Author Spotlight - Q&A with Angela Britnell

STEPH: I don't know much about "It's Complicated." What's it about?

ANGELA: Charles ‘Black Ash’ Ashton temporarily abandons his jet-setting lifestyle to avoid being blamed for a multi-million pound poker scam and meets quiet, elegant math teacher Emily Worthing but the odds aren’t in their favor. After a disastrous affair cost Emily her heart and prestigious job she prizes honesty above all things. Ash makes his living at the poker table, where a little deviousness and the occasional white lie never hurt. Ash must leave behind his irresponsible past and Emily searches for the strength to forge a new future. Ash puts all his cards on the table one last time and he and Emily prove they’ve an ace in the hand called love.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

ANGELA: Probably about four months off and on in between other projects.

STEPH: How much research did you have to do?

ANGELA: I did some research on the setting for the Ashton family home which I'd based on Trerice Manor in Cornwall. I'd been there years ago and used the wonderful internet to fill in details. I also knew nothing about poker so did a little on that. It proved to be more for insight into Ash's character as it ended up not featuring as much as I expected in the story.

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story within?

ANGELA: The cover features a picture of Trerice Manor in Cornwall, not far from where I grew up. This is the inspiration for the imaginary Folkham Manor, my hero Ash's family home. It's been in the Ashton family for over 400 years and the family are struggling to keep it going. This becomes an important part of the story for the way it brings Ash to a reality of where his life is going, and facing some hard truths about his previous behavior.

STEPH: Emily is the heroine. What are her strengths? Weakness?

ANGELA: Emily is very intelligent, kind and loyal to her friends and family but a life-long feeling of inferiority compared to her more obviously beautiful, flamboyant twin has left her with rocky self-esteem. A disastrous affair shook her to the core, losing her a prestigious job and her faith in her judgment where men are concerned.

STEPH: What does Ash find appealing about her?

ANGELA: His initial attraction is based on curiosity and a touch of boredom. He doesn't want to be stuck in Cornwall and is looking for something or someone to liven things up. He meets Emily's twin sister Claire first but she's too much like the glamorous women he encounters in his regular life. Emily is different with her quieter beauty and soft voice. He recognizes her attraction to him but also her determination not to give in to it and Ash loves nothing better than a challenge.


STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

ANGELA: Finding your true self. Both Emily and Ash have lost that somewhere along the way. The past shapes us all for good and bad but it doesn't have to determine the future and that's what they both need to realize in order to move forward.


STEPH: As a writer, where do you draw inspiration from?

ANGELA: Inspiration often strikes at odd moments, I know the basic plot for my last book 'Opposites Attract' came during church when I should've been listening to the sermon! It's sometimes come from an article in the newspaper, a place I visit or just from that strange place in a writer's brain no one really understands.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

ANGELA: I've got a Kindle which I love although I'm still a huge fan of paper books. My Kindle is perfect for my frequent trips to England saving my back from carrying too many books in my carry-on bag.

STEPH: Fun question: What is your favorite football team?

ANGELA: I'm not a huge sports fan so I'll have to split loyalties here. As homage to my husband I'll have to say Auburn but for my youngest son it has to be Tennessee. But if we're talking about real football (what you call soccer) I'll have to pick the favorite team of all my sons and that's Arsenal, the English Premier League team they all support.

Find Angela at:

'Opposites Attract' available now from www.desertbreezepublishing.com
www.angelabritnellromance.com
www.twitter.com/angelabritnell
www.facebook.com/angelabritnell