Becky Wicks and Sarah Alderson talk laughing out loud while writing and the travels that inspired their new comedy romance (with a very British twist) The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (not Croft)
Describe your book in five words or less.
Funny British chick goes travelling
Where did the idea for the book came from? Your inspiration?
Honestly, it was supposed to be an erotica but I think Lara shaped up to be the kind of girl that wouldn’t have taken the basic 50 Shades principles too well - for example the idea of a red room would have her laughing and grabbing the whip before anyone else could (she has circus training after all). I think we were both inspired by our British roots. We’ve been writing for an American audience for a while but we’re British women at heart who were there cheering on Bridget Jones and her big knickers when she finally got her man. We wanted to explore a British character to see what adventures she might get up to and as it turned out, there were many!
Well the special eggs in Bali were something we could write about easily and we won’t say why - you’ll have to read what Lara does with them to understand (ahem). But yes, the adventures we’ve had went into the book with a few embellishments here and there of course. The heat and absurdity of Dubai, the pompous and slightly awe-inspiring edge of LA and the holistic if egotistical Bali expat scene we have both experienced in Indonesia are all things we can relate to and lend to Lara for her journey. I’ve never met a crown prince with a waterslide but hey, there’s still time.
What was your favorite scene to write? For me (Becky) it was probably the Christian cowboy scene, where Lara Craft is seducing the poor young cowboy on the kitchen table. OK, just saying that sounds ridiculous… and OK yes it is. But that had me laughing out loud. Most of it had us in stitches actually. I was on holiday with my mom at one point when I was reading Sarah’s last scenes and I was laughing so hard she actually asked me what was wrong!Sarah: My favourite scenes still make me laugh out loud just recalling them. The first is when Lara ends up filming a re-make of Twilight in LA and the scene at the end where she’s in Somalia and gets kidnapped and held for ransom along with two close protection bodyguards. Being Lara she doesn’t wait around for the guys to save her - she finds her own uniquely brilliant way out of the situation. Let us know what you think ;-)
What would you like readers to take from your story?
I don’t think we really had a goal except to entertain and make people laugh. It’s not a typical romance. We both write romance (Sarah writes YA as well as NA under the name Mila Gray and Becky writes NA fiction), but with this we wanted to get away from it and write something totally different and very British. We really wanted a British protagonist. We hope people fall in love with Lara! Get your whips ready!
Lara Craft Saga #1
Lola Salt
Publication date: October 7th 2014
Genres: Comedy, New Adult, Romance
From bestselling authors Becky Wicks (Before He Was Famous, Before He Was Gone) and Sarah Alderson (Hunting Lila, Fated, Come Back to Me) comes a new romance with a difference…After losing her job and her boyfriend on the same day, Lara’s beginning to wonder if her life can possibly get any worse. Then along comes Jamie, a childhood friend, offering her a job delivering mysterious packages to random destinations around the world and suddenly things are looking up.Lara packs her bags and sets off on an epic adventure, meeting billionaire Arabic Princes, rugged cowboys, a sparkling wannabe vampire, a love guru with sex on the brain and Angelina Jolie’s bodyguards along the way. But though trouble always seems to find Lara, it seems love is rather more elusive.Pack your bags. The adventure’s about to begin!
About the Author
Lola Salt is the pen name for two bestselling authors: Sarah Alderson & Becky Wicks.
Becky has written several non-fiction travel diaries for Harper Collins; Burqualicious, Balilicious & Latinalicious, and the new adult Starstruck Series featuring Before He Was Famous, Before He Was Gone and Before He Was a Secret.
Sarah is better known for her Young Adult novels, particularly the critically acclaimed Hunting Lila series (published by Simon & Schuster), as well as the Fated series. She also wrote the new adult romance Come Back To Me under another pen name of Mila Gray.
The two authors met in Bali. Come visit us sometime and we’ll buy you a coconut.
This sounds like such a fun story and entertaining, no doubt! I love the sense of humor these girls have! :) Great interview, ladies!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for hosting on the tour, we hope you get a chance to read the book soon!
ReplyDeleteBecky (one half of Lola Salt)