The Radio 2 Book Club Dawn O'Porter (recorded at Radio 2 In The Park)
15 snips
Sep 7, 2025 Dawn O'Porter, a renowned broadcaster and bestselling author, joins the discussion to share her insights on writing and creativity. She highlights her latest book, 'Honey Bee,' which beautifully celebrates female friendship and nostalgia for the 1990s. Dawn also talks about her writing process, the art of first-person narration, and her favorite literary works that resonate deeply with readers. Additionally, she offers advice on transitioning from writing to screenplays and emphasizes the importance of early mornings for creative inspiration.
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Origin Of The Paper Airplanes Series
- Dawn O'Porter set her Paper Airplanes series in 1990s Guernsey because she grew up there and wanted to explore female friendship.
- She returned to René and Flo in Honey Bee to show them ageing into adult life at 22 after starting at 15 in 1996.
Why She Chooses The 1990s Setting
- Writing in the 1990s frees characters from social media obligations and creates more believable face-to-face interactions.
- Dawn values this because it lets her plot meetings and misunderstandings without phones changing character behaviour.
Character Inspirations: Renée And Flo
- Dawn describes Renée as the 'naughty, saucy' character loosely based on herself and Flo as an amalgam of people she wished she had.
- She admits pouring herself into Renée, who often overexposes herself and makes embarrassing choices.
