About
the author:
the author:
R.J.
Prescott was born in Cardiff, South Wales and studied law at the University of
Bristol, England. Four weeks before graduation she fell in love, and stayed. Ten
years later she convinced her crazy, wonderful fire fighter husband to move back
to Cardiff where they now live with their two equally crazy sons. Juggling work,
writing and family doesn’t leave a lot of time, but curling up on the sofa with
a cup of tea and a bar of chocolate for family movie night is definitely the
best part of R.J. Prescott’s week. “The Hurricane” is her debut New Adult
Novel.
Prescott was born in Cardiff, South Wales and studied law at the University of
Bristol, England. Four weeks before graduation she fell in love, and stayed. Ten
years later she convinced her crazy, wonderful fire fighter husband to move back
to Cardiff where they now live with their two equally crazy sons. Juggling work,
writing and family doesn’t leave a lot of time, but curling up on the sofa with
a cup of tea and a bar of chocolate for family movie night is definitely the
best part of R.J. Prescott’s week. “The Hurricane” is her debut New Adult
Novel.
Social Media Links:
Jeri’s
Book Attic Q&A
Book Attic Q&A
1)
What is the first book you read that comes to mind? Why is it so important to
you?
What is the first book you read that comes to mind? Why is it so important to
you?
The
first book that comes to mind is ‘The Boy Who Sneaks Through My Bedroom Window’
by Kirsty Moseley. I stayed up until the early hours of the morning and read it
straight through. Afterwards, I went downstairs to make some tea and I remember
thinking about the sort of fortitude a person would have to have to endure the
kind of abuse that Em does and yet have the strength of character to fight for
their happy ever after. Then I thought about how interesting it would be if, in
a story about a boxer, she was as much of a fighter as he was. Out of that ‘The
Hurricane’ was born and it’s been one of my firm favourite books ever since.
first book that comes to mind is ‘The Boy Who Sneaks Through My Bedroom Window’
by Kirsty Moseley. I stayed up until the early hours of the morning and read it
straight through. Afterwards, I went downstairs to make some tea and I remember
thinking about the sort of fortitude a person would have to have to endure the
kind of abuse that Em does and yet have the strength of character to fight for
their happy ever after. Then I thought about how interesting it would be if, in
a story about a boxer, she was as much of a fighter as he was. Out of that ‘The
Hurricane’ was born and it’s been one of my firm favourite books ever since.
2)
How much of you and/or your surroundings is a part of your stories? Is the
influence based on a conscious decision, or do you periodically recognize
yourself in one of your characters and it wasn’t planned?
How much of you and/or your surroundings is a part of your stories? Is the
influence based on a conscious decision, or do you periodically recognize
yourself in one of your characters and it wasn’t planned?
It
was definitely a conscious decision to write what I know. Many British authors
have been hugely successful setting their books in other countries like the US.
For me it didn’t work and felt less contrived to give the characters voices and
accents that I hear every day. The characters themselves were influenced in a
much more spontaneous way. It wasn’t until the story was done that I realised
how many traits of friends and acquaintances were in the characters that I’d
written. Without thought, many of the funnier scenes I could relate to my own
experiences.
was definitely a conscious decision to write what I know. Many British authors
have been hugely successful setting their books in other countries like the US.
For me it didn’t work and felt less contrived to give the characters voices and
accents that I hear every day. The characters themselves were influenced in a
much more spontaneous way. It wasn’t until the story was done that I realised
how many traits of friends and acquaintances were in the characters that I’d
written. Without thought, many of the funnier scenes I could relate to my own
experiences.
3)
If you had the chance to influence the questions people ask you in interviews,
what question is the most annoying and you would love to never hear again? What
question would you really like to answer that you have not been asked yet, and
what is your answer to that question?
If you had the chance to influence the questions people ask you in interviews,
what question is the most annoying and you would love to never hear again? What
question would you really like to answer that you have not been asked yet, and
what is your answer to that question?
I
can’t think of any questions in interviews that have been annoying. Having the
opportunity to answer questions about doing something that I love is a hugely
humbling experience and one I hope I never take for granted. I do get asked a
lot if O’Connell is based on a real person and I always feel sorry to say that
he isn’t. The question I never get asked is ‘God damn whose are those sexy hands
on the cover of The Hurricane?’ to which I would answer my husband’s. When the
cover was first designed, the model wasn’t wearing wraps and I really wanted
these added. So after a great deal of persuasion, I talked him into letting me
take his picture wearing his wraps. They were then lifted off the photo and put
onto cover. Now, every time anyone asks me to sign a book he always points out
that the hands are his. He tells me that he’s thinking of getting them insured.
I have created a monster!
can’t think of any questions in interviews that have been annoying. Having the
opportunity to answer questions about doing something that I love is a hugely
humbling experience and one I hope I never take for granted. I do get asked a
lot if O’Connell is based on a real person and I always feel sorry to say that
he isn’t. The question I never get asked is ‘God damn whose are those sexy hands
on the cover of The Hurricane?’ to which I would answer my husband’s. When the
cover was first designed, the model wasn’t wearing wraps and I really wanted
these added. So after a great deal of persuasion, I talked him into letting me
take his picture wearing his wraps. They were then lifted off the photo and put
onto cover. Now, every time anyone asks me to sign a book he always points out
that the hands are his. He tells me that he’s thinking of getting them insured.
I have created a monster!
4)
Name three characteristics of your writing style that are important yet
different from other authors.
Name three characteristics of your writing style that are important yet
different from other authors.
I’m
not sure how my style is different from others as I find it really difficult to
compare what I have written with works from different authors. But my writing
process and style definitely has some specific characteristics:
not sure how my style is different from others as I find it really difficult to
compare what I have written with works from different authors. But my writing
process and style definitely has some specific characteristics:
1. Every
word I ever write is completely hand written. I use only black ink and exactly
the same make and size of notebook every time. As soon as one is full I get
going on the next one until it’s done and then I type it up every few
chapters.
word I ever write is completely hand written. I use only black ink and exactly
the same make and size of notebook every time. As soon as one is full I get
going on the next one until it’s done and then I type it up every few
chapters.
2.
It’s very, very rare that I will get to write in complete peace and
quiet. My notebook comes with me EVERYWHERE and I will write outside my kid’s
school, in the dentist’s waiting room, literally any time inspiration strikes
and I can get a few minutes to put pen to paper.
It’s very, very rare that I will get to write in complete peace and
quiet. My notebook comes with me EVERYWHERE and I will write outside my kid’s
school, in the dentist’s waiting room, literally any time inspiration strikes
and I can get a few minutes to put pen to paper.
3.
When I write, I picture the storyline as a movie that I see happening
in my head. I think a scene or a conversation through, imagining how it would
look as a film, and try to capture that on paper.
When I write, I picture the storyline as a movie that I see happening
in my head. I think a scene or a conversation through, imagining how it would
look as a film, and try to capture that on paper.
5)
What do you want tell your readers at the end of this
interview?
What do you want tell your readers at the end of this
interview?
Thank
you so much for taking the trouble to read this interview and if you like sexy,
brooding, possessive, hard arsed Irish men, Cormac ‘the Hurricane’ O’Connell is
definitely for you!
you so much for taking the trouble to read this interview and if you like sexy,
brooding, possessive, hard arsed Irish men, Cormac ‘the Hurricane’ O’Connell is
definitely for you!