Kiru Taye Writes: #Interview Suspense Meets Romance @LouiseRoseInnes #Giveaway

Hi, y'all! Please welcome Louise Rose-Innes as my guest author this week. We've been chatting about writing and her book, The Italian Inheritance. Please make her feel welcome.

Remember to leave a comment for your chance to win a copy of her book. I will announce the winner next week.

Last week's winner of The Wolf On The Hill by Jorja Lovett is Nana Prah. Congratulations!

Now onto this week's interview...

~*~*~*~*~

Q1) Can you tell us a little about yourself

My name is Louise Rose-Innes and I write contemporary romance and romantic suspense. I’ve self-published two contemporary romance novels, the most recent of which did fairly well on Amazon. My debut romantic suspense novel is going to be published by Entangled Publishing later this year.

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes, as far back as I can remember. I read prolifically as a child and young adult and always kept a diary. Then one day I stopped dreaming about writing and actually did it. Best decision of my life.

Q3) Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

The first book that really influenced my writing was If Tomorrow Comes, by Sydney Sheldon. I then devoured all of his novels and I’m sure his almost-script-like style has filtered down into my style somehow. I also love the humour in Jilly Cooper novels (I know, don’t cringe.) Other writers who have influenced me have been Jane Austen, Johanna Lindsay, Nora Roberts and Louise Bagshawe.

Q4) Can you tell us what a typical writing day for you is like.

I write while my child is at school, so I’m pretty fanatical about those precious 5 or 6 hours. After school comes out, that’s it for me for the day. The only other time I get to write is after 8.30pm when I’m usually too tired to be creative.

Q5) Let’s talk about your new book. Can you tell us a little about it?

I released The Italian Inheritance last year in November, and it hit the Amazon bestseller lists almost immediately. It’s a contemporary romance set in Italy, on the glamorous island of Capri.
Here's the blurb:

After discovering a letter written by her mother shortly before her death, Anna Crawford, a London-based nurse, decides to travel to the Italian island of Capri in search of her father. What she doesn’t expect to find is that she’s heir to a vast family fortune. She’s even more surprised when the suspicious trust attorney questions her very identity.

Rafael Vialli has a suspicious nature – it’s the reason he became a lawyer. He blames his rough childhood. It may also have something to do with the fact that in the months since Giovanni Albertosi’s death, he’s been inundated with opportunistic women claiming to be his client’s missing heir.

Can Anna prove to Rafael that she really is the legitimate heir? And can Rafael trust enough to award her the inheritance… as well as his heart?
Available at Amazon

Q6) How did you come up with the idea for this story?

I visited the Amalfi Coast with a friend about ten years ago and immediately fell in love with it. Capri was the most glamorous (and expensive) places I’d ever seen, and of course it’s stunningly beautiful with those dramatic cliffs and impossibly blue sea. On our trip we met some amazing people and based on that experience, I thought, how can I possibly not write a romance set here?

Q7) What is up next for you?

My debut romantic suspense novel, Personal Assistance, has recently been acquired by Entangled Publishing, so I’m excited about that, and I have many other works in progress!

I’m currently writing a short contemporary novella, called The New Year Resolution, based around the life of a dear friend of mine. It’s been an interesting exercise as I know her so well, so the characterization is easy, but also difficult, as I have to keep reminding myself how she would react to different situations in the book. There isn’t as much freedom as when you conjure up characters from scratch.

Q8) What is the best piece of advice you would give to a budding writer?

Practice makes perfect. Someone once told me that you only come into your own writing style after having completed three manuscripts, and I think it’s true. I’m learning all the time and only now do I feel my style has consolidated into itself and I’m much more confident than I used to be.

Q9) What is the next book on your To Read Pile that you are dying to jump into?

I’m reading a book of short stories at the moment called First Thrills, edited by Lee Child (who I love). It’s a research project on suspense writing. I’m trying to soak up the brilliance of famous thriller writers for my next romantic suspense offering. I’ve also got the latest Nora Roberts book to read, and a pile of RIVA romances that I downloaded to my Kindle last year and havent’ got round to reading yet.

Q10) Is there anything else you would like to add?

I love hearing from readers so please visit me at www.LouiseRoseInnes.com or connect with me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/romantic.novelist) or Twitter @LouiseRoseInnes.

I also run a marketing blog called www.MarketingforRomanceWriters.com, which covers topics like self-promotion, publishing, social media marketing and web PR, so pop along if you need some marketing tips or advice.