I'm so excited to welcome a fellow Wild Rose Press author to the blog today!
Welcome, Rachel Brimble!
So, to start, please share a little about yourself, your genres, any other pen names you use.
I write romantic suspense, contemporary and Victorian romance. I love the variety of my writing and when I first ‘hear’ the hero or heroine’s voice, they immediately tell me in which sub-genre their story needs to be told. It works very well for all of us!
I live with my husband of thirteen years and two daughters in South West England, just a thirty minute drive from the famous and beautiful Georgian City of Bath. As well as writing I work part-time so time is precious and I’m never ever bored, lol!
OMG, Bath is fantastic! I’ve been there once and fell totally in love (with all of South England, truly). I love the way you described your writing process there. Okay, then, tell us a little about your latest or upcoming release.
My latest release is
Getting It Right This Time by Lyrical Press. It is a contemporary romance set in the UK and has it all: love, laughter, suspense and the ultimate happy ever after. Here’s the blurb and
buy link ; )
She's back, but this time she’s a mother…intent on protecting her young.
Two years after her husband’s death, Kate Marshall returns home seeking security and stability for her three-year-old daughter. But when her path crosses with ‘the one who got away’…her husband’s best friend, she has to fight the desire to be with him for the sake of further heartbreak for her and her daughter.
A tough, straight talking theatrical agent, Mark Johnston is dangerously handsome, exceedingly rich, irresistibly charming – and branded by the tabloids as one of the UK’s most eligible bachelors. So even though Mark lost the girl of his dreams to his best friend, he finds no hardship in being single. Or so he thought.
Determined not to lose her a second time, Mark has to find a way to convince her they can work. But can Kate cope with the media interest and ruthless, money-hungry clients surrounding him, being anywhere near her daughter? Or accept that Mark Johnston is really the family man he claims to be?
Ooh, that sounds like a fantastic summer read, people! So, which character is your favorite and why?
This is such a hard question for me to answer with this book – in all my previous books I have had one character that I loved above all the others, but in Getting It Right This Time, I love Mark (hero) and Kate (heroine) equally, but also Jessica, Kate’s daughter. She was a joy to write and I have had such lovely comments from both readers and reviewers saying how lovely she was and how much she made them smile.
I totally know how you feel. I have a child in my latest release and she seems to be a real scene-stealer—hard not to love! As the author, what surprised you about this story?
The suspense element – it wasn’t planned when I started it but the ‘villain’ of the piece grew and grew in my mind until she was a fully-fledged and important part of the book. In fact, it was the villain that led me to write the book I am working on right now.
The books aren’t connected in anyway but I enjoyed writing Getting It Right This Time so much, I knew it was time for me to return to romantic suspense that I haven’t written for three years. My current work is a struggle right now but I am two-thirds the way through and will get there…eventually!
Yes, you will! Push through that need-to-finish-the-end fatigue! Will there be any sequels or other books in the same series?
No – see above! I am yet to write a series of any sort but I have been asked by my publisher to consider a sequel to my next release, coming in September, that I may well write because Paying The Piper is full to bursting with characters that have more to offer. I also have an idea percolating for a Victorian series set on a big country estate in Bath.
Watch this space!
Yes, definitely do! What was the hardest thing for you about writing this story?
Getting started! I knew I wanted the story to revolve around a child but wasn’t sure how or why. My books often start with a character talking to me and this one was entirely different than ever before in that the first voice I heard was a little girl’s. Completely threw me but the more I listened to her, the more I learned about her mother.
Once I had a four-page synopsis written, I had a good idea of where I was going – the next bit was getting the words on the page! Writing each book is never easy for me but I keep going – that’s all every writer can do.
So true! What are you working on right now?
As I mentioned previously, my current work in progress is the first romantic suspense I have written for three years. I am struggling through right now but know the idea is a good one and fingers crossed my editor will too!
It is set in the fictional seaside town of Templeton Cove and revolves around three summer vacation friends. When one of the friends is found murdered, the other two join forces to find her killer…and of course, fall in love along the way.
Sounds so interesting. So, what happened to the first book you ever wrote?
It was
published by The Wild Rose Press, yay!! I wrote lots and lots of short stories before embarking on my life-long dream of writing a novel and learned so much over the proceeding five years that I think I avoided a lot of common mistakes.
I must have written at least seven or eight drafts of this book and then my editor was fantastic in making it shine before it was released. Searching For Sophie came out in July 2007 and I was on top of the world!
What do you find easiest and hardest to write?
I find the synopsis the hardest to write which is why I write a rough draft of one before I do anything. I outline my story in a three or four page synopsis, which I continually update and change as I write my first draft. That way, when I’ve finished I’ve got something to tweak rather than write from scratch.
Easiest to write for me are the love scenes – I never get embarrassed and thoroughly enjoy myself!
Oh, that’s a great idea for tackling the synopsis! Have you incorporated actual events or people from your own life into your books?
Never intentionally, although I think there is an aspect of that in every character and situation a writer feels compelled to put onto paper. It won’t be an obvious rehashing of an event but just subtle hints at the writer’s feelings or memories. Often things are two or three memories mixed together.
Interesting. Is there a theme or message that runs through your work?
Regaining trust seems to be a recurring theme – which goes back to the writer him or herself. I clearly have my own issues I need to work through, lol!
Still, that’s something a lot of people can identify with! What would your readers be surprised to learn about you?
I hate porridge (oatmeal) with a passion – to the point I’m a little bit scared of it!
LOL Which romance book or series (or other genre) do you wish you had written?
I love the J D Robb books – love Rourke, love Eve, cannot recommend them highly enough. Romantic suspense writing at its best!
Of all the characters you’ve ever written, who is your favorite and why?
Most probably Lily in
The Arrival of Lily Curtis as I have had readers say she made them laugh out loud as she did me when I was writing her story…but I also love Grace in my upcoming September release,
Paying The Piper, but you’ll have to wait to read about her.
Okay, now, just for fun:
Milk chocolate or dark chocolate? Milk
Salty or sweet? Sweet
Bed or kitchen table? Kitchen table
Beach or mountains? Mountains
Give or receive? Give
Thanks for being coming on the blog, Rachel! Where can we find you on the web?
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING MY GUEST!
Everyone, please leave Rachel some comment love! And thanks for reading,
Laura & Rachel
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME!
