Thirty-four years after setting the literary world ablaze with Riders, the undisputed queen of the bonkbuster has returned to the world that made her famous. Jilly Cooper, now 86, is publishing Rivals, the long-awaited sequel that promises to deliver the same intoxicating mix of sex, scandal and upper-class drama that defined a generation of popular fiction.
The Return to Rutshire
In an exclusive interview, Cooper reveals the journey back to her beloved Rutshire county wasn't without its challenges. "I'm so old now," she quips with characteristic wit, acknowledging the three-decade gap between instalments. Yet her enthusiasm for the characters that made her a household name remains undimmed.
The publishing landscape has transformed dramatically since Riders first galloped onto bookshelves in 1985. Cooper reflects on these changes with both nostalgia and pragmatism, noting how the industry's evolution has affected everything from editorial relationships to marketing strategies.
Defending the Bonkbuster Legacy
Cooper remains unapologetic about the genre she helped define. The term "bonkbuster" - describing novels where sexual encounters drive the plot as much as any other element - might have been coined to describe her work, but she defends its literary merit with passion.
"People underestimate how difficult it is to write good sex scenes," she observes, noting that the challenge lies in balancing steaminess with storytelling. Her approach has always been to ensure these moments serve character development and plot progression rather than existing as mere titillation.
A Changing Literary World
The author speaks candidly about watching publishing become increasingly corporate, with marketing departments wielding more influence over what reaches readers. Yet through it all, Cooper's connection with her audience has remained remarkably consistent.
Her secret? An unwavering commitment to delivering what her readers want: compelling stories about fascinating characters navigating worlds of privilege, passion and power struggles. As she prepares to release Rivals, Cooper proves that some formulas remain timeless because they speak to fundamental human experiences - even when those experiences involve country estates and complicated love affairs.
At an age when many writers might consider resting on their laurels, Jilly Cooper demonstrates that creative passion knows no expiration date. Her return to Rutshire promises to delight longtime fans while introducing new readers to the unique brand of storytelling that made her Britain's most beloved chronicler of scandalous goings-on among the upper classes.
