Guest Author Lizzie Lamb

Please give a warm welcome to Lizzie Lamb author of yesterday’s book Boot Camp Bride http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-586 and Tall Dark and Kilted featured on the blog on May 28th http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-57z

1) Where is your home town,

Leicester, UK. Recently, the remains of King Richard III were located and exhumed in a Leicester City car park after lying there since 1485! Leicester is a very multi-cultural city and I think that one of my future romances will reflect that – plenty of research material to hand.

2) Have you always wanted to write romance?

I write what I love reading – and I love romance. Once, I thought I’d write historical novels because I have a history degree and love the subject. But I love the immediacy of contemporary romance. Having said that, I have the plot and outline for a romance set in Leicester (where else) in the 1960’s, I guess that’s history to some readers.

3) You’ve set Boot Camp Bride in Norfolk, is it an area you know well?

Oddly enough, it’s an area I’ve only just discovered in the last ten years of so. A friend took me to Old Hunstanton, Burnham Market and the marshes. At first, I didn’t ‘get’ the stripped back beauty of the landscape but then fell in love with it. I hope this shows in Boot Camp Bride. My fourth novel will return to Norfolk and hopefully will have a winter/Christmas setting.

4) Can you tell the readers what happened to Ffinch in Columbia?

Ffinch, an investigative journalist, is following the trail of a shady Russian who, on the surface, appears to be a philanthropic businessman helping dispossessed children. However, this doesn’t stack up and Ffinch begins to smell a rat. Under the cover of writing THE TEN MOST DANGEROUS PLACES IN THE WORLD he takes a team deep into the Columbian rainforest to investigate where he believes the Russian (working with an illegal group: The Black Eagles (Aquilas Negra) is growing and harvesting drugs. Ffinch’s team is kidnapped by the guerrillas and held to ransom and two of the team are lost in the Amazon. Consumed with guilt because they were lost on his watch, Ffinch makes it his business to bring the Russian to justice.

5) What was Charlee doing at the Book awards?

As a lowly intern, Charlee would not normally be invited to a prestigious Award ceremony. However, the norovirus has wiped out most of the team usually involved in its organisation and she is given a place. At first, she is over the moon and believes that the invitation will give her the opportunity to further her career as a journalist. However, she discovers that she’s only there to act as a cater waiter and, not in the best of moods, meets Ffinch for the first time. This is the beginning of a sparky relationship which eventually develops into a full blown love affair.

6) Who is Anastasia Markova?

Anastasia is the sweet super model girlfriend of the Russian. She is unaware of the extent of his illegal activities but is too frightened to go to the police. It is through her friendship with Charlee, who she meets at the Boot Camp for Brides in Norfolk that she sees her way to get free of his clutches.

7) You have a wonderful camper van in the story, have you ever owned one yourself?

I wish! We have a Ford Bongo which is a type of camper van but not as gorgeous as a VW. My husband has recently renovated a 1965 VW Camper Van for our nephew. If I won the lottery I’d certainly buy one.

8) Your first book “Tall, Dark and Kilted” is set in the Scottish Highlands, is this a favourite place of yours?

With my Scottish ancestry I am drawn to the scenery and culture of Scotland. I was born in Scotland and love anything to do with its history and romance, so it was a natural choice for me to set my first novel there. I am currently writing number three and I have returned to the highlands and islands of the west coast of Scotland for inspiration. In all, I hope to write three Scottish novels and one day publish them as a box set.

9) You’re part of the New Romantics 4, tell us how this helps to promote your work.

We have worked hard to establish ourselves as a ‘brand’ and offer readers four different genres of ‘romance’: historical, romantic comedy, suspense and women’s fiction. Each of us promotes the other three members’ novels in the back of their books and hopefully that helps to promote us. It helps to be part of a group as we can promote each other and (indirectly) promote ourselves. We also give each other masses of support and keep each other going when the enthusiasm flags. When we host our book launches it helps to have a wide variety of novels on choice.

Rosie, you have been kind enough to review our books and we are very grateful for your help and support. You’re very Welcome!

10)  What are you writing next?

Novel #3 returns to the west coast of Scotland and tells the story of Ishabel Stuart who turns her back on a promising career in interior design to return home to Cormorant Island. There she meets gorgeous American Brodie Mackintosh who comes to stay at her aunt’s Bed and Breakfast. After a rocky beginning their relationship develops and as she falls in love with him, she begins to suspect that Brodie has been economical with the truth. He could be the answer to her prayers or could destroy a long held dream of hers. What is he up to? Can Ishabel trust him? You’ll have to wait until 2015 to find out !!

