I had a blast reading Laura Ziepe's fun, laugh-out-loud debut novel which I really enjoyed! And I was so glad Laura agreed to do an interview for I Heart.. Chick Lit. Besides writing novels, Laura is also a fashion entrepreneur and a really warm, lovely person. Ladies, the Essex girl herself.
Please tell us about your new book, Essex Girls.
Essex Girls is a story about three best friends who find themselves in the glamorous location that is Marbella. It’s a light hearted, fun, girly book about friendship, love and betrayal. Perfect for fans of TOWIE and those that love an entertaining, easy read!
What inspired you to write about 3 Essex Girls spending the summer in Marbella?
After filming a few scenes for TOWIE (series one), I decided the reality TV show just wasn’t for me. However, I knew the show was going to be extremely popular; everyone seemed to be obsessed with Essex! I did a bit of research and noticed there weren’t any novels out there about Essex girls. I realised there was a gap in the market and that this may be my chance to be published. It’s always been my dream to be an author (I studied creative writing at University) and so I decided I would create a story about girls from the much talked about county. Marbella seemed the perfect getaway for the characters as its every bit as OTT as described in the book and the destination is a firm favourite of Essex girls and boys!
Did you incorporate your experiences into the book?
Yes and no. I’ll admit the first part of the book (where the character finds her boyfriend’s phone and discovers he’s cheating) did actually happen to me! However, the revenge part was made up to create drama (maybe what I secretly wish I had done, ha). I wanted to include the part where the characters start their own business to show that despite their perception, Essex girls can be intelligent, successful and entrepreneurial. The characters are all completely fictional, but I suppose there are parts of all my friends and people I know in them. Everyone has blonde moments and a lot of the ditzy one-liners the character Kelly comes out with, were actually said by people I know! (Obviously not me included, I’d never come out with anything that daft...
Since Essex Girls is your first novel, did you have any problems channelling your “writing voice” into the plot?
Seeing as the book is about Essex girls, I knew it should be tongue in cheek and humorous just like the TV show so I did bear this in mind when writing the book; I had to remember my target audience, and at times I was asked to remember to write using simple language. At first I wrote the story just from the protagonist, Jade’s, point of view, but I wasn’t happy with this and like reading books where you see other characters insights too, so I went back through it and changed it. I was already half way through, but I really felt it would be better to hear what the other characters had to say. I learnt so much from writing the first novel and feel I’ve really developed new skills as a writer. I’m really excited about writing my third novel!
How does your writing day go? Do you have a certain routine when you set yourself to write?
It wasn’t too hard for me to write Essex Girls, because luckily I work from home running my fashion business (My Celebrity Dress.com), so I do find I have free time. I usually start after working, at about five onwards. Some days I’d do half an hour, whereas other days I’d be up until midnight. I’ve never had a routine though; I just write when I want to. I think it’s important to enjoy it and not to force yourself. If you’re bored writing, people will most likely be bored reading it. I thoroughly enjoyed writing my first book, so it didn’t feel like working at all, it was lots of fun!
Tell us about your road to publication. In your opinion, what do aspiring authors need in order to make it in the publishing industry?
I had finally finished Essex Girls but had no idea if it was good enough to be published; however, I knew I wanted to try as it’s the first book I’ve ever finished and I really felt it was missing from the book shelves! I actually contacted one of my favourite authors who lives local to me, Kimberley Chambers, and asked her for some advice. She suggested I get myself an agent and recommended The Writers and Artists Yearbook, which I then went out and bought. This book is great as it lists every agent/publishing house in the UK as well as their requirements when sending manuscripts in. I wrote to a few that specialised in my genre, and I must say, it was dis-hearting when I received some rejection letters. I was beginning to give up hope when I heard from Hannah Ferguson at The Marsh Agency, asking to see the rest of the manuscript. I was extremely excited, but really tried not to get my hopes up too much (though it was hard!). Hannah then asked to meet me and told me she wanted to represent me; I was over the moon. Not long after, I was introduced to Caroline Hogg, my editor at Harper Collins (Avon) who had been looking for a book just like mine. I did have to make quite a few changes to the book, but I was happy to do so and much preferred the storyline afterwards. I was then told on January 17th 2012 that I had a two book deal with Harper Collins! (I remember the date because it was my fiancés 30th birthday, so a double celebration). I feel I’m extremely lucky to be published the first time round, as I know it can take some people a very long time. To those aspiring authors out there I would say The Writers and Artists Yearbook is a must have, as is determination. You only need one ‘yes’ in the publishing world, and it’s important to remember that just because you receive rejections doesn’t mean you can’t write or your book isn’t any good. Finding something unique to write about is important too; at the time there weren’t any fictional books about Essex Girls that I could find, and I really believed this has helped me to get published. Most importantly, don’t give up! If you love writing, then write.
Essex Girls was super fun from the start until the ending, do you think we could expect the same for Made in Essex?
I learnt so much writing my first novel, that I really feel like Made in Essex is much better! Once again, I loved writing it from start to finish! It’s a follow on from Essex Girls and is just as fun, intriguing and full of glitz and glamour. You’ll see more of Adele and her bitchy ways and there will also be some new characters introduced. If you like Essex Girls, then I think you’ll love Made in Essex even more!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this interview. Feel free to keep in touch or just say hi via my Twitter account (@lauraziepe.)
