Isabel Ashdown was born in London in 1970 and grew up in East Wittering, a seaside village on the south coast of England. She now lives in West Sussex with her family.
Her debut novel, Glasshopper, was published to much critical acclaim, and was named as one of the best books of 2009 by the London Evening Standard and the Observer Review. Her second novel, Hurry Up and Wait, is due for release in Spring 2011.
Isabel completed an MA in Creative Writing at the University of Chichester, and now runs creative writing talks, readings and workshops across the South East. She is also the founder of Chichester Book Club, a website dedicated to reading groups and book clubs in her local area.
Interview with Vicky Blunden, Myriad Editions:
Did you always want to be a writer? As a child I had no idea what I wanted to be, and I don’t think it really struck me that it was possible to be a writer for your job. When I embarked on my Creative Writing degree at the age of thirty-four, however, it became clear that this was what I really wanted, that this was what I’d been waiting to discover all along.
Were you encouraged to read widely as a child? My parents were teachers, as well as great readers, so our home was always overflowing with books. As a child, I loved the escapism of a good book.
What was your favourite subject at school? I loved English – reading, and writing, and the rhythm of language and what you could do with it. All the other subjects were dull in comparison. I did enjoy art too, but I think I knew I wasn’t really very good at it.
What book did you love as a child? My father read me Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, and he used to say that I was rather like Alice. I remember being fascinated with the pictures and odd nonsensical poems, like Jabberwocky. I still am. I called my first child Alice. It’s a good strong name.
What was your career before you began the novel? I worked for many years in product marketing, predominantly for The Body Shop. It was a fabulous business built on sharp wit, sound principles and honest hard work. By the time I left, I was a senior manager, but the creative calling was growing too strong to ignore.
Did writing change you? Enormously. Writing a book is such a personal journey that you can’t help but be altered. Now I feel I really am who I am.
What do you do when you are not writing? Keep on top of family life! At weekends we like to walk the dog in the South Downs or along the beach. Meals are always a focal point of any plans; we love to eat, especially with friends and family. And, of course, I read a lot. A tutor once told me you can’t be a good writer if you’re not a good reader. He’s absolutely right.
Which authors do you most admire? I think I tend to admire particular books rather than authors. Ian McEwan’s The Cement Garden is a small masterpiece, as is Iain Banks’ The Wasp Factory. Fay Weldon’s Puffball opened my teenage eyes to the power of female writing. Perfume by Patrick Suskind is a novel I return to again and again. And I greatly admire Alice Munro and Margaret Atwood. There are too many others to mention . . .
What do you look for in a novel? Characters above all else. If the characters are alive, the book is alive. If the characters are flat, why read on?
What is your idea of perfect happiness? A Sunday morning in bed with an iced coffee and a plate of marmalade on toast, surrounded by my family, reading a great book. We often manage the first bit, but the reading usually has to wait.
When do you write? My writing has to fit in with the rest of my life, with my family, my freelance work and my studies. This could mean working at 5am or at 9pm, but I try to fit in a few decent stretches of writing every week.
Where do you write? I have a basement office in our old Victorian semi, where I can shut myself away from the outside world. I need quiet to write, and the lack of view means I’m not easily distracted. Charlie the dog often comes down and sits with me as I work, so it’s not lonely.
Why do you write? I used to think I need to work and want to write. But gradually I discovered that the truth is I need to write and I want to work. I like to work with others, earn regular money and enjoy financial stability. But the compulsion to write is greater, and if I’m not writing enough I become irritable and petulant. It’s an addiction in its own way, but, hopefully, a productive one.
What do you read if you need a prompt? I read a great deal, but when I’m in a very active writing phase I tend to read less, as it clutters my thinking.
Do you listen to music as you write? No, I need the quiet.
What single thing would improve your writing life? More free time for long mind-clearing walks with my dog. Oh, and a daily neck and shoulder massage.
What distracts you from writing? My family. In a nice way.
How do you balance writing with work, study and family commitments? It is difficult, but the only way to balance it is to get organised. I have a very supportive husband, who is not only an exceptionally talented carpenter, but also an amazing cook. I’m very lucky.
What’s your second novel about? Hurry Up and Wait is about a woman, Sarah, who, on the brink of turning 40, has been invited to a school reunion. The story travels back in time, as Sarah’s thoughts return to her school days of the mid-1980s at an old comprehensive on the south coast of England. In the early stages of writing, I find I’m most interested in discovering the characters, in understanding their dilemmas and choices, and in watching the subsequent repercussions of those choices unfold before me. Sarah is a fascinating character: a strong, independent female, but fallible all the same. Whilst my second novel will have a very different theme to that of Glasshopper, it will appeal to a similar readership.
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To buy Glasshopper, click here.
To view Glasshopper Book Club & Reading Group Discussion Questions, click here.
With just over 12 weeks to go until the official release of Hurry Up and Wait, my publishers at Myriad Editions are launching a competition to win one of five exclusive advance copies of the new book.
