Tag Archives: Author Interview

Claire Sheldon chats about her debut, Perfect Lie.

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Welcome to my blog, Claire. Huge congratulations on your contract with Ruby Fiction, and on the release of your debut novel, Perfect Lie (coming June 16th).

I love hearing about writer’s journeys. What has led you to this moment and how did it feel to get that call?

 A lot of hard work and tears, having already suffered a false start, I’ve been very cautious every step of the way but I think once I’ve got this over the line it’ll be amazing! Though I can already feel the excitement mounting.

 Your blurb sounds intriguing:

What is ‘perfect’ trying to hide?

Jen Garner tries her best to be ‘wife and mother of the year’. She helps organise school plays and accompanies her husband to company dinners, all with a big smile on her face.

But Jen has started to receive strange gifts in the post … first flowers, then a sympathy card.

It could just be a joke; that’s what she tells herself. But then the final ‘gift’ arrives, and Jen has to question why somebody is so intent on shattering her life into pieces …

What inspired the idea behind the story?

 A mixture of the television I used to watch growing up such as The Bill and later on Spooks and one to many daydreams when I should be doing other things. When I first started writing Perfect Lie I was going to write along the lines of Spooks but after further advice and my future plans for the series I decided to write about local policing and where better to set it but where I live. I can see the Nottingham police station from the kitchen at work, so no doubt all the time standing looking out of the window has helped.

I’ve seen reviews that mention twists and turns, and say it is a real page-turner. What top tips have you got for keeping the reader guessing but still holding them in the grips of your story?

 Foreshadowing which is basically teasing readers about plot turns that will occur later on in the novel and lead them down dead ends when they think they have figured it out.

When I started writing Perfect Lie I didn’t plot which I think helped as I didn’t know who the bad guy was or why.

I also had help from others who had read my work and offered some great advice, which I followed and put to good use.

What level of thriller would you describe your novel as … Is it a white knuckle ride, a grab a cushion to hide behind, a jump when the telephone rings, or suspect everybody around you, type of a read?

 Suspect everyone around you, who is sending these things to Jen and why? On the outside to everyone looking in Jen is the perfect mother and wife. What could she have done to set this chain of events off?

Can you tell us a little about your main character/s, and who inspired them?

Jen has spent the past ten years building up a perfect life for herself, the perfect husband that she had fallen head over heels for when she first met him and two adorable kids.

Jen’s husband, James, has had his whole life mapped out in front of him; he is a manager and is living the corporate lifestyle. James, to me, is the extreme other end of some of the blokes I have worked with over the years.

My DI Chris is kind of me, he was brought up on all the crime drama’s I was and as soon as he was old enough he joined the police force and has pretty much worked his way up the ranks.

As your readers close the final page of your story, what feeling do you hope they will have?

I want them to feel satisfied with the ending each character has. I would love for them to feel so connected to them that they shed a tear, but then again that is probably because I am always crying at the end of novels.

What can we expect from you next?

Book two is currently with my publisher, Jen and Chris and some of the other characters will still be there. Book two is about a little boy who turns up in Nottingham asking for Lisa Carter who everyone assumes is his mum.

 Finally here’s five quick fire questions for fun:

  • Tea or coffee? Tea
  • Notebook and pen or laptop? Notebook and Pen in my bag and I sit and do my writing on my desktop computer.
  • Dog or cat? I used to be a cat person, where as my husband isn’t until one day a cat walked into our house and we ended up adopting her. Then a couple of years later my kids end up with a puppy for Christmas and Podrick walked into our lives.
  • Sweet or savoury? Sweet
  • Late night or early morning? Late nights, but that’s because I love my sleep too much!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog, and I wish you every success with Perfect Lie and hope you celebrate publication day in style!

Links to purchase: Kindle | Kobo | iBooks | Google Play | Barnes and Noble

About the author:

Claire lives in Nottingham with her family, a cat called Whiskers and a dog called Podrick.
She suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and as a result of the disease had to reduce her hours working in insurance for an Insolvency Insurer. This spare time enabled her to study a creative writing course which inspired her to write her debut, Perfect Lie.

