Today I’m on the blog blitz for Anything You Can Do. I’m sharing my Q&A with the author with thanks to Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me on the tour and to BR Maycock for answering my questions!

Have you always wanted to write?

No. Though I can’t really just leave it at that, can I (;)? One day I just had a character come into my head, I was at a diner type place and one of the servers was dancing around the place and the people behind the counter were all kind of bouncing along and I felt the need to put them all into a book! It was really random and became It Started With A Snub which I liken to Friends and seems to be marmite, some people adore it, others hate it because I character jump (the way I thought an episode of Friends does). (Geney mac that was longer than ‘no’ wasn’t it? Sorry!

What were your previous jobs? Have they helped you with your writing process?

I’ve always worked in labs or offices related to labs, they helped in that in those jobs you need serious attention to detail.

What was your inspiration for Anything You Can Do?

The inspiration for Anything You Can Do was a lady at the school gates who looked both stressed and fun in equal measures and I overheard her talking about how hard it was juggling work and kids and my mind filled in a few gaps (possibly the absolute opposite to her situation but anyhoo!!)

How do you construct your characters? Do they have traits of people you know?

Ah I love constructing characters! I have an interview process, thirty questions per character which I’ve tailored over my years of writing, which includes questions that tell me if a person was trapped in a lift if they’d panic, help or sacrifice everyone (heard it from the amazing Louise Philips, an Irish Crime writer), and what kind of books they read or listen to, their ideal date etc. It’s my fave part of the whole process! I also like to pick a word for each character and then I make sure they stay true to that word.

What does your writing process look like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Yes, although from the question above you’d never guess I was a pantser, would you? Totally a pantser! The characters just set off and I write what they tell me to!

How did you research Anything You Can Do? Did you enjoy it?

Ah there wasn’t really any research required. Thinks for a second. Sorry …

Who are your favourite writers? Are you influenced by them?

It’s hard to be part of the writing world nowadays and not have a million favourite writers! I suppose my favourites are the ones that put out constant top, regular content-people like Hannah Ellis, Jenny Colgan, Sophie Kinsella, Rich Amoii, T A Williams, Laura Briggs, Daisy James … I could go on and on!

If you could invite three people, living or dead, to dinner, who would they be and why?

I can’t stop thinking ‘get your grandparents!’ All are deceased, one I never got to meet. Oh and I’m going to ask for four spaces instead of three!

Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with and why?

Laughing at this question (see character plotting question!!). Ah three negative people!

Who would play the main character/s in a film version of Anything You Can Do?

Ooh, I’d love Jennifer Laurence for this one!!!! 

What do you like to do in your spare time? Play with the kids (football, basketball, board games) or go for walks or runs … pre Covid I was learning to swim and thinking about starting back horse riding. Tv wise I love watching comedy!

What is next for you?

I’m working on the next in the series, a book called The Family Next Door, about what happens when the family from hell that move in next door turns out to be your exes’ clan!

Favourites:

Book? Miss Adventure by Geralyn Corcillo. Rom com perfection!!

Film? I could watch The Hangover or Bridesmaids over and over again! (And sometimes I do!!

Band/Singer? Probably Coldplay (but it’s really difficult to choose!!)

TV show? Modern Family, I laugh at least once an episode!

Colour? Yellow!

Place? Home 

Biscuit? Jammy Dodgers or chocolate chip cookies!

***

Anything You Can Do is available from Amazon.