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Interview with Sue Watson
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with Sue Watson

Q: Why is writing a passion for you?
That’s a really good question and I have a theory on this. I always wanted to be an actress and as a teenager spent a great deal of time involved in drama groups and studied English and Drama for my university degree. However, for some reason I gravitated towards the writing side of drama and ended up working in TV writing scripts and developing programme ideas. When I left my career to write I suddenly felt alive again and escaping into each character’s life was just like acting. There’s a great deal of me in Stella the heroine in Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes, so it was easy to get inside her head, but I believe my drama training also enabled me to get inside the other characters too. I like to think as a result of this the dialogue and actions are real and the people in my books are fully developed and believable.
Q: What gave you the idea for Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes? And how did you come up with the hilarious title?
The idea had been in my head for years. A friend once told me she felt she was wasting her life and would love to leave the corporate world she worked in to stay at home to look after her kids and bake fairy cakes all day. She never did make her escape …life got in the way as it usually does… but she planted the seed for Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes. I was working long hours away from home and I completely related to my friend’s desire to chase her dreams before it was too late. For me the idea of being in a warm vanilla scented house waiting for another batch of cakes to come from the oven filled me with calm. It made me realise that there must be more to life than struggling on a daily basis to give an impossible 100% to everyone and everything. This made me think about the possibility of a different life – so when I left the frantic world of television I realised my dream to write. At the same time, I’m just like Stella in the book and I find deep comfort in the bottom of the mixing bowl and I always write at the kitchen table so I can be near the oven!
The title Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes came to me one day while I was having lunch with two friends. We were talking about cake and weight and it just amused me that three curvy ladies were worrying about how fat they were while obsessing about which cakes to choose for dessert!
Q: Are you currently working on another novel?
Yes, I have almost finished The Terrible Truth About Tanya Travis – my second novel, which is about a daytime talk show host with a dark secret. It’s written in the same style and is funny like Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes – it’s also set in the crazy world of television but it deals with slightly darker themes and is partly set in the hauntingly beautiful Nepal…. where a woman’s secret can stay hidden for many years.
Q: Do you have a certain writing schedule you try to stick to?
I do have a writing schedule – but I rarely stick to it! I have terrible self-discipline and ideally I should sit at my desk and write from 9 in the morning until 5 in the evening, but I don’t. I find all kinds of excuses to leave my desk – I bake, clean the cooker, call friends, blog, Tweet, text, FB – in fact I do any kind of writing other than the novel! It’s mad because once I sit down to write I can’t stop, I completely love it and immerse myself in the places and people I write about. It’s just the initial sitting down to start the process that I find hard. I am discovering a lot about myself through writing – and one of those things is that I am a deadline junkie. If my publisher gives me a date they need the book finished, I’ll do it – but will probably work 24/7 through several nights to get it done.
Q: Who are some authors that you would love to work with?
I would find it difficult to actually collaborate with another author as for me writing really is a solitary pastime. But there are authors I would love to have around while I’m writing. If I could share a desk with anyone it would be Jen Lancaster, whose book Such a Pretty Fat is one of the bravest, funniest books I’ve ever read. I think her ‘don’t give a damn’ humour, obsession with trashy reality shows and love/hate relationship with fabulous food must make us writing ‘twins!’ Yes, Jen is welcome to join me with her laptop at my kitchen table where we could share jokes and doughnuts while we write (though the commute between Chicago and Worcestershire in the UK might be a bit much and I think she’d miss her doggies!)
Q: Did you use any critique partners or beta readers during your writing process?
I was very lucky and have a lovely editor, Jo Doyle, who guided me through the whole re-editing process and I learned so much from her. Jo selfishly went off to have a rather gorgeous baby girl to match her delicious little boy, but I think she’s realised her priorities and will be back by my side shortly to turn Tanya Travis into a work of art! 
I asked a very good and honest friend to critique my book in the final stages, and my best friend helped with the ending over a few glasses of red. For the next book I have asked a couple of friends if they’d be kind enough to get involved in the early stages (ie read the first draft) for me and I am delighted to say they’ve agreed. I think early input from honest friends/readers will be really useful as they will bring a fresh perspective to the writing and perhaps come up with solutions for any knotty plot problems.
Q: What is your favorite desert- be specific!
Now that’s a tricky one because I have a short list of about 700! I adore Chocolate fudge cake, Raspberry Pavlova and homemade strawberry shortcake – but my favorite is a really chocolatey mousse with a consistency so thick it sticks to the roof of your mouth and fills your heart with melted chocolate. AND it’s a pre-requisite that all the above have to be steeped in heavy cream.
Q: Can you share any of your favorite recipes with us?
I have lots of favorite recipes, but the one I love the most is my white chocolate and cranberry Christmas Fairies which are in the book. Stella creates the most amazing cakes and tarts from Chocolate Chilli Cha Cha Fairies to Inebriated Christmas Tarts and when you’ve finished the novel, you’ll find all the recipes at the back. The recipes are my own original ‘designs’ and have been triple tested to be utterly fabulous!
Q: Where would be your dream vacation?
My family and I LOVE the US. We have holidayed in Florida several times (my husband is now a big Rays fan) and in April this year we visited New York which was amazing – especially the bakeries … and the cupcake possibilities were endless. However, we’re hoping to go on our dream destination next Summer and visit California – I’m dying to see LA and San Francisco. I may even set the sequel to Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes somewhere around Hollywood – I think Stella, Al and Lizzie would just LOVE a little bit of film star fairy cake action.
Q: What is your advice for aspiring writers?
Never give up.
I have written about my own rocky road to publishing on the Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes Blog and I have been very honest. Writing a book isn’t easy, it can be fun and wonderful, but it’s not easy, but the hardest part is sending it to publishing houses and agents and receiving the inevitable rejections…. then starting all over again. It’s important to fight the natural instinct to give up because it’s so hard to keep believing in yourself when it seems that nobody else does. Around the time the millionth rejection comes in your friends (and even family) will probably start to question what you’re doing and why you are doing it. This makes you question yourself. Go through this process and don’t blame anyone for giving up on you, it’s human nature… just never, ever give up on yourself. I never gave up because deep down I believed I had something special and I just needed to convince everyone else and in order to do that I HAD to keep sending my book out and live with the hurt of more rejections.
Several years down the line with a three book deal the secret is – I never gave up, and that really is the key. To hold that book in my hand and be asked to do lovely interviews like this one is worth all the effort and the doubts and the pain – honestly.
Ask questions about your work, show everyone, anyone. Attend writing classes, edit and re-edit your work – even start again – but if this is really what you want then just stay focused and keep those three little words in your head. DON’T GIVE UP.
Visit Susan’s Website!
Find Susan on Facebook!

