So happy to have my friend, Charlotte Phillips visiting with me today! Charlotte and I met when she joined the local RNA (RWA equivalent) Chapter for Bath & Wiltshire. She is a lovely, lovely woman and a great writer. Over to you, my lovely!
Thanks so much for having me on your blog!
I’m so happy to be here :0)
1)
What is your writing routine?
I try to write Monday to Friday from 10am
to 1pm, but that varies all the time depending on what else I have on. Writing
can be bumped by anything from school sports days to family illness. I am also
not very good at saying ‘no’ and because I don’t actually ‘go out’ to work
people (my mother for example) don’t think twice about dropping in. This is
lovely, but extremely disruptive! I try not to write at the weekend and focus
on my family instead, but I may make notes by hand or check emails, that kind
of thing, when I have a spare moment.
2)
Which is your favorite romance
subgenre to read? To write?
To read it’s definitely contemporary
romance, ideally with a comedy element, and I like to write in exactly the same
subgenre. My favourite romance author is Jill Mansell, I love her mix of
characters and funny situations. I wish I could make it look as effortless as
she does!
3)
What do you expect from an
editor?
I expect honesty. How that is delivered
depends on the person, but I’ve been very lucky with the three editors I’ve
worked with so far. All of them have been extremely good at being critical
without being brutal. My skin is thin! When I first had the chance to work with
an editor I was amazed at how objectively they see the project that you are
sleeping and breathing, and I’ve had so many editorial suggestions that I wish
I’d thought of. I expect to be pushed and although I may whinge about it,
that’s a good thing. My editors have pushed me to do better than I ever thought
I could.
4)
What are you working on right
now?
I’m just finishing the second of three
linked stories I’m writing for HarperImpulse, working title Room Service. They are funny, sexy
romantic stories that stand alone, but are linked by the same backdrop – an
exclusive boutique hotel in London. The first in the series, Your Room Or Mine? is currently
available from all digital outlets. When I’ve finished this I will be starting
work on a continuity book for Harlequin KISS, scheduled for next summer. That
will be a very exciting experience for me, collaborating with three other
authors.
5)
Your biggest piece of advice to
aspiring novelists?
Have a daily word count. I started off
aiming for 1k a day. Once I achieved that, I moved onto other tasks like
housework. It’s amazing how quickly that adds up into a book, and it also
enabled me to balance the demands of family life and writing without too much
guilt, particularly before I was published. Now I’m writing for two publishers
I aim for 2k a day.
6)
Tease us with a blurb or short
excerpt
All Bets Are On – Harlequin KISS August
2013
The
stakes are high, but the prize is worth it! Ask Alice Ford to shine in the
boardroom and it's a done deal. Ask her to go on a first date, however, and
she's a quivering mess! So, when she discovers that she's the target of an
office bet-to get her into bed-it's her professional nightmare!
Office
legend Harry Stephens is her unlikely saviour. He even volunteers to teach her
just how to avoid a heartbreaker. After all, it takes one to know one....
But
what is Harry really after? And when his kisses throw a curveball into the
situation, is Alice ready to gamble everything for love?
7)
What was your favorite subject
in school and why?
English. I’ve always been more academic
than sporty and English was my favourite subject all through school, especially
creative writing. And some of the books I studied for A-Level English Lit are
still among my all time favourites.
8)
What is your favorite dessert?
Apple and blackberry crumble, even in the
height of summer. And if I say so myself, I make a mean one!
9)
High heels, sneakers or flip
flops?
Excellent question! Flip flops definitely.
My days of heels are on the dwindle. Although I recently spent far too much on
a pair of shoe boots from Jigsaw that are utterly gorgeous and that I will
hardly ever get the chance to wear!
10)
Where can readers find you?
My website is www.charlottephillipsbooks.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/charlieflips
My first book, All Bets Are On, for
Harlequin KISS is released this month (August).
Available from Amazon US: www.amazon.com/All-Bets-Are-Harlequin-Kiss/dp/0373207263/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373189439&sr=1-1
Or the Book Depository with free worldwide
delivery www.bookdepository.co.uk/All-Bets-Are-on-Charlotte-Phillips/9780373207268
Loved this interview! Looking forward to reading Charlotte's next Harper Impulse books :)
ReplyDeleteHi Mandy! Thanks so much for dropping in. And thank you, lovely Rachel, for hosting me! Xx
ReplyDeleteGreat interview ladies. I love crumble too but I'm too lazy to make it :) Can't wait to start reading All Bets are On Charlotte, it sounds like another fab read!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Christy! X
ReplyDelete