Happy New Year everyone! I can’t believe I’ve been interviewing authors for nearly a year and I can’t wait to chat to more of them about their amazing books throughout 2020.
Kicking off this year is the fabulous Alie Nolan, who’s here to talk in about her new book Being Enough, the second in her Portland Piranhas series, which is out today!
1. What inspired you to write Being Enough? Can you tell us a little more about the story?
Being Enough is an enemies to lovers story between an NFL coach and player, who are forced to work together at a kids summer camp. I think the main thing that inspired me to write Being Enough was Eli and Colton themselves. I knew while writing the first chapter of His Favorite Player (the first Portland Piranhas book) that I wanted Colton to get his HEA, but I didn’t know what his story would be at the time… and then I wrote Eli, and knew they were meant to be together.
2. Can you share something with us about the book that isn’t in the blurb?
The side characters are always a fun part of my books for me that aren’t included in the blurb. I tend to fall as in love with the side characters as I do the main characters. My favourite side character in Being Enough (besides some appearances from Ryan and Alec, from book one) is Eli’s great aunt, Mimi. I love writing supportive family/friends for my MCs, and Mimi is exactly that. Also, Mason. Mason is a side character, who briefly appeared in His Favorite Player, and is back in Being Enough… I have plans for him!
3. What did you edit out of this book? Or really want to include but it just didn’t fit?
I’m not really one for editing things out. I usually stop myself from including unimportant scenes before I write them.
4. What came first with Being Enough, the characters or the plot? Is that the same for all your books?
The characters. I knew I wanted Colton and Eli to end up together, but I had no idea how or what the plot of their book would be until I started writing it.
5. If we made Being Enough into a movie, who would be your dream casting for Eli and Colton?
Not a clue. That’s a really hard question that I don’t have an answer to.
6. Being Enough is the second book in the Portland Piranhas series, do you have any more books planned or are you planning something new?
I do have plans for more Portland Piranhas books… *cough* Mason *cough*. That book will hopefully be out at some point in 2020.
Right now though, I’m working on the first book in a new series, Little Hollow. Which is about Alec’s family from His Favorite Player.
7. What inspired you to start writing?
I’ve always been a storyteller. As a kid, I drew and wrote stories, as a teenager I filmed stories, and in my early twenties, I animated stories. I’ve always had stories floating around in my head that I needed to share with people. A couple of years ago, when I left my animation job and moved back to my hometown for a year, I did nothing but read all day, every day, for several months to distract me from being in a place I hated. One day I just decided that I’d like to try writing a book like the ones I was reading, and fell instantly in love with it.
8. What or who (or both) has influenced you most as a writer?
So many things have influenced me as a writer. The books I read, people I meet, situations I’ve been in. (My husband read these answers for me, to make sure I wasn’t rambling, and he insisted that he be listed as an influence too lol)
9. This is your second book, how did publishing your first change your writing process? Do you have any advice or tips for first time authors?
When I published my first book I was convinced that no one would ever read it, let alone want to read a second book from me… so when they did, I guess that changed my writing process somewhat. I had more confidence going into writing Being Enough, because I’d done it once, I could do it again. That being said, knowing that people were actually anticipating this book was terrifying, and pressure that I didn’t have the first time around.
My advice to first time authors is advice I give myself all the time… just write a book that you want to read. If you’d want to read it, then someone else will too!
10. What is your favourite childhood book?
The first book that came to mind was The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy. I read that book so many times when I was a kid. I still relate to Mildred Hubble’s clumsiness on a deep level.
11. What do you like to do when you’re not writing? Do you have a secret passion or hobby that we don’t know about?
If I’m not writing or reading, then I’m probably painting my nails. I’ve been doing nail art as a hobby since 2012. I have a nail Instagram account and blog under my real name.
12. Finally, what’s your favourite dinosaur?
Apatosaurus.
Thanks for helping me kick of 2020, I can’t wait to read Colton and Eli’s story! Also I love The Worst Witch too – I definitely relate to Mildred!
You can download Being Enough right now.
Alie Nolan is an author of sweet and fluffy MM romance novels. She lives in the UK with her husband and dog, neither of whom share her love of reading. She drinks an absurd amount of decaf coffee, adores aquatic animals, is a huge fan of the New Orleans Saints, and exists with a book/kindle in her hand.
You can find her on her website, Amazon, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, Facebook or join her Facebook Group for more up to date news, cover reveals and fun things!
