As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? I’m really nosy, and I have a knack of getting things out of people without them realising, so be warned, if you tell me anything, it’ll probably end up in one of my books!
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. Romance – contemporary and erotic.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? I have a great memory for useless facts! I can even remember the phone number and car reg of the boy I had a crush on when I was 14! I think that may just make me weird though!
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. Ghosts of Summers Past because I used my actual teenage diaries to write it, so it’s a personal labour of love! Plus, the leading man is hot, brooding and looks amazing without his shirt on!!!!!
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? Rivals, Jilly Cooper. I love it! It’s the sequel to Riders but sooooooo much better!
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? Imposter syndrome during the writing of Broken Ballads literally froze the words in my brain and I couldn’t get them out. I didn’t write for months and months and months. It felt like I had lost the part of me that makes me me. Then one day, I pulled up my big girl pants, straightened my crown and finished it. Then cried. And then I got a little drunk … (ok, a lot drunk!)
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Sometimes. Sometimes I like everything completely silent and then others, I have to have the loudest cheesiest 80s rock music and the words come flying out!
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? Always messy! I try to be tidy but… I never manage it. Although, I sit by the window looking out at the world and the window sill is always tidy, with plants and a candle. I’m Jekyll and Hyde of work spaces!!!
Who or what inspires you as a writer? I find inspiration everywhere. Throwaway comments, conversations, someone walking down the street, a newspaper headline – life is the biggest inspiration.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? I love my own space and the rare days at home alone are bliss, but I also love too many cocktails out with the girls. Since Covid I think I’ve lost the extroverted side of me, but I’m practising on getting that back!
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes? The solidarity amongst indie writers.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Just write. The first draft will never be perfect but the last draft will be.
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? I’m a nomad at heart and the best holidays have been the ones where we’ve hired a motorhome and travelled around.
If you could live inside any fictional world, where would that be? Forks, Sunnydale or Mystic Falls – I am an embarrassing vampire groupie! My kids despair – or Asgard, because – Thor!!!!
Your favourite place to read and/or write? I love writing in the downstairs window, looking out at the big green space opposite my house and watching the world go by, otherwise coffee shops because I get so much inspiration from the people who come and go.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? After a stressful few months I feel as old as Gandalf the Grey, so…. 9!
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? I had a phase of meeting famous people everywhere I turned but I guess the most famous are Robbie Williams, Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffiths.
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? A writer! Or a pop star but the record deal hasn’t made it my way yet, much to everyone’s relief.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? No! Everyone I meet, or know, think it’s cool!
Who is your biggest cheerleader? I have a few! Austin, my sister in law Beth, my Mum, my mother in law and my besties… I’m lucky like that, they all big me up!
BONUS Q. Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet! I’m too much of an open book!!! Although, if you haven’t read any of my books yet, then there is a scene in Red that was inspired by Christian Bale in the rubber bat suit!
Thank you so much for your time, Katie! To keep in touch, visit….
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? I am obsessed with all things romance, and books!
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. I write for the Mills & Boon medical line, and romantic comedy and commercial women’s fiction for Harper Collins and Boldwood Books.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? I am neurodivergent, and only discovered this at the age of 41. ADHD and proud!
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. The Long Walk Back – it’s the book of my heart, and it never got the readers I felt it deserved. The book would make a great movie one day.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I love the world building, the sadness and the hope and defiance in Katniss Everdeen. I love it so much, the whole series.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? Someone Like You, I needed to decompress after writing it. It has domestic violence and the research and delving into the character really made me think about how vulnerable us females can be at the hands of men. Love is dangerous for women sometimes, and it shouldn’t be.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Yes! I love to write with headphones on, and songs have been known to spark scenes. I definitely think that having the right mood music when writing a scene is crucial. I am not a person who is able to write in silence.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? Depends on what stage of the book I am at. I am not the tidiest desk person, but very clean around the house! I am a note scribbler, and often print things out or leave reminders for myself so when on deadline my desk space is busy.
