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Thursday 10 April 2014

Twenty Questions with... Carys Jones

I am delighted to welcome Carys Jones onto my blog today, author of Prime Deception released earlier this week by Carina (Harlequin UK), for this weeks' round of Twenty Questions.

Since I have finally typed "the end" on Popping the Cherry #2 (now polishing ready to send to my Editor) and the Easter school holidays kick off today, I will be taking a couple of weeks off from my weekly #TwentyQuestions slot but please come back in May to get the lowdown on more fabulous guests.

ACT ONE – all about you…


Carys Jones loves nothing more than to write and create stories which ignite the reader's imagination. Based in Shropshire, England, Carys lives with her husband, two guinea pigs and her adored canine companion, Rollo. 

When she's not writing, Carys likes to indulge her inner geek by watching science- fiction films or playing video games. She lists John Green, Jodi Picoult and Virginia Andrews as her favorite authors and draws inspiration for her own work from anything and everything. 

To Carys, there is no greater feeling than when you lose yourself in a great story and it is that feeling of ultimate escapism which she tries to bring to her books.

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

I’ve been writing since I was very young. I fell in love with the way reading a book could transport you out of your own world and I was desperate to try and recreate that magic through my own stories.

2 Do you have a particular writing style or ritual?

I’d describe my writing style as militant! Lol. I work to a very rigid schedule and have extremely detailed plans about how my story is set to progress. The whole process sort of removes any element of romanticism from it all but it does ensure that I never get blighted by writer’s block.

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

John Green, Jodi Picoult and Virginia Andrews have been huge influences on me. I admire how their stories are so character driven. The impact upon characters is more important than events themselves and for me, that makes their stories all the more powerful. I like books that stay with me longer after I’ve finished that final sentence.

4) Is there one piece of writing (or life?) advice that has stuck with you, or that you would like to share?

I had some advice from Jodi Picoult herself which was to just keep writing. Write because you love it, not because you see it as your meal ticket to a better life. If you write for money you lose the love within the process.

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

Okay… I’m terrified of zombies. I flat out tremble if I see them on TV.

Some of my toes are double jointed thanks to my years dedicated to my second passion, ballet.

I’m destined to marry Leonardo DiCaprio one day. Just don’t tell my husband…

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

My bed. I could never sleep rough or go camping. I need a nice, comfortable bed, preferably with an abundance of pillows!

My PS3. I love playing games in my free time and it also acts as my TV as I use Netflicks

Nails Inc varnish. My nails are never, ever bare. I’d rather be naked than without nail varnish and Nails Inc is just amazing!

My giant Tinkerbell mug, in which I consume my daily quota of tea. I love tea! Whenever I finish writing I indulge in a nice cup in front of the TV!

My Louboutin Shoes. I literally own one pair of designer shoes, they were a gift from my Mum for my wedding but I’m too scared to even wear them but if my house caught on fire they’d be one of the first items I’d be looking to rescue!


ACT TWO – all about your new release…


When Lorna Thomas is found dead in her car everyone believes she killed herself. But the day after her death Lorna was set to sell a scandalous story to one of Britain’s biggest tabloid papers. For six months she had been the Deputy Prime Minister’s mistress.
Will Lorna’s secret die with her? While her family try to move on and come to terms with her death one person refuses to believe that Lorna killed herself. Her twin sister, Laurie is convinced that Lorna was murdered and she’ll stop at nothing to prove it, even if that means teaming up the very man her sister had been having an affair with…
7) Congratulations on your recent release of Prime Deception; what was your inspiration for writing this story?

The idea came to me around the time of the last general election. I don’t really follow politics, it doesn’t appeal to me. But I got thinking about what would make the world of politics more engaging to me and a good old fashioned scandal would do it and from that initial though, Prime Deception was eventually born.

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

It flowed. With all my books, I feel like I’m just watching the movie of them play out in my head and desperately scrambling to record it all down for the reader so that they can experience it all too.

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?

I finished writing Prime Deception a few years ago. It gathered dust as I focused on other projects but I thought I’d approach a few publishers with it, test the waters and Carina were interested in it.

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

This is from the start of the book when we are first being introduced to the character of Charles;
Charles returned his attention to the task at hand; of shaving away the shadow which had formed over night. As a young man he had found shaving a chore. He’d longed to grow some stubble, even a beard, in his desire to be ‘edgy’, but he had always been warned against it. It wasn’t befitting of a man in his line of work. Now, he found shaving therapeutic. The act was familiar and predictable and he liked that about it. So few things in his life were familiar anymore, that he cherished those that were.
Dressed in one of his finest suits and his signature blue tie, Charles was at last ready to start the day. He fingered the tie dubiously as he regarded his reflection once more. He found it a rather crass addition to his ensemble, but his aides continued to assure him that it was vital. He missed being able to dress how he wanted to. Charles would have loved nothing more than to put on a pair of jeans and an old jumper but that would never do. He had an image to maintain, as everyone kept insisting to him.
11) Over to you, what can you tell us about Prime Deception to make us rush out and buy it?

If you want a story that will not only grip you but tug on your heartstrings also then check out Prime Deception. It’s a tale of sex, betrayal and ultimately love. But not between lovers, it’s about the unbreakable love between two sisters that even death cannot destroy.

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

Carina are re-releasing my first novel, Not All Stars Sparkle, along with the first publication of its sequel, Cradle to Grave. I’ve also signed up with an American YA publisher for a big trilogy which will probably be released in 2015.


QUICK FIRE ROUND – it’s pop quiz time…


13) Plotter or pantser?

So sorry, not sure what those mean. I’m not down the latest terms I’m afraid. I’m going to make a guess and say I’m a Plotter as I prepare all my stories in meticulous detail before I write them.

14) Digital books or print books?

Sorry Carina but print. Simply because I’m terrible for flicking to the last page to check if my favourite character survives! My Kindle robs me of that so I’m kept in suspense for longer! And I hate surprises!

15) Tea or coffee?

Tea! I adore tea!

16) Extrovert or introvert?

To most people, introvert, to my friends; excessive extrovert!

17) Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook, Twitter confuses me…

18) Christmas or birthday?

Christmas as everyone gets presents!

19) Morning person or night owl?

Morning person, up and about walking my beloved dog bright and early.

20) Sweet or savoury?

Savoury. If a dessert menu has a cheese board I’m all over it!

And that’s a wrap!

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

Thanks so much for having me, it’s been a lot of fun!

To discover even more about Carys Jones and to keep up with her latest projects, you can visit her at:

Facebook     Twitter     Website


Buy it now…


Add to Goodreads
ISBN: 9781472094728
Released: 7 April 2014

Carina UK
Amazon UK / US
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Nook UK / B&N
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