Say hello to the lovely Julie Shackman!

Do dreams ever inspire your writing? What did you last dream about?
Yes, they often do. The last dream I had, was about Bradley Cooper....We were in this gorgeous restaurant but it was a disaster! He kept laughing at me for being clumsy. I constantly spilt things and almost set fire to the table cloth! It could easily have been a chick lit novel scene. Smooth....!

When did you first start writing? And when were you first published?
I started writing when I was about nine. Little poems and stories mainly. I had several poems published in anthologies later on and then about 14 years ago, I had two childrens' picture books published. But it has always been chick lit/romance that I've wanted to write.

What is it about 'chick lit' that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres?
Chick lit is so diverse. I find the writing is warm, funny and emotional and the stories have such a wide range. I do read mainly romance and chick lit, as I love the genre so much, but I'm also partial to a bit of Jodi Picoult and Wilbur Smith.

Can you tell us a little about your latest book?

The spirit of Rock n’ Roll does exist…..and he’s “living” in Ruby Cameron’s new home!
Stevie Vee, an enigmatic local rock singer on the brink of fame, died in 1989 in mysterious circumstances and he wants local reporter Ruby to find out what happened to him.
Apart from a troubled dead singer, Ruby has other things on her mind…
Her Mother is dating a new man but there is just something about Peter de Marlow which Ruby doesn’t like. It turns out her Mum possesses a secret of her own….
Whilst trying to put her disastrous relationship with selfish ex-boyfriend Luke firmly behind her, Matt Jardine, a handsome but irritating new journalist joins her newspaper.
Will Ruby still have a “ghost” of a chance of happiness and can she help Stevie rest in peace?

What inspired you to write it?
My love of music, especially rock. I'm a huge fan of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks and the idea for "Rock My World" started from that.

Have you ever spotted anyone reading your books anywhere?
No, not yet as this is my debut chick lit novel - but I really hope I do - that would be mind-blowing!

Who designs your covers?
The cover for "Rock My World" was designed by two talented people called Polly and Tareq. My publishers have also had alot of input and they've done a fantastic job.

If your latest book was made into a film, who would you cast?
That is a great question!
I think somebody like Santiago Cabrera would make a fantastic Stevie - attractive and charismatic.
Bradley Cooper (yes, him again and why not!) would make a sexy and intense Matt Jardine (Matt has a "brush of the Bradley" about him) and Ruby would be played by somebody lovely like Natalie Portman. Ruby is passionate and sensitive and I think she'd play her perfectly.

What's your favourite Chick Lit book that made it to the big screen?
I loved "PS I Love You" and really enjoyed the film as well.

What were the last two books you read?
"Christmas At Rosie Hopkins Sweetshop" by Jenny Colgan and "Love Under Different Skies" by Nick Spalding.

Name one female author who you think deserves to be better known.
Lucy Dillon - I'm currently reading one of her novels, "Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts" and it is just beautifully written.

Where do you write?
Normally, in local coffee shops! I find it really difficult to motivate myself at home a lot of the time and can get distracted, so I usually go out, find a quiet corner and write, with support from a latte!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? And did you follow the dream?
I always wanted to be a writer. I trained as a journalist, but writing romance/chick lit was always my dream. It has been a long journey to get there, but it's worth it.

In the movie of your life, who would play you?

Photo credit: GabboT via photopin cc

I'd love somebody gorgeous like Julia Roberts - well, I can dream!

Speed Round...
Top drink to make you tipsy? White Wine
Shopaholic or shopadon't? Shopaholic - but I have to be in a shopping mood.
Sky high heels or closer to the ground? Higher heels but not too high!
E.L. James or Jilly Cooper? Jilly Cooper - I read "Riders" when I was a teenager and was captivated.
Cry baby or tough cookie? A bit of both!
Exotic beach or enchanted forest? Enchanted forest - it sounds far more romantic!

Author Bio
I trained as a journalist but writing chick lit has always been a dream of mine.
When I’ve not got my head in a book or drafting one, I write verses and captions for greetings card
companies.
Writing at home seems to be incredibly difficult for me – I usually require coffee, music and noise.
“Rock My World” is my first chick lit novel .
I have just finished writing my second novel, another romantic comedy and am polishing that at the moment whilst beginning to do some research for my third.
I’m married, have two sons and live in Scotland.
Twitter
Website coming shortly!
Amazon

A chat with chick lit author Donna Joy Usher

Do dreams inspire your writing? What did you last dream about?
Absolutely. I came up with the ideas for The Seven Steps to Closure and The War Faery Series from dreams that I had.
Hmmm, the last thing I dreamt about…. I finished reading Jim Butcher’s Cold Days before I went to sleep last night. It had a pretty spectacular ending with a twist I didn’t see coming. I spent the whole night dreaming about that, but I was a participant not a spectator.

When did you first start writing? And when were you first published?
I started writing my first book when I was about 8. It sucked, and I gave up for a while after that. About 7 years ago I gave it another shot. That also sucked. Finally I got it together and finished the first draft of The Seven Steps to Closure in July 2011. It was published in May 2012.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres?
I love writing chicklit because it has such a humorous edge to it, but I also read and write other genres. When I was 12 I read The Lord of the Rings and have been a huge fantasy fan ever since. I also love reading horror. Apart from The Chanel Series, which is chicklit, I am also working on The War Faery Series, a YA urban fantasy trilogy, and have a chicklit/sci-fi series in mind.

What's the title of your latest book? Can you tell us about it?

Cocoa and Chanel, which is the first in a chicklit come mystery series. It’s about Chanel, who accidentally joins the police force and gets posted to Kings Cross in Sydney, where there is a serial killer on the loose. She’s naïve, and clutzy and intent on discovering the identity of the killer. She’s got some great friends and her Mum is a hoot. There’s some romance and some action, and it gets a little scary in parts, but mainly it’s just funny.

What inspired you to write it?
I worked with a dental nurse who had been a hairdresser and then joined the police force. She was naïve, and smart and silly at the same time. She was also hysterically funny. The original idea for Chanel was based on her character, but after I started writing she took on an identity of her own.

Is it part of a series?
Yes, I’m about to start writing number 2.

Have you ever spotted anyone reading your books anywhere?
No damn it. Every time I use public transport I check out what everybody is reading hoping that someone will be so I can do a ta-da moment. Sigh. Maybe next year.

Who designs your covers?

Derek Murphy from Creativindie. He has a real talent for giving me exactly what I want.

If your latest book was made into a film, who would you cast?
Geez, that’s a hard one. I’d have to cast Daniel Craig there somewhere, because it’s the only way I’m ever going to get close to him. On that note I’d probably get Ewan McGregor and Colin Firth… but the question wasn’t who would I like to drool all over was it.
Thinking Music…….
For the Mum - Renee Zellweger.
For Chanel – Hayden Panattiere, mainly because she looks like how I imagine Chanel does.
For Martine – Mark Wahlberg. You have to read it to get it!
For Bruce – Taylor Lautner

What's your favourite Chick Lit book that made it to the big screen?
Definitely the original chicklit book – The Diary of Bridget Jones. I read it in a night and then read it again the next night.

