21 Comments
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Fiona Whittaker's avatar

Fully agree on The Ballad of Wallis Island - it's unexpectedly lovely, funny and moving in equal measure. I have ordered the soundtrack which is due out next week.

And Couples Therapy - fascinating.

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Rosemary Porto's avatar

So happy you are back! Thanks for sharing your exciting life( ok distracting life) which made me feel better about myself. I returned from a 9 day retreat in VT with 10 other writers which was productive and creative and so much fun. I haven’t made my bed, or written a word in my WIP since I returned. It has been a week of trying to ground myself enough to dive back in. Your post is a deep breath for me. Thank you and please don’t worry about any other novel. Nobody writes like you do. Cheers!

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Laura Lloyd's avatar

Sounds like a fun summer so far, but pleased you’re back at your desk. Thank you for sharing so vulnerably about your experience of finding out someone else has written a similar book to yours; I’m glad it hasn’t ultimately deterred you from continuing. Thank you for the recommendation of Dying for Sex. It became my show for precious me time, it prickled me somewhere in the middle and I was in tears by the end. Absolutely amazing performances especially by Michelle Williams, Rob Delaney and Jenny Slate

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Kirsty's avatar

Welcome back! Glad you've had such a lovely time of it! I loved Dying for Sex what a show, so well written.

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Bronwen Leigh's avatar

Lovely to see you back!

I did start watching Dying for Sex. It’s very good and I will watch the rest, but I had a moment with it because I’ve had breast cancer and my biggest fear is of it coming back. Really well acted and written and produced though. Great recommendation. I’m off to watch the next episode of The Buccaneers :)

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Eva Telenius-Lowe's avatar

Welcome back Jojo!

I've just finished re-reading Sheltering Rain (bought many years ago and donated to a charity shop, bought again for a train journey recently) and I loved it just as much now as I did then❣️ Thank you for so for years of good reading! 😍

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Jax Renée Ryan's avatar

You make me smile.

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Gael Lynch's avatar

Glad you're back! Love that you write about your own insecurities. I'm loaded with them when it comes to my writing! Can't wait to read the latest!

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Leanne Lovegrove's avatar

Welcome back! You were missed 😍

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Annalisa Barbieri's avatar

Lovely Jojo, what a great read. I'm glad you're continuing with your book. I also thought the Ballad of Wallis Island was a near perfect film, and so unexpected (we went cos it was the only thing showing whilst our youngest was at her prom). I had planned to sleep all the way through...and great to see you and Helen. She was sooo nice to me when I first started at the IOS, I never forgot it.

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Jojo Moyes's avatar

Hello Annalisa! She is lovely isn't she?

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Annalisa Barbieri's avatar

Yes. And so are you.

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PXP's avatar

It was so lovely to see this article waiting for me! Glad that you're back, but hope the last two months were what you needed!

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Jo Linney's avatar

Glad your back your posts give ‘failed’ writers like me a shot of the reality of a writers life. Your honesty is so refreshing and makes me feel better encouraging me to keep writing 😁😘

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Nikki Vallance's avatar

Good to have you back! 😊

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Jacqui Gatehouse's avatar

Wonderful to have you back on Substack!! Am I confused or isn't the film called The Ballad of Wallis Island? 😉 Such a fantastic watch!

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Jojo Moyes's avatar

You are absolutely right, and do you know what? I woke up this morning with the feeling that I"d got it wrong. Have edited x

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Rachel Carruth's avatar

Welcome back!!! I've heard so much about The Ballad of Wallis Island, can't wait to see it :)

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Jennifer Granville's avatar

I so enjoyed this read. Loved your description of zapping all over the place and difficulties of settling back in. I relate and instead of thinking I’m pathetic for finding it hard now feel I’m in good company.

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