Q&A with Queen of romantic fiction, Katie Fforde - ANSWERS BACK

[RachelMumsnet]

We're joined this week by author Katie Fforde, who will be answering your questions. Katie started writing later in life, following her addiction to Mills and Boon novels. It was only after the birth of her daughter (she also has two sons), that she gained the confidence to write her first novel, Living Dangerously, which went on to be chosen as part of the WHSmith Fresh Talent promotion. There have been over seventeen novels since and Katie's latest novel, Recipe for Love, is out now in hardback. Katie is President of the Romantic Novelists' Association and she is founder of the Katie Fforde Bursary for writers who have yet to secure a publishing contract.

Send in your questions to Katie before the end of day on Friday 9th March and we'll be linking to her answers on w/c 26th March.

Yay, I love Katie Fforde for easy reading!

I loved Living Dangerously.

Hi Katie. I am a huge fan of yours and have read all your books. Wild Designs and Thyme Out are my fave. Someone was very rude about you on here a couple of years and a lady who works for your publisher stood up for you and sent out some hardback copies of Love Letters and i was lucky enough to get a copy! Are you going to release The Undercover Cook in book form eventually or will it just be as a e-book?

hello Katie, I must admit I have never read one of your books.

I am a passionate reader but not romantic novels, how would you persuade me to try one of your books?

I bought Living Dangerously when it first came out and have read every one since. I'm a sucker for an escapist romance.

Could you tell us in a few simple steps how to go about becoming the next big thing in romantic fiction? For example, do you write the whole book first and then try to find an agent or send it to a publisher? Or do you just write a chapter and a precis?
Can you recommend any guidelines (book or online) to help?

Thank you

Just wanted to say Hi, am also a huge fan. I think Highland Fling and The Rose Revived are my favourites, but am looking forward to buying myself receiving the new one for my birthday/Mothers Day present.

Romantic fiction? this is Romantic fiction as I prefer know it.

Hallo Katie ,
I've read most of your books , and have liked them a lot .
My only criticism is that I find your heroines are just a teeny bit too nice , with their tiny flats and badly paid but lovely creative jobs .
maybe I'm just a bit nasty
Having said that , I do enjoy reading your books , a happy , easy read .
Well done !

I like your writing it sits along with
Marianne Keyne, Maeve Binchy, Amanda Brookfield etc on my bookshelf. Would like to see your new book.

Thank you for doing what you do. Your books for me sit alongside Jilly Cooper's as my treat when in need for some escapism. You've seen me through some pretty miserable days when I really needed to take my mind off reality (but that's another story...)
I really enjoyed Summer of Love, great to see romance for all generations told with your winning humour.
Don't stop!

What are you best tips for actually writing? as opposed to faffing about on FB, MN, doing the washing

Hi katie, I love your books, they always make me smile, and imagine that my prince charming is out there somewhere.
Could you perhaps make one of your heroines short, speccy and dumpy, but with a kind and loving heart, who finds the man of her dreams despite being middle aged, unattractive and tied to two kids and a long term and exceptionally unromantic boyfriend?

Nappymaestro
I do like Katie Ffordes novels , however I sometimes find the heroine is a bit too good and sweet .
Perhaps we I should try to be more like them .

Hi there, there is something I have always wanted to ask you. I notice that in your books there always seems to be a scene that has nothing to do with the story, e.g. in one of them the heroine knocks over a teacup and makes a mess but it is an isolated incident and does not fit in with what is going on besides. I have noticed similar things in your other books. Do you know what I mean? Is it a private joke?

Also in one of your books why is there is a forty-something woman who considered herself too old to understand how to use a mobile phone? I just wanted to shake her!

Hi Katie
I'm a big fan of your work and The Undercover Cook was the first ebook I downloaded on my new Kindle! :) Your books have helped me escape some tough times recently and I just wanted to say thank you! I also follow you, Jill Mansell and Lesley Pearse on Twitter and you guys do make me laugh sometimes! I love it that you're all friends!
I imagine that some of your inspiration is drawn from real life situations you see/experience or hear about but have you ever seen something that is so crazy/preposterous/soap opera-ish that you haven't used it because you think its too extreme? welcome to my life!
Thanks!
x

why are your "unsuitable" boyfriends either lazy, unwashed hippies, or sexist pigs similar in appearance to Hugh Grant? And who do you base your romantic heroes on?

Does it annoy you when you have to interrupt the big passionate moment for the hero to find his condom(s)?

Am currently re-reading my collection...

and, when you mention "women's tea", what is it?

thanks!

Hi Katie, I love your books and have read most of them :)

My question is a moral one. My mother has bought Summer of Love, which I haven't read. She hasn't read it yet either.
Would it be wrong of me to sneakily "borrow" it and read it quickly before her?
Bearing in mind that "Katie Fforde told me to do it" would be an excellent excuse, what should I do? :o

Thanks for your questions which we'll be sending over to Katie in the morning. We'll be linking to her answers from this thread w/c 26th March.

We now have Katie's answers back and you can read the full Q&A here:

Katie Fforde Q&A

She didn't answer me