Hooked on Books Promotions: Claddagh Author Interview With Charlotte E Hart

Welcome Charlotte and thank you for taking time out to do our questionnaire.

Book questions

Tell us your latest news?

Well, my fourth book ‘The Parlour VDB1’ just went live, so that’s pretty exciting for me. It’s a continuation/spin off of The White Trilogy so I’m a little nervous of the response to the secondary character taking the lead this time around. But hey, it’s writing, right? I’ve just got to get these thoughts down on the page, and everyone was pushing for Mr Van Der Braack’s POV and own tale, so I gave it to them. Amazing really, I never really dreamed of publishing one book, let alone four. I’ve also just finished the second part of that trilogy and it’s currently going through editing, so hopefully, by the time this event comes around, that will be five, maybe even six if I can get my backside in gear.

What book are you reading now?

I’ve just finished The Decimation on Mae by D H Sidebottom. Damn that woman can write a book. I don’t actually read all that much (never have the time), so when I get a chance I immerse myself for a few days and then don’t pick another up until I allow myself a few days off writing again.

How long does it take for you to be able to get the characters out of your mind and move on to the next?

I haven’t as yet. Having just written the first part of a spin off/continuation trilogy, I’m still well and truly entrenched in my original characters from the first three. Although, I’m now introducing new ones as well. It’s not difficult for me to hear their different voices though. As with most authors, I’m sure, the characters talk very clearly about how they want to be portrayed, who they are, and what they need from me. My characters are quite unique in their kinks and tolerances, so it’s pretty easy to differentiate between them all. The difficulty always lies in the complexity of my story line and piecing it all together bit by bit.

Are the names of the characters in your novels important?

The main ones are, yes. They come straight away. The moment a new lead talks to me in some way, I know their name too. It’s as if I can feel their name within the way they talk. Random I know, but that’s the way it seems to come to me. Alexander White started talking to me after I’d written a poem from a males POV (it was erotic in nature) then he carried on talking about other stuff. Before I knew it I’d written the first chapter of a book. I was amazed, frankly. Still am most of the time.

What are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?

Time away from the laptop.

Sometimes I question which reality I’m actually living in, which isn’t all that easy to deal with when I write books involving a past I’m no longer part of. BDSM and the kinks associated with it can take over your existence somewhat because it’s a lifestyle choice. So, given that I no longer participate with any legitimacy, it’s important for me to give as much time to real life as possible. I have a business, a partner, and a young daughter that help keep me grounded (as much as possible with me anyway) and a myriad of other issues to deal with on a daily basis. Getting lost in my novels is something I try to do as often as I can, but I do need time away from my tapping to stop me from becoming a hermit. It would be far too easy to become so entrenched that I don’t come up for air at all. Who would want to with these men talking at me all the time?

What is the most demeaning thing said about you as a writer?

Someone once said;

“Doesn’t she just write sex?”

No, I don’t. And I found that pretty demeaning if I’m honest. Not that’s there’s anything wrong with writing sex, or authors that do only write short sexy stories, its more that my books are huge. If you break my first ‘Seeing White’ down into sex scenes verses actual dialogue and complex story line, it’s probably about 400 pages of story, 50 pages of sex. Yes, I do write kink. I enjoy writing kink, and from what I’ve been told, I write very good kink, but it’s always part of a huge storyline. I suppose I could knock out a 20k sexy novella every week and probably sell them quite well, but I choose, in fact my characters choose, to write a much larger story about love, loss, need and family. So, yes. It felt a bit demeaning when someone said that about me, and I hope to never hear it again, because wow, 500 pages of sex would be hard work indeed.

How do you react to a bad review of one of your books?

I stare at them, digesting every word, and hate everything I’ve ever written for about 20 minutes. Having chastised myself to death for those 20 minutes, I then have a snotfit at my PA about it and she invariably tells me to accept it and move on. The first ones were the hardest to accept, and I’m not going to lie, I cried on several occasions about a few I got, but now they are easier to deal with. Not everybody is going to like my books or my style of writing, that’s fine. Those people will probably really enjoy someone else work that maybe I don’t like, and that’s fine too. Funnily enough, that’s the fabulous thing about this book world. We are all so different in what we like and don’t like, just as we are in life really, and it’s not up to me to tell people how they should feel about my books, is it? I put myself out there to be judged. So, bring on the judging. It’s just a case of pulling up your big girl pants really and learning from them in some way if they are constructive.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Regardless of my outward appearance, I can be quite an emotional soul really, and writing all of these books brings an element of my past back to me quite succinctly. Both Alexander and Beth have parts of me lingering in them for varying reasons, so it was a real rollercoaster of emotions for me at times. I found myself crying through a lot of the scenes and remembering things that I didn’t want to think about, maybe revisiting mistakes and misadventures. But I think most writers find themselves doing that. Not many authors can distance themselves wholeheartedly from their characters. If and when I learn how to achieve that, I’ll share the secret.