Who or what inspires you as a writer? The way the book can transport you. A good romance can take you anywhere, make you be anyone, and I love a good hero to sink my teeth into. Growing up, I devoured books and always wanted to have my work out there on the shelves. It drives me to keep writing about life, relationships, and family and love.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? My ADHD makes me a bit of both! I love my home comforts, but also love to be out with friends and go to concerts, movies, etc. It depends on how burnt out I am I think. Sometimes I just love to be quiet at home, loving my own company. Reading, writing, getting crafty and going for long walks with my rescue dog. Other times, I feel caged in and want to be out there, in the thick of life.
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes? The readers – their tastes may change, but the passion and love is always present. Us writers wouldn’t be anywhere without them. I for one love to shout out about a great book, and get others to read it.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? It only takes one yes. Research the market you want to write for, read voraciously. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. Just go for it anyway!
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? I love Spain, and the UK is pretty special too. I do love where I live. I hope to travel further afield when my teenagers fly the coop!
If you could live inside any fictional world, where would that be? Bridgerton I think, although I would make a terrible impression. I am too opinionated and feisty. I would love to see that era first hand, but it was a problematic time for race and class, and women especially. I am glad we have moved on from those times.
Your favourite place to read and/or write? In bed! I like to be comfy, although I do love writing in coffee shops. They have great snacks and I really enjoy people watching, and coffee of course.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? I want to have written 50 at least. 100 would be a great target. I have number 20 out this year in my 10th year as an author, so I still have time to smash those targets.
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? Oooo interesting. I brushed elbows with James Patterson once, and have met Harlan Coben. He’s a true gentleman, and a very happy friendly guy!
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? An author and a teacher. I did both, but I would love to advocate for children with needs too, and their parents – I am training to do just that. As a neurodivergent mum of neurodivergent teens, I know how hard it is to get help from the system and protect their education and mental health.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? My family and friends are all really supportive, but I have been asked when I will write a ‘proper’ book – as if romance is not one of the biggest and best genres out there! I think working from home and being a mother makes people think you eat biscuits and watch daytime TV all day while folding socks and farting around on a keyboard. The pandemic changed this a lot, as more people working on a hybrid or remote basis. I don’t let it bother me. I work 7 days a week, so I know I graft for my art.
Who is your biggest cheerleader? My husband, he’s my assistant at the Authors at the Armouries event and he always lets me bounce ideas off him. Every single one of my book heroes has an element of him woven in.
BONUS Q. Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet! I am writing a book which is a lot darker than my romances as a passion project, it’s totally different from my others and I hope I will find a publisher for it when it’s finished! I haven’t told anyone that yet in case I fall flat on my face, but it’s out there now!
Thank you so much for your time, Rachel! To find out more, connect with her here…
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? I talk utter nonsense if I’m nervous.
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. I’d say paranormal romance, but I also write contemporary and psychological suspense at times.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? I think people know everything about me – I’m an open book!
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. Royal Rebellion my time-travel romance duo. It’s really different. A fae princess ends up having to travel to earth to save her twin sister. Sometimes I don’t know how my mind comes up with these things.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? The Witching Hour by Anne Rice. It has a book within a book and is such an incredible story (first in a trilogy). They’ve just made (or are making) a TV series of it.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? None that I’d never write again, but my suspense books take me a long time to write due to the darkness in them and there are years between releases or it would be too much. BULLIED was very loosely based on eighteen months of terror at the hands of a group of teens who decided to bully my son (and extended it to us by smashing our car windscreens etc). It was cathartic to work out my frustrations through my fiction, but also left me extremely drained.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Yes and no. I don’t write to music. I need quiet. But I can hear a song and it can inspire me to write a scene. Taylor Swift is amazing for that.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? It’s extremely tidy to the annoyance of my other half, as I tend to write sitting on the sofa and not at my desk. The coffee table is strewn with everything that should be upstairs!
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Get the book written and edited before you start announcing its actual release date. I get it, you’re excited, you want to tell people, but many times when a new author’s book goes to an editor it needs a developmental one and can take a LONG time before it’s actually ready for release. Be developing your social media, your newsletter, and dropping sneak peeks to get readers excited while you get it finished.
If you could live inside any fictional world, where would that be? Gnarly Fell. I invented my ideal place to live lol. I mean a cupcake café/bookshop. Yes please!
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? I think I might be that old lol! I’ve written over seventy books so far. I’m in my early fifties now.
