BLOG TOUR: Skylarking by Kate Mildenhall - Q&A and Extract

This year has seen so many great debut novels - one being Skylarking by Kate Mildenhall. The book focuses on two best friends whose friendship is tested by the arrival of a newcomer to their small island.

Kate has stopped by for a Q&A on Skylarking, to tell about her new novel and the inspiration behind it.

Click here to read an extract of Skylarking!

Kate and Harriet are best friends growing up together on an isolated Australian cape. As the daughters of the lighthouse keepers, the two girls share everything, until a fisherman, McPhail, arrives in their small community.

When Kate witnesses the desire that flares between him and Harriet, she is torn by her feelings of envy and longing. An innocent moment in McPhail's hut then occurs that threatens to tear their peaceful community apart.

Inspired by a true story, Skylarking is a spellbinding tale of friendship and desire, memory and truth, which questions what it is to remember and how tempting it can be to forget.

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
A remote lighthouse. Best friends growing up. A fisherman. A gun…

What inspired you to write Skylarking?
While on a camping trip with my family and best friends, I stumbled upon an old grave. It belonged to a young woman who had lived at a nearby lighthouse in the 1880s and I was immediately captivated by the information that hinted at a bigger story, including her friendship with the daughter of the Head Lighthouse Keeper, and a terrible event that occurred at a fisherman’s hut nearby. I began to dig into the history of the lighthouse and eventually became obsessed with imagining the lives of these two best friends and what became of them.

Where do you do most of your writing?
I occupied a corner of the lounge room by surrounding it with bookshelves so I have a little nook with a sunny window and a desk amid towering piles of books. But, as I have two young children, I also write wherever I can – on the train, in the car outside dancing class, dictating notes on my phone while waiting at traffic lights!

What is your favourite book?
This question is like asking which of my children is my favourite! As a child, Anne of Green Gables by LM Montgomery, as a student Cloudstreet by Tim Winton, as a writer The Writer’s Room: Conversations About Writing edited by Charlotte Wood.

Which part of Skylarking did you enjoy writing the most?
In the beginning I had no idea I was writing a novel, let alone that it would be published – so that was incredibly liberating. I avoided writing the climax of the novel for many, many months, and when I finally did, I sobbed all the way through. That part wasn’t enjoyable but it was certainly an experience I’ll never forget.

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
Again, so many! But Anne of Green Gables and Grace Marks from Margaret Attwood’s Alias Grace influenced me both in my life and writing.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Keep reading widely and voraciously! And sit down and DO the writing. Your novel can sound wonderful in your mind but you’ve got to take the risk to actually put it down on paper. Be brave!

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
I’m in the middle of writing my second novel. It’s a more contemporary story and as part of the research I’m hitching a ride on a yacht from Darwin to Indonesia. I’m enjoying pushing myself to take new risks in this work!

Thanks, Kate!

You can find out more about Kate Mildenhall by visiting her website, Facebook, or by following her on Twitter.

UNCOVERED INTERVIEWS: Ruth Kaufman

Joining me on the blog today is Ruth Kaufman, author of new novel My Life as an Extra. Ruth was inspired by her experiences as a film and TV extra, and she's already working on the sequel!

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Rebuilding her life after divorcing, Marla learns to feel special when she’s not the star.

What inspired you to write My Life as an Extra?
I've worked as an extra on more than 70 movies and TV shows filmed in Chicago, and thought that world would make an interesting backdrop because of the lengths people  often need to go to complete a film and the various personalities that inhabit it.

Where do you do most of your writing?
I usually write at my desk in my home office because I prefer the larger monitor and better ergonomics. But sometimes I take my laptop to a quiet coffee shop or a friend's place for a different atmosphere.

What is your favourite book?
That's a tough question because I have so many on my keeper shelf! I love Margaret George's The Autobiography of Henry VIII: With Notes by His Fool, Will Somers: A Novel.

Which part of My Life as an Extra did you enjoy writing the most?
I had so much fun writing a scene later in the book that takes place at Marla's day job. I'm a panster (meaning I don't plot first), so I kept laughing out loud as developments unfolded. And when a certain event took place, it was quite the "aha" moment. I don't want to give any spoilers....

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
I'd say whenever I'm reading a book I love, that heroine is my favorite.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
So many! The first would be to learn about and stay on top of changes in the market. The second is to be aware that nowadays one book isn't usually enough for those who want to sell, so it's helpful to have a career plan and know how fast you can write.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
I'm finishing revisions on the sequel to MLE, My Life as a Star, in which Marla learns be careful what you wish for when her acting career and feelings for a hot, famous director skyrocket.

Thanks, Ruth!

You can find out more about Ruth Kaufman by visiting her website, blog, Facebook, or by following her on Twitter.

My Life as an Extra

Chicagoan Marla Goldberg must rebuild her life at forty-one after an unexpected divorce. While adjusting to singlehood, trying to improve conditions at the radio station where she's an account executive and fit in with her successful family, she dips her toes into the daunting dating pool. 

Marla yearns to fulfill her long-held dream of being a full-time, working actor, yet can't quite believe, "Leap and the net will appear." Being a movie and TV show extra teaches her meaningful lessons, but she must learn what for her is the hardest lesson of all: how to feel special and valued when you’re not the star. 

BLOG TOUR: Q&A with Jill Steeples, author of Summer at the Dog and Duck

Jill Steeples joins us today as part of her blog tour for new novel, Summer at the Dog and Duck. The novel is available from Aria and focuses on Ellie Browne, landlady at the pub in idyllic Little Leyton. Want to know more about Jill and her novels? Then read on!

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Cider, sunshine, love and sizzling secrets. It’s all happening at The Dog & Duck this summer!

What inspired you to write Summer at the Dog & Duck?
It’s the second in the series of books base around a cosy fictional pub called The Dog and Duck set in the idyllic English village of Little Leyton. My family are from the East End of London and the local pub was always at the heart of the community.  I’d always been fascinated by the different characters who came together at the pub and wanted to tell some of their stories.

Where do you do most of your writing?
Curled up on my sofa, overlooking the garden, with my dog, Amber, at my side.

What is your favourite book?
This is always such a difficult question because there have been so many I’ve loved, but I always come back to The Country Girls by Edna O’Brien. It’s a beautifully written coming of age story set in rural Ireland.

Which part of  Summer at the Dog & Duck did you enjoy writing the most?
In this book, Max’s younger sister, Katie turns up in the village, full of angst and attitude.  I adored writing her scenes because although she’s clearly troubled, she’s gutsy, funny and has a huge heart.

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
Bridget Jones! Just hearing her name makes me smile.  She is so funny, down-to-earth and, for a whole generation of women, very relatable.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Join a writing group where you can meet like-minded people.  Writing can be such a lonely business, especially when you’re starting out, that you need to find others who will encourage and support you during the bad times.  I joined a creative writing class and the people I met there gave me the confidence to take my writing seriously.  There are so many great online groups too and societies such as the Romantic Novelist’s Association, which I belong to.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
I’m currently writing the third in the Dog and Duck series. It’s still early days, buts it’s always very exciting to return to the characters to see what they’re up to.  All I can say at the moment is that it’s going to be a very busy time for Ellie at The Dog and Duck.

