West Midlands Attending Author: Sophie Valentine

Can we start with your name and where you’re from?
S. Valentine, and I’m originally from England, but living in Spain.
Most authors love reading, is this true for you and if so who was/is your inspiration?
Yes, I absolutely love reading, and always have. My inspirations are so many different authors.
What genre do you write in or do you cross over into many?
I write romance, erotica, suspense, a bit of horror, and hoping to write some YA in the future.
If you could take any character from someone else’s book and make him/her your own creation who would it be and why?
Carrie Bradshaw from SATC. I know the book was more letters / a column that a fictional story book, but it was a story on the show, and I loved that character. Also the Gossip Girl characters, in particular Serena Van Der Woodsen, which were based on books.
When did you first start writing?
I started writing from a very young age. I wrote full MC’s at 18, but focused on another career until most recently.
Do you plan every inch of your books or do you just let the words flow?
Depends. Sometimes I plan out, and other times I let the story lead me.
Who is your favourite character and why? (your own character)
Ooh tough one! I quite like exclusive club owner Darion Milano. He’s hot, kinky, and adventurous. Not to mention extremely good looking. He can be found in The Black Door trilogy series. I also quite like Mia McKenna too in my upcoming romance standalone. She’s sassy and cool.
Was there an event in your life that triggered a particular book, or even a scene in a book? If so what was the book and what was the event?
I think a lot of books there can be scenes where it’s close to home to an author. My upcoming contemporary romance is a book ALL women will be able to relate to. It’s an emotional, feel-good read.
Are you working on anything at the moment? If so can you share any tasty morsels?
Yes. I’ve just finished a duology. Again, this is another book most girls will be able to relate to. A life a lot of us want and dream of.
What one piece of advice would you give to someone starting out?
Keep going. Finish that manuscript. Promote, interact online, get your work critiqued, get it as best as it can possibly be.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I’m a movie and series freak. I could literally do that, or read all day. Other stuff includes shopping, sightseeing, and seeing my friends. Oh and sunbathing.
What is the hardest part of the whole writing, editing, marketing process for you?
The worst part in editing is having to cut out large chunks. Fortunately I haven’t had to do that yet. Marketing is tough overall, as it’s a never ending process. The whole writing part is seeing that blank page, and having to churn out 80-90,000 words again. But, it all has its good parts too!
We all have those friends or family members who make sweeping statements about our writing or the process, which is your particular bug bear?
I think it’s annoying when people see writing as a hobby. Like, why would we want to torture ourselves by churning out 80-90,000 words over and over again, sleepless nights, an overactive imagination that never stops, and spend hours constantly promoting it? It’s tough at times, but again, it’s worth it.
What is your idea of happiness?
To be content within yourself. To be where you want to be in life, and have those you love and those that love you surrounding you. Family and friends matter most.
For this one I want you to showcase your creativity by painting me a picture, with words, of your ideal setting to write in.
The wind gently played with her curls, the salt in the air filling her nostrils, the sound of the waves lapping the shore meeting her ears. The rays of the sun warmed her face. Removing her hat, she sat up on the lounger and scanned the white sand, and cerulean sea before her. She had the perfect view from her garden and it was peaceful and relaxing. She was spoilt with whether to swim in the refreshing pool, or run and dive in the sea. Before she could decide a handsome butler approached carrying a tray of snacks…. Haha! Perfect!
What makes you laugh/cry?
Comedy movies make me laugh, and sad movies / shows make me cry. Also when people let me down, or show their true colours, but that’s life.
You’re stranded on a desert island and you can take three men/women who would they be and why? This can be practical or purely sexual in nature.
Okay, other than my family and friends, who of course I’d take, but Mark Wahlberg because he’s hot and funny. Eminem because he’s hot and could rap and entertain me. And Blake Lively because she seems sweet and funny, and we all need a good friend ☺
What is your most annoying habit?
I bite my nails sometimes.
Please tell me about your books? For each one please send a pic (kindle cover would be perfect)
His Confession, Her Confession and Their Confession is an erotic romance trilogy. It’s about a man who owns an exclusive membership club, and a ‘vanilla’ woman seeing if she can come to terms with it because she loves him, or getting him to tone down his kinky, taboo, experimental ways. It tests their relationship. And in each book, someone has a confession.
I have written short stories for anthologies too. My upcoming short story for Fourteen Shades Of F*cked Up is about a handsome, charming man who despises the opposite sex for anything other than pleasure, and has a secret.
Lightning round
Tea or Coffee? Coffee.
Cash or credit? Cash.
Cats or Dogs? Both.
Beach or Mountain? Beach!
Summer or Winter? Summer.
Sweet or Savoury? Sweet. I love cakes!
Early riser or late riser? Late.
Morning or Night? Night-owl.
Christmas Tree – real or fake? Fake. It’s cruel to kill that many trees just for one day, especially when fake ones look just as good.
Sex – Lights on or off? Depends on my mood.