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Kate Lace’s first novel with Random House imprint Arrow, Gypsy Wedding, was released last week and to celebrate, we have an interview with the lady herself! It’s a great interview, and we hope you enjoy it too!

1. Describe your latest novel Gypsy Wedding in five words.

Outrageous, utterly over-the-top

2. Are you currently working on a second novel for Arrow/Random House? If you are, could you please tell us anything about it?

I am and it’s got a large cast, most of whom seem to be men who wear Lycra. Yum

3. What do you think it is about gypsies that everybody is so fascinated with?

I think it’s their lifestyle is so completely different to the sort of life most of us experience. What with that and the prejudice they have to cope with they really do seem to be aliens in their own country. And yet their exuberance, their high spirits really are quite endearing. And of course their incredibly strict moral code and their very close knit families give their communities an enviable strength. How many non-traveler parents would have the sort of control over their offspring that these people have - I know I didn’t!

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Danielle is currently on holiday so I have been left to fill her rather massive shoes! Today, we have a trifecta of Brooke Moss goodies. A review of her debut novel The What If Guy, a giveaway where you can win a paperback copy of the novel and now, we have an interview with the lady herself! It’s part of her blog tour, so we hope you enjoy the interview (I did) and do remember to pick up a copy of her novel ASAP!

1. Can you tell Chick Lit Reviews readers a little about your path to publication?

First off, thanks for having me here today! What a pleasure.

I’ve been writing stories and books my entire adult life, but have been working towards publication for about four years. Entangled publishing was the last publishing company I submitted to. I’d started toying with the idea of self publishing, because I was feeling really ready to move on to my next project. When they requested a full, I didn’t think much about it. I’d been in that position before, so I didn’t allow myself to get excited. (Which is so not the norm for me—I was born excited.) When the managing editor emailed me a week later, I assumed it was another rejection, and avoided opening the email. Once I finally did, and realized it said that she wanted to speak to me, I didn’t quite know what to do with myself. I felt completely numb. The entire conversation with the managing editor, Heather Howland, is a total blur. I know that at one point I told her she could pay me with a pet pony. It was very surreal.

2. You also mention you have written a total of six books. Do you plan to publish those as well?

I do! I have a trilogy (women’s fiction) coming out through Entangled Publishing in the summer of 2012. And another novel I am hoping to sell sometime this year. One of the aforementioned books is my first book, which is a 200K epic saga that should probably never see the light of day. It has some wonderful elements, but is overall not fit for human consumption. I don’t know of any published author who would willingly put out their very first novel. It’s one of those, If I knew then what I know now kind of things.

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Recently I was able to review Susan Mallery’s new novel Only Mine and loved it! Coming up in a couple of days Leah will be sharing her review of the next in Susan’s Fool’s Gold series, Only Yours. So, it’s only obvious that when I was offered the opportunity to interview Susan I jumped at the chance! Susan kindly indulged my list of questions and shared a little more about herself & her wonderful books. So, without any further hesitation on my part, my interview with author Susan Mallery…

1. Can you tell Chick Lit Reviews readers a little about yourself and/or your books in a short two to three sentence synopsis?

Although it’s kind of creepy to talk about myself in the third person, I think my official bio says it best: New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that move them. Susan appreciates critical praise, but she is most honored by the enthusiastic readers who tell her that her books made them laugh, made them cry, and made the world a happier place to live.

2. Only Mine is the fourth book in the Fools Gold series and there’s a pretty good chance readers might have missed a thing or two if they haven’t read the previous books. What are a few things you think every reader should know about the series before picking up Only Mine?

Each Fool’s Gold book works as a standalone novel. Although readers who have read the previous books will enjoy reconnecting with characters they love, you can start with ONLY MINE, and you won’t be confused. For some fun background information and lots of bonus content and freebies, visit www.foolsgoldca.com.

3. Dakota’s fears are something I believe many women can relate to today. Was there a specific message you were trying to share with readers from her experiences?