Thanks, Jill!

To find out more about Jill Steeples, you can follow her on Twitter, via Facebook, or visit her website. Jill's previous novel, Winter at the Dog & Duck, is available now.

About Jill

Jill Steeples lives in a small market town in Bedfordshire with her husband and two children. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, baking cakes, eating them and drinking wine.

Summer at the Dog & Duck

The perfect summer read. Continuing the light hearted, uplifting dramas around the 'The Dog & Duck' pub and the life of its landlady Ellie Browne.

Ellie Browne  has found happiness running The Dog and Duck pub in the idyllic village of Little Leyton, and her blossoming romance with tall, handsome property developer,  Max Golding, is going swimmingly. With her new best friend,  Digby, the black Labrador at her side, life just couldn't be sweeter.  

But their peace is shattered when  Max's younger sister,  Katy, turns up unannounced with a whole heap of attitude. And  Max's loyalties are stretched further when his glamorous ex,  Sasha, re-appears with her own burgeoning secret.  

With the master of the manor preoccupied with the demands of his 'other women',  Ellie's forced to consider if she has any role to play in  Max's life or in the village of Little Leyton.  

Can Ellie get her life and relationship back on track in time for the summer charity ball at Braithwaite Manor?

UNCOVERED INTERVIEWS: Sherill Turner

Sherill Turner is a New York-based actress and author who has just released her debut novel Him Downstairs - a romantic comedy in which Lucy has to get over boyfriend Tom - but it's not easy when he lives in the flat below! Sherill joins us this week for the Q&A, to tell us more about the novel, her writing life and projects.

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Him Downstairs is about the hilarity and heartbreak of navigating modern-day life and love.

What inspired you to write Him Downstairs?
Some hilariously disastrous dates! I also wanted to explore how dating in our 30s is different these days. So many people are separated or divorced now, have children to consider, are balancing one or two mortgages – there are so many other factors that contribute to if a relationship works.

Where do you do most of your writing?
Coffee shops are great (especially if there’s cake!). Libraries are my favourite. I moved to New York last year and am obsessed with the gorgeous Stephen A. Schwarzman library. I always say this, but the reading rooms are like a Harry Potter set!

What is your favourite book?
To Kill a Mockingbird. I read it in school and although I’d always loved reading as a child, this was the first book that made me realize how a story can take you to a totally different place, but you still recognize yourself in the people there.

Which part of Him Downstairs did you enjoy writing the most?
I think the Singles Night episode. I had so much fun with Lucy’s friendship with Caz and Becs and taking them on a girls’ night out was a blast to write! Plus, I did actually go on this "interesting" dating experience!

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
Oh, do I have to pick just one? Moll Flanders – what a resourceful woman and a riot to read! Elizabeth Bennet, of course! She’s so fabulous and flawed, which makes her more relatable.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Him Downstairs is my first novel and I deliberated for a long time before self-publishing it. I’m glad I waited because I got to keep making it better. Am also glad to have published the eBook version myself, it’s very empowering. We need stories that are entertaining, that are relatable and inspiring more than ever, so whether you go the traditional publishing route or self-publish, your work has value.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
I’ve just written a couple of comedy sketches for a friend who is putting together a TV anthology show.  I'm in the editing process for a short film. It’s a comedy that I co-wrote and produced with a partner in the U.K. and is my film directing debut. Am also narrating the audiobook of Him Downstairs and wondering why on earth I made one of the characters Welsh! It’s a wonderfully creative and busy time and I'm consuming a lot of tea and cake!

Thanks, Sherill!

You can find out more about Sherill Turner and her books at her website, or by following her on Twitter.

Him Downstairs by Sherill Turner

How do you get over someone who lives under you?

Life for Lucy Jenkins is going OK … ish. Yes, she’s thirty-three, single, and has had to work as a waitress and children’s party entertainer since her social worker salary suffered from budget cuts, but she stays positive and manages to pay the mortgage on her flat. Her home is her sanctuary – until Tom moves in downstairs. Lucy and Tom quickly fall in love and into a serious relationship, which is complicated by Tom’s recent separation from his wife, who he has two young sons with.

Lucy is heartbroken when Tom breaks up with her, saying that something has to give in his busy life. Encouraged/coerced/badgered by her friends into getting ‘back on that horse’, Lucy finds herself at a tacky Singles Night; dating Danny, a Justin Timberlake impersonator; and attempting a rendezvous with her ‘special friend’. Lucy’s quest to move on from Tom would be a whole lot easier if she didn’t have to hear everything he does.

After all, how on earth do you get over someone when you can hear them peeing?

BLOG TOUR: Q&A with Beezy Marsh, author of Mr Make Believe

Beezy Marsh is the author of Mr Make Believe, a romantic comedy about a journalist turned stay-at-home mum. Mr Make Believe was released today, and as part of her blog tour, Beezy has stopped by to answer a few questions about her new book, and life as a writer...

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Daydreaming mum loses husband and career, writes blog, burns tea, meets movie star crush and...

What inspired you to write Mr Make Believe?
Well, I'm a mum-of-two who used to regularly write the front page for a national newspaper, a bit like my main character, Marnie Martin, and I know lots of mothers who are struggling to hold it all together at home; trying to have some kind of career while looking after the children and to strike a balance between it all. It can be isolating to be at home all day with the kids and I have always been a dreamer and asking around, I found lots of my mum friends had secret crushes on movie stars, which they used to keep themselves going when reality was tough. I picked up that theme and took it to an extreme, playing with the notion of what would happen if a mum whose life wasn't turning out the way she'd hoped got to meet her Mr Make Believe. The whole interplay between our real lives and our social media lives is endlessly fascinating to me so that was a big part of it too.

Where do you do most of your writing?
Sometimes I edit pages and write notes on the train if I have to go up to London from my home in Oxfordshire but most days I sit in a spare bedroom in my house and bash away at my keyboard. The letters have worn off it  - I must get a new one.

What is your favourite book?
I find it really hard to pick just one book! I love absolutely everything that Jilly Cooper has written. I would read her shopping list if she published it  - I bet even that would be brilliant. But if I were only allowed one book, I would probably take Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. Everything about it is perfect, starting with that first sentence - "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again." I immediately want to read on.

Which part of Mr Make Believe did you enjoy writing the most?
Well, I loved writing all of the book; it was like a roller coaster ride and I didn't want to get off. But the best bit for me was definitely when Marnie got to know her Mr Make Believe a little better...

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
Becky Sharp, Vanity Fair. What a woman!

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Getting published is a long, hard road and rejection is a part of the process. Listen carefully to feedback and try to learn from it, especially if you are lucky enough to get criticism from people who actually work in the industry because they know the market. Keep believing in yourself.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
Yes, I'd love to tell you about my next projects. I am editing a prequel to Mr Make Believe, called Ten Easy Steps To I Love You, which features Marnie Martin but tells the story of how her best mate Belle Devine, the showbiz journalist, gets to meet her Mr Right. I am still in love with all the characters in Marnie Martin's world, so there may be a sequel to Mr Make Believe before too long as well. With my non-fiction hat on, I have a historical memoir coming out with Pan Macmillan at the end of July, which covers the lives of three sisters from London during the 1930s. It's called Keeping My Sisters' Secrets and it's a really moving story about them overcoming poverty and adversity, finding love as the Second World War looms on the horizon.

