Why Write Romance? Rachel Brimble Tells All.

Today, I'm super excited to host Rachel Brimble on Novel Natterings. Rachel's first book, "Searching For Sophie" was the first Wild Rose Press book I bought before I was published by them. After reading it, I knew I wanted to be published by TWRP as it was nothing but quality. Since then, I've noted Rachel's writing has grown in leaps and bounds. I knew her star would shine bright and I've been watching her career flourish with a big grin on my face. If you've never read her work before - you're in for a treat!

For now though, settle down, pour yourself your drink of choice and enjoy getting to know this fabulous lady just that little bit more.

Why write romance? 

I have been asked this question many times in interviews so I thought I’d tackle it in more depth to try and figure it out myself, lol!

Romance is universal and eternal. Human beings have, and will continue, to fall in love no matter what else changes or alters in the future. Technology is evolving at a rate that my near 40-year-old brain has given up trying to keep on top of. If I need something doing on my laptop or phone other than the basic input of letters or numbers, I go to Mr. B or my teenage kids.

As for romantic, emotional or spiritual guidance I don’t need anyone else but myself. I LOVE love. Simple. There is so much evil happenings in the world, why on earth would I want to spend up to seven hours a day (my average working day), immersed in more of the same that I see on TV and in the newspapers.

I write love stories. I write about people discovering more of who they are and the people with whom they want to share that journey. I write about highs and lows, success and failures…BUT I also write those intimate moments that bring us the ultimate joy, the knotting in the stomach, sexual anticipation and the moment someone makes you belly laugh or looks at you in such a way, you know in their eyes, there is no one more beautiful.

Am I lucky that I get to do that every day? You bet I am and I will be FOREVER grateful to my husband and kids for allowing me the time to do what brings me absolute joy.

My passion for writing leads me to answer the question of why I write romance. I do it because the stories that come into my mind dictate it. It’s out of my hands what sub-genre of book I will write at any given time.

Copyright © 2013 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited.

The scope of freedom has changed somewhat since I signed with Harlequin Superromance and Kensington but not to the point I feel as though my creative wings are clipped. My wonderful editor at Harlequin has given me free reign of whether my stories are contemporary romantic suspense or mainstream. My equally wonderful editor at Kensington wants Victorian romance but has given no specification of what TYPE of romance I write set in that period.

Then you have my latest release, “16 Marsden Place” a romantic comedy set in the fictional UK town of Potterford. J

 This story came from nowhere but had to be written – The heroine, Sienna Lloyd, literally popped into my mind fully-formed. No, this doesn’t happen often, I promise you! I knew she was sassy and sexy, I knew she had lost her father and I knew she ran a lingerie shop that was under threat of closure. As she started to talk to me, I realized she spoke with typical British irony about almost everything––constantly hiding any pain or fear under a gossamer thin veil of self-deprecating humor. I loved her instantly!

When Omnific Publishing offered a contract for the book I was thrilled because I hadn’t written a comedy since 2010 and wasn’t sure if I could actually still do it after writing so many romantic suspense and mainstream novels. Fingers crossed, I’ve managed it and readers will love Sienna and Jack’s journey equally as much as me!

Here’s the blurb and buy link:

There isn't a situation that can't be fixed by a coat of chocolate body paint or a liberal smear of Champagne Lick, right? Wrong!

Ever since her father was murdered by a gang of youths, Sienna Lloyd has named herself Potterford’s protector—her sexy lingerie shop is a place where the town’s women can visit and feel safe. But when that shop is in danger of closing, Sienna needs a solution that will keep her in Potterford, where she can always look out for her mother, friends, and clients.

The answer? Move the shop to her home at 16 Marsden Place. The problem? Her new neighbor, the delicious but seriously uptight Jack Beaton. Oh, and his four-year-old twin girls.

Jack has just moved to the tiny town of Potterford in a bid to start over. To build a new life that keeps his children safe from their violent and sex-crazed mother. So when he discovers his neighbor intends to open a sex shop right next door, Jack will do anything to ensure it doesn’t happen…including fighting every ounce of his attraction to the shop’s owner and his innate need to trust again.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/16-Marsden-Place-Rachel-Brimble/dp/1623420202/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370254988&sr=8-1&keywords=16+marsden+place

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/16-marsden-place-rachel-brimble/1115472157?ean=9781623420208

Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK.  After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington--her debut was released in April 2013.

She has just recently signed a further three-book contract with Harlequin Superromance, continuing her ongoing series set in the fictional UK seaside town of Templeton Cove.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England…although she hopes a dream visit to Canada might just change her mind!

