Write On! interviews author Fay Noble
Fay says, “I’m a Dagenham girl, born and bred, but now live in Leigh on Sea. I’ve never had any creative writing training, but from childhood I enjoyed writing letters and composing short stories. Always, in the back of my mind, was the ambition to be a ‘proper author’ and to write a novel. In retirement, I’ve found the time to fulfil that dream, and my debut novel, The Extra Sausage, was published in December 2025. I’ve been thrilled by the number of books sold and the excellent reviews received on Amazon. Especially as I’m donating all royalties to a local children’s cancer charity.”
WO: How would you describe your writing to someone new to it?
FN: My writing style is easy to read and character-driven. I enjoy creating realistic, relatable characters with interesting backstories, as I’m fascinated by how our childhood experiences shape the adults we become. I like adding some twists and turns to keep the reader engaged, and also some touches of humour where appropriate.
WO: Can you tell us a bit about your latest book, The Extra Sausage?
FN: The Extra Sausage is a multi-generational family saga set in modern times, but it includes flashback sections with lots of nostalgia, referencing every decade since WWII. It focuses on the Honeywell and Ellis families over three generations, and two of the main characters, Barry and Graham, form a lifelong friendship after growing up together in a banjo near Valence Park. When Barry’s wife Lena goes missing, this sets off a lively chain of events affecting them all. With engaging subplots, colourful minor characters, touches of humour and some twists and turns along the way, The Extra Sausage is guaranteed to keep you entertained.
WO: What inspired you to write in the first place, and what inspires you now?
FN: I am ever-grateful to my mum, who inspired in me a love of reading, regularly taking me to the library from an early age. At Grafton Junior School in Dagenham, we were encouraged to write creatively, and I remember feeling so proud when one of my stories (about the adventures of a highwayman) was read out to the class. That was when I first knew that someday I wanted to write a book.
What inspires me now is the sheer enjoyment of getting lost in the world of my imagination; my characters become very real to me, and I just love that.
WO: Recently, Write On! explored the theme of Choices. With that in mind, what would you say were pivotal moments in your writing journey? What got you started? Do you regret any writing-related choices?
FN: A pivotal moment for me was when I revealed to my daughter that my biggest ambition in life was to write a novel. She pulled no punches and said: “Well, it’s about time you got on with it then, Mum!” In my first book, I wanted to celebrate the resilience of women and to showcase the societal changes that have occurred during my lifetime. Choosing to dip back into the past meant I had to fathom out some tricky timeline issues, but the flashback chapters ended up being my favourite ones to write.
Regarding regrets, I do wish I had started writing more seriously when I was younger, but it’s wonderful I can now indulge myself during my retirement years.
WO: What one piece of advice would you give an aspiring writer?
FN: Leave your work alone for a while, then go back and re-read it. And be prepared to do a lot of editing. My novel flowed much better once I forced myself to cut out a lot of the extraneous detail, which initially I thought was so important!
WO: Question from Instagram user: @grasshopper2407 : Did you find it easier or more difficult to write about local places?
FN: For me, it’s probably easier to write about places that I know. But I do enjoy creating different settings too.
WO: Can you tell us anything about future projects?
FN: Currently, I have two very different projects on the go. A multi- generational novel, set during the Covid crisis, about the neighbours in a small
block of flats. Because of Lockdown, some unlikely friendships are formed and I’m planning a few surprises and a gripping ending. I’m also working on a series of therapeutic children’s stories following a circus theme. I have some engaging characters (such as Alfie the Acrobat) and the books are designed to address some of the emotional issues faced by children in care.
WO: Lastly, if you could choose one fictional animal/creature to be a pet or companion, who would it be and why?
FN: Paddington Bear would make the ideal companion for me. We share the same views, he would always make me laugh and, with that marmalade sandwich under his hat, we would never go hungry!
You can find out more about Fay Noble on Facebook. The Extra Sausage is available to buy from Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/91yaXBh
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Issue 29 of Write On! is out now. Featuring an interview with travel author Tharik Hussain the theme is ‘ Borrowed’ and you can read it online here. Find it in libraries and other outlets. You can find previous editions of our magazines here.
You can hear great new ideas, creative work and writing tips on Write On! Audio. Find us on all major podcast platforms, including Apple and Google Podcasts and Spotify. Type Pen to Print into your browser and look for our logo, or find us on Podcasters.Spotify.com.
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