Author Interview: Elodie Parks

Please welcome Elodie to my blog today who is sharing with us some inside info on her latest relase, The Last Time. Be sure to check out the rafflecopter giveawway at the bottom as Elodie is giving away a £25/$25 Amazon gift card and a bundle of all her titles in ebook format.

What is your name and where do you live now?

My name is Elodie Parkes and I live in rural United Kingdom presently. Close to a city but just far enough away to feel very countrified.

First off, how has your week been?

It’s been up and down. I’m really busy and sometimes this week I’ve wondered how I’m going to get through everything. More annoying for me is that I haven’t done any writing.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been writing?

I started writing when I was seventeen, but gave up for a number of years. I had a few things published back then in teenage magazines. Then a few years ago I had so many stories in my head that I started writing again.

Did you always want to be a writer? If not what did you want to be?

I never knew what direction I wanted to take to be honest and life has pushed me around a little. I remember wanting to be a Vet at one point in time and then I stayed with the Arts.

What is the name of your latest book, and if you had to summarise it what would you say?

My latest release is from Eternal Press, titled The Last Time

She thought it was just another stalker case until she met Seth Carbery.

Please tell us about your current release.

Actor Seth Carbery swears he will never fall in love again, that is until he meets private detective Bethany Snow.

Something strange is going on. Seth and other members of the movie cast and crew are receiving threatening letters, but no threat has ever been carried out... yet. Bethany Snow is sent on location by the Black Agency to investigate, and guard Seth Carbery against danger.

The case is not what it first seems and even when Bethany thinks it could be over, a new twist means she becomes a target.

Seth and Bethany find they can’t keep their hands off each other.

Who is sending the letters and why? Does Seth have a secret admirer or stalker?

With steamy romance, graphic love scenes, and a quirky story of what people do for love this erotic romance is for adults only.

What was your favourite chapter to write and why?

I did enjoy writing the love scenes where my two lovers meet and fall for each other. So it’s over three chapters actually.

Are your books available as eBooks? Were you involved in that process at all? Do you read eBooks or is it paper all the way?

My books are mostly in eBook form. I only ever read eBooks now too.

Did you have any say in the title / cover of your book?

I titled the book. U had a huge say in the cover too. The artist was very good at negotiating.

Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?

Across all my books so far I’d like to write Jake Snow’s story. He’s a character from The Last Time and it feels as if he has a story that needs telling.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I always have some little quirk in my stories that are not exactly message for readers but they highlight something I’ve noticed in real life. In The Last Time it’s about just what people do for and when in love. It can really knock a person around.

How long does it usually take you to write a book, from the original idea to finishing writing it?

That really does vary. If the story is strong in my mind it can be four to six weeks. If I have an idea that I want to develop more then 10-12 weeks. That’s just the first writing not editing and re-writing, that takes more time.

Do you have plans for a new book?

I’ve just had a manuscript contracted by Hot Ink Press called The Winter Girl, set for a summer 2013 release. I’ve just finished a story that will go into editing for a time and is not submitted anywhere yet. A new story is bubbling in my mind right now but I might hijack it for Jake Snow’s story. (smiles)

What genre would you place your books into?

Erotic Contemporary romance, with a twist.

What made you decide to write that genre of book?

It just happened LOL

Do you have a favourite out of the books you have written? If so why is it your favourite?

I do love The Horoscope Writer but I do love The Winter Girl too. I think authors fall in love with some of their work more than other works.

Do you have a favourite character from your books? Why are they your favourite?

I can never pick. I change too. Right now it’s Starr Forrester from The Winter Girl. He’s so cool.

Where do you get your book plot ideas from? What/Who is your inspiration?

People I meet or just see I the street sometimes inspire me. Road signs, buildings, places I drive through. Ideas just drop into my head.

Do you choose a title first, or write the book then choose the title?

I’m generally into the story for a few days and then the title becomes clear.

How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

Names are weird for me. I have to know my characters’ names or they don’t gel properly. funnily enough I don’t always pick the names, the characters suddenly tell me as I think about the story.

Do you decide on character traits (ie shy, quiet, tomboy girl) before writing the whole book or as you go along?

No it just unfolds.

How do you go about creating the perfect "Swoon" worthy man?

He just unfolds too. LOL

Has anything surprised you about your writing life?

How much I miss my characters when the story is finished.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Marketing is the blight of my life and I bet most authors these days.

Is there a word, phrase or quote you like?

From someone else?

I like James Redfield,

“I don't think that anything happens by coincidence... No one is here by accident... Everyone who crosses our path has a message for us. Otherwise they would have taken another path, or left earlier or later. The fact that these people are here means that they are here for some reason...”

If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be?

To run a plant nursery, a garden shop, market  type place.

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Elodie Parkes lives near Canterbury, United Kingdom. It’s famous for the Cathedral, Chaucer, and there is a UNESCO world heritage site, which includes the ancient ruins of St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church. There is also a ruined castle. It’s a pretty place too and the coast nearby is great.

She work in an antiques shop and writes. She has two dogs that keep her fit with their need for walks.

Elodie writes romance, contemporary and erotic with a twist of magic, paranormal, mystery or suspense. She likes to make the story unusual in some way, by a quirk in the tale.

Find Elodie online,

http://elodieparkes.blogspot.com where you can read lots of snippets from my erotic romance novels, meet other authors and read snippets from their books. Become a fan on Facebook.

Purchase The Last Time from Eternal Press.

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