Thanks, Beezy!

Mr Make Believe by Beezy Marsh

Marnie Martin’s formerly perfect life is not quite going to plan. 

Hard-hitting newspaper journalist turned stay-at-home mum and part-time failing food columnist, Marnie is wondering when her life went so wrong.

While her husband Matt’s career takes off, she’s left with the impossible task of pairing socks and locating Lego. His late nights at the office are turning into late nights who knows where else and they haven’t had a proper conversation in weeks, sex in months, or a full night’s sleep in years. 

On the brink of losing everything when a fantasy about movie star Maddox Wolfe leads to a missed deadline and a disastrous case of food poisoning, Marnie becomes Mrs Make Believe: anonymous blogger, secret spiller, and voice of imperfect mums everywhere. 

However, Marnie Martin could never have imagined that her movie star daydream would walk off the screen and into her reality, turning her already muddled world totally on its head.

Will Marnie find happiness in the arms of the (literal) man of her dreams? Or will she find that true love is just make believe?

UNCOVERED INTERVIEWS: Lilac Mills

Happy Friday all! Today, the lovely Lilac Mills is kicking off the weekend with an interview. Her new novel, Under the Cherry Tree, will be released next month and is a feel-good romance about dog groomer Jenni (and her loyal friend...)

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Under the Cherry Tree is a tale of love and hope, waggy tails, and cold noses.

What inspired you to write Under the Cherry Tree?
My gorgeous little Westie died last year, and I felt I wanted more than a grave to remember her by. This seemed such a fitting tribute, and many of the characteristics of Millie in the book came from my own little dog.

Where do you do most of your writing?
Anywhere I can! Whenever I've got a spare five minutes, no matter where I am, I'll write. I always carry a writing pad and a pen with me.

What is your favourite book?
Wuthering Heights - it's so dark and twisted, and a far cry from the chick lit I tend to read now. I read it when I was a teenager, and it's stuck with me ever since.

What part of Under the Cherry Tree did you enjoy writing the most?
Spoiler alert here! Millie's death scene. It actually made me cry when I was writing it, and each time I revisit it, I cry again.

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
Georgina from the Famous Five books. I first read a Famous Five story when I was 11 and I really wanted to be her. She was sassy, tomboyish and not a typical girl. She made me realise that females don't have to be stereotypical, as they were often portrayed in those days.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
First you've got to write and keep writing until you finish your manuscript, and that's easier said than done. It takes determination and perseverance to write a novel. So basically, what I'm saying is, don't give up. If you want it badly enough you'll find a way to complete it and get it out there.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
I've started on a new novel (which I hope to be out by the end of the summer), called Elephant and Pinky Moon. It's about a young woman who is older than her years, and her grandmother, who most assuredly isn't!

Thanks, Lilac!

You can find out more about Lilac Mills by visiting her website, Twitter and Facebook.

Under the Cherry Tree by Lilac Mills

My dog didn't like men. Actually that was a lie – she didn't like the men I chose. The only ones who rocked her world had been my father (who was no longer with us), Ross (who was gay), and the butcher on the high street (for obvious reasons).” 

When Jenni Meadows has the opportunity to expand her dog-grooming business she takes it, and when a nice man appears on her horizon but fails to make any sparks fly, she decides she has enough on her plate with her business without adding a boyfriend into the mix.

Besides, Millie doesn’t like him and when her dog doesn’t like a man, Jenni knows all about it. So why does Millie take a very strange liking to the new vet, especially since he has a taciturn expression, wears a wedding ring, and wields a needle?

Under the Cherry Tree is a tale of love and hope, waggy tails, and cold noses.

BLOG TOUR: The Dress by Jane L Rosen

The Dress is a beautiful new read by screenwriter Jane L Rosen. Festive and heartwarming, the novel focuses on nine women whose lives are changed by the perfect dress of the season. Jane has joined us as part of her blog tour, and gives us an insight into the novel and her inspiration behind it!

Please can you tell us about The Dress is 15 words or less?
A tale of one extraordinary dress and the lives of the nine women it touches.

What inspired you to write The Dress?
The impetus for this book came from an urban legend of sorts—

The story of a dress in the 80’s allegedly returned to Bloomingdales covered in formaldehyde. I have no idea if the story is true or not but it left me wondering, “What ever could have happened to that dress?”  I worked my way backwards from there and the story of Nine Women, One Dress was born.

Where do you do most of your writing?
When the words are coming easy to me I write at my dining room table in my apartment in Manhattan. When they’re not I force myself to sit in a New York Public Library. Although they are naturally supposed to be quiet places they are actually filled with hushed or silent distractions. There is something about the atmosphere that forces me into my work.

What is your favourite book?
It’s a tie between A Tree Grows in Brooklyn and To Kill A Mockingbird. It’s really the writing that moves me most in both of them. I can read them over and over again.  I also love The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy and The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving. More recently, I was very moved by Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

Which part of The Dress did you enjoy writing the most?
The story of Arthur and Felicia was probably the most enjoyable to write. It’s such a simple love story and it flowed out of me easily.  I enjoyed writing the characters of Tomàs and Ruthie who work in the dress department at Blookmingdales the most. Their personalities and thoughts made me laugh as I was creating them.

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
Jo from Little Women. She is strong, smart, opinionated and willing to do anything for her family. She reminds me of my three daughters rolled up into one.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Write your first draft as if no one is reading it then edit, edit and edit some more. Don’t get discouraged. Listen to the voice in your head that says you’re great, not the one that says otherwise.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
A novel called The August of Esmè Nash.

It’s the story of a 28-year-old Upper East-side socialite whose life is upended just as her long-time shrink leaves town for the month.

Thanks, Jane!

The Dress by Jane L Rosen

Natalie is a Bloomingdale’s salesgirl mooning over her lawyer ex-boyfriend who’s engaged to someone else after just two months. Felicia has been quietly in love with her happily married boss for twenty years; now that he’s a lonely widower, she just needs the right situation to make him see her as more than the best executive assistant in Midtown Manhattan. 

Andrea is a private detective specializing in gathering evidence on cheating husbands—a skill she unfortunately learned from her own life—and can’t figure out why her intuition tells her the guy she’s tailing is one of the good ones when she hasn’t trusted a man in years. For these three women, as well as half a dozen others in sparkling supporting roles—a young model fresh from rural Georgia, a diva Hollywood star making her Broadway debut, an overachieving, unemployed Brown grad who starts faking a fabulous life on social media, to name just a few—everything is about to change, thanks to the dress of the season, the perfect little black number everyone wants to get their hands on…

Be sure to check out the other stops on the tour!

