Warwicks Mermaid by Ellie Gray / #Interview #MiniBlogBlitz @rararesources @elliegray58

On 22 november 202018 november 2020 door elsinGray Ellie - Warwicks Mermaid2 reacties

Having escaped an abusive relationship, Chloe MacGregor is determined to put the past behind her. The little cottage high up on the cliffs overlooking the beautiful North Yorkshire town of Whitby is her safe haven, somewhere she is free to be herself.

When the arrival of her new neighbour and boss, Luke Warwick, threatens her peaceful, sheltered life, Chloe is forced to confront her past and to re-evaluate who she really is. Falling in love with Luke is not part of her plan but, to her surprise, Luke is falling for her too. The only thing preventing their happy ever after is Chloe herself. Will she ever truly learn to leave the past where it belongs?

Q&A

– When and where do you prefer to write?

I am fortunate to have a study, which is very much my room, filled with lots of things that are important to me and give me inspiration. We recently moved house and my husband commented that it was interesting that my study was the first room to be fully unpacked and set up 😊 I work full time so I tend to write on a weekend and usually start late morning or early afternoon and work through to early evening. I’m definitely not a morning person….

– Do you have a certain ritual?

That’s an interesting one. My immediate response was no. However, on reflection I suppose I do have a ritual. I have to have some form of music playing, but I can’t concentrate if songs are playing, so I tend to play spiritual or relaxation music – favourite of choice at the moment is Midori music. I also have scented candles burning (I have enough candles to open my own shop but can never have enough!), and a hot drink – black coffee if it is morning or early afternoon, and fruit teas if it is later. In terms of actual writing, I re-read what I wrote in my last session and do some basic edits, if needed, before I begin to write new words. So, yes, I guess you could say I do have a certain ritual.

– Is there a drink of some food that keeps you company while you write?

As above, coffee or fruit teas to drink. I rarely eat while I’m writing.

– What is your favourite book?

Difficult one as I love reading. However, Persuasion by Jane Austen has to be up there with my favourites. More recently, my favourite read has been the Caraval series by Stephanie Garber.

– Do you consider writing a different genre in the future?

My three published books are all contemporary romance, however the novel I am currently working on is a romantic suspense, which I’m really enjoying. I have also written a young adult novel, which has never been published, but which I may re-look at in the future.

– Do you sometimes base your characters on people you know?

Not particularly, as it would skew the character I’m writing because I would be thinking of the person I know rather than the character. However, there are certain personality traits from people I know that I use to inform my characters. All my main heroines have a little bit of me, or my experiences, in them.

– Do you take a notebook everywhere in order to write down ideas that pop up?

I used to, however with new technology, if I need to write down an idea that pops up, I tend to write it in the notes section of my smartphone. That doesn’t stop my buying new notebooks on a regular basis!

– Which genre do you not like at all?

I don’t like gritty, based on real-life stories. I work in a sector that deals with real life difficulties and hardships, and work is stressful for me, so I read for escapism and prefer uplifting, lighter reads.

– If you had the chance to co-write a book. Whom would it be with?

That’s an interesting one. I’ve never thought of co-writing a book and I’m not sure if I would like to do that. Every author has such a different voice that I’m not sure how it would work. Having said that, one of my favourite series is the Pendergast novels by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child and it seems to work for them.

– If you should travel to a foreign country to do research, which one would you choose and why?

Egypt. I have always been and remain obsessed with ancient Egypt. I have travelled to Egypt many years ago, and set my novel, Love on the Nile, there, but I would very much like to go again, when it is safe to do so. I tend to go to Edinburgh most years for their Christmas markets, and I have an idea for a novel set in Edinburgh at Christmas so would like to go again and do some research. However, with current restrictions due to Covid-19, that will have to wait until next year.

Thank you, Ellie Gray and Rachel’s Random Resources

About the author

I’m a contemporary romance author, published with the lovely Tirgearr Publishing, and am a proud member of the Romantic Novelist Association. I live in the beautiful East Riding of Yorkshire in the UK and, although I work full-time in the public sector, my favourite pastime, when not writing, is wandering around old stately homes.

My debut novel, Beauty and the Recluse, was published in February 2016, closely followed by my second, Love on the Nile, which was released in the Summer of 2016. My third novel, Warwick’s Mermaid, was published in October 2017 and I’m currently working on my fourth.

A few random pieces of information about me:

Favourite TV shows – The Walking Dead, The X-Files, Nashville, Dr. Who, the Great British Bake-off.
Favourite Music – I’m an 80’s girl!, country, sixties, Elvis, classical (when I’m writing)
Favourite Food – Indian, tapas, crisps
Favourite Drink – black coffee (copious amounts when I’m writing) sauvignon blanc

Author Links

https://elliegrayauthor.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliegrayauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/elliegray58

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/elliegray71/