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Choc Lit
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Where did you find the inspiration for your debut novel, One Apple Tasted?
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Josa
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It was one of those 'What if?' moments based on a friend's disastrous romance in the early 1980s. I was working at a slimming magazine at the time as features writer – you know the kind of thing: happy woman posing in one leg of a size 30 pair of trousers – and my mind tended to wander as I wrote the same transformation feature for the 15th time. I am also inspired by the two world wars and how they affected women's lives and forced social change.
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Choc Lit
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What was particularly challenging about writing this story?
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Josa
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A major challenge was the sex scenes; how to write them in a way that was moving and emotionally realistic rather than embarrassing. The male point of view was another challenge, but I ran scenes past some tame men to see if they made sense and apparently they did. Honestly, the characters did a lot of the work for me, prancing about all over the place doing lots of things I hadn't envisaged when I planned the novel. They really got away from me! I suppose getting them under control was quite an effort as well. Some minor characters made quite definite bids for stardom and had to be kept firmly in their place.
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Choc Lit
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What do you love most about your hero and heroine?
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Josa
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I love Dora's batty persistence and her detailed plans for making serious trouble. Guy's high square forehead was a pleasure to write, his good manners in spite of everything, and his sense of humour.
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Choc Lit
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How would you describe your hero Guy Boleyn in terms of chocolate?
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Josa
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That thin, crisp dark stuff that breaks with a clean snap and has a deep red, almost translucent quality when held up to the light. Not too sweet. Single estate probably, from South America.
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