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? Miss World hahahahaha. My grandma used to let me wear her long nightgown as a ball gown and interview me. Basically I’m obsessed with crowns and tiaras!
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? No, which is very wise of people to not have said that to me!
BONUS QUESTION: Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet! I’ve just revealed in book 6 of my Sucking Dead series, Just My Suck, who the mystery ice-cream man is… readers will find out on 12 Jan.
Thank you so much for your time, Andie! To find out more, discover Andie on….
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? Godblind by Anna Stephens. It’s an amazing book – the entire series is great. Dark and gritty with amazing world building and characters. I can’t recommend it enough.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? I haven’t written it yet, but I have an idea and every time I think about the characters and their journey it makes my heart ache. I know it’ll be a tough one to write.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Definitely! I have to have a playlist on in the background otherwise I struggle to get words onto the page.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? A mess. I can’t find anything I need.
Who or what inspires you as a writer? People and places. I find mannerisms and conversations tend to inspire my characters. Most of my main characters have traits that I’ve been around in my life. I also get inspired by places. Sometimes I see a location on a drive or a walk and I find myself thinking about how it would be the perfect place for a scene.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? Introvert! It takes a lot to get me out of my shell. Writing was a way to be a little more extroverted and I feel like I’m getting better at being more out there but in my soul, I love being left in a cosy corner with a book. I’ll probably be under my table at the signing.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Write the story you want to read. Don’t worry about thinking that it might have been done a million times already. Your twist and take on it will be unique. Write and keep writing even if it’s just a sentence a day.
Your favourite place to read and/or write? My favourite place to read is tucked up in bed, first thing in the morning. I get up super early so it’s still dark and the house is quiet. I find it easy to get carried away into a different world while still being cosy in the blankets.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? I left my job as a postdoctoral research assistant to write full time. That caused a lot of my friends to raise an eyebrow and ask some questions. But I’m happier doing what I do now and I think that’s what is most important.
Who is your biggest cheerleader? My family. Without a doubt they have had more faith in me than I’ve had in myself at times. I can’t thank them enough for the amount of unwavering support they give me.
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? I’m a hugger.
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. Romance: contemporary, sports, rock stars, suspense, BDSM.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? I can touch my nose with my tongue.
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. Undeniable… It finishes my The Fated Series and ties up all the loose ends.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? Driven by Kristy Bromberg… it led me back to Romance as a genre. Whenever I’m in a book funk this is the book I turn to. I was also lucky enough to be chosen to write Deception in this world.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? I’m writing it now. Twisted Oath is dark romance. The story has been difficult to write, but the story won’t leave me. I know it needs to be told.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? YES! I have a playlist for every book.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? Both, depending on the day.
Who or what inspires you as a writer? Life… Every book I write has something in it that I’ve personally lived through or experienced with family or friends. But life requires a happy ending, and this is what I aim to give all of my readers.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? Extrovert… until I want to be an introvert.
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes? Being able to pick up a good book and to lose yourself within its pages.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Just write the damn story. You can sort out everything else after that first draft.
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? Italy.
If you could live inside any fictional world, where would that be? The Driven world.
Your favourite place to read and/or write? My conservatory.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? Thousands!
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? E. L. James… Paul McCartney
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? An author.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? I have a “proper job” – I work forty hours a week running my own early years business as I’m a pre-school teacher.
Who is your biggest cheerleader? My husband.
BONUS Q. Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet! My very popular Default Distraction series will have another story coming out soon.
Thank you so much for your time, Andrea!
To meet Andrea and over 100 other authors at our event, get your tickets now! Click here
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? What you see is what you get. I’m a pretty laid back, no-drama kinda gal. There’s no mask I hide behind. I usually say it as I see it but try to do so in a way that doesn’t cause trouble or hurt people’s feelings. I don’t suffer fools lightly, and I can’t stand liars. I can usually sniff them out! I’m a really good judge of character and can generally suss out if someone is my kinda person within half an hour of meeting them. That’s more than one thing isn’t it… Sorry. Lol.