February 21, 2012
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Author Profile: Alison Pace
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Alison Pace

Author Name: Alison Pace
Website: http://www.alisonpace.com/
Bio: Alison Pace is the author of the novels If Andy Warhol Had a Girlfriend, Pug Hill, Through Thick and Thin, City Dog, and A Pug’s Tale. Her essays have appeared in several anthologies including It’s a Wonderful Lie: The Truth About Life in Your Twenties, Everything I Needed to Know about Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume, and Howl: A Collection of the Best Contemporary Dog Wit.
Alison lives in New York City where she teaches creative writing and is at work on another book.
Her favorite city other than New York is Rome. Her favorite books, music, and TV shows change constantly though there will always be a special place in her heart for Willie Nelson, Cake, Wuthering Heights, and Will & Grace; her favorite movies are When Harry Met Sally, Manhattan, and Best In Show; her favorite movie line is from Rushmore when Luke Wilson says, “These are my O.R. scrubs,” to which Jason Schwartzman replies, “Oh, are they?”
See my four star review of A Pug’s Tale!
Bio retrieved from alisonpace.com

January 12, 2012
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Author Profile: Victoria Connelly
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Victoria Connelly

Author Name: Victoria Connelly

Website: http://victoriaconnelly.com/

Bio: Victoria Connelly grew up in Norfolk before attending Worcester University where she studied English Literature. After graduating, she worked her way through a number of jobs before becoming a teacher in North Yorkshire. In 2000, she got married in a medieval castle in the Yorkshire Dales and moved to London.
Although having had articles and short stories published, it was only when Flights of Angels was published that Victoria was able to realise the dream of becoming a professional writer. Bought in a bidding war between five publishers and released as Unter deinem Stern in Germany, the novel was made into a film for television by award-winning Ziegler Film. Her second novel, The Unmasking of Elena Montella (Wenn es dich gibt), was published in 2007 and her third, Three Graces (Wohin mit der Liebe), was published in 2009.

