Blog Tour: Interview with Nicole Chase

I'm very excited to be part of the Suddenly Royal blog tour. First, a bit about the book and fabulous author:

SUDDENLY ROYAL Synopsis:

Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

Author Bio:

Nichole Chase is a daydreamer. No, really, just ask any of the math teachers that had the misfortune of seeing her name appear on their class schedule.
For years she has had story lines and characters begging for attention, but she resolutely pushed them aside to focus on more normal (read, boring) jobs.

Well, no longer! She is currently heeding the voices in her head and frantically writing their stories. Ms. Chase is the author of the Dark Betrayal Trilogy, Flukes, and Suddenly Royal (including several short stories).

Nichole resides in South Georgia with her husband, energetic daughter, dog, tortoise, and two cats. When not devouring novels by the dozens, you may find her writing, painting, crafting, or chasing her daughter around the house while making monster noises.

And our interview with her!!! :)

 

What inspired Suddenly Royal?

I’ve always enjoyed stories about royalty, especially things to do with Queen Elizabeth I. I find that whole time period to be intriguing. This flamed the waves for my interest in modern day royals. I remember the day Princess Diana died and the fact that media played such a large role in the whole tragedy, the way Prince William and Harry were sheltered the best that they could be, and more recently the wedding of Prince William to Kate. I write about things that I find interesting, so I guess it’s a natural transition that I would one day want to write a royal story.

 

What makes it different than other Cinderella type stories?

I think compared to other Cinderella type stories, Samantha has no desire to be royal. There aren't any bits that she think would be cool or fun. She doesn't want to be rescued and she absolutely hates the spotlight. In fact, Samantha is the exact opposite of everything you think of when you think of royalty.

 

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sam. Hands down, Samantha was my favorite to write. She's sharp, witty, and full of snark. She says whats on her mind and doesn't sit around feeling bad for herself. I also loved writing Alex because he can be complicated, but he isn't damaged. He has his issues, but he's not a broken man that needs fixing. Their whole dynamic was my favorite part of the story.

 

What does Samantha have to struggle with throughout the story?

Sam doesn't want to be royal. She doesn't want the clothes, the money (though it's a nice perk), the fame, and she definitely doesn't want to make appearances. She struggles with accepting this new twist in her life and giving up a dream she worked so hard toward for so long. The whole thing scares her, but she tries to do what she feels must be done.

 

How does Alex feel about her being suddenly royal and not raised in the royal world?

Alex could care less if Sam was born to a royal family or not. In fact, the fact that she doesn’t want anything to do with the fame is part of her appeal. I’d explain why, but that would give away part of the book. ;)

 

Can you tell us a little about your writing process?

Every single book that I’ve written has had its own challenges. I often start out with an idea, or a character, that won’t leave me alone. I’ll let the idea percolate for a while in the back of my mind. I usually end up having ideas for scenes that I write down in a notebook. From there, I come up with an outline. Sometimes the outline is very thorough and other times, it’s just a rough guideline that I flesh out along the way.

I listen to a lot of music while I’m writing, but sometimes when I’m writing a very intense scene, I want quiet. I’m one of those drivers that turns the radio off if it’s raining and I do the same thing when I hit a serious part in one of my books.

 

What is the best part of self-publishing?

Freedom. I get to pick and choose what I work on. I set my own dates and goals. There’s no one breathing over my shoulder, waiting for the next bit.

What advice do you have for our readers?

Write. Write some more. Read. Read even more. Trust in your story and surround yourself with an honest but supportive group. Writing is not easy, but worth it, so never give up.

 

Thank you for inviting me to your blog!

Come back next week for my review of this amazing, LOL funny story. And grab your copy today at Amazon and Barnes and Nobles! :)

N~