Susan Buchanan's Blog, page 29

Meet Holly - character interview with NoveldTales blog

Hilary from NoveldTales wanted to ask Holly, our beloved travel writer in SIGN OF THE TIMES and love interest of more than one man, some questions. Fortunately she agreed. So, here today you have Holly's debut interview!
Enjoy! Sooz

http://www.noveldtales.blogspot.co.uk

Six Sentence Sunday - extract from The Dating Game

Yep. It's that time again. I am frantically writing chapter thirty of The Dating Game, which will hopefully be out end Sep/Oct, but here's something for you that happened a little earlier in the proceedings. Enjoy! Sooz


Sean had crashed into two stools,  knocking them over, then fell over another and landed on a heap on the floor.
Brilliant, thought Gill. That’s all I need. As she made her way back to assist him, a passing waiter helped Sean to his feet and asked if he was alright.
‘I’m perfectly fine – why wouldn’t I be?’
Could this date get any worse? Gill wondered.

To see all of the Six Sentence Sunday entrants, go to www.sixsunday.com after 2pm UK time (9am EST) or on Twitter look for  #sixsunday

Interview with Tracie Banister

Hello everyone - it's Friday and it's sunny. What's going on? Don't worry - already here in Glasgow yesterday we had warnings on the motorway overhead signage reading Heavy Rain Saturday - I do love how they like to build us up!

So, to counteract the prospect of a wet weekend, let's have a great Friday, starting with my fun interview with Tracie Banister, author of the chick lit novels, Blame It on the Fame and the recently launched In Need of Therapy.


Tracie's from Georgia, USA.Her career as personal assistant to a local entrepreneur lasted for 12 years.  When it ended, she decided to follow her bliss and dedicate herself to writing full-time.  Her debut novel, the Hollywood-themed Blame It on the Fame, was released in January, 2012.  And she has followed that up with the fun summer read, In Need of Therapy. 
Let's see what she had to say for herself:-

You have written two novels.  Are there any parallels you can draw between the two?Both novels have humor and romance; they just vary in tone.  The humor in my first book, Blame It on the Fame, is more biting as that story is set in Hollywoodwhere there's a lot of competitiveness going on.  And in In Need of Therapy, the humor arises more from the situations the heroine, a psychologist, finds herself in both personally and professionally.  I'd like to think that books one and two are equally fast-paced and fun.
Both novels have been largely classed in the Chick Lit genre. Is this what you like to read? If not, what do you like to read?I'm a fairly eclectic reader.  I like just about anything that has a hint of romance in it, whether it be Chick Lit, Light Mystery, Young Adult, Paranormal, Historical Romance, even Steampunk!  I just wish I had more time to read because my TBR pile is huge at the moment!
Would you like to write in other genres in the future, If so which ones and why?I dabble in other genres.  The first novel I attempted to write over 20 years ago was Historical Romance.  And the first Chick Lit novel I wrote (the one that got me an agent) had a strong Mystery element to it.  I started a YA novel a year or so ago that I envision as a series.  The novel I'm currently working on is a Regency in the vein of Jane Austen/Georgette Heyer.  So, yeah, I like to genre-hop.  It keeps the creative juices flowing.
In In Need of Therapy, what drove you to have a Latinagirl as your heroine?I like to mix things up and give all of my heroines unique and interesting qualities.  When I decided to set In Need of Therapy in Miami, it just seemed natural for my lead character to be a Latinaas there's such a large Cuban population in South Florida.  I had a lot of fun writing for a heroine who had a different type of background and family dynamic than any character I'd created before.
I’ve noticed on your FB posts that you have been able to show photos of stars whom you indicate your characters are similar to, in In Need of Therapy, although not actually them of course!  When you imagine your characters, do you eventually need to be able to see them as a person who already exists whether famous or just an ordinary joe?  Or are you quite happy just to know their physical characteristics and imagine the rest in your head?There are usually one or two characters in my books (not always the leads) who are "inspired" by a particular actor or actress.  But for the most part, my characters exist in my head looking as I describe them, not like Sandra Bullock or Johnny Depp.  The casting on my blog is just a fun thing I do when I release a book because readers always ask me who I'd want to play certain characters from my books should they ever make it to the big (or small) screen.


