Welcome to The Dog's Bollocks Blog Tour by Lynda Renham
I am so honored to be apart of this wonderful blog tour to help promote Lynda's new book The Dog's Bollocks. I have read it (of course!) and I loved it. Previously called The Valentine Present, my review can be found on this here very blog. Just click the link ~ My Review!
So, for my part in the blog tour, I bagged an interview with the wonderful author herself, Lynda Renham and the pleasure was all mine! We had a good old chin wag and shared some biscuits. As an author myself, it's always great to chat with fellow authors and find out what makes them tick. It's good to know I am not the only crazy one! I find Lynda a true inspiration and it's been brilliant getting to her know her over Facebook. Wonderful Facebook!
Before we start the interview, if you are not familiar with Lynda or her work, let me just fill you in. Lynda Renham writes romantic comedy novels and has a growing fan base. She has been likened in style to Sophie Kinsella but writes with a down-to earth humour. Lynda’s novels are popular, refreshingly witty, fast paced, and with a strong romantic theme. Lynda lives in Oxford, UK. She has appeared on BBC radio discussion programs and when not writing Lynda can usually be found wasting her time on Facebook.
"Lynda Renham is right up there with chick-lit royalty! I'm not talking princess either, for me, the Queen of Chick-lit". – Booketta Book Blog’
Now, on with the interview:
Lynda Renham
Firstly Lynda, let me welcome you to my blog. It really is wonderful to have you here. Secondly, congratulations on your blog tour! I feel honored to be apart of it, being a fan of your books. I have read all of your books and loved them. Crossiants & Jam was my first and I confess, still my favourite. I know I cannot wait for It had to be you coming next month.
OK let's start... at what age did you start writing Lynda?
As soon as someone
taught me how to use the pencil at school, but it wasn't easy as I'm sure you
remember too. I found joined up writing even harder and….Oh, sorry you meant
when did I first starting writing novels. I was so busy rummaging through your cupboards
for the chocolate biscuits that you seem to have forgotten to offer me. Oh
well, I am on a diet anyway, so just as well. What was the question again? Oh yes, I
remember. I wrote my first piece when I was about seven and it was all about my
rabbit and my dad thought it was quite good (well he would wouldn't he) and he
sent it off to my favourite comic and they published it.
Oh Lynda, I apologise for the lack of hospitality. I'm afraid most people have to help themselves in my house. It's true. I am a terrible host. Bare with me and I will sort something out....
I am going to dive straight in and ask the question I am most curious about. Being a self-published author, I am still waiting to be discovered by the big fish. I am hoping they don't leave it too long before I go completely bonkers. So tell me Lynda, how were you discovered?
Ooh it makes me
sound dead famous doesn't it or infamous which is not so good. I suppose it depends on how you look at the
question. I don't know really. I self-published a little thing titled 'Wedding
Cake to Turin' which went to the top of the humour charts and stayed there for
ages. I then wrote another book which was accepted by Raucous publishing and
that did even better. I'm not sure if discovered is the right word. If people
really discovered the insane me they would run a mile.
Ooh, are these chocolate biscuits? Are they going spare?
Yes, yes, help yourself Lynda. I did not know that you self-published although I have heard of Wedding Cake to Turin. I tried to purchase a copy but couldn't find it anywhere. I then found out why! So I feel all tingly that there's still hope for me yet!
I know every book you have written and have read them but please could you enlighten our blog readers on the books you have written?
I've written the
bestselling (could you highlight the bestselling, you know just in case it gets
overlooked.) Crossiants and Jam, Coconuts and Wonderbras, Pink Wellies and Flat Caps and The
Valentine Present and Other Diabolical Liberties, soon to be renamed 'The Dog's Bollocks,' which is my latest
book. Available on Amazon and at all good booksellers (supposedly) but often
you have to order.
All very quirky and catchy titles and I love the covers!
What genre do you write in?
