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Friday, October 20, 2017

Blog Tour: Wicked Beginnings - L.A. Cotton


Wicked Beginnings (Wicked Bay #1)

BY L A COTTON
The first book in a brand new YA/NA crossover series from the author who brought you Chastity Falls

Lo thought moving to Wicked Bay was the worst of her problems, but as life begins to unravel around her, she’s going to find out it’s only the beginning…

  START THE SERIES...
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Thank you for agreeing to this interview!  First, can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?
Hi, thanks for having me! I’m Lianne, I’m 32 and I write contemporary romance and a splash of paranormal / fantasy / sci-fi romance. I live in the UK, have two small children, and spend my days at the laptop writing (but mostly procrastinating).

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?
Driven, Perfectionist, Chaotic
(I know it’s hard to believe you can be a perfectionist and chaotic, but it works, kind of 😉 )

If someone wrote a book about your life would it be a drama, a comedy, a romantic-comedy, horror or science fiction/fantasy?  What would be the title?
Ooh, this is a hard one. Probably something Bridget Jones-esque but with a younger slant. My life isn’t quite as interesting and comical as Bridget’s but there have been some stand-out moments throughout the years.
As for a title, let’s go with something like: Nobody said it was easy.

If you could have unlimited storage of one thing, what would it be?
Hmmm, coffee? But it has to be those Nescafe 3-in-1 sachets. I’m obsessed!

If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?
Hmmm early twenties, I think. Things were a lot easier back then.

If you could have dinner with three people, past or present, who would it be and why?
Let’s go with: Anne Frank, I read her diary when I was a young girl and have always been interested in that period of history. Shakespeare, since he’s created some of my favourite love stories (even if they are tragedies) of all time (Romeo and Juliet, and Othello). And lastly, Amy A Bartol because she dreamed up my favourite book boyfriend: Reed Wellington and I’d love to pick her brain.

A penguin walks through the door right now wearing a sombrero. What does he say and why is he here?
“Ariba. Ah, crap. Did I swim the wrong way again?”
He’s looking for Mexico … and he’s lost!

Who has inspired you in your life and why?
When I was younger a lot of my inspiration came from strong female film characters: Clarice Starling, Lara Croft, Nancy Thompson (from Nightmare On Elm Street) … I wanted to make my mark on the world somehow (probably not fighting treasure hunters, cannibalistic psychopaths or scary-faced monsters but you get the idea). I was also a huge fan of the Spice Girls back in the day.
Since entering the book community, I’ve been inspired by so many fierce ladies doing great things in indie publishing, it really is an exciting place to be.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I didn’t really ‘want’ to be a writer, I kind of fell into it. Four years ago, life was throwing me some challenges and I turned to reading as an escape. But it started to consume me. I was reading 1-2 books a day and was pretty checked out of life. One day, after finishing Wanted by Kelly Elliot, I had a lightbulb moment and wondered if I could channel my energies into writing as opposed to reading. So, I put pen to paper and started … and four years later, I haven’t stopped.

What draws you to this genre?  Are you interested in writing other genres?  If so what ones?

It’s strange because until four years ago, I’d never read a romance book. Ever. I was into thrillers like Dan Brown and Kathy Reichs. I loved anything with a religious twist or a good conspiracy theory. And then I stumbled across indie authors and gobbled my way through paranormal romance series’. Then I discovered New Adult … and, well, you get the idea. It made sense, I guess, to write what I was enjoying reading at the time. But I always laugh when I tell people I write romance, because I am the least romantic person I know.

What genre wouldn’t you write?
Historical anything. The research must be immense. And I’m a pretty quick writer so that whole ‘getting the facts’ right process would frustrate me (I think).

If you could change one thing about this genre, what would it be?
I wish more people would take it seriously. I’m proud to write and read romance.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
Honestly, I feel like I learn something new every day. But when I very first started, I did not know self-publishing was even a thing … it was eye-opening. I also had no idea how big and amazing the indie community is.

What do you like to read in your free time?
I tend to read YA/NA romance – contemporary, PNR, fantasy, dystopian. But I enjoy all kinds of romance.

What book that you have read has most influenced your life?
I like books which give insight to topics that we’re usually so quick to judge. For example, Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma really left a mark on me. The lines of love are not always black and white and cannot always be confined to what’s deemed acceptable in the eyes of society and even the law. It’s such a powerful story.

Do you listen to music when you write?  Is there a certain type you like to listen to?  Do you put your playlists on Spotify for listeners?
Yes, I am a HUGE spotify fan. I have playlists for every project I work on and then general writing play lists. And it’s pretty eclectic. I love music, all kinds!

If you could spend time with a character from your books who would it be? And what would you do during that day?
Hmmm … Probably Evan from Liar Liar and we’d take Eli (his younger brother) out for the day. Visit the fair or amusement arcades. Eat donuts and drink milkshakes. He’s a complicated guy but he’s all about family, and I love that.

What character in your books are you least likely to get along with?
Briony from Chastity Falls. Kendall from Liar Liar. Caitlin from Wicked Beginnings – there’s a theme here. The self-entitled mean girl.

What are you working on at the moment?
I’m just wrapping up book two in the Wicked Bay Series which is called Wicked Rules (which release Jan 3rd), and then I’ll be finishing a Chastity Falls spin-off book called Absolution (which is coming end of Jan 2018).




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Author of mature young adult and new adult novels, L A is happiest writing the kind of books she loves to read: addictive stories full of teenage angst, tension, twists and turns. 

Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time writer with being a mother/referee to two little people. In her spare time (and when she’s not camped out in front of the laptop) you’ll most likely find L A immersed in a book, escaping the chaos that is life.

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