What does a book editor do? (And do I need one?)
When you can’t see the wood for the trees, an editor can bring out their chainsaw or clippers, cut out the dead wood, prune your sentences, and give your words room to breathe. Many editors also specialise in certain genres and stages of production.
What Evie is Reading
f you’re in the mood for high octane, super-charged, filthy romantic comedy then the three books I have for you this month will knock your socks off, as well as the rest of your clothes. If you’ve ever wanted to know what happens when you make pizza toppings spell ‘fuck you’, what happens after you have several orgasms in a lift whilst cursing the person giving them to you, and what happens when an entire town bets on when you will have sex, then you need to read these books immediately. All three are by American authors, and each one is bold, brash, hot and hilarious. I absolutely loved them…
How to practise self-care as a writer
Never has it been so important to look after every aspect of my life in this current incarnation. I’m going to share some of the strategies that have worked for me and other authors in this blog. Hopefully it will help you, and also serve as a reminder that I need to practice what I preach…
Behind the Scenes in Evie Land – June 2021
Greetings from the planet Gah! If last month was Manic May then this month is Jumping off The Cliffs of Insanity June. (Ten points if you get the movie reference there…) I’ve written over forty-eight thousand words of book four, reinvented myself as a lifestyle guru, been mistaken for an angel, and burnt myself out with the intensity of a dying star. I’ve also read a ton of epic books, written a reverse virgin trope sex scene, and been introduced to the scary world of online dating. So, if you want to experience my hyper-reactive instability from a safe distance, read on!
What Evie is Reading
Ladies and gents, be prepared. Your underwear is about to go up in flames. This month I’m turning up the heat with three scorching stories that will have you reaching for the ice pack, or whatever else you need to cool you down… We’ve got an Italian stallion in a Tuscan castle, a porn star in LA, and a hot computer geek in Sonoma, with more muscles than Henry Cavill on steroids.
On creating characters
When this comes to finding characters for my stories, I usually don’t have a problem. I think about an idea for someone, and then look at what events in their culture or childhood have shaped them the way they are. Then I ask what their wants and needs are at the start of the story and how I can make it difficult for them to achieve what they desire.
150 Romance novel tropes
Tropes are everywhere. In Shakespeare, Austen, everyday language and your favourite TV shows. Tropes are common situations in narratives that help structure a story. ‘Enemies to Lovers’ is a very popular trope which can be found in The Taming of the Shrew, Pride and Prejudice, The Hating Game, and You’ve got Mail. Tropes are commonly used story devices that we all recognise on some level.
What Evie is Reading
This month my books are all debuts from three incredible new authors! Our heroines are a Victorian lady scientist, a Kiwi carpenter, and a young woman on the run who finds safety and solace in a tattoo parlour.
Behind the Scenes in Evie Land – May 2021
May the Fourth be with you! This month I’ve taken the sponge of intensity and squeezed it dry. If what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, then I’m currently the love child of Wonder Woman and The Hulk. So, strap yourself in, say a few words to the deity of your choice, and read on!
What Evie is Reading
Stella thinks she has a problem, Ellie knows she has a problem, and Alice is helping with Aaron’s problem. This month I’ve got a veritable smorgasbord of issues for you, with a side order of hilarity, and a delicious desert of hot sex.
