NK Chats To… Charlie Dean

Hi Charlie, thank you so much for joining me today. Can you tell me about your novel, I Love You, Always Forever and what inspired it? 

I Love You. Always. Forever was written during a difficult period in my life. My mum had been diagnosed with kidney cancer as has Charlie’s and it was my coping mechanism, like my first book was with my dad’s dementia. I wanted to show that even when life is tough, you can still smile and find happy times. I decided to make it a dual timeline to show that family and friendships can last a lifetime.

What songs would make up a playlist for your book? 

I Love You, Always, Forever by Donna Lewis

Boom Shake the Room by Will Smith

Let’s Talk About Sex by Salt n Pepa

Face to Face by Siouxsie and The Banshees

From idea to finished book, what’s your writing process like, do you conduct much research, how long does it typically take you, do you have a typical writing day and any writing rituals? 

I am a complete pantser and just sit down and write. I’ve written novels in 3 months and also in three years. I usually start with an idea, something random that came to me in the night and go from there. My characters tell me how the story goes. I work and have family to care for so writing is a luxury in my spare time, I’m such a procrastinator though which doesn’t help either.

Which authors do you admire? 

I am the biggest fan of Philippa Gregory. Her writing makes you feel as if she lived in the time and knew the characters herself. She inspires me to write an historical romance but I just don’t have the time for the research at the moment.

What’s your favourite word and why? 

That’s a question I have never been asked. I think it would be love. It covers so much and is such a tiny word but feeling loved, showing love, experiencing love in all its forms is just the best thing in the world. I’m very lucky to share love with so many people.

Which fictional world would you like to visit and why?

As a child I would have wanted to visit Cackle’s Academy but now its Hogwarts. It might be cliché but honestly, I love magic, always have and just experiencing that world even for a day would just be a dream come true.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered since you’ve started writing? 

How hard it is to publicise books. I’ve been lucky to have publishers behind me as well as self publishing and you think, that’s it, I’ll get so many readers now but honestly it doesn’t happen that way. I write because I want to and I’d go mad if I didn’t but I do also write for people to enjoy the stories.

What are you currently working on? 

I’m nearing the finishing line of an autumn romance set in a small town where the MC is fed up with her love life.

“When your life needs more spice and not just in your pumpkin latte.”

I’m using a new name as these are a little spicier than my Florence Keeling books.

Which book have you read that you wish you could forget, just so you could discover it again? 

Wideacre by Philippa Gregory and the Harry Potter series. To enjoy those books once again without knowing what happens would just be glorious.

In your opinion, what are the essential tools of the trade for a writer? 

Discipline and time. You have to be disciplined to write and its very hard with modern life to find time to do it.

Would you rather – 

Have an endless summer or winter? I’m a spring girl.

Tea or coffee? Always Tea.

Morning person or night owl? Morning person.

Paperback or eBook? Paperback.

Thank you again for joining me today Charlie and for inviting Novel Kicks onto the blog tour for I Love You, Always Forever. 

About I Love You, Always, Forever – 

Life is full of highs and lows, but it’s who helps us through that counts.

Stumbling across her teenage diaries in her childhood home, Charlie is instantly transported to the 1990s.

Charlie relives all the emotions and feelings as memories come flooding back, from first kiss to first love and everything in between.

Back in the present and Charlie discovers that even in the darkest of times, light and laughter can ALWAYS be found.

A heartfelt journey through life, from teenage angst to the trials and tribulations of adulthood. Family love, friendship and romance weave throughout but who will love you, always, forever?

Say hello to Charlie via Twitter. 

Click to buy I Love You Always, Forever on Amazon UK and Amazon US. 

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.