An interview with (drumroll please)... Aimee Duffy!

I've been lucky enough to grab Aimee in advance of the publication date for  'The Monster of Fame' - and she's giving away a copy!!! So if you want to be one of the first to get your hands on it... read on!

Can the voice of an angel heal a tortured soul?

Annabelle MacIntosh enters a reality singing contest to save her family from their mounting debt. Miles Oliver, celebrity judge and the owner of the biggest record company in the UK, doesn’t think she has what it takes. She sings like an angel, but when she performs all he can focus on is the terror in her eyes. It’s a look he knows only too well. After the pressure of fame destroyed his wife, Miles swore he’d never let the same thing happen to anyone else. Driven by the guilt he’s carried for years, Miles tries everything in his power to make sure Annabelle doesn’t succeed, because he doesn’t believe she’ll survive it.

Annabelle needs that prize money, and she’s determined to win it. As she fights to make it through each round of the contest, an attraction begins to develop between the two adversaries. The longer Annabelle remains in the competition, the deeper her attraction grows to the man who’s trying to prevent her from reaching her goal. Can she convince Miles she’s strong enough to fight the fame monster and win?

Hi Aimee, thank you so much for dropping by. I can’t wait to read ‘The Monster of Fame’ when it comes out on the 15^th October. I hope you don’t mind if I try and wheedle a few facts out of you in advance!

Wheedle away :o)

Okay, starting off with the book – because that’s what we’re really interested in!

1. If you had to sum up ‘The Monster of Fame’ in 30 words or less what would you say?

Only thirty words? Umm…

Miles, music mogul and judge on DYHWIT doesn’t want Annabelle to win because he doubts she’ll handle it. She needs the prize money to save her family, and home.

2. Annabelle sounds intriguing – what do you most like about her?

Even though at times she’s overwhelmed and feels like everything and everyone is against her, she picks herself up and gets on with it.

3. Is there anything about her that frustrates you?

Just one? :D Yes, actually. At one point she believes the bad press about her and it almost takes her down. Even as I wrote I was screaming at her to get a grip. Like I said before though, she always bounces back.

4. What does Miles most admire about her?

Her family values. When he realises that she’s taken the weight of her family’s debt on her shoulders, his plans to push her out of the competition seem less feasible so he has to plot another way…

5. And is he the type of guy you could fall for (don’t we fall for all our heroes?!) or would you pass him back to Annabelle?

Definitely. He’s sweet, a little tortured, and loves unconditionally. If I didn’t love Annabelle so much I’d pinch him!

6. What/who inspired you to write the story?

I’m a reality tv fanatic. Whether it be Big Brother, Stranded, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here or the Xfactor, I’ll watch it! Reality singing contests like The Voice & Pop Idol are my favourites and I thought, why not build that kind of competition around a romance? And there you have it, my two loves brought together as one!

7. And what about the characters - are they a little bit you, people you know, or did they just leap out and grab you (metaphorically speaking of course!)?

Despite living in a small village a few miles away from where I grew up, Annabelle is nothing like me. I think she’s a compilation of all the contestants on those time-sucking reality shows!

When I dreamt up Miles, I thought of a young, grunge/urban type with billions of bucks he didn’t know what to do with and a past that haunted him. Then I gave him a role as one of the judges and coupled with his guilt, he grew from there.

And we, sorry I, being naturally nosy would love to know a bit about you…

1. Where/when do you write?

Whenever I can. I find I’m way more productive at 5am sprints before I go off to work, or on a Sunday! Usually, I write on my sofa with my laptop, sometimes I write on my lunch hour. One thing I can say is if I go a few days without my fix, my fingers itch.

2. What part of writing do you enjoy most, coming up with the idea, planning, writing it or typing The End?!

I love the feeling you get typing ‘The End’ but it makes me sad to be saying goodbye to my characters—but there’s still revisions and edits, and more edits, so I guess it isn’t really the end, is it? :)

3. Sum yourself up in 30 words or less (ha, I hate questions like this!)?!

Now I do too! Lol.

I’m a workaholic and have only recently quit my part-time job, funny ‘cause I don’t see writing as work! Love shoes, handbags, Big Bang Theory, new clothes and hillwalking.

