J. A. Newman Shares the Stories Behind Her Books and the Moments That Shaped Them

PHOTO: Author J. A. Newman at home in West Norfolk, where her passion for storytelling continues to inspire her growing body of work.

Imagination, Resilience, and the Journey From Memoir to Mystery

J. A. Newman reflects on her writing journey, from memoir to rom-com and historical fiction, sharing personal inspiration, creative process, and the life experiences that breathe depth into her storytelling.

J. A. Newman is a storyteller who weaves heart, humor, history, and a hint of the supernatural into every page she writes. Her voice—honest, reflective, and deeply human—shines through both her poignant memoir and her captivating works of fiction. Whether she’s guiding readers through the emotional landscape of lost love and second chances in No One Comes Close, or through the witty escapades of Jess in her delightful rom-com duo Where There’s a Will and Losing the Will, Newman delivers stories grounded in authenticity and charm.

Her novels are rich tapestries drawn from a life fully lived—from the bustle of a South London salon to the windswept coasts of Cornwall. Bay of Secrets offers readers a compelling blend of mystery and family legacy, while her short story collection The Other Side of Life showcases her gift for time-spanning narratives, tinged with the mystical. With every book, Newman reminds us that even the quietest lives hold stories worth telling.

In this exclusive interview, she opens up about the experiences that have shaped her work—from her early days growing up in a boarding house, to the grief and growth captured in her memoir, to her dreams of bringing history to life in a future novel. What follows is a conversation with an author whose words linger long after the last page is turned.

J. A. Newman is a gifted author whose heartfelt stories, vivid characters, and rich settings resonate deeply with readers across generations.

Growing up in a guest house must have been fascinating — how did those early experiences shape your imagination and later inspire your writing?

I was an only child for the first seven years and my mother and grandmother were always busy in the kitchen, so I spent a lot of time on my own. To give me something to do I was told to look for the fairies at the bottom of the garden. This fuelled the idea for an imaginary friend, an elf called Daggle.  The boarders who stayed with us, some of them very colourful characters, are included my life story that I’m currently writing. I still have the visitors’ book. Most of my writing is semi-autobiographical.

Hairdressing plays a big part in Where There’s a Will — how much of Jess’s journey mirrors your own experiences in the salons of London and beyond?

Oh, a huge part! I have drawn on some of the girls I worked with for my characters and I have taken elements of the salons I have worked in, and the places I have lived, to create the scenes. There’s also a little family history thrown in.

“Most of my writing is semi-autobiographical.” — J. A. Newman

Your memoir No One Comes Close is deeply personal. What was the most challenging part of revisiting that chapter of your life through writing?

That’s easy. It’s the day my father drowned. I didn’t think I would be able to write about it, even all these years later, as it’s a deeply tragic period in my life, but I found it oddly cathartic. I kept a diary during the break-up of my first marriage too, which helped me to relive my feelings when writing the memoir. The parts in first person present tense were quite challenging as I had to relive it all. I decided to shape it in diary form, taken from my original diaries, and embellish it.  

In Bay of Secrets, mystery and family ties intertwine beautifully. Can you tell us what sparked the idea for this story?

Bay of Secrets started life as a NaNoWriMo exercise in 2014. I had to think quickly to write 50,000 words in 30 days to complete the novel and win the certificate, which I did. I drew on my family for the characters and I set the scenes mainly in my favourite bay in North Cornwall and other places I have lived. It came about because I was wishing that my family could all live together instead of being spread out around the country.

“I’ve always been fascinated with history and the spiritual world.” — J. A. Newman

Your anthology The Other Side of Life spans centuries. What drew you to writing stories that step beyond the everyday?

I’ve always been fascinated with history and the spiritual world. I have drawn on events/places/characters that stand out in my life and the rest is fuelled by my imagination. A few of these stores have been published in other anthologies including The Caradon Hill Heritage Project and Help4Heroes.

You began your serious writing journey after moving to Cornwall — can you share what it was about that place or that moment in life that unlocked your creativity?

I needed a purpose when my husband and I moved to Cornwall. Initially I had a burning desire to write, what turned out to be, my memoir No One Comes Close.  I spotted a poster in our local post office for a 6 week creative writing course in Liskeard called Finding Your Voice and signed up hoping this would unlock the door. It did. I found this course incredibly inspirational, not only for my ‘magnum opus’ but it put me firmly on the path to writing prolifically. The tutor Jenny Alexander was amazing and I took several writing courses with her. I attended many writing workshops while I lived in Cornwall. Another thing that helped was the critique writing group I joined. The feedback for my memoir was immensely helpful and I learned a lot.

“I have always admired strong women. My mother was a prime example.” — J. A. Newman

In Losing the Will, Jess faces a lot of unexpected hurdles. What message were you hoping to share about resilience and starting over?

I have always admired strong women. My mother was a prime example. Nothing fazed her. When I was a baby, during rationing, she went knocking on doors begging for coal to keep me warm.

You’ve mentioned dreams of writing a historical novel set during the English Civil War — what draws you to that period, and how is the project coming along?

The fact that Charles I was executed on my birthday, exactly 300 years before I was born, was my main starting point. The Civil War has always fascinated me as I have lived in Ely, (Oliver Cromwell’s home) and in Cornwall near where some of the battles took place. The project is very slowly taking shape owing to the research involved.