Cait's having an extremely busy time launching her novel - Romancing The Seas. I'd like you to imagine what Cait's feeling like as she pens this post...
Inspiration – strike me…NOW!
And I sit and write happily.
Doesn’t quite work like that, does it? Nancy
gave me a little nudge on Monday about my guest appearance here (thanks so
much, both for the nudge and the blog spot, Nancy!).
What was I going to write about? I’ve been marketing my
debut novel, ‘Romancing the Seas’ for three weeks now and so have become a
frequent blogger. (I wonder do I get points?)
I ran though the themes in my book:
Travel: Pippa travels to New
Zealand to start a new life as head chef aboard a cruise
liner, cruising the coast of New
Zealand. Tick – I blogged about the joy of
travelling.
Dance: Not really a theme, but a Maori dance that Pippa does
is one of my favourite scenes in the book, so I wrote about how I had been
dancing myself and danced the same dance she did.
Changes: quite a popular theme this one. Pippa changed her
life totally around in pursuit of happiness. Tick – post about changes went up.
What was a girl to do? I didn’t really fancy writing about
love, to be honest.
Explore the internet. In the meantime, I told Nancy that my brain was
creative mush and she very kindly sent me some questions. Big thanks, Nancy. But I had said
that I would do a guest blog.
So I kept searching.
What else could tie me back into my first book. A-ha thinks
I, and go searching for a quote about a first book. Here I should be offering
many sage quotes about debut novels but sadly, nothing appealed. Until, I came
across one (nothing to do with debut novels) from Stephen King. It just coloured
me pink.
“Amateurs sit and
wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.”
I can now say that, based on Stephen King’s criteria, I am a
professional. I got up and looked for inspiration. Now I know I didn’t actually
get up out of my seat but heck, I figured that Mr King said this a good while
ago, before the Internet was such a source of possible inspiration.
Now, both Jonathon and Pippa are professionals …nah don’t
worry, I won’t go there J.
But do share -- where do you find your inspiration for the
many posts we professionals have to
write?
Whilst you’re thinking, have a wee look at the blurb for Romancing the Seas!
Sous-chef Pippa Renshaw thinks a change of scene will mend a bruised
heart, so she swaps her job in a prestigious London
restaurant to head-chef on a cruise ship sailing around New Zealand. A
great plan until she meets her new CEO, the delectable Jonathon Eagleton, and
discovers she has to share a suite with him.
Even though sparks fly whenever they are together,
Jonathon steadfastly keeps her at arm’s length, which suits Pippa just fine
because she’s still getting over the betrayal of the last time she had a
relationship with the boss.
The situation is starting to feel like
solitary confinement until a thunderstorm traps them in a tramper’s hut while
hiking. Suddenly a different kind of storm unleashes inside the hut.
But will they be able to go back to their
previous status now the line has been crossed?
Now pop on over to Cait’s Place to read the first chapter of Romancing the Seas.
Buy Romancing the Seas
- Crimson Romance
- Book Strand
- Romancing the Seas from Amazon.com
- Romancing the Seas from Amazon in the UK
Cait O'Sullivan is a romance author with a love of words and magic, having had the good fortune to grow up in Ireland. The wanderlust in her blood sent her out to travel the world and now, residing in a leafy suburb of London, it is her thoughts and memories that journey far and wide in order to create her stories.
Thank you for such an entertaining and candid post, Cait! Very best wishes for the success of Romancing The Seas.
Slainthe!
Slainthe!
Slainte to you too, Nancy! Go raibh mile maith agat as a bhfuil me anseo -- thanks so much for having me here :)
ReplyDeleteWow, Cait! I now know where to go for Irish Gealic? phrases... :-)and you're very welcome.
ReplyDeleteGaelic... is what I mean!
DeleteGreat post, Cait. Love the blog header, Nancy.
ReplyDeleteI'm in awe of those of you who can come up with interesting blog posts on a regular basis. I struggle with finding topics, therefore I blog as little as possible.
Yeah me too, Margery -- how do folk do it on a regular basis? I won't name names Christine oops. Thanks for coming by!
DeleteHello Margery. It's great to have you pop in. BTW my header pic was taken March/or April? 2012 at Dunkeld Catherdral, Scotland. A lovely visit.
DeleteFab post, Cait! You're quickly turning into a pro! ;-)
ReplyDeleteA great read that I can highly recommend. Love and adventure - my fave mix!
