MY WRITING DAY
JO THOMAS
The author whose feelgood novels focus on food tells Lynne Hackles about her everyday recipe for writing
Jo Thomas’s debut novel, The Oyster Catcher, was not only a bestseller, but it also won the RNA’s Joan Hessayon Award and the Festival of Romance Best eBook Award. Her publishers, Transworld, now describe her as the queen of escapist fiction.
Jo works fairly set hours, often starting the day on social media. ‘I talk to writing friends and check to see who has books coming out,’ she says. ‘I spend a lot of time doing Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I usually tweet first thing every morning with foodie thoughts playing on my mind, talking about books, writing or where I am and the day ahead. That can be particularly lovely if I’m on a trip somewhere. As for Facebook, I generally do a weekly catch up on Sundays of what I’m reading and cooking. And then there’s my Instagram. I do Bookery Club most Fridays at five, live on Instagram from my kitchen, talking about what I’m reading, writing, and cooking. I have lots of regular viewers from all over the world who join in and tell us what they’re reading and cooking. It’s great fun. I sometimes do one on a Sunday morning too. I love Sunday mornings in my kitchen, so it’s a great time to catch up with readers.