What were the last two books you read?
No Place Like Home by Caroline Overington, and Cold Days by Jim Butcher.

Name one female author who you think deserves to be better known.
Me? (Hee hee, just kidding.) Actually I have 2 girlfriends who both deserve to be better known.
Kristy Berridge, author of the YA horror The Hunted Series. She’s also just released Diary of a Teenage Zombie which is an awesome read.
Rachel Amphlett, thriller writer of White Gold and Under Fire. She’s currently writing a romantic thriller which I can’t wait to get my hands on.

Where do you write?
I love to sit at the head of my small dining room table. It allows me to look over the living area and out the sliding doors on either end of my house. So even though I am inside writing I can see the outside world and the sky.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An accountant, a vet, a dress designer and a physiotherapist; sadly, I never wanted to be a princess…or a fireman.

In the movie of your life, who would play you?

Image courtesy: Eva Rinaldi from Sydney Australia

I’d like to have Sandra Bullock if she’d do it. She’s funny and smart and really kind.

Speed Round...
Top drink to make you tipsy? Champagne – because according to my husband I drink it like lolly water.
Shopaholic or shopadon't? Shopadon’t! I hate spending my spare time at the shops.
Sky high heels or closer to the ground? I feel claustrophobic in high heels. I think it’s because I can’t run in them and I like to be able to run away if I have to.
E.L. James or Jilly Cooper? Jilly Cooper
Cry baby or tough cookie? Tough cookie – I once walked for a week with 100 blisters on my feet and ended up with blood poisoning. (You could also call that stupid!)
Exotic beach or enchanted forest?  That’s a tough one. If I go to Cairns I can have both.

Born in Brisbane, Donna Joy Usher started her working life as a dentist. After 15 years of drilling and filling she discovered there was more to life, and put pen to paper. Now she drills by day and writes by night. When not doing either of those things she likes spending time with her husband and two little dogs, fishing and camping, motorbike riding, stand-up paddle boarding, traveling and drinking wine on her deck.
Her debut novel, The Seven Steps to Closure, took gold in the humour category of the 2012 elit Publishing Awards and was shortlisted for the Shirley You Jest 2012 Book Awards and the 2013 Indie Excellence Awards.
She has lived in a myriad of places: Melbourne, Perth, England, Rockhampton, Roxby Downs, Sydney, Cairns and is now situated on the New South Wales Central Coast.
www.donnajoyusher.com
The Seven Steps to Closure on Amazon
Cocoa and Chanel on Amazon
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Cocoa and Chanel Excerpt
It wasn’t my boss that I hated. It was my boss’s husband, Lenny - a fat lazy specimen of a man, with overtly frisky hands. Everybody knew Lenny was a perve, everybody that is except Cindy, my boss.
Lenny and Cindy owned Glamor, the prestigious hairdressing salon I worked at. And when I say prestigious, I mean prestigious for Hickery, the small country town I grew up in. We served coffee and our magazines were current. That was as good as it gets in Hickery.
I was in the storeroom sorting out stock when the bell on Glamor’s front door jangled. That was the last noise I wanted to hear fifteen minutes before knock-off time on a Friday. With Cindy, the client always came first - which was a nice work ethic, but it sucked when it meant I stayed late. And that Friday night I had plans to meet Becky, my best friend, at Hickery’s one and only bar, The Brimstone. I didn’t want to be stuck at work trying to guess the exact shade of lilac hair old Mrs Peterson wanted when I could be sharing a bottle of sparkling wine with Becky.
‘Cindy?’ I called out, crossing my fingers. She had taken the day off to visit her Mum.
The door to the storeroom opened and I groaned inwardly as Lenny leant against the door frame.
‘Oh hi,’ I said dismissively, hoping Cindy was with him.
‘Chanel,’ he said, nodding his head at me and attempting to look down my blouse.
I stood up, assessing whether I could make it out the door without having to rub up against his rotund gut. It didn’t look good. Between my boobs and his belly there just wasn’t enough room for both of us.
‘Excuse me,’ I said, smiling brightly as I gestured towards the doorway.
He didn’t move away, as I’d really hoped he would, but instead lurched further into the cramped storeroom. Leering down at me, he said, ‘Nice girl like you should have a man to look after her.’
‘I don’t need a man to look after me,’ I said as I backed away from him. The truth was that I didn’t have a man, not because I didn’t want one, but because the hot men were a little light on the ground in Hickery. ‘And anyway,’ I added, ‘I’ve got Cocoa.’ Cocoa was the love of my life. A miniature black schnauzer my now ex-boyfriend, Tommy, had given me for my birthday last year.
‘That’s a dog, not a man. A girl like you needs a real man.’ He grabbed his crutch as he uttered the last words and moved even closer.
Oh shit. I was in serious trouble.
‘And how lucky Cindy is to have you.’ I could smell the stench of his fetid breath tainted with a hint of alcohol. ‘By the way where is Cindy?’
‘At her Mum’s.’
‘Great,’ I said, squishing myself into the far corner of the room. My mind raced, trying to come up with a suitable plan to get out of my situation which was, in every way, shape and form, bad. To start with, Lenny was my boss’s husband. But more importantly, he was an odious specimen of a man. I found him physically repugnant and if I rejected his advances the creep would probably tell Cindy I’d hit on him. If he did that I’d be out job hunting on Monday. As the only other hairdressing shop in town was owned by my ex-boyfriend’s mother, and as I had broken his heart and stomped on his soul (her words) I felt that the chances of my gaining employment there were pretty poor. On the other hand if I did sleep with Lenny I would have to go home and slit my wrists, because there was no way I was going to be able to live with that memory.
Knee him in the balls and run, my brain advised my body.
I’ve always been a bit of a chicken and by the time my body had computed the message, reacted with horror at the thought of using violence before finally agreeing with my brain, he was far too close to achieve enough force for an effective impact.
He looked down my blouse and licked his lips, making me regret my bra choice that morning (you never know when Mr Right is going to walk through the front door), and then said, ‘So how about it?’
A vision of Lenny taking me against the storeroom shelves flashed through my mind and I froze in horror. Taking my silence as assent, he put one hand on my left breast and squeezed. ‘Bet that feels good,’ he said.
My knee took on a life of its own jabbing upwards. It missed his groin and bounced off the bottom of his stomach which was hard like a rock, and not in a good way.
I shoved him backwards with both hands and yelled, ‘Get off me.’ My breast could still feel the imprint of his fingers. I was going to have to get it counselling.
He looked confused, red creeping up his cheeks to his hairline, highlighting the hair plugs that lived there. ‘I thought you wanted it,’ he said.
‘Wanted what?’
‘Well, you always wear those short little dresses and …..’ he finished the sentence by mimicking big boobs with his hands.
‘I have big breasts Lenny,’ I said.
He stared at them, eyes glazing over, and then reached out a hand saying, ‘Yes you do.’
‘That wasn’t permission,’ I said, slapping his hand away. ‘So that’s it? I wear a short dress and push-up bra and you think I want to shag you in the storeroom?’
‘Would you prefer a hotel?’
I could see I was getting nowhere and changed my tactic without fully thinking it through. ‘Anyway it wouldn’t be fair on you,’ I said, ‘what with me leaving and everything.’
‘Leaving?’
‘Uhuh.’ I kept a neutral expression on my face while my brain flitted from excuse to excuse, looking for a plausible one. ‘I’m joining the Police Force,’ I blurted out. ‘So, as you can see this would be totally unacceptable. After all, it is illegal.’ I was pretty proud of myself. I’d come up with the perfect alibi to prevent an affair, and I’d done it under extreme pressure. It seemed to have the desired effect because he backed away from me with his hands held high.
‘Police Force?’ he said doubtfully.
‘Just waiting for my enrolment date.’
‘Police Force?’ he said again.
‘Yes, the Police Force.’
‘You don’t seem like the type to join the Police Force.’
‘Why not?’
‘Well,’ he said slowly, ‘you don’t look like a dyke.’
I felt like smacking myself in the head. Good one brain – you could have played the lesbian card, but noooo, you had to choose the Police Force.
I pulled myself up straight and said, ‘I’m not a dyke, I’m a law abiding citizen just trying to do my part.’ I looked at my watch. ‘Knock off time.’
I tried to keep skin contact to a minimum as I pushed past him and out of the storeroom.

