FUNKY FRIDAY - With Author Michelle Betham

Happy FUNKY FRIDAY once again!  This week I welcome my good friend and fellow Indie, Michelle Betham.

Michelle and I started on this journey at exactly the same time and we've supported one another through the highs and the lows.  We settled with a nice, chilled glass of bubbles and had a giggle. This is what I asked her:

Big Brother are doing an Indie Writers Special!  Would you go in the house?

Against my better judgement, yes, I probably would! But I really would try and be a very well-behaved housemate... I've seen the show, I know the pitfalls... Mind you, it all depends on who's in the house with me, doesn't it?

Wow!  You're braver than me - I'd say a definite NO!  OK, now you're going on a chat show - whose would it be and why? 

Alan Carr's 'Chatty Man', because he just makes me laugh, sometimes without even saying anything. I think it would make for a very interesting interview, don't you?

I think it would be hilarious.  He'd be my first choice too - in fact, I blogged about it here. Onto crushes now ... we all know you have a bit of a thing for Bradley Cooper!  He's found out and wants you to interview him!  Where would you go, what would you wear, what would you ask him and would you come home?! 

Oh, this is such a perfect question for me... Now, let me see, where would we go? I think we'd have to go to Las Vegas! Yeah, I'd love to interview Mr. Cooper in Vegas, because that's where The Hangover movies - and my crush on the man himself - all began. So that would be the perfect setting. What would I wear? I think I'd have to stick to my own style here and wear the skinny jeans, the biker boots and a Foo Fighters t-shirt. If I was interviewing someone as gorgeous as Bradley I'd have to feel comfortable, and that's what I feel comfortable in. You never know, he might go for the whole "rock chick" thing!

What would I ask him? I'd ask him if he liked the whole "rock chick" thing!!! No, seriously, I think I'd ask him questions about his own reading habits, what kind of books he likes reading, and whether he'd ever venture into writing himself, be that movies or books. And then I'd ask him if he was free for dinner...

Would I come home? Err, no!

You really let your imagination run away with that one, didn't you?  So now you've been given a day away from the desk and a blank cheque.  What would you do? 

I'd book myself a spa day. I've never had one but I've always wanted one. I'd make sure I got a wonderful massage, manicure, pedicure, the works, then I would just sit and chill poolside sipping fruit juices and listening to Pink Floyd. Perfect! I might do a bit of shopping on the way home, mind... You did say a blank cheque, didn't you...?

I'd definitely join you for that!  OK, back to the desk.  What's the best thing and the worst thing about writing for you? 

The best thing about writing for me is to be able to bring to life all those characters that have lived inside my head for a long, long time. To create them, and their stories, is dream-come-true for me. And when somebody tells you how much they've enjoyed one of your books, that makes it all worthwhile. That's the best feeling.

The worst thing? The loneliness. Writing can be a very solitary thing sometimes, and there are days when I feel really alone. But those days never last for long.

Mills & Boon offer you squillions of pounds to write for them!  Could you (and would you) tame your writing down? 

No, I don't think I could. Not even for all that money! I love writing what I write, and I'm not sure I could, or would, ever compromise that.

I'd have to agree with you on that one - I couldn't write about heaving bosoms and throbbing members! 

QUICK FIRE ROUND

Planner or Winger? 

Winger.

Night or Morning?

Morning.

Doer or procrastinator?

Oh, procrastinator, definitely!

Writing/first draft or editing?

Writing/first draft.

Tea or coffee?

Tea, always!

Thank you so much for joining me, Michelle.  It's been great fun, as always.

You can buy Michelle's books at Amazon for Kindle or at the Kobo site.

STRIKER - the first in the trilogy

EXTRA TIME - book two in the series

Available to download this weekend and official

launch day Tuesday 24th September.

Follow her on Twitter @michellebetham and join her on her Facebook page.

Next week I welcome Catriona Merryweather from the Fabulous Book Fiend blog and we'll be talking reading and reviewing.

NEWSFLASH

The joint edit on my Christmas novella is complete and has gone to my 'Fenella' for a read through. It should hit the shelves around mid October.

I am currently mid way through a solo edit of my December novel but progress is slow as my Mum is in hospital with a fractured pelvis. Thank you all for your kind messages.

Chatty Man meets the Misfit

With the release of ‘Stilettos & Stubble’ just over a week away, I’m feeling a little giddy with all the work and excitement.  Releasing a new book is an exhausting process - the writing really is the easy part - and I’m constantly referring to my faithful list to make sure that everything is on track and ready to go.  Poor hubbie has been worked to a frazzle and I couldn’t do any of this without him.

So as I sink further into my ‘pre-release’ madness, this week I’m indulging myself in an imaginary interview.

