My guest today is romantic comedy author, Phoebe Macleod. Phoebe is going to talk to us about her writing journey, and her latest book. So grab yourself a cuppa, get cosy and let’s get chatting to Phoebe.
Phoebe MacLeod is the author of several popular romantic comedies. She lives in Kent with her partner, grown up children and disobedient dog. Her love for her home county is apparent in her books, which have either been set in Kent or have a Kentish connection. She’s recently retired from her job as an IT consultant to focus on her writing. She has always had a passion for learning new skills, including cookery courses, learning to drive an HGV and, most recently, qualifying to instruct on a Boeing 737 flight simulator.
Phoebe loves watching people and observing social interaction. In fact she nearly got into trouble once when a man in a shopping mall thought she was staring at him! As well as curling up with a book, she loves good food, good wine and good friends – especially when all three come together!
Welcome to my blog, Phoebe. Can you tell us about your writing journey?
It might sound odd, but I never expected to become a writer. Before 2020, I was quite settled in my IT job and firmly believed I wasn’t at all creative. I’ve always been an avid reader, however, devouring romance novels on my Kindle during my commute.
My best friend, Mandy, does not read romances. In fact she rarely reads fiction at all, preferring weighty books on Theology. When she does read fiction, she likes historical sagas and the occasional crime novel. I happened to tell her during a dog walk about a book I was reading and how I thought it was going to end, and she told me firmly, “You read so much of that stuff, you ought to be able to write one by now!” This sowed the seed in my mind. Could I write a romance novel? What would it be about?
I dithered for months, but the bare bones of a story did start to come to me so, late in 2020, I sat down and began to write my first novel – Someone Else’s Honeymoon. I was certain I’d never get a publisher; my plan was simply to self-publish it on Amazon, order a few copies to give away to friends and family for Christmas and have an amusing tale to tell about how I wrote a novel once. And that’s broadly what happened. I designed the cover myself (not my finest hour), let my sister in on the secret so she could proof-read it for me, and thought that would be the end of the story.
And it would have been, had another independent author not read it, told me firmly that I lacked ambition, and promoted it to her followers in her newsletter. Before I knew what was happening, my book started to sell and, even more extraordinarily, people seemed to like it. I’d really enjoyed writing one of the secondary characters in the first book, so decided to give her her own story. I wrote ‘Not the Man I thought He Was’, self-published it again and, to my astonishment, that started to sell too.
By the time my publisher, Boldwood, approached me in 2022, I had three books out and a fourth just about ready to go. I wasn’t keen to work with them initially: publishers don’t have a very good reputation in the indie author community, but I spoke to another Boldwood author, who couldn’t have been more positive, so I decided to check them out some more. I still remember clearly the day I met the woman who was to become my first editor; I felt like a total fraud and told her so. “I haven’t done creative writing classes or anything!” I exclaimed. “No,” she replied. “But you wrote the books.”
I’ve now published 11 books with Boldwood. My 12th is coming out in February, and I can’t believe that I get to do this as a day job. If I could give any advice to anyone out there who wants to do this, it would be based on what my first editor said: Write the book. Even if it’s gibberish, write it. You can always tweak it later. If you don’t write it, nobody will ever be able to read it.
What an incredible writing journey! Thanks so much for dropping by and talking to us today, Phoebe. Wishing you lots of future writing success.
Phoebe’s Latest Book:
Ruby may be young, free and single… but she’s absolutely not ready to mingle.
Ruby is happily sworn off men. There’s nothing she needs that can’t get from her friends, cat or, frankly, the wonders of modern technology. So when her flatmate tricks her into going on a singles cruise, she’s furious.
Thankfully, Ruby isn’t the only one onboard under false pretences. Cameron also had no idea what he was letting himself in for. So after Ruby and Cameron strike up conversation, they agree to platonically pair off, to protect each other from the flirtatious advances of the other guests – not to mention the matchmaking efforts of Barry, the enthusiastic host.
There’s just one problem. Cameron isn’t just in the same boat as Ruby – he’s also good looking, kind and fun. As they explore the picturesque towns of the Mediterranean, Ruby finds herself enjoying his company much more than she’d intended.
Can Ruby keep her heart safe, or will she be in too deep by the time the boat docks at its final destination?
Some of Phoebe’s other books:
Blurb
Thea Rogers has dedicated her life to her career in corporate law. Apart from her colleague and long-time friend-with-benefits Alasdair, she’s forgone friendships and relationships, and now she’s on track to become her firm’s youngest ever female partner. She should be ecstatic. But when a senior partner dies unexpectedly, Thea realises the people at his funeral are only there out of duty. Suddenly, Thea can’t shake the question: if she disappeared tomorrow, would anyone care?
As the life choices she’s made suddenly make less and less sense, Thea is forced to make a decision. Stick with the original plan or take a completely different path.
Thea has a chance to do it right this time, and fill her world with the things that matter. But can people really change? And once life starts looking up, why does it feel like there’s something… or someone she can’t seem to replace?
Blurb
Finding a man is like buying a house: sometimes you have to look beyond the exterior to see the potential underneath.
As an estate agent, Alex’s job is to create happy-ever-afters. It’s just a shame she can’t work the same magic on her own life. Her long-term boyfriend Thomas still lives with his mother, and her hopes of them taking the next step are dashed when he announces he’s spending all his savings (savings she’d quite hoped he’d want to put towards their future home) on an ‘artist retreat’ in San Francisco.
With Thomas thousands of miles away, getting a little too friendly with his fellow artistes, Alex strikes up a friendship with her new neighbour, Callum. Taciturn, grumpy and nerdy, Callum couldn’t be more different to Alex’s bubbly personality…. So why is he the one she wakes up wanting to talk to?
As they get to know each other, Alex starts to wonder if the answer to all her problems might be closer to home than she thinks…
Amazon
Karen King 