Last year, in FINDING PERFECT, readers learned that Dakota was struggling with a problem that had her in tears. As ONLY MINE begins, she still hasn’t told anyone what’s bothering her, not even her mom or her triplet sisters. Dakota is the kind of person who faces her problems head-on, but she keeps them to herself until she has a plan of action. I do think that many readers will relate to the issue Dakota’s facing, and even readers who haven’t dealt with this particular issue will relate to the idea of wondering, “Why me?” Dakota is a triplet, identical to her sisters in every way… but one.

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I read and reviewed Tamar Cohen’s debut novel The Mistresses Revenge recently, and thought it was a great piece of fiction written in a way which really involves you in the story. After reading it, I was offered the chance to interview Tamar, and I jumped at the chance as I had quite a few questions to ask her about the book, and how it came about. Here is the interview, my thanks to Tamar for answering my questions, I hope you enjoy reading it!

Q1. Tell us briefly about your novel ‘The Mistress’s Revenge’.

The Mistress’s Revenge charts the fallout from the ending of an illicit affair as told through the journals of the dumped mistress, Sally. Unable to accept her affair with Clive is over, Sally inveigles her way into the lives of her ex lover’s wife and children. As her obsession with them grows, she neglects her own family, career and home, with inevitably catastrophic results.

Q2. It’s quite a controversial story in that the main character has been having a long-standing affair, did you worry about how it would be received?

I didn’t have any worries about the moral aspect simply because I don’t believe it’s necessary for the reader to have sympathy for the characters, only to find them believable. As a reader, I don’t want to be put into the position of making value judgements on characters based on a given situation. I’d much rather make up my own mind about them based on what is revealed throughout the course of the book. Also, I think most people aren’t so black and white about infidelity any more. For goodness sake, our future monarch is now married to his former mistress! I think we’re more able to accept that human relationships are complex things, and don’t always follow a fairy-story arc.

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Back in May I read Rainbow Rowell’s debut novel Attachments. It was a book I’d been waiting ages for, ever since I read about her book deal in fact! I loved the book and I was incredibly pleased to be able to ask Rainbow some questions! Here are her answers, and do check out Attachments, it’s a brilliant read!

1. Tell us about your debut novel Attachments?

It’s about a guy, Lincoln, who gets hired by a newspaper to make sure its employees aren’t using their email for unprofessional purposes. Lincoln reads everyone’s email and ends up falling for Beth, a woman who works in the newsroom. But then Lincoln doesn’t know what to do. He can’t exactly introduce himself: “Hi, I’m the guy who reads your email, and also I love you.”

The book has an unconventional narrative. Every other chapter is an email conversation between Beth and her friend Jennifer.

2. Can you tell us about your second novel, which is due out next year?

Sure, it’s called “Eleanor & Park.” I wanted to write a story that makes you remember what it’s like to fall in love for the first time — before you’re ready for it.

The main characters are two misfit teenagers, a boy who wants to be invisible and a girl who couldn’t be invisible if she tried. It’s about how they fall in love before they even know what to do with love, and how it changes them — and whether it’s enough, love, whether love even matters when you’re 16 and your life isn’t quite your own.

It’s a book meant for adults, though I think young adults might enjoy it.

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I recently read Alice Peterson’s new novel Monday To Friday Man and after I was done, I had the chance to ask Alice some questions! Here are her answers and look out for my review of the novel tomorrow!

1. Can you tell us a little bit about your new novel Monday To Friday Man?

Monday to Friday Man is a romantic comedy set in the dog-walking world of Ravenscourt Park, West London. It’s a funny and original take on what 30’somethings do when they haven’t met ‘the one’ yet, and are watching as their married friends move out of London, one by one, to raise their families.

My heroine, Gilly Brown, has been jilted 2 weeks before her wedding, and finds herself alone, with only her little dog Ruskin for company. Stuck in a rut and in need of some cash, she is encouraged to advertise for a lodger, a Monday to Friday one. When handsome reality television producer, Jack Baker, arrives on her doorstep, all kinds of new adventures unfold, but we never quite trust Jack. He seems too good to be true. And what, exactly, does he get up to at the weekend?

