Today is very exciting! I'm very happy to welcome Ellen Faith on Sky's Book Corner today. I love this woman, she writes amazing stories and she has become a great friend. Read what she has to say about her newest book Dear Darling, out at the end of this month.
1. Did you always
dream of being a writer?
I actually always dreamt of being an actress when I was younger, or a vet, but being on the stage was something I would have loved. Musicals have always been something I’ve been really passionate about. I go into a bit of a weird trance when I’m at the theatre, no one can get anything out of me until the interval!
I actually always dreamt of being an actress when I was younger, or a vet, but being on the stage was something I would have loved. Musicals have always been something I’ve been really passionate about. I go into a bit of a weird trance when I’m at the theatre, no one can get anything out of me until the interval!
2. Your newest novel Dear Darling is published this month,
what is it about?
Dear Darling is about a young woman, Ellie Darling, who has just turned 30 and to mark the occasion, decides to start a diary to document the first year of her 30s. When her fiancĂ© asks her about a threesome on Valentines Day, she realises there has to be more to life than this and so breaks up with him. She has to find a new place to live, almost gets fired, and gets dragged speed dating but worst of all, has to deal with a new job and her boss’s awful Russian girlfriend who I loved writing! She manages to get through it all though with her best friend by her side and a few cocktails in hand.
Dear Darling is about a young woman, Ellie Darling, who has just turned 30 and to mark the occasion, decides to start a diary to document the first year of her 30s. When her fiancĂ© asks her about a threesome on Valentines Day, she realises there has to be more to life than this and so breaks up with him. She has to find a new place to live, almost gets fired, and gets dragged speed dating but worst of all, has to deal with a new job and her boss’s awful Russian girlfriend who I loved writing! She manages to get through it all though with her best friend by her side and a few cocktails in hand.
3. What was your
inspiration for the book?
Ellie actually works for a law firm in the commercial and corporate law department and this is an area I can relate to. I do her job (legal secretary) and office antics sometimes have to be seen to be believed. They always provide for some amusing tales although I couldn’t possibly comment on what did or didn’t actually happen in real life ;)
Ellie actually works for a law firm in the commercial and corporate law department and this is an area I can relate to. I do her job (legal secretary) and office antics sometimes have to be seen to be believed. They always provide for some amusing tales although I couldn’t possibly comment on what did or didn’t actually happen in real life ;)
4. Can you tell us
more about the main character(s)?
Ellie is an optimist, she likes to see the good in everyone and that bites her on the backside a few times but she has a wicked sense of humour and loves her job. Her boss, Adam Donley, is fierce, grumpy and feared by most of the people that work at the law firm. He makes Ellie nervous but she is persistent and refuses to let him intimidate her. It also helps that he’s a bit of a hottie!
Ellie is an optimist, she likes to see the good in everyone and that bites her on the backside a few times but she has a wicked sense of humour and loves her job. Her boss, Adam Donley, is fierce, grumpy and feared by most of the people that work at the law firm. He makes Ellie nervous but she is persistent and refuses to let him intimidate her. It also helps that he’s a bit of a hottie!
5. Where and when do
you write your stories?
I try to write whenever I get a spare hour on a night or through the day. I’m lucky because I’m part time at work. As for writing them, erm, usually in a very un-glamourous setting haha like now, I’m taking up most of our sofa with my laptop on my knee and a cuppa beside me. I should make it sound a bit more exciting shouldn’t I? Ummm, I really write in my newly decorated office where I have a few pieces of Will Cotton artwork, a fancy coffee machine and a stunning view of the valley that inspires me constantly *wink*
I try to write whenever I get a spare hour on a night or through the day. I’m lucky because I’m part time at work. As for writing them, erm, usually in a very un-glamourous setting haha like now, I’m taking up most of our sofa with my laptop on my knee and a cuppa beside me. I should make it sound a bit more exciting shouldn’t I? Ummm, I really write in my newly decorated office where I have a few pieces of Will Cotton artwork, a fancy coffee machine and a stunning view of the valley that inspires me constantly *wink*
6. What do you do and
enjoy when you’re not writing?
