As part of Australian Romance Month, Romance Specialist Haylee Nash will be interviewing one Australian Romance author per day. Much like a beauty pageant, each author will be using their charm, wit and grace (and the power of social media) to take home the Booktopia Romance Bestseller crown. Booktopia invites bestselling Mills & Boon author Sarah Mayberry to the stage.
1. Describe the perfect date.
Fresh bread warm from the oven, chilled French champagne, a blanket on the beach, a man who is funny, wise, cheeky and sexy.
2. Which of your books are you most proud of?
There have been books that were nightmares to write. Books where I learned valuable writing lessons. Books where I talked about issues that were important to me. It’s hard to pick just one, but I think All They Need was both tough to write and very rewarding when I finally got there.
3. What is the hardest thing about being a romance author?
Spending so much time alone with just you and the computer. It can be very isolating if you don’t arrange your life to ensure you have people-contact.
4. What is the best thing about being a romance author?
Two words: dressing gown. And knowing that the stories I write go out into the world and become a part of other peoples’ lives, even if just for a few hours. That’s pretty special.
5. Who (aside from a significant other) do you swoon over?
I find Daniel Craig very swoon-worthy. And Clive Owen. Hubba hubba.
6. Tell us something very few people know about you.
I hate the snow. When I was in high school, we had a day-trip to Lake Mountain, and I had the flu, and the whole day was a nightmare of aches and pains and me being cold and wet and unable to ski. I’d seriously rather go to the dentist.
7. Describe your writing style in three words.
Warm. Emotional. Sexy.
Click here to buy All They Need from Booktopia,
Australia’s local bookstore
8. What is your definition of a good book?
If I get a chest ache while I’m reading, I know I’m totally invested in the characters and their eventual happiness. If the writer has made me care that much, I am usually swept away in their world, pure escapism. I love it!
9. Which author would you invite to a dinner party and why?
I think I’d really like to talk to George R.R. Martin over dinner. He’s had such a varied career, his books are so successful, brave and grand… I’d love to pick his brain!
10. Finish this sentence: I would do anything for love, but I won’t do_____
…your taxes. Or anything that requires me to be organised and deal with numbers. I suck at admin.
Sarah Mayberry lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her partner of nearly twenty years (who has recently become her husband!). When she’s not in her pajamas eating peanut butter sandwiches and typing away madly on her latest story, she enjoys reading, cooking, sleeping, pilates, going to the movies and shopping. Not necessarily in that order!
Comments
July 20, 2013 at 1:33 pm
Great interview, Sarah. As you know I love your books. You hate the snow – I would never have guessed!!
July 20, 2013 at 11:06 pm
Do I look like a skier, Jen?!!! I think I look like someone who lies around on the couch a lot reading books! Hope the weather is better up your way than down my way!
July 21, 2013 at 8:46 am
Dressing gown! Heee! That is such a perfect answer.