I am delighted to welcome Kierney Scott onto my blog today, author of Twice in a Lifetime, soon to be released from Carina UK.
Don't let the cheeky smile fool you, this fabulous lady has a wicked sense of humour so I couldn't wait to get her in the twenty questions hotseat.
ACT ONE – all about you…
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| Kierney Scott |
Originally from California, Kierney Scott moved to Scotland to enrol in the Ph D programme in Educational Research at the University of Edinburgh.
Four days after she arrived, she met her husband, who persuaded her it would be more fun to get married than write a thesis. After the birth of her daughter she decided it was time to go back to school, but soon discovered all she wanted to write was romance novels. She admitted her literary proclivities to her husband, who promptly bought her a laptop and told her to start writing her book.
When she is not writing, you will probably find her at a spinning class or baking (read eating) cupcakes. Her butter cream icing is legendary, if only in her mind. If you want her recipe, or just want to chat, you can contact her at KierneyScott@gmail.com or follow her on twitter @Kierney_S
Four days after she arrived, she met her husband, who persuaded her it would be more fun to get married than write a thesis. After the birth of her daughter she decided it was time to go back to school, but soon discovered all she wanted to write was romance novels. She admitted her literary proclivities to her husband, who promptly bought her a laptop and told her to start writing her book.
When she is not writing, you will probably find her at a spinning class or baking (read eating) cupcakes. Her butter cream icing is legendary, if only in her mind. If you want her recipe, or just want to chat, you can contact her at KierneyScott@gmail.com or follow her on twitter @Kierney_S
1) Have you always been a writer or is it something you fell into?
I think it was inevitable I became a romance writer. My mother has always been completely addicted to romance novels, so much so that she would read them to us as bed time stories so she did not have to put her book down. She always left out the sex scenes but when I was eleven or so I started reading them for myself. Totally inappropriate, I know, but it explains so much…
2) Do you have a particular writing style or ritual?
Every book I write has a theme song(s) I listen to on a loop. For Twice in a Lifetime, I listened mostly to Pink’s Give Me a Reason and Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. For the dark moment I listed to Stay by Rihanna. For the sex scenes I listened to S&M by Rihanna. It is impossible to feel uptight when you listen to that song!
3) Is there a book or an author that has influenced you in your writing?
I have read A LOT of old school romance so it stands to reason some of it has permeated my subconscious. Sometimes you can see it in my heroes. At the start of a book, before the heroine shows them the light, they can cross the line from alpha to jackass. Luckily I have an editor who calls me on it.
4) Is there one piece of writing (or life?) advice that has stuck with you, or that you would like to share?
My writing advice is to avoid info dumps. I like to feel drop kicked into a scene. Readers are smart, they can figure out what is going on, so wait until they care about your characters before you give them their back story.
My advice for life is: be kind, be positive, and always seek out the joy in life.
5) Can you tell us three things about yourself that we probably don’t already know?
I have the world’s smallest tattoo: a forget-me-not flower on my second toe. My sisters have matching ones.
I am freakishly strong as a result of my enormous quadriceps. I can leg press 900 lbs. My husband likes to refer to my legs as my Chris Hoys.
I am teetotal but people often assume I am drunk because I am always the first to hit the dance floor and my dancing is not great...
6) What five luxury items or gadgets would you hate to be without?
My electric toothbrush, my kindle, my laptop, my ipod, and my vitamix. I love that blender. I feed my daughter spinach smoothies and call them ice cream.
I think it was inevitable I became a romance writer. My mother has always been completely addicted to romance novels, so much so that she would read them to us as bed time stories so she did not have to put her book down. She always left out the sex scenes but when I was eleven or so I started reading them for myself. Totally inappropriate, I know, but it explains so much…
2) Do you have a particular writing style or ritual?
Every book I write has a theme song(s) I listen to on a loop. For Twice in a Lifetime, I listened mostly to Pink’s Give Me a Reason and Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat. For the dark moment I listed to Stay by Rihanna. For the sex scenes I listened to S&M by Rihanna. It is impossible to feel uptight when you listen to that song!
3) Is there a book or an author that has influenced you in your writing?
