Remember Holly's Inbox? It all started with an addictive online email account, and later released as an equally unputdownable novel. The sequel, Scandal in the City, hit the shelves last year, and people like me didn't eat or move for a day until they'd finished it. Holly's Inbox is now due to hit the States with a brand new cover and website. Author Bill Hutton-Surie (yes, Holly Denham's really a man!) talked to us about writing, life, and being Holly...
Hi Holly! Well, Bill. Introduce yourself.
Hi Elle, Thank you so much for having me on your brilliant site, I’m Bill Hutton-Surie and I write women’s fiction – as a woman
Why did you decide to write a chick-lit book?
I didn’t actually. It was initially just a way of getting more candidates to register for our recruitment agency. It’s a specialist agency for reception staff...so I thought if I wrote something where the main character was a receptionist it might interest them more. It started only as a website.
Read more from Bill after the cut...
As Holly fans know, the books are about a receptionist, told in email format. Where did you get the idea for Holly's Inbox?
The idea for the site came when we had to search through a previous ex-employees work email account. The woman in question was single, extremely flirtatious and had always loved us to bits. We discovered she was married with four children, and couldn’t stand the sight of us. The life she was leading was so full of mystery, intrigue, romance (and many many lies) that it made me wonder what it would be like to read a story told in this way.
Was it hard writing the book in email form?
I’d like to say yes, but no. I think speech is the easiest part for me, description gives me nightmares and I admire how writers manage so well. I can hear voices though – my wife who’s just come in and read this - is saying; it would be nice if I could hear HER voice then occasionally (she gets very annoyed with me drifting off all the time to Holly’s friends but I guess this kind of thing happens a lot with writers and their partners) (oh apparently it doesn’t; it’s just me, because I’m ignorant and stupid) (It’s ok she doesn’t mean it) (oh yes apparently she does) (I don’t think you need to hear this anymore so I’m going to stop typing)
What is it like, writing as a woman? Has anything funny happened to you?
I continued to run the agency whilst writing Holly’s Inbox but became less and less aware of my surroundings, immersing myself in the characters often giggling and occasionally crying in the process. My wife’s favourite story was when she had been interviewing a candidate while just across office I sobbed uncontrollably. The worried candidate had asked her if everything was ok and she had laughed and said I was only crying because I’d finally discovered she was having an affair, then continued with the interview.
And have you done any book signings? Hehe.
I remember once I organised a Teddy Bears’ picnic for Holly fans as I wanted to go along and thank them and we were going to have such a laugh in Hyde park on a sunny afternoon, until my wife pointed out that I was Bill – not Holly – and how on earth was I going to go along? I hadn’t thought it through what so ever. So I cancelled it. Shame, but I think less scary than seeing me as Holly – oh sick, nasty image in my head aaaagh get out.
What do your friends and family think of your chick-lit writing career? Did you have to keep it a secret for long?
Not really – when I left school I told my Dad I was going to be a writer – and he’d told me to grow up and get a proper job – otherwise I’d have nothing to write about.
I didn’t listen of course and for a long time tried to get something published, failed miserably. I listened to him in the end and got into recruitment for reception staff – and the writing came from that. Annoying isn’t it when your parents turn out to be right. But thanks Dad.
Have you had anything published under your own name?
Not a word, nothing. Been trying for years.
Are you working on anything new at the moment? And if so, can you tell us?
I’m writing something – can’t say much about it yet, but it will of course be a comedy romance, as I love that kind of feel good thing.
Thanks, Bill!
You can find out more about the book at Holly's website.
