Spotlight & Giveaway:Waking Up With His Runaway Bride by Louisa George

Today It is my Pleasure to welcome M & B Medical Series Author Louisa George to HarlequinJunkie.

Thanks for having me here!

It's my pleasure Louisa, Could you please start by telling us about your new release...

Waking Up With His Runaway Bride is my second novel, out in July 2012.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

Their make-or-break reunion...

Mim McCarthy needs to focus on saving her clinic—not her insufferable yet outrageously sexy ex Dr Connor Wiseman. He might have grown into those cheekbones, but she knows he won’t have forgiven his runaway fiancée so easily! Yet it’s impossible to deny the sparks between them – their fights used to be legendary, but their making up might be even more momentous…

Sara: What sparked the idea for your novel “Waking Up With His Runaway Bride”?

Louisa: I wanted to do a reunion story because there’s such a fabulous opportunity for emotion. I also wanted Mim, the heroine, to have to overcome some big hurdles. And boy, has she! Now she’s facing an uncertain future- the man who will decide about her business is the man she humiliated when she ran out on him three years ago. Talk about raising the stakes!

Sara: How did you come up with character in this book?

Louisa: All my characters are feisty and contemporary. Modern people in a modern world. For the heroine, Mim, I looked for determination and, above all, independence. So she is the perfect to foil to Connor who has control over her future.

Sara: How did you come up with the title?

Louisa: I didn’t. My editor and the marketing department at Harlequin did. I think it’s absolutely perfect for the story. And I love the ‘runaway bride’ bit!

Sara: What were the challenges you faced in bringing this book to life?

Louisa: This was my second book for the line. I was almost paralyzed by nerves- could I actually complete a book again? Would they like it? Was my first published book a fluke? I wrote 10 chapters in 23 days- then suffered migraines and eye strain. I learnt a lot. I CAN write more books. I need to pace myself.

Sara: Tell us about Louisa George....

Louisa: I am married and have two teenage sons (aged 14 and 15). We are originally from England, but emigrated to New Zealand ten years ago. We absolutely love our adopted homeland, but still get pangs of homesickness. I began writing about nine years ago- just dabbling here and there and very dark ‘literary’ stuff. I discovered the romance genre six years ago and haven’t looked back! I worked as a nurse for twenty years before giving it all up to write!

Sara: What inspired you to write your first book? How long did it take you to publish your first book?

Louisa: My first book was written in a whirlwind of chaos and high anxiety! I submitted the first chapter to an editor in November, then she asked to see three chapters, I sent them to her once I’d written them (a couple of weeks), then she asked for a full…this was Christmas Eve 2010. I sent the completed full to her at the end of March. So it was about 4 months to write the whole thing. By the time she offered me a contract in July 2011 I’d done four sets of revisions. From offer of publication in July 2011 to release day in March 2012 was 8 months.

Sara: Which comes first? The character's story or the idea for the novel?

Louisa: It depends on the book! For my second book, Waking Up With His Runaway Bride I had the idea of a reunion, it started out as best friends meeting up after a long period apart, but turned into a runaway bride story as I got to know the characters better. For my third book, The War Hero’s Locked-Away Heart I used one of the minor characters from my second book.

Sara: What do you do when you are not writing?

Louisa: Zumba!  I love the Latin American beat and dancing is such fun, my perfect form of exercise. I also adore cooking and hanging out with friends and family. Of course, I also read heaps.

Sara: Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?

Louisa: As I’m relatively new to writing and I published my second ever completed manuscript I don’t have a back catalogue. Everything I write is new and, hopefully, fresh. My very first attempt at a novel was woefully dark and dreary, but it had an interesting setting- The Crimean War, Florence Nightingale et al. One day I may go back and fix it up.

Sara: What are your current projects? Can you share a little of your current work with us? Is this book part of a series?

Louisa: I’m just starting book four. No title as yet. It’s about a sports doctor and a celebrity debutante. Great fun, light and flirty with a glamorous backdrop. A nice change after completing The War Hero’s Locked-Away Heart which I loved writing, but has a very deep emotional core. It even made me cry at the end!

On a lighter note

  

Sara: What is your favorite movie & song?

Louisa: Movie- Love Actually  Song- Aretha Franklin’s Say A Little Prayer For Me- our wedding dance tune.

Sara: If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see play the lead role as you?

Louisa: I asked my kids- they said Sandra Bullock. I’ll roll with that!

Sara: Describe yourself in 3 words.

Louisa: Loyal. Determined. Fun.

Sara: Your favorite quotes?

Louisa: ‘Whether you think you can, or think you can’t- you’re right.’ Henry Ford.

We hold the power to determine our own destiny- we just have to believe in ourselves, grasp every opportunity, and create a few too.

Sara: What would your ideal career be, if you couldn't be an author?

Louisa: I was a nurse for a long time, and I loved it. But I’d like to do something glamorous- a dancer? I love watching all those X-Factor type shows- so maybe a singer in a band!

Sara: What is your writing routine?

Louisa: I work on my work-in-progress Monday-Friday 11-4pm. Outside of those hours I answer emails, do blogs, deal with the business side of things, author alterations/copyedits, research etc. I also do three Zumba classes a week from 9.30-10.30 (Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday). I try to leave Saturday ad Sunday for family time, but somehow writing tends to sneak in. (As does zumba….)

If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you have?

Louisa: Caesar. Definitely.

Sara: Which super power would you like to have and why?

Louisa: Tele kinesis- moving things around with the power of the mind. You could have such fun!

Sara: What’s the deal with 'I before E'

Louisa: LOL! You tell me. I think it every time I write receive…the English language is a mess!

Sara: What books/authors have influenced your writing?

Louisa: Amy Andrews, Jodi Picoult, Catherine Mann, Jenny Crusie.

Sara: Red or white wine?

Louisa: Both! Either. Depends on the mood and what I’m eating.


Thanks  Louisa for this fun interview!

One lucky commenter will be chosen at random to win a copy of "One month to become A Mum"

Please enter your email in the Rafflecopter below and Post a comment telling us  "First item on your shopping list if you had "One month to become A Mum....?"

(lets's get creative)

This Giveaway is open to all countries

a Rafflecopter giveaway