UNCOVERED INTERVIEWS: Lucy Woodhull

Joining us this week is Lucy Woodhull, author of the wonderfully funny novel, 667 Ways to F*ck Up My Life. It's a witty, hilarious novel about twenty-something Dag, whose life takes a strange turn when she swaps her overly-responsible life for a series of fuck-ups.

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Goody-two-shoes
Uh oh:  jerks
Middle finger
Fuck up yay!
Uh oh:  again
WIN!

What inspired you to write 667 Ways to Fuck Up My Life?
Both my BFF and I have had some hard times beyond our control on and off in the last five years or so, and we would often observe that the more horrible the person, the more they seemed to win.  Assholes finish first, right?  We'd joke around that, in order to improve our luck, we ought to trip a puppy or something.  Now, of course, we would never!  We are very pro-puppy.  But it was kinda funny to think about just...giving up.  Not trying anymore to be perfect and good and responsible, because bad shit happens anyway.  That's where the book came from--the question of what would happen when a nice lady flips the finger at life?  It was very fun to execute, bwahahahaha! (<-- evil laugh)

Where do you do most of your writing?
On the couch at home.  My husband jokes that I will, some day, sink into the cushions, never to be seen again.  But I do take walks and stuff.  Does to the fridge count?

What is your favourite book?
A Room With a View by E. M. Forster.  It's got love, humor, satire, sexy Italians, wayward old ladies--anything you could ask for!  In fact, there are two chapter titles in 667 Ways to F*ck Up My Life that are Easter eggs for any A Room With a View fan.

Which part of 667 Ways to Fuck Up My Life did you enjoy writing the most?
(mild spoiler) I think the scene in which Dagmar gains success and revenge on her jerk ex-boss held the most fantasy fulfillment for me.  Everyone has that one boss you'd love to give what for.  The second most would be when she tried to seduce Hunter the Broista.  I've worn pleather.  It's not okay.

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
Amelia Peabody!  "Another shirt ruined!"  Fans of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series will get that--she's a Victorian Feminist Egyptologist with a seriously hot, also Feminist, husband.  They solve mysteries and hunt for treasures and are generally awesome.  I think Amelia taught me to expect a lot from a spouse--to expect true respect, without which, there cannot be real love.  I credit Elizabeth Peters for teaching me to hold out for my own amazing husband!  She was a fascinating woman in her own right, and I cried when she passed in the last couple of years.  I urge anyone to read these books--they're fun and funny!

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
I say write first and foremost.  Find your voice, find the stories that make you dance with glee to get onto paper.  Do a bunch of that, and then learn the "rules" of writing.  I think establishing what make you the unique and amazing writer you are is the most important thing, because the business and the rules will kinda try to beat that out of you.  The marketplace can be narrow.  But the more you know yourself and your own style, the more you'll be able to take some advice and leave the rest.  I've been told by more than one authority that I'm too weird, I'm too funny (I don't think they meant it in the nice way!), and I'm too different.  And that may be so.  But damn it, I'm me, and it only took one yes to set me on my path.  If you love who you are and what you write, then a thousand no's cannot take that joy away from you.  All you can control is the work, so love it.  Love yourself and advocate for yourself as you grow and learn...and the yes-es will follow!

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
This winter, I plan to release Super Forty, the tale of a forty-year-old divorced, barren, and penniless superheroine!  She lives with her parents, and wears sensible shoes and pajamas as her super outfit.  I am SO excited to release this book!  I got a little waylaid by buying a house (whee!!), but as soon as the literal dust settles, I'm going to finish editing and release it.  The theme of all my books boils down to wanting women to realize that we're all freaking superheroines, no matter how many lemons we've had pelted at our heads.  Super Forty is the book of my heart, and I can't wait for Shannon, the world's unlikeliest superheroine, to make her debut.  Her special power will make you laugh, I guarantee it.

Thanks, Lucy!

You can find out more about Lucy at her website, Facebook, or by following her on Twitter.

667 Ways to F*ck Up My Life by Lucy Woodhull

Twenty-something Dag has always been the ‘perfect’ woman. Responsible, honest to a fault, hard-working. Even her bras are no-nonsense. And for what? Her boyfriend dumps her for being boring, and her boss fires her for not sucking on his nether regions to get promoted. What’s a perfectionist overachiever to do? A complete one-eighty.

To heck with rules—Dag orchestrates a spectacular fall from grace by ruining her life exactly six-hundred-sixty-six times, and finally has a little naughty fun. Some scandalous Spandex and a few bar lies later, tame little Dagmar becomes Giselle, ballsy siren.

The wild thing is…it works! Dag gets a better job and meets the sexiest man she’s ever known. Well, Giselle meets him. Dagmar doesn’t exist. Except that she does, and her escapades just became a ticking time bomb, one that might blow her heart to smithereens.

Join Dag for her irresistible and hilarious fuck-ups, because every good girl needs to inject a little bad girl sizzle into her veins.

UNCOVERED INTERVIEWS: Penelope Jacobs

Playing FTSE is the new novel by Penelope Jacobs, in which a young graduate navigates work and relationships in her new life in the City. Penelope has stopped by for this week's Q&A to discuss her novel, her heroine Melanie and some useful writing advice...

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Ambition, friendship and sex. A brilliant but deeply-flawed woman makes it in the City.

What inspired you to write Playing FTSE?
I met many of my female friends during my early years in the City. The work was demanding, but we always had fun on weekends discussing our romantic lives. In such a male-dominated environment, there were endless amusing anecdotes about our male colleagues and office affairs. I wanted to capture the atmosphere of the City in my twenties. Although we worked under a great deal of pressure, we also enjoyed high-octane fun. My novel is fictional, but it is inspired by many true events.

Where do you do most of your writing?
I squeeze in my writing whenever I can. Mostly I work from home, in between school runs. This tends to be in short bursts during the morning and early afternoon. I hardly ever write in the evening, as I find it impossible to concentrate at night time. The school holidays are a write-off, as my children don’t understand the concept of space!

What is your favourite book?
My all-time favourite novel is “Love in the Time of Cholera” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. A brilliant author, I only wish I could read it in his native language Spanish. The book delves into the madness of enduring love and the depths to which a person can fall. It is a story of delusion, despair and optimism, which manages also to be highly entertaining. If you have ever suffered unrequited love, this is a poignant novel to read.  

Which part of  Playing FTSE did you enjoy writing the most?
I wanted to create a flawed character, who is both a victim and a villain. It was an exciting challenge to mould this brilliant but romantically idiotic woman.  The dialogue with her best friend was fun to write and helped explain her dilemmas, but I also thoroughly enjoyed the prose, where I was able to immerse myself more fully into her inner thoughts.

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
I have just finished reading two books by Elena Ferrante. My Brilliant Friend and The Story of a New Name. The novels follow the lives of two young girls in Naples, through the eyes of Lena. A fascinating study of friendship, rivalry and love. I was gripped by the dynamic of their complex relationship and I can’t wait to read the next two books in the series.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Remember that your friends and family are not the best critics. The most helpful feedback I received was from an entirely independent editor. Her comments were hard-hitting but definitely forced me into making some significant changes to the storyline.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
I am working on the sequel to Playing FTSE. My heroine is now in her thirties and has to face a series of new challenges in her romantic life and working career.

