I am so excited to be a part of the blog tour for Tasmina Perry's THE PROPOSAL! It's such a charming and gripping novel which I'm sure you will love. Click here if you'd like to read my review of The Proposal. I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to have a little chat with Tasmina herself! I would like to thank Emily from Headline for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour and Tasmina for answering my questions for this interview!
1. Could you tell us about your new book, The Proposal?
It’s a bit of a departure from my usual books in that it has a dual narrative set in two different periods of time – present day and 1958. The first story follows an out of work dancer Amy Carrell who answers an advert in the Lady magazine to be a companion for a very wealthy and elegant old lady called Georgia on a Christmas trip to New York. Georgia goes on to teach Amy about the art of old school glamour but along the way we find out that Georgia has a sad secret in her past that Amy resolves to sort out. The book also follows Georgia as a teenager doing the final Debutante Season in 1958. Georgia is a reluctant Deb but she goes on to meet the love of her life. A film producer asked me to describe it the other day and I said it was Pretty Woman meets Scent of a Woman.
It’s a bit of a departure from my usual books in that it has a dual narrative set in two different periods of time – present day and 1958. The first story follows an out of work dancer Amy Carrell who answers an advert in the Lady magazine to be a companion for a very wealthy and elegant old lady called Georgia on a Christmas trip to New York. Georgia goes on to teach Amy about the art of old school glamour but along the way we find out that Georgia has a sad secret in her past that Amy resolves to sort out. The book also follows Georgia as a teenager doing the final Debutante Season in 1958. Georgia is a reluctant Deb but she goes on to meet the love of her life. A film producer asked me to describe it the other day and I said it was Pretty Woman meets Scent of a Woman.
2. What inspired you to write about the glamorous 1950s débutante scene in London?
I actually got the idea when I went to see this fabulous exhibition at Kensington Palace called the Last Débutantes which featured dozens of beautiful gowns and invitations for balls and cocktail parties. I thought it would be a wonderful period to write about but when I went away to research it found out it was also a fascinating watershed year in British history. It was still quite a restrictive society – in terms of how you were expected to behave and who you could and should marry, but people, particularly young people were desperately trying to break free of that.
I actually got the idea when I went to see this fabulous exhibition at Kensington Palace called the Last Débutantes which featured dozens of beautiful gowns and invitations for balls and cocktail parties. I thought it would be a wonderful period to write about but when I went away to research it found out it was also a fascinating watershed year in British history. It was still quite a restrictive society – in terms of how you were expected to behave and who you could and should marry, but people, particularly young people were desperately trying to break free of that.
3. From the back of The Proposal, you went to New York to “research” on your book? What are your top tips for those who plan on visiting NYC? Any must-see attractions and to-die-for delicacies?
I go to New York quite regularly and there are a handful of places that I try to visit each time I go. Serendipity 3 is a fantastic café that serves the most delicious ice-cream sundaes. Century 21 is an Aladdin’s cave of bargain clothes. Joe’s Pizza was recommended to me by Christina Aguilera and is the home of the world’s tastiest and chewiest pizza. I also love riding the Staten Island ferry for great views of the city.
I go to New York quite regularly and there are a handful of places that I try to visit each time I go. Serendipity 3 is a fantastic café that serves the most delicious ice-cream sundaes. Century 21 is an Aladdin’s cave of bargain clothes. Joe’s Pizza was recommended to me by Christina Aguilera and is the home of the world’s tastiest and chewiest pizza. I also love riding the Staten Island ferry for great views of the city.
4. Of all the books you’ve written, do you have a favourite? (I’m sorry – I guess you feel like being asked which of your children is your favourite!)
Daddy’s Girls will always be special to me because it was my first - that feeling of seeing your debut novel actually in print is quite magical. I also love The Proposal - I even made myself cry writing the final chapter!
Daddy’s Girls will always be special to me because it was my first - that feeling of seeing your debut novel actually in print is quite magical. I also love The Proposal - I even made myself cry writing the final chapter!
5. What are you working on now? Could you give us a little sneak peek?
I’ve just started my new novel which is set between present day and high-society 1961. I’m really excited about it!
I’ve just started my new novel which is set between present day and high-society 1961. I’m really excited about it!
6. Do you read what you write?
I’m a big reader and always have quite a mixed bag of stuff by my bedside. Right now, the new Jane Green one is there, Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (my son absolutely loves Harry Potter so I am trying to read the series so we can have a good chat about it!) and a couple of business books. On my kindle you’ll find dozens of chick-lit novels, biographies, thrillers, memoirs, comedy books. Kindle is great for trying out new authors and genres because I do a lot of impulse buying.
7. If you can only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
If I had to take one book on a desert island it would be Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle. It is so charming and romantic and brilliant – I have four copies of it on my book shelves at home including a first edition that my husband got me for my birthday which I treasure.
If I had to take one book on a desert island it would be Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle. It is so charming and romantic and brilliant – I have four copies of it on my book shelves at home including a first edition that my husband got me for my birthday which I treasure.
8. What are your thoughts on your books being called “chick lit”?
The phrase Chick-Lit can be used quite derogatorily in the press, but I think these days the phrase is such a broad one – anything from straight-forward girl-meets-boy romances to much darker offerings like Liane Moriarty’s The Husband’s Secret have all been branded chick-lit. I guess it’s just a handy term to say this is really readable women’s commercial fiction and most authors would be happy being called that!
The phrase Chick-Lit can be used quite derogatorily in the press, but I think these days the phrase is such a broad one – anything from straight-forward girl-meets-boy romances to much darker offerings like Liane Moriarty’s The Husband’s Secret have all been branded chick-lit. I guess it’s just a handy term to say this is really readable women’s commercial fiction and most authors would be happy being called that!
9. Are you a fan of Nutella? If not, what’s your favourite spread?
I’m Marmite mad, but it has to be the real McCoy not supermarket branded yeast extract which doesn’t taste the same. Nutella is a bit sweet fo me first thing in the morning, but I love baking with it. I have a great recipe for really gooey brownies that uses spoonfuls of it.
I’m Marmite mad, but it has to be the real McCoy not supermarket branded yeast extract which doesn’t taste the same. Nutella is a bit sweet fo me first thing in the morning, but I love baking with it. I have a great recipe for really gooey brownies that uses spoonfuls of it.
Been following Tasmina's Tour. Because I'm fascinated by London's aristocracy and early twentieth century fashion: vintage. So the addition of a debutante makes all this glamorous. Think I will go in for this. Love the interview though.
ReplyDeleteHi, Kobbyben!
DeleteYES, YOU WILL! I enjoyed reading about the glitz and glamour of the debuntante scene in London circa 1950s! :)
Hope you will enjoy it too! x