Hi there everyone,
I've managed to organise a very special feature here over the coming weeks. I've managed to secure Interviews with some TOP authors from Carina. Carina publishes all over the world so we have authors from the UK and even as far as Australia!!
Kicking off "Carina Catch Up" (which by the way, please use the HASHTAG #CarinaCatchUp if you are on Twitter and Social Media), is one of my favourite authors who has written and published the BESTSELLING Game of Scones which I utterly raved about.
Please welcome, Samantha Tonge;
Hi, and welcome to A Page of
Fictional Love. It's lovely to have you here for a Q&A. I love being able
to do these Q&As because we get to chat with the author of books we love
and we meet the real person behind the words.
Thanks so much for having me here,
Dawn!
Congratulations on your published
novel/s; Being a published author must make you feel so excited?
Yes, I still can’t quite believe it.
It took me eight years or so to get my novel publishing deal, and many times I
felt like giving up – but I didn’t. I think perseverance is one of the most
important qualities for a writer... along with a good stash of chocolate!
Can you remember the moment that you
discovered that you were going to be a published author?
Yes, my then agent emailed me. There
were two offers on the table which were very exciting. It did take a few days
for it the news to settle in properly though. My editor-to-be did a print out
of comments from members of the Carina team, saying why they liked my debut
book, Doubting Abbey. That was special.
What is your experience of being an
author?
There is a lot more to it than the
writing, and that surprised me – especially for a digital-first author. All the
promotion, to get your book noticed... Luckily I enjoy social media but it can
be time-consuming!
As someone who has written extremely
short stories, I know how difficult I find the process of writing to be when
you're trying to cram all your bursts of ideas in. How do you find the writing
process? Are there any tips you have on writing a better novel?
Look on each chapter as a short story
– it must have a good start, good end and not just fluff in the middle. And if
you break a novel down in that way, it doesn’t seem as daunting to write.
Can you share with us a typical
writing day for you?
At my desk by eight, catching up with
Twitter and Facebook. Then bath and breakfast, um, ahem, anywhere between then
and eleven! If I can, I work more or less through until the kids come home from
school and then I continue, as they are older now. I am very lucky to be able
to write more or less full-time – apart from the moments I really must stock
the food cupboards and clean!
Where did your inspiration for
writing come from?
It sounds a bit cheesy, but I always
kind of knew that one day I would be a writer. Just a feeling inside – a love
of words. I really used to craft letters that I wrote to people and back then
the inspiration was a passion for words and sentences. Now it is also about
sharing emotions with readers.
What comes first when inspiration
strikes; The characters, the plot, or the ending?
With me, it is the title first! Title
is everything to me (so it is rather upsetting if it gets changed!) Then
character comes shortly before plot.
Do other authors inspire you, if yes,
who and why?
Sophie Kinsella has inspired me –
creating ditzy character in the Shopaholic series who was loveable as well. And
John Green, his teenage voice in The Fault In Our Stars is exquisite. I’ve
never read Barbara Cartland, but her output was inspiring. And Stephanie Meyer
of the Twilight series, who wrote something so original that grabbed the
public’s imagination.
What was it like when you first
submitted your manuscript?
The first ever manuscript I subbed
was to the Darley Anderson Agency and I was hugely (and naively!) shocked when
it came back! I soon grew a thick skin as rejections rolled in over the years,
although the odd one always hurt. I think in the beginning I thought that
writing a novel was a real feat and it would just, kind of automatically, get
published. I had a lot to learn!
What is your biggest “Author Dream*?
A Hollywood movie based on one of my
books. Yes please!
How do you celebrate Publication
day?
Usually low-key, as I am working late
into the evening, promoting. But I always have a lovely lunchtime launch party
on Facebook and that means everything.
What is it like to hold your
paperback/ebook reader in your hand and see the words you wrote available for
millions to read?
Some days it still hasn’t sunk in
that people have not only read my work, but enjoyed it. It’s made all the sweat
and tears along the way worth it.
What was the last book you read, and
what did you enjoy most about it?
I read Love, Lies and Louboutins by Katie Oliver and loved it! A chicklit
book with a bit of a difference, and fast-paced writing which I love.
What would your dreamiest book hero
hunk be like?
Ooh, well my heroes have come in all
shapes and sizes - in my new book, Game
of Scones, there is tall, suave, executive half-Dutch Henrik and mocha-eyed, flirty
fisherman Greek Niko.... But certain characteristics in all my heroes are very
important, like determination, kindheartedness and loyalty.
Following on from your HUGE success
of Game of Scones (Congratulations!),
What can we look forward to in your *new* book out later this year?
Well, it’s called My Big Fat Christmas Wedding, so I
think that says it all! It is a standalone sequel to Game of Scones.
Are any of your characters based on
you? Or someone you know?
The character of Henrik in Game ofScones is based on a charming Dutch flight attendant I met last year. Twitter
put us in touch and he has been lovely, sending me photos for promotional
purposes.
Before we finish up, can you share
where you love for the fictional pages first came from? Perhaps a memory from
childhood?
Enid Blyton. I used to read her books
in the bath, and still have them, brown and curled, in the loft. They provided
pure escapism.
I can't believe this is the end of
the interview (sob!) I've had such a great time talking with you I'd love to
invite you back to talk more your books in the future.
I would love that! It’s been huge
fun. Thanks so much, Dawn!
From all my readers here and myself,
we wish you the very best success with your books, and can't wait to see them
listed as a Bestseller!
Thank you!! xx
Well fictional lovers, I don’t know about you but I really enjoyed
catching up with Samantha. I just need to imagine what the dishy Dutch Flight
Attendant looks like now to drool over… Ahem, I mean visualise Henrik more
accurately ;)
If you haven’t already got yourself a copy of Game of Scones then I
strongly urge you to. You can buy it HERE
and read my review HERE
Posts
Thanks for inviting me on here, Dawn, the questions were fun!
ReplyDeleteSam x