Come and chat to the award-winning SADIE JONES about her new novel FALLOUT, her previous bestseller THE OUTCAST, and her writing career on Monday 20 July, 9-10pm

[TillyMumsnetBookClub]

Our July author Sadie Jones' latest book, Fallout, grew from her impressions of the romantic, turbulent nature of Britain in the 1970s, when "everybody was stumbling in this fallout from the 1960s. There were recessions and power cuts and people doing pub theatre and feminism. It was an incredibly serious time."

Fallout follows aspiring playwright Luke and the beautiful but vulnerable actress Nina as they navigate their way through painful relationships and volatile careers amid the daily struggles of 1970s London life.

Like Maggie O'Farrell and Esther Freud, Sadie Jones is a highly intelligent and perceptive writer, weaving her sharp psychological insight into a gripping plot. Fallout is a beautifully researched novel, informative and deeply evocative.

Sadie's first novel, The Outcast, won the Costa First Novel Award, was shortlisted for the Orange Prize and was a Richard and Judy Summer Reads Number One bestseller. It has been adapted by the BBC (with the screenplay written by Sadie) and will be shown as a two-part drama in July - find out more on Sadie's Twitter feed.

Vintage have 50 copies of Fallout to give to Mumsnetters: to claim your copy please fill in your details on the book of the month page. We’ll post on the thread when all the copies have gone. If you’re not lucky enough to bag one of those, you can always get a Kindle version here or here.

We are delighted that Sadie will be joining us on Monday 20th July, 9-10pm, to discuss Fallout, her previous award-winning novels and her writing career. Please feel free to discuss the book here throughout the month and then come and meet Sadie on the night, and ask her a question or simply tell her what you thought of the book. Look forward to seeing you on the 20th…

@trulymadlykids

Leigh and Luke have an odd relationship - his refusal and her dismissal and then his ongoing attractiveness towards her. How crucial to the plot was this relationship and how it characterised Luke?

Luke does not know what intimacy is, and cannot see the beauty of Leigh's reality - or it takes him some time, at least. I knew that their 'love' was a strong element, so I tried to keep it as quiet as possible, through the story, knowing it would be dull if it seemed obvious.

@AnneEyhtMeyer

Thanks for answering my question, Sadie. I think you've done an amazing job portraying realistic emotions and avoiding predictability. I'm going to read your other books now.

Thank you, I'm so pleased.

Many thanks for the answering one of my questions, Sadie (out of the loads you have). Really interesting reading your replies to all the questions, too. It's great to gain a little insight into the working mind of an accomplished author ...

Do you find it hard to go back into the world of a previous novel when you have another one forming in your mind? I'm thinking of when you're at events where you have to discuss all of your novels rather than just the current one.

@ImperialBlether

Don't be depressed, Sadie - it's pretty brutal on here!

Can I ask you about the process of writing? What was the initial spark for The Outcast? How do you plot everything? You write so evocatively - what's your first draft like?

It shouldn't be. It really shouldn't. I'm not a politician!

The Outcast came to me as a sort of gut feeling about damage, and the line 'there's something wrong with him'. I knew he was a young man, blamed by society for something he did not do, and that it was a '50s story. I went from there.

Thank you very much. I try to make my first draft as close to 'right' as I can, I am not a writer who experiments extensively, or writes very long. If it's going really wrong then the engine dies, and I have to go back and fix it before continuing.

@Garlick

This is fascinating! I want to read both books now! Thanks for your insights into your writing processes, Sadie: it's oddly reassuring to yet another author who wimps out before getting underway.

Do you map the characters & stories out thoroughly before you start, or do their trajectories develop as you write?

Love your spirited responses

Yes, it's terrifying. Nothing scarier. Pleased to encourage you!

I map out a lot, and plan a great deal - then usually everything changes as the story takes life.

I truly apologise if I sounded as if I was damning with faint praise. The book is beautifully written. I only wish I wrote reviews as eloquently as you write novels.

@ImperialBlether

Hi Sadie. There are quite a lot of writers on Mumsnet, many of us trying to break into traditional publishing. Can I ask you how having an editor helped you in your writing? (Btw you write absolutely beautifully.)

Thank you very much. I know there are many ways in - particularly now, with self-publishing, but in my case, the traditional route of do the work, find an agent you believe is a good match, and hope to find a publisher who 'gets' you, is still the best way. The first fifty pages to the right agent is a great door opener. Remember: they Want to find books to publish. They Want to like your work.

It's been a really interesting webchat, Sadie. Thanks so much for coming on here.