4. Do you spend much time reading? What’s your favourite bedtime/holiday read? Favourite author/genre?

When I was in Lanzarote this year I read Catherine Bybee’s Wife By Wednesday (LOVED IT) and Sylvia Day’s Bared To You (which I loved more). I like to read across lines and genre’s, the most recent I read before bed was Zara Stoneley’s Freefalling (which of course was absolutely brilliant!) 

Ah, thanks for saying that Aimee - glad you enjoyed it. I'm off to Lanzarote in the spring and I'll be taking my kindle... and probably 'The Monster of Fame' - if I can resist reading it before!

         

5. Coffee or tea (or wine!)?

 Is vodka an option? No? Okay, I’ll go with coffee…
Vodka is always an option!

6. Starter or dessert?

 Desert! Why someone would pick green pea soup over sticky toffee pudding is beyond me!

7. What would you be doing if time & money were no object?

 Writing 9/5! In Paris, and New York, and India. Writing and travelling!

8. Best bit of advice you’ve ever been given, and by whom?

 One of my teachers told me:- “never believe anyone who says you can’t, because you can.” He meant maths, and on that score he was wrong, but I’ve applied his advice to other things in life. Maths is still beyond me!

And before you run off, can you share a little excerpt?

Excerpt -

“It’s a no from me.”

The words rang again and again in Anna’s head, each time cutting her a little deeper. She straightened her spine and locked her knees to avoid falling to the floor and tried very hard to hold back the sobs bubbling up in her chest.

Anna tore her gaze away from Miles’s penetrating emerald eyes and returned her attention to an irregular floorboard in front of the judges’ table.

“Miles!” the female judge, Safri, chided. “You can’t be serious?” The incredulous note in Safri’s thick accent was obvious.

Anna looked up at Safri. Hope sparked anew. All she needed was two votes to go through. Maybe there was still a chance…

“I’m dead serious. She doesn’t have what it takes,” his deep voice rumbled.

Pain slashed across her like the lash of a whip. What did he mean? Wasn’t she pretty enough? He said she could sing!

“I disagree,” Safri said, turning to face Anna and squaring her broad, tanned shoulders. “I think you do and only an idiot would not take you through to the next round. I think you have winning potential and the star quality we’re looking for. It’s a yes from me.”

Anna managed to pull her lips into what she hoped was a grateful smile. Words still beyond her, she dragged in deep breaths through her nose to stop the tears from spilling over. From the corner of her eye she saw Miles’s brows pull down and his lips twist into a scowl as he glared at Safri.

What on earth had she done to goad such a response from him?

“I have to say, I agree with Safri,” Sander Chase said, breaking Anna out of her reverie. Still, the sorrow of Miles’s rejection almost swallowed her whole. “You’re through to the next round, Annabelle. Congratulations.”

Again, Anna forced herself to smile even though she felt like crying. This was what she wanted, right? Just the majority vote. It was enough, yet it didn’t feel like enough. She glanced at Miles again who was now pinching the bridge of his nose between a long forefinger and thumb, his eyes shut tight.

What she really wanted was his approval. The other two were talented recording artists, sure. But it was his opinion that mattered most. His company represented every ounce of talent in the UK and he didn’t think she had what it would take to be one of them. Was he right?

Thanks Aimee and good luck with ‘The Monster of Fame’, I’ll be looking out for it on the 15^th October.

Thanks for having me, Susie! It’s been fun!

Where can your readers find you? 

Website: www.aimeeduffy.co.uk 

Twitter: @aimeeduffyx

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/aimee.duffy.12

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6523308.Aim_e_Duffy

(Don't forget to check out Aimee's website for more info on her mega tour!)

Bio  -

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a good book in my hands. In primary school I loved Roald Dahl. In high school my English teacher introduced me to Charles Dickens, Stephen King, Jane Austin, Emily Bronte, and Shakespeare. It was then that I discovered my love for romance and I’ve wanted to pen my own imaginary heroes and heroines for others to enjoy ever since. Only in the last few years was I lucky enough to meet some fabulous and encouraging people to help me gain the skills to make that dream possible.

I live in sunny Scotland in a small town near the Ochils and work nine to five in a solicitors. In my free time, you’ll find me on Facebook, stalking *cough* following friends on Twitter and may even catch me shoe shopping.

If you fancy reading the rest of the story (and who wouldn't?), then there's a giveaway. Post a comment before 18th October and Aimee will select one person at random to win.... a copy of 'The Monster of Fame' PLUS a £10 Amazon voucher (15 US or Aus dollars if you aren't in the UK)