For Sarah, summer brings the chance for a fresh start. As well as playing Miranda in the Greenley Players’ production of The Tempest (where she’ll get to spend loads of time with her best friends Lottie and Sid) she finally feels ready to find love again after surviving heartbreak. Could handsome colleague Dr Finn Macdonald be the very man she’s looking for?
Famous actor Nate finds himself hiding out in Greenley whilst a potentially career-ruining scandal blows over. But when the Greenley Players get wind of his arrival, they draft him in to help out with their performance – and Nate certainly doesn’t bank on his instant connection with the beautiful woman in the lead role…
As the temperature rises and the Players’ performance draws closer, can Sarah and Nate overcome their pasts and find love again?
Title: Summer Season on the Seafront
Author: Katie Ginger
Published By: HQ Digital
Publication Date: 10th June
Author Q and A with Katie Ginger
Welcome to Sincerely Book Angels blog.
Hi Sincerely Book Angels! Thank you so much for having me on your blog!
What was the inspiration behind Summer Season on the Seafront?
Do you ever watch TV shows with your favourite actors in and imagine what it would be like to meet them in real life? No? Just me? Okay, well, as embarrassing as this may be, I sometimes get to wondering what these people are really like and what I'd say if I just randomly met them one day. What would we talk about, how 'normal' would they be?
I also used to work at Dover Castle where quite a lot of filming takes place. Although I was always trapped in the offices, some of my friends would be around when the filming happened, chatting to the actors and stuff and I think it was these two things that inspired the plot for Summer Season on the Seafront.
Also, I so enjoyed writing the first Greenley-On-Sea book, The Little Theatre on the Seafront that I wasn't quite ready to let the characters go yet. And as readers seemed to have enjoyed it, I wanted to go back there. To be honest, it was just the perfect chance to indulge my little fantasy!
Did you always want to be a writer? Secretly, yes, but life tends to get in the way, doesn't it? I loved writing as a kid but then I went to uni, got married, had kids, and it wasn't until I got made redundant from my job in the heritage industry that I took it up again. I fell in love with it completely and had some success with cosy mystery short stories. Then luckily, HQ DigitalUK had a Twitter pitch event and liked my pitch. They asked for the full manuscript and in January 2018 made me a two-book offer.
What other jobs have you had?
Loads! I've done bar work and worked as a receptionist a few times, the last time was for English Heritage based at Dover Castle But my main role in the heritage industry was managing the front of house team in Canterbury City Council's Museums Service. I've always loved history and heritage, it's a real passion of mine!
How did it feel when your first novel was published?
It was absolutely the best feeling the world! I was excited and over-awed, nervous and incredibly happy all at once. I still can't believe these things are happening to me and count my blessings every single day.
I had a particularly emotional moment after my paperbacks were delivered. I was sat reading Jenny Colgan (one of my favourite authors of all time) and to be reading an author I've loved for years, years that I wanted to be a writer but never thought it would happen, with a box of my own books sat on the kitchen table, was a really strange moment. I had a little cry and decided to tweet about it (as you do!) and Jenny only went and replied, making the moment even more special!
Can you please tell us a little about your publishing story.
Of course! I got my book deal through a Twitter pitch HQ Digital ran in July 2017. I was sat cuddling my kids before their bedtime when I saw it and decided to pitch a Christmas book I was almost finished writing. I didn't think anything would come of it but then they asked me for the synopsis and first three chapters! It was in the summer holidays so I basically ignored my kids and worked on it to get it absolutely perfect. HQ liked it and asked for the full manuscript when it was finished. Cue 4 weeks of writing like crazy, editing, more editing and even more editing! I sent it off in September and heard from them at the end of January 2018 asking if they could call me!
My heart was in my throat as soon as the email popped up and I don't think I've ever been so nervous. That phone call with Hannah Smith who has now moved to Head of Zeus was the most exciting, terrifying job interview of my life! But Hannah was lovely and so friendly, when she offered me a two book deal it was more than I ever thought possible.
The Christmas book that got me the deal comes out in October this year and the first book in the deal was The Little Theatre on the Seafront. I was lucky enough to get another contract when the idea for Summer Season on the Seafront formed!
What other books have you written?
Only the Christmas book and a book I'm hoping will be my 4th novel with HQ. I'm going to pitch it to them soon, once I've finished editing it. I've also got an idea for another book that I'm really excited about and hope to start writing once my edits have finished.
Have you ever had writer's block?
Not exactly. I've had some plot ideas that after further exploration just aren't working for whatever reason. Sometimes I'm just not in love with the idea, sometimes I can't see the characters properly. When that happens I shelve them until I can figure things out a bit more, or walk the dog!
What motivates you to keep writing?
Stories just keep popping up! Inspiration can come from anywhere — a conversation I overhear, an experience I have, a vague idea that pops into my head. Then as they develop I just want to tell them!
Where is your favourite place to write?
I have a desk in the dining room, behind the door. It's not posh, but it's my little spot and I love it, especially in the summer when I can have the back door open and listen to the birds singing.
Do your characters moods ever affect your mood and vice versa?
It's mainly my moods that affect my poor characters! If I've had a rotten morning it can be hard to write funny, uplifting things! When I was writing the first draft of Summer Season, my mother-in-law was very, very poorly and I found it very hard to write sparkling, witty dialogue. Sarah was coming across as a right old misery guts because that's how I was feeling! It was actually during the editing process when my lovely mother-in-law was on the mend that I added a lot more humour into it.
What three pieces of advice would you give to an aspiring writer?
Just write. You'll only find your voice and figure out your process if you actually get writing.
Take every chance you can. Whether it's a Twitter pitch contest, a local writing competition, or being brave enough to start building your author platform. I think the writers who get the contracts are those that don't give up. Rejection is hard, but it only hits as hard as you let it. Take what you can from it and move on.
Connect with people! One of the joys of writing for me has been connecting with people I admire and learning from fellow writers. That might be through the Romantic Novelists Association, or often it's on Twitter. But there is something lovely about connecting with people who share your passion.
Which authors inspire you?
So many! I love Jane Austen and PG Wodehouse and for modern writers I really love Jenny Colgan, Wendy Holden and MC Beaton. They just nail it each and every time!
What are you reading at the moment?
I've just finished Faith Martin, A Fatal Flaw and I'm looking forward to getting stuck into The Flat Share by Beth O'Leary.
If your book was made into a film what song would you choose for the opening credits? That is such a fab question! Because I love a cheesy 80s anthems, it's probably going to be Starship's Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now. I know it's already the theme song to Mannequin, but they won't mind if I steal it, will they?
Who would you choose to play your favourite character in the film of your book? Okay, my favourite character in Summer Season on the Seafront is my hero, Nate Hardy and I think someone like Tobias Menzies would be fab! He's a great actor and very expressive.
What is your next book about? Christmas!! I absolutely love Christmas and start planning it in September when the kids go back to school! I've just seen the cover and it made me go all squirmy in my tummy so I really hope people will like it!
Thank you so much for joining us on our blog today and good luck with the book.
Thank you so much for having me!
Sincerely
Book Angel x
Well, hello there!
I'm Katie, and I'm a writer of romantic fiction and a few cosy mystery short stories. The Little Theatre on the Seafront is my debut novel and I've got another rom-com coming out in 2019, which I hope you'll also enjoy.
I live in Kent with my hubby, two kids, and our King Charles Spaniel, Wotsit. As I love a good chinwag, do come and say hello over on Twitter: @KatieGAuthor or on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/KatieGAuthor. I also blog about random stuff on my website: www.keginger.com.
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