đź’« Welcome to Love Books Group Blog
It is my spot on the Puzzle Girl book blog tour. We have a chat with Rachael and find out some more about the book.
đź’«Back of the Book
Love is a riddle, waiting to be solved…
Clued-up career girl Cassy Brookes has life under control until one disastrous morning changes everything. When she finds herself stuck in a doctor’s surgery, a cryptic message left in a crossword magazine sends her on a search to find the mysterious puzzle-man behind it.
Cassy is soon torn between tracking down her elusive dream guy, and outwitting her nightmare workmate, the devious Martin. Facing a puzzling love-life, will she ever be able to fit the pieces together and discover the truth behind this enigmatic man?
đź’« About the Author
Rachael Featherstone was born and raised in Woodford. Her path to writing was a little unorthodox. After reading Mathematics at Oxford University, New College, Rachael went to work in research. When Rachael’s mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2012, Rachael decided to take a chance, quit her job, and fulfil a lifetime ambition to write a novel. She went back to university and completed a Masters in English Literature and had several short stories published. Rachael now lives in Hampshire with her husband and daughter. Puzzle Girl was published by the Dome Press in ebook in August 2018 and in paperback in January 2019.
đź’«My Characters Under the Microscope
- How do your characters begin in your writing process? Do you have an incline for a name or you know how you want them to look?
I tend to hear their voice first and have a vague idea of what they might look like. Then my imagination runs free and they play out a scene in my mind like I’m watching a movie from a distance. As I get to know them more their appearance, accent and mannerisms become clearer.
- How do you choose your names?
Often my subconscious tells me a character’s name as if they existed before I created them. But sometimes nothing feels right and I have been known to spend an entire writing session searching baby name websites, looking up meanings, nicknames and origins. I might be able to write a scene or two, but until I have found the character’s name I can’t write the book.
- Which character is your favourite to write?
Chilled out, big-hearted Dan. As Cassy’s best friend and surrogate brother, Dan gives it to her straight. Cassy often finds herself going off on calamitous tangents and Dan is always there to get her back on track. Writing Dan allowed me to have a laugh with Cassy. Dan is the first to tell her when she’s being an idiot, but he would never let anyone hurt her.
- Which character is the hardest to write?
The mysterious Puzzle-man. Writing a character whose identity is a secret from both the protagonist and the reader was a challenge, albeit a fun one! Puzzle-man has to show Cassy (and the reader!) “his” personality through the cryptic messages left in the puzzle book.
- Are any of your characters based on a real-life person?
None of my characters are based on real people but one was inspired. Cassy is forced into attending a yoga class run by Letitia Sunshine. My mum, Letitia, was the reason I wrote Puzzle Girl. She was inspirational and the sunshine in the darkest of times. She died before I had finished the book, but I got to read her the passage with Letitia Sunshine and it means so much to me that she heard it.
- Lastly, if you could have dinner with one of your characters, who would you pick and why?
I’d go for dinner with… Gregory Patterson. It’s not every day you can have dinner with one of the most successful, charismatic men in the world. Cassy would be very jealous!
đź’« DOME PRESS
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đź’« Thank you
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Happy reading,
Kelly
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Kelly Lacey & Love Books Tours 