Isabelle Andover's Blog, page 4

Q&A with author Caroline Batten

 Back in 2013 when I joined Wattpad, I discovered some great writers who have since gone on to be published. Caroline Batten, author of #forfeit and Nearly Almost Somebody, was one of them.

As soon as I started reading Nearly Almost Somebody (then known as Distraction), I knew that I’d love it. The cat in the first chapter may have caught my attention, but it was the cast of characters and the plot twists that kept me hooked. Who knew there could be this much scandal in the Lake District?

I instructed my colleague to read the story, and for two days we did very little else. Before work, after work, during work… we just couldn’t stop reading it. The number of coffee breaks we took tripled as we eagerly discussed the latest plot twist, the morals of the main character, and how we secretly wanted to move to the Lakes since there seemed to be so many attractive men there.

Caroline went on to self publish #forfeit and Nearly Almost Somebody, and has a third book, Afterglow, in the works. She was kind enough to stop by my blog for a Q&A, talking about being in the zone, rewrites, and the best and worst things about being an author.

1) How has Wattpad helped you as a writer?

Without doubt, it showed me that people like my stories. I uploaded Distraction (the book that became Nearly Almost Somebody) on a bit of a whim, but within four weeks and no promotion, it gained 17,000 reads. Okay, today books can get a million reads in that time, but back in 2013, that was pretty hot. Better still, Wattpad picked it to be a Featured book. Front page promotion turned into a million reads and a #1 spot in no time.

2) Where did you get your inspiration from, for both Forfeit and Nearly Almost Somebody?

Okay, so #Forfeit started with the Antiques Roadshow. Seriously. Someone brought along this ivory ball and the expert said it was a Forfeit Ball, a kind of Victorian dice. You threw it and did the appropriate dare. It made me think, what’s the worst thing someone would do for a dare?

Nearly Almost Somebody is a little harder. I knew my hero would be this bad boy vet, and the heroine would work at a riding stable, but the rest… it kind of just happened. Like the Wicca stuff. I was writing the scene where Stan calls Maggie a siren, saying she put a spell on the house and I thought, wouldn’t it be fun if she really did. I love that about writing – though I plan every chapter in advance, sometimes they go where they want to go and nine times of ten, it’s for the best.

3) Which of your characters do you relate to the most and why?

Daisy. I can be a little vain, a little selfish and too indulgent when it comes to wine, but… I like to think I share her hard-working, supportive nature too.

4) When writing your books, did you consider that some of the themes – class A drugs, binge drinking, for example – may not be to everyone’s taste?

A writing friend of mine once told me: Write the book you want to read – chances are, someone else will want to read it too. Serial killers aren’t to everyone’s taste either, but plenty of people buy James Patterson books. I love chick lit, but often it’s a little tame for me, all shoe-shopping and cupcake baking – I want more edge. Yes, there are people who won’t read #Forfeit because of the drugs and booze, (my sister-in-law being one of them) but there are plenty of people who read #Forfeit because of the drugs and booze, because they want a little edge in their chick lit too.

5) You rewrote Forfeit several times – why did you do this and was it difficult to keep motivated during the redrafting process?

Ten times was the final rewrite count. That’s pretty crazy, right? Part of me still loves the first draft, but it was riddled with clichés, a gazillion comma splices and all of the acronyms I could think of. With each draft I changed something, learned something and made the story better, tighter, but crikey it was hard. Friends told me to park it, put it in a drawer and move on, but I couldn’t – I loved Daisy and Xander too much. Okay, I took a well-earned break and wrote Nearly Almost Somebody, but I enjoyed coming back to Forfeit, especially when I got to write sparkly new scenes. Draft Ten brought a lot of changes – the introduction of Daisy’s ex-husband, Finn being a biggie. But I also wrote chapter two – tea and toast the morning after the one night stand. I love that chapter.

6) Do you write every day? What are you tips for making time to write when working full time and being a mum?

I should, but I don’t. When I’m in the zone, I get up at 6am and write for an hour or so before my daughter gets up, but mainly I’m stuck to lunch breaks and late evenings – Doctor Who is the only thing that gets me to sit on the sofa with my husband and watch TV.

My tip? If the writing isn’t working, don’t drive yourself crazy – take some time off and hang out with your family/friends. That way, when the words are flowing, you feel less guilty for being a scatterbrain mummy who makes oven chips for tea every night. Oh, and keep a notepad with you at all times so you can write whenever and wherever you get a few spare minutes.

