Author of the Month | Libby Page

Hey Bookworms, 

I'm delighted to announce Libby Page (pictured) is my Author of the Month for March! Her uplifting novels have warmed my soul & tugged on my heartstrings.

Libby wrote her debut novel The Lido, while she was in marketing and moonlighting as a writer. It became a Sunday Times bestseller & has been published in over twenty territories around the world. The film rights have been sold to Catalyst Global Media (how exciting is that!). 

Her second book The 24 Hour Cafe was released in January. It is a powerful heart-warming tale, beautifully observing female friendship and is sure to be another huge hit. 

I was over the moon when the lovely lady herself accepted my request to a Q&A without further ado here it is...

Were you surprised by the hugely positive reaction your debut the Lido received?

I certainly wasn't expecting that reaction - I wasn't expecting anything really! I wrote the book because I love writing and had an idea I was passionate about, but as I wrote I only ever really imagined my mum and sister would read it! It was wonderful though the way things turned out. 

Did you find it hard to let Rosemary & Kate go when you’d finished writing the Lido? 

Yes and no. Any character you write does come to feel like a real person who you know and love so you get very attached to them. Sometimes even now I spot women who really remind me of Rosemary and nearly go and talk to them and then remember Rosemary is an invention of my imagination! But on the other hand writing and editing a book is a very long process so by the end you do feel ready and excited to move on to something new. 

What is the most surprising thing you have discovered when writing your novels? 

For me, the big learning process has been around discovering how the publishing industry works. I had no real experience in publishing so it's been fascinating to see how a book gets made from start to finish. The thing that was the most eye-opening was just how many people are involved - a book may have an author's name on the cover but there are SO many people who play an enormous role in creating a book and getting it out to readers. I feel so grateful to the team I have onboard with me now, I feel very lucky!

Can you tell us something about your latest release The 24 Hour Café that isn’t in the blurb? 

It features a lot of pancakes! So a pre-warning that you may find yourself craving pancakes by the end of the book! 

Where did you get the inspiration for your latest novel?

I love writing in cafés and when I do I can't help but people watch and imagine people's stories. It's a big part of being a writer, I think, being curious and fascinated by people and their lives. It's also one of the things I love about living in a city - the idea that people's lives are brushing up alongside one another all the time. And finally, I wanted to write a book that was a love story about female friendship instead of romantic love, as I think friendship can be just as rich and important as romance, but perhaps it isn't always given the same significance. That inspired the friendship of Hannah and Mona, the two main characters in the book. 

How did you celebrate publication day? 

I had a radio interview in the morning and then headed to my publishers to share a moment with everyone who'd been involved in helping with the book - I got to speak to people in production who'd worked on the cover and people who would be helping to sell the book to retailers. Then my publishing team kindly took me and my agent out for lunch - it was very special to celebrate with the team who have put so much work into both books. And then in the evening, I did an event at Waterstones Piccadilly which was great - it was so nice to meet readers and sign the very first copies of this new book. All in all it was a very busy but very special day. 

Who is the author you admire most in your genre? 

I don't really think too much about genres, just good books that I enjoy! But my favourite author is probably Sarah Winman - I love all her books and she really inspired me as a writer when I was first starting out and thinking about writing a novel. 

Where is your favourite place to write?

I am very lucky to have a little room in our flat that I use as a home office and I do most of my writing there. It is very colourful and cosy and feels like my space where I can shut myself away for hours. It is my favourite room in our flat. 

What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t writing? 

Lots of things! Outdoor swimming, running, walking, doing yoga, spending time with friends and family, drawing and cooking. I'm learning how to roller skate at the moment too and also getting into dressmaking - I really enjoy learning new hobbies and pushing myself out of my comfort zone (I fall over a lot when I'm skating!). 

Which book is currently on your bedside table?

I just finished reading Grown Ups by Marian Keyes, which I loved, and am about to start a non-fiction book lent by a friend, Wilding by Isabella Tree.

Please tell me you are working on your 3rd novel? Can you give us any clues about what is it about?

I am indeed working on a third novel! I, unfortunately, can't share much about it yet as it's still early days, but I hope that readers will see similar themes like community and friendship in this one, but also some new ones that I'm exploring too. 

Thank-you Libby, it was an absolute pleasure chatting with you.

Booklovelies, check back soon for my reviews of The Lido & The 24 Hour Cafe.