Her first novel to be published in the UK – Molly’s Millions – came out in 2009. She is currently working on a trilogy about Jane Austen addicts. The first, A Weekend with Mr Darcy, was published in the UK by Avon, HarperCollins, and was published in the US by Sourcebooks in July 2011. The second in the trilogy, The Perfect Hero, was published in the UK in April 2011 and will be published in the US as Dreaming of Mr Darcy. The third book, Mr Darcy Forever, will be published in the US in April 2012.

Her next book to be published in the UK will be The Runaway Actress – a romantic comedy about a movie star who swaps Hollywood for the Highlands.

Victoria’s three fantasy rom coms, previously published in Germany, are now available in English on Kindle and other ebook formats.

She lives in London with her artist husband, a springer spaniel and four ex-battery hens.
See my review of The Perfect Hero

Bio Retrieved from victoriaconnelly.com

September 8, 2011
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Guest Post from Cynthia Ellingsen
For Writers

Guest Post from Cynthia Ellingsen

Chick Lit Plus, thank you so much for hosting me today! I am delighted to talk with you about the writing process for my first book, The Whole Package.

The Whole Package is a story about three women who lose everything. One loses her job, one loses her fortune and one loses her husband. Together, they open the world’s first restaurant exclusively staffed by scantily clad men. Even though this is a comical premise, the story is actually about the strong friendship these three women share.

Because the story I wanted to write was based around three strong distinct female characters, I was faced with the task of creating them. Before I could even get started, I thought a lot about what I wanted from the three of them as a unit. It was important to me that these women were fine interesting and entertaining, as well as the best of friends. Then, I started thinking about what I wanted from them on an individual basis. I wanted characters that women could easily relate to but at the same time were interesting and unique.

Creating a character from scratch has to start somewhere, right? When I was writing the character Jackie, I had no idea where to start. I knew I wanted someone artistic, enigmatic and who was the pack leader, but I know anything about her. Well… I did have a fabulous friend who loved Angel perfume. For some reason, the smell of this perfume made me think of a woman with fluffy blonde hair, who charmed absolutely everyone who met her. Angel perfume. Such a tiny detail. It’s small, but it was more than enough to begin building who Jackie would become.

While a painter might use broad brush strokes to create a painting, I have always found that when I use broad strokes to write, those characters end up well… broad. There is an expression that “God is in the details” and I find that to be especially true when trying to invent a character. It is very hard for me to create a character without knowing the tiny little details about that person.

What do I mean when I say broad brush strokes? A broad brush stroke is like saying, “I want to have a comical best friend in my story.” A broad character trait like comical is not something I have an easy time writing if I don’t know those tiny little details that make up who this comical person is.

In The Whole Package, I think of Doris as a comical character. But the thing that make her so funny to me are the details and aspects of her personality – the things that she likes and dislikes – that make her come to life. For example, when building Doris, I knew that she had a weakness for Godiva chocolates, that her favorite time period was when she played soccer in high school and that finding simple order in a white room or a row of perfectly lined up sweaters brought her joy. Knowing these tiny details about Doris made it much easier to delve into the larger issues that make her she is.

Once I had a grasp on the smaller details, I started to put the puzzle pieces together to create the whole. During this process, I learned that Doris loved Godiva chocolates because she was going through a hard time and found comfort in chocolate. The fact that these chocolates were Godiva served as another clue – Doris clearly had some money if she could purchase premium chocolates instead of something you’d grab at the checkout.

Another piece I paid attention to was the knowledge that Doris also found comfort in a white room and a clean house. Again, comfort. Why did she need so much comfort? Well, that’s when I started to discover that there was a lot going on with Doris. That there was a reason Doris needed all of that comfort. It was because she had lost her mother, was desperately unhappy and living in the past. Oh. And she was married. And that her husband didn’t understand the depression she was going through, which was pushing him away and…

Doris began to develop as a character.

Of course, every writer is different. Ultimately, it’s just a matter of finding what works for you. In the end, there’s really only one thing that matters: that you have fallen in love with your characters. That you’ll miss them when they’re not around every day, telling you their problems. It’s that moment of complete, pure love that means you’re on the right track.

Let me know your writing tips and tricks. Visit me at www.cynthiaellingsen.com

September 6, 2011
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Interview with Marybeth Whalen
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with Marybeth Whalen

Q: Have you always known you wanted to be a writer?

I always knew I was a writer down deep. It took a lot longer for me to admit I wanted to be one to myself– and especially to other people.

Q: Are your stories inspired by your own life, or lives of people you know?