She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!

Links:

Website

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Risk Factors Book Tour and a Lovely Rhose

I am super excited to introduce to you one of my very favourite people and authors, Calisa Rhose. I met this lovely lady (and extremely talented lady!) online through one of my publisher's author loops. Calisa is one of those women it is impossible NOT to bond with and I'm so excited to be a part of the tour for the release of her second book, Risk Factors. Check out the great giveaways she's got going on, leave a comment and don't forget to check out her other stops to increase your chances of winning!

Now, enough of my prattling, you want to hear from Calisa. Here she is...Hi, Calisa! Its wonderful having you come to visit us at the bottom of the world.J Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Calisa Rhose is an Okie, born and bred, through and through, and proud of it. While growing up, when she wasn’t on the back of a horse, she could be found with pen and paper in hand. Her writing career began with poetry in her younger days. Then she discovered Rock-n-Roll and cute musicians. Poetry turned into stories of romance and dreams. These days she lives with the same man who convinced her to take a romantic journey with him almost 30 years ago. After raising three strong daughters she spends her days loving their granddaughters, hoping for a boy someday, and writing. When she’s not writing, you can find Calisa putting on her editor hat and working to help other published and aspiring writers.

She is working on more projects with her favored contemporary cowboys, first responders  and firemen, as well as, the occasional ‘other’ heroes- and their sexy female counterparts, those sassy, stubborn heroines.

Find Calisa at her website/blog http://calisarhose.wordpress.com

Twitter@CalisaRhose, Facebook/Calisa Rhose, Goodreads and Amazon

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

Probably when Home released with WRP! Lol But in my heart I knew when I finished my first serious ms in ’05. Up til that moment it was all practice. J

Do you remember what inspired you to write your first book?

My first book was actually hand written and illustrated by yours truly when I was in 5^th grade. It was titled something like “Bubblegum” and I ‘donated’ it to my school library. I’m still trying to track that little book down! What inspired it? Probably my love of writing, even back then, and my love of bubblegum! LOL

As for my first published book- Home is part of a series written by Oklahoma authors that I got involved in with my local OKRWA chapter mates. You can find the whole series at the website here http://www.talesofthescrimshawdoll.wordpress.com and they are ALL on sale right now for .99 on Amazon and B&N! Home was inspired by my interest in the Vietnam era in general, but particularly the latter part, so is set in 1967.

I ADORED Home, and highly recommend to anyone that hasn't had the pleasure to read it yet. (I've even added the Amazon link on the picture for your convenience!)J 

I love call stories. Can you tell us about yours and your reaction?

For Risk Factors I pitched to my editor at a blog pitch and she asked for the partial. I polished it but it was two or three weeks later before I finally got the nerve to send it to her. It took me another two months before I got the nerve (again) to follow up with her and then she read it on the spot and asked for the full. It was only a week later I believe that she offered the contract. And to think it might have all gone a lot faster if I’d sent the partial right away and followed up a week later! J I learned my lesson. Does that mean I’ll do that next time?> Prolly not. LOL

Oh, my gosh! A pitch! You were sooo brave! What drew you to write your chosen genre?

I live in a contemporary world with firemen, EMTs who fly around in helicopters and where women can be anything they want, including a veterinarian. What’s not to love about it? But I also write contemporary paranormal because I’m a firm believer that almost anything is possible in this world…even shape shifters. My Cherokee ancestors taught me that. J

What’s the most challenging part of the writing process for you?

Writing. LOL Rather making myself write. I find so many shiny baubles that pull my attention from it that I can easily spend a whole day wrapped up in emails, surfing blogs and playing on my website and blog. Horrible. Once I tame that beast the hardest part is probably-as a pantser- keeping facts straight as I write. Viv in this book is 28, but off and on she was 27. Lol I got that all fixed though. I think, hope! :lol:

LOL - I'm with you, Calisa! I've just come across during edits, that my WIP hero gazes at my heroine with green eyes, when in fact, they're hazel! The curse of the pantser...J

Has anything coincidental happened in the real world while writing one of your books in terms of the characters, scenes or world you’ve created?

Not so far, no. I don’t know if I’d recognize if it had, either. I tend to live in the now a lot and miss cool connections like that.

Which one of your books is your ‘baby’ and why?

I think Risk Factors is right now. I’m not sure if it’s because it’s the latest one, or because of the journey these characters and I have been through to get to this day. But it feels different somehow.

What are you working on right now?

