Relax and Read Book Club: Diva by Daisy Goodwin

Spabreaks.com’s Relax and Read Book Club gives you the chance to discover new books, learn about the authors, share your opinions and really escape into an inspiring world of literature.

This month we're reading Diva by New York Times bestselling author Daisy Goodwin. The epic novel about protagonist Maria Callas, is the story of the scandalous love affair between the most celebrated opera singer of all time and one of the richest men in the world. Glittering, ruthlessly competitive and a total page turner.

"An extraordinary, vivid, and skilful re-imagining of a modern Greek legend" - Victoria Hislop

What inspired you to write this book?

Maria Callas was a woman really ahead of her time. The greatest singer of her generation, she wasn’t afraid to own her own worth, demanding and getting equal pay with the tenors and even the conductors. She was the first opera singer to become a truly international star, as recognisable as Grace Kelly or Marilyn Monroe, and yet she is always defined, not by her talent but by the affair she had with Aristotle Onassis. I wanted to redress that balance, to show the world through Maria’s eyes – to bring to life a genius who is also a woman.

Can you provide a brief overview of the book's storyline or central themes?

The novel starts with the greatest performance of Maria’s career. She is going out on the town in Paris, looking beautiful and carefree, even though she knows that in Greece the man she loves is marrying Jackie Kennedy. The novel tells the story of how Maria became the most famous opera singer in the world, earning the adoration of audiences everywhere. But with her gift comes the shadow of failure, what will happen when she can no longer sing like an angel? The world loves Callas, but who loves Maria the woman?

Do you have a favourite character in the book? If so, what makes them special to you?

It’s all about Maria. I feel such empathy for her. Everyone thinks she is so tough, but underneath she is horribly vulnerable. I wanted to show her shaking before every performance, she once said that ‘for me every performance is a battle, a battle I have to win.’

Could you share insights into your daily writing process and routines?

I like to get going as early as I can in the morning. I always set myself a goal when I sit down to write – perhaps a thousand words, or seven pages, and I keep going until I have reached my target. Some days it just pours out, but quite often it is agony. But it’s like running, if you don’t keep using those muscles they wither and die. I never wait for inspiration, I make it happen.

Who are some of your favourite authors or books, and how have they influenced your writing?

I adore Jane Austen, and I have found it very useful to listen to her work on audiobooks, as it has made me realise how much she says with so few words. If I could write dialogue like hers, I would die happy. I am a great admirer of Rose Tremain, I think her book Music and Silence is one of the best historical novels I have ever read.

How does your wellness routine integrate with your writing practice, and do you make any specific adjustments during writing periods?

I am a late convert to regular exercise, but I can’t sit at a desk all day unless I have moved my body. So I box and do weights, which is great for releasing some of my aggression. When I find myself getting stuck I take the dog for a long walk, talking to myself as I go and that usually fixes things. When I am writing I try to have a massage every week.

Is there a particular spa treatment you enjoy, and what draws you to it?

I love a really good facial, the kind where the therapist really works all the muscles in your face. I store so much tension in my neck and jaw, and I know that my face looks completely different after a really good treatment.

Lastly, what is your top tip for maintaining overall wellbeing, especially during busy times like writing and promoting a book?

Remember to breathe! And always put on hand cream before you go to bed.