Thanks, Penelope!

You can find out more about Penelope Jacobs on her website, or by following her on Twitter.

Playing FTSE by Penelope Jacobs

When Melanie Collins joins an investment bank as a young graduate, she quickly discovers that femininity is an invaluable asset. But it must not be abused. She witnesses other women falling victim to office affairs and is determined to be taken seriously. In an industry where abilities are rewarded handsomely, she rises rapidly through the ranks. But her increased profile attracts the attention of a senior colleague and she is ill equipped to handle his advances. Balancing a demanding job with a confusing personal life proves difficult and soon their relationship threatens to jeopardise her career. As events move beyond control, her glamorous world becomes tainted by betrayal and bitterness. Set against London's financial markets, 'Playing FTSE' explores the dynamic of ambition, friendship and love in the City. A woman can reach the top, but at what price?

UNCOVERED INTERVIEWS: Carol Wyer

Carol Wyer's new book Take a Chance on Me is released today, and it's a fantastic read! The novel focuses on Charlie who, after finding herself single and feeling low, embarks on a life to-do list with the help of her friends. Carol has stopped by for a Q&A about the novel, the inspiration behind it, and what she's up to next...

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Charlie’s lost her zest for life but a crazy ‘Carpe Diem’ list will transform it.

What inspired you to write Take A Chance On Me?
In my late teens I spent thirteen weeks in hospital thanks to spinal difficulties. Hospital radio was the only thing that kept me sane at the time as I was flat on my back, unable to move. That gave me the kernel of an idea for the setting of the book.

The story is one of loss, love, and friendship, and of course, about seizing the moment.

After major surgery on my spine and again in my twenties, I was told I would always have problems, especially as I aged. I made a conscious decision to live my life just as I wanted – I have quad biked up mountain paths, driven a 4X4 over glaciers in Iceland, learned to kick box, flown helicopters, scuba dived and dived with sharks, and much more and although my spine is degenerating badly now and I can’t move or walk very easily, I have the knowledge that I managed to do and enjoy many things in life. I wanted to share that message that no matter how bad life seems you can make it better.

Where do you do most of your writing?
Either in what I call my garret, which is a room in my house with no windows, only a skylight. That way I don’t get distracted by the view or what is happening outside. I chew through endless packets of sweets and type. However, I also write in the garden of a little gite—a pigeonier—part of a small working farm, in France. We go there every year. It is in the middle of nowhere and is where I plan and write my plots by hand in a notebook. Yes, I write it all out in pencil first!

What is your favourite book? 
Candide by Voltaire. I studied it at Uni and it is the reason I write humour today.

Which part of Take A Chance On Me did you enjoy writing the most?
That’s a difficult question as I enjoyed writing it all but the scenes where Charlie does her challenges were the most fun, especially as I had to do the challenges myself to get a feel of them. The bellydancing scene was a laugh to do and I love some of the dialogue with Mercedes. I really liked her character. She has some great lines.

Who is your favourite literary heroine? 
I am a fan of Janet Evanovich’s books so it has to be Stephanie Plum, a female bounty hunter who’s a spunky combination of Nancy Drew and Dirty Harry.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
You need tenacity, patience and good luck. Don’t be in a hurry to get your work published. It is understandable that once you type “the end” you will want to see your book in print but you have work to do before that happens. Make sure a professional edits it and get beta readers to offer you suggestions before you submit. It will take months to get responses from publishers or agents so use that time to build up a social media profile or write your next book…then cross your fingers. Don’t give up!

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
Following a compilation of short stories that look at the “darker” side of love, called Love Hurts, I am embarking on a series of thrillers for Bookouture. I absolutely love writing them even though I manage to scare myself with what I write! The first will be published next January.

Thanks, Carol!

You can find out more about Carol Wyer and her novels at her website, Twitter and Facebook. She is also a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association.

Take a Chance on Me by Carol Wyer

When Charlie’s husband leaves after ten years of marriage, her spirits hit an all-time low. She just isn’t sure how to pick herself up again. So, best friend Mercedes makes it her mission to put a spring back in Charlie’s step with the perfect bucket list. 

As Charlie takes a chance and bungee jumps and belly dances her way through an array of adventures, her love life also begins to look up and she’s soon enjoying a few dates as a newly single woman. She begins to realise that finding romance, might not be so hard, especially when you’ve got someone like journalist Jake who has an adorable little boy and is very easy on the eye. 

But is Jake too good to be true? As Charlie’s challenges on the bucket list get bigger, so do her questions about Jake. Should she continue to hold out for the fairy-tale? Or should she take a chance on Jake and hope for a happy ending? 

UNCOVERED INTERVIEWS: Lisa Marie Latino

This week Lisa Marie Latino joins us for the weekly Q&A! Lisa is the author of new novel Ten Years Later, in which a young woman receives an invite to her ten-year high school reunion and is encouraged to make some life decisions. Ten Years Later is released on October 4th.

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Full of humor and surprising twists, Ten Years Later is the story of a daring young woman who decides to risk it all in pursuit of her dreams.

What inspired you to write Ten Years Later?
The year before my own ten year high school reunion, I was was hit with my own bouts of self-doubt.  However, as I opened up to others about my frustrations I realized that nearly everyone, no matter their age/sex/race/circumstance, was dealing with visions of what their life SHOULD be versus reality.  That theme really inspired me, and since I've always wanted to write a book anyway, I channeled that angst into TYL.  It was cool because as Carla was learning along the way, so was I, and I think everyone who reads it will learn something too!

Where do you do most of your writing?
When I journal, I can do it just about anywhere- my bedroom, office, even in the "Notes" section of my phone.  However, writing a book is an entirely different animal.  I had to close myself off from the world and immerse myself in my fictional world with no distractions-- very hard to do in today's world!  So what I did was tell everyone (family, friends, business associates) that I was going away on business (which wasn't entirely a lie!) and got a hotel room, like, around the corner from my house. For four or five days, all I would do literally do was write.  I did this five times over the course of a year and a half until the manuscript was done.

What is your favourite book?
There are way too many to name.  I love so much in the "chick lit" genre, but I also love autobiographies, especially in the sports world.

Which part of Ten Years Later did you enjoy writing the most?
I had the time of my life writing Ten Years Later, so I truly love every part.  My favorite "scene" has to be the New Year's Eve party.  Against a glitzy New York City backdrop, Carla was forced to confront a couple of her foes and, in the process, came into her own.  It was a major turning point for the character as well as the book.  It reads as a mini-movie and I smile every time I go back to read it.  

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
Carrie Bradshaw (but isn't she everyone's?) Charlize "Charlie" Edwards from A Total Waste of Makeup is a cool chick too.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Just do it!  If you have an idea that you are crazy passionate about, carve out some time and put pen to paper (or fingers to keys, whatever your preference!)

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
Between the promotion of my debut novel, Ten Years Later, my production company and the online show we produce, Hip New Jersey, I am plenty busy.  After the dust settles down with TYL I definitely want to write another one but maybe in a "darker" voice.  Stay tuned!