Let me set the scene for you … 

‘Stilettos & Stubble’ has been picked up by a HUGE hot-shot producer and is being made into a feature film.  (See, I told you it was indulgent!) and I’ve been invited to talk on Alan Carr’s ‘Chatty Man’- where better?

Hair and make-up have worked wonders on me and I’m wearing a simple, but sexy black jersey dress and strappy shoes.

 

 So that’s me ready to go then - cue huge round of applause as Alan welcomes me on set and I manage to get to my seat without tripping or flashing my knickers.

ALAN:  So, Amanda, what can I offer you to drink, my love?

ME:  Well in the style of my Mummy Misfit books, I guess it has to be a ‘Pink Cock’ if you’ve got one there, Alan.

ALAN:  (huge guffawing and much showing of many teeth)  Oo-er, Missus!  I most certainly have got one hiding somewhere in here and I’m rather partial myself, so I think I might join you.

ALAN:  (sipping and wiping froth from his mouth with a suggestive wink)  Ooh, yum.  Good choice, girlfriend!  Now, tell me a little bit about the novel that this fab movie is based on?  I might just have another pink cock while you chat, if that’s OK?

ME:  Well, Alan, ‘Stilettos & Stubble’ tells the story of a larger than average lady who finds happiness in the most unexpected of places - the film is going to be huge fun with a great cast and soundtrack.

ALAN:  Ooh, yes the music is wonderful.  I had a great little work out to it in the shower this morning - some fantastic tracks, I have to say.  So, what gave you the idea to write about an Amazonian woman?  It’s not the usual type for a chicklit novel, is it?  And you don’t mind me calling it chicklit do you - not gonna hit me with your handbag?

ME:  No, I don’t mind at all!  There’s no shame in writing or reading chicklit - there’s a massive market for it, as much as it’s slagged off.  I got the idea from watching an episode of ‘Miranda’ and suddenly I found I had a whole plot in my head.

 ALAN:  Now, I’ve seen a few clips and it really is very funny but it also has a bit of a message going on in there, doesn’t it?  See, I’m not as thick as I look!  (pulls face at camera)

ME:  Yes, Alan.  It’s all about accepting people for what they are - going beyond the outside shell.  I think everyone in the story learns that in one way or another.

ALAN:  Well with a face like this, I’m all for that philosophy!  More cock?  (he tops up my drink.)  Now, it’s been a really exciting year for you, hasn’t it?  It’s not just the film coming out but also a mini series based on the ‘Mummy Misfit’ books.  How exciting is that?

ME:  Very exciting!  My readers have often told me that the Misfit books would make great TV but it just seemed that it would never happen.  Now it’s almost in the can and I think they’ve done a great job with it.  It’s everything I’d hoped it would be.

ALAN:  Is it true that you got chased out of Putney by Yummy Mummies wielding designer handbags because they were so annoyed with you?  

ME:  No Alan, that’s not true.  Most of the mums have been very supportive - and those that haven’t obviously see a snippet of themselves in the nastier mums in the book.  That’s their problem - I’m having the last laugh!

ALAN:  And what about ‘Fenella’ - Mummy Misfit’s best friend?  She’s the posh totty with a heart, isn’t she?  Is she real or made-up?

ME:  There is a Fenella in my life but the character was very loosely based on her.  It is a work of fiction and I think people need to remember that.

ALAN:  So are you saying that your Fenella wouldn’t sing a song on your breakfast bar and then fall off?

ME:  No, I’m not.  My Fenella would definitely do that!

ALAN:  Ooh, we should get her on the show!  Now, you often have gentlemen of the homosexual persuasion in your books - why is that?

ME:  Well, coming from a theatrical background, a lot of my friends were gay and I always felt more comfortable with them than I did with the girls.  Writing about them just comes easily to me.

ALAN:  If you were going to write about a really handsome gay guy looking for lurrrve (raises eyebrows at the camera) would you use me as inspiration and what would your plot be?

ME:  (trying to contain laughter)  Of course I’d use you, Alan, and I think I’d have you working as a topless carwash assistant who meets the man of his dreams when he brings his throbbing Lamborghini in for a rub down.

ALAN:  (gulps at his pink cock and fans himself)  Oooh, now that’s one book I’d definitely like to read - got a bit hot under the collar there!  (wipes forehead with a lace hankie)  OK, moving swiftly on now, I think we’ll finish up with the closing music from ‘Stilettos & Stubble’ - an uplifting little number, ‘I Am Woman’.  Huge thanks to the lovely Miss Amanda Egan for being on the show - we’re off to share another couple of pink cocks and have a boogie.

 ‘Stilettos & Stubble’ will be released on Kindle at Amazon and in paperback at Lulu on 28^th November.  ‘It’s what’s inside that counts’