Author Spotlight - Louisa George

Today we're delighted to welcome new medical romance author Louisa George, one of Harlequin's 'new voices'. Originally from Yorkshire in the UK, Louisa now lives in New Zealand in a testosterone-filled household - it's no wonder she writes romance!

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Thanks so much for inviting me here!

What is your writing process?

I wish I knew! Before I got The Call I dithered and plotted a little and pantser-ed (is that a word?) a little. But now I’m on deadlines I try to plot out the conflict and motivation at very least. I start with an image usually. For One Month to Become a Mum it was a car crash scene. For my second book, Waking Up with His Runaway Bride it was as simple as a stain on the ceiling. For the one I’m writing now it was a lone man standing on a jagged outcrop staring out to sea. Then I build from there. I usually write a synopsis before I start, but often veer away. I write a dirty first draft, and am constantly adding layers.

Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

It’s a constant struggle. I force myself into my office from 11.00-4.00pm every week day. But that doesn’t mean I use that time well – and there is always internet shoe shopping! Lately I’ve discovered Freedom for Mac, which is a dinky little app for my Mac which disables the internet. I set it for 2 hours and am surprised how many more words I get done. I also read that spending five minutes at the beginning of the writing session just planning, longhand, what you are going to write helps. And it really does!

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

Absolutely. At least three times a week I do a very intense zumba class (I am a total addict and have been known to do 6 classes in a week). I try to do kickboxing once a week too.

Do you believe in writer's block?

Yes. And no. (should I get off the fence now?). Yes, I think it is possible to get stuck in a hole. But I find that forcing myself to write just anything helps, another scene, from a different POV... Who was it that said you can’t fix a blank page?

Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble?

Not an incident, but snippets, settings. And so far I’ve been trouble free!

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?

It’s harder than I thought! It’s more than a full time job! I write from 11-4 but there are a lot of other things that need doing too – promo, edits, plotting next book, research….But it’s such fun, better than I ever dreamt!

Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers?

I’m on most of the social networking sites – facebook, twitter, goodreads, pinterest, I am about to start writing for two blogs – Love Cats Downunder and Medical Romance Authors, so I am trying to raise my profile. I’m also fairly active on the New Voices Facebook page.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?

Oooh, good question – tricky….write a damned good book. Your book is your brand, if it isn’t good it won’t sell regardless of how much promo you do. Or at least, your first one might sell, but the rest won’t.

What did you learn while writing this book?

So, so much. How conflict has got to be deep rooted and consistent. No matter how deep you go, you can go further! How fabulous my editor is!

What was the most fun part of writing this book?

The first kiss scene where Luke dares Jessie to kiss him…such fun to see the fireworks!

And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?

Vietnam appears in the book so possibly there. Lots of culture, yummy food and spectacular beaches.

One Month to Become a Mum

Some things in life are worth waiting for…

Jessie Price has lost her only chance at motherhood – it’s a constant hurt, until she meets sinfully sexy single dad Dr Luke McKenzie and his gorgeous little girl. Luke’s intoxicating kisses and his daughter’s adoring hugs have Jessie longing for the impossible. But she's a temporary locum, the clock’s ticking – and there’s only a month to make all her wishes come true…

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I'm happy to give one copy of my debut release, ONE MONTH TO BECOME A MUM which is in a 2-in-1 book with Margaret McDonagh on each blog stop plus a $50 US amazon voucher to whoever visits me the most on the tour!

One Month to Become a Mum is available from Amazon, Amazon UK, Mills & Boon and The Book Depository.

You can find out more about Louisa on her website, at her blog, on Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.

Bollywood Hero #1

When the minxes were thinking about then next hotties poll..,umm, I mean, man of the month poll, I instantly thought of Bollywood (I cringe every time I hear that) Heroes..meaning Indian heroes...
But then I realized , wait, not everyone knows Indian hotties like I do...and of course, I had to remedy that...

So, for purely educational purposes :-), I decided I would introduce a hunk from Bollywood, so that we can all vote droll..Ahem...vote...

And the first one up is Shahrukh Khan, referred to as  as King Khan by the Indian media and masses...

What do you think of our first lesson into leading men of Indian Cinema?

Looking for a man... - And news of a fabulous freebie (for today only)

As the title says, I'm looking for a man. Specifically a hot man. Or, rather, several hot men - to grace our Minxy March Hot Man Poll. It's my turn and I've run out of inspiration, so I'm turning the challenge over to you.

We've done a variety of nationalities, we've done sportsmen and actors. We've even done hairy men. And now it's your turn to let us know who makes your heart beat a little faster as you gaze at their likeness?

Find me hot men by my next post, the Friday after next (please), and I'll organise the poll.

And the fabulous freebie? Well, it is indeed fabulous. The Morning After, written by very lovely minx, Sally Clements, is free to download today. Follow the link to find out more about the book. While you're there, have a look at the gorgeous cover - I smile every time I see it. And what's inside that cover is so good I've read it twice already.

Click here to snap up 'The Morning After' for free, but be super fast as it's only for today!

Author Spotlight - Catherine Bybee

I first met Catherine through The Wild Rose Press, our shared publisher, and she struck me as such a warm and helpful person, so I am incredibly pleased that she has gone from strength-to-strength and become a #1 bestseller on Amazon, as well as hitting a whole variety of bestseller lists. It couldn't happen to a nicer person. (Unless she were a Minx, of course!)

