Sally Page

Sally Page's debut novel, The Keeper of Stories was published by HarperCollins in 2022 and became a bestseller. It was shortlisted for British Book of the Year and has sold over half a million copies. Sally's latest novel is The Book of Beginnings and is published by HarperCollins on 28 September. You can also find it on our catalogue.

Who were your heroes as you were growing up?

Without a doubt that would be Sue Barton. Sue Barton student nurse; Sue Barton staff nurse; Sue Barton district nurse… These were the books I devoured as a young girl that made me want to be a nurse. As it turned out I didn’t have the stuff it took to be a nurse (I realised that when my brother had to spend time in hospital). But I still very much admire nurses and will always be thankful to Sue Barton for getting me into reading.

Your debut, The Keeper of Stories, will be familiar to many Suffolk readers as it was a Suffolk Loves choice and featured in every library. What was it like to write and how did you come up with the characters of Janice and Mrs B?

I had never really seen myself as a creative writer, in our family my daughter Libby was the author – she was a Sunday Times Bestseller at 25 – so I think I had rather pigeon holed myself as a non-fiction writer. However one day I woke up with an idea for a story and once I started writing I couldn’t stop! It was, and still is, a joy to me to write. The Keeper of Stories was the third book I wrote and the first to be published.

I was not sure who my main character would be until I was watching the Oscars and I saw Olivia Colman’s acceptance speech. In it she recounted how, as a young hopeful, she had worked as a cleaner. She had stood in front of other people’s bathroom mirrors, holding the toilet cleaner, as if it were an Oscar statue. I wondered if there was someone watching who was still a cleaner, whose life hadn’t developed as they had hoped. What would they be thinking? And so my main character, Janice, was born. A woman who did not believe she had a story to tell, so collected other people’s stories.

As for Mrs B, rather like Decius the fox terrier, she muscled her way on to the page and I had very little to do with it!

Your latest book is The Book of Beginnings. Can you tell us a little about it?

This is a book about how friendship can develop in the most unexpected places and that age isn’t a barrier to relationships. And as George Eliot once wrote, ‘It is never too late to be what you might have been.’ I hope, that like The Keeper of Stories, this book celebrates the extraordinary that is within ordinary life.

It starts when Jo Sorsby moves from the North East to London to look after her uncle’s shop. She is dealing with the end of a relationship and is wondering what to do with her life. She forms an unlikely friendship with Rev Ruth (a runaway vicar) and Malcolm, a septuagenarian who is researching a book he never writes.

Your characters are really well created and believable. How do you make them so realistic?

I think like many authors I draw on people I have met and observed over the years. Usually this ends up as a total mix of traits I have seen and those I have imagined. It is rare I would draw on one specific person, but for The Book of Beginnings I was particularly inspired by my friend Rev Anne Heywood and there is no doubt, the Runaway vicar, Rev Ruth, shares many similarities with her, especially her warmth and humour. I dedicated this book to Rev Anne.

What kind of research did you have to do for The Book of Beginnings? I'm guessing Highgate Cemetery featured at some point?

You are right, I did spend quite a lot of time in Highgate Cemetery! Although as this was written during lockdown I also had to rely on online research. The Book of Beginnings is partly set in a stationery shop and there I drew on my experience as a woman who started a pen company. I have always loved stationery and in this book I was able to indulge myself!

Is there anything you can share with us about your latest project?

After The Keeper of Stories did so well I was lucky enough to sign a two-book deal with Harper Fiction so at the moment we are deciding between two book that I have already written for which will be Book 3. One has a strong floral theme (I used to run a flower shop) one celebrates creativity (I paint in my spare time). Both are contemporary novels with a historical thread. Both have a cast of characters I love to spend time with – which is lucky because whichever route we choose I do know there will be a lot of editing!

One book, piece of music or work of art that everyone should experience?

Good question, but tricky. I think I would go for a well loved children’s book, as if you experience something wonderful when you are young it will ignite your imagination and keep you reading. Plus when you hit a bad time in your life revisiting it will give you comfort. I am sure my daughters would choose Harry Potter, but for me I think it would be either The Wind in the Willows or The Secret Garden.

What is on your 'to read' pile at the moment?

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles (I loved his other books). The Fair Botanists by Sara Sheridan (a recommendation from a friend). A Winter in New York by Josie Silver (a proof copy sent by the publisher).

Where did your love of flower shops and fountain pens come from?

I have always loved flowers and was fascinated by wild flowers when I was young. Later when I worked in advertising I started an evening course in floristry and it felt like coming home. Later I opened a flower shop. I also think fountain pens relate to my childhood – I always played post offices as a child!

Can you tell us one thing about yourself that your readers may not know?

I was once an expert witness in a court case to do with Jammie Dodgers as I knew so much about them. I think I knew then it was the time to leave my job in market research and try something else!