Please tell us about your new book, Essex Girls.Essex Girls is a story about three best friends who find themselves in the glamorous location that is Marbella. It’s a light hearted, fun, girly book about friendship, love and betrayal. Perfect for fans of TOWIE and those that love an entertaining, easy read!
What inspired you to write about 3 Essex Girls spending the summer in Marbella?
After filming a few scenes for TOWIE (series one), I decided the reality TV show just wasn’t for me. However, I knew the show was going to be extremely popular; everyone seemed to be obsessed with Essex! I did a bit of research and noticed there weren’t any novels out there about Essex girls. I realised there was a gap in the market and that this may be my chance to be published. It’s always been my dream to be an author (I studied creative writing at University) and so I decided I would create a story about girls from the much talked about county. Marbella seemed the perfect getaway for the characters as its every bit as OTT as described in the book and the destination is a firm favourite of Essex girls and boys!
Did you incorporate your experiences into the book?
Yes and no. I’ll admit the first part of the book (where the character finds her boyfriend’s phone and discovers he’s cheating) did actually happen to me! However, the revenge part was made up to create drama (maybe what I secretly wish I had done, ha). I wanted to include the part where the characters start their own business to show that despite their perception, Essex girls can be intelligent, successful and entrepreneurial. The characters are all completely fictional, but I suppose there are parts of all my friends and people I know in them. Everyone has blonde moments and a lot of the ditzy one-liners the character Kelly comes out with, were actually said by people I know! (Obviously not me included, I’d never come out with anything that daft...
Since Essex Girls is your first novel, did you have any problems channelling your “writing voice” into the plot?
Seeing as the book is about Essex girls, I knew it should be tongue in cheek and humorous just like the TV show so I did bear this in mind when writing the book; I had to remember my target audience, and at times I was asked to remember to write using simple language. At first I wrote the story just from the protagonist, Jade’s, point of view, but I wasn’t happy with this and like reading books where you see other characters insights too, so I went back through it and changed it. I was already half way through, but I really felt it would be better to hear what the other characters had to say. I learnt so much from writing the first novel and feel I’ve really developed new skills as a writer. I’m really excited about writing my third novel!
How does your writing day go? Do you have a certain routine when you set yourself to write?
It wasn’t too hard for me to write Essex Girls, because luckily I work from home running my fashion business (My Celebrity Dress.com), so I do find I have free time. I usually start after working, at about five onwards. Some days I’d do half an hour, whereas other days I’d be up until midnight. I’ve never had a routine though; I just write when I want to. I think it’s important to enjoy it and not to force yourself. If you’re bored writing, people will most likely be bored reading it. I thoroughly enjoyed writing my first book, so it didn’t feel like working at all, it was lots of fun!
Tell us about your road to publication. In your opinion, what do aspiring authors need in order to make it in the publishing industry?
I had finally finished Essex Girls but had no idea if it was good enough to be published; however, I knew I wanted to try as it’s the first book I’ve ever finished and I really felt it was missing from the book shelves! I actually contacted one of my favourite authors who lives local to me, Kimberley Chambers, and asked her for some advice. She suggested I get myself an agent and recommended The Writers and Artists Yearbook, which I then went out and bought. This book is great as it lists every agent/publishing house in the UK as well as their requirements when sending manuscripts in. I wrote to a few that specialised in my genre, and I must say, it was dis-hearting when I received some rejection letters. I was beginning to give up hope when I heard from Hannah Ferguson at The Marsh Agency, asking to see the rest of the manuscript. I was extremely excited, but really tried not to get my hopes up too much (though it was hard!). Hannah then asked to meet me and told me she wanted to represent me; I was over the moon. Not long after, I was introduced to Caroline Hogg, my editor at Harper Collins (Avon) who had been looking for a book just like mine. I did have to make quite a few changes to the book, but I was happy to do so and much preferred the storyline afterwards. I was then told on January 17th 2012 that I had a two book deal with Harper Collins! (I remember the date because it was my fiancés 30th birthday, so a double celebration). I feel I’m extremely lucky to be published the first time round, as I know it can take some people a very long time. To those aspiring authors out there I would say The Writers and Artists Yearbook is a must have, as is determination. You only need one ‘yes’ in the publishing world, and it’s important to remember that just because you receive rejections doesn’t mean you can’t write or your book isn’t any good. Finding something unique to write about is important too; at the time there weren’t any fictional books about Essex Girls that I could find, and I really believed this has helped me to get published. Most importantly, don’t give up! If you love writing, then write.
Essex Girls was super fun from the start until the ending, do you think we could expect the same for Made in Essex?
I learnt so much writing my first novel, that I really feel like Made in Essex is much better! Once again, I loved writing it from start to finish! It’s a follow on from Essex Girls and is just as fun, intriguing and full of glitz and glamour. You’ll see more of Adele and her bitchy ways and there will also be some new characters introduced. If you like Essex Girls, then I think you’ll love Made in Essex even more!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this interview. Feel free to keep in touch or just say hi via my Twitter account (@lauraziepe.)
Laura will be signing her book at the Waterstones branch in Colchester on Saturday 9th February from 1pm.
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