Wednesday 30 January 2013

Cait O'sullivan visits Welcome Wednesdays

My hello, today, is extended to author friend - Cait O'Sullivan. 

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

A little about Cait:

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.

Stay in touch too on Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you for such an entertaining and candid post, Cait!  Very best wishes for the success of Romancing The Seas

Slainthe!






30 comments:

  1. Slainte to you too, Nancy! Go raibh mile maith agat as a bhfuil me anseo -- thanks so much for having me here :)

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  2. Wow, Cait! I now know where to go for Irish Gealic? phrases... :-)and you're very welcome.

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  3. Great post, Cait. Love the blog header, Nancy.
    I'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.

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    1. Yeah me too, Margery -- how do folk do it on a regular basis? I won't name names Christine oops. Thanks for coming by!

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    2. Hello 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.

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  4. Fab post, Cait! You're quickly turning into a pro! ;-)

    A great read that I can highly recommend. Love and adventure - my fave mix!

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  5. Cait, 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!!

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    1. LOL Jennifer -- thanks so very much, you're a honey :) Come to Ireland and you'll have so much fun :)

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    2. Hi Jennifer. Can I come to Ireland, too, Cait? I've only made it to Dublin once and definitely want to go back again!

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  6. LOL 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!

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    1. Thanks honey :) Hey, come by Cait's Place? I think blogging about a headless goose sounds perfect myself too. Thanks for your lovely comments!

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  7. Yup, it's a toughie thinking of new and exciting thing to say about your book and yourself :) Great post Cait, as always!

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    1. I'm going to have to start making things up now, methinks. Thanks Christy!

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  8. This 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.

    I 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!!!

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    1. 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!

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  9. My 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.
    So 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

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    1. 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

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  10. Wonderful 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

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    1. You 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!

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  11. I 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...

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  12. Thank you for cheering up my blog today, Cait. It's been a delight welcoming you to 'she said, he said'.

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    1. It's been a delight being here, go raibh mile maith agat, Nancy :)

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  13. Someone 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!

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    1. Thanks 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 :).

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  14. Hi 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.

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