On Writing and Reading

What do you love most about being a writer?

I love getting lost in a story. Pretending to be someone else for a while and blocking out the reality that’s outside my door. It’s therapeutic in a way.

What do you like least about being a writer?

I hate the middle of a story! I always have a starting line and I know how I want to end but the middle really sucks! There’s always a bit where I get bogged down and don’t know where to go and I hate that. If I was more organized I’d do the whole chapter by chapter outline thing but to be honest, I lose interest then cos I know what’s gonna happen

Do you have a favourite locale or setting for your novels? What is it and why is it your favourite?

Pretty much everything I write is set in Ireland cos I remember reading once that you should write in settings you know. Having only ever been on two holidays outside of home, one to Germany and one to England, I reckoned I’d just stick with what I knew. But then, I live in Ireland guys, so c’mon! What more magical setting could you want? Sometimes I just look out at the landscape, take a deep breath, and it’s like my soul just got filled up I LOVE where I live!

Which of the books you have written is your favourite?

Pretty much have to say The Bridal Bet, what with it being the first of my babies to ‘leave home’, so to speak. There’s a lot in that book though. Little scenes that really happened in my life Mmm, now that’ll get all the people that read it thinking! But I’ve still to find my Ryan And, ladies, if he’s out there, I want first refusal!

What is your favourite recent Mills & Boon or Silhouette or MIRA title by another author?

I am the biggest Lori Foster fan on the face of the earth! You’ll never know how much I would love to write like that lady!!!! But I also recently read The Pregnancy Plan by Grace Green and thought it was super!

What are your five all-time favourite books (with authors)?

The Colour Of Magic by Terry Pratchett
(The funniest man on the planet or anywhere else)

Emma by Jane Austen
(I love humour, and that lady could write it at it’s best in a century when it was probably considered rude!)

Post Mortem by Patricia Cornwell
(Found her by accident and have the greatest respect for someone who can tug you so far into the page)

Gabe/Morgan/Sawyer/Jordan by Lori Foster
(Anything by her to be honest!)

Enlightened Equitation by Heather Moffatt
(Every horse owner should read it cos it makes sense!)

What one specific piece of advice would you give a would-be writer trying to kick-start a career?

Try not to write like someone else! Look at the people around you, study the things that make them individual and transfer little parts of that into your characters! You never make a success by copying the way that someone else does something and because no two people ever see things the same way, your vision of people won’t be the same as the person before you! It’s that individuality that makes us all interesting! It worked for reality tv

On Romance

Describe the ultimate romantic meal.

It doesn’t matter if it’s chips out of a brown paper bag while sat in a car or a three course extravaganza in a four star restaurant, as long as when you look into the other persons eyes you feel like they belong there.

What is your all-time favourite romantic movie?

I loved the Jennifer Aniston film, Picture Perfect

What is your all-time favourite romantic song or composition?

‘Not A Day Goes By’ by Lonestar. Dear Lord, just listen to the words!! My best friend sings this and when he does I could just cry

What is the most romantic gesture or gift you have received?

I’ll let you know when it happens .

How do you keep the romance alive in your relationship?

See previous answer