Happy book birthday, Louise Jensen!
Three years ago I read an amazing book by a debut author, Louise Jensen.
I fell completely in love with her characters, her plot, her writing style … everything about her book captivated and impressed me beyond any debut I’d ever read. Selling just short of half a million copies within six weeks, Jensen’s psychological thriller was the book on everyone’s lips and Kindles! You can read my review here but read on for an amazing character spotlight by Louise.
Before I hand over to Louise, here’s the blurb for those of you haven’t read it:
Bookouture (7 July 2016)
‘I did something terrible Grace. I hope you can forgive me . . .’
Grace hasn’t been the same since the death of her best friend Charlie. She is haunted by Charlie’s words the last time she saw her, and in a bid for answers, opens an old memory box of Charlie’s. It soon becomes clear that there was a lot she didn’t know about her best friend.
When Grace starts a campaign to find Charlie’s father, Anna, a girl claiming to be Charlie’s sister steps forward. For Grace, finding Anna is like finding a new family and soon Anna has made herself very comfortable in Grace and boyfriend Dan’s home.
But something isn’t right. Things disappear, Dan’s acting strangely and Grace is sure that someone is following her. Is it all in Grace’s mind? Or as she gets closer to discovering the truth about both Charlie and Anna, is Grace in terrible danger?
There was nothing she could have done to save Charlie . . . Or was there?
Now it’s over to Louise who is shining the spotlight on Charlie Fisher …
When did you create Charlie?
I started writing after an accident left me with a disability. After journaling, I started to write a non-fiction book which I wanted to self-publish and I went along to a local writers’ group who were discussing self publishing that evening. On arrival, I was given 3 words and 10 minutes and asked to write something. A character Grace, immediately came to mind. She was revisiting an area where her and her childhood best friend had buried a memory box. We find out in the opening Charlie has died and Grace is digging the box up hoping to find a clue to help her understand Charlie’s last words., ‘I did something terrible, please forgive me.’
Did you create her to accommodate the book, or the book to accommodate her?
Immediately I was fascinated with Charlie. Why had she died so young? What did her last words mean? I knew she’d put an envelope in the memory box without Grace’s knowledge but I wasn’t sure what was in it. For about a week I couldn’t think of the answers to any of my questions so I knew I had to write until I found out. The book was very much created to find out what happened to Charlie.
What do you like most about Charlie?
I adore Charlie. We get to know her very well as the book alternates between past and present chapters. She’s funny, loyal and fearless.
What you most dislike about her?
The only thing I didn’t like about Charlie was the way she left without talking to Grace properly about what had happened. I completely understand her reasons for doing so but I think it was really sad.
Did you have to change her in any way during the editing process?
Charlie is one of those rare characters everybody loved. I didn’t have to change her at all. Often, as readers reach the end of Chapter One they get in touch and tell me how eager they are to find out what happened to Charlie.
Is she based on anyone real?
Charlie is a mixture of the friend I’d like to have and the person I’d want to be. She’s the perfect blend of compassion and courage.
What’s in store for Charlie?
Since writing The Sister I’ve written four more books (The Gift, The Surrogate, and The Date) but even now, it is Charlie I think of often. In the book she disappears and I often wonder what adventures she got up to during that period. I’d love to write about her again one day.
Would you be friends in real life?
I’d absolutely be friends with Charlie. In my mind we already are!
Thank you so much, Louise! I adore Charlie and Grace and still recommend this book all the time. It’s a belter! I said in my original review that these characters would stay with me forever, and they have.
Bookworms, you can get your copy now:
Happy book birthday, Louise, have some cake to celebrate!
Fans of Louise will know her latest thriller is out soon, The Family is out soon, you can pre-order your copy now and it will land on Kindle on 17 October!
Here’s the blurb …
COULD ONE MOTHER’S MISTAKE COST HER DAUGHTER EVERYTHING?
Laura is grieving after the sudden death of her husband. Struggling to cope emotionally and financially, Laura is grateful when a local community, Oak Leaf Organics, offer her and her 17-year-old daughter Tilly a home.
But as Laura and Tilly settle into life with their new ‘family’, sinister things begin to happen. When one of the community dies in suspicious circumstances Laura wants to leave but Tilly, enthralled by the charismatic leader, Alex, refuses to go.
Desperately searching for a way to save her daughter, Laura uncovers a horrifying secret but Alex and his family aren’t the only ones with something to hide. Just as Laura has been digging into their past, they’ve been digging into hers and she discovers the terrifying reason they invited her and Tilly in, and why they’ll never let them leave…
Emma The Little Bookworm 