Supporting Help for Heroes

Image used with kind permission from Ron McGeary
(c) http://www.ronmcgeary.co.uk/

I don't often refer to my other alter-ego, Allie A Burrow, on here, but I wanted to share my earlier blog post with you all. Please head on over to read about how, and why, I am supporting Help for Heroes.

Just remember there is 'adult content' over there too o_O

Click here or go to: http://blog.allieaburrow.com/2013/05/help-for-heroes.html

Twenty Questions with... Susie Medwell

I am delighted to welcome Susie Medwell onto my blog today, author of Text Me, Tweet Me, Need Me, which was released May 6th by Lyrical Press.

I have known Susie – virtually, of course – for over a year now, and she resides in the next county along from me here in the UK, but it’s always good to delve a little deeper and get to know somebody that little bit better, so I’ve pinned Susie into the hot seat for a round of twenty questions…

Hi Aurelia – great to be here, thanks for inviting me over! 

ACT ONE – all about you… 

Susie is a writer and lover of all things romantic, from the sensual to the sexy, who also writes erotic romance under the name Zara Stoneley. She lives in the UK, but whenever she can heads off in search of some sunshine and inspiration for her stories.

She love sexy high heels...good food....good wine....music...coffee (lots and lots of coffee)... and Italy. All things Italian from the countryside to the culture, the wine to the food...and of course the sexy men.

She's been a consultant, a teacher, a mother, a wife, a lover... and has always been a writer and she'd love to hear from you.

1) Have you always been a writer or is it something you fell into?

I’ve been writing stories for as long as I can remember, but it was always just a hobby until a couple of years ago. (Despite my mother hassling me for the past thirty years!)

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

I need coffee, then like to catch up with social networking, reviews etc., then I re-read the last chapter I wrote and make a few changes (I like to edit as I got along), then I get writing! I always have a broad plan before I start a story, with turning points and character outlines, then I plan out the first quarter in detail before writing (though it often changes quite a bit along the way!). I’m much more productive if I know the endgame at the start of each day.

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

Not really, I read all kinds from Dick Francis to Jackie Collins, Tolkien, Stephen King… thrillers and romance are the main genres I enjoy. I think the main influence has been from the variety – I learned that a strong, distinctive voice is what is important to me as a reader.

4) I already own several of your *naughtier* alter-ego’s books, yet Text Me, Tweet Me, Need Me appears to be your debut novel as Susie Medwell. Was that a conscious decision, or simply the way things panned out?

I’m grinning now! At the time we met I was going to be Susie Medwell, contemporary romance author! Then I entered a competition to write an erotic novel, something I had never thought about writing before, and things just took off. I love writing contemporary though and hope to have more published in the near future. Zara and Susie are battling it out for my time and attention – I need more hours in the day.

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

I love painting and have sold a few pictures, but haven’t got time to lift a paint brush at the moment!

I used to own horses and have won rosettes for showing at County level and in dressage.

My grandfather always maintained we were related to Elizabeth Gaskell, so maybe writing is in my genes.

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

Smartphone, laptop, sonos, cafatiere, guitar (I’m a geek, music lover and coffee addict!).

ACT TWO – all about your new release…

Texting and tweeting can lead to trouble when the truth gets out…

Dating your boss is bad. Finding out he’s married with a baby on the way is a whole lot worse, but losing your job when you show him the door really sucks. And when he knows all your family secrets, there’s bound to be trouble. But the job Samantha’s got lined up can put her life back on track. One last date for research purposes before she can finish her article on online dating–then she’s a man-free zone, and it’s serious journalism all the way.

Ben has only one thing on his mind: to keep the promise he made to look after Sam. All he has to do is work out how he can support a girl who distrusts men, hates charity, and definitely doesn’t want rescuing. He thinks he’s come up with the perfect solution, until he realizes it’s his heart, not his money he needs to invest.

But can Sam see past the lies and learn to trust a man again? And more importantly…will Ben still want her when he learns about her past?

CONTENT WARNING: Contains hot texts, sexy showers, a girl who can pack a punch, and lasagne.

7) Congratulations on your recent release of Text Me, Tweet Me, Need Me, what was your inspiration for writing Ben and Sam(antha)’s story?

