Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Exclusive Excerpt and Interview - Louise Bay




Box Set Release: February 20, 2015
Adult Contemporary (novella series)


Anna Kirby is sick of dating. She's tired of heartbreak. Despite being smart, sexy, and funny, she's a magnet for men who don't deserve her. 

A week's vacation in New York is the ultimate distraction from her most recent break-up, as well as a great place to meet a stranger and have some summer fun. But to protect her still-bruised heart, fun comes with rules. There will be no sharing stories, no swapping numbers, and no real names. Just one night of uncomplicated fun. 

Super-successful serial seducer Ethan Scott has some rules of his own. He doesn't date, he doesn't stay the night, and he doesn't make any promises. 

It should be a match made in heaven. But rules are made to be broken. 

The Empire State Series comprises the novellas A Week in New York, Autumn in London and New Year in Manhattan. 


Three Chicks Interview Louise Bay

The Empire State series is a novella series that I loved.  I just adored Anna and Ethan.  Where did the inspiration or idea for the story come from?

I’m so pleased you enjoyed it. It started with Anna, because we met her in Faithful and I just thought she was great and the kind of girl I’d like to be friends with so I wanted to know more about her. And then I wanted to do a holiday romance and New York is one of my favourite cities. My heroes in Faithful and Hopeful have had elements of real life inspiration but with Ethan, I just wanted someone who was ALL MAN! He was so fun to write. I really enjoyed the way Anna chipped away at that alpha-male exterior he has.

How does writing a serial compare to writing a full length stand alone novel?  Do you enjoy writing one more than the other?

I LOVE writing novellas. I like the fact you have to draw the reader in quickly but they still have to get to know the characters. A Week in New York was my first experience and now my new series, What the Lightning Sees, is a series of novellas too.
I think the hardest part of writing a novel is that first blank page and a novella is slightly less daunting!

Do you have any plans to continue Anna and Ethan’s story, maybe just one more novella?

Well, it’s funny you should ask! I have a plan for a novella where you’ll see a lot more of Anna and Ethan but you’ll also see Joel and Ava from Hopeful and Daniel and Leah from Faithful. It’s only in my head at the moment so I have no idea when it will come out. I hope I’ll get it written this year.

What is the hardest part about being a writer?  and the most rewarding?

The most rewarding part is hearing from readers. My favourite thing is to get an email or message from someone who is part the way through my book telling me where they’re at and what they’re enjoying or begging me to tell them what happens.
The hardest thing is pushing through when you’re doubting yourself.

Who has inspired you the most?

I have to say that my girlfriends inspire me all the time. I was on the phone to a friend the other night who had gone for a coffee with a workmate who ended up trying to kiss her. Her reaction was “If I’d known it was a date, I’d have worn better shoes!” I can’t write stories that good.

Is there one book or character that has stayed with you or affected you in some way?
Well I guess Jane Austen’s Persuasion stayed with me. I first read it at sixteen and I’ve been in love with Captain Wentworth ever since. I love second chance love stories. My novel Hopeful is a modern retelling. I’m not sure if I would have ever written anything else after Faithful if I hadn’t desperately wanted to put Persuasion into a modern setting.

Having a book hangover is the best feeling in the world. I love books that have you clawing at the pages, desperate for more. I remember being obsessed for years with The Age of Innocence after I read that.

There are so many great contemporary romance writers out there. I read anything that Christina Lauren write. I love following their journey as writers from Beautiful Bastard to Dirty Rowdy Thing. They were always good but now? Gah. Love. Love. Love. Also Jessica Hawkins is very talented– David Dylan from the Jessica’s Cityscape Series and Will Sumner from Lauren’s Beautiful Player are my favourite book boyfriends.

What are you currently working on?

What the Lightning Sees is my next series! I’m really excited about it. It’s all written and I’m in the process of editing now. Argh! The first part will be released at the end of March. It’s a whole new set of characters. I’m really enjoying writing them. I hope you will enjoy them too!

Here’s an exclusive excerpt from What the Lightening Sees!




