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September book of the month: THE ONE PLUS ONE by Jojo Moyes. Read and join Jojo for webchat on 30 September, 9-10pm

147 replies

NataliaMumsnet · 21/07/2014 16:28

Jojo Moyes' Me Before You was a phenomena with over 3 million copies sold worldwide. Fans are in for a treat this summer with her latest novel The One Plus One which follows the story of a relentlessly determined and supportive single parent, Jess. Described as 'a heartbreaking, laugh-out-loud, thought-provoking, emotional rollercoaster' by The Sunday Express, Moyes' story tells of an unexpected love story that develops amid the ups and downs of a hectic family life.

Jojo Moyes is a novelist and a journalist. She worked at the Independent for ten years before leaving to write full time. Her previous novels have all been critically acclaimed and include Me Before You, The Girl You Left Behind, The Ship of Brides, Foreign Fruit, and The Last Letter from Your Lover. She lives in Essex with her husband and their three children. Jojo will be joining us for a webchat on 30 September to chat about The One Plus One so post your questions in advance or join us on the night.

We have 50 copies of Jojo's book to giveaway. Apply here for a free copy. If you're one of the lucky 50 we will inform you next Tuesday (29 July). If you don't access a free copy, order it up online to read over the summer and join us for book club in September.

Happy reading!

September book of the month: THE ONE PLUS ONE by Jojo Moyes. Read and join Jojo for webchat on 30 September, 9-10pm
OP posts:
MrsRedWhite214 · 30/09/2014 21:11

You've talked about your intentions for the differences between characters, but was the story mapped out from the start or something that blossomed over time?

revealall · 30/09/2014 21:13

Hi JoJo

I didn't realise how much I missed modern English fiction until I read your book. So much of it comes from the States or features unfeasible characters. Can I ask where the idea for book came?
I did feel a little like two books in some ways. There was the poor overworked single parent to start and the road trip towards the end.
And have you done a road trip to Scotland!

JojoMoyes · 30/09/2014 21:13

@GrouchingTiggerHiddenSomething

... I would ask the author if the characters were completely set and fully formed in her mind before she started writing or if they developed and changed as the book went along?

I've read Me Before You and enjoyed that one too so I think I will be seeking out more books by this author! Thanks again :)

Hi GrouchingTiggerHiddenSomething - interesting question, and the answer is, it varies from book to book. With MBY, the characters fell into my head in a scene (the wheelchair dance at the wedding, if you know the book) and from that one exchange I knew exactly who they were. It made the book easy to write, as all I had to do was put them in different situations, and I knew how they would react.
That DOESN'T always happen. I've written some books where I've had to strip characters out like bones from a fish because they just weren't striking sparks off each other, and that nearly always happens when I haven't done enough research on them before I start writing.

MadeinBelfast · 30/09/2014 21:14

Hi Jojo, I've read all your books and enjoyed them a lot :) I work with teens and the way you approach bullying in this novel was very realistic. Do you believe bullies always get their comeuppance?

MNHQ
RachelMumsnet · 30/09/2014 21:15

Hi Jojo, so many questions flying in but just wanted to put our standard Mumsnet bookclub questions to you:

What childhood book most inspired you?

What would be the first piece of advice you would give to anyone attempting to write fiction???

JojoMoyes · 30/09/2014 21:16

@MrsRedWhite214

You've talked about your intentions for the differences between characters, but was the story mapped out from the start or something that blossomed over time?

Hi MrsRedWhite214. I always have a rough idea of where the plot is going, especially if there is going to be a twist late on, but very rarely does the finished book go exactly according to plan. Characters take it off in different directions, or scenes sound too 'samey', and you have to change locations. In this case I knew some of the key plot elements, but i didn't decide what was going to happen to Jess and Ed until the very last chapters.

whatwoulddexterdo · 30/09/2014 21:16

Hi again Jo jo,
Can I also ask with respect to Me Before You, (loved loved loved this book)
Do you think Will and Lou would have met if it wasn't for Wills tragic accident?
Also do you think anyone could have persuaded Will to change his mind?
Thanks

revealall · 30/09/2014 21:17

Sorry I write horribly! But I meant did you have the two ideas in your mind or did the story just develop.

JojoMoyes · 30/09/2014 21:17

@RachelMumsnet

Hi Jojo, so many questions flying in but just wanted to put our standard Mumsnet bookclub questions to you:

What childhood book most inspired you?

What would be the first piece of advice you would give to anyone attempting to write fiction???

Hi Rachel - the childhood book that most inspired me was National Velvet; not just because it was about a girl who achieved amazing things with her horse, but because it contains two really quite radical female characters - Violet Brown, this sickly young girl who defies the odds to win the Grand National, but also her mother, who funds her with money she has got from swimming the channel. These were female characters who DID stuff, rather than worried about how they looked or whether they had the right handbag...

whiskeytangofoxtrot · 30/09/2014 21:17

What kind of journalist were you before you started writing novels? Why did you switch and was it hard to adapt your writing style to novels rather than your previous job??

Stupidhead · 30/09/2014 21:19

ARGH! Sorry Jojo! I assumed that this was to chat about the book and not ask you questions (see, living up to my name!).

