When did you first start reading Chick Lit?
It’s been a style I’ve read since I was in my teens but I did have a good few years when I didn’t read at all! Sophie Kinsella’s Confessions of a Shopaholic got me back into it and I haven’t stopped since!
When did you first start writing Chick Lit?
I wrote my first novel, Excess All Areas, on maternity leave from having my first daughter in 2005. I didn’t take to motherhood particularly well, so when baby was asleep I grabbed pen and paper and started writing – something I’d done since childhood. It was pure escapism! Here I was at home, surrounded by washing and sick-stained baby clothes, but virtually I was jetting off to Corfu to spend time with a Hollywood heartthrob!
What is it about this genre that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres? If so, which?
Chick Lit has really grown as a genre! For me it’s just another term for fiction for women. The style is usually uncomplicated, it’s current and spiced with humour. Anything that you can really relate to, but at the same time something that takes you out of your own life and puts you in someone else’s shoes for a while is a happy read!
I do read other genres. Since being traditionally published I’ve tried to read as many authors from the same publishing house as they launch. I love Sapphire Star’s crime and detective writer, Gary Kassay and his Duke Becker series.
Name one of your favourite Chick Lit books?
I can’t nail it down to one! I love Jane Costello’s books and a Talli Roland novel always makes me turn the pages!
What's the title of your latest book? Can you tell us about it?
It’s been a style I’ve read since I was in my teens but I did have a good few years when I didn’t read at all! Sophie Kinsella’s Confessions of a Shopaholic got me back into it and I haven’t stopped since!
When did you first start writing Chick Lit?
I wrote my first novel, Excess All Areas, on maternity leave from having my first daughter in 2005. I didn’t take to motherhood particularly well, so when baby was asleep I grabbed pen and paper and started writing – something I’d done since childhood. It was pure escapism! Here I was at home, surrounded by washing and sick-stained baby clothes, but virtually I was jetting off to Corfu to spend time with a Hollywood heartthrob!
What is it about this genre that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres? If so, which?
Chick Lit has really grown as a genre! For me it’s just another term for fiction for women. The style is usually uncomplicated, it’s current and spiced with humour. Anything that you can really relate to, but at the same time something that takes you out of your own life and puts you in someone else’s shoes for a while is a happy read!
I do read other genres. Since being traditionally published I’ve tried to read as many authors from the same publishing house as they launch. I love Sapphire Star’s crime and detective writer, Gary Kassay and his Duke Becker series.
Name one of your favourite Chick Lit books?
I can’t nail it down to one! I love Jane Costello’s books and a Talli Roland novel always makes me turn the pages!
What's the title of your latest book? Can you tell us about it?
My latest novel is with Harper Collins’ romance imprint, Harper Impulse. It’s called Do You Remember? and tells the story of French footballer Guy Duval and school teacher Emma Barron. It’s actually a multi-layer book because the novel starts off in France when the pair meet while Emma is holidaying at the campsite Guy works at. As the book moves to present day it’s interspersed with chapters from 2005 showing the love affair the two characters had as teenagers. It’s a book I’m really proud of. There are quite a lot of twists and turns and secrets but it wouldn’t be a Mandy Baggot novel if there wasn’t!
What inspired you to write it?
I really don’t know! I started writing it back in 2011 and in fact I entered the first chapters into the Festival of Romance New Talent award and got nowhere! LOL! It was then put to one side, not because I’d lost faith in it but because another idea was crying out to be written after a trip to America – my novel Taking Charge! When I returned to it the story shaped itself very quickly into the epic romance it’s turned out to be.
Is it part of a series?
No. It’s a stand-alone book. I only have two books that are series linked – Excess All Areas and Public Property. I prefer to write stand alone books.
Who designs your covers?
Now I’m with Harper Impulse it’s the lovely Alexandra Allden! Before that, when I was self-published, it was the very talented Jane Dixon-Smith who created Brand Baggot with those silhouettes!
If your book was made into a film, who would you cast?
What inspired you to write it?
I really don’t know! I started writing it back in 2011 and in fact I entered the first chapters into the Festival of Romance New Talent award and got nowhere! LOL! It was then put to one side, not because I’d lost faith in it but because another idea was crying out to be written after a trip to America – my novel Taking Charge! When I returned to it the story shaped itself very quickly into the epic romance it’s turned out to be.
Is it part of a series?
No. It’s a stand-alone book. I only have two books that are series linked – Excess All Areas and Public Property. I prefer to write stand alone books.
Who designs your covers?
