Say hi to... Jane Lovering

I approached Jane to appear on the Fiction Dreams website and I'm so glad I did. She has continued to crack me up since then and this interview is certainly no different...

When did you first start reading Chick Lit?

I honestly can’t remember! It feels as though I’ve been reading it forever, but I don’t think there was any such thing when I was growing up – funny women hadn’t been invented back then.

When did you first start writing Chick Lit?
I started out writing hard sci fi, then, as I carried on, the hardness got sort of...well, runny. Next thing, I woke up and found I’d written an entire romantic comedy.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres? If so, which?
I like writing (and reading) about people. About what makes them tick, why they behave the way they do, exploring personalities. So, it was either chick lit or psychology text books, and I prefer the laughs I get from chick lit, although I don’t really call what I write chick lit, I call it ‘dark psychological romance, with jokes’.
I read absolutely all genres, from fantasy to thrillers (I’ve no idea why I said that, as though fantasy and thrillers are two opposite poles, but I’m sure you know what I mean). I love everything that has well-drawn characters and snappy dialogue, and I’m prepared to forgo the dialogue for a cracking story.

Name one of your favourite Chick Lit books?
Rachel’s Holiday by Marian Keyes. Some dispute whether this is chick lit or women’s fiction, but either way it’s a fabulous character study of delusional people and addiction.

What's the title of your latest book? Can you tell us about it?

My current release with Choc Lit is called Hubble Bubble, it’s set (as all my books are) in North Yorkshire where I live, and it’s about a woman called Holly trying to stop her best friend from joining a witching group. It’s not paranormal, no magic is actually done, although some is performed, and no animals were harmed in the making. May contain nuts, though.

What inspired you to write it?
The local countryside, the weirdness of people who want to think they can influence the Universe, the ‘what-ifs’ of life, and a phenomenal amount of biscuits. Mostly Hobnobs, but I’m not sniffy, anything will do.

Is it part of a series?
No. I don’t do series, apart from my vampires.

Who designs your covers?
The very lovely and talented Berni Stevens, who does most of the covers for Choc Lit. And a terrific job she makes of them – we are very lucky to have her.

If your latest book was made into a film, who would you cast?
I have no idea. I don’t watch enough television, that’s the trouble – only Doctor Who and Time Team, and they aren’t really hotbeds of chick lit inspiration. Well, saying that, Jenna Louise Coleman would make a good Holly, and Ben Barnes could be Kai. If he begged...

What's your favourite Chick Lit book that made it to the big screen?
Oh dear. The only films I tend to see are Sci Fi because I don’t get out much, and I shouldn’t think The Avengers is chick lit.... let me think...I liked Four Weddings, does that count?

Who is your all time favourite Chick Lit character?
I like women who don’t look for a man to save them, who save themselves and the man is a nice bonus, so I’m going to say Rachel Walsh, from Rachel’s Holiday.

Name one female author who you think deserves to be better known.
Well, me, obviously, because it’s a bit tiring doing book signings when people only approach you to tell you they don’t know who you are. Or to ask the way to the toilets – seriously, people, when there’s a person sitting, holding a pen in front of a pile of books and a big picture of THEIR FACE on a poster behind them, don’t ask them where the Fifty Shades books are, or the quickest way to get to the bus station. They can turn nasty. Trust me.

In the movie of your life, who would play you?

Image by KikeValencia

Ben Wishaw. In a wig.

Speed Round...Top drink to make you tipsy? Cocktails!
Shopaholic or shopadon't? Ahahaha...I don’t. I wish I could, but I like the feeling of paying bills.
Sky high heels or closer to the ground? Flats for the day job, Wellingtons for everything else.
E.L. James or Jilly Cooper? Neither, sorry ladies.
Cry baby or tough cookie? Depends. If it’s humans, I’m pretty tough, but a poorly kitten reduces me to mush. And don’t get me started on a puppy with a poorly paw...

Jane Lovering was born in Devon and is refusing to grow up in Yorkshire. She has five children, three cats, two dogs, five chickens and a nasty cough. Her day job involves working in a local school as a Science Tech, but she much prefers writing in the warmth of her bed, from where she produces romantic comedies and paranormals for Choc Lit Publishing. She won Romantic Novel of the Year for ‘Please Don’t Stop the Music’ in 2012.

Jane's website
Choc Lit
Hubble Bubble on Amazon
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