Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands


<p>She’s been penning bestsellers for some 35 years, so what Jodi Picoult doesn’t know about writing, ain’t worth knowing. She the brains behind <em>My Sister’s Keeper</em>, which went on to become a Hollywood movie starring Cameron Diaz. But the New York-born author&#8217;s latest, Shakespearian-inspired novel is a new direction, branching out into historical fiction. Muddy’s Suzanne Lane met up with her on a dreary and cold afternoon in Stratford-upon-Avon (welcome to the UK, Jodi!) when she was in town as part of <a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk">Stratford Literary Festival</a>.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/10/Untitled-design-31-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-58444" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/10/Untitled-design-31-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/10/Untitled-design-31-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/10/Untitled-design-31-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/10/Untitled-design-31.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Jodi Picoult and Suzanne Lane</figcaption></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-your-first-time-in-ahem-sunny-stratford"><strong>Is it your first time in, ahem, sunny Stratford?</strong></h3>



<p>No, I’ve been before, but I love it here. It is so full of history that there is always something new to see.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-new-release-nbsp-by-any-other-name-is-based-on-the-validity-of-shakespeare-s-plays-tell-us-bit-more-about-it"><strong>Your new release,&nbsp;<em>By Any Other Name</em>, is based on the validity of Shakespeare’s plays. Tell us bit more about it?</strong></h3>



<p>It centres around two female characters, one based in Tudor times and one in modern day Manhattan. The first character, Emelia Bassano, is a ward of English aristocrats. She’s intelligent, well-travelled and wins a prize for her poetry, which is unheard of for women in those times. There has been great debate recently that she is the true writer of William Shakespeare’s plays, and he paid her to front her work. The second character, Melina, is a playwright struggling to get her work onto Broadway, and so takes the example of her ancestor Emelia and tries to hide her work behind a man’s name.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-controversial-what-inspired-you-to-branch-out-into-historical-fiction"><strong>Controversial! What inspired you to branch out into historical fiction?</strong></h3>



<p>I always try to focus on important issues in my books, and the way women are treated in the writing world really grabbed me for this. I was fascinated to read the story of Emelia a few years back, and from there the idea grew to delve deeper into her life, plus show how this treatment of women is still happening today.</p>



<p>Back at home in New York we studied Shakespeare at school, and he was idolised in the same way he is here in Stratford. We are led to believe these plays must be his as they have his name on, despite that he never visited any of the countries he writes about in detail, and there are many arguments that he had help, or paid others to write for him.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-which-of-your-own-books-is-your-favourite-and-why"><strong>Which of your own books is your favourite, and why?</strong></h3>



<p>This latest one! I truly believe that this is the book I was made to write. If you want to know who I am, this is the book to read. I loved working on something historical, and turning it into a timely, and very spicy, modern page turner.</p>



<p>Most of my books cover controversial issues I haven&#8217;t experienced personally, but this is one that I&#8217;ve actually lived because it&#8217;s showing what it&#8217;s like to be a woman writer. For example, my books are often described as ‘chic lit’ despite not falling into the stereotype of this genre; it is purely called this because I’m a woman writing literature!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/10/Untitled-design-34-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Jodi Picoult By Any Other Name" class="wp-image-58446" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/10/Untitled-design-34-1000x1000.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/10/Untitled-design-34-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/10/Untitled-design-34-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/10/Untitled-design-34-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/10/Untitled-design-34-500x500.jpg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/10/Untitled-design-34-1100x1100.jpg 1100w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/10/Untitled-design-34.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-which-of-your-books-was-hardest-to-write"><strong>Which of your books was hardest to write?</strong></h3>



<p>The Tenth Circle was physically hard – I had to live in an Eskimo village for a few days! Emotionally, I find it difficult with some of the books with children as the main topics, especially those who are very poorly or dying.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-books-deal-with-some-pretty-intense-subjects-how-do-you-deal-with-criticism"><strong>Your books deal with some pretty intense subjects, how do you deal with criticism?</strong></h3>



<p>I try to show both sides of the equation; I don’t want to tell you what to think, I want to lay out all the research and let you then think for yourselves, especially when a lot of our opinions are those formed at a young age influenced by our parents or peers. I receive a lot of hate mail, but I reply to each one, as I think it’s important to address their concerns. Quite often this helps them to see how I am not trying to tell them how to think but outlining both sides of a controversial debate.&nbsp;</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-which-character-in-your-books-are-you-most-relatable-to"><strong>Which character in your books are you most relatable to?</strong></h3>



<p>Ooh, I’d say Nina Frost from Perfect Match, who, like me, would do anything to protect her family.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-many-hours-a-day-do-you-write"><strong>How many hours a day do you write?</strong></h3>



<p>I tend to spend all day every day writing! Usually at least 9am until 4.30pm.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-must-need-some-good-snacks-to-power-through-all-that-time-what-s-your-go-to"><strong>You must need some good snacks to power through all that time – what’s your go-to?</strong></h3>



<p>Oh, it has to be plenty of coffee, and treats like Oreos or pop tarts</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-you-celebrate-when-you-finish-writing-a-book"><strong>How do you celebrate when you finish writing a book?</strong></h3>



<p>I’m really boring, I just want to get stuck in with writing the next one!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-describe-yourself-in-three-words"><strong>Describe yourself in three words…</strong></h3>



<p>Creative, determined, courageous</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-something-about-you-that-we-wouldn-t-know"><strong>Tell us something about you that we wouldn&#8217;t know?</strong></h3>



<p>I’m a grandma twice over! Two of my children have now had children of their own, and it is the best feeling.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-59-1-1000x667.jpg" alt="Jodi Picoult" class="wp-image-57743" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-59-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-59-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-59-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-59-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-would-your-autobiography-be-called"><strong>What would your autobiography be called?</strong></h3>



<p>No pudding for Jodi</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-er-why"><strong>Er… why?</strong></h3>



<p>I have a running joke that whenever I speak at an event the people there are always eating some kind of pudding, and there never seems to be any for me!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-could-meet-three-people-alive-or-dead-who-would-it-be-and-why"><strong>If you could meet three people, alive or dead, who would it be and why?</strong></h3>



<p>Oh, definitely Emelia, who my latest book is based on! Isac Dinesen, who wrote&nbsp;<em>Out of Africa</em>. Also, Michelle Obama would be amazing… actually can I have Barack too?</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-weren-t-an-author-what-would-you-be"><strong>If you weren’t an author, what would you be?</strong></h3>



<p>I’d definitely want to be a detective, so I can delve into mysteries! Or maybe a pastry chef, as I love making anything sweet!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-spill-the-tea-have-you-already-planned-your-next-book">Spill the tea – have you already planned your next book?</h3>



<p>I have! It’ll be released in 2026 and will be in relation to the 25<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;anniversary of 9/11.</p>



<p><strong>There&#8217;s heaps more top authors and happenings in town as part of <a href="https://www.stratfordliteraryfestival.co.uk">Stratford Literary Festival</a> from 25-27 Oct. <a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/arts-culture-things-to-do/stratford-literary-festival/">Here&#8217;s who we can&#8217;t wait for. </a></strong></p>


Muddy meets: Bestselling author Jodi Picoult

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