7) Why did you decide to self-publish and what did you learn during the self-publishing journey?

In November 2013, I played assistant to Kitty French at an author signing event in London. I sat there, surrounded by mega-successful authors, women who all started out by self-publishing. It was such an inspiration. And I thought, why not?

I didn’t want to end up disappointed if I didn’t sell a million books, so I decided to treat self-publishing as a hobby that had the potential to earn me some pocket money – I have friends who make cards and trinkets, selling them of a weekend at craft fairs; it’d be just like that. Obviously, I’d take it seriously, execute it as professionally as I could, but even if all my writing efforts did was break even, then it’d be a cheaper hobby than my husband’s mountain biking which seems to require a new bike ever two years!

My no.1 tip if you’re thinking of self-publishing: Buy Catherine Ryan Howard’s Self-Printed (the paperback version). It’s my bible for all the practical stuff.

8) What are the best and worst things about being an author?

Worst? Marketing – it’s a constant battle trying to let people know your books exist and often what worked three months ago, doesn’t seem to work these days.

Best? Readers. Meeting someone who can barely talk because they love your book, your story, your characters so much… that never fails to blow me away.

9) Is there anything you know now that you wish you’d known before becoming a published author?

That I should’ve done it three years ago!

10) What is your current work-in-progress, Afterglow, about, and when do you expect to publish it?

Yeah, that. Although the main character, Jasmine, is a pastry chef and does bake cupcakes, it’s going to be one of the ‘not to everyone’s taste’ books. It’s all about backpackers behaving very badly in Sydney, but with a touch of second-chance-romance and I’m hoping for Quentin Tarantino style humour. Here’s the blurb:

Eat, sleep, rave, repeat. What comes up…

They had three days in Sydney — three hedonistic days of dance music, illegal highs and all-night parties. Then she stood him up. And he left her as good as dead. Five years later, it’s time to find out why.

There’s going to be one hell of a comedown, but are they ready for this Afterglow?

Coming Autumn 2015 – if I pull my finger out!

Caroline Batten Author Bio:

28, wife (of 10 years), mother (to a small girl, a very lazy cat and two Kune Kune pigs). Continually renovating one house or another. Lies about age (a lot).

Likes:
Salt & Vinegar crisps, Prosecco, horses, cat videos on You Tube, making light fittings out of jars, going to the hairdressers, random acts of kindness.
Dislikes:
Bullies, offal, pernod, choosing window fastenings, Christmas pudding.
Burning Ambition:
To be known as the Quentin Tarantino of Chick Lit. Seriously.

Cunning Plan:
Write books that are fun, frivolous but have a darker or more sinister edge. Embrace sex, drugs and old fashioned murder.

Q&A with First & Goal author Laura Chapman

Today I’m excited to welcome author Laura Chapman to my blog. First and Goal, Laura’s third novel and the first in her Queen of the League series is out today, and Laura was kind enough to stop by for a Q&A. Read on to find out her inspiration behind First & Goal, her journey to becoming a published author, and her tips for any aspiring authors out there.

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Then beat them.

About the Book

When Harper Duquaine’s no-nonsense approach to work unintentionally ruffles the wrong feathers at her new job, she joins her co-workers’ fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way).

Embroiled in a world of lineups, stats, and trades, Harper’s quest to make nice topples when her competitive streak emerges. And her promise to herself that she’ll be a strong, independent woman and leave the drama and heartache behind is seriously tested when she catches the attention of her two biggest competitors: J.J., a local celebrity determined to win a fantasy championship, and Brook, the mild-mannered coach who seems too good to be true. Both threaten her resolve to remain single… and, more importantly, her chances at winning the prize pool.

With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.

Now Available

Amazon  | Kobo |

Hi Laura, and thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for my readers. Can you tell us a little bit about your latest novel, First & Goal?

First & Goal is the story of Harper Duquaine, a twenty-something looking to smooth over tension with her new co-workers. Hoping to make nice, she joins their fantasy football league to get to know them better. But rather than being a fun way to make some new friends, it brings out her ultra-competitive side and some secrets from her past. Along the way she has her broomies (brothers + roommates), new friends, and a love interest to help her navigate the game.

What inspired you to write this book?

