Come and chat to best selling author Marian Keyes, Wednesday 10 June, 1-2pm

Hi I'm reading it as part of the review only a chapter or two into it at moment. Looks interesting

Oh and a question for MNHQ. It's obvious Marian won't have time to read all our questions and comments let alone answer them - do you give her a copy of the thread?

My question - what happened next for Rachel and Anna (after their books)?

They both became so real for me (and I cried so many tears and laughed so much when reading Rachel's Holiday and Anybody Out There) that I feel quite sad I won't know in huge amounts of detail what happens afterwards for them. The snippets from the other books are good but not enough! . Please feel free to write more books with them as the main characters!

I love your books.

Hi Marian,

I loved seeing you on The Extra Slice after the Great British Bake Off, and really enjoy reading your Twitter feed.

However, do you find that Twitter and other internet stuff distract you from actual book writing, or do they provide fabulous fodder and inspiration?

I only ask because I can lose so much time on Twitter, Facebook and browsing the web when I should be much more productive...

Oh ok. I'm so excited at the prospect of Marian answering my question!

Hi Marian, another huge fan here, I just finished "The Woman who stole my life" I loved it, my question is this: is the(twinkly eyed, ex rock star generally gorgeous) Ned Mount character based even a teensy bit on lovely Tom Dunne?

Where do I go to listen to the web chat? Have I missed a link?

I am yet another one who found "Mystery of Mercy Close" a very acute description of Depression- the best, even closer to my experiences than "Adventures in Depressionland" and TheBloggess.

I've only just started "The Woman who Stole My Life" but have to cheekily ask: how true to your experiences/the lies your Black Dog told you are the depictions of Stella's writers block?

And finally: Jimmy Choos or Mahnlo Blanks? ;)

Like other posters have mentioned, I found your description of depression in the Mystery of Mercy Close to be so heartbreakingly accurate. I just wanted to say thank you for it, it helped me to see it on paper.

Hi Marian,

Every time you have published a new book, I've done a little happy dance inside - as others have said, you write so humorously and charmingly about real and tough issues. My most-read is probably Last Chance Saloon, because I love the character of Tara and her draining boyfriend. I have just finished your latest novel and am struck by how your characters have grown up and your voice has moved on accordingly - other writers haven't succeeded in conveying a female voice above the age of 35 half so well!

And also thank you, in Saved by Cake, for including pics of the different sizes of cupcake/muffin/mini muffin etc, which, despite being a good baker usually, I've found v useful. My husband is v keen on the coca cola cake in the book too... Thank you!

Hi Marian
As an avid reader I want to say I love all your books! I hate the "chic lit" term and would describe your books as stories about ordinary people written with handfuls of humour and heaps of heartache and with a dark underbelly"....do you think that is a good description?

Every time you release a new book it is like a birthday and Christmas all rolled into one for me, and "The Woman Who Stole My Life" did not let me down! It was brilliant thank you. Please keep writing, life is so much better with your words on paper. Big hugs to you, you are an inspiration and wonderful lady.
My favourite re-read of yours is "This Charming Man" and my favourite "sad" one is "Is There Anyone Out There?" I will be logged in tomorrow for your web chat!

Hi Marion. Thank you for coming on to Mumsnet to talk to us. If you thought Twitter was addictive, that is nothing compared to Mumsnet!

There are a lot of writers on this site and many of us are self publishing. Is that something you think you would have done at the start of your career if you struggled to get published in the traditional way?

Also (sorry for two questions) do you read your own reviews and if you do, do you believe them?

Oh and your husband, is Luke in Rachel's Holiday based on him? If so, I'm dead jealous! (Apart from the leather trousers, that is.)

I have always been aware of you as an author but been put off by the chick lit label - well it turns out that I love chick lit if it is written by you ! Currently working my way through your back catalogue and dreading the day when I run out. I blame you for the bags under my eyes as I can't put your books down! Loved Rachel's Holiday but The Mystery of Mercy Close is my current favourite. I have also discovered Mhairi McFarlane who I think writes in a similar style.

My question is what do you think of the chick lit label? Are there any books/authors that you put off reading and then loved? (Or ignore those and tell me if you have a shovel list?!)

From the age of around 12, after exhausting Judy Blume's back catalogue, I stopped reading for pleasure. That was until my friend introduced me to Marian Keyes when I was about 19. I read "Rachel's Holiday" and have been a huge fan ever since. I'm almost 36 now and still read Marian's books as soon as I can (a 2 year old is putting paid to any 'spare' time I used to have).

I love to write too, but I've never got very far with it.

My question is, when you embark on a new novel, where do you start? What is your process?

Oh I love you Marian! I love you in twitter, especially during Strictly. And the glittering raffles. And tales
of your mammy and the Redzers. .

Rachel's Holiday is one of my favourite books. Who doesn't love Luke!
My question - is your varnish museum actually real or are they all just shoved in a drawer in the bathroom?

Hi Marian, just wanted to ask which Walsh sister you identify most with? Is there one in particular that you feel is more "you" and do you have a favourite? Thanks

Hi Marian - I want to give you a big hug and thank you for writing books that have cheered me up and kept me going during some tough times!

I would like to ask, did your narrative voice come naturally, or was it something that you had to work at? Whenever I try to write my voice comes out as a bad imitation of yours

Thank you again,

Lizzie

In the spirit of Mumsnet. AIBU to laugh until the tears pour down my cheeks every time I read the 'mad fan' page from Rachel's Holiday. When she replies 'not so mad fan actually'. Brilliant.

OMG yes the next generation of Walshes NEED their own books!

I think you re-invented 'chick-lit' through developing your style of accessible, contemporary novels which have real, icky sticky women with all their issues at their heart. Did you set out to do this though, or was it something that evolved naturally?

Oh and yes please to a mammy book of her very own AND the next generation....

I've never read any of Marian's books before, so found it took a little bit of time to get into it.

I wanted to ask - is it difficult to write a book within a book? Since Stella had written a book that you include extracts from - how does it work when it comes to the writing process?

Hi Marian, any plans to continue the Walsh family saga into the next generation, Claire's daughter Kate must be nearly grown up by now.