As we gear up for this amazing event, I’ll be bringing you author interviews so you can get to know the attending authors in more detail! There are lots and lots of authors for you to discover, not to mention, hundreds if not thousands of books! Why not grab a cuppa and sit back and relax! All while hearing more about our writers and their writing lives, inspirations – and maybe even a secret or two!
What is the first thing people should know about you?
I am obsessed with all things romance, and books!
Tell me which genre or trope you are most well-known for writing.
I write for the Mills & Boon medical line, and romantic comedy and commercial women’s fiction for Harper Collins and Boldwood Books.
What is one thing people don’t know about you?
I am neurodivergent, and only discovered this at the age of 41. ADHD and proud!
Name a book you’ve written that you wish more people had read, and why.
The Long Walk Back – it’s the book of my heart, and it never got the readers I felt it deserved. The book would make a great movie one day.
What is your favourite book (not your own), and why?
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I love the world building, the sadness and the hope and defiance in Katniss Everdeen. I love it so much, the whole series.
Was there a book you wrote that broke you and made you feel like you’d never write again?
Someone Like You, I needed to decompress after writing it. It has domestic violence and the research and delving into the character really made me think about how vulnerable us females can be at the hands of men. Love is dangerous for women sometimes, and it shouldn’t be.
Are you one of those authors for whom music is EVERYTHING and without it you’d never write?
Yes! I love to write with headphones on, and songs have been known to spark scenes. I definitely think that having the right mood music when writing a scene is crucial. I am not a person who is able to write in silence.
Is your desk/writing space tidy or messy?
Depends on what stage of the book I am at. I am not the tidiest desk person, but very clean around the house! I am a note scribbler, and often print things out or leave reminders for myself so when on deadline my desk space is busy.
Who or what inspires you as a writer?
The way the book can transport you. A good romance can take you anywhere, make you be anyone, and I love a good hero to sink my teeth into. Growing up, I devoured books and always wanted to have my work out there on the shelves. It drives me to keep writing about life, relationships, and family and love.
Are you an introvert or extrovert? Or something else…?
My ADHD makes me a bit of both! I love my home comforts, but also love to be out with friends and go to concerts, movies, etc. It depends on how burnt out I am I think. Sometimes I just love to be quiet at home, loving my own company. Reading, writing, getting crafty and going for long walks with my rescue dog. Other times, I feel caged in and want to be out there, in the thick of life.
The literary world moves fast, but what’s the one thing that never changes?
The readers – their tastes may change, but the passion and love is always present. Us writers wouldn’t be anywhere without them. I for one love to shout out about a great book, and get others to read it.
What is your advice to authors just starting out?
It only takes one yes. Research the market you want to write for, read voraciously. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. Just go for it anyway!
Where is your favourite place to go on holiday?
I love Spain, and the UK is pretty special too. I do love where I live. I hope to travel further afield when my teenagers fly the coop!
If you could live inside any fictional world, where would that be?
Bridgerton I think, although I would make a terrible impression. I am too opinionated and feisty. I would love to see that era first hand, but it was a problematic time for race and class, and women especially. I am glad we have moved on from those times.
Your favourite place to read and/or write?
In bed! I like to be comfy, although I do love writing in coffee shops. They have great snacks and I really enjoy people watching, and coffee of course.
When you’re as old as Gandalf the Grey, how many books do you think you might have written?
I want to have written 50 at least. 100 would be a great target. I have number 20 out this year in my 10th year as an author, so I still have time to smash those targets.
Who is the most famous person you’ve ever met?
Oooo interesting. I brushed elbows with James Patterson once, and have met Harlan Coben. He’s a true gentleman, and a very happy friendly guy!
What did you always want to be when you were growing up?
An author and a teacher. I did both, but I would love to advocate for children with needs too, and their parents – I am training to do just that. As a neurodivergent mum of neurodivergent teens, I know how hard it is to get help from the system and protect their education and mental health.
If writing is your full-time job, have you ever been told to get a “proper job”?
My family and friends are all really supportive, but I have been asked when I will write a ‘proper’ book – as if romance is not one of the biggest and best genres out there! I think working from home and being a mother makes people think you eat biscuits and watch daytime TV all day while folding socks and farting around on a keyboard. The pandemic changed this a lot, as more people working on a hybrid or remote basis. I don’t let it bother me. I work 7 days a week, so I know I graft for my art.
Who is your biggest cheerleader?
My husband, he’s my assistant at the Authors at the Armouries event and he always lets me bounce ideas off him. Every single one of my book heroes has an element of him woven in.
BONUS Q. Tell me a secret about one of your books that nobody else knows yet!
I am writing a book which is a lot darker than my romances as a passion project, it’s totally different from my others and I hope I will find a publisher for it when it’s finished! I haven’t told anyone that yet in case I fall flat on my face, but it’s out there now!
Thank you so much for your time, Rachel! To find out more, connect with her here…
https://www.racheldovebooks.co.uk
Rachel Dove – Author | Wakefield | Facebook
Rachel Dove 💓📖💋🤓🕊️ (@WriterDove) / Twitter
https://www.instagram.com/writerdove/
If you want to meet Rachel, click the graphic below! Authors at the Armouries is about inspiration for all!
Authors at the Armouries 