Judith O’Reilly - Wife in the north interview
For someone who has spent a bit of time in England’s Northumberland and border country, I was intrigued by the recent media storm surrounding Judith O’Reilly and her Wife in the North blog - which has achieved the fastest blog to book deal to date. So when the opportunity to pose some questions to Judith presented itself, our editorial team scratched it’s collective heads and came up with some highly original and probing questions! Ok, they might not be original or probing but we hope you enjoy the responses.
1. What made you start writing a blog?
I was lonely and the blog was a place to vent. I had things to say and felt I had noone to say them to – I suppose it was a sort of cyber-scream. We had moved house to Northumberland and I missed my friends and life in London. At the same time, my husband still had to go back to London for periods to work and I felt really isolated.
2. How do you think your blog gained such popularity and has it been the key factor in securing a book deal?
I think the blog is popular because it is funny and it says something about women’s lives today. Women seem to connect with the stuff I write about whether it is the day to day trivia of life like breaking an egg cup or big issues such as ageing. It is my diary but it is an Everywoman’s diary as well. The blog and the book are about love and family and relationships - fundamental themes in women’s lives. It also has material in it about Northumberland, both about the splendour of the countryside and about country ways (such as shooting or shearing sheep) which are probably intriguing if you are living in a town or city.
The blog was undoubtedly the key factor in securing the book deal. I can’t see I would ever have been offered the opportunity to write a book without having written the blog first. It was an amazing platform.
3. I sense that living in Northumberland has been a struggle at times. What were the things that made you ultimately warm to the place?
Key thing was the people being so welcoming and friendly and generous. They really welcomed me and I now feel part of a community. Another big factor was the beauty and splendour of Northumberland – sometimes it is like living in a painting, you drive along a road and over a hill and this immense vista opens up infront of you and you just think: “Wow.”
4. Can you recommend to our readers what they should visit or do, while spending time in Northumberland?
I suggest you check out my microsite for a run down of Northumberland attractions (http://www.visitnorthumberland.com/site/wife-in-the-north/wife-in-the-north) but a visit could include a walk on a beautiful beach such as Bamburgh, a visit to a castle (Northumberland has lots of them and any would do but Bamburgh and Alnwick are both fabulous) and a visit to a garden (such as Howick or Alnwick garden). You could also go for a boat trip out to the Farnes, visit Holy Island, Northumberland National Park and take in Hadrian’s Wall.
5. Do you intend to stay in Northumberland and are you still a city girl at heart?
We are staying. Northumberland really works for us as a family at the moment. I do love London and I always will and if I was a single career girl, I would still be there, but the fact is I am a wife and mother and you have to make decisions accordingly.
6. Have you found yourself taking up new interests and hobbies since moving to Northumberland?
Well apart from blogging, I have had a go at a lot of things like following the hunt on the back of a quad bike, shooting and sheep shearing. I have also had a go at proggy rug making which is a local craft and had a go at riding. I also go for a walk along a beach when I need some thinking time.
7. Do you think local gossip and intrigue takes on a bigger role in rural communities?
I don’t know. Most people enjoy a good natter I think whether they live in the city or the country and whether they are based at home or in the office. We are all interested in other people’s lives, maybe we all think other people’s lives are more interesting than our own – they probably aren’t. There are fewer people around so you end up getting to know more about them.
8. How have you coped with the enormous attention you have received?
Three children make sure that you remain pretty securely grounded. I showed my seven-year-old the front page of the Sunday Times News Review which had a large picture of me sitting in the dune grass infront of Bamburgh Castle. He just pointed to some teeny tiny people sitting by their windbreak on the beach behind me and said “Who are they?”. Also, I think because I am a journalist, I know that it is not going to last – this is my 15 minutes, it is soon over so you might as well enjoy it.
9. Do you have any tips for setting up a successful blog and obtaining a book deal in record time?
Don’t blog for a book deal. Blog because you feel you have something to say or you want to have a go at writing or because you are passionate about a particular interest – it can be anything cooking, knitting, a pet. Blogging for a book deal is like saying “I’ve sorted out my pension – I bought a ticket for the lottery this weekend.” If you are excited about what you are doing on the blog it is probably going to be a great blog. Blog because you want to. Blog for yourself – be aware though that other people can read it. It is relatively straightforward to start one and I love the idea women have started their own blogs because they came across mine – it is a great way to communicate and a really creative thing to do. Go for it is my advice.
10. Congratulations on achieving great things with your blog. Do have any ideas as to what your next blog / book might be about?
I am probably going to tweak my blog come autumn time into something slightly different – watch this space. Yes I do have an idea for another book – this one will be a novel rather than a sequel to Wife in the North because I don’t want to turn my “Life” into “Art” ad infinitum . Will I get another book deal this time? Who knows? I couldn’t complain if I didn’t. I got to write a book – I am so excited about having been able to do that. I was just incredibly fortunate in the way it all turned out.
Many thanks to Judith and we wish her the very best of luck with her book.
For more info on Northumberland take a look at the Visit Northumberland web site.
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