Interview with Slippers in the Oven author Roberta Aarons

A heart-warming tale of two sisters’ journey towards reconciliation and forgiveness.
After Emma, a successful career woman, steals the husband of her younger sister Ann, a comfortable stay-at-home mother, they are estranged for many years. Reunited again at his funeral and carried away by the emotion of the moment, they impulsively decide to go on holiday together.
Unable to agree on a destination, they eventually compromise on a cruise. But intermixed with thrilling new experiences, unfamiliar destinations and the amusing antics of some of their fellow passengers, Ann and Emma find it difficult to heal their wounds.
On board the disconnected, and at times, surreal world of a cruise ship, there are accusations and revelations amid the tears and laughter as they take tentative steps towards a greater understanding of each other and their painful past.
The exploration of a significant contemporary issue, career wife versus mother in the home, wrapped up in an entertaining journey.

“‘Slippers in the Oven’ is an enjoyable read full of engaging characters”
“Cleverly written, a brilliant read...”

Author Interview

Do dreams ever inspire your writing? What did you last dream about?
I don’t often dream and usually only stressful dreams. I rarely remember what.

When did you first start writing? And when were you first published?
Throughout my career, I had written non-fiction, but started writing fiction in my seventies and decided to tackle the story I had always wanted to tell, which became my first novel. It was published in 2010.

What is it about 'chick lit' that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres?
I am impressed with the skill shown by ‘chic lit’ authors in telling stories quickly and succinctly. I read literary fiction and historical novels.

Can you tell us a little about your latest book?
After Emma, a career woman, steals the husband of her younger sister Ann, a stay-at-home mother, they are estranged for many years. Reunited at his funeral, they impulsively decide to take a cruise together. Whilst enjoying new experiences and the amusing antics of their follow passengers, they make the heart-warming journey towards reconciliation and forgiveness.

What inspired you to write it?
I like to write about subjects or issues that are important and wrap them up in fictional stories. I saw that my daughter and her friends, mainly working mothers, were going through the same dilemmas about the balance of marriage, children and careers that I had as a working mother many years ago.

Have you ever spotted anyone reading your books anywhere? 

No but I have been sent photos of people doing so.

Who designs your covers? 

Jacqueline Abromeit.

If your latest book was made into a film, who would you cast? 

Olivia Coleman as Ann and Lindsay Duncan as Emma.

What's your favourite Chick Lit book that made it to the big screen? 

I don’t know of any.

What were the last two books you read? 

The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers and The Light Behind the Window by Lucinda Riley

Where do you write? 

Out and about, walking, waiting as bus stops, pretty much anywhere then back in my tiny home/office.

Tell us a random fact about yourself. 

I am glad I started writing later in life so that it doesn’t get muddled up with paying the mortgage.

Who would play you in the movie about your life? 

Emma Thompson.

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live. 

Although in West London, it is a little pocket of a community that feels like a village.

What are your (writing) plans for the future?

I am picking up one of the characters from my first novel, ‘My Grandfather’s False Teeth’ who disappears into the London fog in the early 1920’s and telling her story. Readers have asked me often what happened to her, so I have to create and answer!

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list. 

Finishing my third book and being pleased with it.

Favourite myth / fairytale? 

I don’t think I have one.

Who (or what) did you want to be when you were a kid? 

I wanted to be a very brave war reporter.

Robert Aarons lives in West London. Her interests are theatre, film, athletics (watching!) art, classical music and traveling.
Roberta was born in London into a creative family; her mother was an artist and her father a theatre historian. She originally trained as a newspaper journalist on a London local paper where she had her own weekly column.
Roberta then moved to New York to work in television news, documentaries and entertainment. She returned to London after ten years and her subsequent career included writing and producing commercials, short feature films and corporate video. Roberta also lectured and taught video production, proposal writing and presentation skills. During these years her comedy television series ‘Glad Rags’ was optioned by the then Carlton TV, but not produced.
Having started writing fiction in her seventies, Roberta now concentrates on writing fiction full time and plans to celebrate her 80th birthday with the publication of her third book.
‘Slippers in the Oven’ is Roberta’s second novel, following her hugely successful debut
‘My Grandfather’s False Teeth’.

“A great second novel...bring on the next one!”
“A Page Turner!” “An easy and enjoyable read”