I was invited to join a fantasy football league three years ago. I was living with my brothers at the time, so I was familiar with the premise, but hadn’t really experienced it. I was about halfway through my first live draft when I realized it could be a lot of fun to write about fantasy football from a woman’s perspective. It took a couple of years to come up with the specifics for the story. I’ve also managed five fantasy leagues (one in year two, and two a year after). Each experience inspired new ideas, which is how it turned into a series.

First & Goal is your third novel. As a writer, how have things changed since you wrote your first book?

So far, each book has been a great learning experience for me. With my first book, I learned how to get to “the end” and do revisions. With book two, I learned how to build more tension. And with this book, I explored another side of my voice. Writing this book was kind of a break-through for me. While the first two were hard-fought to write and revise (it took me years to get them publication-ready) I was able to apply a lot of the lessons and experiences with those towards producing this one more efficiently. I also lost a lot of confidence in myself between writing the first draft of book one and the first draft of this book. Writing this helped me get some of my swagger back. It was also a bit like “opening a can of worms.” Halfway through writing this, I realized I wanted to do a series. It also launched a super-productive period of writing I’ve experienced during the past. That was pretty exciting.

Do you write full time? What is a typical day like for you?

I actually work as a communications/marketing person for a museum forty hours a week, so I have to balance my writing career around it. A typical day involves spending an hour or two writing, editing, or handling marketing for my writing. If I’m heavily involved in a writing project, I’ll do some additional work over lunch. I do the bulk of my work at night and on the weekends. The more excited I am about a project, the more time I spend on it. I keep trying to build a solid routine, but it fluctuates. I also try to work in some time for fun with my family and friends, but I don’t get as much of that right now. Fortunately they’re all understanding and supportive.

Do you suffer from writer’s block/writer laziness? How do you overcome this?

This definitely happens from time to time. It used to happen all the time during my first couple of years building a writing career. About a year ago, though, it really occurred to me that if I wanted to be successful I just had to get whatever was holding me back. Part of that was laziness, the other was my dealing with anxiety. So about a year ago I went to see a counselor to learn some tips for dealing with the anxiety, and I put those tools into use every day. (Some days I’m more successful at it than others.) For dealing with the laziness, I set a goal to spend at least a few minutes of every day doing something related to planning, writing, or editing a book. Not all of my work results in a finished product, but it keeps me going and prevents me from getting rusty.

As a fellow author and cat owner, have you ever sat down with your laptop and a coffee, watched your feline ‘assistants’ curl up in a ball and close their eyes, and thought, actually I could really do with a nap myself right now (despite the fact you woke up less than an hour ago)?

No joke, this happens almost every day. Usually my cats are the ones who wake me up in the morning—they’re both morning snugglers and they appreciate my involvement. So when I sit down to write and see them going back to sleep, I get jealous. And then I’m a mean cat mama and usually wake them up and tell them they can’t nap until I leave.

Can you tell us a little bit about how you became a published author?

I’ve wanted to be a lot of things in my life—an actress, pop star, astronaut, doctor, teacher—but the one thing I always knew I wanted to do was be a storyteller. I started writing a couple of books when I was in college, but I didn’t finish my first one until I did National Novel Writing Month in 2010. At the time I figured I’d done the hardest part, but there’s a lot more to publishing a book than writing it. There are rewrites and edits. There’s querying and searching for the right publishing plan for your story. It took me a few years to rework Hard Hats and Doormats, but in December 2013 I was fortunate to have Marching Ink publish it.

What are your tips for any aspiring authors out there?

The best, most important thing you can do is to just write. It sounds simple, but it can be tough. It’s so easy to make excuses or to let your insecurities get in the way. That’s another big piece of advice: believe in yourself. If you’re like me, you won’t do that all the time, but it’s good to remind yourself that your story matters. I also encourage people to make time for writing. It can be like working out—it feels like a chore. But the more you do it, the more you’ll want to do it, and the harder it becomes to skip. And be patient with yourself, the process, and others. Sometimes it all goes as planned, others it doesn’t. It’s good if you can keep your sense of humor through it.

What’s next for your readers?

I have a couple of projects in production that I’m pretty excited to share. My publisher, Marching Ink, will release a Christmas anthology this holiday season. I’m thrilled to be part of that. I’ll also have Going for Two, the follow-up to First & Goal, coming out soon. With these books in post-production, I’m in the early stages of my next writing project, which is one of my favorite places to be. I seem to be in a crazy productive mode right now. I hope it’s sustainable and that you readers don’t get sick of me!

