I'm happy to welcome author and short story writer Teresa Ashby to the Romance Reader Blog today. Teresa is the author of over 2,000 published pieces, so she's well experienced in the art of writing. Her novel THE DOCTOR'S DECISION was published recently on Amazon, having started life earlier as a MY WEEKLY pocket novel - a novel in small magazine form with a shelf life of 2/4 weeks, published by MY WEEKLY magazine in the UK. Her stories feature regularly in the top magazines and newspapers in the UK. She's come today to talk to us about her new novel and she is giving away one free copy to one lucky commenter - so be sure to leave a comment before you go.
Teresa, how did you get the inspiration to write THE DOCTOR'S DECISION?
I’ve always been fascinated by life on board a ship and every time I see a cruise ship leaving port, I wonder about the people on board. I wanted to write Cara’s story, but I wanted to set it in England rather than her native Australia, so I gave her a job as ship’s doctor which I knew was the kind of challenge she’d enjoy.
Did it take you long to write it?
On and off and including rewrites, about six months I think, but it’s hard to say as I write short stories at the same time.
Who is your favourite character in the book?
Cara. I liked her when she appeared briefly in an earlier novel, THE CALL OF HOME and I wanted to get to know her better. I don’t think it has ever happened to me before where I’ve had that happen! She was quite insistent I should tell her story and I really wanted her to fall in love.
Was it fun writing the book, or plain hard work?
I had great fun writing the first draft and spending time standing on the quay in the sunshine gazing at cruise ships and dreaming – for research purposes of course. Doing the edits was hard work, but I got there in the end.
Can you sum up the book in 140 characters (size of a tweet)?
Oh dear, I’m not very good at tweeting, but here goes “Rough seas, helicopter rescue, hearts set free”
Teresa, for someone who's not good at tweeting, I thought you did very well. Thanks for the interview and giveaway.
TERESA ON THE WEB:
Blog/Website Twitter Amazon
THE DOCTOR'S DECISION
The Princess Helena runs into trouble at sea and Cara finds herself inundated with casualties. Greg has to overcome his fear of helicopters to go to the rescue and when he is winched aboard he finds Cara amongst the wounded. He takes care of her as she recuperates, but just when Cara starts to let her guard down, a near tragedy brings her to her senses and thinking there is no future for them, Cara returns to Australia – alone.
You can purchase this book on: Amazon Amazon UK
Hi Teresa!
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Romance Reader and I do hope you will enjoy chatting with all our friends here!
Congratulations on the release of THE DOCTOR'S DECISION!
Loved reading your interview!
Yes, Teresa, welcome to RR. Hope you have a nice time over here.
DeleteThank you for inviting me Nas and RR :-) I am very glad to be here x
DeleteGreat interview, Teresa.
ReplyDeleteI read The Doctor's Decision when it was published as a Pocket Novel and really enjoyed it.
xxPat
Welcome Pat, great to see you over here.
DeleteThank you, Pat :-) I'm glad you enjoyed it x
DeleteThat looks like an interesting book. Must check it out.
ReplyDeleteThank you :-) x
DeleteHi LAYLI, thanks for stopping by.
DeleteSounds like another good un, Teresa.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Patsy :-) x
DeleteWelcome Patsy (waves)
DeleteMaria RR
A lovely read. Many thanks, Teresa.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of bringing back a character who has stayed with you to develop their story further.
Thank you, Joanna. I'm glad I got to know Cara better :-) x
DeleteYes Joanna, I agree with that. Sometimes characters take on a life of their own.
DeleteMaria RR
Hi Teresa,
ReplyDeleteI've read a lot of your short stories over the years and always enjoyed them. Good luck with the book.
Thank you, Lucy - that's really lovely of you :-) x
DeleteThanks Lucy for stopping by and leaving a comment to support Teresa.
DeleteMaria RR
As someone who loves cruising, this sounds great, Teresa!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rosemary - it turns out to be a very short cruise :-) x
DeleteHi Rosemary, you are very welcome to Romance Reader.
DeleteMaria RR
Good luck Teresa with the new project :)>
ReplyDeleteThank you, Petronela :-) x
DeleteI love the idea of taking a supporting character in one novel and turning them into the main character of a new novel. You have a great headstart in knowing and understanding the character's personality that way.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview! :-)
Yes, it was fun to do, Lexa and recently I've been thinking a lot about a character in Doctor's Decision and wondering if her story should be told next :-) x
DeleteThat would be interesting Teresa and another reason to get the book!