When Claire isn’t working she enjoys reading crime novels and listening to music – the band Jimmy Eat World is her biggest muse! Claire is also an avid reader and book blogger. The inspiration for her novels comes from the hours spent watching The Bill with her grandparents and auntie; then later, Spooks and other detective programmes like Morse, A Touch of Frost and Midsummer Murders.

 Discover more about Claire Sheldon here: Twitter | Facebook

Welcoming Children’s Author Lexi Rees

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I am delighted to welcome children’s author Lexi Rees to my blog. Lexi is a fellow Chindi Authorwho writes for young adults. Her book Eternal Seas was published by Matador, in September 2018.

What inspired you to write for children?

I really enjoy reading middle grade books, particularly fantasy adventures. My son and I often share books – when he was little he brought me a copy of “Magyk” (the first in the Septimus Heap series by Angie Sage) home from his school library because he thought I’d enjoy it. He was right – the whole series was great.

We still often share recommendations. When we were on holiday this summer he insisted I read “Red Rising” by Pierce Brown at the same time as him so we could discuss it.

Writing in a genre you love is such fun. I know some people research hot topics and write to fit that regardless of whether it’s Cowboy romances or mermaids, but I think I’d find that quite hard to do.

As well as more kids books, I do have plans for a few grown-up non-fiction books too though, in areas I’m passionate about.

Where did the idea for your novel come from?

The Relic Hunters evolved through wildly imaginative discussions with my son. When I physically started writing it, I was sitting in a marina in Turkey, but a lot of the plot twists were invented on a hiking trip with my son in Scotland. I think and write best whilst outside, either by water or in the mountains.

How have you created characters that your readers can relate to?

I did a lot of work on character development. One of my fantastic editors (Emma Mitchell from Creating Perfection) pushed me really hard to make sure the characters were engaging, and I’ve been really pleased that so many of my reviewers have commented on them.

I particularly wanted to make sure that Finn, Aria and Pippin were all strong characters in their own right – I didn’t want any sidekicks with no purpose.

I also wanted to cover non traditional family structures (adoption) and sought feedback to make sure it was handled appropriately for the readers age.

How does your story captivate and hold it’s audience?

Ooooh – I think that’s a question for my readers! I wouldn’t like to presume on their mahal!

Here are a few comments from their Amazon reviews …

“There were times when I was sitting on the edge of my bed with adrenaline and times when I truly believed that I was a character in the book. Sometimes in the evening I ended up going to bed later than I was supposed to (don’t tell my mum!) because i was so hooked. Each individual character has its own strength and weaknesses but they all care for each other and help each other. This book is definitely up in my top book list. I am about to read this for the fourth time when I have finished writing this review! Any Mums reading this review please buy this book for your kids, boys or girls.”

“I loved Eternal Seas because of the suspense and plot twists, I didn’t want to put this book down and wanted to keep reading as I really enjoyed it.”

“It was so creative and gripping. The storyline was fab with a cliffhanger at the end. The characters were believable and I could relate to Finn!!”

So I think their answer to your question is the plot and the characters.

What’s the best bit of feedback you’ve had from a child?

My team of beta readers were fantastic, each giving me different feedback. One of them was so enthusiastically positive that her mum was worried I wouldn’t get anything useful from her comments, but actually it was her gaps that gave me some of my best insights because I knew they were areas where I needed to focus my attention!

What can we expect from you next?

The sequel to Eternal Seas is well underway, with lots more action and adventure, and some ponies as well as boats, plus I’ve got two non-fiction projects and another couple of middle grade fiction ideas that I’m developing.

If you’d like to hear the latest news, plus get exclusive behind the scenes insights, competitions, and maybe even become a beta reader, please do join Lexi’s secret readers street team, here.

Eternal Seas, the relic hunters book one.

The Blurb:

Such a small parcel shouldn’t cause experienced smugglers much trouble, but this parcel is far from normal.

Lost and scared after a violent storm, Finn and his sister, Aria, take shelter on a remote island. They discover the parcel contains a relic belonging to a long forgotten people. Locked inside are powers which will change their lives, and the world, forever. As Finn realises his connection to the relic, a vision strikes him – but what does it mean? Who should they trust? And if they decide to follow their hearts rather than their orders, will they manage to deliver the relic in one piece?

