"Therapy helped me create characters more effectively"

Jojo Moyes, the British author of 'After You', has just released the book 'Love Lives Here', a novel that talks about death and divorce but also about love and forgiveness, which has drama, but also humor, just as the writer has accustomed us to.

Recently, Jojo Moyes was in Portugal, more precisely at the Lisbon Book Fair, to present her new work, published in our country by Porto Editora.

Notícias ao Minuto took the opportunity to chat with her. During the interview, conducted via email, the writer spoke not only about "Love Lives Here," but also about the personal (and professional) challenges she's faced, including burnout, divorce, grief, and therapy.

There was still time to reveal his passion for Portugal, one of his favorite countries and where he visits at least three times a year.

But let's go back in time a bit. Pauline Sara Jo Moyes 'became' Jojo Moyes in 2002, when she traded a 10-year career as a journalist for a life as a writer.

In two decades, he has sold more than 50 million books worldwide, translated into 44 languages, including Portuguese.

"After You" is one of his most famous (and best-selling) works. It was so successful that in 2016, it spawned a film with the same title.

This time, Jojo Moyes presents us with a book she's previously described as a "comedy." 'After You' tells us about something all too common these days: a "dysfunctional and confused" family dealing with multiple traumas. Along the way, besides some good laughs, we also feel the power of love.

My books are not based on true stories, but I draw inspiration from what's happening around me.

You've just released 'Love Lives Here,' a book about an imperfect family and the power of love. What inspired you to write this story?

My books aren't based on true stories, but I draw inspiration from what's happening around me. I've long wanted to write a story about a dysfunctional family and explore the question of how we pass on—or don't pass on—our problems from generation to generation.

It's a book that combines love, divorce, death, trauma, forgiveness... And always with humor. How do you manage to do that?

I think for the British, tragedy is often associated with comedy. We find humor in life's darkest moments, in the most significant. Are we just not good at handling emotions? Maybe. Besides, I'm also a good-natured person. I always try to find something funny in everything that happens. It's the best way to approach life.

He's been publishing books since 2002, almost annually. Always with success. Where do you find so much inspiration?

I think it's enough to be a keen observer. I was a journalist for 10 years, and that gave me the ability to see stories others don't. Human beings are infinitely interesting. How they mess things up, how they sabotage their own happiness. And that inspires me.

You worked as a journalist for several years but then decided to dedicate yourself full-time to your writing career. Is that your greatest passion? Do you miss journalism?

I really missed journalism when I left the profession. I identified so much with my work that I no longer knew who I was when I left it. In fact, I even needed therapy to separate my personality from my career. However, writing fiction has always been my true passion, and now I don't think I could be a journalist anymore. I feel lucky to be doing what I love.

What's it like being a bestselling author? Do you feel any pressure?

Well... I wasn't a bestselling author for the first 10 years of my literary career, so I can say it's much better to be a bestseller! [laughs]. But no, I don't feel pressured about sales; I do care about not disappointing my readers. I work hard to write a book good enough for them to feel satisfied upon finishing it.

Have you ever experienced writer's block? You recently talked about burnout in an interview...

I don't think I've ever really had a writer's block. I've never felt like I couldn't write anything. But in 2020, I struggled. My marriage had just fallen apart, my mother was dying, and we were living through a pandemic. These things, as they usually do, affected my imagination. It was Lou Clark, my character in 'After You,' who helped me get through that. I wrote a short story about how she dealt with confinement, and it brought me back to my old self.

You've also spoken in several interviews about the importance of therapy, not only personally but also for your books. How does therapy help you create?

I strongly believe in the importance of therapy. When someone is a writer, they're usually interested in human nature and what human beings do. Therapy helped me not only understand my own emotions and behaviors but also create characters more effectively and realistically. I think I'm a happier and kinder person because of therapy.

What changes have you made in your life since experiencing this near burnout?

I don't work as much! I didn't realize I was overwhelmed because I love my job. But it was normal to work 12 hours a day. And I was often on tour. Now I have a quieter life, I do things that are also good for me. I exercise, spend time with friends, go horseback riding, and walk my dogs. Ironically, I found that I wrote my latest book much faster than my previous ones. I wonder if the two things aren't related.

You were recently in Lisbon presenting 'Love Lives Here'. Have you been to Portugal before? What was that experience like at the capital's Book Fair?

Portugal is one of my favorite countries. I visit Portugal three times a year to go horseback riding in a center in the Alentejo region, and I always try to spend at least one night in Lisbon because I love the city. But it's been 10 years since I've participated in a literary event in your country, and it was wonderful to attend the Lisbon Book Fair and reconnect with my Portuguese readers. It was a wonderful experience. I plan to spend more time in Portugal and am already learning Portuguese to communicate better when I go. Thank you!

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