Thanks, Lisa!

Ten Years Later by Lisa Marie Latino
When New Jersey-based sports radio producer Carla D'Agostino receives a save-the-date for her ten-year high school reunion, she is thrown into a tailspin. She is miserably single, living at home with her old-school Italian-American family, and miles away from her dream job as a sports talk radio host. She voices her discontent to her closest friends, the stunning Andrea, cheerful Katie, and playboy Dante, and they encourage Carla to stand up and fight for the life she wants. Inspired by their words, Carla sets her plans in motion. She enlists the help of a personal trainer, tapes a sports commentary demo with Dante for her unconventional WSPS boss Dan, and gets back into the dating game for the first time since her heart was broken by her first love. But the universe has different ideas for Carla than she has for herself, and she suffers setback after setback: Dan gives the afternoon host position to a Los Angeles import, and, worse yet, offers Dante a gig, which he accepts, much to Carla's hurt and dismay. More determined than ever, Carla continues to throw herself at life with gusto, and a series of surprises, both good and bad, lead her straight into the arms of a love that never really left. 

UNCOVERED INTERVIEWS: Cathy Bramley

Cathy Bramley is a bestselling romantic comedy author who has brought us Ivy Lane, Wickham Hall and Unconditional Love. Her latest book, The Plumberry School of Comfort Food, is out now. Cathy joins us for today's Q&A to share more about her writing, inspiration, and tips.

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Verity regains her passion for life at the cookery school by learning to love again.

What inspired you to write The Plumberry School of Comfort Food?
A good friend of mine, Lucy, owns a cookery school called LucyCooks in the Lake District. It is a wonderful place to spend time, very good for the soul. I first went there ten years ago and when I became a writer, I knew it would be a great place to set a book.

Where do you do most of your writing?
I have an office in my house, where I and my dog Pearl spend most of our time. But when the family are at home and I need to concentrate, I go to the top of the garden to the treehouse and type amongst the damson trees.

What is your favourite book?
I don’t think I have a favourite book, but I've never read a book by Marian Keyes which I didn’t totally adore.

Which part of The Plumberry School of Comfort Food did you enjoy writing the most?
I write most of my novels in four parts, which are released individually digitally. I love writing like this because in my head each part is like an episode of a TV series. Usually a part has around ten chapters and the last two are always very exciting to write because I’m working up to a climax. I guess in The Plumberry School of Comfort Food I liked writing the section where the TV crew comes to Plumberry – that was great fun.

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
I’d probably say Marian Keyes’ Mammy Walsh. Elizabeth Bennet is a bit of a star, I also like Miss Marple and George from The Famous Five.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Good writing is about practice, so don’t expect it to be brilliant first time, or even second time for that matter. Read good books and try and work out what is good about them. But most of all, write, write, write.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
I’m always working on something! I've just finished my Christmas novella Comfort and Joy, out in October, I’m editing The Lemon Tree Café, part one will be out in March and I’ve just sent back the copy-edits for White Lies and Wishes, out in January (this one won’t be serialised). And my head is starting to form a new idea for the next one…

Thanks, Cathy!

You can find out more about Cathy on her website and Twitter.

The Plumberry School of Comfort Food by Cathy Bramley

Verity Bloom hasn't been interested in cooking anything more complicated than the perfect fish finger sandwich, ever since she lost her best friend and baking companion two years ago.

But an opportunity to help a friend lands her right back in the heart of the kitchen. The Plumberry School of Comfort Food is due to open in a few weeks' time and needs the kind of great ideas that only Verity could cook up. And with new friendships bubbling and a sprinkling of romance in the mix, Verity finally begins to feel like she's home.

But when tragedy strikes at the very heart of the cookery school, can Verity find the magic ingredient for Plumberry while still writing her own recipe for happiness?

UNCOVERED INTERVIEWS: Zara Stoneley

 The Holiday Swap is the new novel by Zara Stoneley, in which two women are led to spend the festive season away from their very different lives. Zara joins us for the weekly Q&A to share more about her writing.

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Buzzy Barcelona or cosy Cheshire? Plan your perfect escape this Christmas!

What inspired you to write The Holiday Swap? 
I was initially inspired by one of my favourite Christmas films - 'The Holiday'. I love the idea of swapping homes (and lives) with somebody. There are two places that are very special to me - the UK countryside, and glamorous Barcelona - they're very different places at Christmas, both magical in their own way, and so I couldn't resist the idea of writing a book set in both locations.

Where do you do most of your writing? 
If I'm in the UK I love to sit at my kitchen table (unless it's nice enough to sit outside) as it's lovely and light and I can gaze at the garden when I need inspiration. If I'm in Barcelona I do lots of scribbling ideas down on the beach, but I do the actual writing in the apartment with the doors open - I can hear the gentle buzz of chatter outside, and quite often there are buskers to listen to which I love.

What is your favourite book? 
There are so many brilliant books it's hard to name a favourite. The best book I've read recently has to be 'Me Before You' - it's quite different to the type of book I normally read these days, because I like something light and funny, but I really enjoyed it. It's impossible to name an all time favourite though - I'd need to give you a top ten!

Which part of The Holiday Swap did you enjoy writing the most?
Now that is a really difficult question to answer! I loved writing about the really cosy side of Christmas in the UK, snow and roaring fires, but I also really enjoyed writing about buzzy Barcelona! I suppose if I really had to single one bit out, it has to be the very last chapter, in Barcelona on New Year's eve... and a very special ending that caught even me by surprise!

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
Bridget Jones. Does she qualify as 'literary'? She might not be a role model in the way somebody like Elizabeth Bennet might be (is she the modern day equivalent?), but I can relate to her, and she makes me laugh, cry and hope that things will work out.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Find your voice - once you find your writing style, and the stories you really love writing then things will start to fall into place. I think the hardest part of writing is patience, and not expecting too much too soon - take your time, read lots of different authors and keep writing until you hit your stride. And write the story that you want to tell, in your own way - publishers aren't looking for copycats, they want unique voices that can put a new spin on old themes.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
I can't say much at the moment, but it does involve an absolutely gorgeous little village (even more lovely than Tippermere - I never, ever thought I'd say that!), a hunky vet, and a school teacher who thinks she's a city girl at heart but might be about to find out she's wrong!

Thanks, Zara!

You can find out more about Zara at her website, Twitter, Facebook and Amazon.

The Holiday Swap by Zara Stoneley

Two women, two very different lives – one perfect solution to a Christmas holiday fraught with potential pitfalls.

Florence Cortes has the perfect life – an apartment in the trendiest district of Barcelona, a job she loves and a boyfriend who’s whisking her away on a romantic break to Paris to no doubt propose.
Only, he’s planning something far different, and Flo soon realises her life isn’t so perfect after all.
Home loving Daisy Fischer is perfectly happy in her idyllic home in the Cheshire countryside, with an on-off boyfriend who might be slightly dull but is totally dependable. Until he issues an ultimatum, and Daisy suddenly realises that there might be a whole different world out there that she’s missing out on.