Did you visualise your Blame it on the Fame characters in the same way, ie In Need of Therapy, you have posted that Pilar is similar to Eva Mendes.You would think that since all of the Blame It on the Fame heroines were actresses, I would have envisioned the five of them as real-life movie stars while I was writing, but I didn't.  The only character in that book whose physicality was based on an actual person was Scottish bad boy Miles McCrea (I actually looked at photos of Gerard Butler while writing scenes that Miles was in and I heard Gerard's voice in my head saying Miles' dialogue.)   In Need of Therapy is a laugh a minute, with so many funny characters. Which is your favourite funny character and why?I'd say that the character in In Need of Therapy who made me laugh the most when writing for him was Pilar's persistent ex, Victor.  With all of his impassioned declarations of love and over-the-top romantic gestures, he was like the hero in a really bad telenovela(for the record, I adore really bad telenovelas.)
Which is your favourite overall character (if different) and why?I'm going to have to go with my girl, Pilar, on this one.  In Need of Therapy was written from her point-of-view, so she's the character I spent the most time with and the one whose happiness I was most invested in.  Plus, I just liked Pilar.  She's the kind of woman I'd want to be friends with in real life (good-hearted, funny, principled, but still flawed enough to be relatable.)Did you prefer writing Blame it on the Fame or In Need of Therapy? Writing both books was challenging and rewarding, each in its own way.  I'd probably say that I "preferred" writing In Need of Therapy just because it was a shorter, less complicated book, so I was able to complete it in a shorter amount of time.
Which of the two books was most important to you?Probably Blame It on the Fame, as it was the first book I published.What is your favourite scene from In Need of Therapy?It's a toss-up between Pilar's mother's birthday party (I had a blast writing that sequence  because it was the only time in the book when all of Pilar's volatile family members were gathered in one place) and I, also, got a kick out of Pilar's blind date with Tony (I can't reveal why I enjoy that scene so much because I don't want to spoil anyone, but suffice it to say, that Pilar's thought process during that disastrous date makes me laugh every time I read it.) If you had to liken your novels to those of another author or authors, whose would it be?I'd say that if you're a fan of the works of Candace Bushnell, Lauren Weisberger, or Jackie Collins, Blame It on the Fame would be right up your alley.  In Need of Therapy bears a closer resemblance to the fun, fizzy books of Sophie Kinsella. 



Do you do a lot of people watching, to get material for characters and if so, do you go to bars, cafes, where?I've always been an observer.  So, I do watch people when I'm out in public and often make mental notes about things (clothing, mannerisms, voice, how the person relates to whomever they're with.)  And I do the same when I'm in my own sphere with friends, family, neighbors, etc.  Little bits of these observations will sometimes make it into my stories, but I really rely on my imagination more than anything when I'm creating characters. Therapy is obviously a key theme throughout In Need of Therapy, how did you research this to make it as believable as it came across?I'm in the unique position of having looked at the therapist/patient relationship from both angles.  Back in my school days, I toyed with the idea of becoming a psychologist and took some really interesting courses on the subject.  I, also, read Psychology Today religiously for years.  As an adult, I've listened to my friends' stories about their experiences with therapy and I've even been to a few sessions myself.  When I decided to write a novel about a psychologist, I did plenty of research into the various disorders that are mentioned in the book (Hypochondria, Sudden Wealth Syndrome, etc.)
Fun stuffOK, I know you are a big Rupert Penry Jones fan – which is your favourite RPJ work?Definitely Whitechapel.  I think he is brilliant playing DI Joseph Chandler, a cop who's trying to head up a unit that handles violent crimes all while dealing with an often-crippling case of OCD. I read that your fave actor is Michael Fassbender – really, more than RPJ? No slight intended to dear Rupert, but I can't help but be wowed by Fassy's charisma and talent every time I see him on screen.  The man is just riveting in every role, and he's such a risk-taker with the projects he chooses.  I see an Oscar in his future.
Fave classic movieEasy.  Gone With the Wind.  I've been madly in love with that movie since the first time I saw it on TV when I was 11 years old.Fave actressMeryl Streep.  Such an amazingly talented and versatile actress.  And I love that she's such a down-to-earth, funny lady in real life.  She's never let the praise and adulation go to her head.Favourite songI love the oldies.  So, for me, favorite song would be a tie between "Beyond the Sea" by Bobby Darin and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" by The Platters.Fave rom comOoooo, that's a toughie because I adore so many rom coms.  I'm tempted to say "Bridget Jones's Diary"," but I hate to be predictable.  So, I'm going to dare to be different and pick the Goldie Hawn/Kurt Russell classic, Overboard.  I've seen that movie so many times I've lost count and I can quote lines from it all day long.  "Are you going to bring me my lemon or do I have to squeeze it from my hat?"Destination you’d like to be stranded on with Rupert Penry Jones?I do not like the idea of being stranded on a desert island with anyone as I'd have a third-degree sunburn by the second day.  So, I'm going to steal an idea from my book, Blame It on the Fame, and say that I'd like to be stranded with Rupert in a mountain cabin during a snowstorm.  Of course, this mountain cabin would have a fully-stocked fridge and a fireplace with an endless supply of matches and dry wood so that we could stay nice and toasty warm.Fave place in the US?

