retreat…

A cottage in the mountains with beautiful views and pure air. To spend all day writing, with meals being cooked for me, and then to spend the night being inspired by a lover. I can't write a book without being in love or having a crush; I need a Muse!

Frosted doughnuts or steamed cabbage?

Neither; steamed frosted chocolate would be better

If you hadn’t become a writer, what would you be?

Dead

Describe your fantasy writing retreat…

A cottage in the mountains with beautiful views and pure air. To spend all day writing, with meals being cooked for me, and then to spend the night being inspired by a lover. I can't write a book without being in love or having a crush; I need a Muse!

One piece of advice to any aspiring authors…

Rewrite endlessly and (sorry, I know I'm now on my second piece of advice but...) persevere. Too many authors send out work to 3 agents, get rejected and give up. Be prepared for a long haul.

And the best thing about being a writer is…? (Feel free to be totally fickle and materialistic here)

It's the one thing in my life that feels absolutely right, as though I shouldn't be doing any other profession except this one. I have to admit I get a bit cross about people who write with materialistic intentions, which I'm sure is very churlish of me. But I do think people should always write first for the love of it because the book will be better and they'll make more money anyway!

Thanks Deborah

© Lola Jaye