Every time I start writing a book, I hope that this time it will be faster and easier. Not so. My last novel, The Orchardist’s Daughter, came out in February 2019. And now it’s nearly the end of 2023. Where did the past four (or five) years go!
The thing is that I often write the first draft of a new novel quite quickly - in six months. But then comes the true craft of writing … which is to make that raw material into something worthwhile.
It’s hard, and it takes a long time … partly due to my very messy process, whereby I let myself loose on the first draft and go with all the tangents that arise on the way. This would make me what’s called a “pantser” - flying by the seat of my pants. Before I start, I have a bit of an idea where I think the book will go, and I spend several months thinking about my characters. But it’s only in the process of writing that I come to know them better.
In the end, although I try hard, the book never resembles my initial vision. Instead it takes on a life of its own. In fact, it can take months or years to work out what the book wants to be, what it’s really all about.
That’s what happened with SIDELINES. I thought I knew what I wanted to do, and the book decided differently. The book was right. Those early drafts were attempts to find my way into the narrative. But I threw out a lot of material. Several characters, in fact. And then I added a new one.
The result is that SIDELINES is a story about kids’ sport and parental behaviour on the sidelines. It’s told in six voice: three adults and three teenagers. It takes you into the lives of those characters - at soccer training and games, and also at home and work or school. You see their relationships and friendships. The pressures they are under. All the things the teenagers are dealing with: social media, peer pressure, growing up, their changing bodies, finding themselves, exploring their sexuality etc.
But it’s also a story about the parents, who are flawed like we all are. They think they’re trying their best to support their kids, but when does that support and passionate encouragement become too much pressure. And why are they so desperate for their kids to win and succeed. Are we all at least a little bit like that? And what is the impact on the kids?
Even though I thought I was writing about sport, I soon discovered that my book was actually a commentary on modern society and parenting, overly busy lives, teen mental health. I think you’ll find there’s tons to talk about. Everyone has a story about kids’ sport, right?
So, on January 3 2024, SIDELINES will be available on the shelves of your favourite bookshop. You can also PREORDER by clicking HERE, if you’re interested.
Now I have to work out which towns I can visit to talk about the book. MORE INFORMATION SOON.