I have read A LOT of old school romance so it stands to reason some of it has permeated my subconscious. Sometimes you can see it in my heroes. At the start of a book, before the heroine shows them the light, they can cross the line from alpha to jackass. Luckily I have an editor who calls me on it.
4) Is there one piece of writing (or life?) advice that has stuck with you, or that you would like to share?
My writing advice is to avoid info dumps. I like to feel drop kicked into a scene. Readers are smart, they can figure out what is going on, so wait until they care about your characters before you give them their back story.
My advice for life is: be kind, be positive, and always seek out the joy in life.
5) Can you tell us three things about yourself that we probably don’t already know?
I have the world’s smallest tattoo: a forget-me-not flower on my second toe. My sisters have matching ones.
I am freakishly strong as a result of my enormous quadriceps. I can leg press 900 lbs. My husband likes to refer to my legs as my Chris Hoys.
I am teetotal but people often assume I am drunk because I am always the first to hit the dance floor and my dancing is not great...
6) What five luxury items or gadgets would you hate to be without?
My electric toothbrush, my kindle, my laptop, my ipod, and my vitamix. I love that blender. I feed my daughter spinach smoothies and call them ice cream.
ACT TWO – all about your new release…
A second chance at redemption...
A lifetime ago, Sarah and Liam were childhood sweethearts in a dingy Edinburgh block, dreaming of making it in the big wide world. But reality called. Sarah stayed to make a difference in her community, while Liam forged a career in international finance and never looked back.
Ten years on, a friend in crisis brings Sarah and Liam together in Dubai. There’s no trace of the boy she once loved – the man Liam has become is hard, mercenary, infuriating… and arousing. In an opulent desert city far away from everything she knows, can Sarah take the heat?
7) Congratulations on your recent release of Twice in a Lifetime, what was your inspiration for writing Sarah and Liam’s story?
The jobs from my pre writing life were the inspiration for this book. I taught emotionally and behaviourally disturbed children. In theory the school was for children from all over Edinburgh, but there was a disproportionate number from certain areas, like the council estate that was home to Liam and Sarah. I often thought about what it would look like if one of my pupils really succeeded in life. I wondered what scars they would carry from their start in life.
I also worked in harm reduction doing near enough the same job as my heroine Sarah: giving condoms and clean needles to sex workers.
8) Did the story flow from your finger tips or did some scenes take a bit of cajoling?
This was by far the easiest thing I have ever written. I am not sure why but I am very grateful for how smoothly the writing process was.
9) I see Twice in a Lifetime is your debut, how long did it take for the initial spark of the story to make it onto the page and then onto the publisher’s desk?
It took me less than two months to write.
10) Do you have a favourite paragraph or sentence from your story that you would like to tantalise us with?
The jobs from my pre writing life were the inspiration for this book. I taught emotionally and behaviourally disturbed children. In theory the school was for children from all over Edinburgh, but there was a disproportionate number from certain areas, like the council estate that was home to Liam and Sarah. I often thought about what it would look like if one of my pupils really succeeded in life. I wondered what scars they would carry from their start in life.
I also worked in harm reduction doing near enough the same job as my heroine Sarah: giving condoms and clean needles to sex workers.
8) Did the story flow from your finger tips or did some scenes take a bit of cajoling?
This was by far the easiest thing I have ever written. I am not sure why but I am very grateful for how smoothly the writing process was.
9) I see Twice in a Lifetime is your debut, how long did it take for the initial spark of the story to make it onto the page and then onto the publisher’s desk?
It took me less than two months to write.
10) Do you have a favourite paragraph or sentence from your story that you would like to tantalise us with?
She shrugged her shoulders. “You hide behind your penis. It is not a bad thing, it is just your crazy. You flirt with me to deflect your feelings. You aren’t good at dealing with emotion so you fall back on what you are good at.”
“No Dr. Campbell, I flirt with you for the reason men flirt with women-I fancy you.”
She shook her head. “Nope, it has nothing to with fancying. You do it when I bring up something you don’t want to talk about, anything related to the past.”
He turned and looked at her directly in the eyes. “I do it because I want to screw you in every position ever tried, and some they haven’t thought up yet. Simple as that, Sarah. I want to fuck you.”
