• Blog

    Writers on Wednesday – Louise Wise

    4/30/2014

    Louise WiseI thought I’d add a new feature to the blog Writers on Wednesday – where guest authors guest post about their writing process or influences or motivation.

    My first cab off the rank is the lovely Louise Wise.

    ***

    Mental Illness: Nurture or Nature? By Louise Wise

    Mental illness and chick lit don’t go together, so I took a gamble with Oh no, I’ve Fallen in Love! but the book wrote itself (only another writer will understand that statement!), and it wasn’t until I’d finished that I realised I’d done it again—written about loneliness. I have a similar premise running through each of my four books. Maybe that’s my ‘thing’? If there is such thing as ‘a thing’!

    It certainly wasn’t a conscious factor and I’m not lonely. What I am interested in is the mind, from how a gut feeling tells you not all is well with a friend, to knowing that danger is approaching i.e. you’re about to cross the road but you just know a speeding car is going to hurtle around the corner. Ever had one of those moments? Is that a sixth sense, I-see-dead-people, type of thing?

    Personally, I think it’s basic survival instinct but you can dress it up if you want. I can’t explain the gut feelings.

    With Oh no, I’ve Fallen in Love! Valerie, the main protagonist, feels she has to remain lonely to protect herself from a curse, and the curse is her mental illness. Sounds straightforward but bring in a meddling older friend and a playboy that fancies the pants off of Valerie, and you have the nitty-gritties for a romantic comedy.

    Researching the book made me so interested in the power of the mind that I signed up for an on-line course on cognitive therapy! It made me realise that the brain can have so much wrong with it, and only needs a slight trigger, be it emotional or an injury, for it to unravel.

    The mind can make a rational person believe everyone is looking/laughing at him (paranoia). Make you over-think about germs (type of OCD). Schizophrenia, depression, eating disorders… the list is endless and it all begins with a chemical imbalance in the mind. You are not always born with mental health problems and they sometimes ‘run in families’ so could it be that they develop because of nurture, rather than nature?

    Valerie Anthrope in Oh no, I’ve Fallen in Love! was brought up by her neurotic mother, who unfortunately had her bipolar undetected, and died a confused and unhappy woman. It was a disorder that transferred to her daughter.

    Because Valerie doesn’t understand the enormity of her problem she tries to ignore it, and it takes an interfering friend to see it for what it is, but Valerie doesn’t want to believe even when it’s pointed out and prefers to continue to ignore it, and of course, the problem escalates.

    Her depression is the result of her loneliness and not vice versa but because this book is a comedy romance, albeit a black comedy romance, it’s her caustic tongue and the sub-characters tiptoeing around her that lighten the tone. Although I feel I must add here that not once do I invite the reader to laugh at the illness.

    Because of the theme, I wanted Oh no, I’ve Fallen in Love! to be different so it has the secondary character’s voice, Lex, throughout the novel in alternating scenes between him a Valerie. Valerie’s voice is told in the first person, and Lex’s in the third.

    I needed the reader to be with Valerie on her journey through the book and could only do that properly by allowing the reader to become her, with Lex, I also wanted the reader to get inside his mind, but felt able to hold something of him back, hence his character being in the third person.

    Oh no, I’ve Fallen in Love! is on a sale for 99c/77p all spring.

    Oh No I've Fallen in Love - CoverExcerpt

    As soon as I entered, the music, balloons and smiley waitresses wearing festive hats, and the entire Christmassy atmosphere made me realise I’d made a mistake. I should have faked a migraine.

    Paul spotted me first and stood up. ‘Yoo-hoo! Over here, Miss Anthrope.’ Paul, his wife Milly and Tim sat around a table where above floated coloured balloons, their strings attached to a weight in the centre of an equally bright tablecloth. I made my way over and immediately spotted a stranger – and a scam. Ellen guided me over and insisted I sit next to the stranger while she sat the other side of me. The man had a ready smile, and beautiful eyes. They were the brightest blue, and totally wasted on a male. I was immediately interested despite the set-up.

    ‘This is Jon. Jon, Valerie,’ Ellen introduced us.

    I nodded, removed my coat, which a passing waitress took. I sat down and smiled at Milly. ‘Nice to see you again,’ I said.

    ‘Ooh, can I have your red straw?’ Milly said to Ellen. ‘I’ll swap you my black one.’

    There was little doubt this was Paul’s wife. Ellen swapped straws, and winked across at me. ‘Jon’s an accountant,’ she said.

    ‘And you’re a financial broker,’ Jon said, tapping me on the nose with his finger on the word “you’re”.

