Interviewing Tilly Bagshawe

We all have favorite authors whose work has entertained as well as inspired us. Some books are noteworthy and perhaps command a second read, while others simply keep us company on a hot summer day. We wait in anticipation for our beloved author’s next release in hopes of once again being transported to another place and time. Reading is an adventure that requires no ticket, just an active imagination.

This month’s Jen’s Jewels Tilly Bagshawe has experienced this same journey but with a unique twist. In her latest release entitled AFTER THE DARKNESS, she continues the legendary author Sidney Sheldon’s legacy by bringing back to life his beloved characters and storylines in her exciting new novel. With her expertly written plot that encapsulates the cut-throat world in which we live, she conjures up an unforgettable story that Sidney Sheldon fans worldwide will surely love.

As part of this interview, William Morrow, an imprint of Harper Collins Publishers, has generously donated five copies for you, my favorite readers, to win. So don’t forget to look for the trivia question at the end of the column. And as always, thanks for making Jen’s Jewels a part of your reading adventure.

Jen: The path to publication can sometimes be as exciting as the novel itself. So that my readers may have a glimpse into the life of the woman behind the words, please share with us your educational and professional background.

Tilly: I grew up in England and went to Catholic boarding school there before going to Cambridge University to read English and History. After college, I got a job in the city (the London equivalent of Wall Street) as a headhunter. I eventually became a partner at the number one global headhunting firm at that time, Heidrick & Struggles, leaving in 2000 after I moved to Los Angeles. In 2001 I started my second career of writing, initially as a journalist writing regularly for The Sunday Times. About a year later I wrote my first novel, ADORED.

Jen: Please describe for us that “Ah! Ha!” moment when you made the decision to pursue a career as a writer.

Tilly: It wasn’t exactly an ‘Ah ha’ moment for me, more a gradual realization that it might be a possibility. I read English at College and have always loved writing, but it was only after I got emotionally burned out in my high stress, financial job that I took a long enough breath to think about what I might actually like to do. As a single mother from my teens, up til that point it had all been about earning, surviving and providing. I was lucky in that my sister Louise is a novelist, so she gave me a lot of pointers and encouragement, as did one of my best friends from Cambridge, Tif Loehnis, who by then was a literary agent in London. So I had help!

Jen: For those readers not familiar with your work, please give us a brief overview of your previous publications. And, which of the titles was the most challenging to write and why?

Tilly: My first book, ADORED, was a family saga set in Hollywood and very much a big, sweeping, sexy blockbuster of the kind that I grew up reading, and that at that time had rather fallen out of fashion in favor of more Bridget-Jones-y type chick-lit. My subsequent books , SHOWDOWN, DO NOT DISTURB, and FLAWLESS have all had similarly glamorous settings and characters, and are all very much fantasies/escapist fiction, romance but with (I hope) a modern, edgy twist. Probably SHOWDOWN, my second book, was the hardest to write, simply because my first book was such a success so you slightly have that anxiety, that perhaps one book was all you had in you and you are pushing your luck.

Jen: Your latest endeavors, MISTRESS OF THE GAME and AFTER THE DARKNESS, have taken you down quite an extraordinary road which has catapulted your name to the forefront. (I was tickled when I stumbled upon a tidbit about you in the Parade section of the newspaper!) How did you become involved with the Sidney Sheldon legacy?

Tilly: As with so many things in my life, through luck, I think, and being in the right place at the right time. Sidney’s agent and lifelong friend, a man named Mort Janklow, is my agent’s father. I think it was Mort who first wondered about the idea of a continuation of the Sheldon legacy, and Luke, my agent, who put my name in the hat as a possible writer. I’ve been a lifelong fan of Sidney’s and actually wrote to him when my first book was published. I still have Sidney’s reply to that letter, typically warm and encouraging as he was to so many new writers getting started. But anyway, from that point on, it was very much driven by the Sheldon family. I had to come up with new ideas for books and to write some chapters in Sidney’s voice. On the basis of that material, and having met and spoken to me, they decided to entrust me with this incredible undertaking.

Jen: Without a doubt, Sidney Sheldon is known as the master of storytelling. For any writer, following in his footsteps would be quite difficult if not nerve-racking! How did you approach the Herculean task of continuing his storylines while at the same time testing the waters with your own literary prowess?

Tilly: I tried to approach it like method acting. I immersed myself in Sheldon’s books, reading pretty much everything again until I was practically dreaming in his voice. I spoke to Mort, his agent, and his family about his process and the way he worked, and I tried to follow his path as closely as possible. It’s been an honor and incredible fun to do, but I will admit that it is also hard, and requires a lot more mental and emotional energy than writing as myself. There’s a lot at stake, a man’s entire life’s work and reputation. So I did certainly feel that pressure.

Jen: Since AFTER THE DARKNESS is your latest release, let’s focus on that book for our discussion. In terms of nuts and bolts, how did you arrive at the premise? Was it a collaborative effort or a solo project? And, approximately how long did it take for you to write?

