Welcome to The Comfy Chair Blog... Katie Ginger
KATIE GINGER lives by the sea in the south-east of
England, and apart from holidays to very hot places where you can sit by a pool
and drink cocktails as big as your head, she wouldn’t really want to be
anywhere else. Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is her sixth novel. She
is also the author of Spring Tides at Swallowtail Bay, Summer
Strawberries at Swallowtail Bay, Snowflakes at Mistletoe Cottage and
the Seafront series – The Little Theatre on the Seafront, shortlisted
for the Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year award, and Summer Season on the
Seafront.
When she’s not writing, Katie spends her time with her husband
and two kids, and their dogs: Wotsit, the King Charles spaniel, and Skips, the
three-legged rescue dog. (And yes, they are both named after crisps!)
1.
What was your favourite
childhood book/author?
My
favourite childhood book is Winnie the Pooh and the House at Pooh Corner. I’ve
got an absolutely ancient copy in my bookshelf that no one’s allowed to touch
because it’s falling apart!
2.
What inspired you to start
writing and how long has it taken you to get to this point?
Although
I was one of those kids who loved writing, I stopped for ages when I started
working and had kids. Even though my ambition was secretly to be a writer, life
got in the way and I just thought it was one of those things that would never
happen. But then in 2014, I got made redundant and I decided that after years
of being practical, I wanted to tap back into being creative, so I signed up
for a novel writing course and fell back in love with writing.
I
joined an online writing group too which taught me so much, and I found out I
was okay at it! It gave me a real confidence boost.
Sadly,
in 2017 my cousin died from cancer at just 25 and it was the wake-up call I
needed to really try and make my dream of being a writer come true. I entered a
Twitter pitch that HQ Digital were running and was lucky enough to get picked
up.
3.
Describe your writing space -
neat and ordered or creative chaos?
Definitely
neat and ordered! Most of my house is a mess but I love a tidy workspace! It
just makes me feel more in control and gives my brain room to be creative.
4.
What is the easiest and
hardest part of the writing process?
I
think the easiest is having the idea and the hardest is writing that first
draft. Editing can feel tough emotionally because you’re changing things you
put a lot of effort into, but knowing it will be better at the end of it always
gets me though!
5.
Which other authors are you
influenced by?
So
many! Sometimes I read other authors books and just wish I could write like
that! I particularly love Sophia Money-Coutts, Jenny Colgan and Wendy Holden.
6.
What does literary success
“look” like to you?
That’s
a really good question! I think just knowing people are buying my books and
enjoying them. I love it when readers get in touch or when I see someone has
read my book, it really means the world to me. They’ve chosen to spend time
with my characters and read my words and that blows my mind every single time!
7.
How do you select the names
of your characters?
For
my heroines, I love old fashioned names. I’ve had a Charlotte, Esme, Hetty and
a Nell. I just love them! For the guys, I sometimes go for names that remind me
of an actor or character. They can be hard to choose though sometimes!
8.
Do you hide any secret
‘messages’ in your book that only a few people will understand?
Never!
I’m just not clever enough for that! Sometimes I ask my friends if I can use an
anecdote or something they’ve told me and they’re very kind and let me. My mum
friends can probably recognise stories about our various kids!
9.
If your book was to be made
into a film/TV programme, which actors would play which role?
I
absolutely adore questions like this! So for Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay,
I see Nell as Anna Farris. I just love her in What’s Your Number? For Tom it’d
have to be a long-haired but clean-shaven Tom Hiddleston!
10. What do you
hope your readers take away from your book?
With
how awful 2020 has been I just want readers to enjoy being away from reality for
a while. I try and tug at their heart strings a bit, but it’s always safe in
the knowledge that things will work out in the end! And right now, I think
that’s what we all need.
Lastly, Jenn (The Comfy Chair)
likes to enjoy a good read snuggled up with a cup of tea and piece of cake...
what cake or sweet treat would you suggest to accompany your book?
A hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows and maybe even a flake!
Grab your cosiest jumper and escape to the beautiful
Swallowtail Bay!
Christmas and romance are in the air and Nell is
obsessed! She can’t stop watching her favourite Christmas romcoms and dreaming
of the day when she meets her own romantic hero, especially as she is hosting
the first ever wedding at her small hotel, Holly Lodge.
Nell’s best friend, Tom, has been in love with her
ever since they met. But Nell has never seen him that way, and he’s always kept
his feelings a secret in case it ruins their friendship.
After the opening of the glamorous Langdon Mansion Hotel in
the bay, Nell’s hotel is struggling for survival and she must fight, with Tom’s
help, to keep Holly Lodge open. Can the magic of Christmas help two old friends
save Holly Lodge and open Nell’s eyes to a love that was always there the whole
time?
Winter Wishes at Swallowtail Bay is the hilarious
new romantic comedy from Katie Ginger, perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley,
Veronica Henry and Holly Martin!
Buy Links:
ebook: https://amzn.to/2Ni5ipv
paperback: https://amzn.to/3fwlz7L
For more about Katie, you can visit her website: www.keginger.com, find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/KatieGAuthor, or follow her on Twitter: @KatieGAuthor..
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