Friday, November 5, 2010

Interrogation Room and giveaways

Okay even though she agreed to come here gracefully, I still decided to grab her by her by her blonde hair and haul her in here. Our "guest" today is the one who took my place when I left London, although if she ever tells you North London is awesome don't believe her(am jealous), you want to go to my hood in the south west we have Hampton Court Palace built by Henry VIII and Chessington World of Adventures!
Okay enough reminiscing I give you the amazing Talli Roland 



Joanna: Facebook, Twitter or Blogger? which do you prefer and why?
Talli: I love them all! Twitter is instantaneous – if you’re looking for a little bit of interaction without too much commitment, you can just duck in for a few minutes. Facebook is great for catching up on bits of news and other fun I might have missed during the day, while Blogger is ideal for writing longer and more detailed posts on things that can’t be captured in 140 characters or less (like the true horrors of writers’ arse). They’re all brilliant tools for interacting with other writers and I’ve found the communities on each to be so supportive and welcoming. 
  
Joanna: Do you have any other manuscripts that will never see the light of day?
Talli: Many. I think about (gulp) five! The thing is, it took me a while to really find and get comfortable with my voice – fun, slightly snarky with a bit of sweetness thrown in. I tried to write literary fiction and it just didn’t work. It took a few tries before I could settle in to my writing style. Also, I didn’t think enough about my story ideas. I’d just sit down and write, without really assessing whether the concept was unique enough to hook in readers. Writing novels was (and still is!) quite a learning process for me. 
Joanna: What is the most outrageous thing you have done in the name of book research?
Talli: I’ve never done anything outrageous in the name of research – usually it’s the other way around! I’ve done some crazy things and made quite a few drastic changes in my life so far, so past life experience usually finds its way somehow into my writing. I do love to eavesdrop, though, so writing has certainly given me a great excuse to shamelessly earwig.  

Joanna: Some writers swear by chocolate, what do you swear by?
Talli: I do love chocolate (and cupcakes and Red Twizzlers) but when I’m writing and I need a little bit of sustenance to get me through the home stretch, I turn to Captain Crunch. Sadly, you can’t buy Captain Crunch in England, so I’ve had to resort to friends and family smuggling it over to me. It’s great because you can scoff it with one hand while you type with the other. 

Joanna: If you had 3 options; Borat, Ali G and Russell Brand who would you base a main character on?
Talli: Wow, what a choice! I’m going to have to say Ali G. I taught secondary school in his hometown of Staines, so I think I know his kind of character very well. Perhaps too well! Let’s just say I don’t teach any longer, although Staines does make a brief reappearance in my novel The Hating Game.  

Joanna: How did you find your agent or publishing house?
Talli: I’d been working with my publisher already on some non-fiction titles, so when I hit upon the concept of The Hating Game, I pitched it to them straightaway. Luckily, they loved it! It will be out worldwide as an e-book on December 1, and in paperback next year. 

Joanna: Nice! tell us about the book please

Talli: The Hating Game:
When man-eater Mattie Johns agrees to star on a dating game show to save her ailing recruitment business, she's confident she'll sail through to the end without letting down the perma-guard she's perfected from years of her love 'em and leave 'em dating strategy. After all, what can go wrong with dating a few losers and hanging out long enough to pick up a juicy £200,000 prize? Plenty, Mattie discovers, when it's revealed that the contestants are four of her very unhappy exes. Can Mattie confront her past to get the prize money she so desperately needs, or will her exes finally wreak their long-awaited revenge? And what about the ambitious TV producer whose career depends on stopping her from making it to the end?


Joanna: And what is this innovative stunt I hear you are trying to pull on Amazon and how do we help a fellow blogger out?
Take On Amazon Web Splash:
On December 1, the e-book version of The Hating Game will launch ahead of its UK hard-copy launch next year! So I'm dreaming big. Wouldn't it be great if my debut novel by an indie publisher made it into the top ranks of Amazon Kindle sales? It might sound crazy, but it's amazing how quickly your book can move up the ranks if a number of people purchase it on the same day. And with an e-book, there are no distribution issues. Anyone, anywhere can buy it!  On release day -- December 1 -- I'm looking for bloggers (and Tweeters and Facebookers) to help with a Web Splash to spread the word. Go here for more details and to sign up! http://talliroland.blogspot.com/p/join-blogsplash.html

Talli Roland has three loves in her life: coffee, cupcakes and rom coms.

She lives in London, on a street with two Starbucks and (at last count) three other cafés that constantly tempt her outside her cozy little flat.

She has a secret crush on Sir Alan of The Apprentice and if she was forced to wax anyone's hairy chest, it would have to be Simon Cowell. Clearly she watches too much reality television.

Her debut novel, The Hating Game, will be released worldwide as an e-book on December 1, and in paperback in early 2011. To read more about The Hating Game and Talli, go to www.talliroland.com or follow Talli on Twitter: @talliroland.

The Winners of my not 100 or 150 followers contest as picked by grabby toddler
Ann from Wisconsin and Ireland
Madeleine at Scribble and Edit
Quinn
Congratulations and please send me your addresses so I can start shipping the surprize books. If you tweeted, blogged or facebooked about my contest there is another drawing for you on Monday just let me know you did it.
If you did not win. don't be sad I snagged a 5books giveaway for you next Friday , so we have more chances coming up.


38 comments:

  1. As ever, <3 for the interrogation room. The way Talli's launching her book is so interesting, I'm really looking forward to seeing the results. It sounds like a perfect summer holiday read, and December's summer here in Australia, so I'll be in on the action!