It’s pretty difficult to escape technology in some form or another these days, even in our love lives – and it’s always fascinated me how people can meet in the strangest and most unlikely circumstances… so the story was begging out to be told, along with the odd complication of course! 

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

It’s one of the few stories that pretty much wrote itself – usually I hit the sticky middle and have a wrestling match with the characters, but this time we were all singing off the same hymn sheet.

9) 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?

The initial spark was back in 2011, but then it got shelved as my Zara Stoneley persona took off. Once I got the chance to get back to it I think it took around five weeks to finish.

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

I love this bit, because to me romance is about listening and giving someone something that is really special to them – not necessarily red roses and chocolates.

She turned the shell slowly over in her hand, and then held it up to her ear again, trying to resist the tears that were threatening. “No one’s ever given me the sea before.” He was watching her intently when she glanced up.

“Have you ever told anyone you wanted it?”

“Only you.”

11) Over to you, what can you tell us about Text Me, Tweet Me, Need Me, to make us rush out and buy it?

Researching an article on online dating can be fun, falling for the man you haven’t yet met can be surprising, but it’s the secrets from the past that can kill all hope of passion in the future…

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

Lots! There are a couple of Zara books that I have to finish off first, then the next Susie book is provisionally called ‘Laptops and Lovers’, it features a slightly geeky heroine and a hot, playboy hero!

QUICK FIRE ROUND – it’s pop quiz time…

13) Plotter or pantser?

Plotter. With bursts of pantser which take over and ruin my plot!

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

I know them!! Famous five – I had a dog called Timmy when I was younger, so no competition!

15) Digital books or print books?

Both. I love digital for the convenience, my clothes competed with books for space in the suitcase when packing to go on holiday in the past, but there is something about holding a physical book. I hope print never disappears – and for some strange reason the words read differently on paper.

16) Tea or coffee?

Coffee. Always. And lots of it!

17) Cats or dogs?

Both – at the moment I just have a cat, but I miss having dogs.

18) Extrovert or introvert?

Introvert.

19) Save or spend?

Save to spend, but I like to know I’ve got some money put aside in case I need it.

20) Facebook or Twitter?

At the moment Facebook, but a few months ago I preferred Twitter so it could change (very fickle!).

And that’s a wrap!

Thank you so much for taking part, Susie, I wish you every success with your new release.

Thanks for inviting me Aurelia – great interview!

To follow Susie (or Zara!), and to keep up with her latest projects, you can visit her at:

Website     Blog     Twitter     Facebook     Amazon

Buy it now…

Lyrical Press

Amazon (UK)

Amazon (COM)

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Signed, sealed, but not quite delivered

The contract is signed so I can now proudly announce that my Young Adult series, Popping the Cherry, has been awarded a two book deal (with an option for a third), with Carina UK, the new digital imprint of Harlequin UK who also bring you you Mira Ink and Mills and Boon.

I cannot tell you how excited I am to finally write for the Young Adult genre, my own personal favourite, and I love how the first story is coming together already.

The current running order looks something like this:

Book 1 - Popping The Cherry

(Lena's coming of age story)

Book 2 - A Girl Called Malice

(Alice's makeover/self-acceptance story)

Book 3 - not yet named

(Nathan's coming out story)

Many of the same characters will coming back for books 2 and 3, to take over the spotlight, and I even have an imaginary cast list, but more about that another time.

Keep your eye on the word count widget to track my progress, and don't forget to subscribe so that you'll get all the latest updates. There are loads of ways to connect with me too, these are just some of them, and I'd love to hear from you:

Website   Facebook   Twitter   Goodreads

Check my website for all the other places you find me, and have a mooch around whilst you're at it.

Oh, and if you missed my 'the call' post, just click here or click on the phone.

IWSG: My final post

Oops, I nearly forgot about this.

Well, as the title suggests, I will be bowing out of IWSG. At least for now...

With two two-book deals secured in the last month; one with Breathless Press to turn my debut book into a series, and one with Carina UK (Harlequin) for my YA series, I'm not feeling all that insecure any more.

I also don't feel like I have all that much more I can offer in terms of advice. My journey to publication and my various insecurities have been pretty well documented, so that just leaves me to say "thanks" and "ta-ta for now".

Good luck to my fellow IWSG'ers, and hang in there.