My stories are always inspired by my own life. I have heard it said that novelists have good “what iffers.” We see something and we start the “What if?” game. Pretty soon we have the core of a novel. That’s what happened with my new novel, She Makes It Look Easy. I asked myself what if a woman who has it all together finds herself in an unavoidable situation. How does she respond and does she keep it all together or willingly lose it for something that looks better than the life she thought she wanted? And what if a friend who admired her watched all this transpire? What would that do to her illusion of perfection?

Q: When you are in the writing process, is there a specific time of day that you get most of your writing done? Do you have any set schedule you follow?

I try to write every day when my youngest is in Transitional Kindergarten. I really try to guard that time, which means no errands, fun lunches, with friends, volunteering at my kids’ school, etc. That means I write from 9-1 M-F. During huge deadlines, I will also go off on Saturdays for the day to a coffee shop and my husband will hold down the fort so I can get a chunk of work done. I have also been known to check into a hotel for a weekend and work round the clock, sleeping only when I have to. Whatever it takes.

Q: Your second novel, She Makes It Look Easy, will be available in June. Can you tell us about this book in twenty words or less?

This book is for every woman who has ever looked at another woman and thought “I want what she has.”

Q: Can you talk to us about the process of finding a publisher. Did you have an agent, how did you query, etc.?

I do have an agent that I connected with through a friend. That’s how I sold both my novels– through agents who sold to a publisher. I would encourage people to make those wonderful writing connections through conferences, online, etc. Don’t do it to gain something, but also be ready for those connections to benefit you in surprising ways!

Q: What was the most challenging part of the writing process for you?

Revision kicks my butt every time. I always claim I hate the book, should’ve never written the first word, etc. I also always go to my husband and ask if we could give the advance back. He always says no. We have six kids. It’s gone. Now get to work. 🙂

Q: You have six children! I’ll ask the obvious- how do you keep up with everything?

Because of the way my husband and I have chosen to raise our family, my family has to come first. At this stage of my life, the writing has to fit into my family life– not the other way around. However as my kids are getting older I am seeing that there will be more pockets of time to write. My ability to write will grow with my kids. So for that reason I really try to enjoy what I have with them now while I have it. But for now I am comfortable with doing a book a year, Lord willing! That seems to work for my family.

Q: On top of your writing and your family, you run a fantastic blog! I love that you have a category for each day. Do you think having blogs and social networking accounts are a must for authors these days?

I think having some sort of presence on the internet is expected by readers at this point. I know now when I read a new author, I go look up her blog, twitter, etc. because I want to know more about her. It’s rare I see an author not have one. Of course I am not talking about all authors because there are some who just don’t play the game and they are good enough to get away with that. But for mere mortals like myself, I think a blog, a twitter account, a facebook page, etc. are all good things to invest some time in. Having the daily categories has helped me a tremendous amount. It’s taken away that “what in the world do I write about today??” question. I am all about making things as easy and simple as possible in all areas of my life. If it’s not easy and simple, chances are I am going to shy away from it.

Q: Where would be your dream vacation?

An extended trip to the UK where I got to see both David Gray and The Blue Nile perform. But coming in a close second is a month at my beloved Sunset Beach, where my first novel The Mailbox is set.

Q: What is your best advice for aspiring writers?

Write regularly. Write the novel of your heart. Don’t worry about publication right now. Just write the novel you want to read. Someone said that to me once and it’s what ultimately got me to write The Mailbox. Boy am I glad I did!

August 4, 2011
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Author Profile: Lori Foster
Chick Lit Authors

Author Profile: Lori Foster

Author Name: Lori Foster

Website: http://www.lorifoster.com/home.php

Bio: Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a Waldenbooks, Borders, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette and Samhain. She is currently with Berkley/Jove.
Lori believes it’s important to give back to the community as much as possible, and for that reason she ran special contests in conjunction with a publisher, facilitating many first sales for new authors. She routinely organizes events among authors and readers to gather donations for various organizations.
Recent Titles: When You Dare, Trace of Fever
See my reviews of When You Dare and Trace of Fever
Bio Retrieved from lorifoster.com

July 26, 2011
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Guest Post by Deborah Cloyed
For Writers

Guest Post by Deborah Cloyed

Living Life and Writing Fiction The number one question I get about the book is how much it is based on real life people and…

May 31, 2011
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Interview with Laura Dave
Chick Lit Authors

Interview with Laura Dave

Q: Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

Always. My father used to read to me every night when he came home from work, and it made me fall in love with books and writing. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to write myself.