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  2. Great interview, ladies. And as one who has nearly finished a review copy of The Hating Game, I can thoroughly, thoroughly recommend it.

    Great blog too, am slightly jealous!

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  3. I love Talli! Captain Crunch rocks too:)

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  4. ha ha @ writermels I inhaled the hating game in less than 5hours, it was just as addictive as British Big brother especially the season that had Nikki and Pete

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  5. Yay Amie and thank you everyone for the compliments, I have never tried Cap'n crunch I might give it a go this xmas, they should have it in Texas or iowa right?

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  6. :O(

    Well, congratulations to the winners! Next time.

    Great guest for your Interrogation room. I'm hearing about her all over the blogosphere. Glad to finally hear her talk.

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  7. Great interview; I really enjoyed it. Thank you ladies! Soon they'll be queueing up to get into your Interrogation Room, Joanna. :)

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  8. Wonderful review, Talli is awesome!

    Have a great day!

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  9. What a great interrogation... ahem, I meant interview. I can't wait until her book comes out! I have lots of twizzlers sitting by waiting to read her book with.

    CD

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  10. Great interview! The book sounds great, count me in on December 1, I will buy it.

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  11. You are really amazing its great to see what power we bloggers have, we are such an awesome community

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  12. Big thanks to Joanna for dragging me here! :) Yes, you should be able to get Cap'n Crunch in the States!

    And a massive thank you to all for supporting me and my book. I've never met such a supportive group - even in real life!

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  13. So nice to learn more about Talli! I love your blog!!

    Also have The Hating Game on my TBR pile. Looking forward to reading! Captain Crunch? I loved that cereal as a kid, although I think it was 100% sugar. Still surprised that my mom bought the stuff. It was delish.

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  14. Snarky and sweet! I like that. And what kind of Capt'n Crunch? I'm partial to peanut butter.

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  15. Wow! Nice concept, Joanna. I am a big fan of the interrogation room.

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  16. Yay! I won! Thanks Joanna for having this giveaway.

    I really enjoyed the interview. Great questions.

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  17. I really enjoyed the interview. And both parts of London are wonderful!

    By the way, if you want to invest 6.97 [pounds, NOT dollars] you can find Cap'n Crunch here:
    Cap'n Crunch cereal

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  18. Thanks again to Joanna for having me here!

    Whoa, I do love the Cap'n but there's no way I'm paying almost £7 for cereal! Thanks, though, Lisa!

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  19. Great interview from both of you. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Cap'n Crunch. Who knew? LOL.

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  20. Thank you for hauling the ever so blonde Talli over here Joanna StJames! I still can't believe she taught secondary school kids over at Staines. I had the misfortune of passing through (by train)the lovely town of Staines on a work trip to Egham twice and twice my colleagues and I feared for our dear lives as these groups of scary kids (all yelling Staines Masssiiiiive) terrorised the station. On a school day.

    But I am digressing!!! Talli, you are a crazy woman!! LOL!!! Good luck with Hating Game!!!!!!

    Take care
    x

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  21. Her book sounds like it's going to be loads of fun! And the interview shows Talli is a very interesting character. I thought I was the only one who didn't do literary. I crush on Sir Alan too, oh...that man is so distinguished! LOL...I miss the UK apprentice, DT here is soooo not it, lol. All the best with the splash too.

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  22. Great interview, both of you.

    As to the Ali G, Borat, and Russell Brand choice, may I offer a fourth option? Disposing of all three (well, two) in the Marianas Trench?

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  23. Love the interview ladies!!! ;) I've also become addicted to cupcakes in the afternoons. mmm. Looking forward to reading Talli's book too. I shall be reviewing. Have a fab weekend! x

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  24. Great interview! I love Captain Crunch. Good luck with the launch! :D

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  25. Loved the interview! Talli rocks, and so do you Joanna. I missed your contest but good luck to all the winners.

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  26. Great interview - you have a way with those you kidnap for your interrogating pleasure!

    Good luck Talli!

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  27. Great interview! I hear you Talli on figuring out your style - getting back to my first love, romance, has really kindled a writing spurt for me. Nearly over 100,000 words in a few months, gasp!

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  28. What a fun interview. The novel sounds like so much fun; I can't wait to read it.

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  29. Great interview, Talli's book sounds really cool!!!

    Rach

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  30. Fab interview ladies, although I thought Captain Crunch might have been a new pirate I hadn't heard of until I read the comments. Cereal, huh? Oh well, there's now a Captain Crunch's character sketch in my notebook... but I won't be paying £7 to find out what he tastes like!

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  31. This is a great interview! Talli comes across as fun as ever and your questions are also fun and so original.

    The concept behind this book is just fantastic.

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  32. Ali G is hilarious! Great questions, great interview, thanks ladies.

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  33. Oh BTW, I'm a new follower, so nice ta meet ya, Joanna!

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  34. Go Talli! ((Hugs)) Dec. 1 is getting so, so close! Kudos to Joanna for hosting you as a guest on her blog.

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  35. Great interview. I've been following Talli for almost a year, and I learned more about her. I hope her book is a hit. She's worked hard to get here.

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  36. I, too, am a new follower. Great interview! I sometimes have to type one handed due to my cat (she does NOT understand why I ahve to do ANYTHING but provide a lap for her...).
    The book sounds like interesting & fun. Good luck with the multi-release!

    vickykerr@sbcglobal.net

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