I’m pleased to welcome Helen Buckley back to the blog today. I’ve reviewed a couple of Helen’s books, Strictly on Ice and Strictly Christmas Spirit and she’s previously taken part in my Author Spotlight, #TenThings and Author in the Festive Spotlight features. Click on any of those links to read the blogposts. Today she’s paying a return visit to the Author Spotlight to tell us about her latest release, Keeping Up With the Kershaws. It’s published today by ChocLit so many congratulations to you Helen!
First of all, would you tell my blog readers a little about yourself?
Hello! I’m Helen Buckley. I write contemporary romances, with fame, drama, and slow burn love stories. I live in Bedfordshire with my husband and two little boys.
What inspired you to start writing?
I was struggling with infertility – it was a really hard time emotionally. And writing gave me an outlet – I started writing every morning before work, and wrote my first novel in a matter of months. That was Star in the Shadows, published in 2019.
Tell me about your journey to publication
I published Star in the Shadows with a hybrid publisher in 2019, then I wrote more books and pitched my series to Choc Lit publishers, who signed me up in August 2020. They’ve brought my Spotlight Series to publication, starting with Strictly on Ice in March 2020, then Celebrity SOS July 2020, Strictly Christmas Spirit October 2020, and now Keeping up with the Kershaws.
In a nutshell, what is your book about?
Keeping up with the Kershaws is about a wealthy family who are aghast to find their father’s care worker, Karrie, has inherited all the estate. They plot to get the money back, blackmailing their youngest half-sibling, reality TV star Rafe Kershaw, into trying to seduce Karrie to get her to give up the money. Karrie calls on her oldest closest friend Andrew to help her face down the Kershaw siblings.
How did you come up with the title for your book?
The family in the book are called the Kershaws so it felt like a fun nod to another famous TV family…
How do you plan to celebrate publication day?
I don’t generally celebrate publication days. Every single one so far has been dealing with my two small boys or working. I’d like to celebrate one properly, one day!
Do you have a work in progress just now?
I’m writing the sequel to KUWTK! Let’s just say that one character doesn’t get their Happy Every After, and I feel they deserve it, so that’s what the next book is about.
What one book would you recommend to a friend and why?
Donna Tartt The Goldfinch – what a marvellous book. It’s so beautifully written.
What are you reading just now?
I am reading Just Haven’t Met You Yet, by Sophie Cousens.
If you were on Desert Island Discs, what one book would you take with you?
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier – I seem to be able to read it again and again
Is there a book you’d love to see made into a film?
Erm is it ok if I say my own?!
[It is! And that’s quite a popular response from authors.]
How can people follow you or connect with you on social media?
I’m on Twitter – @HelenCBuckley, Facebook – Helen Buckley author, and Instagram – helencatherinebuckley.
I also have a newsletter you can sign up to and you’ll get two free novellas to download! https://BookHip.com/SVAKBZZ
And finally, if you could be a character in any book you have read, who would it be and why?
I’d be Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Because of Mr Darcy of course!
You’ll find buying options for Keeping Up With the Kershaws on the ChocLit website
Buying Link: Keeping Up With the Kershaws
Portobello Book Blog 