We took a nosey through Dawn O’Porter’s bookshelf…
Hey Dawn, what are you reading at the moment?
I just started What a Way To Go by Bella Mackie. I must be the only person on earth who didn’t read her massive hit, How to Kill Your Family, so I’ll get to that next. But this is brilliant, she’s so clever.
How long did it take you to write your own new book, Honeybee? And where did you write it?
I actually wrote the first draft of this book in 2018 whilst living in LA, then forgot about it. It wasn’t very good. I needed to finish So Lucky and then the pandemic happened, so I wrote my accidental memoir Life in Pieces and then went straight into Cat Lady. In December 2023 I was writing another book, but it wasn’t working, I was really struggling with it. So, I reverted back to the Honeybee manuscript and when I read it I really loved it. It was way better than I remembered. It had the working title ‘Dirty Rats’ and it was set in London which felt wrong. So I decided to rewrite it and set it back in Guernsey and I’m so happy that I did. I’ll go back to the book I paused on next. I think with some distance, I’ve ironed out the issues I was having.
Is there a memory that sticks out from this writing process?
Of all of my writing experiences the Renee and Flo books are always my favourite. I know the girls so well, which makes writing so much fun. Because I understand them so well and relate so much to their lives, I have so much fun putting them in loads of crazy situations. One of my favourite scenes is the moment one of the characters farts in a café. I was laughing so much when I wrote that, I had to get up from my desk and walk around. I love that scene so much, it’s so weird but entirely possible and those mortifying bits are my absolute fave.
Do you ramp up your own book-reading rate while writing your own?
I read so much all the time. I usually try to set an hour aside a day for reading, and then I don’t really watch telly so I read in bed at night, too. Reading absolutely unlocks creativity and is the number one most useful thing to do when you want to write. So yes, I read a lot when I am writing, and when I’m not.
What’s the first book you remember loving?
I loved The Witches by Roald Dahl as a kid. I went on a holiday to Ibiza with my grandparents when I was quite young. It was one of those huge package hotels with a mini club, loads and loads of function rooms and so many people. I made a friend on holiday, and we convinced ourselves the witches were there. We spent the whole time screaming at and running away from any woman with good hair in case it was a wig.
Could you say a book changed your life?
My own book, Paper Aeroplanes. The first book in the HoneyBee series. Not only was it a little autobiographical and helped me deal with some of the harder parts of my childhood, but I got the deal at a time when my career was in turmoil. I see that as the book that saved me from a complete career change that I really didn’t want. It taught me that I can write my way out of anything. It’s a very special book to me.
Is there a book that got you through a hard time?
I can’t pinpoint any book specifically, but I think reading has the power to get you through anything. When times are tough, we get so in our own heads. We make ourselves believe we are the centre of this universe, and everything is happening to us. When you read fiction, you get transported into another world and it’s very useful for mental health. Also seeing how characters navigate tricky situations can be very empowering.
What about a book you wish you’d written?
I recently read All the Colours of the Dark by Chris Whitaker and it’s so beautiful and so perfect that I really wish it was my work. That, or 50 Shades Of Grey so I’d be loaded. But ideally under a different name so I could keep writing my books too.
What book should be on every shelf?
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. She is just the most stunning writer. This book is a lesson and a tonic all in one. It’s a love story about two Nigerian characters Ifemelu and Obinze who move to America. They have a tumultuous time both individually and in love, as they work their way into America. As a reader, we get to see the racial challenges they face in a way that seeps into your soul giving you an understanding that we all need to have. I loved every page. It’s the book I gift the most.
A book you listened to on Audible and loved?
I love listening to Taylor Jenkins Read books on Audible. Her characters are so vibrant and work brilliantly on audio.
Honeybee by Dawn O’Porter is out now
