Katie Oliver:
Katie Oliver loves romantic comedies, characters who "meet cute," Richard Curtis films, and Prosecco (not necessarily in that order). She currently resides in South Florida with her husband, two parakeets, and a dog.
Katie’s been writing since she was eight, and has a box crammed with (mostly unfinished) novels to prove it. With her sons grown and gone, she decided to get serious and write more (and hopefully, better) stories. She even finishes most of them.
Interview:
Can
you tell readers one thing about yourself that we can't find online?
I have a MASSIVE crush on James Norton.
I’ll blame it on War and Peace.
What's
your latest bookish news?
I’m happy to say that The Trouble With Emma, the second book
in the “Jane Austen Factor” series, is out 29th February, followed
by Who Needs Mr Willoughby? on 24
March. After that, I’ll be working on a new – and completely different –
writing project.
Can
you give us a sneak peak into what you're currently writing or soon to be released?
A clue about a character featured, excerpt maybe?
Certainly! My next book is a departure
in that it’s set in America. It features an Irish-American heroine named
Shauna, who’s back home after graduating from university (temporarily, she
swears) and working in the family sports bar until she lands a proper job.
After a recent breakup with her long-time boyfriend, she’s understandably wary
when she meets Declan, a sexy Irish soccer player.
She’s serving beer and loaded fries;
he’s serving more pick-up lines than the walkup window at the local burger
joint. But he’s also the best looking guy she’s ever met. And he’s determined
to convince her to go out with him.
Can she resist his charming onslaught? Erm,
no…
Your
book covers are always captivating, who designs them?
Aren’t they gorgeous? I love the covers
the team at Harlequin/Carina UK designed for the Dating Mr Darcy/ Marrying Mr
Darcy series. I still remember how excited I was to see my very first book cover
for Prada and Prejudice. It was a writer’s
dream realised – beautiful colors and design, and it made my journey to
becoming an author real, and incredibly special.
↑↑Dating Mr Darcy ↑↑
(click the covers for more information)
↓↓Marrying Mr Darcy ↓↓
The “Jane Austen Factor” books feature
updates of vintage pop art, and I’m thrilled with the positive responses
they’ve received. The bright colors and graphic designs really stand out, and
in a very eye-catching way!
(click the covers for more information)
Where
do you get most of your inspiration from?
I get inspired everywhere and anywhere.
It might happen when I’m on a walk, or watching television, or reading a magazine
or newspaper article. A big source of inspiration for the first two Austen
Factor books, funnily enough, was the “Father Brown” television program. I
imagined Mark Williams (Father Brown) as a retired country vicar and widowed father
to three grown daughters - all of whom he loves dearly – who wants to enjoy his
retirement and is more than ready to see them married off.
What
are top 3 favourite classic books and why?
Jane
Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is a book I’ve read many times. I
identified with Jane – she isn’t the typical gothic heroine in search of a
husband; she’s intelligent, and principled, and deeply passionate about the
things that matter to her. She’s a loyal friend, compassionate but unafraid to
speak out against those who’ve wronged others.
Les
Miserables by Victor Hugo is that most wonderful
of things – a classic that’s also impossible to put down. The suffering that
Jean Valjean endures after stealing a loaf of bread, his relentless pursuit by Inspector
Javert, all of it set against the violent, colorful backdrop of the French
Revolution – it was (and still is) a nineteenth century page-turner!
Le
Père Goriot by Honore de Balzac is the
heartbreaking story of a wealthy merchant, Goriot, now elderly and poor and
living in a rundown boardinghouse in Paris, whose life-long devotion to his selfish
daughters is not returned. Balzac captures a wide range of human behavior at
its best and worst.
Who
are your favourite authors to read?
I’ll read anything by Marian Keyes. The Mystery of Mercy Close is an
amazing, entertaining, thoughtful story, and Watermelon is one of my very favorite books.
No one can make me spit out my coffee
laughing like P. G. Wodehouse. All of his books and characters – Jeeves and
Wooster being the most famous – get into the most hilarious scrapes and
misadventures.
Do you have any advice for aspiring
authors?
Follow your passion in whatever you
decide to write. Don’t try to shoehorn your story to fit whatever’s in vogue with
publishers at the moment; chances are, whatever’s hot today – whether it’s a
mash-up of classics and gore or Fifty Shades of whatever - will glut the market
in six months or a year. Be bold. Be different. Write what you truly want to
write, what you burn to write, and that passion will come through on the page.
And that’s
what will help you find a publisher.
Favourites:
Quote/Motto: The
fascination of shooting as a sport depends almost wholly on whether you are at
the right or wrong end of the gun. – P.G. Wodehouse
Song: Lovesong, by The Cure
Dessert: Tiramisu!
Film: Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen
Flower: Orchid
This has been one of favourite interviews especially Katie Oliver's advice for aspiring authors.
What do you think of the Q&A? Have you read any of the authors books? Do you like the covers?
The Q&A is interesting. I Have not read any of the author's books. I love the mischievous covers.
ReplyDeletekoukkunokka@anvianet.fi
Thanks, Mai...those covers are a bit mischievous, aren't they? xx
ReplyDeleteThe covers are stunning! Great interview and I love the advice. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Suze! Kerry-Ann asks great questions. :-) And thanks for taking the time to comment.
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun Q & A thank you. Just above me on the bookshelf I can see our copies of many P.G. Wodehouse books. Always a treasure.
ReplyDeleteYou have such great covers.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Thanks so much, Mary xx The response to these covers has been amazing!
DeleteAnd yes...P.G. Wodehouse rules. ;-D