DeleteMaria RR
Sounds like a great story line - lots of intensity!! I often wonder about characters in stories and what's going to happen to them next! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jemi :-) x
DeleteHi Jemi, thanks for stopping by.
DeleteMaria RR
Fun interview, and I think cruises are the most romantic vacations, so this sounds like a great plot!
ReplyDeleteI would love to go on a romantic cruise one day, Shelly :-) x
DeleteYes, I do agree with that, Shelly. I'd love to do that too, Teresa, it's definitely one of the things I'd love to do in the future.
DeleteDearest Romance reader...if you write reviews on romantic fantasy books, I would love to tempt you with my debut story, Lost in the Seven Worlds. You can find it on http://amzn.to/14bUZrC.
ReplyDeleteIf you'd be interested, I would be delighted, so delighted ;). Kisses.
Messaged you on FB, Petronela.
DeleteMaria RR
Cruises are great set ups for all sorts of dramatic circumstances!
ReplyDeletePlenty of inspiration there, Lydia.
DeleteMaria RR
There's lots of drama in the book, Lydia :-) x
DeleteGreat interview Teresa and The Doctor's Decision sounds brilliant. Very satisfying to expand a minor character in a previous story. :o) xx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sue - yes it was very satisfying :-) x
DeleteHi Sue, thanks for visiting,
DeleteMaria RR
We are cruise ship junkies. I remember an episode of Columbo was set on a cruise ship. Good luck with The Doctors Decision!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stephen. I think I remember that one too :-) x
DeleteAs someone who published some of your early stories in Loving Magazine, I am delighted to have seen you go from strength to strength as a writer, Teresa. Can't wait to read The Doctor's Decision!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much - I have never forgotten how encouraging you were and I have very happy memories of writing for Loving xx
DeleteHello hydra, thanks for stopping by.
DeleteMaria RR
What a great idea to describe your book as a Tweet - it sounds really exciting!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen - the tweet was Romance Reader's idea :-) x
DeleteHi Karen, nice to see you over here. Teresa, thanks for giving me the credit for that question :)
DeleteMaria RR
Terrific interview, Teresa. I'm a huge fan of your work and I know people are in for a real treat with The Doctor's Decision.
ReplyDeletexxx
Thank you, Suz :-)x
DeleteHi from me too Suz! I think we're both fans of Teresa's
DeleteThe cover looks so serene.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview. The book sounds awesome.
Thanks, Medeia. I was going to use a stormy sea as the cover, but it looked rather horrible - so I thought of the calm before the storm (and after):-) x
DeleteThanks for visiting Medeia
DeleteGreat interview Teresa! I love the sound of you new book, I want to know what happens to Cara. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anne :-) x
DeleteHi Teresa, fantastic interview, I really enjoyed it. I love the cover of The Doctor's Decision. Congratulations on the release.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tash :-) x
DeleteI totally love Teresa and her amazing short stories!! She's totally fab!! And now this book! How lovely is that! Yay for Teresa!! She is making me want to go to some port to gaze longingly at cruise ships docking and leaving now! LOL!! All the best Teresa!! Take care
ReplyDeletex
Oh wow, thank you, Kitty, lovely lady :-) x
DeleteThank you for having me over here, Maria and Nas - it's been great fun. And congratulations to Jemi on winning the giveaway :-) x
ReplyDeleteSea captivating love! Love it! Also, the simplicity of the cover is a wonderful touch! Glad to meet you Teresa!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tammy - good to meet you too :-) x
DeleteThis sounds like an amazing book. Love when characters are so alive they won't stop pestering their author to write their stories. :-D
ReplyDeleteThank you, Misha - it's lovely when the characters take on minds and lives of their own :-) x
DeleteI love Teresa's work. Have read a few of her short stories in my time. This book sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise, that's lovely of you to say :-) x
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sounds like a special movie episode of the love boat! i miss that show.
ReplyDeletehope its a happy ending!
Hi Tara - I used to watch the Love Boat :-) x
Deletecongrats to Jemi! I've always been curious about people on cruise ships, too. :D I'll check this book out:)
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Thank you - the cruise is only a small part of the book, but a very important part all the same :-) x
DeleteI've been on a couple of cruises and love the sound of this book. Thanks for the interview.
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by, Deb :-) x
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