I've invited Cait O'Sullivan to join me today in snowy Ohio to talk about her new release, due out in just a few days. Doesn't she look like fun? She's a blast to hang out with. Hello, Cait, and welcome.
Hi Becky, thanks so much for having me on your blog today! I
hope you’ve had a very happy Christmas and are looking forward to 2013.
Tell us about your upcoming release.
Oooh I’m just so very excited!! In
8 days – yes that’s the 7th January 2013 (I hope that’s 8 days, maths was never my strong subject) my debut novel,
‘Romancing the Seas’ is available to order. Can I give you a blurb?
Sous-chef Pippa Renshaw thinks a change of scene will mend a bruised
heart, so she swaps her job in a prestigious London restaurant to head-chef on
a cruise ship sailing around New Zealand. A great plan until she meets her new
CEO, the delectable Jonathon Eagleton, and discovers she has to share a suite
with him.
Even though sparks fly whenever they are
together, Jonathon steadfastly keeps her at arm’s length, which suits Pippa
just fine because she’s still getting over the betrayal of the last time she
had a relationship with the boss.
The situation is starting to feel like
solitary confinement until a thunderstorm traps them in a tramper’s hut while
hiking. Suddenly a different kind of storm unleashes inside the hut.
But will they be able to go back to their
previous status now the line has been crossed?
What's next for you?
I’m currently writing ‘The Tango
Champion’s Secret Love Child’
Ava Whittaker made it solo around
the world unscathed. Until her last stop, Argentina and the fulfilment of her
final dream, horseback riding through the Andes by day, camping by night. One
night of passion with the panther-like Matthias de Romero was her undoing.
Fast-forward two years, she’s
safely back in London, their daughter by her side. But Matthias doesn’t know of
her existence. Ava had flown back to tell him, only to be stopped in her tracks
by the announcement of his engagement.
Now Matthias, the twice tango
champion of Argentina, is in London to judge a competition. A competition she
just happens to be in…
What do you love most about writing? Least?
I love the feeling when you sit
down to write and all of a sudden, the words flow. You know the way – parts of
the book are in your head but it’s when you make contact via writing that it
all becomes clear.
My least favourite part is when I
allow myself to think that the way to get through a problem with my book is to
mull it over and wait until I have the answer before writing again. Whereas the
reality is the only way for me to get the answer is to sit down and write.
Who do you credit with influencing you professionally?
The authors I read growing up –
Enid Blyton, JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Stephen Donaldson and anything I could get
my hands on. I used to get up early on summer mornings, go and climb a tree in
the garden and sit there and read. Lovely.
Have you ever written a character based on someone you know?
Yes absolutely, there are bits and
bobs of everyone in all my characters! I just mix them all up so no-one
actually recognizes themselves :).
Where did you grow up and did anything from your childhood influence your decision to become a writer?
I was lucky enough to grow up in
Ireland, the land of saints and scholars :). Ireland is a
wonderfully creative land, I think it may be something to do with the air that
blows in from the Atlantic, keeping everything soft and green, including your
imagination :).
And I guess this is the answer to the second part of your question – the fact
that I am from such a fertile creative land gave me the confidence to write.
Where do you rank in the family hierarchy? First child, only child, baby, somewhere in between?
Youngest! (I don’t think at my age
I can say Baby :) )
If you have an entire day to devote to your writing career, how do you divvy it up?
For years (well 3 mebbe) I would
only have 2 hour gaps in which to write, when one or other of my daughters attended
Nursery. As a result, I can actually only write for 2 hours at a time. It’s
mad, I do try to break through but it hasn’t happened yet. As a result, if I
have the day to myself to write, I’ll wake up, get a coffee, turn on the laptop
and sit in bed writing for 2 hours. Then I’ll get up and go out and have a
coffee and write for 2 hours. Then I’ll come home again…I think you get the
gist :).
Generally after 3 x 2 hours, I’ve had enough. If I’m lucky enough to have the
day to myself (happens mebbe 3 times a year) then I’ll fancy having a bit of
fun, going out with friends or having some around. Or going out dancing, I love
dancing. I’m digressing, aren’t I? It’s the thought of having a day to myself
LOL.
If you could choose two people to have dinner with, from any time period, real or fictional, who would you want at the table?
Definitely Tolkien, although I may
be a tad intimidated by his immense knowledge and presence but I would love to
peer into the workings of his brain to learn from him.
And the Dalai Lama. I have had the
privilege of seeing and hearing him speak and again, I’d love to learn anything
from him.
Is this a bit oh I dunno, too goody
goody?! Hmm, who else – I know you said 2 but you know. Patrick Swayze, as he
was in Dirty Dancing. Put some good music on, get a wiggle on with him– just to
ensure all that learning kinda wiggles into place in my brain :).
How can people get in touch with you?
You can find me at:
Caitosullivan.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook.com/caitosullivanauthor –
come along and like me to keep updated on all my news
Twitter.com/romanticait
Thanks! Looking forward to hosting you on my blog.