Interview with chick lit author Tracy Sweeney

Hi Tracy! On your website, you describe yourself as being 'slightly crazy, but in the best possible way' (that's just awesome!). Can you expand on that?
Haha! I’m so glad you approve! I try not to take myself too seriously—ever. I’m sarcastic and quirky and I sometimes think I’m funnier than I am. But I’m at a point in my life where I embrace that about myself. So, do I sometimes say things that are off the wall? Definitely. But I think the wall is cluttered anyway.

When did you first start writing? And when were you first published?
I’ve always journaled and written short stories. The short stories at one point may have starred The New Kids on the Block. But hey, it’s still writing! I never saw myself becoming a published writer, though. Later on, I got involved in the fan fiction world. It was the feedback from those readers that gave me the confidence to come out of the writing closet.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres?
I’ve never been a big fan of the typical bodice-rippers. Fabio is just not my type. But I love reading about sassy girls and the boys who make them swoon. The chick lit genre is so diverse. Some of my recent favorites have come from the YA genre but the themes are so universal that all of my friends read them and relate.

Living Backwards sounds A.M.A.Z.I.N.G? Can you tell us more about it?

Thank you! You’re pretty. Well, I wanted to take the idea of time travel and spin it a bit. In most time travel stories, the protagonist is attempting to fix or improve their current situation. But it’s not easy. One small change can cause a chain reaction sending you down an entirely different path. Jillian gets this. So when she’s back in 1999, she knows that she needs to do everything the same way or she could wreak havoc. Again, it’s not so easy. Can you make the same choices in your late twenties that you made when you were seventeen? Would I opt to get my teeth cleaned the night of my junior prom? Probably not. I’d spike the punch and photobomb starry-eyed couples all night.

What inspired you to write it?
Me, really. I was very shy and quiet in high school. Most of us were awkward and buying Clearasil in mass quantities. It wasn’t an awesome time for everyone. So I’ve spent a fair amount of time thinking about how different it would be if the me I am now was part of the Class of 1992.

Have you ever spotted anyone reading your books anywhere?
Other than in my house when I force them to? No. I think I’d make such a spectacle of myself, though.

Who designs your covers?
My friend Liz Jaeger designed the cover. I gave her a general idea of what I was looking to do and she came back with I swear thirty different versions.

If your latest book was made into a film, who would you cast?
There are so many instances where I wish I could cast an actor in movie after they’ve already passed the appropriate age. When I was reading Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, I saw Jude Law circa The Talented Mr. Ripley for Finnick Odair. He’ll always be Finnick in my head. It’s the same situation with LIVING BACKWARDS. I always saw Ilsa Fisher for Jillian and Robert Pattinson for Luke. And I would totally pull a Stephenie Meyer and cameo as a chaperone at the prom. It looks like a good time.

What's your favourite Chick Lit book that made it to the big screen?
It’s always so nerve-wracking when a book you love is optioned for the big screen. I immediately start worrying about the casting. I’ll watch Bridget Jones every time it’s on TV and never get bored of it. Bridget is so flawed but you can’t help but love her—even when you want to knock some sense into her. And how can you resist Colin Firth?

Name one of your favourite Chick Lit books?
I adore Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. It’s one of those books you just want to curl up and crawl inside – especially since you’d be crawling into France! And Etienne makes me swoon.

Where do you write? Do you ever wish you could write elsewhere? If so, where?
I’m like a cat with a laser pointer. If I write somewhere pretty, I’m going to stare off into space and enjoy the view. So I’m very boring. No TV, no music, no view. In fact, stick me in an empty room with a case of water, a laptop and a lamp and we’re in business.

Do you have any hobbies?
When I’m not writing or being mom, I run and participate in sprint triathlons. It’s nothing I ever envisioned doing but something I’m really proud of. And my face turns an amazing shade of purple.

In the movie of your life, who would play you?

Image courtesy: Gage Skidmore

I’d bankroll the movie myself if we can cast Tina Fey.

Speed Round...
Top drink to make you tipsy? Arnold Palmer. Yum.
Shopaholic or shopadon't? Shopaholic. I love the smell of commerce in the morning.
Sky high heels or closer to the ground? Closer to the ground. No Loubous for this gal.
E.L. James or Jilly Cooper? I’ve read E.L. James but not Jilly Cooper (although I’m more Veronica Roth)
Cry baby or tough cookie? Tough cookie. Until I’m not.

Tracy Sweeney graduated with a degree in Management and Finance but prefers writing ridiculous things to crunching ridiculous numbers. She lives north of Boston, Massachusetts with her two young boys. Her short stories have appeared in Literary Juice, Solecisms and Slice of Life Magazines. Her debut novel, LIVING BACKWARDS, was published in January 2013. She is currently working on her second novel which will be equally as ridiculous.
Follow her just about everywhere:

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Buy LIVING BACKWARDS
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Come and meet chick lit author Ella Griffin

Get to know the gorgeous award-winning advertising copywriter & travel writer and now chick lit author Ella Griffin...

When did you first start writing? And when were you first published?

