"MY LAST YEAR OF BEING MARRIED"

Harlequin Mondadori
Red Dress Ink

WFF: You write novels and are also a journalist. Which do you feel more strongly about - your novels or your journalism? Are you going to pursue both careers forever?

ST:I feel much more strongly about my books than about my journalism but feel I couldn't have written with as much confidence and honesty and knowledge of the world if I hadn't been a travel journalist for seven years. I hope to continue to write about my travels as I learn so much from the experience - and sharing it with my six year old son Tom. The lessons I have learnt as a travel journalist and writer are invaluable to me as an author. Being a journalist has enabled me to fine tune my ability to listen to others and essentially act as an observer - as well as a participator - in life. I have a clearer sense of what is relative now - and hopefully can instill a sense of depth into my characters as a result of that. I know now people aren't wholly bad or wholly good. No hero is perfect, no villain is all mean. It doesn't happen in life - it shouldn't happen in books. Both vocations require the ability to be a good story teller. Journalists need to be tenacious, curious and succinct preferably in 200 - 2000 words. Authors need to be the same, in 90,000. When I write a novel, I essentially question myself (actually, I question everything). When I write an article as a journalist, the only thing I question is other people.

WFF: Tell us how you came to write your first novel.

ST: How I got to write my first novel is a book in itself. I got this break during probably the lowest time in my life. I never planned to write a novel. It was never on my action list of things to do before I reached forty, but I was in the middle of separating from my husband, with a three year old, and at that moment in my life, the last thing on my mind was work and career. But I hadn't gone out of the house for at least six months, and was invited to an event in London that I was initially going to turn down - but a good friend suggested I go. There I met a lady who I talked to for some time - about life, about stuff in general. She listened and smiled and after a while said, 'that would make a good book'. I said, yes, it would. She then introduced herself as Karin, and gave me her card which read 'commissioning editor Harlequin', and asked me to send in a synopsis for a book. So, I wrote. I wrote 20,000 words - the synopsis and the first three chapters in a few weeks because I couldn't sleep at the time. I sent in the copy, and didn't hear anything for months. Then I heard they wanted to see more, so I wrote more and sent it in. One month later, I remember standing in one of my bedrooms, talking to my solicitor who was telling me the date of my decree nisi. I remember putting the phone down and sobbing. Five minutes later - perhaps even sooner as I was still in the same room, crying, the phone rang again. The editor was on the phone. She told me Harlequin wanted to offer me a two book deal. I also got a break to present on the BBC Holiday Show in New York that year, something every UK travel journalist aspires to. I was filming the day my decree absolut came through. I now know for sure - when one door closes, if it is big enough, many many more doors open. That door in my life was very big. ST:

WFF: We've followed Sarah Giles from The Last Year of Being Single to The Last Year of Being Married. Will there be another Sarah Giles novel?

ST: Definitely. there will be two more. Sarah Giles is on the up and still learning and still feisty. There are a lot of Sarah Giles' out there in every country in the world.

WFF: What novel are you working on now and how do you see yourself developing as a writer?

ST: I am working on two novels both untitled as yet, but both very relevant to today's woman, and both have chapters set in Italy (I love your country!) I recently presented a series on ITV in the UK and presented seven of the shows in La Marquee. What an amazing country you have. My next two novels to be published by Harlequin are THE YOUNGER MAN and LIVING BY PROXY - both about women who are romantics but don't believe in romance any more. They are very real women but have a sense of fun and perspective and integrity and like the author, are extremely mischievous.

WFF: Thanks so much for you time and we look forward to reading your next book!