Oh, gosh, that's tough as I have a lot of favorite cities in the US (Charleston, Manhattan, Las Vegas, Washington DC.)  But if I had to pick one, I'd go with Boston.  I visited Boston in the autumn and loved everything about it - all of the history, the amazing seafood, standing on the bridge and watching the scullers rowing up and down the Charles River, I even loved the mass transportation in Boston! Have you ever been out of the US? If so, where and what did you like most about it?The only place I've ever been to that was outside the US was Toronto, Canada.  Unfortunately, the weather was terrible when I visited (cold and rainy), so I didn't really get to enjoy the city as I would have liked to. Any obsessions (excluding RPJ!)My obsessions are the internet (I start twitching if I'm away from it for more than a few hours), competitive reality shows like Dancing With the Stars, Project Runway, and Top Chef, salt and vinegar potato chips, and checking the sales numbers on my books repeatedly throughout the day.
Favourite takeaway food

I got hooked on eating bison cheeseburgers a few years back when I was trying to find ways to get more iron in my diet (I suffer from chronic anemia.)  I can't abide ground beef, but I read that bison had more iron than beef and less fat than chicken.  So, I gave the bison cheeseburger at Ted's Montana Grill up the street from my house a try and was wowed by how good it tasted.  Now I pick up a bison cheeseburger from Ted's every Friday night.  It's my end of the week treat!Are you a sporty person and/or do you like to watch sport?  What do you play/watch?Although I work out every day, I do not consider myself to be a sporty person at all.  I don't play any sports and I very rarely watch them on TV.  I did go through a period of being really into tennis because my roommate at the time was a tennis player, and she got me into watching the big tennis matches (Wimbledon, French Open, et al.)  She explained all the ins and outs of the game to me, so that made it more fun to watch.Will you be watching the Olympics?Probably not.  I’m more of a Winter Olympics fan.  I really love figure skating, especially pairs and ice dancing.

Describe your ideal man Tall and in good shape, dark hair, blue eyes, great sense of humor, even-tempered, doesn't drink heavily or smoke, loves dogs, intelligent, kind, and financially stable.  Bonus points if he has an accent (English, Scottish, Irish, Australian, French - they're all good), is left-handed (I've always been attracted to southpaws for some reason, perhaps because they tend to be creative?), or wears glasses (Lasik surgery really ruined this predilection for me.)    Three things we couldn’t possibly know about youI used to write fan fiction for genre shows like Roswelland Smallville.I am a terrible cook, but a great baker!Although they say that Tuesday's child is full of grace, I am the world's biggest klutz.  I have broken both of my arms and had to get stitches three times because I've slipped or fallen.
Any talents apart from writingMy only talents are related to words and language.  I was a champion speller in school, I do four crossword puzzles every day, completing each in less than 5 minutes (Yes, I time myself!), and I'm a wicked mimic.  I don't even realize that I'm doing it most of the time, but whenever I'm around someone with an accent or unusual cadence to their voice, I will start talking like them within minutes.  My high school French teacher thought I had a French relative at home because she said my accent and pronunciation sounded as if I came from the country myself.Thanks Tracie for taking time out of your current busy schedule, post-launch, to answer my questions. As you Americans say, 'It's Been a Blast!' Sooz You can buy In Need of Therapy at:Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/In-Need-of-Therapy-ebook/dp/B008N6Z36Y  Amazon UK:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/In-Need-of-Therapy-ebook/dp/B008N6Z36Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1342893151&sr=1-1 Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-need-of-therapy-tracie-banister/1112265620?ean=2940015006889  You can also keep track of Tracie via the following methods:- she's one to be watched!Tracie's blog:  http://traciebanister.blogspot.com/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/#!/traciebanister 
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/tracie.banister