Monday to Friday Man is a fun summer holiday read, but there is also a real depth to it too. Gilly Brown has had a troubled past and the novel poignantly shows how loss affects a family. It is both funny and moving (I think!) I want my characters to go on a real journey.

2. Are you working on a fourth novel, can you tell us anything about it if so?

Yes, I am working on a fourth novel. I don’t want to say too much about it now, nor give the title away as I don’t want anyone to steal it! Sorry, how boring of me! But it’s another romantic comedy set in the wine-tasting world. It was fun to do the research.

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Just recently, I bought myself Amy Hatvany’s third novel Best Kept Secret. I was utterly blown away with the novel - you can read my review here! - and I just had to email Amy to tell her how much I loved the novel. How that, despite not being a mother or having an addiction, I could really sympathise and understand what Cadence was going through! Amy agreed to answer some questions for me, and here’s what she had to say!

1. Can you tell us about your latest novel Best Kept Secret?

BEST KEPT SECRET tells the story of Cadence Sutton, a woman who (after a messy divorce) slowly spirals into alcoholism and not only has to come to terms with her personal failings, she also must fight to regain custody of her young son. At a deeper level, it’s about the pressure women face in our society - whether or not they are mothers - to do everything “perfectly,” and what happens to us (mentally, emotionally, and physically) when we can’t. Ultimately, it is an honest exploration of the space where addiction and motherhood intersect, and of how no matter the mistakes you’ve made, there is always hope. There is always a way to fight your way out of the dark.

2. Your website tells me you’re going to have a book out next year (2012) and a book out in 2013 too. Can you tell us anything about those upcoming novels?

Yes! OUTSIDE THE LINES is due out in February, 2012, and tells the story of a woman searching for her homeless and mentally ill father, whom she has been estranged from for twenty years. It’s told in alternating viewpoints of both the daughter and father, past and present, which was a departure for me as a writer and I am very pleased with how it turned out.

The one I’m currently working on is as yet unnamed. It explores what happens when a woman is suddenly and unexpectedly thrust into the role of full-time mother and is forced to confront the complicated reasons behind her previously hard-fast decision to remain childless.

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Author Jemma Forte is back this year with her second novel From London With Love, and a great one it is too. I’ll be reviewing it on the site this afternoon, but until then, have a read of this interview Jemma kindly offered to do with me! I had the chance to ask her a few questions about her new book, and about herself too, so get to know a bit about Jemma, and come back soon to read my review of From London With Love! Enjoy!

Q1. Please tell us briefly about your new book ‘From London With Love’.

From London with Love is about Jessica Granger, whose father, actor Edward Granger played the part of James Bond back in the 80′s. Her mother was famous Bond girl Heavenly Melons so Jessica has grown up in the shadow of her parent’s celebrity. Desperate for independence and the freedom to figure out what it is she wants to do with her life, away from people’s pre conceptions, she leaves LA and comes to London. It’s not long before she finds a job as an assistant at the BBC and falls for Paul, a writer on the show. However, life soon starts to grow rather complicated for Jessica.

Q2. The book is about living a secret life in a new place - where did you get this idea from, and is Jessica Granger/Bender based on anyone in real life?

Jessica is one of my completely made up characters. I say that because there often are characters who are inspired by people I know. I’ve pinched her name though. My sister’s called Jessica.

With regard to the idea, when pondering what to write for my second book, I thought fairly early on that it would be really interesting to explore the idea of what it would be like to have a famous parent. Would it be a help or a hindrance? Would people make assumptions about you and assume you had everything really easy? In order to make it really interesting though, I felt it was important that my heroine had no interest whatsoever in exploiting who she was. No interest in following in her parent’s footsteps in the slightest. Quite the opposite in fact. When I finally thought of making the famous parent James Bond, the rest of the plot just fell into place and the book was a joy to write. It also immediately gained so much potential for comedy.

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