I have a scarily vivid imagination. The downside of that is that, if I’m sleeping alone, I still sleep with the light on. The upside is that my head is constantly buzzing with characters and stories. If I’m stuck in traffic, I imagine entire lives for the people in the next car.
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t scribbling down snippets of stories but, in my twenties, I didn’t have the self-belief to think I could make it as a writer. Then, in my thirties, I was busy with my advertising career. I published travel pieces and I wrote the odd short film script. (The very odd short film script, actually!) But it wasn’t until I was forty that I really started writing seriously. I went on a writing holiday to Greece and met my husband, Neil. He gave me the confidence to start writing short stories.

My first novel, Postcards from the Heart, was published in 2011.
What is it about this genre that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres? If so, which?
I think I’m like most women who see fiction as a mirror. It reflects our hopes and dreams, our failures and frustrations. And when we look into it, we see that we’re not alone. We realise that there are other women who struggle with body issues and relationships, who juggle love and kids and careers. Who fall into bed with the wrong people and out of love with the right ones. Who get knocked down but (as the song goes) get up again.
I read anything and everything including the back of cereal packets. But only if I can identify with the cornflake.

What’s the title of your latest book? Can you tell us about it?

I have two books out at the moment.
‘The Heart Whisperer’ is a novel. It’s about the long shadow that the past casts over our lives and my own personal credo which is that, until we turn around and face it, we can’t really love or be loved
It’s a bittersweet comedy set in my hometown, Dublin. There are four main characters, two men and two women each of them trying to negotiate the minefield of thirty-something life.
It’s about love, loss, lies and secrets we are all hiding from one another.
The central spine is the mother-daughter relationship between Claire Dillon and the mother she lost twenty-seven years ago.
Claire’s mother was only 33 when she died and she had everything to live for. A husband, children, a medical career, domestic bliss. Now Claire is about to turn 33. She is a struggling actress, perpetually broke, terminally single, frittering her life away in the company of her wickedly handsome best friend, Ray. She gives herself one last year to be more like her mother…but you know what they say…you should be very careful what you wish for!
The second book is a collection of three interlinking Kindle shorts called ‘A Little Bit of Summer.’ I can sum it up in three words. Women. Love. Flowers.

Have you ever spotted anyone reading your books anywhere?
I saw a guy in his thirties skimming through The Heart Whisperer in a bookshop in Bath at the weekend. I hope he was buying it for himself. I actually have quite a few male readers - the ones who are brave enough to get past the flowery cover!

Who designs your covers?
My publisher, Orion, does the designing. The Heart Whisperer was illustrated by an Argentinian illustrator called Adrian Valencia. It shows one of the loveliest corners of Dublin. Just below that railing is Hawk Rock where my husband and I will swim sometimes.

If your latest book was made into a film, who would you cast?
Michelle Williams (with ginger hair) would play Claire. Jessica Chastain would be perfect as her mother.
I’d be torn between Henry Cavill and Matt Bomer for Claire’s ex-rock star best friend, Ray.
Benedict Cumberbatch would be good as her distant, life-coach brother, Nick with Anna Paquin as his ice-queen American wife, Kelly.
I’d cast Bill Nighy as Claire’s Dad and Dog would be played by my deerhound, Haggis who is no stranger to show business. (He is currently an extra in Series 1 of The Vikings!)

What’s your favourite Chick Lit book that made it to the big screen?
‘In Her Shoes’ with Toni Collette and Cameron Diaz, based on the book by Jennifer Weiner.

Name one of your favourite Chick Lit books?
I know I will enjoy anything by Marian Keyes or Jennifer Weiner. But some of the best books out there are by men. I’m a huge Nick Hornby fan and I loved ‘One Day’ by David Nicholls.

Name one female author who you think deserves to be better known.
Can I have two? Lorrie Moore and Anita Shreve.

Where do you write?
At home, in my office with Haggis, a hot water bottle and pot of peppermint tea.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An actress.

In the movie of your life, who would play you?

Image courtesy: Georges Biard

Sandra Bullock.

Speed Round...
Top drink to make you tipsy? I don’t really drink but a Nojito makes me giddy. (Lots of mint and hold the rum!)
Shopaholic or shopadon't? Un-shopaholic. I buy lots and lots of things and bring them all back.
Sky high heels or closer to the ground? Both. But not at the same time!
E.L. James or Jilly Cooper? I don’t really get either of them but I’d rather be stuck in a lift with Jilly.
Cry baby or tough cookie? Tough baby.

Ella was born in Dublin. In past lives, she was the world’s shyest DJ and clumsiest waitress and a dark-room operator who was afraid of the dark.
She is award-winning advertising copywriter and travel writer.
Her first novel, Postcards from the Heart, was published in 2011. Her second, The Heart Whisperer, was published in 2013 along with a collection of Kindle shorts called A Little Bit of Summer.
Ella lives in County Wicklow, Ireland, with an English man and a Scottish Deerhound.
Find Ella on facebook
Ella's website

Guess who I've got for a chat today? It's the amazing Isabel Wolff!!!

I've read a few of Isabel's novels and they have all been wonderful, which is why I approached her for an interview. I'm delighted she agreed because I have now discovered she has branched out. Read on to find out more...

When did you first start reading Chick Lit?

I think the first chick lit novel I read was The Tennis Party by one Madeleine Wickham! I was very impressed by the lightness of touch, the amusing characters and crisp dialogue and remember feeling more than a little envious. But I was working as a reporter and producer at BBC World Service and never thought I'd have the time to write a novel myself. But then everything changed.

When did you first start writing Chick Lit? Why did you decide to 'branch out' into semi-historical novels instead?
My first novel, The Trials of Tiffany Trott grew out of a pseudonmyous column I had in the Daily Telegraph in the late nineties which was a kind of comic odyssey through the urban singles scene of small ads, speed dating, meet 'n greet etc. The column was commissioned by the features editor, Eric Bailey, who had recognised the comic potential of such a scenario, and he asked me to write it because he knew that I was single at the time. I must say I enjoyed it because it's very human and there's a lot of comedy and also poignancy - the hope people have that they'll meet Mr or Miss Right, and the way they make themselves vulnerable in the process. Today the singles scene and especially internet dating is absolutely mainstream - more people meet their partners that way now than in 'real life', and no doubt Tiffany would be on Match.com. I'm very fond of Tiffany Trott because it was my first novel, and I'm happy to say that it still makes me laugh. My early novels such as The Making of Minty Malone, Out of the Blue, Rescuing Rose and Behaving Badly are romantic comedies of this kind with a blend of humour and pathos. But then I began to write A Vintage Affair, and branched out. This wasn't a conscious decision; it happened because the heroine of A Vintage Affair, Phoebe Swift, runs a vintage dress shop in south London. She goes to assess a collection of clothes that an elderly French lady, Therese Bell, wishes to sell. Amongst the beautiful couture gowns is a child's blue coat, from 1943, that Therese has vowed never to part with. My heroine, Phoebe, befriends Mrs Bell and discovers the very poignant story behind this little coat, and the guilty secret that Mrs Bell has carried for 70 years - a secret that goes back to the war, and to occupied Provence. So the story naturally blended the contemporay with the historical, and I enjoyed writing it so much that this is what I have done with all my books since.