Chased across the seas as they try to solve the mysteries within the parcel, the fate of this ancient people depends on them. Finn and Aria must choose between what is right and what is easy – and time is running out …

 

About the author:

About the author:

Lexi Rees grew up in the north of Scotland but now splits her time between London and West Sussex. She still goes back to Scotland regularly though.

Usually seen clutching a mug of coffee, she spends as much time as possible sailing and horse riding, both of which she does enthusiastically but badly.

Her first book, Eternal Seas was written on a boat; the storm described in it was frighteningly real.

Discover more about Lexi and her work here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Instagram |

 

Thank you so much for joining me on my blog, Lexi. I look forward to sharing Eternal Seas with my children. Xx

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An interview with Christine Stovell.

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Today, I am delighted to welcome Choc Lit author Christine Stovell to my blog. Thank you for agreeing to join me Christine and for answering my questions, aimed at discovering more about you and your novella, Moonbeams in a Jar.

For those who haven’t yet encountered your wonderful, stand-alone novella, Moonbeams in a Jar, give us your elevator pitch:

Control-freak Chloe and adrenaline-junkie Ryan have fallen hard for each other, but neither is willing to compromise their lifestyle until fate intervenes in the form of their dogs, Wilma and Fred.

This was my first visit to your fictional seaside town, Little Spitmarsh, and I loved it. If Chloe wrote a postcard home, how might she describe the location?

“No wonder so few people have heard of Little Spitmarsh! It’s a really isolated seaside town divided from its neighbours by miles of salt marsh and hemmed in by the sea. I love the sense of loneliness about the landscape, but apparently the place was struggling to survive until a smart restaurant opened. There’s a story that the woman who runs the boatyard here was bitterly opposed to the guy who opened the restaurant but now they’re married! These days, Little Spitmarsh retains its salty character but also has a smattering of galleries, cool vintage shops and even an annual film festival. For me, though, the backwaters here will always be very special; in winter the raw north wind can cut you to the bone, but in summer the sky over the marshes shimmers with heat and birdsong. Most importantly, of course, it’s the place where I first met Ryan!”

I enjoyed Chloe’s trip to Hong Kong and recently read that you visited with your hubby. For those planning to go what three romantic musts, would you recommend?

Yes, you’re right – it was a fabulous holiday of a lifetime to a city of dramatic contrasts. Anyone who reads Moonbeams in a Jar might spot one or two of my favourite romantic musts, but it won’t spoil the story to tell you that I absolutely loved crossing Victoria harbour on the Star ferries, especially under a full moon. Seeing the city in the glow of first light from our hotel room was rather wonderful as was soaring through the sky in a crystal cable car. Like Chloe, I also had my fortune told… but I’m still waiting for fame, wealth and the shedloads of sales for my books I was promised. I suspect the fortune teller might have been pulling my leg just a little.

Where did the inspiration come from for your swoon-worthy leading man, Ryan Green?

I honestly don’t know! I can say, hand-on-heart, that I never set out to ‘create’ a leading-man and I only meet them when my heroines do. I was delighted to meet Ryan as he happens to be rather lush, lucky Chloe!

I have a soft spot for dogs, real and fictional. Wilma, the dachshund, and Fred, the basset hound, were both great contributors to the action. Were they based on furry friends in your life?

Wilma and Wurst, a dachsie who makes a guest appearance in my novella, Only True in Fairy Tales, both share character traits with Zorba (pictured above) a miniature dachshund who was the great dog love of my life. He was a renowned hunter and destroyer of footwear and was the only living creature to stick his nose in Dad’s slippers and survive. It broke my heart when we lost him.

What a great picture, Zorba looks a fabulous character and I completely understand the heartbreak of your loss.

Finally, five for fun:

  1. Sweet or savoury? Dark chocolate – I’m an addict!
  2. TV or radio? Spotify; I love a good Spotify-fest
  3. Paperback or e-reader? E-reader – I know that causes people a sharp intake of breath, but I’m a fast reader and I like having lots of books at hand to choose from.
  4. Posh frock or joggers? Skinny jeans and running leggings (not at the same time!).
  5. Sun or Snow? Sunshine all the way.