Right now- a lot. LOL A fireman won’t leave me alone so I spend a good amount of time thinking about that one, but I’m researching facts about heart diseases for a new one. That hero has been whispering at me for some time and on Saturday he’d had enough of my ignoring him, so I’ve started that one. I also have a couple of paranormal things on the back burner simmering and steeping. I’m hoping to submit one of those this year.

That is exciting news to hear for your fans!! Latest news?

Oh! The long-awaited release of RISK FACTORS! It came out on March 4^th and I’m still dancing.

Where can we find you and your books?

You can always pop into my website bookshelf and on Amazon, B&N and most other ebook outlets.

RISK FACTORS - Buy Links:

LPI- http://lyricalpress.com/risk-factors/

amazon- http://is.gd/OOGR4t

b&N- http://is.gd/PfGvg9

Book tour competition details:

At the end of this tour I’ll be picking one winner to gift either a signature rose rock for a USA winner or a $10 GC of choice (Kindle or Nook) for one overseas or in Canada. Either winner will also get a PDF copy of Risk Factors!

The more you stalk me and comment, the greater your chance to win on April 8^th. I’ll announce the winner on the 10^th. Thank you for joining me on this fun journey’s end and good luck to all!

As a special bonus, I’ll be pooling all my blog hosts and the one with the most comments on their blog for my post will also win one of the same prizes as the winners! They need your help to win! Please note, this also includes my two hosts before today, so I’d appreciate if you check my official blog tour schedule and give them a chance to win by going to their blogs too.

Thank you so much for stopping off in this part of the world, Calisa! It was an absolute pleasure having you visit. 

Folks - don't forget to leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning some fabulous prizes! 

Good luck with Risk Factors, Calisa and all your current and future WIP's.

Sara Walter Ellwood - Blog Tour

Hi Folks! Its so nice to see you here again :) I've got another wonderful writer lined up for you to meet. Please welcome Sara Walter Ellwood. How cool is that name? Sara is offering a wonderful prize pack during her book tour for her new book, Gambling on a Secret, that includes custom made jewelry, e-books, swag pack and more. Click on the image at the bottom of the post to find out more!

Thank you so much for having me here today!

It's my absolute pleasure, Sara! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

To be different and to relate something that isn’t in my bio, I’m going to relate five facts no one might not know about me:

1 .   I can’t watch my hands while typing. When I do, I get lost and lose speed.

2.     My newest hobby is making jewelry. It’s something my daughter and I have really gotten into. Our plan is to make enough to do some craft shows this summer. So now I’m collecting beads and stealing writing time to design necklaces. But hey, I do some story planning then. So, all’s good, right?

3.      My favorite dessert is cheesecake, but I prefer pie over plain old cake. Maybe that’s why I love Boston cream pie too—it’s a cake and a pie...LOL

4.      When I was a kid, I wanted to be a country singer, but my third grade music teacher trampled that dream to dust when she refused to let me in the chorus because, as she put it, I couldn’t hold a tune in a bucket.

5.      I’ve never sent a text message. Lame, I know.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

In eleventh grade when I wrote my first novel. A massive hand-written romance set during the Civil War.

Do you remember what inspired you to write your first book?

I can’t even remember what inspired the book I wrote in eleventh grade. It was probably a product of my love affair at the time with John Jakes’ North and South Series and Gone with the Wind. But what inspired my first published book, A Hunter’s Angel (published under my pen name Cera duBois), was a line out of the Twilight series.

I love call stories. Can you tell us about yours and your reaction?

Since my call story for my first book is pretty uninspiring—I screamed, I danced around the room, and my husband and kids thought they had to call in professional help. I know; what’s different about that? Most writers feel the same way when they get that magical email (who actually gets a phone call these days anyway?).

But my call story for Gambling On A Secret is totally unique. It was total, unadulterated shock. I stared at the computer and just couldn’t believe my luck, which inspired an entire blog article itself. First—I was actually talked into posting on a blog during a pitch session with Piper Denna (executive editor of Lyrical Press) by my dear friend and awesome critique partner D’Ann Lindun. I posted mainly to appease D’Ann and really didn’t expect anything to come from it. Second—I took all but 1 minute to post the pitch (basically, I copy/pasted a pitch line I’d created in a class). Third—Piper is the first and only editor to ever read Gambling On A Secret.

Oh, then I started screaming, dancing around the house and laughing until I cried. My poor husband dug out the number for psychological intervention again. He really thought I was bound for a straight jacket this time.

