Character interview from Amanda Egan's latest book!

I'm absolutely delighted to have an interview with the one and only Tabby from Amanda Egan's latest book, Tabby & Kat...

What's your full name? Do you love it? Or hate it?
My full name is Tabitha and I hate it. Mum and Dad are artists so they chose pretty daft names. I have a sister called Ophelia and a brother called Tadge - enough said?! Please call me Tabby, all my friends do and I prefer it. Tabitha makes me feel like a kid being told off.

Who is your best friend?
I have two best friends, Polly and Adam. We met at uni and have lived together ever since. Well, until now, that is. Poll's off to get married and pop out a sprog so Adam and I are looking for a replacement housemate. Although, he'd like to share with just me - that's a whole other story!

What do you do for a living? And what's your dream job?
I work in my friend Mims' trendy gift shop but my dream is to make money painting watercolours. I manage to sell a few through the shop but not enough to feed me or keep a roof over my head, so I have to keep on with the shop work. It's cool though as Mims and I have a good laugh together and she's really not like a boss at all.

Are you single/married/divorced/looking for love?
I'm single at the moment as I just split up with 'Codface Callum' - that was my first attempt at a relationship with a 'Mr Nice Guy' and it didn't work out. Soooo boring! I go for the bad guys - not that it does me much good.

Name one of your all-time favourite books?
I love massive art books on my coffee table - you know, the ones you can pick up and lose yourself in for an hour or two.

What inspires you?
My grandmother, Elsie. She's in her eighties but is so full of life and glamourous. She lives in the South of France now and there's nothing I like more than popping over for a visit and sipping cocktails with her as she helps me to sort my life out.

Where is your favourite place in the world?
If we're talking about my favourite place by the end of my story, then it would have to be in my giant bed with ... now that would be telling!

Favourite movie?
I have a bit of a thing for 'Carry On' films! They bring back happy memories of a Christmas spent with Adam and his brother James.

Favourite author?
Jilly Cooper - I love a giggle and I have to get a bit of romance in my life somehow.

If you could have a dinner party with anyone in the world (alive or dead, real or fictional), who would you choose and why?
Dr Dolittle! He'd have such great stories to tell. And he could maybe help me get over my fear of cats - are they really all evil?

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I have a talking parrot called Timothy. He has a foul beak - I blame Adam for that - but I love him with all my heart. He's a very funny little fellow.

Who would play you in the movie about your life?
I'm a fiery redhead! I think Isla Fisher would be perfect.

Tell us something interesting about where you live.
I live in Notting Hill - it's trendy, busy and vibrant. Scene for many a good romcom and famous for its annual carnival.

If you'd like to read the first chapter of my story, you can find it here. The novel is out TODAY!!

Amanda Egan's other works can be found on Amazon Uk and Amazon.com. Also in paperback at Lulu.
You can follow her on Twitter @mummy_misfit and on Facebook.

Character interview: Meg from Johnny's Girl by Paige Toon

I'm delighted to be interviewing Meg from Paige Toon's latest book, Johnny's Girl, OUT TOMORROW 7th November!!

What's your full name? Do you love it? Or hate it? 

Meg Stiles. I've never really had an opinion about it, to be honest, but I did love it when Johnny gave me the nickname, Nutmeg. There was something quite intimate about him doing that.

Who is your best friend? 

Bess. She's larger than life and lots of fun - we grew apart once but we're very close now. She was the one person I wanted to turn to when I found out about Johnny's secret daughter - and amazingly, she actually managed to cheer me up.

What do you do for a living? And what's your dream job? 

I love being a mum to my two boys, and even though it's not my job title anymore, even though he has an actual personal assistant, I think I'll always be Johnny Jefferson's PA. I look out for him and I always will.

Are you single/married/divorced/looking for love? 

I'm married to Johnny Jefferson, one-time bad boy rock star and the indisputable love of my life - but there was a time when I would have done anything to forget all about the bastard! Life has a funny way of working out...

Name one of your all-time favourite books? 

Feel: Robbie Williams, by a journalist called Chris Heath. I love Robbie and Take That. I prefer pop to rock music any day - sorry Johnny!

What inspires you? 

My husband inspires me. I know that sounds corny, but it's true. Even when he was in a really bad place with drink and drugs, his talent for music and creating a song shone through. I love watching him work, watching him lose himself in his lyrics and playing his guitar. I wish I could play like that.

Where is your favourite place in the world? 

Henley in the UK. It's the place we made our home, where we got married, where I fell pregnant with baby number two. When I'm not there, I miss it.

Favourite movie? 

Dirty Dancing, and not just because the hot lead male character is called Johnny!

Favourite author? 

Christian Pettersson. I have to be loyal to my friend and former boyfriend!

If you could have a dinner party with anyone in the world (alive or dead, real or fictional), who would you choose and why? 

Johnny, because I'd want him to share this with me, Michael Hutchence because he was one of the best rock stars of his time and even I cried when he died, Jim Morrison for Johnny because I know he loves him - as long as Jim didn't try to corrupt my man. And for me, Harry Styles and Tom Fletcher from McFly because Johnny hates that I love pop boys and it's fun making him jealous sometimes.

Tell us a random fact about yourself. 

I can flare my nostrils like a horse.

Who would play you in the movie about your life? 

Someone British with shoulder-length blonde hair and brown eyes. There used to be this girl in Home & Away who looked a bit like me - she was called Meg as well, but she's probably in her forties by now!

Tell us something interesting about where you live. 

The cicadas at night chirp really really loudly. At the moment we're in LA, but who knows where we'll be if you ever ask me again...

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Paige Toon was born in 1975 and grew up between England, Australia and America. A philosophy graduate, she worked at teen, film and women’s magazines, before ending up at Heat magazine as Reviews Editor. Paige is married, has two small children and lives in Cambridge.
Visit her website, or you can follow her on Twitter.