It sounds absolutely amazing, Isabel.

What is it about chick lit and history that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres? If so, which? 
I love the blend of past and present. I feel that the historical back-story, which is usually the more serious part of the story, gives more meaning and depth to the contemporary narrative. In addition I very much enjoy doing the historical research, perhaps because I was a journalist for a long time before I began writing novels. As for what I read, it's mostly literary fiction, but I'd like to read more crime novels as this is now a very big genre and all I've ever read is a few Agatha Christies.

Name one of your favourite books?
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry. It's about India during the Indira Ghandi years and teems with life and colour and a profound sense of hope for humanity. The four main characters are very touchingly portrayed, endlessly humorous and optimistic despite the sometimes appalling things that they suffer. It's a modern masterpiece.

What's the title of your latest book? Can you tell us about it?

My latest novel is The Very Picture of You which is about a portrait painter, her sitters, and the secrets that they reveal while she paints them. It's set in contemporary London but again has a semi-historical theme as the story line goes back to the 1930s and to a scandal surrounding a society portrait painter and his wife.
What inspired you to write it?

Portrait of Isabel by Anastasia Pollard

I've never been able to paint, but have always been very interested in portraiture. I'm awe-struck by the skill of a good portrait artist, the way they have the ability to evoke another human being on canvas so successfully that at times we could swear that this 2-dimensional image lived and breathed. To me this seems miraculous. I was also very interested, from a human point of view, in what happens in the intimate space that is a portrait sitting. How does it feel to be stared at by the painter? Do you try and hide behind a mask, or show yourself as you really are? Do you keep a discreet silence, or spill out your secrets, your fantasies and regrets? Do you talk about your disappointments and fears? In 'The Very Picture of You' the sitters do exactly that, because it makes for a good story! Writing the novel made me decide to have myself painted. It's just a small portrait, about the size of a sheet of A4, but it's by a wonderful artist, Anastasia Pollard. It was selected to be shown in the Royal Society of Portrait Painters annual exhibtion at London's Mall Galleries last year, which was a huge thrill.

WOW! That's incredible!

Is the novel part of a series?
The Very Picture of You isn't part of a series, no. None of my books are - they stand alone. Sometimes I might bring in a character from a previous novel in a subsidiary role, but each time I start a new novel I start with a blank canvas. My newest novel, Ghostwritten, which will be published in the spring of 2014 is about a haunted ghost writer. It's set in contemporary Cornwall and on Java, during World War 2, during the Japanese occupation, a bit like the scenario in Tenko which was a very well known TV drama in the 1970s.

Who designs your covers?

UK cover

US cover

The designers at HarperCollins who have published all of my ten novels. My books are now translated into 30 languages, and some of the overseas covers are gorgeous. My favourite one is the US cover for A Vintage Affair. My editor at RandomHouse there commissioned a well known painter, Victoria Allen, to do an oil painting of some vintage dresses for it. As you can see from the image it's ravishingly lovely and people always comment on how beautiful it made the novel look. In fact I would say that the most attractive covers I have had have all been for A Vintage Affair - there are a lot of them, because it was translated into 25 languages, and they all feature gorgeous vintage gowns.

They're both gorgeous but I admit to loving the UK version the most!
  If your book was made into a film, who would you cast?
In any film of A Vintage Affair I would love Gemma Arterton to play the protagonist, Phoebe. And in 'The Very Picture of You' I'd love the portait painter, Ella, to be played by Michele Dockery, if she could take time off from Downton. If we're talking about classic books and classic films, it's Gone With the Wind. My favourite contemporary novel is the graphic novel, Tamara Drewe, by Posy Simmonds, which was brilliantly filmed with Gemma Arterton in the title role. I am a fan of Gemma's as you can see!

Who is your all time favourite Chick Lit character?
I do love Becky Bloomwood, Rachel Walsh, and also some of Wendy Holden's characters, particularly Isabel in her latest novel, Gifted and Talented.

Name one author who you think deserves to be better known.
E.L. James, definitely... I think there are still about fifty people in the world who haven't heard of her and I think this is a shame.

He he he, Isabel!!!

In the movie of your life, who would play you?
I have absolutely no idea but hopefully someone slimmer, younger and more attractive!

Speed Round...
Top drink to make you tipsy? Champagne - bubbles help the alcohol go down!
Shopaholic or shopadon't? I have become addicted to eBay - especially Celine handbags - vintage ones.
Sky high heels or closer to the ground? Closer to ground. High heels do my back in.
E.L. James or Jilly Cooper? Jilly Cooper
Cry baby or tough cookie? Cry baby - I blub at everything.

Isabel Wolff comes from Warwickshire, read English at Cambridge and was a reporter with the BBC World Service before becoming a full time writer. She lives in Notting Hill with her partner, their two children, her younger stepson and a black cocker spaniel puppy.Visit Isabel's website.

Get your copy of The Very Picture Of You from Amazon.

Come and say hi to chick lit author Cally Taylor

The stunning chick lit author Cally Taylor has stopped by for a chat today...

When did you first start reading Chick Lit?

I think it was about 1996. That was when Bridget Jones' Diary came out and I read it as soon as it was published.

When did you first start writing Chick Lit?
In 2007 when I wrote the first draft of 'Heaven Can Wait'.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres? If so, which?
I love the fact that chick lit can be fun and frivolous but it can also explore deeper themes. You can be laughing your head off one minute and sobbing your heart out the next.
I read in a lot of genres - chick lit, literary, sci fi, crime. There aren't many genres I haven't read at least once!

Name one of your favourite Chick Lit books?
'Vince and Joy' by Lisa Jewell.

What's the title of your latest book? Can you tell us about it?

'Secrets and Rain' is a collection of my previously published and prize winning short stories. It includes a mixture of heart-warming and heart-breaking stories and several book bloggers have told me it should come with a warning 'keep a packet of tissues close by because some of the stories will make you cry!'

What inspired you to write it?

My last book 'Home for Christmas' came out in 2011 and my next book, a psychological thriller called 'The Accident' (written as CL Taylor), isn't out until June 2014 and I wanted to put something out there for my readers to enjoy. Short stories were my first love and coming runner up in the Woman's Own completion gave me the confidence to write 'Heaven Can Wait'. Luckily my readers seem to love reading my stories as much as I loved writing them.

Is it part of a series?No. Although I wouldn't rule out publishing more stories or a novella in the future.

Who designs your covers?I used a company called Design for Writers after several of my writer friends used them and I was impressed with the designs they came up with.