Well, I love to read, of course, but I love to bake too. I used to have my own cake and cupcake business so it’s something that relaxes me when I’m stressed, usually with music on in the background. Either that, or I’m having a Netflix binge with Once Upon A Time or House of Cards!
Well, I love to read, of course, but I love to bake too. I used to have my own cake and cupcake business so it’s something that relaxes me when I’m stressed, usually with music on in the background. Either that, or I’m having a Netflix binge with Once Upon A Time or House of Cards!
7. Your debut novel is
called The Story of Us, the sequel Home For The Holidays followed, what
inspired you to write this series?
I’d just finished a book, I genuinely can’t remember what it was now, but I remember loving it but thinking, I knew she’d do that. Now, I don’t mind having a good idea of the outcome of a story, it gives me a fuzzy feeling knowing that our leading lady will choose who I want her to but I also found myself wanting to write something that could maybe keep people guessing for a while. Throw a bit of a curveball into the mix. My cunning plan worked with a lot of people too, mission was accomplished! And when I started planning The Story of Us, and how it would be about someone escaping after a break up, I knew it had to be set in my favourite place ever – San Francisco. That’s where I would want to escape to.
I’d just finished a book, I genuinely can’t remember what it was now, but I remember loving it but thinking, I knew she’d do that. Now, I don’t mind having a good idea of the outcome of a story, it gives me a fuzzy feeling knowing that our leading lady will choose who I want her to but I also found myself wanting to write something that could maybe keep people guessing for a while. Throw a bit of a curveball into the mix. My cunning plan worked with a lot of people too, mission was accomplished! And when I started planning The Story of Us, and how it would be about someone escaping after a break up, I knew it had to be set in my favourite place ever – San Francisco. That’s where I would want to escape to.
8. In spring your
novella Learn To Love Again was
published, can you tell us more about it?
Learn To Love Again really came about after a trip to see my uncle who lives further north than me and by the sea. I wanted to write something a bit different to my typical humour and something that would tug on people’s heart strings and out of that, Lillie Gilbert appeared. Lillie is just a young woman when she loses her husband and we see things from her point of view as certain people from the village she grew up in start to blame her for his death. It’s up to her family and best friend to help put the pieces of her broken heart back together and help her begin to move on.
Learn To Love Again really came about after a trip to see my uncle who lives further north than me and by the sea. I wanted to write something a bit different to my typical humour and something that would tug on people’s heart strings and out of that, Lillie Gilbert appeared. Lillie is just a young woman when she loses her husband and we see things from her point of view as certain people from the village she grew up in start to blame her for his death. It’s up to her family and best friend to help put the pieces of her broken heart back together and help her begin to move on.
9. If you could switch
places with a characters from a book, who would it be and why?
Ah this is a tough one, probably Caroline from Wallbanger by Alice Clayton. She has an amazing job as an interior designer, great friends, lives in San Francisco and has a very sexy neighbour called Simon aka Wallbanger! What more could a girl ask for?
Ah this is a tough one, probably Caroline from Wallbanger by Alice Clayton. She has an amazing job as an interior designer, great friends, lives in San Francisco and has a very sexy neighbour called Simon aka Wallbanger! What more could a girl ask for?
10. What books have
most influenced your life most?
I’m not sure really, I guess it would probably be (as crazy as it sounds) Can You Keep A Secret and The Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella. Sophie’s books were what kick started my love for reading again as a teenager and cemented my relationship with chick-lit. Shakespeare’s Macbeth was something I really enjoyed reading during my GCSEs too, it made me love the classics.
I’m not sure really, I guess it would probably be (as crazy as it sounds) Can You Keep A Secret and The Shopaholic Series by Sophie Kinsella. Sophie’s books were what kick started my love for reading again as a teenager and cemented my relationship with chick-lit. Shakespeare’s Macbeth was something I really enjoyed reading during my GCSEs too, it made me love the classics.
11. What are you
working on at the moment?
You have an exclusive here Simona ;) absolutely nobody knows about my current work but it’s called Perfume and Promises and I’m really excited about it. It has romance, rock stars, a quaint little village and a perfume shop *claps hands*
You have an exclusive here Simona ;) absolutely nobody knows about my current work but it’s called Perfume and Promises and I’m really excited about it. It has romance, rock stars, a quaint little village and a perfume shop *claps hands*
12. What do you enjoy most about writing?
That I can just get lost in whatever world I feel like and that that world can make someone else’s better while they’re reading it. You can’t control real life, no matter how hard you try, but when you create your own world, you can do whatever and go wherever you like.
