Interview and Giveaway: The Shatterproof Bonds Audio Series by Isobel Starling ~ Narrated by Gary Furlong

Lisa: We’re so pleased to welcome author Isobel Starling today to celebrate the issue of the Shatterproof Bonds series in its entirety in audio, narrated by Gary Furlong.

Welcome, Isobel! Let’s start out by having you tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know.

Isobel: During my twenty year art career, I worked with lots of famous actors and musicians. I never got star struck. They are just people who act/play music for a living; I treated them the same way I would anyone else.  A few were assholes but most were really down to earth and humble.  My favourites were Paul Newman, and Aiden Turner (Poldark)

Lisa: Oh god, Paul Newman and those eyes of his. He was truly one of Hollywood’s most beautiful men.

Let’s talk about your characters for a minute. If you could spend some real-life time with one of them, who would you choose and why?

Isobel: I would choose Sam Aiken from the Shatterproof Bond series. He’s young, athletic, pretty, and intelligent. He would be excellent company. I think if Declan were there too, it would be overwhelming. I would be worried I would ask them to do naughty things to each other and let me watch/take notes.

Lisa: LOL. I suppose that would be worrisome! Now, on the flipside, which character would you probably least get along with? Why?

Isobel: Erik Madsson, one of my bad guys, is the character I’d least get along with because he’s really unhinged. I think in real life he would terrify me.

Lisa: What books and authors would you say influenced you to become a writer yourself?

Isobel: The series that influenced me to write was The Tawny Man trilogy by Robin Hobb. It’s an epic fantasy series with two MCs, Fitz, a bastard prince, and the Fool, his jester and best friend. They caught my heart and would not let go. I have not found a character I love more than Fitz’s Fool. He is androgynous, mercurial, spiritual, funny, and mysterious. He goes through hell for the man he loves. The books left me kind of traumatized, and so I decided to write the ending I wanted for them, not the one they got! This was the first story I wrote as an adult. I put it on A03 and then, after amazing feedback, weeks later began my first novel. Four years have flown by!

Lisa: What’s the best piece of writing/author advice you’ve ever received that you’d pass on to someone just getting started in the business?

Isobel: Write the book you want to read.  It’s an oldie, but a goodie.

Lisa: What’s the one genre and/or trope you haven’t written yet, but would love to? What’s kept you from it so far?

Isobel: I would love to write a historical novel, but the amount of research involved puts me off at the moment. I’ve had a fantasy trilogy on ice for three years, awaiting its last few chapters. I need to get around to that and then we shall see about a historical.

Lisa: If you could choose one of your books to be adapted for the silver screen, which would you choose? Why do you think it would translate well to film?

Isobel: I think the Shatterproof Bond series would translate well to film.  I wrote it in a cinematic way with lots of descriptions and multiple perspectives. It gives a screenwriter a lot to work with. Although I think a lot of the sex would have to be cut to make it more palatable for the masses. (Booo!)

Lisa: Let’s shift gears and take off your author cap for a moment, and put on your reader cap: what do you look for in a book, what sort of protagonists do you love, do you have a favorite genre?

Isobel: I love fantasy. The kind of protagonists I’m drawn to are those who pull their socks up when disaster strikes and try and find a solution, even if it means a mighty quest, killing enemies, climbing mountains and living on beans. I like tenacious MCs who are strong willed, yet when they fall in love they fall HARD.  The harder they fall, the better.

Lisa: If James Corden invited you to Carpool Karaoke, what song(s) would you sing with him?

Isobel: “Sufragette City” David Bowie, “More than a feeling” Boston, “I’m a Believer” by The Monkees

Lisa: If you could travel back in time, with all your years of experience and wisdom intact, what advice would you give to your teenage self?

Isobel: 1. Don’t waste your time on people who won’t waste their time on you!

2. Start writing, you’re pretty good at it!
3. That boy you really like, well, kick him in the fork, he’s gonna turn out to be an asshole. (Repeat all though your adult life!)

About the Series

The Shatterproof Bond series will clutch at your heart and leave you aching for more. Come along on a thrlling, adventure with Scotsman Declan Ramsay and Englishman Sam Aiken featuring soaring M/M romance, love, laughter and sizzling lovemaking.

Sam and Declan meet at their siblings’ Scottish castle wedding during novel # 1 “As You Wish”.

The couple’s relationship deepens in novel #2 “Illuminate the Shadows”and as they get to know one another the true nature of the Aiken family business is revealed.

Novel #3 “Return to Zero” see’s Sam and Declan up to their necks in trouble in the Scottish Highlands, and Declan has to dig deep to save the man he loves.

Available for Purchase from: Audible || iTunes || Amazon

The Giveaway

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