About the Author

Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, The Marrying Type, and Hard Hats and Doormats. Her work appears in Merry & Bright, A Kind of Mad Courage, and a forthcoming Christmas anthology from Marching Ink. A native Nebraskan, she loves Huskers and Packers football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Laura is currently in pursuit of a fantasy football championship while penning her next novel.

Connect with Laura

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | Blog | Website

Holidays are made for relaxing

Whenever I have holidays from work but I’m not actually going on holiday, I always have grand plans that never quite seem to happen: go running five times a week, write for six hours every day, cook something more elaborate than a frozen pizza… Of course, the reality is usually rather different.

Despite my best intentions to get up at 7am, I did not manage to achieve this once. Because, really, when you don’t HAVE to get up, you just don’t. (Or is that just me?) Then I’d have to have an afternoon nap, as getting up and then doing nothing is just so exhausting.

But enough about what I didn’t do, what about what I did do?

I read a LOT of books. Adele Parks (oh my god, the ending in The State We’re In!), Anna Maxted, Paige Toon, to name but a few. I also did some writing, tried to get to grips with Scrivener, met up with various friends, ate cake. I even went running once or twice.

Probably one of the most interesting things I did was to book a place on hair and make-up workshops at Paris department store Galeries Lafayette.

The make-up class was great – make-up artists take you through how to apply everything from foundation to eyeliner. I was impressed with my new look, up until a purple lipstick was brandished in my direction. Luckily, I managed to suggest a nice raspberry lip gloss instead. The make-up artist also informed us that contouring is OVER (thank god), and “strobing” is the newest make-up trick.

The hair styling class was also very good. I envisaged myself deftly conjuring up a side plait after being shown the tricks of the trade, although I didn’t appreciate how hard it would be. “You have too much hair,” the hair stylist told me eventually, telling me to opt for a bow style, like the one below. My effort wasn’t great to begin with, but hopefully practice will make perfect.

Cookies and ice cream

August in Paris is hot, hot hot. And when temperatures just keep rising, it’s the perfect excuse to indulge in ice cream. Probably the only time, in fact, when eating two ice creams in one day feels entirely justified.

And Paris is not short of ice cream options. You don’t have to walk far along the banks of the Seine to come across an ice cream truck or a pop-up cafe selling a multitude of flavours.

Then there’s Amorino and Berthillon, and the chocolate shops that roll out their ice cream carts – Jeff de Bruges is a particular favourite of mine for the mint choc-chip ice cream.

Although sometimes, an ice cream on its own just won’t cut it, which is how I discovered the fabulous cookies glacés from cookie purveyor La Fabrique Cookies.

Wandering down Rue de Lévis in the 17th arrondissement on the hunt for an ice cream, I was spoilt for choice yet distracted by the idea of cookies. Should I get a cookie and an ice cream? Could I? Particularly when I’d had cake for breakfast that morning.

And then I found the answer: ice cream sandwiched between two cookies, for the bargain price of 3 euros. I went for the salted caramel cookie and lemon ice cream option. With the exception of the first bite when I thought I might actually lose a tooth (top tip, wait until the frozen cookie softens a bit), it was every bit as fabulous as the sales girl assured me it would be. Highly recommended.

La Fabrique Cookies, 25 Rue de Lévis 75017.

Photographs of cats

I must admit that I’m rather partial to a good photography exhibition, so when I heard about one in Paris dedicated to my favourite animal, I knew I had to go and see it.

The photos on display featured some seriously photogenic cats, and there was also a particularly good quote from the author Colette – “Time spent with a cat is never wasted”. Quite possibly the best statement ever made, in my opinion.

Aside from the photos of cats, there was a captivating film about Helmut Newton, and a display of photographs from his wife June, who used the pseudonym Alice Springs.

‘Le Chat et ses Photographes’ is on at Maison Européenne de la Photographie  5/7 Rue de Fourcy – 75004 Paris until 23 August 2015.

  

Bastille day concert and fireworks

Yesterday, 14th July, was Bastille Day, France’s national holiday. 

And what better way to celebrate than with a classical music concert on Champ de Mars followed by a spectacular firework display.

   

   

Energizer night run Paris

Last weekend I participated in the First ever Paris edition of the Energizer Night Run, a 6.5km run, at night, in support of UNICEF.

