Today I will be interviewing Carole Matthews - the international best-selling author of 24, hugely successful, romantic comedy books which have been published in 31 countries.
I bumped in to Carole while she meandered, notebook and pencil in hand, through the grandeur and beauty of Stowe gardens, soaking up the 18th century landscape like so many inspired writers before her.
I bumped in to Carole while she meandered, notebook and pencil in hand, through the grandeur and beauty of Stowe gardens, soaking up the 18th century landscape like so many inspired writers before her.
Hi Carole, thank you so much for taking part in this interview today.
I do like to start my interviews off with a nice easy question, so here goes...
1. What are your thoughts on the biomechanics of the Lagoon sea
slug?
I don’t know much about their biomechancis, but I do know that the finger-like growths around the edges of a lagoon sea slug’s body have many possible uses, from aiding respiration to defence against predators. If they were able to evolve to live on land then it would also enable them to be excellent at roller-skating.
Hmm... roller-skating sea slugs. I'm impressed by your knowledge of these weird and wonderful creatures and your vision for their future. However, we'd need some big skates for this one...
I do like to start my interviews off with a nice easy question, so here goes...
1. What are your thoughts on the biomechanics of the Lagoon sea
slug?
I don’t know much about their biomechancis, but I do know that the finger-like growths around the edges of a lagoon sea slug’s body have many possible uses, from aiding respiration to defence against predators. If they were able to evolve to live on land then it would also enable them to be excellent at roller-skating.
Hmm... roller-skating sea slugs. I'm impressed by your knowledge of these weird and wonderful creatures and your vision for their future. However, we'd need some big skates for this one...
2. Could you tell us something about yourself that we may not already know?
I was Miss Bournemouth Pier in my youth and won two tickets to see The Des O’Connor show.
Surely not the one and only Des O'Connor? My favourite song has got to be Dick-A-Dum-Dum...
I was Miss Bournemouth Pier in my youth and won two tickets to see The Des O’Connor show.
Surely not the one and only Des O'Connor? My favourite song has got to be Dick-A-Dum-Dum...
3. It is common knowledge to any of your Facebook fans that you
enjoy walking, is this a way of getting inspiration for your books?
Yes. I do love a good long walk, particularly by a river or canal. Sometimes it’s a good idea to let your mind go into free-flow. I feel that’s when it comes up with some new plots or solves out a tricky bit that you're
working on. It’s also when my partner, Lovely Kev, and I find time to
talk properly rather than having snatched conversations.
enjoy walking, is this a way of getting inspiration for your books?
Yes. I do love a good long walk, particularly by a river or canal. Sometimes it’s a good idea to let your mind go into free-flow. I feel that’s when it comes up with some new plots or solves out a tricky bit that you're
working on. It’s also when my partner, Lovely Kev, and I find time to
talk properly rather than having snatched conversations.
4. Many of your book covers have very picturesque scenes, are these real places that you have discovered on your travels or imaginary?
A bit of both. They’re usually based on real places but prettified for the covers. I’m blessed to have a great artist, Alice Tait, who does my covers.
And they are very beautiful covers indeed.
5. A quote from your latest novel, A Place to Call Home, “The perfect escape (Woman)”. Where and what would be your idea of a perfect escape?
A bit of both. They’re usually based on real places but prettified for the covers. I’m blessed to have a great artist, Alice Tait, who does my covers.
And they are very beautiful covers indeed.
5. A quote from your latest novel, A Place to Call Home, “The perfect escape (Woman)”. Where and what would be your idea of a perfect escape?
The first holiday Lovely Kev and I had, our first holiday together on an island called Veligandu in the Maldives. It was as close to paradise as I’ve ever come. A couple of weeks there would be nice.
Yeah, looks ok I suppose...
To be honest - who the hell am I kidding - it's a beautiful place!
Yeah, looks ok I suppose...
To be honest - who the hell am I kidding - it's a beautiful place!
6. If you had to choose a chocolate bar and a book to match (not one of your own), what would they be?
Any chocolate, any book! I am currently working my way through a box of Lindt Connoisseur chocolates - yum - and reading Charlotte Street by Danny Wallace.
Any chocolate, any book! I am currently working my way through a box of Lindt Connoisseur chocolates - yum - and reading Charlotte Street by Danny Wallace.
7. Apart from daydreaming in your garden shed, do you write in
there, just like Roald Dahl used to?
No. I’ve had to abandon the garden shed for writing. All I do is fall asleep in there. I need to be at my desk and with no view!
there, just like Roald Dahl used to?
No. I’ve had to abandon the garden shed for writing. All I do is fall asleep in there. I need to be at my desk and with no view!
8. Another quote, “Matthews is one of the few writers who can rival Marian Keyes’ gift for telling heart-warming tales with buckets of charm and laughs” Daily Record.
Have you read Marian Keyes’ books and if so, which one is your favourite and why?
Yes. I love Marian’s books. My favourite is still her first novel, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married. I remember reading it and laughing my head off all the way through. I take that quote as a big compliment!
Have you read Marian Keyes’ books and if so, which one is your favourite and why?
Yes. I love Marian’s books. My favourite is still her first novel, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married. I remember reading it and laughing my head off all the way through. I take that quote as a big compliment!
9. Do you get much time for baking cakes and if so, what is your favourite cake to bake?
I love to bake and I’ve just been given a new gooey brownie recipe
which has the boys swooning.
I love to bake and I’ve just been given a new gooey brownie recipe
which has the boys swooning.
