Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Book Tour: Interview & Giveaway - The Black Door by Charlotte Howard

 

The Black Door

by Charlotte Howard 

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BLURB: 

Imogen Pearce is a single mum of four children and fast approaching 40, she works at Ryedale Incorporated where she has to battle a younger and smarter generation to get to where she wants to go. If that means taking on the account of Cherry and Sean Rubin’s adult shop, then she will. But what happens when Imogen discovers the private club that they run at the back? And what happens when she realizes she knows quite a few members?
 

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EXCERPT:
 
He sat at the head end of the table dressed in his expensive Italian suit, fiddling with the golden cufflinks emblazoned with his initials. I knew this because I’d seen them flying towards my face on more than one occasion as he dismissed my work and threw it across the room. Perhaps those previous meetings were the reason I was hesitant to show him my latest proposal. Or it could have been that this was the first time that I was solely responsible for the work. There was no Alex to fall back on and let take the blame, although he was sitting right next to me. I didn’t for one second think he was there for moral support. Nobody at Ryedale Incorporated was out for anything other than what they could get. 

  I looked towards Cal Ryedale as he annihilated the next piece of advertising failure that was placed in front of him, the stern frown etched into his face never changing. It wasn’t unusual for newbies to burst into tears and run out of meetings like this. Beneath the table, my knees were actually knocking together. This may sound like an over-used cliché, but it’s the God’s honest truth. Physical contact was made between my quivering legs as I waited for my turn. And then it came. His furious stare shifted towards me. Dark brown eyes burned and I could feel my soul being singed a little bit more.

 
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 Let's learn a little about author Charlotte Howard!

What is your writing environment? 

I’ve recently lost my office after my sister decided to move in with us on a semi-permanent basis, so my writing environment is now my sofa with a laptop and a large mug of tea. The only problem is that I have two young children, so I can only write when they are at school or in bed!


Who is your perfect hero and why?
 

Can I be cheesy and say my husband? He’s not exactly Channing Tatum, but he puts up with me. He’s also very supportive of everything I do. If that’s not acceptable though, I’ll say Gideon Cross from Sylvia Day’s Crossfire novels – if you don’t know why, then you need to read the books!


What authors have caught your interest lately and why?

Sylvia Day because of Gideon Cross, I think that says it all. I am one of the many readers who hit the pre-order button as soon as it was announced that the next book was being released. I cannot put her Crossfire series down!

 

What type of book have you always wanted to write? 

I would love to write an epic novel – I have a fantasy / sci-fi / paranormal series stuck in my head, but whenever I try to write it, I get stuck. It would be a minimum of 6 books and set over several generations, involving shapeshifters, dragons, and witches. I think I would have to write it under a pen name though.


Top 3 things on your bucket list?
 

Run a marathon (which I’m currently in training for and plan to do before I’m 35.)

Go skydiving (preferably raising money for charity at the same time.)

Buy a small farm – I would love to be self-sufficient.


How did you get the idea for this particular novel?
 

The Black Door came about after a reader asked why romance novels are generally set around a young and pretty girl. It got me thinking and I decided to write about a single mum who was in her thirties – Imogen Pearce was born.


What is your favorite scene in your new release?
 

The very first one. It came about after my husband and I were having one of our “what would you do if…” conversations. “What would you do if you caught me cheating?” I told him his Xbox and car would suffer more than the girl.


What are you working on now and when can we expect it to be available?
 

I’m currently having a break. I’ve just submitted my next novel, a story set around horses and involving a sort-of love triangle. I don’t know when it will be available, but my first short story, One Night in Edinburgh, is coming out in November!


What do you like to do when you are not writing?
 

At the moment I’m spending my time either in the gym or catching up with NCIS: Los Angeles (currently on series 3). I have 2 young children and volunteer for the local Girl Guiding Association and at the local primary school, so I don’t have much time to just sit down and watch TV, hence I’m only on series 3…


What would you consider a perfect date?
 

Miss Congeniality came to mind with this question – April 25th, because it’s not too hot or too cold, so all you need is a light jacket! Hahaha…

I suppose my perfect date would be a movie – an action or thriller – followed by a curry. I’ve never been a girly-girl, so wouldn’t expect flowers, but I wouldn’t say no to chocolate and a bottle of Tequila!


What is one interesting fact about you that readers don’t know?
 

I’m not a very mysterious person and am happy to talk about most things so I’m not sure there’s anything about me that’s particularly secretive. I guess one fact that always surprises people is that I’m not afraid of things like spiders or snakes – after living for years in the Middle East where you have to be aware of venomous creatures, the British wildlife doesn’t scare me. BUT, I am scared of chickens. It comes from an incident when I was 3 and was pecked by a red hen. Ever since, I will go out of my way to avoid red hens and cockerels. I don’t mind small chickens, but not the big ones. I prefer them in a Tikka Masala sauce.
 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
 

British author Charlotte Howard, was born in Oman and spent much of the first part of her life flitting between Oman, Scotland, and England. Now settled in Somerset, Charlotte lives with her husband, two children, and growing menagerie of pets. 

Her career as a writer began at an early age, with a poem being featured in an anthology for the East Midlands. Since then Charlotte has written many short stories and poems, and finally wrote her first full-length piece of fiction in 2010. 

During what little spare time she has, Charlotte enjoys reading and writing (of course), spending time with her family, and watching action movies whilst eating curry and drinking tea. 

Charlotte is an active member of Yeovil Creative Writers.
 

 Social Media / Website links: 





 

Buy Links:





 
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Giveaway:

Charlotte will be awarding an eBook of The Black Door, a signed print copy of Seven Dirty Words with a bookmark, and a $10 Amazon gift card (£10 Amazon gift card if UK winner) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.  Follow the tour HERE.
 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

11 comments:

  1. Thanks for hosting!

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    1. You are so welcome! Hoping your book tour is a HUGE success!

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  2. I enjoyed the excerpt . . and the opportunity to read about an older woman as the heroine.

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  3. I love the cover art, what a intriguing image

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  4. An interesting bucket list. Farming is hard work.

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  5. I loved the interview. A very interesting bucket list not too sure about sky diving since I'm afraid of heights. I hope you get them all crossed off someday.

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  6. Really great interview I enjoyed it :).. thanks for sharing! I always love getting to know authors.

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