Jodi Taylor

Jodi Taylor accidentally became a bestselling author when, after much rejection, she self-published her first book and mistakenly made it free. It soared up the free Kindle charts and, with over 400 glowing reviews, was spotted by a publisher. Fast-paced, witty and delightfully unconventional, her Chronicles of St Mary’s series had lead to two spinoff series plus a paranormal thriller series. Jodi only started writing at the age of 60.

Jodi can be found at:
Website: www.joditaylorbooks.com
Bluesky: @www.joditaylorbooks.com
Facebook: facebook.com/JodiTaylorBooks

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

I was supposed to be retired. Three weeks later I was bored so I thought I’d see if I had the mental discipline to write a book. I never intended it to be published – I just did it for fun.

What came first the characters or the world?

Oh, the world, definitely. Even when I was at school I used to dream of actually visiting famous historical events and what that would be like. It was only after I stopped working that I actually had the time to sit down and think about how that could be accomplished. Years as a facilities manager helped with sorting out the nitty-gritty.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

Very – no one seemed interested. Most of the publishers to whom I submitted my manuscript didn’t even bother to reply. I’m afraid alcohol played a large part in my publication. I was plied with wine and persuaded to self-publish.

How long did it take to write?

My first book took around twelve months. Now that I’m supposed to know what I’m doing it takes me between six and nine months to write a book.

How many publishers turned you down?

All of them! I stuck all my rejection letters on the bathroom wall to give me something to read when I was waiting for something to happen!

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

Mostly the reactions have all been good. People seem to like my books.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

People sometimes write to say my books have helped them through difficult times in their lives. I’ve had some tough times myself – I think we all have – and I turned to books for comfort. I never dreamed that one day I’d be able to pay all that back. It’s actually quite humbling to find that something I’ve done has made a difference to peoples’ lives.

What can you tell us about your next book?

I have two books out next year – a supernatural thriller, Bad Moon is out in May. The next Time Police novel – Out of Time – comes out in September. I’m currently writing the next Smallhope and Pennyroyal story – working title When Things Are Bad – Make Them Worse. The story of two time-travelling bounty hunters continues.

Do you take notice of online reviews?

Yes. I tell people I don’t, but I do. I advise other authors not to take any notice and then don’t practice what I preach.

Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?

I already have. I’ve written an historical novel – A Bachelor Establishment. I really enjoyed venturing into another genre. Doing something different is a bit like a holiday.

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

Lots of things because I’m very old. I owned and ran a hotel in Turkey. I was in local government for far too many years. I’ve worked for the MOD, been in the RAF and worked for the private sector.

Which author(s) inspire you?

Ooh – tricky. J R R Tolkien, C S Lewis, Terry Pratchett, Jane Austen, T Kingfisher, Georgette Heyer, Agatha Christie, Caimh McDonnell, Lindsay Davis, Ben Aaronovitch … someone stop me, please.

Which genres do you read yourself?

Everything, really, except time travel books. I worry about inadvertently using someone else’s plot. Or finding – just as I finish a book – that someone published something identical but better only last week. Otherwise I read anything that appeals to me.

What is your biggest motivator?

I don’t really think I need motivation. Writing is a kind of compulsion for me and I just can’t stop. Which is a little concerning because, as I said, I’m very old and I worry about the quality of my books as I tread my inevitable path to the grave. I can’t imagine doing anything else now.

What will always distract you?

Good question. Chocolate. Tea. Matt Damon. Wine. A good book. Cheese. The urge to go to the loo. Henry Cavill. Sausages. Again – someone stop me.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

Quite a lot, actually. It’s understood that the final decision is my publisher’s but I make suggestions relating to design, colours and font and most of them are acted upon.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes – I was always being told to put down my book and go and play outside. Good job I didn’t listen.

What were your favourite childhood books?

This sounds silly now, but when I was young there were books for girls and books for boys. Girls’ stories involved ballet dancers and ponies and boarding schools. Boys stories were about explorers and astronauts and dinosaurs. Mariners of Space by Erroll Collins was a great favourite of mine. There were no women in it at all but, surprisingly, she was female. Great book – sadly out of date now we know Mars and Venus are uninhabited but I loved it.

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

Sadly, other than Waterstones, there are no bookshops in my town, but The Wallingford Bookshop – in Wallingford, not surprisingly – is great, as is The White Rose Bookshop and Cafe in Thirsk.

What books can you not resist buying?

Any of them. I believe I can get treatment for it …

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

I can’t see print so well these days, but my kindle TBR pile is heroic.

What is your current or latest read?

I am reading Conclave by Robert Harris which has been a favourite of mine ever since it was released.
Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?
Ring the Bell – C K McDonnell
Stone and Sky – Ben Aaranovitch
The Evenhanded Booksellers of Edinburgh – Garth Nix
A Case of Life and Limb – Sally Smith

Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

Writing more books. Last summer I spent some time working on a story outline for A Bachelor Establishment which is a possible TV series.

Any events in the near future?

Jodiworld in May, a gathering of readers and fans at Coventry.

and finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

I wanted to write the sort of books I wanted to read.