I am delighted to welcome my favorite British-American author to the blog today! Angela Britnell is here to discuss her contemporary romance Sugar and Spice.

The Way to a Hero’s Heart…

Fiery, workaholic Lily Redman is sure of two things: that she knows good food and that she always gets what she wants. And what she wants more than anything is to make a success of her new American TV show, Celebrity Chef Swap – without the help of her cheating ex-fiancé and producer, Patrick O’Brien. So when she arrives in Cornwall, she’s determined to do just that.

Kenan Rowse is definitely not looking for love. Back from a military stint in Afghanistan and recovering from a messy divorce and an even messier past, the last thing he needs is another complication. So when he lands a temporary job as Luscious Lily’s driver, he’s none too pleased to find that they can’t keep their hands off each other!

But trudging around Cornish farms, knee deep in mud, and meetings with egotistical chefs was never going to be the perfect recipe for love – was it? And Lily could never fall for a man so disinterested in food – could she?I am delighted to welcome my favorite British-American author to the blog today! Angela Britnell is here to discuss her new contemporary romance Sugar and Spice.

 

Tell us a little about yourself — who you are and what you write.

I grew up in a small village in Cornwall and left to join the Royal Navy many years ago – we’ll draw a veil over quite how many! On assignment in Denmark I met my wonderful American husband and married him before he could get away! We traveled for the next thirteen years, living in Sicily, California, Maryland and London before Richard retired from the Navy and got a job in Brentwood, TN. Along the way we had our three amazing sons who have now all left the nest. I now spend my days writing contemporary romance, usually with international settings/characters. Apart from writing most days I volunteer at my local library, belong to a book club, drink endless cups of hot tea and am a great believer in the medicinal qualities of wine and dark chocolate.

 

You are from a small village in Cornwall, England. Do your characters typically hang out in England, or here in America?

My characters hang out all over the place – from Nashville to Sicily, Cornwall to California and many places in between! I enjoy writing about the unique challenges presented by international relationships from things as diverse as language to simply the way to enjoy a proper cup of tea. ‘Sugar and Spice’ is set in totally the UK – mainly in Cornwall, but with visits to the Lake District, Oxford, London, Scotland and Wales. My novella ‘What Happens in Nashville’ is totally set in Nashville (there’s a surprise!) but the heroine is English which makes for a fun story.

 

Give us celebrity visuals of Lily and Kenan.

Christina Hendricks from ‘Mad Men’ would be a perfect Lily with her red hair and voluptuous figure. I can absolutely see her wearing Luscious Lily’s trademark flashy clothes and staggeringly high heels.

Kenan absolutely needs to be played by British actor, Richard Armitage, tall, dark, brooding and totally 100% male. Of course when ‘Sugar and Spice’ is made into a movie I’d need to supervise Richard very closely on set!

 

What is your writing process? Do you fly by the seat of your pants, or plot meticulously?

I can’t plot to save my life! I have tried – usually after attending a workshop or listening to another writer who vows their method is infallible! The most I ever start with is a vague idea about a character, setting or general idea for a story thread. I open a blank Word document and somehow manage to start! My first draft is where I learn the story and then go back and fill in the blanks, edit, and do more research.

 

Who are some of your favorite authors and what are you currently reading?

I love English author Joanna Trollope, of course Nora Roberts, Kristin Hannah is wonderful too (I had a fan girl moment when I met her at the RWA conference in Dallas.) I also read a lot of mysteries particularly ones by PD James, Colin Dexter, Ian Rankin and Elizabeth George.

 

Is Sugar and Spice a standalone novel, or will there be others in a series?

It’s a standalone novel. I’ve never tried to do a series and doubt I will because there would have to be plotting involved and the whole keeping track of characters, places etc which wouldn’t suit me!

 

What do you love about Kenan?

His strength of character and integrity. He’s not an expressive man with words but shows how deeply he cares about his family and friends by his actions, even if they’re sometimes misplaced. Of course he’s also extremely easy on the eyes which never hurts!

 

Name three things we’d find in Lily’s purse.

I could probably name you about fifty because she habitually carries around a bright pink tote bag filled with everything she might need in case of unspecified emergencies – but I’ll narrow it down to pink lip gloss, dark chocolate and perfume.

 

What’s your current work in progress?

I’m just finishing up the edits for ‘Celtic Love Knot’ which is due for release in digital format at the end of this month. Olivia Harding is a level-headed Celtic Mythology professor from Nashville who goes to Cornwall to research the local giants and attempt to lay to rest a family secret that has shaped her life. Lanyon Tremayne is a dark-tempered, fiercely private Cornishman, whose own painful family secrets have led to him being an outcast in his own community. They have to decide whether giving love a chance is worth the risk of exposing their secrets and their hearts?

 

What’s the heat level in this story on a scale of one to ten? (One is sweet and innocent. Ten is hot! hot! hot!)

I’d describe it as sensual, so probably around a four.

 

What first inspired you to write for the romance genre?

Sharing a house with my husband and three sons meant I desperately needed an outlet for my female side! To get out of the house for a few quiet evenings I took a short creative writing course back in 2000 and was so inspired I’ve been writing every since.

 

Is there anything else you’d like us to know about Sugar and Spice?

The story grew from my obsession with the Food Network and gave me a good excuse to watch even more programs in the name of research! Food, and the way my characters think about the subject, is really a metaphor for the way Lily and Kenan view life differently at the beginning of the story but in the end it brings them together as good food always does.

 

Sugar and Spice is available on Amazon

Visit Angela’s website and follow her on Facebook or Twitter

Angela grew up in Cornwall, England and joined the Royal Navy in order to meet her own tall, dark, handsome stranger, a US Naval Officer called Richard, while serving in Denmark. After multiple moves and having three sons they settled in Tennessee and she has been trying to get used to the hot, humid summers ever since. A lifelong reader she did a creative class in 2000 simply for fun and discovered a passion for writing. She’s had short stories published in international magazines and several category length romances with Scottish publisher, DC Thomson. Her first novel ‘Truth and Consequence’ was published in 2006 and she has four other contemporary romances available published by Desert Breeze Publishing. In 2013 she won independent British publisher Choc Lit’s ‘Search for an American Star competition’ with ‘Sugar and Spice.’ Choc Lit also released her novella ‘What Happens in Nashville’ in March, and her next novel ‘Celtic Love Knot’ will be published later this month.