My review:

Moonbeams in a Jar is a lovely story, with likeable lead characters, great settings, and dogs (always a plus)!

I hadn’t read Christine Stovell’s previous Little Spitmarsh stories, but it didn’t matter, I soon felt right at home in the seaside town. I was drawn to the characters, especially the rather lovely Ryan who has plenty of swoon appeal.

I particularly enjoyed the trip to Hong Kong, not just because it was delightfully romantic but also because it was an unexpected location. I read many romance novels and haven’t been transported to this setting before. It was a real treat as the author brought the city to life and wowed me with its charms.

As a novella, this was the ideal length for reading en route to my holiday and made my time away start with a smile. A fab little holiday read!

Publisher: Choc Lit
Genre: Contemporary romance, novella

Links to buy the book Amazon UK | Amazon.Com | Kobo | 

About the author:

Winning a tin of chocolate in a national essay competition at primary school inspired to Christine Stovell to become a writer. Setting off, with her husband, from a sleepy seaside resort on the east coast in a vintage wooden boat to sail halfway round Britain provided the inspiration for her ‘Little Spitmarsh’ series of novels, but never cured her seasickness although she continues to sail.

As well as writing long and short contemporary romantic fiction and poetry, Christine has written features for various magazines and is a regular contributor to The English Home magazine.

Christine lives on the beautiful west Wales coast where long-distance running helps her plan her plots. Half marathons, she thinks, especially when the going gets tough, are like novels; both begin with small steps.

You can discover more about Christine and her writing here: Blog | Twitter | Facebook |

Thank you for taking part in my Q&A and for the great read, Christine. My reviews are added to Amazon UK and Goodreads. xx

 

An interview with Caroline James.

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Today, I am delighted to welcome fellow Ruby Fiction author Caroline James.

Thank you for agreeing to join me on my blog Caroline and for answering my questions, aimed at discovering more about you and your novel, The Best Boomerville Hotel.

An absolute pleasure and many congratulations on the publication of your fabulous book, The Purrfect Pet Sitter, I loved it!

That’s very kind of you, and I am so pleased you enjoyed it. Congratulations to you too on recently getting your ‘Best Seller’ badge for the Best Boomerville Hotel. For those who haven’t yet encountered your fabulous novel, give us your elevator pitch:

Thank you for the lovely compliment. I’m not good at elevator pitches – my elevator always heads the wrong way. But here it is:

Let the shenanigans begin at the Boomerville hotel …

Jo Docherty and Hattie Contaldo have a vision – a holiday retreat in the heart of the Lake District exclusively for guests of ‘a certain age’ wishing to stimulate both mind and body with new creative experiences. One hotel refurbishment later and the Best Boomerville Hotel is open for business!With an array of colourful guests there’s bound to be laughs aplenty, but could there be tears and heartbreak too and will the residents get more than they bargained for at Boomerville?

Your characters are all a touch eccentric, can I cheekily ask which you most identify with, and why?

People who know me say I am a ‘Jo’ – the owner of the hotel who likes to people please and make everyone happy. But I think there is a touch of ‘Hattie’ in me too. She is the hotel manager, larger than life and extremely naughty.

The Boomerville Hotel encourages its residents to be open-minded and try new things. What three things have you tried in life that you would recommend to others?

Trekking the Inca Trail for days then climbing, exhausted, on my knees up a steep incline to the Dawn Gate to watch the sun rise over the hidden city of Machu Pichu. Magical, spiritual and quite simply amazing.

Zip-wiring across a damn in China. Seriously dangerous, as the harness appeared to consist of a leather belt belonging to the elderly Chinese gentleman who hooked me onto the wire. A once-in-a-lifetime thrill – the thrill being that I was still alive and breathing as I hurtled head first into the water at the other end.

Sushi. I always hated it until I was taken to a lovely restaurant in Barbados, to a table by the water’s edge and as the Caribbean Sea rolled over soft white sands the chef made the most delicious platter of fresh seafood sushi and I was completely and totally hooked. Like a love story in my mouth.

