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Alexandra Potter is one of my favourite authors. Her books are so quirky, so different to most Chick Lit and it really sets her apart. Her first ever novel What’s New Pussycat? is being re-released this week (and it looks amazing!) and we have an interview with the lovely Alexandra for you all, with news on her new book, too!

1. Can you tell us a little bit about your latest novel to be re-jacketed, What’s New Pussycat, which is out in September?

What’s New, Pussycat? was my first ever book and because of that I hold it dear in my heart. It’s semi-autobiographical in many ways, the main character, Delilah, lives in Yorkshire and dreams of escaping to London, as I did in my early 20s, and the novel traces her journey which is not just geographical but a voyage of discovery about her own self.

I had so many dreams writing this book, and it’s the book that launched my writing career, and so re-reading it again, over ten years later, is almost like a time capsule. It takes me back to that time when, aged 28, I sat down and decided to write ‘that book’ that I’d always talked about.

Writing that book was such an exciting fun time for me. It took six months - the quickest book I’ve ever written - as the words and characters just flowed out of me. It was as if I’d had this story inside me and it was just bursting to get out. Writer’s block is only something I get now!!

I still love the characters of Delilah, Sam, Charlie and the completely barmy Vivienne. Probably even more so, as reading about them again was almost like meeting old friends years later and realising how much you’ve missed them.
It was this idea that led to me thinking that I’d like to update their stories. To find out what they would be doing now, over 10 years since we left them, and so I sat down and wrote both a Prologue and Epilogue to go with this new re-jacketed version.

I think readers who read the book originally will love to find out what happened to Deliah and Sam, it’s like looking on Facebook and finding out what happened to your long-lost friends, and for new readers it gives them a chance to get to know the characters and the story of how they all met, before coming back to the present.

As for the new jacket, don’t you just love it? The designer, Alice, is just so talented and I’ve loved all my covers, but I particularly adore this one.

2. Are you working on a new novel yet? Is there anything you can tell us about if so (what it’s about, release date)?

Yes, I most certainly am! I’ve been working on the new book for the past year and it’s another magical romantic comedy. I can’t tell you too much about it at this stage without giving the plot away, but I will say that I do think it’s something that everyone will be able to relate to. It’s definitely something that has happened to me, and like all my books has left me wondering ‘What If?’…

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A short while back I had the pleasure of reading a little novel called My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend. It’s written by Elodia Strain and it has the weird quirk of having been a film BEFORE it became a book! Both the book and the movie are great and are different enough from each other to not be annoying! So, obviously, I was intrigued about the coming about of it so when Danielle set up an interview for me with Elodia, I was thrilled! Here’s the results (and it’s pretty awesome, I have to say as Elodia is one of the nicest authors ever!). Enjoy!

1. Would you please describe My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend for us in five words?

Fun, unique, uplifting, surprising, sweet.

2. Are you currently working on a new novel? If you are, can you tell us anything about it?

I am! It’s another Chick Lit novel. It takes place in Seattle and covers some topics that are very of-the-moment. And it’s full of comedy. The main character is quirky and fun, and she gets herself into some pretty interesting scrapes. I’m having a lot of fun getting to know her.

3. Firstly, can you tell us a bit about why whomever it was (I can’t find anything that says if it was yourself who wanted to do it, or the publishers, hence why I can’t clarify) wanted a book version of My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend? Obviously books-to-movies happens, but rarely is there a movie-to-book!

This book came to be in the most amazing way! The acquisitions editor at my publishing house attended a film festival to see if there were any films that the company might be interested in distributing or adapting. She saw the movie and immediately fell in love. Soon, my publisher struck a deal with the writer and director of the movie, Daryn Tufts, and unbeknownst to me gave him my name and my previous books to read. A week later, I got an email from the acquisitions editor asking if I’d be interested in adapting the movie into a book, and I haven’t looked back since!

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I recently read Lucy-Anne Holmes’ third novel Unlike A Virgin, and thought it was one of the funniest books I’ve read all year, whilst managing to run a poignant and sweet story all the way through too. I wanted to interview Lucy about her new book, her new publishing deal with Little, Brown and her thoughts on some other things, and I was lucky enough to get the chance! Here’s my interview with the lovely Lucy-Anne Holmes, enjoy!

Q1. Tell us about your new book ‘Unlike A Virgin’.