Q: Do you have a certain writing routine?

I’m actually pretty disciplined. I go to the same coffee shop every weekday morning, put on my headphones, and write for 4-5 hours. Then I take a lunch break. When work is going well, I will sometimes have a night session also. The quirkiest part of my writing routine is that I always listen to music while I’m working–and usually the same song on repeat. The song changes with each book. For The First Husband, I listened to The National quite a bit.

Q: What is the hardest part for you during the writing process?

Starting a new project is always the hardest part. I will often write and re-write the first 60 pages of a novel for months and months. Then something will click and I can finish the book in less time than those first 60 pages took to figure out. That is the exciting part for me: When I finally know where I want to go with a story, I really start to enjoy myself.

Q: Where does the inspiration for your stories come from?

It always comes form a question I can’t stop thinking about often deriving from events in my life, and the life of my friends. With my first novel, London Is The Best City In America, the question was: how do we choose a life? With The Divorce Party, The question was: how do we forgive? And with The First Husband it is: how do we find the place we belong?

Q: How did you find your agent?

I met my agent at an amazing writer’s conference in Tennessee called The Sewanee Writers’ Conference. I highly recommend writers conferences as a place to personally connect with agents, editors, and other writers. They can be invaluable

Q: If you hadn’t been a writer, what career would you be doing?

I love music, so I’d like to say a soundtrack producer on a television show or for the movies. That’s an alternate fantasy of mine.

Q: Can you describe your latest novel, The First Husband, in twenty words or less?

When a woman’s longterm boyfriend leaves her, she marries a new man three months later in reaction. Heartbreak (and happiness!) ensue.

Q: How important do you think social media is these days for authors?

I think it can be very important. It allows you to be in conversation with your readers which is priceless. And, for me, very enjoyable. I love hearing my readers’ stories and thoughts, and hearing what they thought about mine. Social media provides a platform (like we’ve never had before) for all of that.

Q: My favorite magazine, Cosmopolitan, named you a “Fun and Fearless Phenom of the Year” in 2008. What does an achievement like that mean to you?

It means so much to me! To be honored among such inspiring women still feels like a dream come true. And I adore Kate White, Cosmopolitan’s Editor in Chief. So getting to spend time with her was special for me.

Q: What is your best advice for aspiring writers?

Commit to your writing. This could mean going to a writing program, or it could mean giving yourself two hours before work of uninterrupted writing time. The key is honoring the commitment. The same way you brush your teeth, or exercise, you should decide it is something that you just do. No excuses. And, once you are used to doing it, give yourself a word count to reach. It can be 500 words a session, it can be 250. But nothing makes you feel more like a writer than actually seeing your progress.

Q: Where would be your dream vacation?

My fiance and I took a trip to Italy last year that I could do every year happily, forever. I fell madly in love with Italy’s Amalfi Coast, and can’t wait to go back.

May 14, 2011
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Debut Author Spotlight: Jesi Lea Ryan
Chick Lit Authors

Debut Author Spotlight: Jesi Lea Ryan

Debut Author: Jesi Lea Ryan
Debut Novel: Four Thousand Miles

Jesi and I connected through the great land of Twitter, and she offered to send me a copy of her debut novel, Four Thousand Miles. I gratefully accepted, another book to read and another new author to meet, and Jesi agreed to do a Q&A session with me. After checking out her blog, http://diaryofabibliophile-jesilea.blogspot.com/, I found out we are from the same hometown of Dubuque, Iowa- we even went to the same high school, just during separate years. What a small world! Jesi was really inspiring to chat with, and gave some great insight on why she decided to begin her journey as a writer without an agent. She works with a fabulous publishing company, DCL Publications, and is steadily writing her second novel- which I can’t wait for! Four Thousand Miles was a terrific story filled with romance, uncertainty, and my favorite part- travel! Read a clip of my review:

“Natalie was a terrific heroine, and I supported her when she boarded that plane to London. There were real people with real problems going through the motions and figuring out their lives. And I love that! I think Jesi Lea Ryan did an outstanding job in Four Thousand Miles, and I hope she has more for us soon.”

So please check out Jesi Lea Ryan by checking out her blog or follow her on Facebook or Twitter. You can find your copy of Four Thousand Miles at DCL Publications.

January 4, 2011
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