That I can just get lost in whatever world I feel like and that that world can make someone else’s better while they’re reading it. You can’t control real life, no matter how hard you try, but when you create your own world, you can do whatever and go wherever you like.
13. You got married this year, how does it feel to be a
married woman, is it all you have wished for?
I did! It’s still very new and strange haha I have a little smile though when I mention ‘my husband’, it’s a nice feeling. I’m pretty glad the stress of wedding planning is over too!
I did! It’s still very new and strange haha I have a little smile though when I mention ‘my husband’, it’s a nice feeling. I’m pretty glad the stress of wedding planning is over too!
14. What does your perfect day look like?
Well for a start, it would be sunny. I can’t function in the cold, it’s like I lose the ability to be a part of normal society!! So it would either be a hot summers day sat in the garden with a book and the best summer snack ever, strawberries and cream OR I’d be on holiday in Florence or San Francisco; I’m quite flexible really.
Well for a start, it would be sunny. I can’t function in the cold, it’s like I lose the ability to be a part of normal society!! So it would either be a hot summers day sat in the garden with a book and the best summer snack ever, strawberries and cream OR I’d be on holiday in Florence or San Francisco; I’m quite flexible really.
15. Pick three authors you want to have dinner with and
tell us why.
Alice Clayton because she has me laughing so hard with every new book she releases that I can imagine she’d be great company. Lindsey Kelk because she is one of the people I look up to as an author and Enid Blyton because I grew up reading Enid Blyton’s books and would still happily read them all today as an adult. Oh wait, do they all have to be alive?? If they do, Harper Lee because To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my favourite books and I imagine she’d be very wise and a fascinating person.
Alice Clayton because she has me laughing so hard with every new book she releases that I can imagine she’d be great company. Lindsey Kelk because she is one of the people I look up to as an author and Enid Blyton because I grew up reading Enid Blyton’s books and would still happily read them all today as an adult. Oh wait, do they all have to be alive?? If they do, Harper Lee because To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my favourite books and I imagine she’d be very wise and a fascinating person.
16. Imagine Dear
Darling would be turned into a movie, who would you cast for the main
characters?
Oooo I like this one! Well, I would have Blake Lively as Ellie because she would be perfect and has the right amount of girl next door approachability and sass. Adam I would have to cast Noah Mills because….well have you SEEN him?! Nuff said haha
Oooo I like this one! Well, I would have Blake Lively as Ellie because she would be perfect and has the right amount of girl next door approachability and sass. Adam I would have to cast Noah Mills because….well have you SEEN him?! Nuff said haha
17. Coffee or tea?
Probably tea because I drink a lot of herbal tea as well as English Breakfast.
Probably tea because I drink a lot of herbal tea as well as English Breakfast.
18. Paperback or e-reader?
Eeeep….paperback because I like to stroke the pretty covers and love the smell of them.
Eeeep….paperback because I like to stroke the pretty covers and love the smell of them.
19. Mountains or the sea?
Sea
Sea
20. Summer or winter?
Summer, summer, summer, summer, summer, summer, summer haha
Summer, summer, summer, summer, summer, summer, summer haha
21. Sweet or salty?
Sweet. I have the worst sweet tooth ever so always sweet!
About the author
Legal secretary and daydreamer by day,
She loves to travel and enjoys taking her readers on a journey to escape with her, in whatever country or village she decides on next.
Sweet. I have the worst sweet tooth ever so always sweet!
About the author
Ellen lives in the wonderful county of Yorkshire,
England with her husband where she spends most of her time with her nose in her
laptop,
a book or plate of food.
Legal secretary and daydreamer by day,
writer
and serial tweeter by night, Ellen
finally decided to put all the magic in her
head to some use one day and put finger to laptop where The Story of Us was
born and became her debut novel. Four novels later,
the daydreams are still
going strong, thankfully!
She loves to travel and enjoys taking her readers on a journey to escape with her, in whatever country or village she decides on next.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ellenfaith16
Website: ellenfaith.com
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