A Tribute to Maeve Binchy

Today is a very sad day. I just learned this morning of Maeve Binchy’s death. I had no idea she was ill, as I don’t watch the news much or read magazines. I have to confess to becoming very emotional - it was such a shock.   I was too busy wondering when she would hurry up and produce another amazing novel for me to devour.
I remember as a student, having no money to buy books. I honestly didn’t own any books back then, apart from university texts. Back then books were also a lot more expensive than they are now. There were no supermarkets selling books, no Amazon and no ebooks. For the record, I wouldn’t want Maeve’s books in ebook format. I would always prefer the hardback, or in the early days the paperback, which even at that was a stretch for me to afford.
I will never forget the feeling of buying my first hardback book, which was Maeve’s, from WH Smith. It had just come out, I had finished university, had a job and I could go and buy that book as soon as it came out. I didn’t leave the house until it was finished. I completely lost myself in the story.
I cannot fully express the sadness I feel that we will not see more of her existing characters and the introduction of new ones in the future.  I loved how every couple of books, Maeve would bring back some of her characters.  It always felt like meeting up with old friends.
BUT - the reason for this post is to remember this amazing woman and all of her works. I have a couple of favourites – Circle of Friendscomes right at the top and was the first I read. Even the film they later made of it was good. I remember very clearly going to the pictures to see it.  
Quentins is another firm favourite – who can forget how Maeve brought back the twins from Scarlet Feather, as well as the Italian lady from Evening Class.  The stories that Patrick and Brenda Brennan had to listen to and the shoulder they offered for people to cry on in their restaurant, made me want to go to Dublin and visit it.
Talking of Evening Class, this really is one of my favourites, perhaps because I had just finished my language degree, which included Italian. I also thought at one point about moving to Italy and so was keen to see how the Signora coped with Italian village life. At first she was mistrusted, shunned even. But, even with her secrets, she won them villagers over.
Tara Road and The Lilac Bus also figure highly in my favourites. Really it’s difficult to not go on at length here as I loved all of Maeve’s books. I particularly enjoyed the house swap in Tara Road and wanted Ria’s husband to get his comeuppance. He didn’t deserve her. I also watched the movie which I thought pretty good too, but, naturally, not a patch on the novel. 
Loved Tom, the bus driver in The Lilac Bus, with the tales of each of the passengers’ lives and why they were on his bus.
Scarlet Feather introduced us to Cathy and Tom, pulling out all the stops to get their catering business off the ground.
The way Maeve drew her characters in all of her novels was exceptional – so warm and likeable; Benny in Circle of Friends, the slightly chubby girl and her beautiful friend Nan, who did the dirty on her with the man Benny had fallen in love with.  And yet once Benny got over her grief, she stood by her friend, who was just trying to escape life with an abusive father. I can recall Benny taking the bus home every Friday, not being able to stay in Dublin and party with her friends and boyfriend in the big city.  She was the dutiful daughter who had to work Saturdays in her father’s store.
 And Maeve also knew how to depict characters  who inspired hatred and scorn, like slimy Sean, who wanted Benny’s father’s business and planned to marry Benny to get it. 
There are so many excellent books to read out there and I don’t re-read books often as a result. I have already re-read several of Maeve’s and intend to read them again now, in chronological order. I even read The Maeve Binchy Writers’ Club four years ago when I was finishing my own novel, to get tips from her.  She has been a true inspiration to me.
I am sure Maeve’s writing encouraged and influenced many of the Irish bestselling authors we see nowadays who have built their own followings and who are also among my favourite authors. And of course there are many, many non-Irish writers who will have been impacted by her too. 
Maeve, for me, was the first of the Irish contemporary women’s fiction writers to make her mark. She was so much more than a chick-lit author, teaching us about the family dynamic, relationships between family members, lovers and friends and how her characters coped with moral dilemmas and what life threw at them. She handled serious and delicate issues such as gambling, alcoholism, domestic violence, among many others.
She will be sorely missed and I hope often celebrated
I would love if you could leave your comments about your favourite Maeve Binchy book, character or scene, so that we can all share and remember this wonderful woman and author
ThanksSusan

New 5 star review from Novel d'Tales blog

Morning everyone!
Had to share this review of Sign of the Times with you, as I have a very big smile on my face right now! Big thanks to Hillary for doing the review.
Check it out here - http://noveldtales.blogspot.co.uk/
Back mid-week
Sooz

Six Sentence Sunday

Another excerpt from my upcoming novel, The Dating Game, for this week's Six Sentence Sunday.