Tilly: I wrote it in about eight months. The idea came to me after following the Madoff scandal on television, and particularly watching the reactions had to Bernie Madoff’s wife and family. The idea that “the wife must have known” struck me as an interesting premise for a character. Must she? What if she didn’t? I also felt that the financial meltdown of 2009 was in many ways something straight off the pages of a Sidney Sheldon novel. I was sure that, had Sidney been alive, those were the events that would have inspired him.

Jen: Your book caught my interest from the get-go and never let up! Not only did the storyline move along at fast pace, but the characters were downright addictive. Let’s talk about the heroine, Grace Brookstein. I found her metamorphosis absolutely exhilarating! Describe briefly her essence, what makes her such a likeable heroine?

Tilly: To me, Grace is likeable because of her loyalty, her tenacity and her deep rooted strength. She holds true to what she believes in no matter what, even when ultimately so much of her trust turns out to be misplaced. She is feminine but strong, like all Sheldon’s heroines, so I love her for that.

Jen: Her husband Lenny is a devoted man who thrives on being in control in the business world as well as in society. Besides the obvious, why does Grace choose to play second fiddle not only to him, but also to her sisters Honor and Constance? In her mind, how does she see herself?

Tilly: I think she sees herself as a perpetual child, at least in the beginning. As the cherished one, the youngest, born into a cocoon of love and security that she never needs to question. Losing her father at a young age had a profound effect on Grace. Unquestionably it is her desire to replicate the father/daughter relationship of her childhood that draws her to Lenny initially.

Jen: The fall of the Lenny’s hedge fund company Quorum mirrors modern day America. Is Lenny truly responsible? Or, has society simply allowed him the means in which to dictate its fate?

Tilly: Ah, well that’s the question, isn’t it? While I wouldn’t want to diminish the personal responsibility of those who abused their positions of power, stole money or what have you, I do think that our society sends out mixed messages. On the one hand it encourages us to value material success very highly and to pursue it with all means at our disposal. But when things go wrong, it’s a bit like Frankenstein’s monster. If all someone knows how to do is succeed, succeed, succeed and survive at all costs, how do you de- program that person to suddenly start thinking in a more altruistic way? I don’t have the answer, but I think it’s an interesting question, and I think observing humanity through times of crisis reveals us at our best and worst, our most fascinating. Which is great if you’re a novelist.

Jen: From start to finish, a captivating novel must consist of evil twists orchestrated by some memorable villains who spin the plot in unforeseen ways. Let it suffice to say that AFTER THE DARKNESS has a slew of dastardly evil players! Lenny’s right-hand men have ideas of their own. Why does he choose to overlook their weaknesses despite the ramifications to the company?

Tilly: I think partly because he likes them. Despite everything, Lenny is not without human feeling. But it is also partly because people’s weaknesses provide an opportunity for others to control and exploit them, especially if they themselves are more robust personalities, as Lenny clearly is.

Jen: And finally, why does Mitch Connors, the man assigned to bring Grace to justice, reach out to her and ultimately allow his heart to become a deterrent in his investigation?

Tilly: I think Mitch is always drawn to Grace’s vulnerability, and from early on sees a very different side to her than the simplistic monster described in the press. Love does have a tendency to strike where it is least expected, and often when it is most inconvenient.

Jen: Let’s switch gears and talk about your promotional plans. Will you be participating in a book tour? If so, what can you share with us?

Tilly: I’m not actually touring with this book, primarily because I’m too busy writing the next one! But I will be promoting it as much as I can online and in various reader forums. Obviously we hope to reach new readers, those who may never have read Sidney’s wonderful books before, but I’m also very conscious of the reaction of Sidney’s millions of fans to these new stories, and to me as a new writer. As you say, Sidney’s are very big shoes to fill, and in a way touring alone with a Sidney Sheldon book feels slightly wrong to me. If I ever did it, I would want Alexandra, his widow, or his daughter Mary to be sitting there with me, because this truly is our book, not just mine.

Jen: Please take us on a tour of your website.

Tilly: I’m on www.tillybagshawe.com. My website is not very fancy I’m afraid! I’m not too sure what kind of a tour you would like, but it might end up being a fairly brief one. Technology is not my strong suit, unfortunately!

Jen: What’s next for you? Are you currently at work on a novel?

Tilly: I’m at work on three! I’m researching a third Sheldon book, finishing up a new novel of my own, and working on a proposal for something totally new, aimed at teenagers. Being a workaholic is something else that I share with Sidney Sheldon – he was incredibly productive right to the very end.

Jen: Thank you so much for stopping by to chat with my readers. I absolutely loved AFTER THE DARKNESS. I wish you the best of luck with its success!

Tilly: Thank you so much. At the end of the day that’s the only thing you can hope for as a writer, that people will read your story and that reading it will make their lives that tiniest bit happier. Thanks so much for taking the time to interview me, and for supporting the book. T xx

I hope you have enjoyed my interview with Tilly. Please stop by your favorite bookstore or local library branch and pick up a copy today. Better yet, how would you like to win one instead?

Okay, answer the following trivia question correctly and you could be one of five winners!

What is the name of the lead character in AFTER THE DARKNESS?

Later this month, I will be bringing to you my interview with Corinne Demas, author of the fabulous book THE WRITING CIRCLE. You won’t want to miss it.

Until next time...

Jen