Now I’m with Harper Impulse it’s the lovely Alexandra Allden! Before that, when I was self-published, it was the very talented Jane Dixon-Smith who created Brand Baggot with those silhouettes!
If your book was made into a film, who would you cast?
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| Mandy's latest hero! |
Oooo!! Well, a lot of people have imagined Guy Duval as David Ginola but I think he’s a little bit old to be the star of the film! I’ll have to go for Daniel Gilles to play Guy but he’d have to grow his hair a bit. I’ve been watching him in Saving Hope on Watch! For Emma – Rachel McAdams has the right look I think.
What's your favourite Chick Lit book that made it to the big screen?
I adored Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed on the big screen! Colin Egglesfield was pretty yum in that film!
Who would play you in a movie about your life?
LOL absolutely 100% Drew Barrymore. Fun, spunky, sexy, curvy, tough...think she'd make a great Lady B!
Speed Round...
Top drink to make you tipsy? WINE!
Shopaholic or shopadon't? Shopaholic – but on the computer not actually in store!
Sky high heels or closer to the ground? Closer to the ground – see WINE above
E.L. James or Jilly Cooper? Jilly Cooper
Cry baby or tough cookie? Tough cookie!
Mandy Baggot is a romantic fiction author. In 2012 she won the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK’s Festival of Romance. Her self-published title, Strings Attached was also short-listed for the Best Author Published Read award.
Also in 2012 she signed with American publishing house, Sapphire Star Publishing, who produced her novels, Taking Charge and romantic suspense, Security.
In June 2013 she signed a two book deal with Harper Collins' digital first romance imprint, Harper Impulse.
She is a regular contributor to writing blogs and on-line magazine, Loveahappyending Lifestyle http://www.loveahappyending.com/.
Mandy loves mashed potato, white wine, country music, World’s Strongest Man, travel and handbags. She has appeared on ITV1’s Who Dares Sings and auditioned for The X-Factor.
Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband, two daughters and cats, Kravitz and Springsteen.
Website: www.mandybaggot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mandybaggot
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandy.baggot
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2968625.Mandy_Baggot
Loveahappyending Bookshelf: http://loveahappyending.org/mandy-baggot/
Sapphire Star Publishing: http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/mandybaggot
Harper Impulse: http://ow.ly/mAQBP
What's your favourite Chick Lit book that made it to the big screen?
I adored Emily Giffin’s Something Borrowed on the big screen! Colin Egglesfield was pretty yum in that film!
Who would play you in a movie about your life?
Speed Round...
Top drink to make you tipsy? WINE!
Shopaholic or shopadon't? Shopaholic – but on the computer not actually in store!
Sky high heels or closer to the ground? Closer to the ground – see WINE above
E.L. James or Jilly Cooper? Jilly Cooper
Cry baby or tough cookie? Tough cookie!
Mandy Baggot is a romantic fiction author. In 2012 she won the Innovation in Romantic Fiction award at the UK’s Festival of Romance. Her self-published title, Strings Attached was also short-listed for the Best Author Published Read award.
Also in 2012 she signed with American publishing house, Sapphire Star Publishing, who produced her novels, Taking Charge and romantic suspense, Security.
In June 2013 she signed a two book deal with Harper Collins' digital first romance imprint, Harper Impulse.
She is a regular contributor to writing blogs and on-line magazine, Loveahappyending Lifestyle http://www.loveahappyending.com/.
Mandy loves mashed potato, white wine, country music, World’s Strongest Man, travel and handbags. She has appeared on ITV1’s Who Dares Sings and auditioned for The X-Factor.
Mandy is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and lives near Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK with her husband, two daughters and cats, Kravitz and Springsteen.
Website: www.mandybaggot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mandybaggot
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandy.baggot
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2968625.Mandy_Baggot
Loveahappyending Bookshelf: http://loveahappyending.org/mandy-baggot/
Sapphire Star Publishing: http://www.sapphirestarpublishing.com/mandybaggot
Harper Impulse: http://ow.ly/mAQBP
Thank you for having me on your fantastic new blog, Suzy! Loved all those questions!
ReplyDeleteMandy x
It was an absolute pleasure, Mandy! You're always welcome over here. Be sure to keep me posted about your latest exploits (perhaps I should have put literary exploits LOL) xx
ReplyDeleteLove this fun interview and Lady B answers always make me smile! Drew Barrymore would have a lot to live up to - lol!!
ReplyDeleteJanice xx
She certainly would, Janice! Thanks for stopping bu :D xx
ReplyDelete