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Boot Camp Bride – Romance and Intrigue on the Norfolk marshes – November 2013
UK: http://tinyurl.com/bootcampbride
USA: http://tinyurl.com/nnmzjha

Tall, Dark and Kilted – Notting Hill Meets Monarch of the Glen – 2012
UK- http://tinyurl.com/o9js6pl
USA – http://tinyurl.com/o4vor4z

https://www.amazon.com/author/lizzielamb
Lizzie’s Links
http://www.facebook.com/LizzieLambwriter
http://www.facebook.com/newromantics4
lizzielambwriter@gmail.com
website: http://www.lizzielamb.co.uk
blog: http://www.newromantics4.com
Goodreads http://tinyurl.com/cbla48d
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lizzielamb/
twitter: @lizzie_lamb             twitter: @newromantics4

 

Romancing September author Lizzie Lamb (Day 16)

Day 16 on our Romancing September Across the World Tour and today we welcome author Lizzie Lamb to the blog with her book “Tall, Dark and Kilted”. Later you can join Lizzie over in Georgia with Stephanie, when they discuss writing romance today’s society.

Let’s find out more about Lizzie and her book;

1) Where is your home town?

Leicester, UK. Recently, the remains of King Richard III were located and exhumed in a Leicester City car park after lying there since 1485!!

2) How long have you been writing?

I’ve been scribbling away since childhood. But my latest venture started in 2006 when I left the teaching profession to concentrate on my writing.

 Has is always been romance?

Romance and historical novels, but most recently rom coms, inspired by Jilly Cooper and Helen Fielding (Bridget Jones).

3) Your book cover is lovely and tantalising, who designed it?

I designed it using the Create Space template. My husband spent HOURS sifting through Shutterstock, Dreamstime etc for the right image before I settled on this one (from Dreamstime).

4) With its title, “Tall Dark and Kilted” can only be in Scotland, had you always wanted to set a book here?

I was born in Scotland and love anything to do with its history and romance, so it was a natural choice for me to set my first novel there. My second novel which is due out this autumn is set in Norfolk, England. But I’m returning to Scotland for number three and four.

5) Does our Scottish Laird Ruairi march around in his kilt all day or does it come out on special occasions only?

Ruairi owns several kilts in different versions of the Urquhart tartan – ancient Urquhart, hunting Urquhart and so on. He also has quite a few old kilts which have been ripped on thorns and thistles, mended and consigned to work wear. When estate work demands him to walk through the long grass or when he goes deer stalking he would wear combat pants to protect him from the midges!! Te He!

6) What does he wear under his kilt? (Sorry readers, I just had to ask!)

In true, Scottish fashion he usually goes commando. However, should the occasion warrant it, he would wear Calvin’s beneath his plaid. It the now famous window seat chapter of Tall, Dark and Kilted, the reader learns exactly what the gorgeous Ruairi wears under his kilt.

Old joke: Is there anything worn under your kilt, sir? Answer – No, it’s all in perfect working order. Ha ha!

7) Fliss practices Holistic therapy, did you deliberately want to mix “New” and “Old” in your book?

YES! She leaves behind the raucous lifestyle of Notting Hill and Pimlico and settles for the gentler pace of Kinloch Mara. There she can practice the more ‘yen’ side of holistic therapy, help people relax and unwind – and find out who she really is.

8) You’ve added humour to your book too, can you tell us a little of what to look for that will make us giggle?

Most people have said that they’ve enjoyed the sparky dialogue between Fliss and Ruairi. My favourite moment is when Ruairi’s sisters’ antics on the London Underground are revealed (via a YouTube video). We see them performing a sword dance to Scotland the Brave and then stripping down to thongs and hold up stockings to execute a pole dance to the Pussy Cat Doll’s Don’t You Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me? Oh My! That sound pretty memorable!

9) You are a Founder member of The New Romantics 4, can you tell us more about this?

Certainly.

The catalyst for forming the NR4 was an inspiring lunch with a well known indie author (Amanda Grange) who encouraged us to stop waiting for agents to nail a publishing deal and to go it alone. We reached the conclusion we had nothing to fear other than fear itself and set off on the road to self publication summer 2012. Along with three other authors in  The New Romantics 4 (all members of the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s New Writers’ Scheme) I published my debut novel on Amazon as a paperback and kindle download.  Last autumn we held red carpet road shows where we read extracts from our novels over fizz and canapés, and then signed and sold copies of our books. We have plans to repeat this experience again in November 2013 – including one gig in London !! Woo Hoo. I’ll certainly look out for that.

10) What is the new title of your next book? When will it be published?

My second novel is called BOOT CAMP BRIDE and is currently with a copy editor. I expect it to be ready by the end of October 2013 and available on Amazon in November.

Find Lizzie’s book here on Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

Thank you Lizzie, I’m beginning to feel part of your book already without having read it, it’s characters are enticing me in.