There's nothing quite like picking up a book and getting lost for hours on end, but have you ever thought about the time, energy and inspiration that goes into writing a book? We caught up with Sunday Times Best Selling Author Santa Montefiore.
Tell us a little bit about your new book Here and Now…
It’s about a family and a community coming together and rising to become their better selves when a much beloved member of the village gets dementia. It’s funny but also sad – mostly, it’s about love and learning to live in the moment.
Have you always wanted to be an author?
I always wrote stories, becoming an author was a wonderful surprise. I never thought it would happen to me, so I never dreamed about it. I just wrote for pleasure and friends and then one day, aged 25, I sent a manuscript off to agents. Three refused me, one accepted me, the rest is a history of enthusiastic, talented people giving my books wings.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere. I’m a dreamer, so I’m always imagining what ifs… life inspires me the most. Just looking around me. Beautiful houses and eccentric people fire me up.
What are your favourite three books?
Eckhart Tolle’s The New Earth
Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s Love in the Time of Cholera
Isabel Allende’s House of Spirits
What is your home like? Do you have a specific set up that you find motivating for work?
My home is very organised and flamboyant in terms of colour and wallpapers. For work I need order. My desk has to be really tidy. I need fresh flowers, a scented candle, music (I make a playlist of movie soundtracks for each book), a latte and no disturbance (hard during lockdown!)
If you could invite three people to dinner, past or present, who would you invite?
Eva Peron, Will Ferrell, Larry David
Finally, what is your favourite Sophie Allport collection?
This is really hard as I love all of them. If I really had to choose, I’d go for the Bees collection.
Quickfire questions:
Your key to success: Enthusiasm and self-discipline
Secret work weapon: Music
Impulsive or premeditated: Impulsive
Favourite book: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
Favourite quote: Nothing great has ever been achieved without enthusiasm – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Zoom background accessories: Books
Your personal mantra: Love the life you have
If you love Santa's books as much as we do, then you can win yourself a signed copy of her latest book Here and Now, plus a £200 Sophie Allport gift voucher. Click here to enter.
Click here to read an extract from Santa's new book Here and Now.