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ALL THE WORLD’S A PAGE Starring: Juliet Madison

2/22/2013

25 Comments

 
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Welcome and thanks for treading the boards with us today!

1.      Are you inspired most by places, people or experiences and how do these work their way into your writing?

Probably experiences. Things I’ve been through or witnessed often make their way into my writing, though not always in the exact way they took place. Writing is a great way of making sense of life experiences, and often the scenes that you’ve based on real life end up being the most authentic or emotional. Having said that, most of what I write is fiction! But I use life experience as inspiration to help make characters and scenes more realistic.

2.      Please share one of your favourite moments of inspiration with us.

It was New Year’s Day 2012 and I was trying to decide which story idea to pursue as I was ready to start another book. My idea for Fast Forward (which has just released) was a strong contender, but I hadn’t yet decided. I was flipping through a magazine (which I rarely do) while pondering my choices when I came across an article called Fast Forward. It was as though the universe was telling me “Write this one!” I listened, started writing immediately, and nine months later had a book contract for it. I’ve learned to listen to my intuition and follow those little moments of serendipity - you never know where it will lead!

3.      How did you come up with the idea of FAST FORWARD?

The idea for this book came about quite suddenly when I was reading in bed one night. I don’t remember the book, I just remember that it mentioned a young character who behaved like they were years older, and I thought it would be great to do a story where the character ages suddenly overnight. I was reminded of movies like Suddenly 30 (13 Going on 30 for those in the US), Big, and 17 Again but wanted to do something a little different where the character becomes an age where they’re NOT in their prime. An age that they don’t want to be. I decided age fifty would be a good milestone to write about, and I chose to make the character a model with no desire for domestic life become a middle-aged housewife and mother overnight.

4.      How do you come up with your characters’ names?

My main character starts out as Kelli Crawford, and the surname just popped into my mind. Later I realised that because my character is a model, I probably subconsciously thought of Cindy Crawford! I came up with Kelli because I wanted something to rhyme with the surname she ends up with in the future - McSnelly. And I decided on an ‘i’ instead of a ‘y’ at the end of her name because I wanted it to be a bit more unique.

In most of my stories, I don’t think about it too much, I often just use whatever name pops into my mind first, as long as it seems to suit the character.

5.      Who would you cast for a movie/TV series as your main characters if given the chance?

Tina Fey as Kelli McSnelly and Steve Carell as her husband in the future, William McSnelly. Melissa McCarthy would play Kelli’s sister, Kasey.

6.      Do you read reviews of your books? What do you do when you read a not-so-nice one?

Considering I’ve only been a published novelist for a short time, yes! It’s exciting to know people have read and enjoyed your book. Luckily, at this stage I haven’t received a not-so-nice one (touch wood)!

7.      How many times were you turned down before you finally got published?

For this particular book, about twenty times! (mostly agents, a couple of publishers). Until the fabulous Escape Publishing said ‘Yes’, for which I am eternally grateful :)

8.      Who do you most admire and why?

I admire all those authors who never gave up. Those who persisted with passion and determination to achieve their dream of becoming published. Writing is something you do for the love of it. It’s time consuming, energy draining, and challenging, and there’s no guarantee your work will be read, but when it’s what you love, it’s important to keep going and believe in yourself and your writing.

9.      What do you need to set the mood for you to write?

I need to get comfortable! Whether it be at my desk or lying in bed or on the couch, if I’m not comfortable I can’t focus. My mother always said I was like ‘The Princess and the Pea’ - overly sensitive to little things, so it’s not uncommon to see me wriggling about on the couch for several minutes trying to get in the most comfortable position. It’s not usually worth it though, because I don’t stay in the same position very long before I have to get up again! And I’d love to have peace and quiet, but with a teenage son who plays Xbox, and a cat with incessant meowing, that rarely happens. ;)

10.  If there is one genre that you have not written in yet, but would love to try writing a book in that specific genre, what would it be?

Young Adult and New Adult. Well, I have written in YA, but haven’t yet completed anything. I have a couple of exciting stories I want to pursue, but I’m just trying to balance all my commitments and focus on the higher priorities first. I hope to make progress with this soon!