    My interest vanished in a puff of oh-my-God-he’s-a-jerk smoke and I sent multitudinous angry thoughts to Ellen, but straight-faced she looked back at me and said, ‘Well, we’ll leave you two love birds alone while we eat on the next table. Come along, you others. Let’s leave the youngsters to it.’

    Then they all got up and left me with Jon the accountant. Gobsmacked wasn’t a word I often used.

    Fucked, was better.

    The night was going to be extremely long.

    You can find the book here:

    Amazon

    Kobo

    Nook

    Apple iStore

     

  • Blog

    What I’ve learned on my writing journey – Louise Wise

    8/15/2013

    The latest in the series “what I’ve Learned on my writing Journey” today features Louise Wise.

    Begin at the End By Louise Wise

    I couldn’t get a more different story line for my two contemporary romances. The premise is the same (as with all romance) man meets woman, or vice versa, there’s an internal denial of love and something, or someone, is stopping them from revealing their feelings. They overcome that, fall in love and live happy ever after—or not, depending on the authors you read.

    Personally, I like a story where I know there is an expected happy ending. A sad ending isn’t a conclusion, it’s a cliff-hanger in my opinion, and they leave me unsatisfied.

    And what I’ve learned on my writing journey is that endings HAVE to be thought of BEFORE you start writing whether they are a happy or a sad finish. To write ‘by the seat of your pants’ is fine but you HAVE to know where you’re going or else your writing will be never-ending (like a soap opera). Even a gloomy ending means you have to tie everything together.

    So, when I have an idea for a story, like most writers, I mull it over in my head to get a feel of the characters. Then I ask myself how I want the story to be resolved. Then I write the ending FIRST.

    It isn’t proper prose, more like notes, and of course it can be changed to suit the characters, storyline or both. But at least I have an idea that the book has an ending. It gives me guidance and something to aim for.

    The Fall of the Misanthrope - Louise Wise - CoverThe Fall of the Misanthrope:
    I bitch, therefore I am
    “They say I’m ‘as hard as my acrylic nails’ but what they don’t understand is I have to be. It’s called self-preservation.” – Valerie Anthrope

    USA: http://amzn.to/Wtbman
    UK: http://amzn.to/Syt3Di

    What happens when Cinderella is brought screaming into the 21st century, where the ugly sisters are Valerie’s thoughts and emotions, and the fairy godmother is a middle-aged busybody from hell.

    The fairy godmother bursts into Valerie’s life with her magic wand (AKA interference) and insists that she can help Valerie—whether Valerie asks for help or not. And she most definitely does not.

    Then there is playboy Lex. The flirty Prince Charming whose “bed ‘em and leave ‘em” motto applies to ALL women—until Valerie fails to fall at his feet as he expects.

    A concoction of fun, tears and cocktails.

     

    A Proper Charlie - Louise Wise - Cover~~~

    A Proper Charlie

    What’s a girl to do when she discovers her boss is a wanted man?

    Turn herself into a honey trap, that’s what.

    All Charlie Wallis wanted was a career and a man. Not just any man, but a man to love and cherish her; someone she can confide in, share jokes and toothbrushes.
    A life partner, not a husband – she’s modern – and a couple of babies like the other girls in her council block. And maybe a fast-paced career like those power-suited women racing around with spouted paper cups of latte in one hand and a briefcase in the other. It wasn’t much to ask, was it?

    Poor Charlie, she should’ve stayed home.

    Amazon.UK
    http://amzn.to/Qxv3w6
    Amazon.com http://amzn.to/PHLrL8
    ***

    Married, with four children, Louise Wise lives in England. She is a pharmacist technician by day and a writer by night. She was educated in an ordinary state school and left without achieving much in the way of qualifications; you could say she was the result of a crap state-funded school. Hungry for knowledge she enrolled in an Adult Education centre and
    studied English, maths and creative writing. Whereas other young girls asked for makeup and clothes for their birthdays, she asked for encyclopedias!

    Louise Wise used her general love of romantic fiction and interest in astronomy to write and publish her first book, Eden. It was an experimental novel and was never meant to see the light of day! She had received many rejections, which stated that the novel was just too original for the current market. An agent took it on but failed to find a publisher for it, this urged Louise into believing in herself as a writer. Since then she believes she has found her niche with romantic
    comedy.

    Her books include: Eden, A Proper Charlie and non-fiction So You Want an Author Platform? And newly released, The
    Fall of the Misanthrope: I bitch, therefore I am.

