Jane Corry is a writer and journalist and has spent time as the writer in residence of a high-security prison for men—an experience that helped inspire My Husband’s Wife, her debut thriller, published by Pamela Dorman Books. Corry runs regular writing workshops and speaks at literary festivals worldwide, including The Women’s Fiction Festival in Matera, Italy. Until recently, she was a tutor in creative writing at Oxford University.
Thank you.
This is a complex story; it spans many years and
alternates between two points of view. Every character has secrets. What gave you the initial idea for the novel?
Three things! Working in a high-security male prison for
three years. Getting married again
during that me. And my love of twists. I couldn’t help wondering about the
relationship between first and second wives. Everyone assumes they shouldn’t
get on. But what if a second wife had to ask the first wife a big favour? And
suppose that involved a criminal who might actually be innocent. The book leaps
forward fifteen years in the middle. So almost anything could happen….
You’re a journalist as well; what made you want
to delve into fiction, specifically the thriller format?
I always wanted to be a novelist. I started writing little stories and poems
from the age of three. I only became a journalist because I needed to earn my
living and journalism seemed the best way because it involved writing. But then
I had my own columns and was also bringing up three children – so had to put my
original plan on the back burner until now. But it was worth it!
The title is intriguing; we don’t really get to
know its significance until later in the book. Did you go through several
titles before you decided on this one, or was this always the one you had in
mind?
It started out in my head as ‘My Husband’s New
Wife’ but then evolved into ‘My Husband’s Wife’. I like contradictions! It
makes people think twice….
Your characters are all flawed in one way or
another. Is it easy to guide your
creation into making the wrong decision, or are you tempted, as the author, to
let them have a different (and potentially more positive) outcome?
I love flawed characters because it makes them more
realistic. We all have flaws. I certainly do. As a reader, I don’t want a
perfect character. I believe we are all here on earth to learn lessons and that
means making mistakes along the way. Having said that, I do want them to have a
positive outcome at the end!
At the moment I’m reading
Christobel Kent’s The Loving Husband. I chose it because I met her when we were
both speaking on a panel recently. I’m enjoying her style of writing and the
riddles. Normally I don’t read psychological thrillers because I like to keep a
distance from my own genre. I adore Anne Tyler and also Fay Weldon. I was lucky
enough to meet Fay when I interviewed her as a young journalist and we’ve
remained friends ever since.
I’m also a huge fan of Alice Munro. I came across
her when my now grown-up daughter was at school. I always used to read my
children’s texts so I could test them – preferably in the car where they
couldn’t run away!
Several scenes take place in prisons, and you
were once the writer-in-residence of a men’s prison. How did this come about?
How long did this experience last? What were your most prominent impressions of
the experience?
I started working as writer in
residence in a high-security male prison when my first marriage ended. The
original contract was for two days a week for two years but they asked me to
stay on for a third year. I was very struck by a number of factors. Although I
was scared at first, I lost that fear when I was inside, working with the men
and helping them to write life stories, poems, novels and short stories. Words
are a great leveller.
I was also surprised by the fact that many criminals
don’t look like they’ve done something awful. Some could have been a next door
neighbor whom I might ask round for dinner. It wasn’t considered polite to ask
what their crime was but sometimes they told me. Then I wished they hadn’t. It’s
one thing to help a man write a story. But when they’ve confessed that they’ve
killed or gang-raped, you can’t help but look at them in a different way. I was
also struck by the amount of writing talent in prison. I entered some of my
men’s work for competitions and many won prizes.
Writing can improve
self-confidence and self-worth. It’s been proved that this can reduce the risk
of re-offending. I am now a life story judge for the Koestler Awards which give
prizes for writing and art to men and women in prison and mental institutions.
You are very good at withholding facts from your
reader without them realizing, at the time, that the facts are missing. Is it
difficult to plot this way?
Often the twists occur to
me when I’m writing. Sometimes they come as I do the research (which I often do
during the actual writing process). Then I go back and sow the seeds. So to
answer your question, it’s complicated rather than difficult. But there’s
nothing like that electric thrill when you suddenly think of another twist!
In which environment can you write most
productively? Do you have any writing
rituals?
I need complete peace. I’ve just about trained
my new husband not to interrupt me! This is easier now the children are older
although I also look after my granddaughter for two days a week. I write at the top of the house, overlooking
the sea. I live in the UK so it’s quite cold although I love to swim for most
of the year (in a wet suit!). I also write in the morning after a dog jog along
the beach and breakfast with my husband over the crossword. If it’s a grannie
day, I’ll catch up by writing in the
evening instead.
That sounds wonderful! I am envious of your sea view. How long did it take you to write MY HUSBAND’S
WIFE?
Three and a half months of writing every day for
the first draft. Then another four months for the whole editing process. I’m a
journalist. I write fast. It’s what I was trained to do. But after so many
years on the keyboard, my handwriting has suffered!
You do not live in the United States. Have you
ever visited?
Absolutely! I have been to New York four times. Once with
my first husband. Then on my own with my youngest son which was a real learning
curve as it was my first time alone. We stayed with friends in Connecticut and then
went to visit my older children who had summer jobs in upstate New York.
Then I
did a road trip with my second husband and visited Margaret Mitchell’s house in
Atlanta – this was on my wishlist as I adore Gone With The Wind. The last trip
was a transatlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2 which my second husband
surprised me with! Amazing. I’d love to do it again one day….
For those of us who might visit England, what is
a sight that we absolutely must see before we leave?
The
sea. There’s nothing like it. I’d suggest going round the whole coastline! If
you could only go to one place, I’d suggest the Isle of Skye. I went there
three years ago with some cousins to visit the Macdonald ‘family castle’ which
is now in ruins. I had an uncle who married several times so I have lots of
wonderful cousins from a variety of nationalities ranging from Chinese to
Canadian. Most of us have parents who
died young, but we are all very close and extremely proud of our heritage. Skye
has some amazing scenery and people.
Thank you! I will remember that. How can readers find out more about you and your
writing?
Through Twitter and my author page. Do check
out @janecorryauthor on Twitter