11.  What are you working on now?

I’m just about to finish a short romantic comedy novella called I Dream of Johnny, about a wish on a magic lamp that goes hilariously wrong. I’m also revising a manuscript, and I’m just about to get back into my next full length romantic comedy, Haunted Housewives, which I started before Christmas. This one’s about a bride-to-be who’s haunted by the ghost of her fiance’s ex-girlfriend. Oh, and did I mention the contemporary romance I’m trying to squeeze in between all this?? ;)

12.  Would you like to share an excerpt from your writing or a photo or music link that inspires you?

Here’s an excerpt from chapter one of Fast Forward, when Kelli has recently discovered that she’s in the future.

Anxious to finally get some clothes on, I opened the door a fraction, checking to see if the coast was clear. I tip-toed into the unfamiliar bedroom and pulled back a sliding door. The good news was an array of clothing hung from a rack, so I’d be able to put a long overdue end to my nakedness. The bad news was I wouldn’t be caught dead in most of the outfits. Who would wear such things? Well, me obviously. But surely my fifty-year-old taste couldn’t be that bad? I was a fashion model for Christ’s sake! I knew what’s hot and what’s not, and this stuff wasn’t even lukewarm.

So I had three choices:

1. Remain naked.

2. Put my nightgown back on.

3. Suck it up and wear one of the outfits.

As my stomach grumbled for food and my nose detected a faint smell of something good cooking, I stepped into a coral-coloured starched skirt in which the hem ended halfway down my calves before turning upwards into a revolting curved abomination and looking like a baby catch-all bib. The matching top was just as bad, its hem curving upwards too, but if the need arose at least I’d have a place to store snacks. Or Valium.

Now desperately hungry and looking like a middle-aged Oompa-Loompa, I followed the smell out of the bedroom, down a hallway and into a kitchen, where William sat at the bench sipping from a mug. If he was there, then who was cooking?

I looked towards the source of the delicious aroma and nearly threw up into my curved hems. A young man stood there in a pink apron. He was tall, with various pieces of metal jewellery adorning his pierced skin and his hair was jet black despite one hot pink streak falling loose from his mullet/Mohawk/ponytail thingy.

“Happy birthday, Mum!” he said and for the second time that day I wilted to the floor.

 

 

FAST FORWARD:

Aspiring supermodel, Kelli Crawford seems destined to marry her hotshot boyfriend, but on her twenty-fifth birthday she wakes in the future as a fifty-year-old suburban housewife married to the now middle-aged high school nerd.

Trapped in the opposite life of the one she wanted, Kelli is forced to re-evaluate her life and discover what is really important to her. Will she overcome the hilarious and heartbreaking challenges presented to her and get back to the body of her younger self? Or will she be stuck in the nightmare of hot flushes, demanding children, raunchy advances from her husband and hideous support underwear forever?

Buy FAST FORWARD via...

Escape Publishing, Amazon, Amazon UK, iTunes/iBookstore, Kobo.

GIVEAWAY #1: To go in the draw for a $25 Amazon gift card, forward your purchase receipt to fastforwardbook (at) gmail (dot) com - replace (at) with @ and (dot) with .

GIVEAWAY #2: To go in the draw for a $50 Amazon gift card or the runner up prize of a $25 gift card, leave a comment on this post. Comment on other blogs during Juliet’s February blog tour for more entries into the draw! Winners drawn 1st March.

Connect with Juliet online:

Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter. 


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25 Comments
Annie Seaton link
2/22/2013 01:57:42 pm

I loved this book and I can't wait for more from you, Juliet! And the cover suits it beautifully.

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Juliet Madison link
2/22/2013 02:35:03 pm

Thanks Annie, I better get writing! Yep, the cover hit the nail on the head, I'm very pleased with it.
Thanks Susanne for hosting me :)

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Ann B Harrison link
2/22/2013 05:42:19 pm

Hi Juliet. I loved Kelli's story. You had me laughing out loud and the next minute in tears. I can't wait to read what comes out next.

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Juliet Madison link
2/24/2013 08:05:59 pm

Aw thanks Ann, glad to hear it! I hope you enjoy the next one (whatever that may be ;)

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Kerrie Paterson link
2/22/2013 06:04:47 pm

Eeek, about twenty rejections? Seriously?! *gulps*

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Juliet Madison link
2/24/2013 08:08:10 pm

Yep! That was a combination of agents and publishers.

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Jenn J McLeod link
2/22/2013 06:29:23 pm

I am a believer in everything happening for a reason too. All those rejections have to heppne to allow us to find the perfect home for our stories.

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Juliet Madison link
2/24/2013 08:09:07 pm

That's right, better to wait and get the right publisher for your book.