Those of our blog readers who hang out in the eHarlequin community forum will already know Catherine's amazing story. She took a manuscript that had been rejected by Harlequin and self-published it on Amazon. That story, Wife by Wednesday, has become a runaway success, and she is here today to share a little insider info behind the story.

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What is your writing process?

I’m a pantser. I have an idea in my head with a basic outline of my characters and I run with it. Lately I’ve not been writing as much as I’d like, but when I’m in the ‘writing groove’ I will dedicated five hours a day to getting new words on paper.

Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

I understand that in order to keep readers I need to infuse the net with a new book a few times a year. Very few authors can write one book a year and call this a career. I try and remember that and force my butt in the chair. It helps that I have fans now that tweet me and ask when my next book is coming out. It’s like a little cyber whip reminding me to get to work. LOL

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

“Next Question!”
Ah, yeah… about that… I wish I could say that I’m on top of a good exercise routine but I’m not. I try and walk or get to the gym a couple of times a week but often fail. Does a sticky note reminding me count as points toward my goal?

Do you believe in writer's block?

Not as its own entity. I think if something is going wrong in the story the book won't flow and the writer has a hard time moving the story forward. When this happens to me I will re read all I’ve written to that point and usually find where the problem is. Some stories flow like water and others get caught up in the stream. Doesn’t make one book better than the other, just easier for the author to put out.

Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble?

Certainly there are little glimpses into my life. I have a character or two that are nurses and I’ve taken what was my day job into this work. I waited tables when I was younger and will never forget those ‘lovely’ experiences. LOL – does it get me in trouble? No. I would never compromise a patient’s privacy or anything like that. As for my friends in books… I guess you could say that I will sometimes tie in certain personality traits that I see daily. And of course there are those people in my life that have ticked me off and we all know we as writers paint them as our bad guys. LOL “just kidding”.

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?

I guess I saw more glamour to the job. But the truth is I’m sitting in my bathrobe right now in an empty house writing. Unlike some, I knew promotion would be a part of being a bestselling author, so that doesn’t bother me. I actually like the promo part of the job.

Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers?

I respond to each and every positive comment I’m given on the social networks. I won’t debate someone who didn’t like a book, or something I did in my work. I try and do interviews often. I tweet, facebook and blog. But I don’t try the hard sell. I don’t go on daily and say ‘buy my books’ – I will retweet a positive comment or a review. I’ll let others say they like my work and then tell the world about that. But not to the point where it looks like spam. Nobody likes spam.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?

Write your next book! All the promotion in the world isn’t going to sell your books if you don’t have books to sell.

What did you learn while writing this book?

I learned that I could write a novel without anyone turning furry or shifting in time. Most of my work is paranormal so this book, Wife by Wednesday, is a straight contemporary and I wasn’t sure I could do it.

Guess I can!

What was the most fun part of writing this book?

Rich hero and needy woman. I took a basic romantic outline and then twisted it and made it new and exciting for many readers. I really enjoyed writing this book.

And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?

A tropical island in the South Pacific where they never left the hut.

WIFE BY WEDNESDAY

Blake Harrison:
Rich, titled, and charming… And in need of a wife by Wednesday so he turns to Sam Elliot who isn’t the business man he expected. Instead, Blake is faced with Samantha Elliot, engaging and spunky with a voice men call 900 numbers to hear.

Samantha Elliot:
Owner of Alliance, her matchmaking firm, and not on the marital menu... That is until Blake offers her ten million dollars for a one-year contract. All she needs to do is keep her attraction to her husband to herself and avoid his bed. But Blake’s toe-curling kisses and charm prove too difficult to combat. Now she needs to protect her heart so she can walk away when their mercenary life together is over.


Big note: Wife by Wednesday is currently selling on Amazon.com for just $0.99, so if you haven't already, get yourself one! It is also available on Amazon.co.uk.

You can find out more about Catherine and her books on her website, at her blog, and check out this video blog she recently posted on YouTube on Becoming a Bestseller.

Ten Mysteries of Writing

1. Why is it so difficult to get down to when it's supposed to be fun?

2. Why, when I hate housework and adore writing, do the washing machine and the hoover exert a strong magnetic force capable of pulling me from the keyboard?

3. Why does it take so long? I have a fairly decent typing seed, but some days it can take me 5 hours just to write 500 words.

4. Why is the first draft always rubbish of the highest order? Even if I know what I want to say, it always translates as gobbledygook that needs to be beaten into submission.

5. Why is it that, in the face of relentless rejection I still keep hurling work out there? I sometimes worry I'm like one of these x-factor wannabes and just can't see how average I actually am.

6. Why can some people managed 10K words in one day, yet I can't manage that in a week? (The answer to this is probably somehow related to number 3.)

7. Why is it that, even though it's the most fascinating and interesting occupation in the world, other people's eyes glaze over when I try to talk about it?

8. Why is it that, when I reveal I sometimes get work published, everyone immediately suggests I write their story? I have my own ideas, thank you very much. If you want to see your story in print, write it yourself.

9. Why do some people think making money from writing is the easy option? I still freely admit I could happily swing for the ex friend who, when I told her I'd sold a short story, said she was thinking of getting a little job, but wasn't qualified for anything, so was going to write a story, too.

10. And, if it's so difficult, what is the compulsion that makes me want to keep writing?