Find Out Friday Christmas Special: Carole Matthews 
12/16/2011 9:05:57 AM
I am absolutely delighted to welcome to Find Out Friday, internationally published and award-winning writer of romantic comedy, Carole Matthews.
Thank you so much for visiting.
I am currently enjoying your latest book, Wrapped up in You, a great Christmas read which has received excellent reviews and can be purchased from Amazon
This book has one of the loveliest covers I have seen. It has glitter, snow, red foil and it is very tactile. I am now ready for Christmas.
I know it is deemed politically incorrect to judge a book by its cover, literally and metaphorically, but isn’t it part of the package that draws us in?
Gosh, yes. I’m a sucker for a pretty cover. This one has used up the entire glitter stock for Little, Brown for the year and I’ve made sure that my next cover for Summer Daydreams will also be suitably sparkly. I have it especially written in my contract that my glitter budget is MEGA!
What was the spark for the story of singleton Janie Johnson and Maasai warrior, Dominic?
I wanted to explore just how easy it is to find love in less traditional places these days. Once upon a time, you’d meet a boy at school or someone at work and that would be that. Now love, literally, has no boundaries. I thought it would be fun to look at that. I also wanted to write a Christmas book that wasn’t a typical ‘English’ Christmas and I couldn’t think of anywhere more different to set part of the book than the plains of the Maasai Mara.
You have grown particularly fond of Dominic. What makes him different to previous heroes?
Oh, he is just such a lovely romantic hero. He’s a man who’s very comfortable with who he is. He’s physically and emotionally strong, charming, funny and different. The more I wrote about him, the more I fell in love with him. As did Janie. And the ladies of The Nashley Church Flower Committee.
For fans who sign up to your newsletter, there is a special treat. Please tell me about the sequel and how this came to be.
It was my editor’s wonderful idea. When I’d finished the book, I was struggling to let the characters go. I wanted to know what had happened to them. Did they end up together? Did it all work out? I didn’t feel that I wanted to write a whole book about them, but their story hadn’t finished. So Cath suggested a short story sequel, which I just thought was a great idea. So the story finds them a year on, the following Christmas and my readers can find out how their story ends. It’s a tear-jerker!
What is your favourite and least favourite part of creating a book?
I love the whole writing process – even after twenty books. It’s the best feeling in the world when it goes right. The worst bit is thinking up titles. My sales team never let me have my own titles.
What is it within that keeps you writing?
I think it helps if you’re essentially an extremely nosey and gossipy person! I love telling tall-tales and Lovely Kev says that I never let the facts stand in the way of a good story. If I don’t write for a couple of weeks, I start to go slightly nuts and start to have conversations with myself in my head. Quite worrying.
Do you start with names for your characters or wait for them to grow into one?
I always start with the names. A name defines a person. I have several books of names to trawl through and I write them down if I hear a good name.
I wonder if subconsciously we give our heroes and heroines names of people with whom we associate good things. (I’ve just realised, it’s not that far removed from naming one’s children.) It’s quite a responsibility, isn’t it?
Yes. Just like kids, your characters are stuck with those names for a long time. The more books I write, the harder it is to pick appropriate names.
At the end of the working day, how easy is it for you to switch off and leave your characters on your desk? (Mine seem to follow me to bed…)
I don’t think writers ever switch off. There are so many of us on Twitter or Facebook during the night that I think it’s a common problem. Sometimes if my brain is busy, I might as well just get up and write.
I’m asking this next question as one who finds it difficult to stop writing once I’m in the flow, even when trolley jacks are propping open my eyes…
Has your disciplined approach to writing evolved over time or was it naturally occurring?
I’m naturally a very disciplined person and, if you’re going to produce two books a year, you have to be. I work eight till one, read the paper over lunch and then work from two through to six, five days a week. I try not to work weekends.
You love to travel. Has one country in particular inspired you?
I’ve loved everywhere I’ve travelled to – all for different reasons. I’ve written books set inPeru,Nepal,AmericaandAfrica. I’d like to write one set inChinatoo which is an amazing country. We tend to go on group holidays too, so it’s always interesting to meet our fellow travellers who are from all different walks of life.
Does where you write affect how or what you write?
I can’t cope with too many distractions. I could never work in a coffee shop as many writers do. I like a proper computer and a brick wall in front of me. I have Radio 2 on all day long for company.
Writing humour is a skill I have yet to master – I can see and hear humour all around but am unable to transfer it to the page. What is it that gives us those laugh out loud moments?
I think you’re either a funny person or you’re not. You can’t manufacture comedy. I’m from nearLiverpooloriginally and I think a sense of humour is hereditary. I tend to see the absurd in everything. I have tried in the past to write serious romance and I just can’t do it. My characters are always getting themselves in ridiculous scrapes.
How much can you tell me about your next book to be published, Summer Daydreams?
I’m really excited about this book. It features Nell McNamara who is a young mum trying to make her way in the fashion industry while juggling the demands of a child and a relationship. Something I think a lot of readers will identify with. I’ve had great fun writing this and have had a lot of help from my friend Helen Rochfort who is a fabulous handbag designer. It’s a really lovely, romantic book.
As a lover of stationery, this is a question I ask all my guests. Are you a pen and paper person or do you type straight onto the PC?
Straight onto the PC. My handwriting is so bad now that I can barely read it.
What is currently in your To Be Read pile?
There are 450 books on my to-be-read pile! Those near the top are My Summer of Living Dangerously by Julie Cohen and Are We Nearly There Yet by Ben Hatch.
I discussed with another friend the fact that most writers are multi-creative – many paint, some of us sing and some of us make excellent cupcakes. Is baking something you have always enjoyed doing?
I love cooking, but have only just reawakened my baking gene. Blame The Great British Bake Off. I love doing cupcakes as they’re so easy and quick. I find it therapeutic making all the sugar flowers and bits.
What question would love to answer but have never been asked?
‘Would you like to become writer in residence at NeckerIsland, Carole’ – asked by Richard Branson. I might well say yes.
For those of you wondering, Lovely Kev is indeed lovely. He is a true gentleman who, at the Festival of Romance, saved me from the early morning trauma of having to work a futuristically technical coffee machine. Thank you, Lovely Kev.
Lol. Yes he is very lovely. He came to be nicknamed Lovely Kev because that’s all that anyone ever says about him. When people come to my book signings they’re usually more interested in meeting Lovely Kev than they are me.
Carole, your books inspire me, your humour makes me laugh out loud and your warm and generous personality makes it always a pleasure to talk with you.
Thanks so much, Laura!
On behalf of my readers and from me, I wish you and Lovely Kev a happy and peaceful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
For all the latest news, you can follow Carole via Twitter @carolematthews,
or at http://www.carolematthews.com
or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/carole.matthews
Find Out Friday is taking a break over Christmas and the New Year, although standard blogging will continue. Have a good one and I’ll see you in 2012.
© Laura E. James.
Comments:
Jan Brigden:
12/20/2011 1:44:45 PM
Find Out Friday
Fab interview! I love this slot. I had the pleasure of meeting Carole for the first time at the Winter Party (along with lovely Kev, of course) and really enjoyed talking to her, so it’s no surprise that this interview is so interesting and informative. Thanks, ladies!