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. Contemporary romance is my genre, although there are others that I would like to dabble in. I do have a very secret project in the pipeline that couldn’t be further from romance. I don’t really buy into the “trope” idea I don’t think. I don’t really plan like that. If it turns into an enemies-to-lovers story it’s just because that’s how the characters decide it’s going to play out. I’m very driven by my characters’ voices.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? Hmmm… I don’t know that there’s much. I’m quite an open book. I don’t really hide anything about myself. I guess I’m fairly private with my feelings, especially online, as I am a pretty stoic and “carry on regardless” kind of person. I don’t allow much to get me down, which is sometimes a good thing and sometimes a bad thing!
Perhaps people don’t know that I never, ever hold a grudge. Life is too short for all of that. I’ll be pissed off at you, but once it’s done it’s done. Oh… Not many people know I have a VERY short fuse. Lol. I can keep it in check in public, but behind closed doors is a different matter! And I don’t cry when reading. Only three books have ever made me shed a tear! But I have never ugly snotted over the written word.
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. Probably Too Good Girl. It’s definitely the book I am most proud of in regards to my actual writing—as in it’s definitely my writing at its best, even if the story isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. It’s my marmite book, I reckon, but I wish more people would read it because I’d like them to see how it’s written.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? Gosh… One of my favourites is The Storyteller by Jodie Picoult. The plot was so unexpected, and I love how, as in a lot of her books, she writes about moral dilemmas that her characters must navigate. This one particularly stayed with me because it is one of the only books that has ever made me cry! I’m not a cold-hearted bitch, I promise! I just don’t seem to cry at books.
I also love Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. It was one of the first classics I ever read, and I think I read it twice, back-to-back.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? Firefly, which is my most recent release. I struggled massively with finishing it. Working out the plot nearly finished me off! I changed my mind and ran it by friends so many times! And even once I knew where I wanted to go, the words would not come. I was on a deadline, which I do NOT do well with, and I honestly almost threw it all away on a number of occasions. So in that sense, yes it nearly broke me!
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Yes. I have playlists for every story. I listen to music constantly. I am inspired emotionally by songs, and very often, whole scenes between my characters will play out in my mind whilst I’m listening to a song. That song will then go on repeat until I have finished writing the scene. All of my books, except Firefly, have songs attached to the chapters. So if you’re a reader who likes to get the whole experience, you can listen along!
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? Sometimes it’s really tidy; sometimes it’s a real mess. I am a funny one. I can’t bear mess. It drives me crackers. However, if things become too messy, I feel overwhelmed by it and can’t face doing anything about it. That is until it gets to the point where I literally cannot cope with it being messy anymore! I’m not sure if there is a name for people like me! Haha!
Who or what inspires you as a writer? Music. My imagination. Things I observe. People. Places. Stories I’ve read. All sorts really…
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? Apparently I’m an introverted extrovert (or an extroverted introvert, whichever way around it is!). I’m often confused for an extrovert because I’m really sociable. I’m often the life and soul in fact… I ‘play’ the extrovert really well. But I find myself having to explain my introversion. Unfortunately, most people don’t get it. Lol.
It depends who I’m with and where I am. Environment is a huge factor. The ambiance, the music, how loud or quiet it is and who is there. Other people are equal parts intriguing and exhausting to me. That includes my family and friends. I’ve just read this back and it sounds like I was lying about the whole mask thing. I’m not. I don’t hide behind my extroversion like it sounds!
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes? People will always want to hear stories, no matter how they are presented. Stories make the world go round. Stories are how we know about the past and how we get to imagine the future. Whether it be Mavis over the road telling the milkman how her dog escaped under the hedge that morning, laughing about how she had to run after him in her pyjamas; Grandad Jim regaling his grandsons with tales of his time captaining a merchant navy ship in WW2; or a lonely teenager scribbling poetry that tells of her troubled mind, stories connect us to one another and always will.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Just write. Write a story or a poem. Embellish a shopping list. Describe a scene you have witnessed or a picture you have seen. Write a letter to an imaginary friend. Just don’t stop writing. Write, write, write.
Don’t write for your dad, or your friend, or potential readers. Write for you. Write the stories you want to tell. Then, once people find your work and love it, write for yourself and those super fans. Don’t write for reluctant readers or to gain hard won 5-star reviews. You’ll never, ever please everyone so write to please those who love what you do—those who are the first to download your new book without even reading the blurb. You’ll be a unicorn author to someone. Write for them.
