Author Spotlight - Aimee Duffy

1. Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.

Not much has changed since the last time you lovely ladies had me here (sadly). Still hammering away at the keyboard, abusing my delete button and spending too much money on shoes.

2. What number book is this? First? 100th? 200th?(Nora only!)

Published? Four if you include the short I had in a Christmas anthology last year. If you mean manuscript I have countless wips on my laptop, waiting to be fixed and submitted. Six new since the last time I was here.

3. Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

It isn’t easy to keep focused and I have no willpower at all. I pick shopping over writing any day. Thankfully I’m not minted so can’t afford to shop all the time. Instead, I make myself do something writing related every day. Even get up early to rack up the words. Still, Sundays are the most productive. I treat that as my main writing day now. I’m not satisfied until I have at least 5k down on a Sunday.

4. What is your top promo tip for other authors?

Promo is hard. I hate it. I feel like a serial spammer when I go at it. However, it’s necessary if you want to get the word out about your release, so it’s a must. I highly recommend booking a good blog tour, especially one who offers the hosts a chance to review your book. My latest find is Tasty Book Tours and Lisa is lovely to work with. She also has her own professional review site, Tasty Book Reviews.

5. How does writing fit into your day? Or does your day fit in around your writing?

It doesn’t, not now that work is crazy, but I make it. Whether I stay up until 1am or set my alarm a few hours early, I make a point of writing, revising, or promoting, every day.

6. Is there a book you haven't written yet that you're dying to? What genre?

I’m half way through a single title shifter story, and I’d like to breach the line into erotic romance (when I’m braver!).

7. Any craft books you recommend?

The Emotion Thesaurus by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi. Great for pointing out the difference between showing and telling. Plus it has a huge ‘dictionary’ of emotions, and instead of meanings, the book lists possible reactions to the emotion to help improve writing. It’s my new bible.

8. What was the most fun part of writing this book?

Sander’s mother is a movie star and his father is a director. They didn’t have time for him when he was growing up, so left him with a nanny. When he makes his ‘fake’ relationship with Chloe public, there’s a scene where his parents gate-crash a celebration dinner for Chloe in The Ivy and give the poor girl a hard time. I loved all the poison dripping out around the table. (What does that say about me?)

9. Could you be friends with any of your heroines?

I could so easily be best friends with Chloe. She’s down to earth, real and has a heart of gold. Plus she has the same Barbour coat as me ;o).

10. At what point in your career did you actually start to feel like you were a writer?

I still don’t really. Yes, I write. Yup, I have three books published, but do I feel like an author? No. This all still feels like a hobby I love doing, which is fantastic, because who wants two jobs?

When pretend turns to desire, heartbreak is unavoidable.

Sander Chase needs a date for his ex-fiancée's engagement party, but he doesn't have time for a woman in his life. Between working on the TV show Do You Have What It Takes? and his band reforming, he's too busy for a relationship. What he needs is a pretend girlfriend. He thinks he may have found the perfect woman for the job, and the bribe he offers means she's sure to accept.

After losing her job in the film industry, breaking up with her movie star boyfriend, and finding out her mum has dementia, Chloe Butler returned to the UK determined to put her life back together. The last thing she needs is to parade around London on the arm of a celebrity, and after the heartbreak caused by her ex, she swore she'd never again date a star. But when Sander offers her a chance at her dream job, it's not something she can turn down.

As Chloe gets to know Sander she learns he's nothing like her scumbag ex. But she struggles to fight her attraction to him, knowing their relationship is only for show and their separation date is closing in fast.

Ignoring the insane chemistry between them should be easy for Sander, especially since he carries a secret that means there can be no future for them, but the more time he spends with Chloe, the harder it is to keep his hands to himself.

Content Warning: contains more denial than you'll find in a courtroom, more sexual tension than most people could handle, and explosive sex that some readers may find long overdue.


Never Say Never is available from Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks and Beachwalk Press.