Thrown: SARA COX'S GLORIOUS FEELGOOD NOVEL

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Don’t get me started. I’ve been in London longer than I lived up north but on my dad’s side I come from generations and generations of farmers and then it’s screeched to a halt with us five – we’re lawyers and artists and NHS workers. I think a bit of that might come through in my next book. The dream is a smallholding one day – I’ve got a horse now, Nelly, so I’m getting there. She’s really my escape. She recently bought a horse, Nelly, and riding her several times a week has been a godsend. ‘She’s a perfect example of being forced to live in the moment,’ says Cox. ‘Obviously, I can’t be on my phone when there’s a broad expanse of sky ahead of me. I ride her in an area just a few junctions up the M1, when you’re suddenly in the middle of nowhere, and it’s fantastic.’ Four women, neighbours though not close enough to be friends. Brought together by a pottery class at the community centre, the story follows them through the space of a few weeks, dealing with what life has thrown at them. Her husband hasn't read her novel and didn't read her memoir, she notes, laughing. "He doesn't read a great deal," she explains. "He might look at a book while we're in bed, but I don't think he wants to read a book about me or by me when he's laying next to me."

I was trying to advertise myself and it was toe-curling. But she was right, because you just never know. I mean, I was always working but I was just doing weekends and I wanted to do more. I really wanted to do telly again as well.’ Asking for help As an argument for the therapeutic powers of pot-throwing, it’s certainly effective. But as the opening salvo from Cox the novelist, it’s distinctly less convincing. Although she supposedly switches between four different points of view, her third-person narration remains in the same brisk voice – sometimes humorous, seldom distinctive. So why not reduce the cast list and add more depth to the characterisation? Nonsense.’ He frowned. ‘You can handle this – it’s a pottery class you’re organising not a military coup. It’s a positive thing, people will love it. They need something like this to bring them together a bit.’ This story has Sara's voice ringing true throughout. A fresh, cheeky, insightful take on how change can happen through female friendships.' DAWN FRENCH Female friendship is a major feature in her debut novel, Thrown, about four women from the same estate who meet for a new pottery class at the local community centre - a setting inspired by her time as presenter on The Great Pottery Throwdown.

The inhabitants of the Inventor's Housing Estate keep themselves to themselves. But the neighbours come together to try out a new skill, under the watchful eye of their charismatic teacher, Sasha. Concealed heartaches and passions are uncovered, relationships shattered and formed and the possibility for transformation is revealed. There were years where you could not get me arrested,’ she says, frankly. ‘My agent was amazing because, unless you put yourself in front of them, people do forget that you’re there. So she’d take me for a coffee and a biscuit with some commissioner, like she was trying to auction me off. I felt like these ideas would just bubble up, like they were coming from the characters. It was a bit like Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost. The ending came to me in the middle of the night: I was half-dreaming, half-awake, and I thought: “Aaah! That’s what’s going to happen!” Riders and Polo combined fruity frolics and horses and that blew my 15-year-old mind

With plans for a second novel already underway, Cox is excited about what lies ahead. This is her second wind and, in many ways, it feels like she’s only just getting started. Jameela: all she’s ever done is work hard, and try her best. Why won’t life give her the one thing she really wants?The inhabitants of the Inventor’s Housing Estate keep themselves to themselves. There are the friendly ‘Hellos’ when commutes coincide and the odd cheeky eye roll when the wine bottles clank in number 7’s wheelie bin, but it’s not exactly Ramsay Street. The characters were so fully formed and vividly described that they all came to life instantly for me and I felt completely invested in each of their stories. The pottery aspect was a very clever devise (and clearly the author has used her experience on the great pottery throw down to full advantage) and wove there stories all together seamlessly. I wish I was part of their class!

The inhabitants of the Inventor's Housing Estate keep themselves to themselves. There are the friendly 'Hellos' when commutes coincide and the odd cheeky eye roll when the wine bottles clank in number seven's wheelie bin, but it's not exactly Ramsay Street. This was followed by Love in the Countryside and regular turns fronting The One Show. Today, she’s more in demand than ever, but have those years of struggle shaped the person she is now? He told me that I should be getting work and was just really encouraging. I met Richard Madeley for a coffee as well and he was lovely. I only knew them both “ish” at the time, but it’s about not being afraid to ask people for help.’ ‘I was trying to advertise myself and it was toe-curling. But [my agent] was right, because you just never know.’– Sara Cox Reaching career goalsIt does feel like I’m in a really golden era of my career. I’m blessed at the moment with a great balance. I actually have to be careful not to say yes to everything, which is a tendency I have from my upbringing, being working class and having that work ethic. But it’s been a really, really brilliant few years for me career-wise.’ Coping with career struggles

Oh my GOD, it's GORGEOUS. Funny, warm, all about people. Has the same generosity-of-spirit she does. You'll LOVE it!' MARIAN KEYESMy most honest answer is probably Victoria Hislop or Philippa Gregory. I met Philippa Gregory actually – she was very nice but I fangirled her a bit and I don’t think authors are really into that. I’ll tell you who I want to read more of – Maggie O’Farrell.