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Try, try, try …. And listen to those that want to help.

I’ve met so many fabulous people in this industry so far, and there are plenty of people out there willing to lend a hand and get you along a little further. I made mistakes at first, things I really wouldn’t change now looking back on it because they did help in a way, but I made them because I didn’t listen. Maybe I was overwhelmed. Maybe I was stubborn (that’s probably the real reason) or maybe I was just so consumed with how I believed it should be that I refused to acknowledge help in any way. Stupid. I could have avoided so much of the trouble I made for myself if I’d simply listened and learned. Instead I was too focused on getting the books out there and made mistakes because of it. Patience has become my new best friend, that and an underlying need to check, check and check again.

Is there a message in your novels that you want readers to grasp?

Only that love is not simple, and certainly not in the BDSM world. It’s complicated and takes a great deal of courage and commitment. I’ve read so many books describing the scene as simplistic. It’s not. We all have very different minds that get confused, and find varying ways of avoiding situations rather than confronting them. One of the truest forms of love is truth, no matter what the reaction might be. Sometimes we have to lay out the truth and hope the person we love accepts it.

Describe in 5 words, your writing:

Complicated. Kinky. Robust. Talky. Dark.

What do you use to write your book?

Laptop. There aren’t many notes or books lying around. I’m a pantster, apparently. I write as I go and eventually it all falls into place.

Do you listen to music while you write or read?

Yes, all the time. Unless it’s a really dark scene, and then there’s silence. I can’t write the really disturbing stuff with any music that distracts me out of it. Seems that comes best from the depths of my mind with no interference.

If you could write with any other author(s) who would it be and why?

Oh, good lord. What a question. Ermm … I love John Grisham novels, so maybe he would be bloody brilliant to write with. Bit of a long shot there to be honest. Other than that I really don’t know.

NON- BOOK QUESTIONS

When you were a child what did you want to be when you grew up?

A lawyer.

Did/Do you have a nickname?

What are your pet peeves?

Intolerance, bullying, and people who think they’re entitled to something when they’ve done to achieve their goals. I’m quite a believer in work hard, play hard. Life is for living, and I’ve got little time for people who think they have some ability to rule my world unless they’ve done something to deserve my respect.

What is your favourite coffee shop drink?

Cortado

What's your favourite tv show?

Anything drama based. And period dramas in particular.

What is your favourite kind of cookie?

Oatmeal.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you have and why?

Music – Like I said, silence brings on the darkness.

Moisturiser – I’m blonde, my skin hates the sun

One hot and intelligent man – who wouldn’t, right?

Where would you go if you had a time machine?

The 1920’s – If there was a period in time that would suit me down to the ground, that’s it. I just want a club that’s full of that old-school style and sophistication. Tilted hats, champagne saucers, soulful sexy music, brass bands and all that jazz. It would be kink laden, obviously.

If you were an ice cream what flavor would you be?

Salted caramel

What song best describes you?

Take me to church.

THIS OR THAT

Pepsi or Coke

Coke

Michael Fassbender or Colin Farrell

Fassbender all the way

Cows or Sheep

Cows

Castle or Town house

Town house

City or Country

City

Lover or Fighter

Fighter

Pop or Rock Music

Rock

80’s or 90’s

90’s

Singing or dancing

Dancing

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & LINKS

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Charlotte is a dark erotic romance/suspense author living in the heart of the Shropshire countryside in Great Britain. She’s lived all across the United Kingdom but finally settled in a small town that still reeks of old school England.

Her love of reading started in college, but the call to writing came much later in life, when she finally had the chance to put pen to paper for the first time. Writing has become a revolution for the soul and she cherishes every second that she’s sitting at the laptop tapping her way into a new character.

When not writing she enjoys socialising with close friends and travelling to all the major cities across the globe. Travel has always been a constant companion to reading throughout her life and only increases her thirst for stimulation.

With more and more books developing and being released, she intends to spend the next years enjoying every element of being a published author while learning as much as she can.

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