I write Romantic
Comedy. I like to think of them as feel good films in a book. Also some of them
are Romantic Comedy adventures and the new one is a Romantic Comedy Farce. But
they are all guaranteed to make you smile.
You're right there. My family thought I were barmy sitting in the corner laughing my head off into my Kindle. Well more barmy then usual.
Please Lynda, tell me about your most recent book?
Well, if it is okay
with you Kerry I would like to use your review to describe the book as I truly
think you do it far better than I ever could.
Of course Lynda, I will be honored.
Morticia Addams nails, Eton Mess, no life jackets and a horse's crop! This story had so many twists and turns. There was so much happening, it kept me on the edge of my seat (OK, laid back quite comfortably on the sofa) but my point is there was never a dull moment. 'arriet was so very likeable & I couldn't help but love Fiona. She had me in stitches. I wanted to throttle Julian myself and as for Hamilton, well I most definitely would have used the horse's crop! I couldn't help but warm to the Jack's too. I absolutely loved this book. It was an enjoyable read I couldn't put down and I swear my family thought I was nuts (well slightly more nuts then usual) sitting in the corner laughing to myself.
Yes, that says it all. Poor down to earth Harriet who arrives
home after a wedding to find her boyfriend has got them in a lot of debt and
the story is her efforts to get them out of it with laugh out loud moments as
she does so.
Perfect. It truly is a funny entertaining read and I highly recommend YOU read this (to those reading this!)
OK Lynda, what I would like to know is, who are your favourite characters in the book and why?
My favourite characters are Harriet and the Jacks. Harriet because she is down to earth and you can really relate to her and the Jacks because they are bumbling gangsters, how can you not like them, while at the same time worry what they may do to Harriet.
Agreed. I could not help but warm to the Jacks. They really did make me laugh and reminded me of typical east end wannabe gangsters. I can just imagine them in a movie! I loved Harriet too.
So what aspect of your book sets it apart from others in your genre?
This is so difficult to
answer because I don't really know what sets my books apart from others writing
in this genre, except to say that the heroines are women that every female can
relate to. They do things that every woman has done at some time in their life.
I think my protagonist has an
unusual way of interacting with the reader which makes the reader feel she
knows the character so well that when the books finishes she really misses the
heroine. It is as though the characters become your friends. Plus of course
they are always written in the first person which makes the reader's experience
so much more personal.
I enjoy first person writing because it is like you are the character. I write in the same format. I know when I finish reading your books, I have withdrawal symptoms.
What I would love to know is, where do you get your inspiration from to write these funny novels?
From my own life to be honest. I am the woman who prepares
dinner and plugs in the slow cooker and then sits down for the day to write and
forgets about it (which is the pleasure of slow cookers right?) Only to have
husband come home to find there is no dinner cooked at all because I had
plugged in the toaster instead of the slow cooker. I am also the woman who
walks into the Gent's loo in the motorway service station and wonders why all
these men are peeing in the Ladies'.
Oh Lynda, it's shameful. We are so alike!
How do you cope with writer's block?
Stick my head in the fridge until it passes. It usually works. Talking of food, do you have any cake?
Sounds like a plan! Yes, actually I do. I baked it myself in fact. Here you go...
OK, my final question Lynda. What advice could you give someone who aspired to be a writer?
Three words: 'Don't give up' Believe me you must and cannot do that. I speak from experience and didn't write for years during a period of my life when I was in a marriage that did not help me function as a person creatively. It was a bad decision. Never give up on your dream. Push forward no matter what.
Very wise words Lynda that I will hold close to my heart because let's face it, there are times when we all want to give up. I myself, am yet to concur my dream but at least with self-publishing, I am perhaps on the right road to that, as long as I don't give up!
You can find Lynda on the following links ~
Lynda, I cannot thank you enough for taking the time with me today. I truly have enjoyed having you here. Apologies on the lack of hospitality. I should take classes! I hope it hasn't put you off for future interviews. I have had a blast.
I wish you a successful blog tour and I look forward to your new book, It had to be you coming February 14th. I know I will be purchasing it!
