Interview and Giveaway: The Misfits Blog Tour With Garrett Leigh

The Novel Approach welcomes author Garrett Leigh on the Misfits blog tour. Take a look at Garrett’s interview, then be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a $15 Riptide Publishing store credit. Every comment along the tour qualifies you in the drawing on March 23, 2015. Contest deadline is Midnight Eastern time on the 22nd. The contest is NOT restricted to US residents.

Good luck!

What would you say inspired you to write your latest book?

One of my MCs, Jake, has Tourettes Syndrome, and his character was born from a bloke I met at work, Rico, who I mention in the foreword, and a documentary I stumbled across by chance, which was made by Keith Allen. I think I set out to explore how people with this condition function in the real world, but it actually became more about love, and how it comes in so many forms it’s always going to be normal for someone. One person’s weird is another’s wonderful.

What was the source of inspiration for your protagonist? What about your antagonist?

I mention Jake above. I’m not entirely sure where Tom came from, but Cass…my lovely dark Cass, was inspired by a song by a band I actually don’t like very much, and a young boy I worked with many years ago who’d spent time in Feltam, the young offenders institution Cass spent time in.

Have you ever been hit by writer’s block? What did you do to escape it?

Oh God, all the time. The only thing you can do is write through it, stubbornly tapping away until something clicks. You feel like it will never happen, but it will, I promise. :)

Your all time favorite book?

Junk by Melvin Burgess. Couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve read it. It’s a bleak read, but one that stays with me.

What’s the longest time you’ve spent working on a project?

Only Love took more than a year to complete, mainly because I couldn’t decide whether to pair Jed with a man or a woman. His story was always there, it just took a while to find Max to look after him.

What does your day-to-day life consist of? What else do you do, aside from writing?

I’m a mother, a lover, an artist, and a waitress, so I always have plenty to do. Most of my days consist of fudging my way through to-do lists that never end, and eating toast. I’d make a shitty housekeeper.

Blurb: Restaurant owner Tom Fearnes has loved his partner Cass for as long as he can remember, but their work often keeps them apart. When he meets a striking young man named Jake on the vibrant streets of Camden Town, their heady first encounter takes an unexpected turn.

Jake Thompson can hardly believe his luck when he wakes up in Tom’s bed. Tom is gorgeous, kind, and . . . taken. Tom’s explanation of his open relationship leaves Jake cold, but Tom is too tempting, and when hard times force Jake to accept Tom’s helping hand, he finds himself between two men who’ve lost their way.

Cass Pearson is a troubled soul. He loves Tom with all he has, but some days it feels like he hasn’t much to give. Jake seems like the perfect solution. Cass risks everything to push Jake and Tom together, but Jake resists, wary, until the darkness of Cass’s past comes to call. Then Jake finds himself the last man standing, and it’s time to dig deep and shine a light for the men he’s grown to love.

Buy Links: Riptide | All Romance eBooks | Amazon (Paperback) | Barnes & Noble

Author Bio: Garrett Leigh is a British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Loose Id, Riptide Publishing, and Black Jazz Press. Her protagonists will always always be tortured, crippled, broken, and deeply flawed. Throw in a tale of enduring true love, some stubbly facial hair, and a bunch of tattoos, and you’ve got yourself a Garrett special.
When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible. That, and dreaming up new ways to torture her characters. Garrett believes in happy endings; she just likes to make her boys work for it.

Garrett also works as a freelance cover artist for various publishing houses and independent authors under the pseudonym G.D. Leigh. For cover art info, please visit blackjazzpress.com.

Social Media: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Cover art enquiries