What’s the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Lola Chatterley’s Lover?
My cousin Brigid George inspired this book. She writes the Dusty Kent mysteries. One day, when we were enjoying a martini together, she was bemoaning the fact that her murder mystery books were appreciated by readers, but were not selling as well as she would like. I suggested she write something more commercial—something with sex in it, like an erotic romance. People love to escape into a romance novel and come out with a happy ending. And you know what she said? “I couldn’t bear to write romance.” I suppose that’s the sort of response one should expect from someone who’s obsessed with murder! Anyway, by the time we’d finished two martinis, I’d laid down a challenge for her: if I could write a successful romance book, she would have to write one as well.
If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Lola Chatterley’s Lover, what would they be?
That’s easy. Giovanni’s theme song would be La Partenza—the tune he whistles as he goes about his work. Lola’s theme song would be The Carman’s Whistle, an old English folk song about a virgin sitting under a myrtle tree.
What’s your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?
I don’t have a favourite genre.
What books are on your TBR pile right now?
None. I read randomly.
What scene in your book was your favorite to write?
Probably the discussion in chapter one, where Mr. and Mrs. Chatterley dance around the issue of how to explain to their daughter what will happen on her wedding night.
Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)
Quirky is my middle name! I wrote much of Lola Chatterley’s Lover outdoors under a massive Moreton Bay Fig tree. To write the scenes featuring Lola’s Italian lover, I travelled to Genova in Italy.
Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?
My current motto is ‘Wander often, wander always’. Goodness knows what that will change to in the future.
If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?
Only one thing? Okay, that would be the title: Lola Chatterley’s Lover.
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