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Thursday 13 December 2012

Twenty Questions with... Jennifer St George AND A GIVEAWAY

Here we are again with another guest ready to play a game of twenty questions with me.

In the hotseat today is another Australian - purely unintentional, even as I look out of the window at the frost and think of sunnier climes - so without further ado, please give a warm (no pun intended) welcome to Jennifer St George, author of The Convenient Bride published by Destiny Romance.

Jennifer will be giving a Kindle copy of The Convenient Bride to one lucky commenter here today!...


ACT ONE – all about you…



1) Having read your bio on your website, I see you had a very interesting and varied career before making the switch to writing. Out of all the skills you acquired in your ‘old life’, which one would you say has helped you the most in your new writing career? 

That’s a good question and the first thing that popped into my head was discipline. I treat writing like a paid job. I have to turn up every day, sit at my desk and produce. The long hours at my previous jobs prepared me well for a life of writing.

2) Do you have a particular writing style or ritual? 

I write so much better when I have a coffee in my hand. Mostly I write in various café’s around my home town of Byron Bay. I’m in them so often that each of the owners wants an acknowledgement in my next book.

3) Is there a book or an author that has influenced you in your writing?

I have so many favourite romance authors that this blog would be full of names. My favourite craft book is Karen Wiesner’s First Draft in 30 Days. 

4) Can you tell us three things about yourself that we probably don’t already know?

Hmmm. (1) – I’ve appeared on a reality TV Show. (2) I’ve run publicity campaigns promoting everything from environmentally-friendly toilet paper to Madonna’s Blond Ambition World Tour. (3) I just bought a gorgeous Cavoodle puppy.

5) What five luxury items or gadgets would you hate to be without?

Chanel No 5, my mobile phone, laptop, an Alannah Hill cardi and my DKNY handbag.

6) The festive season is looming large, do you have a particular Christmas tradition that you like to indulge in? And what about New Year’s resolutions, will you be joining in the madness for 2013? 

We always have a glass of champagne with our croissants on Xmas morning. I always make New Year’s resolutions. One always involves my losing five kilos.


ACT TWO – all about your new release…


Scroll down for buy links
Sienna De Luca will do anything to save her family's hotel, and ruthless Italian businessman Antonio Moretti knows it. With problems of his own, he proposes a marriage of convenience and plans to use Sienna to secure his next business deal. But things don't go quite according to plan.
In keeping with her part of the bargain, Sienna travels to Venice to be with Antonio, who introduces her to a life of great luxury and opulence. As befits the fiancée of the famous Antonio Moretti, Sienna is given a new wardrobe of designer gowns and outfits and instructed exactly how to behave when out in public. But after thinking he can manipulate her at will, Antonio begins to realize he has seriously underestimated Sienna, her intelligence, her skills, her courage – and her beauty. Unexpectedly, Sienna gets too close and when she discovers his dark secret, Antonio's perfectly planned life begins to unravel.

7) Congratulations on your recent release of The Convenient Bride, what was your inspiration for writing Sienna and Antonio’s story?

I visited Venice for the first time a few years ago. I had dreams of winning the lottery and saving one of those historic abandoned houses from disintegrating into the canals. I felt overwhelmed that something of such significance and beauty could be allowed to slowly decay while the world watches on.

It was whilst gazing at one of these grey, crumbling Venetian buildings that the idea for The Convenient Bride was born. The presence of such decay amidst the surrounding baroque splendour led me to reflect on the loneliness people can experience after the death of someone close. Both Sienna and Antonio live with the shadow of such sadness. For Antonio, this means he never notices the beauty that surrounds him every day. Sienna, on the other hand, has locked herself away from the life of love and passion she so desperately craves.

That trip to Venice inspired Sienna’s and Antonio’s story.


8) Did the story flow from your finger tips or did some scenes take a bit of cajoling? 

Actually this book flowed really easily. I spent a long time plotting it, so had all the scenes fully formed before I wrote them.

9) I see The Convenient Bride is your debut, how long did it take for the initial spark of the story to make it onto the page and then onto the publisher’s desk?

From memory it took me about six months to write The Convenient Bride and then a few more months percolating in a drawer before I edited it and sent it off.

10) Do you have a favourite paragraph or sentence that you would like to tantalise us with?

I have lots of favourite scenes, but I do love the end of Chapter Two. It ends with - Whatever happened, she needed to fit into Antonio’s world. But would his world grant her admission?

11) Over to you, what can you tell us about The Convenient Bride, to make us rush out and buy it?

Well if you are an aspiring author of contemporary romance, The Convenient Bride is a good book to read to see what Penguin’s new romance imprint line, Destiny Romance, is looking for.

As a reader, if you love passionate stories, set in glamourous locations with a wounded hero and a feisty heroine – you’ll enjoy The Convenient Bride.


12) What can we expect from you next? Is there something you are working on right now? 

My next book, Seducing the Secret Heiress comes out with Destiny Romance in January 2013. And I love the new story I’m writing now. The characters are from such different worlds. How will they ever get together?



QUICK FIRE ROUND – it’s pop quiz time…


13) Plotter or pantser? 

A reformed pantser – I now plot everything.

14) Secret Seven or Famous Five? (please tell me you know them!?)

Famous Five

15) Digital books or print books?

Both

16) Tea or coffee?

What a question – coffee of course.

17) Cats or dogs?

Dog

18) Extrovert or introvert?

Extrovert

19) Save or spend?

Save

20) Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook

And that's a wrap!

Thank you so much for taking part, Jennifer.

If you'd like to visit Jennifer around the web, you can find her here:

Buy it now...


Destiny Romance
Amazon US
Amazon UK
iTunes
Kobo


And don't forget, one lucky commenter will win a Kindle copy of The Convenient Bride here today.

11 comments:

  1. Hi Aurelia and Jennifer,

    Lovely interview. I enjoyed reading this. Good idea Jennifer to treat writing like a paid job. Commitment is so important.

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  2. Hi Maria - lovely to see you here. Exactly right - it really takes commitment to get those words on the page. Shame they don't just appear!!

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  3. Oh, Jennifer, I was chuckling at your answers during the quick fire round. It would have looked so entertaining on live TV!

    Thanks Aurelia for hosting Jennifer!

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  4. Lovely interview, Jennifer and Aurelia.

    Love that dress on the cover. I think it's the perfect match for the Chanel No 5 and DKNY Bag :D

    All the best with your writing, Jennifer. Sounds like a great read!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Juanita - I love the dress too. I could image it hanging in my cupboard. All the Destiny Romance covers are beautiful.

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  5. Great interview ladies! Jennifer, I'm very jealous of you living in Byron Bay. I spent six very happy weeks there on my travels round the world with my husband. I didn't want to leave! You story sounds fabulous. I love Venice too and hate to see it crumbling away. Good luck with the release.

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    Replies
    1. So many people come to Byron Bay travelling and then never leave, Christy. It is such a beautiful place to live. I walk up to the Lighthouse a couple of times a week and always think how lucky I am.

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  6. Okay, the winner is....Juanita - congratulations. Juanita, if you could please visit my website - www.jenniferstgeorge.com - and fill in the contact form I will organise a copy of The Convenient Bride to wing its way to your Kindle.

    Thanks Aurelia so much for hosting me. It's been lots of fun.

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  7. Thanks Jennifer :) I look forward to putting up my feet, relaxing in the recliner and enjoying it...off to charge up the Kindle xxx

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    ReplyDelete

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