Unlike A Virgin is about Gracie Flowers, a brilliant estate agent and all round sorted young lady, with her own flat and a handsome steady fella. But Gracie’s controlled life starts to unravel at a ferocious rate and she begins to wonder whether she’s become the woman she was supposed to.

Q2. Gracie Flowers is a fantastic character - are you anything like her?! Do you ever base your characters on real people?

Thank you! I love her. No, sadly she’s nothing like me! She’s far braver and stronger than me and I really can’t sing a note. Sarah Sargeant, the scatty, slightly alcoholic heroine of my last two books is much more like me! I have based characters on real people but they tend to morph away from the person I know while I’m writing them.

Q3. This book felt a bit more serious than your two previous novels featuring the character ‘Sarah Sargeant’. Was it a conscious decision to make the tone slightly more serious or did it just happen as you were writing the book? I have to say I was still regularly laughing out loud throughout though!

Oooo, interesting question. Well, I had the idea for the Gracie Flowers story and really fell for it and for her and I just wanted to write it and do it justice. I think this book has a bigger heart than the last two and it didn’t seem right to make it quite as rude and bawdy as the Sarah Sargeant ones. I am glad you still chuckled in parts though. I was pleased when my sister read an early draft and I heard her guffaw.

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Recently we were given the brilliant opportunity to interview one of the biggest names in Chick Lit, Jackie Collins. With over two dozen books and connections to nearly everyone in Hollywood Jackie is certainly a star in her own right. Her new book Goddess of Vengeance is due out this week and we’re extremely excited to share with you some fabulous news about what’s to come for this Best Selling Literary Goddess! Take a look!

1. Lucky is back! This is fantastic news for fans of the series especially, as she’s one of your most (if not most) beloved characters. I know you’ve made mention of potentially writing stories based potentially on Max as well as Billy, but do you feel like this is the final book focused on Lucky or could there be more?

Lucky is like a James Bond for women! She’s smart, beautiful, sassy, wild, vulnerable and totally kick ass. She will always be around!

2. When you first started writing your novels way back when, did you expect that come 2011 you’d have so many books published and you’d be the Queen of Women’s Fiction? I mean, there’s just no one around with your longevity and your books are consistently good and consistently sell well!

It’s so crazy! And I love it! My message to women - girls can do anything! I was thrown out of school at 15, and 28 best selling books later…

3. I saw a Tweet you wrote a while back that says your book aren’t edited, is that really true? Your books go out as you write them with no changes whatsoever?

I have a wonderful editor who gives great suggestions and then basically leaves me alone until I deliver a finished manuscript.

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Jane Lovering has had two books released this year through Choc Lit publishing, Please Don’t Stop The Music and Starstruck and I thoroughly enjoyed both. I was thrilled when we were recently allowed to ask Jane some questions and here’s what she had to say!

1. Describe your latest novel Starstruck in five words!

Funny, real, heartbreaking, character-led and..err…another word… my favourite word at the moment is ‘susurration’. Nothing to do with Starstruck, but a damn good word.

2. Are you currently working on a third novel for Choc Lit? (I really hope the answer to this is yes!) If you are, can you tell us anything about it?

Well, thank you! And - yes. I’ve actually just signed the contract for my third Choc Lit book, which is about vampires and their inherent desire to rule the world through designer clothing and really good admin skills. It’s another romantic comedy, but it’s a very different take on the usual vampire novel - this one is set in York, where the vampires are kept in check by a council-employed Liaison Officer. Who is, basically, pretty rubbish.

3. Starstruck is set in the Nevada desert, at a Fallen Skies convention, was the convention based on a real convention that takes place in Nevada or is it entirely fictional?

Whisper this, but I made it all up. I have absolutely no idea if there’re any similar conventions in Nevada, but, given the events of the book, I rather doubt it. Well, I hope not, anyway. And Fallen Skies is a completely made-up series, harking back to my long-running desire to write science fiction (and if any Sci Fi producers are reading this, I can knock you up a set of scripts…)

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Just recently I read and loved(!) Thank You For Flying Air Zoe by Erik Atwell. It was an awesome book. Seriously, folks. It’s the best $2.99 you can ever spend, although if you don’t have an e-reader you’ll have to buy that also… (but you can also get it in paperback, but not for $2.99, obviously — and you can of course head here to try and win a copy of the novel during our giveaway for Thank You For Flying Air Zoe). I loved the book and I was very pleased to chat with Erik back and forth and be able to do an interview with him. Here it is for your pleasure! Enjoy!

