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    Q&A with author of Breaking the Rules – Cat Lavoie

    10/15/2012

    Cat Lavoie1. What was the inspiration for your novel?
    The idea for BREAKING THE RULES came after a conversation with a friend. We were discussing whether men and women can be ‘just friends’ and I started wondering what would happen to a lifelong platonic friendship if it stopped being platonic for a brief moment.

    2. When did you take up writing?
    I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. It started with poems and short stories and, when I was in my late teens, I knew I wanted to be a novelist.

    3. How important is setting/place in your writing?
    Setting plays a significant part in my stories. BREAKING THE RULES is set in New York City and it was very important for me to have my characters live in the hustle and bustle of the big city.

    4. Do you have a favourite character (s) in your current novel?
    I love Ollie, my main character’s best friend, because he is perfectly flawed and (despite those flaws) he is an awesome best friend and sidekick. And also because he’s cute and funny.

    5. What’s the best piece of writing advice you were ever given?
    Write the book you want to read.

    6. Do you have a schedule for writing?
    Not really. Since I have a pretty hectic day job, I try to write whenever I can—evenings, lunch breaks, and daily commutes.

    7. Are you a plotter or someone who tends to wing it?
    I am definitely a plotter. I need to have a plan before I start writing—even though I sometimes forget about the plan along the way and let my characters take over.

    8. Can you name three of four of your current favourite books?
    I’ve read a lot of great books in the last few months. To name a few: IN NEED OF THERAPY by Tracie Banister, FINDING LUCAS by Samantha Stroh Bailey, ON THE ISLAND by Tracey Garvis-Graves and CHOCOLATE FOR BREAKFAST by Martha Reynolds.

    9. Can you tell me a little bit about what you are working on now?
    My second novel is about a woman who gets sent to a tropical resort by her friends and family to get over an ex-boyfriend. A lot of crazy things happen at the resort and (hopefully) hilarity ensues. I’ve also started thinking about a
    sequel to BREAKING THE RULES.

    10. What advice would you give to a fledgling writer to assist them on their journey?
    Write a book that you would want to read. And never give up on your dream.

    Breaking the Rules - CoverBREAKING THE RULES BLURB
    When twenty-seven year old Roxy Rule’s best friend and roommate accepts a glamorous new job overseas, she expects their relationship to continue as it’s always been—carefree and easy—until they share a heart-stopping kiss moments before his departure. Overcome with mixed emotions, she fights the urge to over analyze the situation and resumes back to her normal life in New York City, working for an intolerable boss at a dead end job, creeping further and further away from her own dreams of becoming a professional chef.

    While things become more complicated between her and Ollie, Roxy is sure that nothing can come between two lifelong best friends—not even mild jealousy over a thriving career or a silly little kiss that meant nothing. In fact, it was such a meaningless and forgettable kiss that she convinces herself that it’s not even worth mentioning to her fiancé, although it is all she can think about.

    Roxy’s already topsy-turvy life only gets more complicated when her
    sisters Steffi and Izzie suddenly become her roommates. Steffi is six months
    into a pregnancy she refuses to discuss and Izzie is in the throes of a premature midlife crisis. Roxy tries to take control of her career, her love life and her sisters – but can she really handle it all? And can the Rule family
    keep it together – or break under the pressure?

    You can find Breaking the Rules here:

    PRINT: AMAZONAMAZON UK
    EBOOK: KINDLE & KINDLE (UK) & NOOK & KOBO

    You can find Cat here:

    WEBSITE:http://www.CatLavoie.com
    FACEBOOK:http://www.facebook.com/CatLavoieAuthor
    TWITTER:http://www.twitter.com/Catenabi

    Comments

    Cat Lavoie
    10/15/2012 08:38:49 pm

    Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Monique! 🙂
    Reply
    Monique
    10/16/2012 11:59:25 am

    An absolute pleasure!

    louise wise
    10/15/2012 08:43:51 pm

    The book sounds fab! And I so agree with your advice. You need to be passionate about your work, and you can’t be that unless you like what you do! Best wishes.
    Reply
    Cat Lavoie
    10/16/2012 11:14:08 am

    Thank you so much Louise! 🙂

    Samantha
    10/16/2012 01:44:18 am

    Great interview ladies 🙂

    Meredith Schorr
    10/16/2012 01:59:32 am

    Ooh! You’re 2nd novel sounds fab!
    Reply
    Cat Lavoie
    10/16/2012 11:13:24 am

    Thanks Meredith! 🙂

    Jackie Bouchard
    10/16/2012 12:03:36 pm

    I heard that same advice (“Write the book you want to read”). It is, indeed, great advice!

    I’m almost done with Breaking the Rules and have really enjoyed it! 🙂
    Reply
    Cat Lavoie
    10/17/2012 03:19:59 am

    Thanks Jackie! So glad you’re enjoying it!! 🙂

    Brea Brown
    10/16/2012 12:36:03 pm

    Great interview and advice. Can’t wait to read “Breaking the Rules” and the next one you have to offer.
    Reply
    Cat Lavoie
    10/17/2012 03:21:15 am

    Thank you Brea!! 🙂

    Martha Reynolds
    10/16/2012 01:09:08 pm

    What a great interview! Cat, you wrote a fabulous book and I can’t wait to read your next novel. And thank you for the shout-out, chica. xxx
    Reply
    Cat Lavoie
    10/17/2012 03:23:23 am

    That you so much Martha!! 🙂 Can’t wait to read your next novel either!!

    Samantha Stroh Bailey
    10/16/2012 11:35:41 pm

    Great interview! Thanks for the shout out, Cat! I adore Ollie and would love to read more about him. Your next book sounds amazing! I love the advice you give, Cat, and I can’t wait to read another fantastic novel of yours.
    Reply
    Cat Lavoie
    10/17/2012 03:24:32 am

    Thank you Samantha!! 🙂 Looking forward to your next book as well!! 🙂

    Susan Buchanan
    10/17/2012 05:47:23 am

    great interview. I didn’t quite receive the advice of ‘write the book you want to read’, so much as decide that that’s what I wanted to write. Everything was too fluffy for my liking! Your book does sound great and am off to GR to add it to my TBR. Love the cover, too. Sooz
    Reply
    Cat Lavoie
    10/18/2012 07:32:07 am

    Thank you so much Susan! 🙂

    Tracie Banister
    10/17/2012 11:32:49 pm

    What a great interview! Thanks so much for including IN NEED OF THERAPY on your list of current favorite books, Cat! I’m honored. 🙂 And your advice “Write a book that you would want to read.” really resonates with me. That’s why I continued to write Chick Lit even after I was told by agents and publishers that the genre is dead.

    Looking forward to hearing more about the book set at the resort – such a great premise! Do you have a title yet?

    Brea Brown
    10/18/2012 12:21:14 am

    To sort of quote Mark Twain, “The rumors of the death of chick lit have been greatly exaggerated,” methinks.
    Reply
    Cat Lavoie
    10/18/2012 07:39:22 am

    AMEN, Brea! 🙂

    Cat Lavoie
    10/18/2012 07:37:23 am

    Thanks Tracie! Book #2 is going to be called Zoey & the Moment of Zen! 🙂
    Reply