Have Flo and Daisy come up with the perfect solution to escape festive heartbreak?

Can a snowbound Christmas in Cheshire – with aristocratic, handsome Hugo as her neighbour, a house full of animals and a leaking roof – help Flo mend her broken heart, and remind her of what she really wants in life?

Can a sunny break in beautiful Barcelona – with the dishy but brooding Javier, a never ending supply of cava, and a sea view to die for – prove to Daisy that playing safe isn’t always the answer?
Love actually does seem to be all around this Christmas – and in the places Flo and Daisy least expect to find it, but where will they be for New Year?

UNCOVERED INTERVIEWS: Allison Morgan

Allison Morgan, author of The Someday Jar, joins us this week for a Q&A about her new novel Can I See You Again, in which successful matchmaker Bree finds her own love life in trouble...

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
A matchmaker who’s an expert at matters of the heart—except when it comes to her own...

What inspired you to write Can I See You Again?
I thought it'd be fun to write about a secure, confident character who's thrown into a situation where's she's anything but confident or secure. I find as I grow older, my comfort zone is shrinking. So, I wanted to write about a woman who steps out (or is forced out) of her comfort zone. Sometimes we need to get out of our own way and enjoy life.

Where do you do most of your writing?
Hmmm...wherever and whenever. I'd be much more organized and efficient if I had a specific time and place for writing. But, life gets in the way. So, I write at the kitchen counter, on the couch, in bed...whenever and wherever I have the chance. The only thing consistent about my writing is there's always a cup of green tea nearby. And, Chips Ahoy (obviously).

What is your favourite book?
I have two: This I Believe. It's a lovely compilation from eighty people writing about their beliefs - political, religious, moral, family, you name it. The book made me think about my own beliefs and how I've come to them. I also enjoyed Humans of New York. Not only are the author's photographs captivating, but his subjects share their stories. It's inspiring to know we live among such truly remarkable individuals.

Which part of Can I See You Again did you enjoy writing the most?
The Tough Mudder scene was my favorite. A few years ago, I foolishly agreed to attempt a similar 12-mile obstacle course/run with a group of friends. It was torture. But, I have to admit, it was one of the funnest (and muddiest) things I've ever done. Not to mention, the well-deserved beer at the end tasted like heaven-in-a-cup. I enjoyed reliving that day when writing that particular chapter.

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
Honestly, I don't have a specific favorite, except to say I enjoy fun-loving, self-deprecating characters that don't take themselves or life too seriously. If a character can justify their actions, regardless how outlandish, then I'm hooked.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers? 
I know this is such a cliché, but do not give up. DO. NOT. GIVE. UP. Also, I found entering writing contests (listed toward the back of writer's magazines) very beneficial because the nominal entry fee typically includes first-impression feedback on the submission. So, for $10 or $20, an author can receive candid (and, sometimes harsh) comments. This objectivity helped clarify my weaknesses in my opening pages.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
I'm tossing a few ideas around with my agent. Nothing decided yet. Hopefully soon.

Thanks, Allison!

To find out more about Allison Morgan, you can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

Can I See You Again? by Allison Morgan
Matchmaker Bree Caxton has a 98% success rate, a book about to hit the stands, and an amazing boyfriend. Until, that is, he gets cold feet about their future and runs from their relationship.
Afraid no one will buy a book on love from a woman whose love life is a mess, Bree begs her one matchmaking failure, Nixon Voss, to pose as her boyfriend. But when they become a hit with readers, they must carry on their charade just a little longer. Fortunately, they’re both having fun...

But then Bree’s ex decides he wants her back and a newspaper presents a challenge that could expose the truth about her rocky love life. Now she must find the courage to embrace what is, or risk losing something much bigger than her reputation: her heart... 

UNCOVERED INTERVIEWS: Mary Jayne Baker

The Honey Trap by Mary Jayne Baker is released this week, in which a journalist is sent to do an expose on a famous, married movie director. Mary Jayne joins us this week to tell us more about the novel and the inspiration behind her writing.

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Romance blossoms between a journalist and the director she sets up. If Leveson did chicklit...

What inspired you to write The Honey Trap?
It was an ambition when I was younger, going back to schooldays even, that I could write a romantic novel, but after a couple of false starts I eventually lost confidence in my writing and abandoned the dream. Then a chance comment to my boss and his encouragement to give it another go made me decide to sit down and just do it, rather than regret it for the rest of my life. That was in October last year. Googling for writers' forums, I discovered the NaNoWriMo event just in time to take part. Their site turned out to be just what I needed to get over my confidence problems.

I'm not sure where the plot came from, except from wanting to write what I knew. I made Angel, the heroine, a journalist because I work in media in my day job, and I decided the hero, Seb, would be a talented film director because I just love film. In the story, Angel and Seb bond over a shared love of vintage movies, which are something I'm passionate about myself so I wanted them to share that.

Other elements of the plot came to me as I wrote - Seb's charity ReelKids, for example, which seemed to pop up out of nowhere. And then there's Groucho the cat, a fictional version of my cat Harpo in the hope he might stop pestering me if I let him be in the book (he didn't)!

One theme I really enjoyed exploring was press ethics, and Angel's struggle to make the right choices in her career. Her unprincipled boss Steve was probably my favourite character to write for, he's just so deliciously horrible.

Where do you do most of your writing?
I have quite a long commute so I do a lot on the train. I try to write 2000 words a day usually, although that doesn't always work out when day job deadlines loom. I write at home in the evenings often too, wearing my special writer's hat so my other half knows not to disturb!

What is your favourite book?
Wuthering Heights is my go-to book when I want cheering up - odd really as it's not a cheery book, but I love it so much. Plus it was written four miles from where I live, and us West Yorkshire lasses have to stick together...

I'm a big fan of Catch-22 as well, which I've read several times and am reading again at the moment. Harrowing but hilarious - not many books you can say that about!

Which part of The Honey Trap did you enjoy writing the most?
I loved writing the dialogue between characters. It was when they were talking I felt I really got to know them, and it gave them the chance to be quite witty too. I think my favourite parts were with Seb and Angel in the abandoned 1920s cinema he owns - lots of great dialogue where we find out more about them, and their classic film nights with a flirty twist were definitely wish fulfilment for me!

I thought I'd struggle with the more, er, racy scenes in the book (if my mum's reading, it's just tea and cake at the vicarage, I swear), and I did find it hard at first. But by the end of the story I was quite relaxed about them, found they flowed easily and were enjoyable to write. I loved getting the chance to show Seb and Angel in their most intimate moments, and how their relationship developed in that respect.

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
I like a defiant heroine who refuses to be dictated to or told what her place is. I've got a soft spot for anti-heroine Becky Sharp in Vanity Fair, despite all her bad deeds, because she plays the world instead of letting it play her. And I really liked Katniss is The Hunger Games, which I read recently, too. I think she's a complex character and a great role model for young girls.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Don't stop writing!

Someone on the NaNo forums gave me a great bit of advice, "push on into the white space". You can't edit nothing - just keep writing until you've got something to play with, and don't let confidence problems hold you back.