Listen to advice from other authors whilst remembering that you do not have to take the advice if it doesn’t work for you. Save money to get your work edited by someone who knows what they’re doing and so you can purchase a good quality cover for your book. Do not skimp on these two things.
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? The Yorkshire Dales. It’s my happy place. Don’t get me wrong, I love a golden beach, sunshine and a deep blue sea, but give me rolling hills and the sound of cows any day!
Your favourite place to read and/or write? I can read anywhere really. At the table, on the sofa, in bed. I’m not so good at reading in the car cos I get distracted by the scenery and sometimes a little car sick.
Writing… Usually not at my computer. Because I design book covers, the internet and images and things can pull me away from writing. If I sit elsewhere with my iPad instead, I’m less likely to start looking for pictures to add to pre-made covers because I don’t have Photoshop on my iPad.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? Not as many as you might think! I’m a very slow writer. And by that I mean it takes me forever to finish a book, not that I type slowly! If I know what’s going to happen, I can knock out the words quickly. But I am very busy with lots of other aspects of my life that I don’t always have time to sit and write for long periods of time. I generally release one book a year. That’s about my average I think, and I’m happy with that. How old is Gandalf? 24,000 years old apparently. So I guess I’ll have written 23,956 books!
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? Richard Attenborough. I used to work at a Showcase cinema. It was the busiest cinema in the UK at the time. When the film Chaplin was released, our cinema premiered it in the UK. Richard Attenborough directed the film so of course he was there. I was a supervisor and was in charge of the running of the concessions stand. We were having lots of work done on the building at the time and had scaffolding everywhere. There were plywood ramps leading up to the main entrance where the steps used to be and tarpaulin all over the place. I had painted a HUGE mural of Charlie Chaplin on the massive glass windows at the front, too.
Our general manager asked some of the staff to dress up as Chaplin and line the sides of the ramp where Richard and the other guests would enter. He asked me to be one of them and, since I was the supervisor, he also asked me to walk Richard down the spillway to his screen and then greet him after the film had finished. So as Richard arrived, he walked up the ramp and spotted me—the only female Chaplin—and leaned in to kiss my cheek. He whispered, “It’s not often I get to kiss a man!”
We shared a laugh and then I walked with him down to the screen. When the film was done, I greeted him. He linked arms with me, and my general manager walked at the other side of me. Halfway down the spillway, he turned to me and said, “How would you like to come back to Manchester with me?”
I glanced at my manager who said, “Sorry, she’s working.”
And that was that! See! A story that now connects you with me a little bit.
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? A teacher. Or a ballerina. Or an author. I’m now an author and a teacher!
Who is your biggest cheerleader? I have a very close-knit group of author friends who champion me at every turn, tell me to shut up when I’m having doubts about my abilities and give it to me straight when my writing isn’t good enough. And I think that’s what cheerleaders should be like.
My partner doesn’t like romance so he doesn’t read what I write, and I wouldn’t ever expect him to, but he does give me time and space to do it, so he cheers silently!
BONUS Q. Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet! One of my works in progress has a 15-year-old girl in it called Marcheline….
Thank you so much for your time, Eleanor! To find out more, click the image:
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? That my writing has been likened to James Herbert, which is a huge honour for me.
