Dinah Jefferies
Author Interview - Dinah Jefferies
Author of Daughters of War
In an old stone cottage, on the edge of a beautiful French village, three sisters long for the end of the war. Hélène, the eldest, is trying her hardest to steer her family to safety, even as the Nazi occupation becomes more threatening. Elise, the rebel, is determined to help the Resistance, whatever the cost. And Florence, the dreamer, just yearns for a world where France is free. Then, one dark night, the Allies come knocking for help. And Hélène knows that she cannot sit on the sidelines any longer. But secrets from their own mysterious past threaten to unravel everything they hold most dear…
The first in an epic new series from the #1 international bestselling author, Daughters of War is a stunning tale of sisters, secrets and bravery in the darkness of war-torn France…
Author Interview - Dinah Jefferies
Author I draw inspiration from: I’ve been inspired by Daphne du Maurier, Thomas Hardy and Emily Bronte but there are many modern authors I adore reading too, including Eve Chase, Taylor Jenkins Reid, and Alka Joshi. A wonderful book of any kind inspires me to do the best work I can, and I read widely and across different genres.
Author Interview - Dinah Jefferies | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book: Lying on my bed in my writing room in the late afternoon, especially if the sun is slanting in and my cats have joined me. Bliss.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with: Elizabeth in Richard Osman’s ‘Thursday Murder Club’ book 1 or 2. She has so much fun as the bodies pile up and we could talk endlessly about who we think the murderer is. Truth is I don’t read much crime, but these books are hilarious and a great distraction from reality if you need one.
Author Interview - Dinah Jefferies | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author: I never thought about becoming ‘an author’ as such. But, after a couple of months of wondering if I could possibly do it, one rainy day I simply decided to finally try my hand at writing a novel. We were living in Spain, and I had plenty of time to focus on it. Even now, I still think of myself as a storyteller first and foremost, a writer second, and an author last of all.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook: Audiobooks every time. I just devour them, and I have my favorite narrators. Julia Whelan in the US, and in the UK Stephanie Racine who narrated Daughters of War. I must have about 400 audiobooks, and it all started when Audible gave me ten free credits after I’d done an interview with them.
The last book I read: ‘The Paper Palace’ by Miranda Cowley Heller. A compelling, domestic drama that explores how traumatic events in the past can still affect the present. A wonderfully evocative book with an ambiguous ending.
Author Interview - Dinah Jefferies | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer: Pen and paper for copious, and frequently illegible notes that I often lose, and a desk top computer for writing the novels. I will sometimes draft a scene on paper too. I’m a bit of a technophobe but luckily my husband is a whizz. I was in a complete panic yesterday when I lost 20,000 words from my work in progress. An hour later he found them. End of panic attack.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with: Nina Riva from ‘Malibu Rising’, the talented surfer and supermodel who has an emotional depth she longs to explore and a dream to escape the life she is living. I loved her and I loved the book too. Any book about someone wanting to turn their life around and I’m hooked.
Author Interview - Dinah Jefferies | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a: As this is imaginary, I’d be a linguist and a travel writer. I enjoy travelling to other countries and exploring new places, although in truth I don’t speak any foreign languages so being a linguist would be a bit of a stretch. If I ever stopped writing novels, I’d love to learn Italian or Spanish.
Favorite decade in fashion history: The 1920s. I love the beaded ‘flapper’ dresses - the jazz, the dancing, plus the glitz and the glamour. But the new fashions also represented freedom following the end of WW1 and this simplicity in clothing allowed women to move more easily after the constrictions of earlier decades. (But I am also a fan of 1940s suits.)
Place I’d most like to travel: The tea plantations in the foothills of the Himalayas from where you can look out of your window and see the sun lighting up the snow on the distant peaks. It just looks fabulous in the photos I’ve seen, and I can only imagine how fresh the air must be.
My signature drink: In the evening freshly squeezed orange juice, tonic water, and ice. In the morning a large mug of good strong tea.
Favorite artist: If you mean visual artist, it’s Sally Anne Fitter. I have one of her beautiful paintings above the fireplace. All her paintings are so joyous and mine always lifts my spirits.
Number one on my bucket list: To get to Morocco next year. I had to cancel this year due to the pandemic. It’s going to be the atmospheric setting for my third book in this series of three. ‘Daughters of War’ is just the first.
Anything else you'd like to add: I adore Maine Coon cats and have two. They are known as the dogs of the cat world and follow me around - just like dogs. I love them to bits.
Find more from the author:
https://twitter.com/DinahJefferies
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/dinah-jefferies
https://www.facebook.com/dinahjefferiesbooks/
Author Bio: Dinah Jefferies began her career with The Separation, followed by the number 1 Sunday Times and Richard and Judy bestseller The Tea-Planter’s Wife. Born in Malaysia, she moved to England at the age of nine. When she began writing novels, deeply influenced by her Eastern childhood, she was able to return there on annual research trips for each new novel.
With her most recent bestseller, her seventh novel The Tuscan Contessa, she moved to writing about a European setting for the first time and continues that in this new series.
She is published in 28 languages and over 30 countries and has twice been a Richard and Judy bookclub pick.
