Book Referees: How long did it take to write this book?
Cathy: Conditional Love was my first book. It took me a looooong time! This was because I learned how to write at the same time. I had to rewrite it three times before I was happy with the novel. So in the end it took me over a year to finish. When I first started writing, I just wrote a few words here and there and then as I got into the story I would write a couple of thousand in one sitting.
Book Referees: Was it your intent to be witty and funny throughout the book or did it come naturally?
Cathy: Well I’m going to take that as a compliment, thank you very much! I am a bit of a joker in real life and tend to see the funny side in most situations, so I suppose it’s only natural that my writing voice is light-hearted.
Book Referees: What are you currently working on?
Cathy: My second novel is called Ivy Lane, it is being serialized in four parts. The first part,Ivy Lane: Spring is out now but I’m still doing some final editing on the fourth part. I also completed a novel (working title White Lies and Wishes) which my agent has asked me to do a bit of editing on before we send it out to publishers. I’ve also got some ideas for a new novel bubbling away…
Book Referees: Who are some of your favorite authors?
Cathy: I have lots of favorites!: Adriana Trigiani, Diane Chamberlain, Jodi Picoult, Jenny Colgan, Miranda Dickinson, Jojo Moyes and Marian Keyes to name but a few.
Book Referees: Did any of your favorite authors inspire you to write this book?
Cathy: Actually, it was after reading Meet Me At The Cupcake Café by Jenny Colgan that I gave some serious thought to writing a book. I’d enjoyed that book so much that I wanted to see if I could write a novel of my own.
Book Referees: Was the book a fictional account of actual events or completely fictional?
Cathy: The events in Conditional Love are completely fictional. However, the main character, Sophie, inherits a rundown house and plans to demolish it and build a new one. My husband and I have done that, but that is where the similarities between Sophie and I begin and end!
Book Referees: Is there anything else you would like readers to know about your or your book?
Cathy: Sophie is a flawed character who drives me nuts to start with, but she grows in confidence throughout the story and I’m proud of how she turns out. Oh and one more thing – she loves a TV show called Grand Designs. I don’t think you have it in the US, but it follows real self-builders as they attempt to build their dream home.
Book Referees: How can readers contact you?
Cathy: I love hearing from readers, especially if they have enjoyed reading one of my books, so please get in touch!
Twitter @cathybramley
Blog www.cathybramleyauthor.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/CathyBramleyAuthor
Click here to read our review on Conditional Love by Cathy Bramley
Author Bio
Cathy Bramley is a British author of women’s feel-good fiction. Conditional Love, a romantic comedy is her debut novel. Her new title, Ivy Lane is being serialized as four ebooks this year and will be released as a paperback in 2015.
Cathy has spent most of her working career in the crazy world of marketing. After graduating from University in Nottingham, she plunged herself into corporate world, working on high-powered projects such as testing the firing range of SuperSoaker water guns and perfecting the weeing action of Tiny Tears. In 1995 she set up her own marketing agency, Apples & Pears Marketing, but now most of her marketing activities involve promoting her books.
She lives in an idyllic Nottinghamshire village with her husband, two daughters and a dog called Pearl.
Hi Orsayor, thank you so much for taking part in the Conditional Love Blog tour and for the fantastic questions you asked me in your interview.
best wishes
Cathy x