*Confession time* This is my favourite bit of dialogue because I was certain my editor was going to cut it. I automatically love anything I think is going to get the chop.
11) Over to you, what can you tell us about Twice in a Lifetime, to make us rush out and buy it?
Twice in a Lifetime is a fast sexy read set in Dubai . What is not to like?!
12) What can we expect from you next? Is there something you are working on right now?
I am almost done with my second book. The working title is My Gay Husband. I have no idea what my publisher will call it in the end. I love the surprise.
11) Over to you, what can you tell us about Twice in a Lifetime, to make us rush out and buy it?
Twice in a Lifetime is a fast sexy read set in Dubai . What is not to like?!
12) What can we expect from you next? Is there something you are working on right now?
I am almost done with my second book. The working title is My Gay Husband. I have no idea what my publisher will call it in the end. I love the surprise.
QUICK FIRE ROUND – it’s pop quiz time…
13) Plotter or pantser?
Plotters for the win! I write a very detailed outline, chapter by chapter. The book may change as I write and flesh out the characters. If this happens I go back and change the outline because nothing goes in the book unless it is in the outline.
14) Secret Seven or Famous Five?(please tell me you know them!?)
I was raised in California so I did not discover Enid Blyton until I moved to Scotland. I prefer Robert Munsch and Shel Silverstein. They are gods of children’s literature. Trust me I was a teacher, I know kid’s books ;-)
15) Digital books or print books?
Digital all the way. I love the instant gratification. I am not great with impulse control.
16) Tea or coffee?
Can I be awkward and say toffee nut Signature hot chocolate from Starbucks? I am addicted. I am never away from that shop. They even have a copy of my cover on their community notice board because I am that friendly with the baristas. One of them is called Liam and I tease him and say I named my hero after him.
17) Cats or dogs?
My husband is very allergic so we are pet free. But growing up I had enough pets to last a lifetime: cats, dogs, chickens, fish, rabbits, hamsters and goats. I think the goats were my favourite. They were thick as mince and ate everything in sight. I could get on board with that.
18) Extrovert or introvert?
Total extrovert. If I know you more than five minutes, we are friends and I will invite you to my house for dinner. I love being around people. You know the missionaries that come knocking? I have them over for dinner. We all look past the fact I write naughty books and am unconvertible (is that even a word?!)
19) Save or spend?
Save
20) Facebook or Twitter?
Facebook but everyone else seems to love Twitter.
And that’s a wrap!
Plotters for the win! I write a very detailed outline, chapter by chapter. The book may change as I write and flesh out the characters. If this happens I go back and change the outline because nothing goes in the book unless it is in the outline.
14) Secret Seven or Famous Five?(please tell me you know them!?)
I was raised in California so I did not discover Enid Blyton until I moved to Scotland. I prefer Robert Munsch and Shel Silverstein. They are gods of children’s literature. Trust me I was a teacher, I know kid’s books ;-)
15) Digital books or print books?
Digital all the way. I love the instant gratification. I am not great with impulse control.
16) Tea or coffee?
Can I be awkward and say toffee nut Signature hot chocolate from Starbucks? I am addicted. I am never away from that shop. They even have a copy of my cover on their community notice board because I am that friendly with the baristas. One of them is called Liam and I tease him and say I named my hero after him.
17) Cats or dogs?
My husband is very allergic so we are pet free. But growing up I had enough pets to last a lifetime: cats, dogs, chickens, fish, rabbits, hamsters and goats. I think the goats were my favourite. They were thick as mince and ate everything in sight. I could get on board with that.
18) Extrovert or introvert?
Total extrovert. If I know you more than five minutes, we are friends and I will invite you to my house for dinner. I love being around people. You know the missionaries that come knocking? I have them over for dinner. We all look past the fact I write naughty books and am unconvertible (is that even a word?!)
19) Save or spend?
Save
20) Facebook or Twitter?
Facebook but everyone else seems to love Twitter.
And that’s a wrap!
Thank you so much for taking part, Kierney, I wish you every success with your new release.
To discover even more about Kierney Scott, and to keep up with her latest projects and shenanigans, you can connect with her at:
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Buy it now...
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Release date: 29th August 2013
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