May in May and a giveaway!

**Giveaway is now closed**

Nicola May, author of Working it Out, tells us how she worked it out

Nicola May lives in the UK, in a town called Ascot, just a few miles from the Queen’s very own Windsor Castle. She shares her home with James the Fiancé and Patrick the Cat. Her hobbies include watching films that involve a lot of swooning, eating flapjacks and enjoying a flutter on the horses.

Nicola’s debut novel, Working it Out is out now. In relation to this novel, she has joined us today to talk about some of her craziest jobs on her journey to her dream job. She also has three copies to give away to some lucky readers anywhere in the world.

You can visit Nicola’s website, join her on Facebook and, of course, follow her on Twitter.

It has taken a lot of blood, sweat and Sauvignon Blanc to get where I am today, and I won’t lie in saying that getting a chick lit book published is easy, because it’s not. You have to be dedicated and allocate time whenever you can. Most importantly, your story has to be compelling.

I actually didn’t start writing until my thirties. I was working in PR at the time, loved a drink and smoked 20 a day and was dared to run a half marathon. I thought it would be quite funny to create a comedy diary of events throughout my tough training. Amazingly, I completed the marathon, but didn’t finish the diary. It did, however, give me the writing bug.

After my stint in PR, I did a lot of contract work in Event Management. Between major contracts I did do the odd temp job. It was when I was in a Portakabin in the middle of a field, with a mad Greek developer who swore and smoked constantly, that the idea struck - for someone to do twelve jobs in twelve months and see if they could find the one of her dreams.

Ruby doesn’t exactly copy my antics, as I have never worked in a buzzy Soho café, as a divorce lawyer, funeral director or in a home for retired actors. However, I have had to do a moonlight flit to the cottage at the historic Cliveden, as there were not enough bedrooms for a late event delegate, and I did have to dress up as Nell Gwynn with bosoms overflowing to wait tables at a corporate function, as some staff didn’t show.

Possibly, my worst experience was working at a ‘pretend’ Lapland, dressed as an elf and being dragged constantly on to an ice rink by over excited children, when I couldn’t even skate or of course swear!

So when I started writing, I found it so therapeutic. I work from bed and the only people I have to answer to is my characters. Once I get started I don’t stop. I can write for six to eight hours and suddenly realise I haven’t eaten, and I love eating! I have been known to get up in the middle of the night if an idea suddenly hits.

It is such a wonderful feeling to type the words "The End." And, even more amazing when you get great feedback, especially from the likes of the talented Miranda Dickinson, who says:

“I just wanted to say a massive congratulations on the publication of Working it Out. I was a big fan of your book when it was on Authonomy (the HarperCollins website for new writers), and I loved your writing style and brilliant characters. It now has pride of place on my Kindle as my Bank Holiday treat when I break from editing!”

Working it Out is the first novel I have self-published. I have two others waiting in the wings to see what response I get to this one, and I am currently writing my fourth. I did have an agent and went the traditional route with them, but to no avail. However, I read between the lines of a lot of positive rejections, re-wrote this one and took the plunge myself at a minimal cost.

Apart from becoming a bestselling author, my other dream is to be able to write the screenplay of Working it Out. I can see it already: Working it Out, a Working Title Film. Mr Curtis I hope you’re reading this as you would do a much better job.

And finally, I feel very honoured that Chick Lit Central contacted me for this interview, as I feel that self-published authors are sometimes not taken seriously. I am also very excited as I really believe in Working It Out, and just like Ruby, the central character, I think maybe I am about to embark on the job of my dreams...

Thanks to Nicola for sharing her adventures with us and for providing the books for the giveaway.

How to win "Working it Out":

Please comment below with your e-mail address.
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Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: If you could have the same job as any fictional character (book, movie, TV, etc.), whose job would you pursue?
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4.

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Giveaway ends May 17th at midnight EST.