Love it! :) What drew you to write your chosen genre?

I really have no idea. I think the genre chose me. My first Western—Heartstrings, which will be released in April—has a country music mega star as a hero. It just seemed natural that he’d be from Texas. As I built the story around him, I found myself writing a Western. I had to research EVERYTHING. I’d read a few contemporary Westerns before then and I love old Western movies, but up until then, I never considered writing in the genre. Just as when a pet chooses you and becomes your best friend, I love everything about contemporary Westerns. However, I’m not really surprised that I completely embraced the genre. I grew up on a farm, and I realized in my old age (well, I don’t consider myself all that old, but my kids have a way of making me feel old), how much I loved living on a farm. I miss it. Writing about ranching (though totally different from the way we farm in Pennsylvania) has become my way of living out my dream of having a farm again.

What’s the most challenging part of the writing process for you?

Writing the first draft. I sometimes find it almost painful, in fact. Not root canal painful, but close. Just shows I must be a bit sadistic to continue doing this to myself.

I'm with you all the way on that one! Which one of your books is your ‘baby’ and why?

Them all!  But if you’re asking which one I’d consider the book of my heart, it’s Gambling On A Secret. I simply love the characters, the world that I’ve created and the story. Charli and Dylan are so broken in the beginning, but as they rebuild her ranch, they rebuild themselves.

What are you working on right now?

Book 3 of The Colton Gamblers—Gambling On A Dream. Which has me rethinking which is more painful - that root canal or drafting. Dawn and Wyatt are really fighting me right now. I’m also working on a project with the working title A Family for Jesse. I’m hoping to submit this story to another publisher and/or agents. It’s also has a country music hero, a JR Ewing-like villain and is a romantic suspense.

Latest news?

Lots!  The Wild Rose Press released A Hunter’s Blade (published under my pen name Cera duBois) everywhere on January 2. It previously was only available on Amazon. On April 1, Lyrical Press will release my second contemporary Western, Heartstrings. Gambling On A Heart (book 2 of The Colton Gamblers) is set for tentative release in September.

Where can we find you and your books?

Buy Links:

Lyrical Press: http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_25&products_id=574

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Gambling-Secret-Colter-Gamblers-ebook/dp/B00AVLL4XA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1357261386&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gambling-on-a-secret-sara-walter-ellwood/1114062294?ean=2940016153667

BookStrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/gambling-on-a-secret

Author links:

Website: http://www.sarawalterellwood.com

Blog: http://www.sarawalterellwood.com/blog/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarawalterellwood.ceradubois/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sara_w_ellwood

Blurb:

When Charli bets everything on a secret, will she find the deck stacked against her?

Former runaway-turned heiress Charli Monroe is hiding her sordid past and planning a future in Colton, Texas. Attending the local college for a degree in social work, she intends to raise cattle on her newly purchased ranch, which she plans to open as a home for troubled teens. Only a few glitches—the Victorian mansion is crumbling, the barn needs a roof, and her oilman neighbor wants more than friendship. When she meets Dylan Quinn, Charli is willing to take a chance on the town drunk to help her rebuild the rundown ranch.

Dylan has his demons, too. The former Special Forces commander can’t get past his ex-wife’s betrayal and the botched mission that left him with much more than a bad limp. Certain the greedy oilman next door to Charli wants much more than just her heart, Dylan’s even willing to stop drinking in order to protect her.

When things get dangerous and secrets of the past are revealed, is he only looking out for his new employer, or is she the new start he so desperately needs?

CONTENT WARNING: Details abuse of a minor, drug abuse, alcoholism, swearing, spicy sex, murder.

COVER QUOTE: “Full of intrigue, tangled pasts, and raw emotions, this one is guaranteed to keep you turning pages from start to finish and then wishing for one more chapter!”
Carolyn Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Just a Cowboy and His Baby.

Ms. Brown also named Gambling On A Secret as one of her favorite romance reads in 2012 in the Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today.

Excerpt:

“Ferguson, what are you doing here?” Dylan barked.

Leon ambled toward them on the stone path. “I’m saving a young maiden from torment. What are you doing here, playing the part of the devil?”

“I’m Miss Monroe’s new manager.” The deadly edge of his voice matched the flintiness of his eyes. “If there’s anyone to save the young maiden from, it’s you.”

“Mr. Quinn, please.” She turned to Leon. “Leon, is there something I can do for you?”

He smiled, showing off perfect white teeth in a face handsome enough to belong to an actor. “I was just passing by on my way home and decided to stop. How are the boys working out?”