1. Would you please describe Thank You For Flying Air Zoe in five words?

Snapping, crackling pop music mayhem!

2. Are you currently working on a second novel? (Please say yes, please say yes!) If you are, can you tell us anything about it?

Okay, for you, I will say just that – Yes! Truth is, I already have a finished draft of another novel that’s essentially ready for its first makeover. However, recent events and kind reader feedback (and by “feedback,” I mean, “fierce demands and ferocious threats”) have me considering writing a sequel to Air Zoe. I’m still a long way from having sales justify my doing this, but I grew to love these characters, have a fun storyline in place, and would be thrilled to have enough fans to warrant a sequel. So yeah, if Zoe can stay airborne, she’ll probably get another flight!

3. You are a man. You are a man who writes women’s fiction. How did that come about? Why did you decide to write women’s fiction?

That’s easy. It was a desperate attempt to make sense out of the wild and wonderful world of womankind.

I’m totally kidding – you ask an excellent question. I think I’ve been writing female protagonists since college, and the only explanation I can come up with is this… Women are awesome. Don’t get me wrong, men are capable of great sensitivity and depth when properly inspired. But the playful nature of my accidental narrative style seems to benefit more from having a woman drive the story.

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Debut author Charity Norman released her first novel Freeing Grace this year, and I had the pleasure of reading this very enjoyable book. After reading it, I was given the opportunity to interview Charity and ask her some of my questions about her book. Our thanks go to Sam from Allen&Unwin for her help, and for Charity for taking part in the interview!

Q1. Tell us briefly about your book ‘Freeing Grace’.

Abandoned at birth, baby Grace Serenity is up for adoption. A childless couple delightedly await her arrival, but her young father has fallen for her during his contact visits and cannot bear to give her up. In a bid to keep their child, his family ask a friend – rootless New Zealander Jake Kelly – to trace Grace’s grandmother who has run away to Kenya. Simply by being born, this baby changes forever the lives of those around her. What is best for Grace – her troubled biological family or an adoptive couple?

Q2. Where did you get the idea for the story from?

I used to be a barrister in an earlier life, and often worked with families in danger of losing their children into the care system. The courts were faced with desperate dilemmas and sometimes there was no obvious solution. I met very young fathers who cared deeply for their children; they could seem sidelined in the process so I wanted to portray the feelings of a schoolboy father. Also my sister has two children who are adopted, so it’s something I’ve thought about a lot. (more…)

We interviewed the lovely Claudia Carroll last year when her novel Personally I Blame My Fairy Godmother came out, but with a new novel on the horizon - the wonderful Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? - we were thrilled Claudia agreed to do a second interview with us. I love this interview, and I hope you guys do too, Claudia is such a lovely author to interview!

1. Describe your latest novel Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? in five single words!

The first pure romance I’ve written, as opposed to romantic comedy…ooops, I think I just went over the five words!!

2. Can you tell us anything about your next book? Does it have a really really long title yet?

I’d be delighted to! The book I’m working on right now is called AN ACCIDENTAL LOVE AFFAIR and it’s a romantic comedy about a newspaper editor called Eloise Elliot who uses a sperm bank to become pregnant, then gives birth a year later to a beautiful little girl, Lily. The story kickstarts three years on when Lily has started play group and is starting to wonder why every other kid on her class has a Daddy and she doesn’t.

Lily grows up a gifted child, and pretty soon Eloise herself becomes initially interested and then obsessed with finding out who her baby daddy really is. If you had a child this special, is her reasoning, then wouldn’t you want to know about it? A leading cardiac surgeon, she reckons, or maybe even a conductor with the New York Philharmonic. Definitely someone highbrow, cultured and intelligent though, she assumes. Anyway, she sets about tracking him down and discovers he’s none of the above……he’s actually in prison with a police record the length of your arm.

Of course, Eloise panics and tries to circumvent fate by setting this guy on the path to middle class-dom, so that in years to come, should her daughter try to track him down, she’ll find a Dad she can be proud of and not an ex-con sleeping rough and on a Methadone program.

So, just like in My Fair Lady or Pygmalion, Eloise sets about making a gentleman of this rough diamond, like Henry Higgins and Eliza Doolittle, except gender reversed……..

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