Dorothy Koomson is a contemporary English novelist, with nine titles to her name. Her books include Marshmallows for Breakfast, My Best Friend’s Girl, and The Ice Cream Girls, the latter of which was adapted for television. She speaks to Amie Mulderrig ahead of her appearance at Words Over Waltham Forest, the borough’s first poetry and literary festival.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

I wrote my first book when I was 13, I used to write a chapter a night and pass it around my school friends in the morning. From that I wrote short stories for a long time, and then I managed to get a publishing deal in 2002, with my first book published in 2003. I always loved reading, too, everything from Jackie Collins to comics – I always had my head buried in a book.

How did you feel when you had your first book published?

It was amazing. It took me a long time to get a publishing deal, but when I got it, it was the best thing ever. So, after all those years of trying, it was really great. It’s a hard feeling to describe, there’s not a feeling like it.

How did you feel about The Ice Cream Girls being adapted for television?

I wasn’t as proud as I was when I had my book published for the first time. It wasn’t really my book either, it was a version of it. The television series was very different to my book.

What inspires your work?

Talking to people, although, I eavesdrop a lot. It’s great. People on mobile phones are the best, because they will just sit there and have a conversation without actually thinking that everyone is listening in, they’re in their own little bubble.

How do you create your characters?

My characters are created through the situations I write about. For example in my latest book The Flavours of Love, the female character Saffron has shades of a couple of people I know, but mainly it’s come from researching the effect losing someone close to you, the effect it has on your personality. So the characters grow from the situation.

How long does it take you to write a book?

In the region of six to nine months, which is quite quick, but some people write two books a year.

Do you create the plot or the characters first?

It’s a very organic process. Sometimes I’ve got a vague idea of a character, sometimes it’s the idea of the plot. And then it all grows from there.

What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

To read, read everything not just the subject or genre you want to write about. There are so many different ways of telling stories and it’s important for you to find that out. And write. Write as much as possible, forget who’s going to read it, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Write what’s in your head.

What will you be doing at the Words over Waltham Forest festival?

I will be reading a chapter of my new book and I’ll be talking about it too. I hope it goes down well! It’s great to think I’ll be part of the borough’s first literary festival. Everyone, borough, town, village in the country – they should all do something like this.

  • In conversation with… Dorothy Koomson is on November 8 from 7pm until 9pm, at Walthamstow Library, High Road, Walthamstow. Details: dorothykoomson.eventbrite.co.uk