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.

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.)

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 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!

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.

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? ;)

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

Basin - it will be here! Marian will be typing up her answers from 1pm

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?

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

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...

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.

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?

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

@ISpidersmanYouMeanPirate

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?

Yes we do. If we know a webchat is going to be super-busy we generally email over the advance questions to the webchat guest the day before and we did send them over to Marian's publicist yesterday. We also often summarise some of the lovely comments on a webchat thread and send them over post-webchat as often there isn't enough time for the guest to read all the comments.

Hi Marian thank you so much for taking the time to do a chat on MumsNet and I hope these wonderful people are as kind to you as they were to me when I did my webchat a few months back. I'm also really looking forward to reading your new book.

My question is to you as a woman living in Ireland. Amnesty International released a report into abortion in Ireland yesterday, entitled She Is Not A Criminal. I know your books have dealt with unplanned pregnancy in the past, but in real life, do you have any thoughts about the abortion laws in Ireland, and whether there is anything that you would encourage your readers (many of whom will have had to make the trip to England to get care) to do?

Marian, I am a new and enthusiastic fan. This Charming Man captivated me and I think it's a great great book...

What has been your favourite book to write and which do you consider your "best"... and why?

Hi it's Marian here - I'm really excited, so feel free to ask me anything and I'll do my best to answer!

Marian, I have no question, just to say I really love your books. I had never read your work, then 12 years ago was horrifically dumped by an emotionally and sometimes physically abusive ex. I went to Sharm El Sheikh on my own for 7 days, took a pile of your books that a friend foisted upon me... she insisted to trust her judgment and to just read them, and I started to heal. :)

I am a MASSIVE fan. :)

@iloverolos

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?

Yes - Ned Mount is entirely inspired by Tom Dunne - Ned Mount is actually an anagram of Tom Dunne!

Hi Marian
I have been a huge fan of yours since the beginning.
I would like to ask you have you a favourite cake you like to bake?
Thanks

Also, I have recently moved to live in Ireland, and love the way you use locations and language...

How do you see Ireland and Irishness working for you in your books?

Hi Marian,

Firstly, I just wanted to say that your books are my ultimate comfort items, in particular Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married. I try and reread at least once or twice a year (little bit in love with Daniel).

I was wondering which male character was most interesting/enjoyable to write about and which man is your favourite?

@ImperialBlether

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.)

Absolutely - if I had struggled to get published in the traditional way, I definitely would have gone down the self-publishing route. And I'd like to wish everyone luck who's writing and hoping to get published - keep the faith, keep doing it!

I don't track down my own reviews - if they're put in front of me, I will skim them. But I think good or bad - neither of them are good for the creative process. You've got to believe in your own vision.

And I suppose Luke isn't really based on my husband!

I love Marian's men!

@Fiendarina

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...

I LOVE twitter. I get an awful lot of comfort for it, but I think it does actually stop me from writing, and I'm trying to be more disciplined about my time on it.