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. My BONDS series is dark paranormal and my TALES FROM A SCARYGIRL short stories are horror, both supernatural and real world. I’ve also written a supernatural children’s book which is aimed at teaching kids it’s okay to be themselves. I am venturing into the contemporary romance genre, though, with my latest novel, CHASING RAINBOWS.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? I LOVE taking my kit off in front of the camera! I have done a couple of boudoir photoshoots and absolutely loved it. They have been an exercise in self-esteem and learning to see myself how others do, which I’m not good at, as I lack confidence. I shared the first lot of photos, and my story, on social media a few years ago and was surprised and pleased by the response. By sharing myself in that way, I actually helped people. This means the world to me.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? I have two absolute favourites: Bram Stoker’s Dracula – the best love story ever told, and Jeffrey Archer’s Kane and Abel – an age-old rivalry that tugs at your heartstrings.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? I wouldn’t say it is EVERYTHING, but it is certainly an important part of my creative process and my writing routine. The music is different depending on the genre I am writing. So, for the BONDS and TALES FROM A SCARYGIRL series, Meat Loaf and his Bat Out of Hell III album kept me company, the album covering every breadth of emotion possible. With CHASING RAINBOWS, it’s been Natalie Imbruglia’s White Lilies Island I tuned in to, the melancholy lament of the songs befitting the story.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? Most definitely tidy, although I am the post-it queen—and they are the best thing ever invented! As I’m writing, if a thought, idea, or simply a remembrance of something I may need to check on pops into my head, it gets put on a post-it; I’d never remember otherwise. I use post-its for everything… menopause brain! My most creative space in my home houses an antique writing bureau, which is only small, so there is no room for clutter, anyway.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? Definitely an introvert. The idea of walking into a room, including doing author signings, fills me with absolute terror, but I force myself to do it. I struggle to socialise, though, which isn’t good, as people think I’m being rude; I’m not. I simply find it difficult to make the first move. If someone comes and talks to me, I’m like a limpet, and they run away screaming 😉.
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes? The love of a good story. Stories saved me as a child when my parents’ hands were full with my twin brother and sister, and stories are where I go when I am down, need company, or simply need to relax. Stories are my happy place, and I’m not the only one.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Get your story out of your head and on to the page, all of it, without stopping to worry about spelling and editing. If you keep stopping to edit what you’ve written, you will never finish. Get it out first, then go back and edit.
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? Italy. I adore the place and have been several times and want to go back… when I feel brave enough to face an airport and share a plane with strangers again. I recently completed a six-week taster course in Italian for this very purpose and am considering the longer language course starting in September.
Your favourite place to read and/or write? I have several favourite places to read, depending on my mood and the time of day—my bed, my faux Chesterfield armchair in my living room, or my cosy chair in my conservatory. As for writing, well, that’s easy. There’s only one winner—the antique writing bureau my late aunt gave me. It’s been in the family for almost a hundred years, and I love to think about what it’s seen and experienced during that time. It’s battered, scratched and broken, and I love it!
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? This is a tough one, and I know I’ll remember the “actual” most famous person I’ve ever met after this interview, but, from a writing point of view, it would be James Patterson. I met him at Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Festival in Harrogate in 2019. I also met and had a chat with Sir Ian Rankin, who was lovely.
With James Patterson
Ooooo, and I know not everyone may know who she is… unless they’re a Buffy fan! I met and had my picture taken with Juliet Landau a.k.a. Drusilla (pictured below) at Wales Comic Con in 2018. Which then leads me on to meeting Denis O’Hare, Mark Shepherd, Mark Addy and Eddie McClintock at the same event. Let’s just add that Juliet, Denis and Eddie all now have copies of BONDS!
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? A banker (don’t ask). That dream lasted six weeks… six weeks of cleaning vomit off the cash machine on a Monday morning was enough for me to know working in a bank was NOT a dream job. I stayed for six years, though!
Thank you so much for your time, Marie! To find out more click her image above!
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? That I am an expat, originally from Houston, Texas. I have lived in England for 13 years now.
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy. I also write under the pen name D. Sparks where I focus on Contemporary and Dark Romance
What is one thing people don’t know about you? That I love to sing.
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. Mister Crunch. It just had a relaunch. It’s a brilliant book and an amazing love story.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? That is a crazy question. I couldn’t possibly choose just one.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? Ha! Not yet. I have had one that I struggled to finish but I got there in the end. My first book under my second pen name Insatiable. Let’s just say my writing schedule was too ambitious this year.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Absolutely. Music is my driving force. Sometimes I can write chapters with just one song on repeat.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? Messy/Tidy. It’s organised chaos.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? I am a little bit in between.
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes? People love a good story…no matter the trope.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? Learn as much as you can about the marketing side. The writing part is the easiest.
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? I love Italy. Florence is one of my favourite places.
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? I’ve worked with Tom Ford.
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? A Biomedical Research Scientist. I was and still am a bit of a nerd.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? Writing is not my full-time job, but I want it to be.
