‘Ask me masses of questions and I may even answer some of them.’

This Q&A with Judy was the last session in the ‘Sunday Extra’ part of the conference and, of course, Judy did answer everything that was put to her about her writing life.

With sixteen funny, romantic, contemporary novels to her credit, she shared the origins of her career – her beautiful best friend, who got all the boys, leaving Judy to write stories instead, and her attempts to have a proper, serious job, even when the main attraction of work was access to a typewriter.

Once she got her own typewriter and won £100 in a competition, which paid for a writing course at her local college, Judy was on her way, beginning with short stories for women’s magazines.

Judy was candid about the things she’s learned – how hard it is to embark on a 90,000 word novel, even with her years of experience, how important it is to find issues which move her that she can use as the themes of her books, the need for companionship from fellow RNA members, and the necessity of tea to the creative process, especially first thing in the morning.

Not a planner, and only just having acquired an agent, she likes to write about families and situations that women can identify with – living with teenage daughters, caring for elderly relatives, speculating on the fate of ex-boyfriends. She was extremely proud to have shed her addiction to Patience on the computer, only to find she can now play it on her phone.

Asked to look into the future, Judy felt that while e-books would be significant, the joy of handling a printed book would ensure that they are never entirely lost.
This was a lovely, intimate session and a fitting close to a fabulous conference.

Written by Evonne Wareham