Rebecca Done lives in Norwich and works as a copywriter. She is the author of This Secret We're Keeping and My Husband The Stranger. Upon the release of her second novel- she tells us a bit more about herself.
Rebecca Done
I’m sporadically sporty. I try to run regularly all year round to keep up a basic level of fitness but occasionally I feel inspired to run a marathon or do some other crazy endurance event. It’s like there’s extra adrenaline inside me that needs an urgent outlet a couple of times a year. Then I feel okay again for a few months.
I have a border collie. She’s a rescue dog and consequently came with quirks. There is a very true saying about this type of breed: ‘If you don’t give them a job, they become self-employed’. Yes they do – you have been warned. I wrote a border collie into This Secret We’re Keeping, but he’s much better-behaved.
I don’t prefer any particular genre when I’m reading. I read what appeals. My tastes range from Helen Fielding to Tom Perrotta, from Lionel Shriver to Rachel Cusk. I rarely look at reviews before making a selection – I just go by what I feel like reading.
I frequently choose a book by its cover. Well, title and (front) cover combined. If they’re enchanting, original and compelling, I’m hooked. I might not even check the back.
I’m an early bird. I can just jump out of bed and go. I never particularly need time to ‘come round’. Mind you, it works the other way at night. I’m completely useless in the evenings – ask any of my family or friends.
I would love to be fluent in another language. I started studying French and Italian at university, then changed my mind and went off to do a degree in creative writing instead. That worked out in the end, but I often hanker after the ability to switch between languages.
In my other life I’m a copywriter. In many ways writing copy is completely different from writing books but I enjoy it just as much. Basically ask me to do anything with words and I’ll love it. I’m one of those annoying people who points out misplaced apostrophes and gets excited about commas. It’s helped inform my character Molly’s job in My Husband The Stranger – she’s a copywriter too.
I never wear high heels. Well, maybe on (very) special occasions. I’m lucky to be quite tall, so I rarely feel the need to wear them. It’s trainers and flip-flops all the way for me. I’m a comfort girl. In fact . . .
I go barefoot whenever I can. I used to run around barefoot as a child all the time, and I wish I could do it more. I’m always kicking off my shoes at work. In fact I walked around London barefoot for an entire day once in my teens. I probably wouldn’t do that now, but my default setting is definitely shoe-less.
I never touched coffee or tea until I was 23. I didn’t consciously abstain, hot drinks just never appealed to me. Then I started working in an office and that was it. I was straight onto the coffee and never looked back. Now I’m hooked on an average of three a day. I can’t even contemplate writing without it.
