An Author Interview with Gretchen Hayley of The Tearoom.

In my most recent book pile of reviews, I reviewed a totally delightful book called The Tearoom. I loved it, it went straight onto my books of the year pile. It is the perfect holiday read and as we head into summer and the holiday season, this local is lekker read is an absolute must. I was so thrilled when Penguin Random House asked me if I would like to do an author interview. And here it is…

Tell us a little bit about yourself:

Well, I wear many hats, especially red ones. I live in Johannesburg with my husband Mark and our three children – all teenagers -so please send me lots of love. I work from home in the admin field. Writing is my great love. My home is filled with music, books, films, a gorgeous Staffie named Joe-Pesci who’s asleep on my feet as I type this. My fortieth birthday looms around the corner and so far…so good.

Tubby decides that the time has come to stop dreaming about all the things he could be doing and to just get on and do them. The month before his birthday he decides to put a lot of plans in motion… his intentions may be well meaning but my goodness, one thing leads to another and things quite literally explode in his face. For Tubby, it is not so much about “What will the neighbours think?” but all about his heart… he follows his heart where it will lead and he endures the wrath of his vengeful wife over and over again. Until she crosses the line just once too many times… her own mid-life crisis scheming somewhat backfire, not to mention his children seem to be a lot nicer than he thought they were, once he gets to know them a bit better. Settle in, grab a good curry, make a pile of rootis or a stack of samosas and enjoy a lovely local read… that I kind of feel should have had a recipe or two somewhere between the pages. These is a five star read, look out for it, read it and enjoy it.

1. Tell us a little bit about your writing journey. How did you become a writer? Did you always want to become a writer?

Yes, I’ve always wanted to be a writer, I just wasn’t serious enough about it in that, I didn’t have the discipline. But then I met my dear friend and mentor Rae (an editor). I read the introduction of The Tearoom to her. I wasn’t sure what to do with it. She told me ‘write chapter two and I want to hear it next week.’ She’s beautifully direct is Rae, and I did as she suggested. The book grew chapter by chapter.

2. Who or what do you think had the biggest impact on you becoming a writer?

Without a doubt my late mother, Ivy. ‘Readers are restful people,’ she used to say. I was raised by terrific embellishers, storytellers and a few fantastic liars. The first step to becoming a writer is to develop a love of stories and characters, and that’s what my mother fostered in me.

3. Tell us about your work style: Are you compelled to write when inspiration strikes or disciplined, or do you just squeeze it in whenever you can?

There are stars in the sky when I wake up in the morning. Not a sound from any direction. My favourite time of day. I knuckle down and write for a few hours five-six days a week, I’ve found there’s no other way to finish a book. I’d love it if the muse visited frequently but alas, not so.

4. Where do you work best? On the couch at a desk? Tell us about your dream workday.

My dream workday would start before sunrise in a beach-house somewhere, sadly I live in Jo’burg. So, a good workday here for me is: It’s quiet. I’m at my spectacularly untidy desk, in my comfortable chair with the navy-and-yellow blanket my mother knitted for me. The smell from my coffee wafts. Trees wave through the windows. I write. (Rain is a bonus, gloomy weather is so atmospheric.)

5. Your characters are so real, so full of life, where did you find them? Where do you get your inspiration to create them?

I was born in Kwazulu natal, and although I haven’t lived there in ages, I am well familiar with the people and their ways. Some of the characters are based on actual people I’ve met, others are composites thereof. Tubby and Yogi on the other hand just sort of came to me.

6. What made researching for this book great, did you get to do any interesting interviews or visit any unusual places? This book is full of fabulous food… did you try a lot of recipes?

I wrote The Tearoom nearly ten years ago. Back then I was working a full-time job and not working from home as I am now so I couldn’t travel as much I’d have liked. I did shortish road-trips from Drakensberg through the South Coast.
The food is close to my heart. It’s a kind of homage to my paternal grandmother who was also Telugu. Her cooking was legend. As for me, I’ve been known to ‘dala the pots’ as we say, but nowhere near her league.

7. Do you have something to tell our followers who think that they might have a book inside of them, a word of encouragement or some advice? And where can our readers find you…on instagram? Website? 

We live in age of distraction. I believe it’s important to be ruthless (for lack of a better word), with our time. Allocate time- whether it’s to write a book, grow a garden, learn French, take up fly-fishing etc etc. I suppose that’s why time is such a prominent theme in The Tearoom. I’ve become evangelical about it. I have many regrets. My twenties were awash with pointlessness. I often wonder what more I would have done by now. Thankfully this new period finds me in a deeper spirituality. I spend at least three hours a day in complete silence with no distractions. I keep a daily account of how I spend my time. Nothing flowery- all very staccato and business-like.
I will tell you that since I started this practise, I’ve written four books.

This book was given to us for review purposes by Penguin Random House South Africa. This is not a sponsored post and opinions expressed are entirely our own.