Meet the Author: Donna Hepburn ** Author Interview**

I am delighted to welcome Donna Hepburn to Books, Life and Everything today to talk about her books and her life as a writer.

Hello, Donna. It's great to hear from you today. Would you like

to start by telling us a little about yourself and how you started as a writer?
 

I’ve always written stories but never felt confident enough to write a book until this one of all the ideas I’ve had this one felt right, and I really connected with the characters which made it easy to develop their stories 

 If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?

I’m a full-time copywriter (until this book sells a million lol) no, seriously I couldn’t imagine doing anything else, it’s the way I express myself and I’m very lucky to spend days doing what I love. 

What are you interests apart from writing?

I love to read, enjoy cooking, (I do a mean chili) travel, and long walks with my two boxer dogs 

 What is your favorite childhood book?

There are so many; I loved the Silver Brumby series by Elyne Mitchell, The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton, Charlotte’s Web and my all time favourite is The Moon on the Water by Nina Warner Hooke.

 

Tell us about your latest book without giving the plot away.

Flip-Flops is the first installment of a trilogy about two best friends who, fed up of their lives in the UK, begin a new life in Spain. The book follows Abby and Lou as they meet new friends, rescue a menagerie of animals and cope with the trials and tribulations of moving to a new country. This results in some hilarious situations and is a test of their friendship. 

What are your writing routines and where do you do most of your writing?

I write for a living, so I just fit writing my books in whenever I can. I try to get it all sorted in my head chapter by chapter then it is easier to get it down on paper, my dream is to be able to write novels full-time, preferably in Spain lol. Hopefully one day!

 

How do you select the names of your characters? Are they based on anyone you know?

The names aren’t based on anyone I know, they just seem to fit with the characters I can’t imagine Abby and Lou being called anything else, but I did have fun with the animal’s names and in the second book a new puppy is called Floyd after my own pooch.

How long on average does it take you to write your first draft?

The first book took around 3 months to write I didn’t really know what I was doing and kept changing things it was like 1 chapter forward, 2 back. I think writing your first novel can be a daunting task but it does get easier.

Do you or have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym?

I would write under a pseudonym if I wrote in a different genre as each has a different fan base I wouldn’t want someone buying their gran one of my books for Christmas expecting a comedy and getting a bloodthirsty horror instead. 

Do you have any other writers as friends and how do they influence your writing?

I have a few on Facebook, Kimberley Chambers is a hoot and Amanda Prowse is lovely and a great inspiration I love how she draws you into her stories and she always takes time out to reply to her followers and is so down to earth. 

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Don’t ever stop believing in yourself.

Can you give any hints about any upcoming books you have planned?

Obviously, there are the 2 to complete the Mediterranean Dream Series, the second of which I am working on and is titled High Heels, Hope and Hacienda and I have another rom/com in the pipeline about an unlikely romance between 2 characters at the opposite ends of the social spectrum 

Do you have any unfinished or unpublished books hidden away?

I have one which is very different from what I am doing now, it requires quite a bit of research though so may take a while, watch this space….

About the Author

I live in the North East of England with my partner and two

beautiful boxer dogs; Floyd and Freya.

From a very young age my head has always been full of stories and I’ve been wanting to write a book since way back when, well forever really but finances (running my own business,) procrastinating, and self-doubt have conspired to hold me back.

Dithering about what to write was another stumbling block, my reading taste is so eclectic; Vampires, Serial killers, Dystopia, Vikings, Witches, History, Travel, Autobiographies, the only genres I don’t really read are Spy Fiction, Westerns or Chick Lit Comedy.

Oh, I know I’ll write a Chick Lit Comedy!

Anyway, I digress. After my Eureka moment I decided to scrap all my almost finished, half-finished, ten chapters, first page attempts, concentrating on actually finishing my first novel.

Flip-Flops, Fiestas, and Flamenco is the first in a series of three novels, I am currently writing the second. I’m on a roll!

When I’m not writing I enjoy reading, travel and cooking I’m passionate about animals and consider myself a bit of a Gin connoisseur.

You can follow Donna here: Website   |  Twitter   |  Facebook

                                    Books Spotlight

 

FLIP FLOPS, FIESTAS & FLAMENCO

Synopsis

 
Flip Flops, Fiestas, and Flamenco is the first in a series of three books about two best friends, their lives, loves, and adventures after moving to a small village in the Andalusian hills.

Abby and Lou have been BFF’s since the first day at Uni. Despite being opposites in both looks and personality they were drawn to each other, sharing a flat, dreams and a love of animals.

Through the ensuing years despite heartache and divorce, they remain as close as ever.

Abby would be the first to admit her life needs an injection of fun. Middle-aged, divorced and slightly overweight, she’s a mother/general dogs-body to two lay-about sons, a pink-haired Amazonian on-off girlfriend and an incorrigible British Bulldog named Chester. Her lifelong dream of living in Spain’s glorious sunshine has been long forgotten or has it?

Lou was stuck in her own rut, never fully recovered from a tragedy in her past. A long list of online dating disasters had left her wondering if she will ever find love again. Her cool ice-maiden persona is shattered along with her cat’s eardrums when she wins £400,000 on an online bingo site.

Could this be the answer to both their prayers?

Flip-Flops packed, they embark on their adventure, but it isn’t all sun and sangria. Warring pets, new neighbours, cooking experiments, scary wildlife and an escapee Donkey named Santos combine to make it an unforgettable Summer.

Can their friendship survive or will the Mediterranean dream become a nightmare?

Book link: Amazon UK 

Thanks for stopping by today and good luck with the writing!