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

[TinaMumsnet]

From bestselling author Marian Keyes comes a new laugh out loud novel about a very ordinary mum from Dublin, who's about to become the most influential women in the world. Well, for just a few moments anyway...

Click here to find out more and apply for one of fifty free copies.

Don't forget, if you're lucky enough to receive a copy of The Woman Who Stole My Life, we do ask that you tell us what you think about it on the thread below or in our Book reviews section.

This giveaway is now closed.

Marian will be joining us for a webchat on Wednesday 10 June between 1 and 2pm, post your questions on the thread below.

Anybody Out There broke my heart! Do you draw on real life experiences to be able to convey emotive issues so well?

What are your top tips for an aspiring writer? How do you write about gritty issues in an easy to read way and include humour too?

Dear Marian, you are an absolute heroine of mine and I've been reading your books since Watermelon was first published. I wanted to ask you which of your characters was the most interesting to write and which of the Walsh sisters is your favourite?

I love all of your books but This Charming Man is my favourite and Marnie is such a heartbreaking and brilliantly written character.

I love you Marian.

I have a question.

When writing the earlier Walsh family books, did you always know that Helen would suffer from depression? Or was it something you decided when writing The Mystery of Mercy Close?

This charming man really affected me when i read it. I found it quite different in style to some
Of your other books (I admit I haven't read all of your books, yet) why did you write that story?

First, I wanted to say that Helen's description of depression in Mercy Close is the single best description of how it feels that I have read. It also really helped me to remember Helen's words when I felt bad.Thank you!

Now my question - I have read all your books and particularly love the cookbook, Saved by Cake, which I really needed in order to actually bake something edible as there were tips in there that I'd never seen before as a complete baking novice someone whose baking tastes like poison

Is there any chance of another one about cooking savory dishes (as I am crap at that too and need all the help I can get)?

I also have a question about the fabulous Rachel's Holiday - did you plan the pacing of the novel, or did it just evolve naturally?

Hi Marian

Just to say that although your books aren't my cup of tea (not enough spaceships and zombies) I always love seeing you chat on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two and really hope you'll be back for visits this year.

I'm seconding the question about which pro you'd choose if you went on Strictly. I know you're a big Lilia fan and they're thinking of having a same sex couple this year....if this is fantasy casting then they could bring her back.

I love Marian's books. I read Rachel's Holiday first, and then lent it to a friend, who gave it back to me after reading only one chapter, saying "it wasn't really her thing, too fluffy". I told her to go away and read the rest, it was worth it. Well she did, and she agreed and was hooked as well.

I also realised, reading it, that Marian had either done her research really really well, or knew more about what Rachel went through than your average author - the authenticity rang out.

Anyone who places Marian Keyes in the fluffy chicklit genre hasn't actually read her books properly, IMO.

Also just wanted to add, that the first time I read Rachel's holiday, I finished it whilst in the middle of a horrific sinus infection. The floods of tears that the end of that book brings on are very very painful if you have a sinus infection.

Just sayin.....

Gutted that I can't make this!

Who are your favourite authors and does it feel odd to think that so many people think of you in the way that you think of them?

Hi again... I have thought of a question now! What are the books you have read and reread most often? And, if different, what book would you most like to have written?

I also wanted to add how much I also appreciated your drawing of depression in Mercy Close. I have also had depression (thankfully less severely than Helen), and felt you wrote incredibly accurately and thoughtfully about it.

Hi Marian,
Given your portrayal of the marketing campaign behind One Blink at a Time how do you manage to make time to come up with new ideas and then to turn them in to fully fledged novels?
Thanks,
Lorrie

My questions are:
Do you think there is still a need for women-only literary prizes?
If you could invent your own literary award, what would be the criteria?
Which novel do you wish you had written the ending for?
Do you think popular literature is over looked as being high quality? How much do you think the way a book is marketed affects how it is perceived?

I have a question though: years ago I read a book called "Who will love Polly Odlum?" by Anne Marie Forrest, and you reviewed it, calling it "'Charming, heartwarming and funny. A modern-day fairytale'". I just wonder whether you actually got to read the whole book, as the ending was anything but!

I'm sure you have entirely too much to do in the general way of things to read whole books for reviewing purposes, but I'm surprised the publishers let your slightly inappropriate (in my view, at least) review comment through without mentioning something!

I also meant to post in my last comment about your authenticity re. the rehab - it all became very clear after I read your 2 Under the Duvet books. You are very brave and strong, I hope you realise that.

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.

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?

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....

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

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.

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

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

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?

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?

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?!)