    Links:
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/louise_wise
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WiseWordsBookBlogger
    Pinterest: Book Junkies Library of indie books – http://pinterest.com/bookjunkies/

    Blog: http://louisewise.com

    Comment

    Louise Wise
    8/15/2013 06:29:33 pm

    Thank you very much for having me here.

  • Blog

    Guest Post from Author Louise Wise – Romance in all its subgenre glory

    1/23/2013

    The Fall of the Misanthrope - Louise Wise - CoverI am a contemporary romance writer. Some may mistake it for chick lit and call it as such. I don’t mind. The term ‘chick lit’ isn’t derogatory to me, like it is to some (dated, yes, but not offensive). But then the entire romance genre is the underdog of the fiction world with ‘chick-lit’ coming in right at the bottom.

    Romance readers (and writers) are used to the snide remarks when it’s discovered what we read or write. You know the ones, the know-it-alls with the ‘what is right for me is right for all’ because ‘they said’. Bless them.

    So, what are the variations of romance? I could list them all but we’d be here forever, so I’ve picked only a few to talk about.

    Of course, romance is straight-talking (either modern or historical), and simple to describe: man and woman meet, fall in love, will they/won’t they, with a not necessarily a happy ending. But these are as varied as life and come in various subgenres—and there are many:

    Category Romance is shorter than other romance genres and put out in monthly ‘lines’ by its publisher (usually Silhouette Special Edition and Harlequin American Romances). Its fewer pages means the romance is the focus with no sub-plots. The largest publisher Mills & Boon.

    Regency Romances (not to be confused with historical romance) is again shorter than the average novel, and pre-Victorian and with little or no mention of sex. This genre was built on the works of Jane Austen.

    Chick-lit doesn’t focus on romance. The main character needn’t be in a relationship, neither does she/he have to be on the lookout for one. Realism lines the genre, too. It’s modern, it’s funny (real life is, let’s face it), and it always, always, has a happy ending! The writing is ‘chatty’ as if the author is writing to her best friend. It’s aimed at the younger woman who are usually, but not always, seeking a Mr Right. It’s easily spotted by the cartoonish cover of a woman, handbags or shoes.

    Contemporary romance is for the older woman (focusing on a more mature theme, but not necessarily older characters) and can cover a wide range of romantic/relationship angles. It’s modern and the character can be male or female.

    There is this ridiculous idea that all the above genres are the same, but fans of the books know this is madness.

    Romance and all its wonderful subgenres are different. Each and every one.

    The Fall of the Misanthrope: I bitch therefore I am is a contemporary book. I wanted to write about someone who is seriously flawed and my character Valerie Anthrope is struggling to cope with her depression by ignoring it. She is the ‘bitch’ in the book and mellowed by supporting characters, bossy and motherly Ellen, and playboy, Lex.

    It’s on a promotional price of 77p/$1.24 price at the moment.

    UK Amazon: http://amzn.to/U2J4bW

    USA Amazon: http://amzn.to/Syt3Di

    Blurb:
    I thought you were the type of man who could handle a one-night stand.’

    The Fall of the Misanthrope is a hilarious tale of one woman’s handling of the modern world. Snowed under with work, drinking espressos and popping energy pills to keep her awake at night to avoid a recurring nightmare, she plays with
    her health when she realises the depression, which caused her mother to kill herself, has caught her.

    Bossy Ellen Semple thinks she has the answer: maternal love and cream cakes.

    But Valerie begins dating playboy Lex Kendal, unaware that he’s Ellen’s nephew and the very reason why her brokerage has taken ‘exceptionally good business lately’. Ellen believes his ‘bed ’em and leave ’em’ ethos will damage Valerie even more but Lex rubbishes her fears.

    But it’s Lex who falls for Valerie and she dumps him. Then Valerie has a nightmare that turns everything she’s ever known the right way up. She’d been walking on a time-bomb. Or is she losing her mind?

    Excerpt from The Fall of the Misanthrope: I bitch, therefore I am.

    There was no need for words. Once inside, I walked straight upstairs, my body already aflame. Lex followed, his body so close, every time I took a step up, I brushed against him. We were removing one another’s clothes before the bedroom door had closed behind us. Our mouths seeking one another’s, our hands exploring unfelt flesh.

    We didn’t make the bed at first. Lex lifted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. We made love against my dresser, and again in the bed. I was angry at Ellen’s betrayal. Somehow she’d set out for me and her to meet, and obviously Lex too. But my anger had turned to lust. I wanted Lex or Alex Kendal, and I was going to use
    him to my advantage.

    Media links:
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    Twitter: https://twitter.com/louise_wise
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    Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B003FW6RKM