Secondly, don't skimp on the edit. If you can show agents and publishers something that isn't just a great story but polished enough to be almost submission-ready, that will help your chances no end.
A book I read after writing The Honey Trap was very useful in the edits, Self-editing for Fiction Writers. I've read it twice now and found it really helped me hone my style. No doubt there are lots of other great books on writing out there, but that's the one I keep by the bed.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
Don't know if I should but I will because I can never help talking about works in progress, I get too excited about them!

I've got two completed manuscripts I'm sitting on at the moment while I look for an agent. Both are romcoms set in my own lovely Yorkshire. The first is the story of a Yorkshire Dales pub quiz team, with the hero betting his best friend Clarrie a date that their team will win the quiz league. I love this story, the characters had me laughing out loud! The second is about two old schoolfriends who haven't seen each other in ten years, teaming up to renovate a broken-down Victorian lighthouse as an offbeat music venue. Of course, they soon find themselves falling in love...

I'm also about two-thirds through a draft tentatively titled Don't Fence Me In, about a runaway bride who hooks up with an Irish loner and his karaoke-singing dog to travel the country in a VW camper van. Watch this space!

If you'd like to follow me on Twitter you can find me at @MaryJayneBaker, and on Facebook at facebook.com/MaryJayneWrites. I also have a website, www.maryjaynebaker.co.uk

Thanks, Mary Jayne!

The Honey Trap by Mary Jayne Baker
The trap is set – but which one of them is the bait?

Journalist Angel Blackthorne is looking for her next big scoop. When her sleazy editor asks her to use her charms on super successful – and married – film director Sebastian Wilchester for a juicy exposé, Angel thinks what the hell? There’s a staff job on the horizon, and, let’s be honest, no one can make a cheater cheat if they don’t want to, right?

After the scandal breaks, Angel tries to put the story – and Seb – behind her, but fate seems to have other ideas. A near miss at a premiere after-party and a shared love of vintage film brings the honey closer to the trap.

But what happens when pretence leads to passion, and a ‘kiss and tell’ becomes something real?

BLOG TOUR: Danielle F White

Danielle F White joins us today for a Q&A as part of her blog tour for new novel Coco Chanel Saved My Life, which was released on Monday...

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
Rebecca, thanks to Coco Chanel discovers that a fabulous life is not all about love.

What inspired you to write Coco Chanel Saved My Life?
I read a biography of Coco Chanel at a time when I suffered desperately for love and I began to realise that what was missing from my life was not a man but a bigger dream. So I invented Rebecca, a girl very different from me, but ready with her tweed sheath dresses to become a great woman.

Where do you do most of your writing?
I write at my desk at home at night. I'm not very comfortable in sharing my workplace with others, especially because I need complete silence to work.

What is your favourite book?
"Too Loud a Solitude" by Bohumil Hrabal. It's been my favourite since I was a little girl. I’ve read it at least 10 times.

Which part of Coco Chanel Saved My Life did you enjoy writing the most?
I really enjoyed writing the dialogues. I think they are the most fun part. And I also loved writing all of the biographic notes about Coco Chanel. There are so many things to tell about her unbelievable life.

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
Jo March, of course!

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Read a lot, write a lot and find someone you trust to edit your work (editing is really important!).

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
I just finished a new novel that will be published in Italy in September. And for the UK readers...well, the story of Rebecca/Coco may continue...

Thanks, Danielle!

Be sure to check out the rest of the stops on Danielle's blog tour below.

Coco Chanel Saved my Life by Danielle F White
Rebecca is thirty-three years old, has a wardrobe full of tweed trouser suits and a boundless passion for the splendid Coco Chanel.

She is romantic, dreamy, and madly in love with Niccolò, whom she is about to join in Milan. On arrival, Niccolò confesses to have fallen in love with another woman.

After spending several days confined in her flat, Rebecca plunges herself into the intense Milanese social life with the stylishness of her heroine.

Will Rebecca remain an eternal Mademoiselle, like the ageless Coco? Or does destiny have an unexpected surprise in store for her?

UNCOVERED INTERVIEWS: Julia Wilmot

Julia Wilmot's novel, Where Is Emma Butler's Life Plan?, is a chick-lit story with a spiritual twist, in which a guardian is tasked in helping Emma complete her life's tasks. Julia joined us for the weekly Q&A to find out more!

Tell us about your latest novel in 15 words or less.
It’s chick lit with a spiritual twist. Angels get involved with humorous consequences. God Watches!

What inspired you to write Where is Emma Butler's Life Plan?
I really wanted to explore spiritual ideas in a very easily accessible way and this story allowed me to cover many different ideas that I had. I love the idea that we have guardian angels helping us make progress in our lives but I also enjoyed injecting a bit of humour into the concept.

Where do you do most of your writing?
I’m very lucky that I have a study at home where I do my writing. But occasionally I will decamp to a local coffee shop with my computer if I need a change of scene. Then I eavesdrop on people’s conversations and make notes!

What is your favourite book?
Oh that’s a really tough one. There are so many books that I love. I suppose one that stays with me is “Love in the time of Cholera’ by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. But more recently I really loved ‘The Hundred Year-Old Man who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared' by Jonas Jonasson.

Which part of Where is Emma Butler's Life Plan did you enjoy writing the most?
Although they are quite brief, the bits I really loved writing the most were God’s insights at the end of each chapter. I hope I didn't do him a disservice.

Who is your favourite literary heroine?
Someone who I love to come back to time and time again is Mma Ramotswe from the Alexander McCall Smith series of The No1 Ladies’ Detective Agency books. She is sensible, clever and the style of the writing is delightful.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published writers?
Well, I self-published and I’m really enjoying having the control over my book. I instructed a professional cover designer and loved what he came up with and I am enjoying working on promoting my book. I think a very important thing to remember in all this, whether it’s your editor, designer or just your friends' feedback - at the end of the day it is all just one person’s opinion and if you really feel strongly about something you should stick to your guns.

Are you working on anything else at the moment and if so, can you tell us?
(Also, if you have any website/Twitter links that you wish to be included, please add these.)
I am currently working on my second book. It is still early days and also has a spiritual aspect to it, but it’s not a sequel. I write a regular blog at justjulias.com on spiritual matters, inspiring stories, random thoughts, natural living, theatre and books.

Thanks, Julia!

You can find out more about Julia Wilmot and her books over at her blog.

Where Is Emma Butler's Life Plan? by Julia Wilmot
Emma Butler doesn’t know it but she is about to get bit more angelic help than she was banking on. Someone has messed up, or have they? It appears that Emma is about to be ‘recalled’ to heaven but has completed none of the tasks she had set herself for this life time. They must be completed before she is recalled and time is running out. Arch Angel Gregory decides to take over. He will be her Guardian Angel to ensure it all gets done. There’s a lot to do and a very short time to do it in. Gregory is determined that it will all be completed by hook or by crook. But where does that leave free will and what about Jack who has been chosen to be Emma’s love interest? How will this impact him? Jack and Emma have no idea what is going on, but it’s not going to be plain sailing.