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Beverley Eikli link
2/22/2013 07:21:13 pm

What a fun excerpt. I love the concept! And good on your for pushing on throughout all those rejections:)

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Juliet Madison link
2/24/2013 08:10:21 pm

Thanks, Beverley, glad you liked the concept! Writers have to have persistence, that's for sure. ;)
Hope all is going well for your Choc Lit release later this year!

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Imelda Evans link
2/24/2013 07:22:49 am

My favourite bit was the futuristic support underwear. I was simultaneously laughing and wondering whether it might just be worth it...

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Juliet Madison link
2/24/2013 08:12:16 pm

Lol, Imelda, that scene seems to be a crowd favourite! The lengths some go through in the name of beauty, huh? Personally, I'll be holding out for version 3.0 ;)

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Trix
2/24/2013 07:40:04 am

I DREAM OF JOHNNY sounds like one to look forward to! And I can't believe I didn't know the definition of New Adult before last week...

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Juliet Madison link
2/24/2013 08:16:51 pm

Thanks Trix, I just finished I DREAM OF JOHNNY yesterday, now I just have to edit it!
New Adult is becoming quite popular in the publishing industry, as it taps into that crossover market between ages 18-25, so it can appeal to both YA and adult readers. Will be interesting to see how it goes in the next few years!
Thanks for stopping by :)

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Shannon
2/25/2013 02:49:27 am

Thanks for another great interview. I am glad you read the signs and went ahead with the story, it sounds great. I am intrigued by your character choices. I was picturing her in my head as more of the former model type but still gorgeous type at 50 like Catherine Zeta Jones so it shifts my perspective to think of her as more of a funny woman like Tiny Fey. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

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Juliet Madison link
2/27/2013 07:06:36 pm

Thanks Shannon, Catherine ZJ could be a good choice too, but yes, I had imagined her more of a funny woman, mainly because of the funny things that happen to her and i think Tina fey would be great at acting them out.
:)

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Shirley Wine link
3/22/2013 04:10:17 pm

I just loved this book. It is probably the best book I've read so far this year.
I laughed until I cried, so hard I woke my DH up at three in the morning. I've never read anything that poked as much gentle fun at our very human little vanities. Just reading the excerpt makes me want to go back and read it all over again.

Can't wait for the SAS guy in the lingerie store. When will that see the light of day?

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Juliet Madison link
3/22/2013 05:48:01 pm

It makes me so happy to hear this feedback, Shirley. Thanks so much!! :)

Is Susanne writing about an SAS guy and a lingerie store?? Or is that something I've come up with and forgotten about, lol!

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Juliet Madison link
3/22/2013 05:48:29 pm

It makes me so happy to hear this feedback, Shirley. Thanks so much!! :)

Is Susanne writing about an SAS guy and a lingerie store?? Or is that something I've come up with and forgotten about, lol!

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Shirley Wine link
3/23/2013 06:01:48 am

Ah Juliet

You came up with this...you mentioned it in another author post of yours I read.

Geez you have me thinking now...was that you or am I muddling you with someone else.... LOL I'll sign off now,

Shirley Wine link
3/23/2013 06:01:55 am

Ah Juliet

You came up with this...you mentioned it in another author post of yours I read.

Geez you have me thinking now...was that you or am I muddling you with someone else.... LOL I'll sign off now,

Shirley Wine link
3/23/2013 06:02:09 am

Ah Juliet

You came up with this...you mentioned it in another author post of yours I read.

Geez you have me thinking now...was that you or am I muddling you with someone else.... LOL I'll sign off now,

Shirley Wine link
3/23/2013 06:02:24 am

Ah Juliet

You came up with this...you mentioned it in another author post of yours I read.

Geez you have me thinking now...was that you or am I muddling you with someone else.... LOL I'll sign off now,

Shirley Wine link
3/23/2013 06:03:09 am

Ah Juliet

You came up with this...you mentioned it in another author post of yours I read.

Geez you have me thinking now...was that you or am I muddling you with someone else.... LOL I'll sign off now,

Reply
Shirley Wine
3/23/2013 06:05:17 am

Sorry about all the posts....it kept coming up with an error message and said to resubmit....now I find you have a string of the same comment. My apologies Juliet and Susanne

Reply



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    Story elements surround us every day, from new places to a favourite piece of music or an odd moment witnessed in passing that becomes a scene in our work. On this weekly post, fellow authors will share some of what inspires their stories and their lives. Sit back and make yourself comfortable with the drink of your choice as the curtain rises. 

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