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? My first series, Waiting for Summer, was written in secret and only when I’d finished it, did I tell my family and friends that I’d completed it.
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. Predominantly romance, with a healthy helping of sexy and plenty of family drama! I think it’s because I come from a big Cypriot family and so I can relate to multi-generational characters. I’m a hopeless romantic and always strive for happy-ever-after endings.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? I was the first person to bring male strippers to Cyprus in 1998, which caused quite a stir, I can tell you! Now there’s definitely a book in that story!
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. La Casa Series, I love all my books but this is a big family saga with many sub plots that have you invested in each character. It’s based around the leisure industry in my home town of Leeds and it highlights the beautiful surroundings of Yorkshire, which I always like to promote. Plus, Jerome Ferretti is a total sex-pot!
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? So many to choose from but the most recent that I can think of are, The Kiss Thief by L. J. Shen, I admire her writing and the plot of enemies to lovers is done to perfection in this book. Mr Masters by T. L. Swan is just such a good read, with laugh out loud moments as well as tear jerking, I love all her books but this one has just something extra. Dirty Filthy Rich Men by Laurelin Paige, I marvel at how Laurelin can make you lust after a total asshole, but she totally nails it in this book, Donavan is just yum! The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, this book blew me away, so many layers, themes and takes on love and loyalty, I became immersed in the plot and its twists.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? Not at all! But at the same time every time I finish a book I think…I’m never going to find the strength, inspiration or time to write like this again, yet somehow I do.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? Nope, I love music and it features heavily throughout my books but when I write, I need total silence, so I can hear my characters’ voices. Music would be too distracting.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? Desk? I wish! I write on my dining-room table, which needs to be tidy because it’s constantly on display but there’s usually a cat sprawled across the table and a bowl overflowing with keys, pens, papers and watches. I have an obligatory box of tissues, for when I get emotional, plus a bowl with either wrapped chocolates or sweets, for guests not for me. In the cool months I always have flowers on the table too, which just makes me feel good.
Who or what inspires you as a writer? Many things, from a song I hear to other authors I talk to or books they’ve written. A scenario I witness or I hear about that has me thinking of what led up to it or what transpired afterwards.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? Definitely an introvert. I’m a watcher not a doer, always have been but as I’ve got older I’m a little more comfortable stepping out from the wings of the stage, though not up front. I would’ve loved to be an actor but I was far too shy and self-conscious to ‘get up there’. Writing means I can act behind the comfort of computer screen, sitting in my yoga pants with a cup of tea or glass of wine and be anyone and do anything, without actually physically doing it! Perfect for putting my imagination to good use.
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes? A good book has to have good characters that you’re invested in. The characters can make a simple plot the most riveting book you’ve ever read. You don’t have to like them but you need to have a connection, that’s what makes you turn the page.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? There will be days that you think you’re rubbish, there will be days that you think you are wasting your time and no one will care or appreciate what you’ve written. You will read your work and feel so despondent but those days will be erased when you nail a scene, get positive feedback about your work, when you touch a paperback that has your name on the cover and your words running though the pages. It’s worth all the self-doubt and endless lonely hours, just sit down and write, you’ll thank yourself for being that persistent.
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? I’m lucky to live in sunny Cyprus, so I kind of feel in holiday mood over the summer months. Not to rub it in too much but we can go to the beach eight months of the year. What I can say is that my favourite kind of holiday would be sightseeing. Ideally, I’d love to explore the whole of Italy. I want to experience new places and take in the culture, architecture and landscapes. Also eat my way through their culinary delights too!
Your favourite place to read and/or write? Reading on the beach is definitely my most favourite spot, simply because I don’t feel guilty. If I’m at home, I feel I should be doing other things.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? I’d like to get into double figures and ideally twenty.
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? I would say George Michael. I was lucky enough to meet him in May 1984 two weeks before he made it to number one with his WHAM! hit ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go Go’. He came and sat next to me at an event I was at and we chatted about our Cypriot heritage. I told him I thought he was going to be a huge superstar and he genuinely looked unconvinced. I then told him I was so sure he would that I insisted he gave me his autograph, which he shyly and graciously did. It’s one of my most precious possessions.
