A Chat with British Novelist Andrea Semple

by Jennifer Minar

Recently, Writer's Break had the honor of speaking with British novelist Andrea Semple, the author of two romantic comedies, The Ex-Factor (Piatkus Books, May 2003) and most recently, The Make-Up Girl (Piatkus Books, July 2004).

Formerly a manager for one of the world's largest nightclubs, Semple got her start in writing for the PR field, then went on to freelance for publications such as The Guardian and The Independent. Now a full-time novelist, Semple devotes most of her time to fiction.

Chosen as a Cosmopolitan magazine Book of the Month, Semple's second novel, The Make-Up Girl, has been met with high praise. “A painfully funny debut novel,” says Heat. Company raves: “a red hot talent . . . the new Marian Keyes.”

Semple currently lives in Leeds, in the North of England, very near the village where the Bronte sisters wrote Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. She lives with her boyfriend, Matt, who is also a novelist.

Here's what Semple had to tell Writer's Break about her new book, The Makeup Girl, and her approach to writing.

How did you get your start as a writer?

My first job was in PR, which led to freelance journalism. From there I took the big risk of taking three months off work and writing a novel. It was a gamble, but it paid off.

Has your experience in journalism helped you at all with writing or researching your novels?

Yes and no. Journalism has certainly helped on the research side, but personally the fiction writing I do is very different from my journalism. Writing novels is the perfect antidote to writing for newspapers, because instead of having to worry that all your facts are right you can escape into your imagination.

Do you have a writing schedule?

I wish. I'm so disorganised! If my mum didn't phone to wake me up every morning I'd probably never get out of bed! That said, when I'm in full flow I try and write 2,000 words a day. I try to get it done by lunch as my brain gets a bit foggy as the day goes on.

Describe your writing environment.

I write in a city centre apartment which isn't perfect because it's so noisy. Having said that, it's great to have little breaks going around the shops.

What's on your desk?

Paper, a computer, bills, a bank statement, a picture of my baby nephew and far too much clutter.

I'd imagine that having a boyfriend who is a fellow novelist would be wonderful. Similar goals. Similar passions and interests. Has this been your experience?

Overall, yes. It's good because we read each others work and give feedback, but there's always a little bit [of] competition -- 'my cover's better than your cover', that sort of thing!

What is your favorite part about writing? Your least?

The favourite part is when readers get in contact and say how much they enjoyed the novel, because writing is such a private thing that you never know how people will respond. To get emails from people from the other side of the world feels incredible. My least favourite bit is editing -- I'm so bad at it because I never know which bits to chop.

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