Adult Contemporary (novella series)
Expected release: March 31, 2015

Jake Harrison is everything that Haven Daniels hates about men: over-confident, born into money and too handsome for his own good. Haven finds it difficult to keep her opinions to herself and can’t help but tell Jake exactly what she thinks of him, again and again.
Haven Daniels is uptight, smart and a bit of a bitch – the perfect challenge for Jake. It doesn’t hurt that she’s movie star beautiful and doesn’t seem to realise.
Forced to work together, verbal sparring turns into sexual chemistry but men like Jake are trouble and Haven has had enough trouble to last her a lifetime.
Will Haven give into Jake’s charm? Can Jake peel off Haven’s petulant mask, revealing the woman he knows lies beneath?


Excerpt

What the Lightning Sees – Part One 

Haven
I loved my city but the worst part about it was being stuck in traffic, making me almost late to our Monday morning meeting. With a promotion to Deputy Editor of Rallegra Magazine, the UK’s premier glossy weekly woman’s magazine, on the horizon I didn’t want to be late. I was never late. I was currently Features Editor but I’d been working hard to position myself for the next step – Deputy Editor. Just saying the words in my head made my heart skip.
It was 8.59am, my eyes kept flicking to the clock as stripped off my coat, checked my make-up in my compact and smoothed down my hair. I scanned the tops of the cubicles. No one seemed to be making their way to the conference room yet thank goodness.
 I picked up my pad, pen and my drink and took a deep breath releasing the muscles that had clenched in my stomach.
I took another deep breath as I opened the door. I was always first into this meeting and it meant that I always got to sit in the same place every week but today someone had beaten me to it and it wasn’t anyone I was familiar with. Equally unsettling was my boss Robert, Editor of Rallega, sitting at the top of the table. He was normally about ten minutes late to this meeting.
“Oh sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you,” I said as they turned toward me.
“No, come in. We were just catching up before the meeting. This is my good friend Harry who is going to join us. Harry, this is Haven, Features Editor. Prompt, as usual.”
The stranger in my seat uncrossed his legs, stood up and held out his hand to me. “Very nice to meet you, Haven.”
He was smooth and confident and the way his eyes locked on to mine and crinkled at the corners made me think that he assumed that everyone he introduced himself to was delighted to meet him. He was way too pleased with himself. But most of Robert’s so-called “friends” were way too pleased with themselves. Although, I was sure he’d had a little help from daddy’s friends along the way, I couldn’t deny he was a talented editor and a great boss. No doubt Harry was one of those friends who dabbled in various ‘projects’ which was code for spending time holidaying and partying.
I shook Harry’s hand and managed a tight smile. “And you.”
I set my pad, pen and Diet Coke down on the table opposite Harry just as the rest of the office began to file through the door.  All eyes were on our interloper.




 NEW SERIES

Book #1
Adult Contemporary (novella series)
Expected release: March 31, 2015

Jake Harrison is everything that Haven Daniels hates about men: over-confident, born into money and too handsome for his own good. Haven finds it difficult to keep her opinions to herself and can’t help but tell Jake exactly what she thinks of him, again and again.
Haven Daniels is uptight, smart and a bit of a bitch – the perfect challenge for Jake. It doesn’t hurt that she’s movie star beautiful and doesn’t seem to realise.
Forced to work together, verbal sparring turns into sexual chemistry but men like Jake are trouble and Haven has had enough trouble to last her a lifetime.
Will Haven give into Jake’s charm? Can Jake peel off Haven’s petulant mask, revealing the woman he knows lies beneath?



About the Author

I write sexy, contemporary romance novels – the kind I like to read. My books Faithful and Hopeful are stand-alone novels although there are some overlapping characters. The Empire State Series of novellas starts with A Week in New York.
Ruined by romantic mini-series of the eighties, I love all things romantic. There's not enough of it in real life so I'll settle for books and films.
I love the rain, the West Wing, London, days when you don't have to wear make-up, being alone, being with friends, elephants and champagne.
Hearing from readers is the best thing in the world so get in touch!

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Pinterest | Newsletter






1 comment:

  1. Love the interview. Looking forward to this new series too. :)

    ReplyDelete

How to Configure Numbered Page Navigation After installing, you might want to change these default settings: