JC: So, what sparked the Winchester Brothers Series?
NH: It’s weird, but I think it was probably Chris Moyles - a radio DJ here in the UK. He presented the Radio 1 Breakfast Show from 2004 to 2012. I can’t begin to tell you how many mornings he brought a smile to my face – no easy task when stuck in rush hour traffic on my way to work! At some point a character began to form in my head, a woman named Adrienne Baxter. Her radio personality shone through, and she made me laugh. When I let her out to explore, she introduced me to her friends! The Davies brothers soon followed – two in particular, Sebastian, and Chris, who were nicknamed the Winchester Brothers at university. The name stuck.
JC: After writing Addy’s Choice (Book 1 in the Winchester Brothers series, free on Smashword! Use CODE TM47S), did you know this was going to be a series, and not just a one-time book? Or did you know before you even started?
NH: I didn’t have any plans to write a series when I started the project. Addy is a strong character and I enjoyed our journey together. Spending time with the Davies brothers, and Tyler in particular (from Heart of Fire), pushed me into continuing their journey.
JC: How do you come up with the names for your characters? Do you have a special process? Use names of people you know? Throw a dart at a name board?
NH: Throw a dart at a name board – I like that! I usually ask one of my daughter’s because I am terrible with names. That said, the main characters, those who shout the loudest in my head – I know who they are, almost from the start. I’ve always been able to see my characters vividly so, if they don’t yet have a name, I flick through a list (random), and wait to see which one ‘fits’.
JC: What are your thoughts on affairs of the heart? Do you think we are all guard our hearts like Adrienne does in the book?
NH: I think that depends on life experience. The caution is a protective instinct, and it’s difficult to let that go sometimes – especially if we’ve been hurt in the past. But, one of the things I love about the romance genre, is the hope; that simple connection we have to our readers. It might be the most beautiful thing in the world, but love is never easy. I don’t think it’s meant to be.
JC: Okay, now for the fun portion of the interview! We authors all have a writing process. What is yours?
NH: My plots are usually character driven. I start by letting a character out to explore their surroundings and, as they do, their world begins to take shape. In the beginning, there isn’t much planning involved. But as the story grows I have a strong sense of where I want it to go. If I’m writing a series, planning involves character history, background, habits, that sort of thing. I don’t plan by chapter, I let the story unfold naturally - at least in the first draft. When I go back through it, that’s when I see what needs fixing and the real fun begins!
JC: Favorite book?
NH: I always find that a difficult question because the book which immediately springs to mind is The Hobbit, and yet I’ve read so many wonderful stories since I took my journey with Bilbo Baggins. It is the first book I remember reading as a teenager, and I haven’t been able to stop reading since.
JC: Favorite author?
NH: My favorite romance author is, without doubt, Nora Roberts. I’m lost as soon as I open the first page.
JC: Which do you prefer? Paper or Digital?
NH: I prefer paper, but find myself turning to digital more and more. Carrying a Kindle (or similar device) is so much easier than filling my bag with books. That said, I am never without a paperback.
JC: Have you ever fallen asleep reading a book?
NH: No I haven’t. Though, and here’s a random fact, I once fell asleep in the middle of a conversation! But back to the question – I’ve had a few close calls – the times I’ve only just managed to close the book, before face planting in my pillow from simple exhaustion! I’m sure most readers can relate to that.
JC: What is the perfect companion to a good book?
NH: Silence!
JC: How do you prefer writing? Computer or notebook?
NH: I always start with pen and paper (unless it’s a short story), and I don’t think that will ever change. My edits (and there are many) are all done on the computer, though at one point I printed the pages and brought out my red pen!
JC: Oh yes I remember the red pen days! Okay so writers block? Do you get it? How do you handle it?
NH: I don’t get writers block, but that doesn’t mean I always know what to write. When I reach an impasse; either because my characters are not communicating well, or there’s something I’m missing, or I lack motivation - I handle it by stepping away from the project. I usually have more than one on the go, so I just switch to something else. If I don’t feel like writing (which happens from time to time), I read and give myself a break.
JC: Lastly, rate this interview! (A)Awesome had the best time! (B) Strangest interview I have ever done. It was awesome!
NH: A – I had the best time J
Addy’s Choice is available now FREE NOW FOR LIMITED TIME on Smashwords! Enter CODE:TM47S also available on AMAZON
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| Synopsis: Sometimes the hardest thing about lowering our defenses is the fear of how far we might fall. That fear had been Adrienne Baxter’s driving force most of her life. It was far easier to hide behind her radio personality, feeding from her audience, than to risk exposure. She had James, her brother by choice if not by blood. It was enough – most of the time. As the co-host of the early morning breakfast show at Music 101, Adrienne is the confident, sassy presenter with the silver tongue and fast-talking wit. When she meets Sebastian Davies, the station owner’s son, her carefully applied facade begins to slip. He presents a new kind of danger, because this time she could lose her heart. |
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| Synopsis: Tyler Davies was eighteen when he met the fiery beast he would later battle on a regular basis. Seduced by the beauty of her flaming touch, he had looked right into the heart of the fire and known she had claimed him. It was the second time he’d seen his future. The first was the day he met Lilly-May Saunders, a girl who burned so bright he was blind to anyone else. If it hadn’t been for her friendship with his brother, a relationship he didn’t truly understand, he would have confessed his feelings. But when his friend dies in the line of duty, and Tyler discovers the truth behind the accident, everything changes. Those he loves are in danger, and the one who owns his heart is at the top of the list. |
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Thank you for the interview, they were great questions and I had such a good time. I really appreciate your support :-)
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