Jenny Colgan
Author Interview - Jenny Colgan
Author of Christmas at the Island Hotel and Studies at the School by the Sea
About Studies at the School by the Sea:
The long-awaited and never-before published finale in New York Times bestselling author Jenny Colgan’s delightful School by the Sea series.
After all those lessons, it’s time to graduate....
Beloved literature teacher Maggie Adair loves her life at the prestigious Downey House boarding school on the gloriously sunny, windy English coast. It was there that she found her footing as a teacher and fell in love with her colleague David—the two great anchors of her life. But these days Maggie’s feeling restless, lured by the promise of a different life back in her Scottish hometown. How can you follow your heart when it seems to be taking you in two directions at once?
Meanwhile, Maggie’s favorite students are abuzz at the thought of graduation and set to fly the nest to their next adventure. What will life hold for mercurial Fliss, glamorous Alice, and shy, hard-working Simone when they finally finish their studies at the school by the sea? Will Maggie stay to welcome the next class of girls, or will she too graduate to new adventures?
Author Interview - Jenny Colgan
About Christmas at the Island Hotel:
“Young Isla is nervous about taking her first job after the cafe in a big hotel. Konstantin is just furious about being forced by his rich father to find a menial job- he wasn't THAT badly behaved (or was he?). And Flora MacLeod has the biggest job of her life on her hands: to open the most beautiful hotel Mure has ever seen in time for Christmas.”
Author Interview - Jenny Colgan
Author I draw inspiration from:
Douglas Adams, John Irving, Jilly Cooper, Maeve Binchey, James Heriot.
Author Interview - Jenny Colgan
Favorite place to read a book:
the bath!
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
I have a LOT of questions for Thursday Next, the brilliant literary detective from the Jasper Fforde series who hops in and out of novels solving crimes. Otherwise Amit from A Suitable Boy and there will be KISSING.
Author Interview - Jenny Colgan
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I saw Judy Blume give a talk in my local library and I couldn't believe she existed, I just loved her so much. Up until then I'm not sure I realised it was a job.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
It's wildly unfashionable but I love an ebook. I love reading in bed without disturbing my husband, I love having thousands of books at my fingertips, and I love changing the font at different times of day.
When I'm walking the dog or driving, audiobooks. Some of the readers are just superb.
The last book I read:
I'm reading the Lamplighters by Emma Stonex, then I'm going to start the new Robert Galbraith and the Hilary Mantel essay collections, which is called Mantelpieces. It is such a terrible title but I'm sure it will be as brilliant as she always is.
Author Interview - Jenny Colgan
Pen & paper or computer:
Computer. My parents bought me a typewriter and the Smith Corona Touch Typing course for Christmas when I was 9 and it was the best present anyone has every received. I type REALLY fast. My handwriting is horrible. Not having beautiful handwriting makes me so sad. I took a calligraphy course so I can do gothic print but I would love one of those beautiful italic scripts.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
I think Anne Shirley and I would get on very well. Quirky and living in dream worlds is pretty much where we are both at. And we'd both be terrified of Pippi Longstocking.
Author Interview - Jenny Colgan
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
in my dream job, a cartoonist. I love to draw. In reality, I have no idea. I only had an office job for two years and I was rubbish at it. Maybe a primary teacher? My mother was a teacher and she loved it.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
The 50s. Small waists, big skirts and red lipstick, very much my kind of thing.
Place I’d most like to travel:
I am hankering to go to Singapore as my brother is there and we can't travel and he says it's amazing.
My signature drink:
I have a real fondness for a Dark and Stormy
Favorite artist:
Breughel the Younger. I once took a 6 hour flight layover in Vienna just so I could go visit Hunters in the Snow.
Number one on my bucket list:
My daughter and I want to jump out of a plane, we just need to wait for her to be old enough. OH and I would love to get a tv show or a film made of one of my books. That would be amazing. One day.
Anything else you'd like to add:
We live in a little castle by the sea in Scotland- if you'd like to see a little more, about where I live and where I get my inspiration, do follow me on instagram at @jennycolganbooks
Find more from the author:
@jennycolgan on twitter
@jennycolganbooks