They're also inundated! Thanks for the encouragement, though.

@AnneEyhtMeyer

Oh meant to say I was really pleased that Luke and Nina didn't ever discover their childhood near-miss.

Ha! Me too! They'd Never split then, would they?

@barricade

Many thanks to Mumsnet / Vintage Books for a copy of 'Fallout' by Sadie Jones. With the popularity surrounding the recent 'The Outcast' television adaptation, I received 'Fallout' with real anticipation. I was curious to see the way the story was executed. I haven't completed reading the book, but what I've found so far is a well-crafted, emotionally-driven tale. The author does well in incorporating authentic 1970's London vernacular.

I'd like to ask Sadie a couple of general questions to begin with, if I may ......

QUESTION ONE:- Do you have a personal favourite out of the books you've had published?
QUESTION TWO:- It must have been exciting to see 'The Outcast' being dramatised on BBC1. Is any other of your books being optioned for film or television?

I always hate the one I've just published, I know that much. I love them all differently, I guess, like children. I don't Generally hate my children, luckily.

Exactly - it would have been "fate".

Thanks for the webchat - best on here in ages in my opinion.

We're coming to the end of our evening, and it has been fascinating to hear everyone's thoughts - thank you all so much for taking the time to come tonight.

Sadie, thank you very much indeed for your time and energy and generosity in answering so many questions and giving us all an insight into your writing process. Good luck with the next project - I'm wondering if it will be a film or a novel? - and looking forward to seeing more excellent adaptations of your books - I thought the BBC one was stunning.

Many thanks again and congratulations on a wonderful novel.

Thank you, Mumsnet, for the opportunity to join this discussion tonight. And, of course, sincere thanks, Sadie, for your gracious replies to our questions. Wish you the very best of luck with your future 'productions'.

barricade

@Impostersyndrome

I truly apologise if I sounded as if I was damning with faint praise. The book is beautifully written. I only wish I wrote reviews as eloquently as you write novels.

Thank you. I apologise if I over-reacted, I can't explain how horrible it is to see a lot of people saying very casually that they don't much care for what you've worked at, and given everything to, for a long time. I expect I shall regret much of what's been said.

Yes, thanks, MN for arranging this webchat. I really enjoyed it.

@mollkat

Thank you for spending the hour with us Sadie. Can I ask another question? Do you prefer writing female or male characters? I couldn't tell from your writing - both were cleverly and truthfully portrayed. Also did you find yourself drawn particularly to any one single character in Fallout? (Mine is Nina )

You're welcome, thanks to you, too. In a way I'm not sure I see the difference between men and women. That sounds odd. Perhaps men are easier, in a way, as I don't have a lazy default setting of, 'I know how that feels, I'm a woman,' - I have to start from scratch, as it were.

You shouldn't regret anything you've said on here. You had every right to say what you did. In fact you fitted right in!

@susanterblanche

Thank you so much for your insight, I have found it so interesting! When you say you would like to rewrite a book after finishing, did you feel like that after 'Fallout'? Is there anything you would have changed about the story line?

There's only half the story there, I think. When I planned it, there was more. I feel it's half told. But generally... I think I did my best. It's all you can say.

Thanks Sadie.

Agree with Imperial - your posts were justified and very "Mumsnet".

@AnneEyhtMeyer

Another question if that's ok:

Luke and Nina never forgave the "stable" parent in their childhood - although Tomasz seemed to be the child in his relationship with Luke - and was very dismissive of Aunt Mat, even when she grew up. But Nina comes across as less sympathetic for some reason. Do you think that is because she is female and we have unfair expectations based on gender?

Really good question. I think it's because she's manipulative. In a way, she's everyone's 'nightmare woman' - I wanted to try to really care for a person like that, and to understand her. But she can be hard to love. Luke is an innocent, in a way, and he's generous, which she struggles to be.

@woodhill

I have read Home Wars and The Outcast which are set in the 50s. The male characters of Hal and Lewis are very interesting and their interaction with their fathers. Where do you draw your ideas for the male characters in your novels. Have you had inspiration from your relatives anecdotes.

thanks

Not sure if I answered this one, meant to, but was not thinking altogether clearly. Apologies, if not and -
I'm not sure why I so often have male protagonists or central characters. I don't think there is as much of a difference between men and women as we often think. I'm interested in relationships and the human character and soul, and I do not differentiate much between the male and female experience.

thanks Sadie :) . the character of Lewis moved me so much, my dad was born the same year.

will read the fallout