Dylan’s stance widened and his hands flexed at his slides. “What boys?”

“Charli and I have entered into a business arrangement.”

She lost the battle with the urge to wrap her arms around herself. As much as she appreciated Leon’s kindness, respected him, and was even a little attracted to him, something about him didn’t sit right with her. He represented her peers in the community. According to Mrs. Pratt, besides the Cartwrights, she and Leon were undoubtedly the wealthiest residents in the county. No one in Colton could learn about her past. It would ruin her, and Leon, no doubt, had the means to dig up the dirt.

“Really?” Dylan stepped closer to her in a protective manner. Whiskey tainted his breath as the warmth of the exhalations tickled her cheek. “What kind of business arrangement?”

She could protect herself. Dylan Quinn wasn’t any safer than Leon Ferguson. Stepping away from him, she forced her arms to her sides. “Mr. Quinn, I can handle this.”

She faced Leon. “I’m amazed by how much the men got done since starting on Monday. The foreman told me last evening they’d be reseeding another fifty acres for hay this morning. And they have the corrals fixed and started on the fencing in the north pasture.”

“Good, good.” He glanced at Dylan. “I’ll be going, unless you need a more reliable exterminator. I couldn’t help but overhear about your snake infestation. I can give you the name of the company that has gotten rid of the snakes in our lakes over on Oak Springs for years.”

Although he presented the perfect solution, she didn’t the like way Leon had looked at Dylan as he said the word exterminator. “No, Mr. Quinn is quite capable of getting rid of the snake.”

“Oh, I’m sure he is.” Leon tipped his hat. “Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you, Charli.” Dylan’s jaw tightened as his uncle glanced at him. “It’s good to see you up among the living again.”

Leon headed back to his Porsche. With no pretense of lowering his voice, Dylan said, “Now, there’s a snake no one wants in their garden.”

Upon hearing the jibe, Leon’s shoulders jerked in mid-stride.

Rattled by Leon’s attention and the snake fiasco, she turned on Dylan. “You aren’t off the hook. I want those snakes gone.”

“We’ll see.”

“I hate snakes.” She shuddered and put her hands on her hips. “Maybe I should have asked him who the exterminator is.”

Bio:

Sara Walter Ellwood is an award winning author whose novel Gambling On A Secret was named by bestselling author Carolyn Brown in the Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today as one of her favorite romances of 2012. Although Sara has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her stories. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for nearly 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia.

She also writes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name Cera duBois.

Giveaway:

**PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE GIVEAWAY**

~One poster from every stop will win a Gambling On A Secret ebook

~One commenter from each stop will win a piece of custom jewelry.

(The winners of these two prizes will be announced the day after the tour stop.)

I also have 2 Grand Prizes!

~First Grand Prize is a SWAG PACK, including a signed copy of Carolyn Brown’s Just a Cowboy and His Baby. Also included is a copy of D’Ann Lindun’s Shot Through the Heart, a pen, a notebook, a horse themed mini calendar, a patriotic themed day planner, and more all tucked away in a reusable tote bag at the end of my blog tour.

~Second Grand Prize is a $10 Gift Card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. If you follow the tour and comment as often as possible, you increase your chances of winning!

(The winners of the Swag Pack and Gift Card will be announced on March 1, 2013.)

(Swag Pack is only eligible for US residents to win. The jewelry and gift card are eligible to US and Canada residents only. The ebook is eligible to anyone, unless prohibited by law.)

WAAAHHH!! I'm ineligible. Times like these, New Zealand really does seem so far away! Great prizes, Sara! Good luck to everyone entering - they are some wonderful prizes! Good luck with your new releases, Sara - and I'm wishing you happy future first drafting! :)

Rachel Brimble Pays a Visit

Please welcome the fabulous and mega-talented Rachel Brimble to Novel Natterings. It's a pleasure to have you here Rachel! And I am sooo jealous of your company in this photo! I LOVE Jodi Picoult!

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I have been married to my best friend for almost 14 years and we have two daughters, Jessica and Hannah (13 & 10) as well as a third child…a black lab, called Max. We live near Bath in the UK and I have been writing seriously since Hannah started school full time.

In my spare time, I live to read, knit, walk or socialize with friends and family. My biggest vice is chilled white wine and jelly donuts, lol! (Not at the same time!)

Mmm...wine.... :) When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When my first paperback arrived in the post – one of the most emotional and memorable days of my life J Searching For Sophie was published in 2007 and I’ve had at least one book published every year since. Very proud of myself!

