Spotlight on Guest Author Lynn Forth

I first met Lynn Forth at a book launch event at my local cafe in September 2014. We immediately got on, as if we’d known each other for ages. This is the first picture of us together at that book event, which included the launch of books for Janice Preston and Alison May.

Lynn went on to join the Romantic Novelists’ Association and this blog is to celebrate the publication of her debut novel Love in La La Land by Crooked Cat Books on 10 October 2017.

Lynn Forth went to live in Accrington when she was 11 and still has the accent to prove it. She now lives in Worcestershire (where it doesn’t rain as much) with her family and a room with a view to write in.

With a lifelong fascination with words and people, she studied English and Psychology at University and, as a lecturer at the local College, she tried to impart this love of words and teaching to students of all ages.

An avid reader, she runs two book clubs and, as a bit of a movie buff, she loves the discussions at a local Film Club. Although not a big exercise fan, she enthusiastically enjoys the fun and music at her Zumba sessions and loves encouraging a riotous array of flowers in her garden.

She now writes romantic comedies full of sparky dialogue set in exotic foreign climes, which, of course, she has to visit for the sake of research. Her debut novel, Love in La La Land, combines this love of films, humour and sunny places.

I asked Lynn some questions:-

I know you were in the RNA New Writers’ Scheme. What part do you feel this played in your journey to publication?

It was crucial. No one had ever read my book before and I didn’t know if I could write or not. Your NWS reader is anonymous which guarantees their objectivity.  I was lucky to have a wonderful reader, Jules Wake, who later outed herself to me at the RNA conference. She was honest about what my book lacked; it needed more show not tell. She praised my writing style and was enthusiastic about my characters and dialogue. She made me believe in myself as a writer. Later, she read my revised version before it went out to Crooked Cat and suggested a couple more tweaks. I’m convinced I would never have got published without her help and the whole NWS scheme.  I think, like all other members, I’m very grateful to the whole RNA for everything it does for us.

How is the heroine of your book like you?

What an interesting question. She’s much younger, better looking and more successful than me. But she is a novelist, and her book was about the south of France, as is my next one, and she has red/gold hair, which mine used to be, so I suppose those are aspects I can identify with. Perhaps we also share the same love of language and the same sense of humour, and I would have loved to go to Hollywood like she did.

If you had to choose the cast for a film of Love in La La Land, who would be in the leading roles?

Oooh I have cast this in my mind as I was writing it and what a luscious cast it is. I imagined the young Brad Pitt as he seduces Thelma in Thelma and Louise, all toned and tanned and wicked,  as I was writing Scott Flynn…. although, of course, the final character is not like him at all.  Now picture Hugh Jackman as the young Wolverine, all dark and glowering and moody, that’s Jack Clancy. Originally I fancied Emma Stone as my heroine, Jane, which was spooky as she played the lead in the film La La Land. However, I recently saw Holliday Grainger as Robin Ellacott in the Cormoron Strike series on TV and her hair and personality are just right, but she does need very blue eyes.

What can we look forward to from you in the future?

I have three more completed books that need a bit of polishing. Two of them feature Nice in France, a city I love to visit. I can’t wait to get stuck into them and add in some extra zest and fun. Then, of course, I have a whole plot ideas book just waiting in the wings.

Thank you Lynn and good luck with your debut. To contact Lynn you can use the following links:-

Website: lynnforthauthor.wordpress.com.

Twitter: @lynnforth

Author Page: Lynn Forth Author

Love in La La Land

In the city of stars, will English author, Jane Jones, come to earth with a bump? Or can she write her own happy ending? 

Excited to be in glitzy, glamorous Hollywood, Jane is thrilled by the prospect of seeing a scene from her novel being filmed and starring screen heart throb, Scott Flynn. Too bad, she is accompanied by the cynical Jack Clancy, the screenwriter who has ruined her story but seems totally unrepentant about all the changes.  

Both men seem intent on pursuing her. But do they have ulterior motives? Is Jane a mere pawn in a game between two fierce rivals?

In the bubble of La La Land’s glittering parties, hovering paparazzi, and powerful movie tycoons, Jane begins to feel adrift.

She must quickly learn who can be trusted…and who can’t.

Love in La La Land is available as both eBook and paperback from Amazon using the following link myBook.to/LoveinLaLaLand1

There is an online launch party for Love in La La Land on Tuesday 10 October 2017 14.00 to 20.00 hours BST on Facebook. Please join Lynn and guest authors (including yours truly Morton S. Gray – guest slot 15.00 to 15.30 hours BST) if you can.

 

Thank you for visiting my blog – Morton S. Gray – Author. I hope you enjoyed this post. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. My novel The Girl on the Beach published by Choc Lit is available from all ebook platforms – Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Apple iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Google Play.