I adored Bunty, and know she was based on your own dog. Tell us a little about her:

Many years ago, a partner gave me a chocolate brown Labrador puppy called Meg. He disappeared not long after, proving the point that a partner is not for life nor just for Christmas. But Meg became my new love and we were inseparable. I decided to breed her and eight gorgeous puppies arrived. Meg was a terrible mother and I had a real job on my hands. As the puppies were rehomed there was one who stayed glued to my side. Bunty was the naughtiest of the bunch and always causing mischief. I fell head over heels for Bunty and she stayed with me and Meg. Thirteen years on, two years after we lost Meg, we said our final goodbyes and I vowed I’d never have a dog again. It was just too painful.

Adorable Bunty!

Cumbria makes a beautiful setting, was there a reason for choosing it as the home for the Boomerville Hotel and as a foodie, have you visited L’Enclume?

I used to own a country house hotel in Cumbria and this was the setting for my fictional hotel, Boomerville. I loved that hotel and spent some of the happiest years of my life there. Writing about it is easy, stories soon come. A hotel is a revolving door and there are always multiple scenarios that trigger the imagination. L’Enclume is a lovely restaurant and I have been fortunate to dine there. Such a talented chef and imaginative food.

I saw on your recent blog post that you are working on a sequel – how exciting! Was Boomerville always going to be part of a series and what can we expect from the next instalment?

I am very fortunate to have received some cracking reviews for The Best Boomerville Hotel and readers who contact me say they want more of the same. I am currently writing another ‘Boomerville’ and this time we travel to Southern Ireland where Jo has bought a new property to create an Irish Boomerville. Expect lots of Irish craic and shenanigans as the guests get on board. I never intended this to be a series but if something works, why change it?

Five for fun:

1) Tea or coffee? Coffee, strong and black.
2) Cinema or theatre? Theatre, I love a live show.
3) Paperback or Ereader? Ereader – I like reading in bed with all the lights out.
4) High heels or pumps? High heels, Carol, we girls must strut our stuff!
5) Starter or desert? Tricky, I’ve changed my eating habits drastically in the last six months and after a lifetime of sugar addiction now astonish myself by saying, ‘Starter please’.

I recently had the pleasure of reading The Best Boomerville Hotel; here is my review:

Light, easy reading with likeable characters, and laughs along the way!

Set in the beautiful countryside of Cumbria, the newly refurbished Best Boomerville Hotel is the ideal location for this eccentric cast of fifty-somethings looking to revitalise their lives. And with courses ranging from life drawing to sessions with the Shaman, there is never a dull moment.

It took me a few chapters to get to know the characters, but as their individual (and often quirky) personalities became established I had no problem distinguishing who was who. I loved Hattie, who was a formidable woman with a big heart and a close eye on the action at the hotel. She certainly added to the fun and provided many laugh out loud moments. Bunty was an absolute bonus, I have a soft spot for chocolate Labradors, and she sounded Labradorable (pardon the pun)!

By the end of the novel, the characters felt like old friends, and I was willing them towards their happy-ever-after. The Best Boomerville Hotel is a story of friendship, drama, love and laughter, it was my first Caroline James read, but it won’t be my last.

Links to buy The Best Boomerville Hotel: Kobo | Ibooks/Google | Itunes | Amazon

About the author:

Caroline James has owned and run businesses encompassing all aspects of the hospitality industry, a subject that features in her novels. She is based in the UK but has a great fondness for travel and escapes whenever she can. A public speaker, consultant and food writer, Caroline is a member of the Romantic Novelist’s Association and writes articles and short stories and contributes to many publications. In her spare time, Caroline can be found trekking up a mountain or relaxing with her head in a book and hand in a box of chocolates.

Find out more about Caroline James and her novels here: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Blog

Thank you so much for joining me, Caroline. I loved reading your answers and hearing about the amazing adventures you’ve had. Your words about Bunty were very moving, and reminded me of my gorgeous boy, Benson. Your sequel sounds like lots of fun, I look forward to reading it.

My reviews are posted on Amazon and Goodreads x