Colette Coen

A Glasgow University and Faber Academy graduate, Colette Coen has recently completed her first novel All the Places I’ve Ever Been. She has published two eBook collections of short stories called The Chocolate Refuge and Five a Day. She won the Waterstones Crime in the City competition in 2013, has twice won the Eileen Gilmour Award for Creative Writing and was previously on the shortlist for the Scottish Book Trust New Writers Award. She has been a librarian and literacy lecturer, but now works in a supermarket to allow time and head-space for writing. She loves Muriel Spark, Margaret Atwood and INXS. She lives in Glasgow with her husband and three kids. She blogs at http://colettecoen.wordpress.com where she regularly posts new flash fiction.

Credentials

Colette Coen in 60 seconds

When did you start writing?

1990

What do you love about short stories?

I love giving a snapshot of people's lives while giving clues to the bigger picture.

Do you write in other forms?

Novels, plays.

What distracts you from writing?

Freecell, TV, children and job.

Outside of writing, what are your other passions?

Music, Reading, Jigsaws, Fun.

What is your favourite book?

The Awakening by Kate Chopin.

Who are your favourite writers?

Muriel Spark, Margaret Atwood and Barbara Kingsolver.

Where is your dream location?

Tulum, Mexico.

What one item would you put into Room 101?

Cats who insist on jumping on my knee despite what I think of them.

Do you have any advice for new writers?

Just do it. There is no magic formula, you just have to work hard, but only do it if you really love it.