What's your favourite Chick Lit book that made it to the big screen?
Bridget Jones's Diary. The film is as good as a book, maybe even better.

Who is your all time favourite Chick Lit character?That would have to be Cannie Shapiro from 'Good in Bed' by Jennifer Weiner. She's funny, she's feisty and she was the first character I'd read about who was overweight and not totally hung up with losing weight.

Name one female author who you think deserves to be better known.This summer I read an amazing book called 'Dear Thing' about a woman who offers to be a surrogate for her best friend (who she's secretly in love with). It was beautifully written by Julie Cohen and I think it's only a matter of time until she's on the bestseller lists.

Where do you write?
In my study. I've got a day job working for a London Uni and I'm lucky enough to work from home three days a week. If I'd not at my desk for work I'm there typing away at my novels.

In the movie of your life, who would play you?

Toni Collette (right) in Muriel's wedding (screenshot)

I was once told that I look like Muriel from 'Muriel's Wedding' so I'd have to say Toni Collette though she's looking so trim these days I'd have to force feed her some lard first!

Speed Round...
Top drink to make you tipsy? Wine
Shopaholic or shopadon't? Shopaholic if it's for CDs, books or DVDs. Shop don't if it's for clothes or shoes (I'm tall with big feet!)
Sky high heels or closer to the ground? Closer to the ground (see previous comment!)
E.L. James or Jilly Cooper? Jilly Cooper, definitely. As a teenager I learnt all about sex from her books. (Me too, Cally!!!!!)
Cry baby or tough cookie? Total cry baby!

Cally Taylor is an author with two writing heads (kind of like Worzel Gummidge and with the same fondness for cake). Her Cally Taylor head writes romantic comedies and women’s fiction whilst her CL Taylor head writes dark psychological thrillers.

Her international bestselling romantic comedies, HEAVEN CAN WAIT and HOME FOR CHRISTMAS were published by Orion in the UK. They have been translated into 14 different languages, and her debut was voted ‘Debut Novel of the Year’ by chicklitreviews.com and chicklitclub.com.
Cally's heart-warming short story collection 'SECRETS AND RAIN' shot straight to #2 in Amazon.co.uk's Women Writers & Fiction Short Story Chart on the day of release and it’s been making book bloggers cry ever since!
Cally’s latest novel, THE ACCIDENT (written as CL Taylor) will be published by Avon HarperCollins in June 2014.

Blog 1 (for all Cally Taylor news)
Blog 2 (for all CL Taylor news)
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Let me introduce you to chick lit author Cat Lavoie

I'm delighted to have Cat with me today...

When did you first start reading Chick Lit?

Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella was my introduction to Chick Lit. I was studying English Literature at the time and, even though I enjoyed reading the classics, I fell in love with the genre and knew I wanted to read more.

When did you first start writing Chick Lit?
I've been writing stories since I was a kid and, when I was sixteen years old, I decided to write a novel. I gave up on it after a while because it wasn't 'serious' enough. (I was reading a lot of Mary Higgins Clark at the time.) After reading my first Sophie Kinsella book a few years later, I decided to trust my voice (which was definitely Chick Lit) and started working on an outline of what would eventually become Breaking the Rules.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres?
I enjoy Chick Lit because it's so relatable. I love reading about women dealing with family, career and relationship issues. And while Chick Lit stories can be hilarious and silly, they can also be serious and meaningful. I also enjoy YA and historical fiction... and I'd like to think I'm open to reading any genre.

Name one of your favourite Chick Lit books?
The Other Side of the Story by Marian Keyes.

What's the title of your latest book? Can you tell us about it?

My latest book is called Zoey & the Moment of Zen. It's the story of a woman who is shipped off to a tropical resort by her friends and family to get over an ex-boyfriend. Hilarity (hopefully) ensues when she meets—and has a whirlwind relationship with—a man who looks exactly like her ex and she must convince everyone that she has finally moved on.

What inspired you to write it?
Like Zoey, I went on holiday for a little fun in the sun after a bad breakup—but that's where the similarities end. Zoey & the Moment of Zen was born while I was in a Mexican hospital being treated for food poisoning. I was daydreaming about all the fun things I could be doing instead of being hydrated through an IV—and that's when I got the idea for this book.

Is it part of a series?
No, it's stand-alone. But I love these characters so much that I wouldn't be opposed to writing a sequel someday.

Who designs your covers? 

The cover of Breaking the Rules was designed by Derek Murphy while Scarlett Rugers designed Zoey & the Moment of Zen.

If your latest book was made into a film, who would you cast?
For the role of Zoey, I'd cast Rachelle Lefevre because she has the perfect shade of red hair for the part.
Shane would be Jason Ritter because he's got an irresistible boyish grin.
Since Shane and Braden need to look alike, I'd cast Mark Foster from the band Foster the People as Zoey's ex-boyfriend. (He's not an actor, but I'm sure he could handle it.)
Nate would be Jake Johnson because he's got the right amount of charm and grumpiness for the character.

What's your favourite Chick Lit book that made it to the big screen?
Bridget Jones's Diary. I never get tired of watching that movie.

Who is your all time favourite Chick Lit character?
Becky Bloomwood.

Name one Chick Lit author who you think deserves to be better known.
That's a tough question because there are so many and I cannot possibly name just one. A lot of self-published authors (and authors signed to indie presses) are releasing awesome books and they definitely deserve to be better known.

In the movie of your life, who would play you?

Photo credit: Audi USA via photopin cc

I love Melissa McCarthy because she's hilarious, fearless, and a great actress. We're both brunette, plus-sized, and have green eyes… so I think she'd be a perfect 'movie version' of me.

Speed Round...
Top drink to make you tipsy? Vodka and cranberry juice.
Shopaholic or shopadon't? Shopaholic! I cannot be trusted with a credit card and a computer.
Sky high heels or closer to the ground? Definitely ground. I'm clumsy even in flats.
E.L. James or Jilly Cooper? None of the above. I haven't read any of their books.
Cry baby or tough cookie? Cry baby. I tear up over everything and anything!

Cat Lavoie lives in Montreal, Canada with her tempestuous cat, Abbie. Her debut novel, Breaking the Rules, was published in August 2012 by Marching Ink. If Cat isn't reading or writing, she's most likely watching too much TV or daydreaming about her next trip to London. Her second novel, Zoey & the Moment of Zen, will be released in October 2013.
Connect with Cat!
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon Author Page

Meet the gorgeous Martel Maxwell!

It's a huge honour to be chatting with the stunning chick lit author and former showbiz reporter for The Sun, Martel Maxwell. 

