Author in the Spotlight June; Claire Frances.

First of all congratulations on your first book that’s set to be Published this month, called “To Hell With it”. I had the pleasure of ARC reading this beaut, and I really enjoyed it.
Can you describe this book in 5 worlds?

Funny, heartwarming, quirky, cosy!

What piece of yourself did you integrate in Pearl?

I suffer from OCD, so I drew on my own experiences with the condition to help me write the book, which was confronting at times. I also spent some time in New Zealand years ago, so I used my memories to help create the scenery. And Drangan, the village where Pearl grew up, holds a special place in my heart.

The genre of this book is Romance but is also filled with humor and mental health aspects, have you always envisioned Pearl as being highly anxious and with OCD? Or did you have something else for Pearl in mind that didn’t make the cut?

Pearl was always going to be a quirky, different character and the OCD was always there. I wanted her to be relatable to readers and I wanted to show all parts of her to do that. It was important for me to keep her honest, real and down-to-earth.

What or Who inspired you to write this novel?

When I started writing To Hell With It, Pearl came to me as a fully formed character, who just popped into my head one day. I like to think that she wrote herself into the story and just used me to do it!

After writing this book, what is it that you wish for Pearl?

I wish for Pearl to come back for more adventures!

Since you made a deal to be published, what are some of the highlights you had? Like, contact with a writer you’re a fan of or praise you got that you’ve never dared to dream of.

Over twenty years ago, when I was quite lost and not sure what I was doing, I read the back of Cecelia Ahern’s book PS I Love You and her biography. I saw that she was published by HarperCollins and I thought, ‘I want that, that is my dream.’

I held on to that dream for twenty years. When I got offered my two-book deal by HarperCollins, it was a dream come true! They told me that Pearl reminded them of Holly’s adventures in PS I Love You! Since then, Cecelia Ahern has said she will read the book – that was a moment I will never forget! I feel like I’ve come full circle.

I was blown away when Beth O’Leary read the proof and provided a quote for the book – that was a pinch me moment and I haven’t stopped smiling about it! I will never take any of this for granted!

I saw you were writing book two, is it about Pearl? Or a whole new novel within the same genre? Or something completely different?

I would love book two to be about Pearl but I think I have to wait for that. I can’t say too much at the moment because I’m only in the first draft stages but it is another quirky character, using humour to cover a serious subject, which I think is important to do – to bring light to dark subjects.

The reason I chose you to be the first “Author in the Spotlight” is because your book is about to be released, but also because of the mental health aspect in this book. OCD is something that takes over your life and isn’t something that can be cured.. Only something that can be managed with extensive therapy and willpower. It was refreshing to read about OCD in such detail. The chaos in a mind, the need to do something a special kind of way, the compulsion takes on a whole new level when anxious. I just have to praise you for that. I’ve read some books with mental health aspects that weren’t as detailed or just as well written as this book.

I really appreciate that, thank you, Cindy! It means a lot to me that you enjoyed the book so much and meeting Pearl! I hope to bring her back soon!