Like her protagonist Suzanne, J.C. Lewin worked as a full-time social worker. Unlike Suzanne, however, Lewin quit her job to follow her dream of writing. She earned a Masters in Creative Writing at City University, London and talked to “be” about the inspiration behind All Your Fault.
Where did you get the idea for All Your Fault?
During my Masters we did weekly exercises where we focussed on a particular element of writing, e.g setting, character, etc. I came up with Suzanne for the character-based exercise and wrote an early version of the TV Today interview. My fellow students liked the social worker character, so I then decided to pursue with Suzanne's story for the novel.
This is your debut book. For others who would love to write — what pushed you to finally get words on the page?
For me, writing a book was something I always wanted to do, but never had time for. I was working as a full-time social worker (like Suzanne) when I decided that if I was ever going to write a book, I needed to really go for it. So, I applied to City University's Masters in Creative Writing, took the plunge and handed in my resignation, and got a part-time less stressful job instead. Then I spent the next two years putting everything into the course and the book. It was a real leap, but I am so glad I went for it.
What was the hardest scene to write?
I think it is a toss-up between chapter one and the final chapter. The beginnings of books are so important, those first few pages where your reader is introduced to your protagonist are key. I mean, you are asking the reader to spend the next 300 odd pages with them — so they've got to want to stick with them! The final chapter is a tough one, as you want to make sure there is resolution for your characters but also a believable ending which is going to leave your reader with food for thought. I lost count of the amount of times I rewrote those chapters.
Who is your favourite character in the book?
That is a tough one! I actually think my favourite character is Monty. Purely because he is there to challenge the reader and their preconceptions. At first glance, Monty is a monster, the type of person most people will label the culprit. But when you dig deeper into his character, he is a man who has worked hard to fight against his urges because he knows they are wrong. In the end, his fate is due to the way others view him.
How much of your own personal experience is reflected in All Your Fault?
I am a qualified social worker and worked a few years in Child Protection, so I know all about the stress Suzanne was under. Whilst all the cases in All Your Fault are fictional, there are moments throughout the book that reflect my own experiences. I sympathised with Suzanne missing Emma's calls. I remember countless times having super hectic days, then realising families had been trying to get hold of me and feeling guilt about that. Having something tragic happen whilst I was caught up with another emergency was always something that would worry me. I suppose that is why I created the Emma story for the book — we write our fears.
What's next for you?
Since I finished writing All Your Fault, I have been writing a second novel — womens fiction, just for something a bit different. I have about 20,000 words left to write, then I have an idea for my next psychological thriller. I am back to working full-time as a manager of a care home, so I am busy but determined to keep writing. Now that I've had the joy of being able to say, I've written a book, I want to keep on going!
Any quirky facts about the writing process you'd like to share?
The majority of All Your Fault was written whilst I was in my pyjamas. Drinking copious amounts of coffee. See, who says you have to get dressed to achieve something with the day?