5 Minutes with... DANIELLE STEEL
THE LATEST NOVEL FROM INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF Precious Gifts, Prodigal Son AND A Perfect Life IS The Duchess (PAN MACMILLAN)
The Duchess in a nutshell? A HISTORICAL NOVEL SET IN THE 19TH CENTURY ABOUT AN ARISTOCRATIC WOMAN WHO LOSES HER FATHER, HER HOME AND EVERYTHING WHEN HER STEPBROTHER FROM HER FATHER’S FIRST MARRIAGE INHERITS ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF THE TIME. CAST OUT OF HER HOME AT 18 WITH NO MEANS OF SUPPORT, SHE GOES TO PARIS AND FORGES A LIFE SURROUNDED BY POWERFUL PEOPLE, LIVING IN THE SHADOWS, HER IDENTITY A MYSTERY, AS SHE MOVES FORWARD, FINDING NEW CHALLENGES AT EVERY TURN.
Inspiration for The Duchess? I’M ALWAYS INTRIGUED BY HOW UNEXPECTED AND DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECT PEOPLE, WHAT THEY DO AS A RESULT, HOW IT STRENGTHENS OR WEAKENS THEM, AND WHO THEY BECOME ALONG THE WAY. IT’S ALWAYS MY BELIEF THAT WHATEVER THE CENTURY, NOW OR IN THE PAST, WE ALL FACE THE SAME CHALLENGES, THE SAME FEARS AND LOSSES, WHICH AFFECT EACH OF US DIFFERENTLY. BUT EVEN TODAY, WE FACE THE SAME ISSUES AS PEOPLE DID IN THE PAST. AND ADDING A 19TH-CENTURY YOUNG WOMAN TO THE MIX, WITH THE RESTRICTIONS OF THE TIME, MADE IT MORE INTERESTING AS SHE FIGHTS TO SURVIVE, DESPITE LOSING EVERYTHING SHE ONCE HAD.
How do the themes of The Duchess
relate to today? READING ABOUT OTHERS WHO FACE THESE CHANGES BRAVELY AND CREATIVELY IN TURN INSPIRES US, CAN MAKE US STRONGER, AND GIVES US HOPE THAT WE CAN PREVAIL TOO. I LIKE THE IDEA THAT MY BOOKS GIVE HOPE TO PEOPLE FACING DIFFICULT THINGS, WHETHER AN ILLNESS, A LOSS, A MAJOR CHANGE, A HEARTBREAK OR A MATERIAL THREAT.
Do you prefer writing historical or
contemporary novels? I LIKE BOTH. THE HISTORICAL NOVELS REQUIRE A HUGE AMOUNT OF RESEARCH, AND IN THAT SENSE THEY ARE MORE WORK. THEY ARE MORE DAUNTING WHEN I START THEM, BUT GIVE ME A HUGE SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT ONCE FINISHED. THE CONTEMPORARY NOVELS ALSO REQUIRE RESEARCH ABOUT INDUSTRIES, GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS, SCIENCE, ILLNESSES AND OTHER THINGS. BUT IT’S EASIER TO SAIL THROUGH
THE STORY IN FAMILIAR TIMES WE KNOW. IN THE HISTORICAL NOVELS, I HAVE TO CAREFULLY WEAVE THE HISTORY WITH THE STORY.
BOTH ARE CHALLENGING IN DIFFERENT
WAYS, AND I ENJOY WRITING BOTH.
Writing essential? ABSOLUTE SILENCE AND NO INTERRUPTIONS. THE HOUSE RULE WHEN I’M WRITING IS “BLOOD OR FIRE” – IF YOU’RE NOT BLEEDING AND THE HOUSE ISN’T ON FIRE, DON’T INTERRUPT ME! EXCEPT FOR MY CHILDREN OF COURSE. CHOCOLATE IS ESSENTIAL (DARK, BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE), AND THE REST REALLY DOESN’T MATTER WHILE I GET LOST IN THE BOOK. AND MY 1946 OLYMPIA TYPEWRITER, OLLIE, IS ESSENTIAL! What next? WRITING, WRITING AND MORE WRITING, WORKING ON BOOKS. STAY TUNED!
Danielle Steel’s THE DUCHESS (Pan Macmillan) is out on 13 July. W&H