Author Interview/Giveaway - Lucky Girl by Cate Lord (Entangled Publishing) (Ends 9/24)

Describe your book in five words or less:

A fun, flirty romantic comedy.

How did the ideas for your book come to you?

Many elements of Lucky Girl were drawn from my own experiences as a single gal recovering from heartbreak, starting to date again, and hoping to find “Mr. Right.” The story is loosely based on a year I lived and studied in England—an amazing time I’ll never forget. I stayed with my aunt and uncle in Hertfordshire and on weekdays, traveled by train down to London to attend classes. On weekends, I partied with a great group of friends I’d met through my cousins. It was a year of many adventures, including meeting the tall, dark-haired, witty Brit who later became my husband. He and I recently celebrated our nineteenth wedding anniversary and have a teenage daughter.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes, that people aren’t always what they appear to be on first impression. Early in the book, Jess considers the gorgeous hero, Nick Mondinello, a marketing exec for a prestigious London firm, to be a playboy like her deadbeat dad and a guy who’d break her heart if she ever got involved with him. As the author, I had the fun of proving to Jess that Nick’s more of a hero than she ever imagined. The book is really the story of how she grows as a character from being afraid of trusting her heart to Nick to falling head-over-heels in love with him, and how that affects her perspective on life. Of course, in the process I had to embarrass her, torture her emotionally, and poke fun at her insecurities and eccentricities, but I did so with the best of intentions. 

What is the hardest part of writing for you? What’s the easiest?

The hardest part is finding time, some days, just to sit and write. Our family schedule stays pretty busy, and it’s tough for me to focus when I have a lot of commitments. However, I pack a lined notebook and mechanical pencil in my purse, and when I’m waiting for my daughter at the orthodontist or at other appointments, I write. It’s not perfect material, but later, when I type it into my manuscript file, I edit it and flesh it out where needed. It’s a process that might not work for all authors, but it works well for me.

The easiest part of writing is crafting a scene that really “speaks” to me—in other words, when my creative muse is inspired. Usually it’s a scene filled with conflict, and I visualize it like a section of a movie. When the characters, dialogue, and action are so clear, the words fly from my fingers. I get so engrossed in what I’m writing, I’m hardly aware of the time passing, until, finally, I take a deep breath, push back from computer, and treat myself to a cup of Earl Grey tea (my favorite).

What’s next for you? Are you currently working on or have plans for future projects?

I have several projects in the works right now. I’ve considered a sequel to Lucky Girl, although I haven’t decided on that for sure. I’m also working on a couple of paranormal romances. More details on my future projects will be revealed soon.

Why did you choose to write for a specific genre?

I wrote Lucky Girl as a personal challenge. Before I contracted with Entangled Publishing, I’d written six medieval romances that were released in mass market paperback. While writing my historicals, I was eager to try penning a funny, quirky, sassy contemporary romantic comedy, and that meant writing in a style and tone very different from my medievals. I love how Lucky Girl turned out, and would like to write more contemporaries. In fact, I have so many stories in mind—paranormals, historicals, contemporaries, and fantasy-set series—I hope to be writing for years to come.

What’s it like hearing that readers are eagerly awaiting your book’s release date?

It’s extremely exciting! It makes those many, many hours at my computer writing, revising, and editing all worthwhile. I love my readers and greatly appreciate their interest in my books.

What is one question that you’ve always wanted to be asked in an interview? How would you answer that question?

Hmm. Let’s see . . . How about: “If you could have any career you wanted, what would it be?” My answer: A jeweler. I’d love to design my own jewelry using gemstones, pearls, and precious metals.

What was your road to publication like?

It was full of potholes.  LOL! I didn’t sell the first manuscript I wrote (thank goodness; it’s pretty awful!). It took years and five completed books before I finally clinched my first sale, but I persevered, by entering contests with editors and agents as final-round judges, attending conferences to learn the craft of writing, and actively participating in my critique group, which is still going strong to this day. I’m so glad I didn’t give up; I’m truly honored to be able to share my stories with others.

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