When did you first start writing Chick Lit?
I remember it vividly. On a beach in Kenya with mum. I think it was seven years ago. I was at a bit of a crossroad - I'd given up showbiz reporting on a daily basis for newspapers and I thought it was as good a time as any to reflect on my experiences - so created a character who was a showbiz reporter who partied. A lot. Basically, 'Max' she was me without the cellulite.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres? If so, which?
I feel like I can write 'chick lit'. Science fiction I'd struggle to make sound real to a reader. Chick lit encompasses so much. Some writers do glamour or escapism or sex brilliantly. Others are quite emotive; life-changing even. As I've grown up, my tastes have changed. I notice styles of writing more and I want to be moved. I also love really gritty books, often written by men - like Irvine Welsh (I've read all of his books) or Kill Your Friends by John Niven - something so far removed from my life, it takes me somewhere else. I find the darkness fascinating.

Name one of your favourite Chick Lit books?
Don't make me choose!!

What's the title of your latest book? Can you tell us about it?

My last book published was Scandalous. It's about that showbiz reporter called Maxine Summers who drinks and parties a lot and her half-sister Lucy, a willowy fashion writer who is dating one of the UK's most eligible bachelors. It offers a real glimpse into what really happens at the A-list parties. Piers Morgan, who used to be a showbiz reporter said it was really accurate, which thrilled me. The dastardly Lady Bridget Beames is the baddie who tries to wreck Lucy's love life while Max finds out her Mr Right could be very wrong.
I've doing the final edits on my next book. I can tell you it's really quite different to the first. It's set in London and Loch Inver in the Scottish Highlands, so the settings are pretty different. It follows Natalie who has to escape to her family home after her life crumbles. There are also a lot of pants. Yes, pants. I'll let you know more very soon.

I can't wait to find out more, Martel!!

What inspired you to write it?
The second, well, I've lived in London and spent time in Loch Inver. And I wanted a real champion for readers to love. That's Natalie.
For scandalous - my own experiences and imagination. I'm a fantasist. I look out train windows for hours, I dream endlessly.

Is it part of a series?
No.

Who designs your covers?
Someone in-house at Michael Joseph at Penguin designed Scandalous.

If your latest book was made into a film, who would you cast?
Isla Fisher as Max, Russell Brand as Kirk Kelner the movie God (and sex fiend), Bradley Cooper as Max's love interest Luke, I'm always stuck on who would play Lucy. Tall, beautiful, kind, blonde (though that could be changed) - any ideas?
Err... Gwyneth Paltrow? Sienna Miller? Gemma Arterton?

What's your favourite Chick Lit book that made it to the big screen?
PS I Love You was pretty romantic.

Who is your all time favourite Chick Lit character?
Obvious I know, but I do have a soft spot for Bridget Jones. I just like that her thighs were soft and she battled not to booze and smoke. She was attainable and made us feel better about ourselves.

Which author deserves to be better known?
Read this brilliant anthology called Sunlounger. It was put together by author Belinda Jones. If you've not heard of any of the 44 authors, that's my answer. The short story collection is truly brilliant in it's diversity and fun factor.
I adore Belinda Jones!

Where do you write?
My flat in London or Dundee, on holiday in Lochinver, in cafes anywhere and everywhere.

In the movie of your life, who would play you?

Image courtesy: Georges Biard

Isla Fisher. We have red hair in common..and that might be about it. But she's obviously the dream version of me.

Martel Maxwell is the author of best-selling novel Scandalous. She is also a journalist and presenter for shows including BBC1's The One Show, Lorraine on itv1 and her own radio shows.
After training to be a criminal lawyer, she opted for a career in journalism, becoming The Sun's first graduate trainee. Spotting her love of partying, she became the paper's showbiz reporter and lost a few years to free bars and canapes. Martel drew on her experiences to write her debut novel SCANDALOUS, published by Michael Joseph (Penguin). It was named 'book of the week' by Heat and Piers Morgan described it as 'a brilliantly waspish insight into the mad world of showbiz.'
Martel has just given birth to baby boy Monty, after marrying the first boy she kissed (it took him two decades to ask her out). She splits her time between Dundee and London and is adding the finishing touches to her next novel.
Contact Martel on Twitter.
Visit www.martelmaxwell.com
Get your copy of Scandalous from Amazon.

Hello... Barbara Barrett

When did you first start writing? And when were you first published?
I like to think I was an early bloomer in Authorland, because I wrote a teen column in our local newspaper when I was in high school. Consider it an early form of the blog. Very early. Although I was supposed to “report” what my informers in the local junior high and high schools told me each week, a lot of what I did required a bit of fiction, since their accounts were somewhat sketchy and dry.
I actually started writing fiction sometime in my late thirties. Although my job in human resource management (then called “personnel”) still challenged me, I was seeking more in my life. Loved my kids and spouse dearly, loved my home, was heavily involved in school and church activities, but needed something more fulfilling. I’d been praised for my writing skills since fifth grade, but had never really gotten into storytelling. Since I followed the soap opera, “Another World,” religiously, having one of the first VCRs (remember those?) on the market, so I could sit back and enjoy the day’s episode nightly rather than relax with a martini, I got my inspiration from there. I loved the character of Felicia Gallant, the romance novel writer. One day the light bulb went on. Maybe I could do that too.
My first romance novel, The Sleepover Clause, was published a year ago September with Crimson Romance. Since then, And He Cooks Too, was published in March 2013 by The Wild Rose Press. My third, Driven to Matrimony, also by TWRP, goes into worldwide release January 15, 2014.

What is it about this genre that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres?
I write contemporary romance novels. Considering I received my master’s degree in American History, you might wonder why I don’t write historicals or westerns. I guess the reason harkens back to my graduate days. Somewhere in the first semester of grad school I had this “ah-ha” moment I’m almost ashamed to admit, but what the heck, I’m old enough now, I can pretty much say whatever I want, especially if it’s to reveal personal details about myself. Anyway, I’d been sailing through high school and my undergraduate years of college with this idea that all I needed to do was learn or memorize the concepts of whatever subject I was taking, spit them back in an essay test, get a good grade and ta-dah! I would be successful. It never dawned on me until grad school that I had to absorb that information and do something, preferably something new and creative, with it. I loved studying the American Frontier, but to do my thesis on it, I needed to be somewhere where I could do original research. If I’d persevered, I could have found a way to do that, but I took the “easy” way out and selected a different period in American History instead, the Depression, because the Herbert Hoover Library happened to be fairly close to my home. To make an already long explanation longer, research of that nature was difficult, not fun. I wanted my writing to be fun and meaningful, hence I settled on contemporary times.
I also enjoy reading mysteries, particularly cozies, probably because they aren’t so graphic and tend to depend more on the cerebral abilities of the amateur sleuth. Just like my love of the TV game show, “Jeopardy,” I like to come up with the answer/murderer before the contestant/sleuth. I got into reading mysteries when I was pregnant with my first child. I wasn’t working at the time, most of my thesis was finished, so I needed an outlet for my time. Along came Ellery Queen and then Agatha Christie, and I was hooked for life. My first cozy is underway. As soon as I figure out who I’m going to murder and why, I’ll go back to it.