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? An actor, then for a few months I remember toying with the idea of being a biochemist, but I realised you need to be super clever for that, so it really wasn’t an option! Later, I set my heart on being a restauranteur.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? Not in those exact words but when I told one of my closest friends that I had written my first book, she looked at me incredulously and scoffed, ‘What makes you think you can write a book?’ Needless to say, she isn’t my friend anymore and I’m writing my eighth book.
BONUS QUESTION: Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet! The last chapter of La Casa d’Italia – For Starters has an incident that happened to the female character, this actually happened to me when I was twenty-one.
Thank you so much for your time, Anna-Maria! To find out more, visit…
As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you? I don’t know that there’s anything you should know about me, however, I am incredibly funny and make myself laugh regularly. My wit is dry and sarcastic!
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing. Steamy contemporary, with a little erotic romance thrown in, but I have no issue with it being called smut, dirty romance or anything else really.
What is one thing people don’t know about you? I am a mother to twins, although lots of people are probably aware of that. Oh, okay, I once attended a signing in Blackpool and thought the people in the neighbouring room were having very loud sex, very early in the morning . . . turns out it was the lions from the neighbouring zoo saying good morning!
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why. Disaster-in-Waiting – the first book I published and the hero, Cy is my absolute perfect book boyfriend – I love him.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why? There are lots of books I have read and enjoyed, been inspired by, Hero by Samantha Young, The Original Sinners by Tiffany Reisz, pretty much anything by TL Swan.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again? I don’t know that it broke me and made me feel like I would never write again, but I did think I had created as near to a perfect story as I ever could when I wrote Disaster-in-Waiting, but as each new book came along and found its audience, I realised that someone’s 5* is someone else’s 1*. Also, when I published Single Dad and it became my most popular book, that message was reaffirmed.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write? No, I have tried to be, but I struggle not to get distracted by music, so tend to write in silence.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy? I don’t have a desk or designated space, so usually it’s laptop on my lap, so pretty tidy.
Who or what inspires you as a writer? Lots of people in different ways, but author wise, TL Swan, Tiffany Reisz.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…? Depends who I’m with and where. People who know me laugh when I talk about being shy, but I still am at times and when I was younger was too but covered it well. So make of that what you will!
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes? Readers demand for more – and that is a good thing. As a romance reader myself, I find that when I find an author I like, I really cannot get enough. And in romance the Happy Ever After never gets tired.
What is your advice to authors just starting out? If you really want to give it a go, write. Write what you want in the way you want, because as I previously said, someone’s 5* read is someone else’s 1*, and these 1* reviews mean you have arrived, lol
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday? I don’t have any one place. Places I have been with my kids hold a special place in my heart, but the world is such a big place, (I only really came to this conclusion recently) that it’s a shame not to see more of it – so, I have a few places on my bucket list: Paris (it’s been many, many years, since I went there), the lakes of Italy, Santorini, New York – too many to name probably.
If you could live inside any fictional world, where would that be? That changes from book to book, lol. When I write, I kind of do live inside that world, but when I read, unless there’s a group of girlfriends who just love and support their circle, I tend not to think about living there. If the sisterhood is there, then I want in. I have recently read the Dirty Texas series and I love that girl (and Derrick), plus the friendship group and would love to be one of the gang.
Your favourite place to read and/or write? I tend to read in bed or if I am travelling on a train, and whilst lying in the sun. Writing tends to be in my living room, or if I need a break from those four walls, a Costa or Starbucks.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written? It scares me to put a number on it as that’s like putting a ceiling on my achievements, so, I will keep writing so long as I enjoy it.
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met? I once met Simon Le Bon, very briefly and cried at him! He was the first man I loved so regardless his level of fame, that makes it pretty special.
What did you always want to be when you were growing up? It changed a couple of times but a children’s nurse or an actress were the two big ones – never became either.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”? It’s not my full-time job, but that is the dream, and I think proper jobs might be overrated!
Who is your biggest cheerleader? My children and I have a couple of people I’m close to who are always supportive and encouraging.
BONUS QUESTION: Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet! I am currently writing a book with a Catfish theme!
Thank you so much for your time, Elle M Thomas! Here are all of her stalker links:
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