Kiki: What is your favorite genre to read in, and what is it about that genre that attracts you to it? If you like a specific mix of genres, please state that particular combination.
Rachel: My favorite genre to read is probably romantic suspense but I read all genres of romance except paranormal, as well as lots and lots of historical fiction and non-fiction. I’m especially drawn to the Tudor & Victorian eras.
I love romantic suspense because it gives that thrill of a chase or of time running out or woman in jeopardy type of feeling as well as the hero and heroine falling in love and evolving. Perfection.
And as for my history obsession – these two eras fascinate me. I’m not entirely sure why, but I like to think I lived in those times in the past, spooky!
Kiki: What is your favorite author to read in that genre, and why? Also, please tell me a little about the best book by that author you have read.
Rachel: Romantic Suspense – Nora Roberts or Tami Hoag and I love all of their books but the two that jump to mind though are Montana Sky by Nora Roberts and The Dark Horse by Tami Hoag.
Historical – Philippa Gregory – The Tudor Series or Sarah Waters Tipping The Velvet
Kiki: Do you have a Favorite Book of All Time? Of course, please tell us what about that book makes it your favorite.
Rachel: This is such a hard question for me – I LOVE books, that’s it. I can’t say I have a favorite book of all time because I love discovering new and wonderful authors and books all the time. I have read Gone With The Wind three times in my life which is the most I have ever re-read a book so maybe that is my favorite!
Why? Because it is so epic, so involved. I admire the storytelling, the plotting, the characterization, everything.
Kiki: What is the best book you read last month, and would you recommend it to a friend?
Rachel: The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous by Jilly Cooper – this book is a huge 750 pages of pure British fun, romance and naughtiness. If you haven’t read any Jilly Cooper, pick one up today – they are such great books, I lose myself in them for hours!
Kiki: What are your reading habits like? For example, how many books do you read on average in a week, what format do you prefer to read in, what time of day do you read, and what setting is ideal for you to get lost in that book?
Rachel: At the moment, my reading time seems to be getting less and less – I am trying to spend every free moment writing right now so I mainly read for half an hour to an hour before I turn out the light at night. I am still very much in love with hardback and paperback books, but I am determined to buy an e-reader this year and will no doubt be converted.
My ideal setting to read? On a beach in ninety degree temperatures with a book in one hand and a chilled glass of something alcoholic in the other, LOL!
Kiki: If pressed, could you chose a favorite from the books you have written? Why is it your favorite?
Rachel: It is probably my first historical The Arrival of Lily Curtis – this is the longest book I had written at the time and the hardest. I was nervous about venturing into the historical romance genre but this book just had to be written. I love Lily (the heroine) and Andrew (the hero) so much – they were absolutely destined to be together.
I hope my readers agree!
Kiki: How do you become inspired to write?
Rachel: I treat my writing like a job so I don’t wait for inspiration to strike, I sit my backside down in the chair and make myself do it. Some days I can write a thousand words easily, and other days that thousands words feels like pulling a thousand teeth!
Kiki: What part of the story do you think is your strength to write?
Rachel: Hmm, not sure about which part – I enjoy writing the love scenes but I think my strength lies in dialogue. I can more often than not ‘hear’ my characters talking and the talking scenes write themselves.
Kiki: Please share with ABA
Rachel: People often ask me if writing novels gets easier the more you write – I want to put aspiring writers minds at rest (or unrest!) and say it doesn’t! Each story brings new challenges and new discoveries. I love what I do and I hope I get better with each book. I am desperate to learn new skills and improve my craft. Writing is a craft, which means anyone can learn how to do it. But not everyone has the thick skin needed to deal with the inevitable rejection.
Rachel Brimble
Writing Romance – Past and Present
The Arrival of Lily Curtis
Blurb:
At the mention of an arranged marriage, Elizabeth Caughley feels her life is over at the age of three and twenty….so she hatches an escape plan. She will reinvent herself as a housemaid. Overnight, Elizabeth
Viscount Westrop wants nothing more than his legacy to be passed to his own son one day. Even though he feels insurmountable pity for the unborn child already, he knows how much pain a broken promise can cause and will do what is right. But with the arrival of his new housemaid, his plans are thrown into disarray. Lily is funny, feisty and the most beautiful creature on earth – Andrew is thunderstruck. But if anyone suspects how much he wants to ravish her and endlessly love her, Andrew’s lineage will be in peril. And he cannot let that happen…
Review Snippets:
The Arrival of Lily Curtis is a fun and entertaining read with characters that come alive… Long and Short Reviews, 4 books
Ahh, now this is what I LOVE to read in a well put together regency. Good story, characters, plot…everything worked. It all fit into place, clicked and made me smile, quiver and in the end I was left with a good feeling. Seriously Reviewed 18/20
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Great interview, Rachel! Gone with the Wind, is one of my all-time favorites too. I really missed Scarlett and Rhett after I finished the book.
ReplyDeleteLoved what you shared about whether writing gets easier ~ I feel exactly the same. It's hard work, but definitely worth it:-).
Thanks for stopping by, Ursula! Have you read the sequel to GWTW? Its called Scarlett and it's on my TBR pile this year...
ReplyDeleteI am having massive confidence issues with my current work in progress. The first draft is finished and stands at 85,000 and I'm not sure I even like it!
Rachel x
I've read it, Rachel. It was good, but didn't come close to GWTW...
ReplyDeleteYou should celebrate completing a work of that length! It's a major accomplishment:-) Not so much fun is the revising and editing that's sure to follow. But, you did it! Congratulations:-).