And so you should be :) That is an amazing accomplishment. Do you remember what inspired you to write your first book?

Yes – my husband. He’s adopted and in 2005/6, he felt a need to look for his birth mother. Our endeavors led to no results unfortunately but the experience and my husband’s emotional involvement prompted me to think about all the adoptive mothers, birth mothers and adopted children out there.

Searching For Sophie is about a woman (the heroine) who gave up her child for adoption years before and when the young girl is abducted, the police need her help. It was very emotional to write and I hope that comes across on the page.

Wow! I could imagine just how emotional that time could be. I read Searching for Sophie and was immediately struck by the depth of emotion you managed to convey. I admit to a few tears reading it, so it was a job well done!

I love call stories. Can you tell us about yours and your reaction?

Mine came via email – what a day! I initially screamed and then cried and then danced around the kitchen. Never forget that day – EVER! Each time I receive an acceptance the feeling is the same, I never take for granted I will always be published, I think that’s one of the worse mistakes a published writer can make.

God has a way of dealing with complacency…

*Nods head in agreement* What drew you to write romance?

I’ve always loved romance, right from a very early age – when I was ten or eleven, I devoured the Sweet Valley High books, then moved on to the Sweet Dreams books (remember them??) and eventually Mills & Boon (Harlequin) before discovering authors like single title books of Nora Roberts, Lisa Gardner and Tess Gerritsen.

Even though I’m a Brit and lived in the UK all my life, I have always read more American writers than UK writers. I am just more drawn to the stories. It’s no surprise I’ve found more success in the states than I have here!

Oh my! In our reading lives, we could have been twins! You're obviously a woman of great taste Rachel ;)

What’s the most challenging part of the writing process for you?

Plotting – I am a continual victim of the ‘sagging middle’. My writing process is simple – I either hear the hero or heroine’s voice in my head or a ‘what if’ scenario will pop up out of the blue. After that, I write a two or three page synopsis and character sketches for my protagonists which often throws up the conflicts.

Then I write a ‘dirty’ draft from start to finish – around the two-thirds mark, I often hit plot problems that I need to work on (or cry over!). The hard work comes in draft two and three…

What’s the weirdest thing that’s happened to you while writing one of your books in terms of the characters or world you’ve created?

Hmm…I can’t think of anything weird. With almost every book, they have gone off in a different direction than I planned but the more writers I speak to, the more common I realize this is. I just run with it, who am I to argue with their story?

The more I write, the less I try to wrestle with my characters too. I think you're right, it is, after all, all about them.

What are you working on right now?

I am currently working on book two of what I hope to be a romantic suspense trilogy. They are set in a fictional seaside town called Templeton Cove in the UK. My agent is currently ‘shopping’ book one so fingers crossed, I’ll have some good news soon J

Good luck, but something tells me you won't be needing it :) Latest news?

I have just sold a new historical novella to The Wild Rose Press and returned the first round edits. Here’s the blurb:

To keep herself from the depths of poverty, Milly Shepherd needs to be appointed manager of the Red Lion Tavern.  The elderly owner is in failing health and has promised her the job permanently if no one more suitable applies.  Milly will fight with her entire being to make the job her own.

Joseph Jacobs needs to supplement his income to pay off his father’s creditors and save him from debtor’s prison.  Though the job as manager of the local tavern looks promising, Milly is favored by both the owner and customers.  Instead, Joseph swallows his pride and agrees to tend bar.

Hope to have cover art and a release date soon – I’ll keep you posted!

Ooo! An exclusive :) I'll be looking out for that one - sounds great! Where can we find you and your books?

http://www.rachelbrimble.com/

http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Brimble/181873201887441
Twitter: @rachelbrimble

Rachel’s latest contemporary release is Paying The Piper, available now from Lyrical Press. Here’s the blurb:

Nightclub manager, Grace Butler is on a mission to buy the pub where her mother’s ashes are scattered – except the vendor wants to sell to anyone but her. And the vendor happens to be her father…with a secret Grace will do anything to uncover.

Social worker and all-round good guy, Jimmy Betts needs cash to buy a house for three special kids before their care home closes. In a desperate bid for cash, he agrees to a one-time ‘job’ for bad-man Karl Butler. But in a sudden turn of events, Jimmy finds himself employed by Karl’s beautiful, funny and incredibly sexy daughter, Grace.

Their lives are so different except for one unifying thread – they are both trying to escape the binds of their tyrannical fathers. But is the key to their liberty each other?

Buy Link:

http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_25&products_id=424