As some of you probably know, I only started running recently, so no-one was more suprised than me when I actually managed to run the complete course, because:

A) It was during a heatwave

B) I had never managed to run 6.5k before.

and

C) I didn’t discover this until the run had started, but the first part involved a not insignificant incline.

I was also a bit worried about running in the dark, given how bad my eyesight is anyway. Luckily, all 4,000 participants were supplied with headlamps so we could see where we were running.

The run took place at Domaine Nationale de Saint Cloud, a park that spans 460 hectares, has sculptures and fountains and amazing views of Paris. Definitely worth a visit for a picnic over the summer!

Edith Piaf and Fête de la musique

Today, June 21st, is Fête de la musique in France. The 34th edition of the event will, like always, see a variety of concerts in different cities.

In Paris, there is something for everyone: from jazz to electro to reggae.

I decided to start the day with a visit to the Edith Piaf exhibition at Bibliotheque Nationale de la France, France’s national library.

It provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of the music-hall singer, whose hits include La vie en rose and Non, je ne regrette rien. The exhibition was free today, in honor of Fête de la musique, but it’s definitely worth a visit, and is on until August 23. Of particular note is the karaoke booth, where you can have a go at belting out one of Piaf’s hits.

Then I headed over to Bercy Village to listen to some music there.

It was admittedly very good, but incredibly loud, so I had to go and have a lie down before my hearing was permanently damaged – or so it seemed. I thought I must be getting old, but then I encountered a woman at the metro entrance who exclaimed over my beauty and insisted that I didn’t look a day over 20. I was immensely flattered until I discovered she had an ulterior motive: to sell me a postcard for “at least 10 euros”. Still, the encounter put a smile on my (youthful) face.

Celebrating book release day with a cocktail!

Today is book release day and I’m more excited than a kid at Christmas (cue happy dance).

I’m thrilled to finally be able to share Cocktails at Le Carmen with the world. I love this story and the characters so much, and I hope that readers will love them too.

When I started writing this story and posting it on Wattpad two and a half years ago, I never dreamed it would get such a positive reaction from readers, let alone reach #1 in the chicklit category with over 1.5 million reads. It’s largely thanks to reader comments that the story is what it is today, and I am so, so grateful to all of the people who took the time to read, vote and leave comments.

Celebrating with a cocktail

I will of course be celebrating publication day with a cocktail (or three, since it’s Friday), so in honour of this, I thought I’d share with you one of my favourite places to drink a cocktail in Paris, Café Mabillon. (It also makes an appearance in Cocktails at Le Carmen, so look out for it).

Located on Boulevard Saint-Germain, Café Mabillon describes itself as ‘a classic Parisian bar with a modern edge’.

The cocktails are fabulous (and half price in happy hour from 7-9pm), and the terrace is great for people watching. If you ever get a chance to go there, I recommend the Mojito in Love, a raspberry mojito that is quite possibly the best drink I’ve ever tasted.

©2014 Café Mabillon

©2014 Café Mabillon

Things I’ve learnt from living in France #1

No matter how good you think your French is, you will always make mistakes, misunderstand what you read or hear, and say the wrong things. Probably more often than you would like.

A survey of my fellow expats told me I’m not alone on this one. Here are some of my favourites.

“I was reading L’Étranger by Camus and I couldn’t figure out why some random guy kept asking the protagonist if he wanted to open la bière when the latter’s mother had just keeled over. Then it eventually transpired that la bière is another word for  ‘coffin’. But I figured that as it’s supposed to be an absurdist novel, it was being just that.”

“In a restaurant, I tried to convey the idea that I don’t like fizzy drinks. I’m still not entirely sure what I did say, but I think I mispronounced bubbles as balls – cue many shocked faces and much hilarity from not only my table, but the one next to us, too.”

“I told a friend’s housemate I was making a hachis parmentier (kind of like a shepherd’s pie for us Brits), promising that it would be so good, he’d want to eat all of it. Except I mispronounced it as haschich. So obviously he was thrilled at the idea of an enormous marijuana pie. And no, my humble meat and potato dish didn’t live up to his expectations”

“It turns out that there is no feminine form of ‘chiots’ – puppies. Because ‘chiottes’ is actually a slang word for toilets. And not a very nice one at that. You can imagine what kind of reaction ‘J’adore les chiottes” gets when in refined company….”

What’s your worst faux pas? Don’t be shy now…