What's the title of your latest book? Can you tell us about it?

My latest book, Driven to Matrimony, is currently available exclusively on Amazon for Kindle and will be free November 12 -16. It’s about the hero and heroine’s reaction to the sudden, unanticipated engagement of his twenty-year-old film student son to her fifty-something movie star mother and the attempt of the H/H to convince the happy couple to delay the wedding if not call it off altogether. The heroine has spent the years since the break-up of her parents’ marriage cleaning up what she considers her mother’s “messes.” She’s tired of having to play caretaker, and this marriage thing is the last straw, the last time she’s going to step in and fix things. The hero’s small business is under fire from his competitors who want to acquire the new software he’s developed, and since he won’t sell it to them, they’re willing to go to extreme measures to get it from him. The last thing he needs is to worry about is why his son would be willing to marry a woman almost old enough to be his grandmother.

What inspired you to write it?
Years ago, I read a cozy by Leslie Ford about a murder on Folly Island, South Carolina. The idea of a small community on an island off the Carolina coast intrigued me. I also love the movie, “The Philadelphia Story,” not just the great acting of Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn, but the fast-paced dialogue accompanied by their quick, witty dialogue. Everything happening in the space of a few days in essentially one location between just a few characters (with a few walk-ons) presented a challenge I couldn’t resist. Enter both the book and film, “Postcards from the Edge,” Carrie Fisher’s somewhat autobiographical tale of her relationship with her mother, Debbie Reynolds. It suggested that all is not rosy for the children of famous celebrities and got me wondering what would happen if a teenager suddenly had to compete with her mother’s fans and entourage when her mother became famous. All those notions came together as inspiration when I wrote this manuscript, although it’s based on none of them.
My goal down the road is to write older heroines. I don’t feel I’m there yet in my career, so instead, in some of my stories I’ve been creating what I feel are interesting, vibrant though maybe not entirely likeable older women as secondary characters.

Is it part of a series?
It wasn’t written with that intent nor do I have a sequel or follow-up stories planned. But never say never.

Have you ever spotted anyone reading your books anywhere?
Wish I could say yes, but no, I haven’t. Not yet. But I recently had a woman friend tell me she read as much of my book as she could one night until two in the morning and then had to finish it the next morning when she woke up. That was rewarding as well.

If your latest book was made into a film, who would you cast?
An auburn-haired Emma Stone would play Dina Maitland, the heroine. Julianne Moore would play her movie star mother, Jocelyn Maitland. Paul Walker of “Fast and Furious” fame would be Ben Cutler, the hero (I must have a thing for this type; I thought of him for the hero in another of my books in progress). And the son, Rick? I never thought of this until you asked, but how about Justin Bieber?

Who designs your book covers?
Debbie Taylor

What's your favourite Chick Lit book that made it to the big screen? 
“Under the Tuscan Sun” followed by “The Devil Wears Prada”
I’ve never been to Tuscany. It’s on my bucket list. The cinematography in this film is gorgeous. It always makes me happy when I watch the movie again. Also, the friendship between Diane Lane and the then less-known Sandra Oh is special. The movie is just charming.
As for “Prada,” as much as I loved Anne Hathaway’s performance, my girl Meryl was fantastic. She brought her character to life.

Name one of your favourite Chick Lit books?
The Boyfriend of the Month Club by Maria Geraci. It takes place in Florida, where I live half the year.

Name one female author who you think deserves to be better known.
As above, Maria Geraci. Maria is fast making a name for herself in the publishing world. In 2013, she was a Rita finalist for A Girl Like You. Love her tongue-in-cheek approach to humor. Full disclosure: she’s also a member of my SpaceCoast Authors of Romance chapter.

Where do you write?
I have my own office. In Florida, it’s the third bedroom, so my L-shaped desk shares the room with a tomato red microfiber sleeper sofa, a permanent resident. That thing nearly caused heart attacks with all three men who carried it in eight years ago and almost took out the archway over the door. It is remaining with the condo ‘til the end of time.
This is the one room where any of my handiwork is on display. I made the curtains that drape the two windows facing the courtyard below (complete with five palm trees) and two tan canvas throw pillows from a Waverly fabric that features red typeset letters in Courier font. Very writerish. On the wall to my right hang three pictures of my muses framed in red matte: Linda Howard, Nora Roberts and Janet Evanovich. On the other side of that wall is a huge Keith Haring print I inherited from my son. Haring’s five people forms are dominated by a mouse figure wearing big yellow sunglasses, my homage to the famous mouse who dominates this central area of Florida.
Though I love “clean space” and strive to keep some on my desk, when I’m in the midst of writing, which is almost always, that kind of property is extremely scarce. My best attempt at organization is keeping as much as possible in stacks. My two-drawer filing cabinet is filled to capacity with various folders and binders. I love manila folders. They make me feel like I’m on top of things, although they probably contribute to my frequent searches for lost documents, since I tend to stick things in them and forget what I put where. I love see-through acrylic folders with string clasps even more, because I let myself believe I can actually see the contents within. I live in self-delusion, since I cram at least an inch and a half worth of paper in there.
Lest you get the impression that the artiste has completely taken over my decorating efforts, photos of my friends, children, grandchildren and my wonderful spouse take the place of honor on two walls. As much as I need my space and alone time when writing, I need them with me in spirit, cheering me on.

In the movie of your life, who would play you?

Photo credit: Disney | ABC Television Group via photopin cc

Sally Field. She’s about the same age and height. I think we sound a bit alike. I like her energy and fire when she’s playing a role, whether it’s Gidget, the mother on “Brothers and Sisters,” or Mary Todd Lincoln.

Speed Round...
Top drink to make you tipsy? Kir Royale (I can get tipsy on just about anything. I chose something that sounded cool.)
Shopaholic or shopadon't? Shopasaleoccasionallyolic
Sky high heels or closer to the ground? Flat.
E.L. James or Jilly Cooper? Neither
Cry baby or tough cookie? Tough cookie, soft center

Barbara Barrett spent her professional career as a human resources analyst for Iowa state government, and that training has stayed with her in her writing of contemporary romance fiction. Now retired, Barbara spends her winters basking in the Florida sunshine and returns to her home state of Iowa in the summer to “stay cool.” Her first two books, The Sleepover Clause, Crimson Romance, and And He Cooks Too, The Wild Rose Press, were published in the past year. A third, Driven to Matrimony, TWRP, is available on Amazon for Kindle and will be released worldwide on January 15, 2014. 

Buy Links

Driven to Matrimony
http://amzn.to/1aowiJ2

The Sleepover Clause
Amazon ebook, Amazon POD
Barnes and Noble
iTunes
iBookstore
Kobo

And He Cooks Too
The Wild Rose Press, TWRP POD
Amazon Kindle, Amazon POD
Barnes and Noble Nook
iTunes
iBookstore POD
Kobo