Once I’ve nailed down that exaggerated version of myself I want to write about, I make the rest up. (And I’m talking the bad stuff!) But it pumps me with a sickening adrenaline that gets my books written, so I’ll take it. My friends are always amazed at how much of myself I’m willing to put out there. Virginia Woolf said, “Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind, is written large in his works.” Do you agree? How much of yourself do you put into your books? When I turned in the book, my editor, Judy Clain said, “I love Eleanor! She’s such a mess!” And I thought, “Wait, what?' I don’t think they’re that weird! Eleanor is very much based on me. Like Bernadette Fox, Eleanor Flood is somewhat unusual - what is it that draws you to writing off-beat characters?

Why, when I have everything required for happiness, am I always failing myself and those I love? What came out was essentially the first page of the novel. What legitimate pain could I have to work from? So the first day, I decided to sit down with a pencil and yellow pad, and see what flowed. I was in a loving, long-term relationship.

But when I began writing this new book, I had nothing to complain about! I’d written a best-selling novel. I’ve always found that tapping into a vein of deep shame or unhappiness was a sure way to strike gold. What was your starting point for Today Will Be Different? Photo: Maria Semple (c) Elke Van de Velde

Maria semple new book