I did LOVE MBY and might have had something in my eye towards the end... I didn't like this book much but it hasn't put me off seeking out your other novels in any way. Smile

JojoMoyes · 30/09/2014 21:19

What would be the first piece of advice you would give to anyone attempting to write fiction???[/quote]

Oops - just realised I didn't answer this one.

Firstly, just show up at the desk every single day and keep doing it. Waiting for the 'right time' to write is like waiting for the best time to have your first baby - there IS no perfect time.

Second, once you've written, edit HARD. Most first time novelists overwrite horribly. I like the Elmore Leonard advice that you can lose the first sentence from pretty much any paragraph you've written and it still makes sense (try it - it works!)

JojoMoyes · 30/09/2014 21:20

@Stupidhead

ARGH! Sorry Jojo! I assumed that this was to chat about the book and not ask you questions (see, living up to my name!).

I did LOVE MBY and might have had something in my eye towards the end... I didn't like this book much but it hasn't put me off seeking out your other novels in any way. Smile

No offence taken, Stupidhead. It's entirely possible you were meant to just chat, and I've dived into the wrong thread…:-)

MrsRedWhite214 · 30/09/2014 21:21

Have you any plans for another book yet? And what was the last book you read of your own choice rather than research?

MNHQ
RachelMumsnet · 30/09/2014 21:21

Jojo I read somewhere that Me Before You was based on the same newspaper report that was the inspiration behind Patrick Gale's novel, A Perfectly Good Man – which was book of the month last year. Was that a coincidence? I find it really interesting because they are such totally different books. Have you read Patrick Gale's book? If so, what did you think?

JojoMoyes · 30/09/2014 21:21

@whatwoulddexterdo

Hi again Jo jo, Can I also ask with respect to Me Before You, (loved loved loved this book) Do you think Will and Lou would have met if it wasn't for Wills tragic accident? Also do you think anyone could have persuaded Will to change his mind? Thanks

Ooh - um - No, to the first. As she tells him late on, she would have been 'one of the invisibles'. And as to your second, no. But that doesn't make him right.

revealall · 30/09/2014 21:21

I want to know what happens to her ex husband to. I think the new wife (girlfriend?) took the children turning up very well too.
Would love book on their story, if you want an idea for a sequel.

JojoMoyes · 30/09/2014 21:22

@RachelMumsnet

Jojo I read somewhere that Me Before You was based on the same newspaper report that was the inspiration behind Patrick Gale's novel, A Perfectly Good Man ? which was book of the month last year. Was that a coincidence? I find it really interesting because they are such totally different books. Have you read Patrick Gale's book? If so, what did you think?

How interesting - I didn't know that. I have just read PG's latest - A Place Called Winter (and loved it), but I haven't read APGM. I might have to now.

SundayGirl79 · 30/09/2014 21:24

I really enjoyed 'The Girl You Left Behind’ Do you have any plans to write more historic fiction or are you more comfortable writing about modern day situations?

iYawn · 30/09/2014 21:24

Hallo Jojo
How much are your novels plotted from the beginning? Do you ever change your mind about how the plot is moving forward?

MrsWickens · 30/09/2014 21:24

I know I've already asked a question but I would like to know which of your books is your favourite?

JojoMoyes · 30/09/2014 21:25

@MadeinBelfast

Hi Jojo, I've read all your books and enjoyed them a lot :) I work with teens and the way you approach bullying in this novel was very realistic. Do you believe bullies always get their comeuppance?

Interesting question… no, I don't (sadly). But I also believe that in many cases bullies are acting out unhappiness that is coming from another direction. I remember a girl who bullied me in primary school and now when I look back on her family environment it's obvious to me that she was having a horrible time. We repeat what we know...

DestinationCalabria · 30/09/2014 21:26

What's the best and worst thing about your being an author in the social media age?
With blogs for characters and twitter and doing web chats like this one?
Do you ever think "Jane Austen didn't have to put up with this shit?!"

JojoMoyes · 30/09/2014 21:26

@iYawn

Hallo Jojo How much are your novels plotted from the beginning? Do you ever change your mind about how the plot is moving forward?

Hi iYawn (hope you're not)
I do a rough outline for every book, and then deviate massively once I'm in it. It's always an organic process, often works from your subconscious, and often when I get to the end of the book (for example The Last Letter From Your Lover, which has lots of twists) I think: how on EARTH did I do that?

JojoMoyes · 30/09/2014 21:29

@DestinationCalabria

What's the best and worst thing about your being an author in the social media age? With blogs for characters and twitter and doing web chats like this one? Do you ever think "Jane Austen didn't have to put up with this shit?!"

Hahahahaha! You win best question of the night. Best thing? I think social media helped save my career. I was not selling many books before Last Letter, and the support of several prominent bloggers and tweeters made a huge difference to that book's success. Then Me Before You really took off because of word of mouth - much of it digital. I actually like engaging, as anyone who follows me on twitter knows. I'm finding it a bit heartbreaking that I'm reaching a point where I can no longer answer every tweet.
The downside? Just that. Sometimes keeping up with all the email and tweets and Facebook posts can feel like a huge pressure. And I still feel that I want to respond, because if someone has bought your book and taken the trouble to comment on it, then the least you can do as a writer is acknowledge it.