‘Well, first of all, Trevor hesitated. 'No single guy hesitates when I ask for his number.’ 
Seeing Gill’s look at her, trying to coax some humility into her friend, Lisa said, ‘Oh well, you know what I mean. I’m not one to hold back, Gill. Anyway, that bollocks he just mentioned about his phone being off a lot.  I bet – in case it rings at an inopportune moment.’
To see other entries in Six Sentence Sunday, visit www.sixsunday.com As always remember the link only goes live at 2pm UK time (9am EST)
The Dating Game is due to be launched Sep/Oct.  If you can't wait that long, check out my first novel, Sign of the Times - http://amzn.to/GKqZGd (UK) & http://amzn.to/IYN0Fc (US & other .com)

The US' Jason Bourne interviews me

No, not that one, but Jason Bourne nonetheless! Check out the interview here
http://jbournesblog.wordpress.com/

Review - In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister

Yes, it's Friday again & today I bring you a book that I was the first to read - yes! I'm not sure I have ever been the first to read a particular book before, except my own obviously!
Anyway, I had asked Tracie if I could read her book and provide an independent review and she kindly sent me an advance copy - I was sworn to secrecy, as she had scheduled blog posts and FB posts, introducing her characters and the novel in the run-up to launch. Do you have any idea how difficult it was for me not to tell someone?!





How glad was I that I got an advance copy! What a superb read. I've been meaning to read the author's first book, Blame It on the Fame (and I will), but I hadn't quite had time yet. So when I found out In Need of Therapy was launching soon, I was keen to be the first to get my mitts on it. There were so many things that appealed to me about this book. First it's set in Miami and South Florida, where I have spent a fair bit of time, even though I'm Scottish. So I could totally envisage the Art Deco buildings of Ocean Drive, plus the Cuban neighbourhoods, as I had visited Calle Ocho and Little Havana. I also speak Spanish, and I like books which are peppered with little bits of other languages. Ms Banister's portrayal of the Latina family dynamic was hysterical and I thought very on-point.

Pilar's over the top mother with her histrionics had me in stitches, particularly at her birthday party. I had never read a chick-lit novel about a therapist before, so that was novel for me. I think this is maybe because in the UK, we don't undergo as much therapy as in the US. But I really enjoyed this aspect and I guess the author researched it in great detail, as Pilar really seemed to know what she was talking about. I loved Pilar - she was so ditzy in many ways, but very professional and obviously cared greatly for her clients, sometimes really going above and beyond. Pilar's two love interests were superbly drawn.

The smarmy Victor made me want to puke and I totally fell in love with Ford! The sub-plot with the errant male client was also fantastically well described and a little gem of an extra. I could have killed Pilar's sister - she was so selfish and only out for herself. Pilar herself would do anything for anyone, as was seen in the lengths she went to to be a good friend, sister and daughter and was taken advantage by many as a result. There were many twists and turns in this excellent chick-lit tale and plenty of laughs. The bunny boiler female client would have had me running for cover if I were a bloke. The little romantic twist near the end had me laughing out loud.
I don't read so much pure chick-lit any more, but if the author writes another like this, I will happily do so. A laugh a minute read.  And for the record, I think it's under-priced at only £1.32 in the UK!

You can buy In Need of Therapy here: - http://amzn.to/OgBvdK (UK)  & http://amzn.to/ODolWy (US & other .com)

Maria Savva interviews me on her blog

Fellow author Maria Savva kindly asked if she could interview me - so, be prepared for some never asked before questions & so, never seen before answers!  You can also win an ebook copy of Sign of the Times - but you know what they say, 'you have to be in it to win it,' so get clicking!

http://www.goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/2757054-introducing-author-susan-buchanan-plus-your-chance-to-win-a-copy-of-he

Six Sentence Sunday - A Bit of Levity This Fine Sunday

I thought I'd stick with The Dating Game again this week, since I've been so caught up in writing and editing it this week. Here's one of my favourite scenes, actually based on something that happened to a friend of mine years ago in a nightclub!

'Too late. A ripping sound rent the air. A cool draught assailed Gill, as he realised that she had caught her Capri pants on something. As she struggled to free herself, one further rip sealed her fate. She had ripped the ass out of her trousers. Seriously - from front to back...'


For the other SixSunday entrants - please check out sixsunday.com after 2pm UK time (9am EST)

In the meantime, until I finish writing The Dating Game, feel free to check out Sign of the Times at http://amzn.to/GKqZGd (UK) & http://amzn.to/IYN0Fc (US & other .com)

Have a great Sunday
Sooz