Interview and Giveaway: Won’t Feel a Thing by CF White

Lisa: We’re so pleased to welcome author CF White today on the tour for her latest release, Won’t Feel a Thing. Hi CF! Why don’t we start by having you tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?

CF: I sometimes eat Nutella straight from the jar. And that’s not always limited to when I’m too focused on writing to make a proper meal.

Lisa: What’s your favorite scene in Won’t Feel a Thing, and what makes it a fave?

CF: The scene that has me smiling like a fool is when Ollie plays snap in the hospital room with his patient, Daisy, and her father Jacob. There’s already been some “moments” between Ollie and Jacob prior to this, but I think this is the point of no return.

Lisa: Would you care to share an excerpt from the scene with us?

CF: Of course J

The Excerpt: She flipped over her card and sank back onto the pillows, eyes drooping. The six of clubs sat on top of the six of hearts, and Ollie immediately whacked his hand on the pile. Jacob’s slapped down on top. Ollie met his gaze, and the crushing on his hand loosened for an imperceptible moment. Ollie was momentarily dumbstruck by the depths to Jacob’s deep blue eyes, and he struggled to swallow the increased saliva in his mouth.

Stunned further, Ollie sucked in a light breath as Jacob glided his thumb along Ollie’s hand, ghosting it across his skin. Without the thick gloves to mask it this time, electricity struck from the delicate touch alone. Ollie’s heart hammered so hard his ears pumped with the flow. The room’s surroundings blurred until Ollie could only see Jacob. His eyes. His lips.

Jacob continued to slide his thumb over Ollie’s skin in tender strokes, and Ollie tingled with every sweet caress. His skin numbed, along with his mind. Ollie didn’t take his gaze from Jacob’s, and his lips parted to make way for something to say, or do. The increasing heat from Jacob’s palm formed a sheen of moisture over the back of Ollie’s hand, and Jacob’s fingertips trembled. All sense and reason left the room when Ollie slid his own thumb up to curl over Jacob’s knuckle, an instinctive and involuntary movement Ollie couldn’t control. He wanted to touch Jacob. He needed to. His beating heart was telling him to. Jacob’s thumb hit parts of Ollie that had been suppressed for so long—his feelings.

“I think Ollie won that one, Daddy,” Daisy said with a yawn and rub of her eyes.

Lisa: Thank you for sharing! If you could spend some real-life time with one of the characters in the book, who would you choose and why?

CF: I’d love to hang out with Ollie. Not only is he more often than not upbeat and fun, regardless of his own harrowing situations, he’s also handy to have around being a nurse J

Lisa: On the flipside, which character would you probably least get along with? Why?

CF: I’d be least likely to get on with Dr. Rawlings. Although he is the charismatic and enigmatic presence at the hospital, with all the females swooning in his presence, his narcissism would particularly grate on me. Not that he’s based on any of the doctors that I have come into contact with *inserts embarrassed emoji*

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

CF: I love flawed characters and ones that are real. I enjoy reading contemporary mainly, and really get into murder/mystery series that have that long slow burn… I’d love to write that myself but I find I’m always in too much of a hurry to get my protagonists together, so I love it when authors are able to keep the tension going.

Lisa: What are your least and most favorite things about being an author?

CF: I love that I can write stories that interest me – the sort of books that I would like to read and I can make the characters do whatever I like.  I love getting into a different world and seeing my characters on a book cover, coming to life.

The least favourite is putting myself out there for everyone to criticize.

Lisa: Have you ever written a line, paragraph, or passage, and thought, “Darn, that’s pretty amazing, even if I do say so myself”? What was it?

CF: Yeah. I tend to write something and think wow, that’s amazing, then could well change my mind and think what a load of rubbish a few minutes later. But the one passage I’m particularly proud of is from Misdemeanor (Responsible Adult #1), where the MC, Micky, explains how the condition of Williams Syndrome affects his little brother.

          Micky’s eyes glazed over as he swished the glass in his hand. “He’s an eternal child. Sees the world like it should be in a fairy tale, minus the evil characters. Everything is bright and beautiful and everyone is his friend.” Micky paused. “It’s a real shame that life isn’t like that. Because a world full of Flynns would be the one I wanna live in.”

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

CF: I’d love to be able to write fantasy, as you can really immerse yourself in a new world. But I don’t think I’d do it justice. Maybe one day. I also have a wicked idea for a historical novel set in Jersey during World War 2, but the fear of getting things wrong keep me from trying it. One day, when I have more time, I’ll really research it and maybe give it a go.