Quickly?! Really... LOL. Thanks Cathie :)
DeleteCait, I just adore you sense of humor! I'll bet it comes through in your book! And you grew up in the one place that is on my bucket list-Ireland! Can't wait to read your book! Wishing you millions of sales!!
ReplyDeleteLOL Jennifer -- thanks so very much, you're a honey :) Come to Ireland and you'll have so much fun :)
DeleteHi Jennifer. Can I come to Ireland, too, Cait? I've only made it to Dublin once and definitely want to go back again!
DeleteLOL I know the feeling, Cait. I'm trying to start (or finish, for that matter) a new story and the inspiration is running a little low because I'm also gearing up for my blog tour for Risk Factors, releasing March 4. I'm writing blogs, filling out interview forms and basically running around like a chicken with its head chopped off. I saw a goose do that once and I may blog about that. :) Congrats doll on a fabulous book!
ReplyDeleteThanks honey :) Hey, come by Cait's Place? I think blogging about a headless goose sounds perfect myself too. Thanks for your lovely comments!
DeleteYup, it's a toughie thinking of new and exciting thing to say about your book and yourself :) Great post Cait, as always!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to have to start making things up now, methinks. Thanks Christy!
DeleteThis is perfect timing Cait, I am gearing up for a March blog tour and my brain is drained. I did a 26 stop blog tour in November with my debut novel and wrote numerous posts about selling my first book, writing life, etc. This will be my 2nd book so can't do those debut novel posts any longer. I'm sitting at my computer right now brainstorming. My tour kicks off on March 18, day after St. Paddy's Day, so my first post is The Irish in Me and My Books. That was a no-brainer, but the rest aren't! I agree, I bow to those who blog on a daily basis. That Stephen King quote is perfect.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, cruising and your book sounds wonderful. Just curious if you have a chef background. Good luck with the rest of your blogging and sales!!!
I'll be looking forward to that post, Eliza! It's in my diary :). Yes I have a cheffing (oh that sounds a bit rude, doesn't it LOL) background, have a degree in Hotel and Catering and worked in many a kitchen :). Thanks and good luck with all of yours too!
DeleteMy inspiration, used to be after I take the kids to school. But as I'm now working,( some days and some nights,) its put a wrench in my muse!. I'll get there someday. It just may take me longer.
ReplyDeleteSo chuffed for you and Romancing the Seas! It's such a great read. Anyone out there that hasn't read this baby should.
Congrats, Cait!
Neecy
You're a bunny hon, Neecy :)and get writing, I really like your style, you have a unique way of putting things! Thanks for the lovely comments xoxo
DeleteWonderful post! I do believe, just like coming up with story ideas and plot lines and character quirks, inspiration is all around us if we take the time to let it soak in. But, there are days that my mind seems to block it all out. Then there are days that so many ideas fill my brain I can't keep them all straight. You'd think I'd start writing them down when that happens. lol
ReplyDeleteYou see -- in wades a pro to tell us all about it :) Actually, I went out and bought meself a cute lil book to write blog ideas down in -- as you can see, it's working NOT! LOL. Thanks Christine!
DeleteI pop out to do some WIP and find I'm missing all this action! My thanks to all who've stopped by to see Cait! My inspiration comes at weird times!..or not...
ReplyDeleteIt's great fun here, Nancy, thanks!
DeleteNice job, ladies!
ReplyDeleteThanks D'Ann!
DeleteThank you for cheering up my blog today, Cait. It's been a delight welcoming you to 'she said, he said'.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a delight being here, go raibh mile maith agat, Nancy :)
DeleteSomeone recently asked me how I came up with so many blog posts. My answer is less than prosaic--I pull them out of my ...yes, that part of the anatomy. When I'm under the gun to get a post out, I usually do just what you did, Cait, go to the books and find some topic that ties into the book. And sometimes a random phrase will strike me weird and I'll go off on that topic. Great topic, Cait!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenna -- I'm very pleased with your comments, you're such a prolific blogger and your posts are always entertaining and make me feel glad I'm there! Thanks, I must be on the right track :).
DeleteHi Jenna. Yes, I agree that it can be difficult when you've just done a run of more than a dozen 'launch' guest blogs. What to do next? And it can seem a bit obscure at first but then you riun with it! It's nice to meet you here.
ReplyDelete