10. Apart from shaved fingers, what else do you like to have in a salad?
Lol. Yes, I did manage to grate my finger as well as a carrot for dinner yesterday. Wine was involved. I eat salad twice a day - often finger-free
- as I think this helps to balance the amount of chocolate and cake I eat. It doesn’t.
Lol. Yes, I did manage to grate my finger as well as a carrot for dinner yesterday. Wine was involved. I eat salad twice a day - often finger-free
- as I think this helps to balance the amount of chocolate and cake I eat. It doesn’t.
11. What type of books did you like to read as a child?
Anything and everything. Much the same as now. Books I particularly
enjoyed were Black Beauty, Little Women and Jane Eyre.
Anything and everything. Much the same as now. Books I particularly
enjoyed were Black Beauty, Little Women and Jane Eyre.
12. Is there anything that annoys you?
People not saying thank you.
Hmm... I know what you mean so once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking part in this interview today Carole.
People not saying thank you.
Hmm... I know what you mean so once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking part in this interview today Carole.
13. You have a lovely cardboard cut-out of the Queen in your home, could you tell us why?
We bought her for her Diamond Jubilee as we were having an afternoon tea party. She sort of just stayed. Now we take her on holiday with us.
Sounds like great fun, I'm sure you must get some odd looks though. After all it's not every day that you bump in to the Queen jetting off to the Maldives.
We bought her for her Diamond Jubilee as we were having an afternoon tea party. She sort of just stayed. Now we take her on holiday with us.
Sounds like great fun, I'm sure you must get some odd looks though. After all it's not every day that you bump in to the Queen jetting off to the Maldives.
14. Does Lovely Kev read your books?
Yes. He’s the first person to do so.
15. Are any of your male characters based on Lovely Kev?
He would like to think all of them. I think he’s most like Noah from A Cottage by the Sea.
Ah, the handsome and charming Noah - lucky you.
Yes. He’s the first person to do so.
15. Are any of your male characters based on Lovely Kev?
He would like to think all of them. I think he’s most like Noah from A Cottage by the Sea.
Ah, the handsome and charming Noah - lucky you.
16. What is your favourite rubbish TV programme?
So many of them! I love telly. Escape to the Country is probably top of the list. Mainly due to Alistair Appleton.
So many of them! I love telly. Escape to the Country is probably top of the list. Mainly due to Alistair Appleton.
Hmm... no shaved fingers in Alistair's cucumber sandwich!
17. You have sold over 4 million books worldwide, would you have believed anyone if they had told you this would happen, 20 years ago?
No. It’s great though.
17. You have sold over 4 million books worldwide, would you have believed anyone if they had told you this would happen, 20 years ago?
No. It’s great though.
18. Fish fingers or fish cakes?
I can never get past a fish cake on a restaurant menu. Love them.
I can never get past a fish cake on a restaurant menu. Love them.
19. If you could invite 3 people, dead or alive, to dinner, who would they be and why?
I wouldn’t want dead people at my dinner table, so I’d ask Prince Harry as you’d be assured some royal naughtiness, Keifer Sutherland who I’d stare longingly at and Jeremy Vine from Radio 2 who would help to keep the discussion lively.
I wouldn’t want dead people at my dinner table, so I’d ask Prince Harry as you’d be assured some royal naughtiness, Keifer Sutherland who I’d stare longingly at and Jeremy Vine from Radio 2 who would help to keep the discussion lively.
20. What is one thing that you refuse to share?
Crisps.
21. What household chore do you hate the most?
All of them. Have employed a cleaner for the last 20 years. Best money I ever spent.
Wouldn't you even consider doing a teeny-weeny bit of cleaning Carole?
Crisps.
21. What household chore do you hate the most?
All of them. Have employed a cleaner for the last 20 years. Best money I ever spent.
Wouldn't you even consider doing a teeny-weeny bit of cleaning Carole?
22. What is one thing a woman should never do?
Stay with someone who doesn’t treat you as if you are a princess.
I agree 100% with you Carole.
23. If you were granted one wish, what would you wish for?
Health, wealth and happiness for me and my loved ones. Maybe that’s more than one wish.
I'm sure your readers would be more than happy to grant your wish as a 3 for the price of 1 offer.
Stay with someone who doesn’t treat you as if you are a princess.
I agree 100% with you Carole.
23. If you were granted one wish, what would you wish for?
Health, wealth and happiness for me and my loved ones. Maybe that’s more than one wish.
I'm sure your readers would be more than happy to grant your wish as a 3 for the price of 1 offer.
24. What do you never leave home without?
Shoes.
Wise choice Carole, you wouldn't want to end up looking like this...
Shoes.
Wise choice Carole, you wouldn't want to end up looking like this...
... not to mention the hard skin and injuries you could endure.
So, last but not least, my final question for you.
25. Do you think there should be a mouse flavoured cat food and if so, what should it be called?
Moustastic.
Tomendous! I'm sure that Tom Cat will be very pleased.
So, last but not least, my final question for you.
25. Do you think there should be a mouse flavoured cat food and if so, what should it be called?
Moustastic.
Tomendous! I'm sure that Tom Cat will be very pleased.
Well that’s it. Thank you so much for taking the time to join me in this interview today. I've had such fun doing it and feel happy and sad at the same time - a little bit like Pharrell Williams. I wish you well for the future Carole.
Thanks, Tara. Lovely questions! C : ) xx
Thanks, Tara. Lovely questions! C : ) xx
Checkout Carole's showcase here or visit her wonderful website at: http://www.carolematthews.com/