Colette McBeth
Precious Thing is the story of a friendship that turns in to an obsession. Rachel and Clara meet as teenagers at school and instantly form a close bond. Rachel is the dumpy one, Clara is the girl every wants to be friends with. The book begins when Rachel, now a successful TV crime reporter is sent to cover the story of Clara’s disappearance. Has Clara been murdered? Or is she out to get revenge? Slowly we begin to realise that their friendship isn’t all it appears to be. It’s become a powerful struggle, each of them intent on outwitting the other.
Please tell us about the character of Rachel.
She definitely complex. On the surface she’s got everything going for her, the career, the boyfriend, the London flat but she’s thrown into a situation which threatens to destroy everything she’s worked for. There’s a lot more I could say but I can’t without giving too much away!
You were a reporter just like the character, so how much of you has carried through into her?
I don’t think I’m like Rachel at all. I hope I’m not at any rate. She’s charming but she knows exactly how to get what she wants and there are boundaries she crosses which I would never dream of doing. But the fact I was a reporter meant I knew exactly how a newsroom should look and feel, the kind of things people say to each other. It can be quite a harsh environment so you have to develop thick skin.
Please tell us about studying the How to Write a Novel Course.
I did the Faber Academy Writing a Novel Course in 2011 which is when I started writing Precious Thing. I first had the idea for the novel thirteen years ago but life got in the way. I had a full time job and two kids (I have three now) and there didn’t seem to be any time. I guess I wanted the course to give me discipline and the permission to take myself off and say, ‘I’m writing for the afternoon.’ In the end I got much more out of it than I’d hoped. It made it seem achievable and helped me see where I had been going wrong with my writing in the past. I also met my agent as a result of doing the course so it certainly helped in that respect too.
The novel was inspired by a friendship you had as a teenager- so can you tell us a bit more about this.
I can although she’ll probably kill me! Anyone who reads the book will understand her misgivings about being described as the friend who inspired it. The truth is a little different. We met on my first day at school when I was eight. I had just moved to the North East of England from Scotland and the teacher told me to sit next to her. It’s this scene that I stole for Precious Thing and there’s another scene where Rachel and Clara hurt each other that most people think is too shocking to be true. In fact it happened at our school, although we didn’t do it. Mainly though I just took those insecurities and rivalries you have in female adolescent friendships and went to the extreme.
The book has been compared to Gone Girl- so what is your reaction to this?
It’s a huge compliment because I loved Gone Girl. There are a few similarities in the plot but beyond that they are very different books both in terms of tone and how they conclude.
What is next for you?
I’ve just finished my second book which is called The Life I Left Behind. It’s another psychological thriller about two women, Melody and Eve, who were attacked by the same man years apart. Melody survived but feels dead inside and Eve was murdered. The story is told from their alternating points of view. As Melody begins to pick over her past in order to find the truth she develops a bond with Eve– a bit like a friendship beyond the grave – and realises that although she’s dead she’s the only person who can teach her how to live again.