Author Spotlight: Britney Bronte + GIVEAWAY!!!

Today I have the pleasure in welcoming author British author Britney Bronte to my blog!  Britney's new book Do Not Lick the Phones delves into the humorous world of television psychics.  Not only is Britney a fabulous writer, but she is also kind.  She is donating all proceeds from the sale of this book to help clean up the damage done to London in the recent riots.  Normally, I try not to push sales to hard, but $3.99 will not only buy to an entertaining e-book, but it will help return London to order.  

JLR:  With advancements in technology, self-publishing novels has gotten a million times easier and more affordable.  What made you decide to self-publish, and how has that process been working for you?

BB:  It was an experiment for me. I have had work published by more traditional methods via agent, publisher, paper format, my real name, all very successful. But for Do Not Lick The Phones I didn’t want to wait and go through a long process with no guarantees at the end. There’s a message lurking under the farce and romance, and I wanted it out there quickly.  It has taught me not to be sniffy about e-publishing. I’m delighted that the book has reached so many more people than I expected.

JLR:  As all aspiring authors know, writing the novel is the easy part—getting published is where the real work comes in.  Tell us about your road to publication.  Is there anything you would have done differently?

BB:  Hah! Formatting, proof-checking, these are real headaches. Thankfully someone else did all that kind of thing for me. Looking back, I would probably have organized the blog tour before publication.

JLR:  There is so much advice given by authors about the writing process.  What type of writing routine do you have?  Are you a planner or a figure-it-out-as-you-go type writer?  Any tips you want to share?

BB:  I can’t plan. The moment I set a plan in stone, it’s as though the story’s done and over for me. Instead, I tend to just keep writing, scrawl it all out, get it done, leave it to stew, then go back and cut to pieces/insert plot. Having said that, Do Not Lick The Phones was written much more episodically.

The only tip I can give is the one everybody repeats: Just Keep Writing. One of the most frustrated authors I know is constantly going on to his blog to write about writing. He writes the word count, he writes lyrically about his writing block and his frustrations in writing, If he just shut up and got on with it, he’d have written War and Peace by now.

JLR:  Yeah, I know the type!  I’ve always felt that to be a good writer you must first be a good reader.  What types of books do you read and how have they influenced your writing?

BB:  I’ll read the back of a cereal packet if it’s in front of me! My heroine and I share certain things in common; we both love the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis.  I also love J.R.R. Tolkein, Philip Pullman, The Bronte sisters – of course! – and the grandmother of  chicklit, Mighty Miss Jane Austen.

JLR:  They say good reading habits are developed at an early age.  Have you always been a reader?  Can you pin-point a particular book or author who solidified your love of reading?

BB:  My parents say I was crawling all over dad’s newspapers before I could speak. They’re convinced I was trying to read. I had the most fantastic book of nursery rhymes and I remember being completely enchanted by Maurice Sendak’s ‘Where The Wild Things Are.’ When I started to write, words spilled out just the way they are now. It has always been a natural part of me. I am more myself when I write than when I do anything else. These words you’re seeing are as much the real me as a photo, perhaps more.

JLR:  In the past year or two, e-publishing has soared in popularity.  What made you decide to publish in e-book format?  Do you worry that you won’t achieve as much success as you might in traditional print?

BB:  It occurred to me to consider e-publishing when I realized I had read more blogs than books over the last two years. I love the tangible reality of a book you hold in your hands, but in terms of sales success I can’t complain about the way things are going.

JLR:  What are three things that your fans would be surprised to find out about you?

BB:  1) I have been floored by Mexican midget wrestlers. It was a humbling experience, as if seeing myself in Lycra wasn’t bad enough.

2) I’m one of those popular people who not only likes to hear the same song repeated, but plays the same bit of the same song over and over again. How my neighbours love me!

3) My day job is as a TV presenter. Britney Bronte is a pseudonym I use to protect myself and my loved ones from the controversy around  Do Not Lick The Phones. Death threats and other craziness, I’ve had them all, but I’ve also received many messages of laughter and approval. I would never have expected such extreme reactions to my first chick lit novel, and I am very grateful to all my fans for their support. Thank you!

JLR:  Where can readers go to learn more about your work?

BB:  http://do-not-lick-the-phones.org/

JLR:  Where can readers go to purchase Do Not Lick the Phones?

BB:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Do-Not-Lick-Phones-ebook/dp/B004TH07KS

JLR:  Thank you so much for joining us Britney!  I love what you are doing for the city of London!

Don't stop reading yet!!!!  

As a special treat, Britney has agreed to donate copies of Do Not Lick the Phones to three lucky readers.  (pdf & mobi formats)  To enter, leave a comment below discussing any experience you might have had with a psychic.  Please leave your email address so I can notify the winners!!!!  


+ 3 extra entries if you tweet about the giveaway and leave me the link!!!  (Each entrant may only win once, but the extra entries will increase your chances.)  Open internationally!!!!!!!!!!  Entries must be received by midnight (central time) Friday, August 19th.