Lisa: Let’s talk tropes: do you have a few favorites that you enjoy both writing and reading? If so, what are they and what makes them your faves?

CF: I kinda lean toward the Out For You trope of M/M to both read and write. Without meaning to, most of my books tend to be where one of them hides or is still in the closet, or hasn’t quite understood their bisexuality up until a certain point. When one half of a couple thinks they have something to lose by coming out, then it can make for a really great love story. Like, what is it that man had to offer in order to get the other one to finally take a leap of faith?

I absolutely loved the Adrien English books and that rang true through all of them. How did Adrien finally get Jake to come out of the closet?

And it’s a big part of my Responsible Adult series which came out last year and is one of the biggest parts of my new series, The District Line, due out this year and revolves around a top flight premiership football player.

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?

CF: I think Responsible Adult would make a great gritty Channel 4 drama series. But a one-off film on the big screen, I’d have to say my new re-release, Kick Off, coming out this year, book one in the District Line series, would adapt really well into a film. It’s much more visual than the others – lots of scenes where football matches are played in big stadiums, so the atmosphere can’t really be captured as well as it would on film. Also the second MC is in a rock band, so being able to see Sebastian up on stage singing and performing would be awesome!

Lisa: What’s the one book you’ve read in your lifetime that you wish you’d written? Why did this particular book leave such a lasting impact on you?

CF: Bird Box by Josh Mallerman. I wouldn’t normally have read it if I’d been in a book shop or searching online, but I ended up really liking it and finding it had a lasting impact on me. It’s a post-apocalyptic horror/thriller where the world is succumbing to an unknown destroyer that you can’t look at or you’ll die. A woman survivor has to get her two babies to safety without opening her eyes or allowing her children to either. The whole thing is written without the MC being able to see anything. It’s chilling. And I couldn’t help but put myself in her shoes and wonder how she managed to do everything she did just to survive and keep her babies alive. Truly amazing.

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

CF: The author that influenced me into this genre was J L Merrow. I’d been wanting to get back to writing for such a long time, having written books as a teen without the confidence to do anything about them. I told my friend about an idea I had about a gay footballer but had no idea where to start. She then pointed me to J L Merrow as she had met her at a writers group and told me she wrote m/m. I had honestly never heard of the genre until that point. I picked up one of her books and was absolutely hooked! I think I then bought her entire backlog and consumed them all. I love her Britishness and love that she uses her local influence. Having been brought up fairly near to where some of her books are set, I loved the fact that I knew some of the places that were mentioned. It gave me the influence to give it a go myself.

Lisa: How long did it take to write your book, and what was the most difficult part of the writing process (i.e., dialogue, plot or character development, pacing, etc.)?

CF: It took about 4 months to write Won’t Feel a Thing. It started life online on Wattpad and how that works is you upload chapter by chapter. So I tended to keep to uploading two chapters a week. Then I go back to the beginning once it’s all written and make sure it all makes sense. The most difficult part is the pacing… I’m always too keen to get my two MCs together and sometimes it can feel rushed so I’ll have to try fitting in a few scenes to draw out the tension.

Lisa: What would you say was the most intimidating thing about publishing your first novel?

CF: That I’d opened myself up to criticism. My friends will tell you that I take criticism hard anyway so putting my writing out there for others to rip apart is really scary and sometimes I wonder why I continue to do it.

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

CF: Only write what you enjoy reading and not chase the market. When editing a book, you can sometimes have to read it ten times over, so you have to really love your own work! And if you love it, then someone else will too.

Lisa: Was there a particular part of the process—from writing to editing to cover design to publishing—that was easier or harder than you thought it would be? What was it?

CF: The editing was a lot harder than I first thought. Most certainly with regards to my first ever novel being picked up by a publisher. I hadn’t realized the amount of work that went into editing. I had no idea it could take a lot longer than the actual writing of the novel!

Lisa: Okay, let’s pretend you’re taking a road trip, and you can choose any three of your characters to go with you. First, who would you want on the ride-along, and why them?

CF: Only three?? OK, I’d have to go with Sebastian from The District Line, as a rock musician he’d have an awesome selection of tunes to take and could entertain us with a song or two on his acoustic guitar. Micky from Responsible Adult because if we happened to get into a bar fight anywhere, he’s the man we need on our side. And Ollie from Won’t Feel a thing. He’s a nurse, so at least he can clear any wounds should said bar fight occur.

Lisa: Second, who would be most likely to:

*Have to hit every rest stop bathroom

CF: Sebastian – but only to check his hair.

*Whine about how long it’s taking to get where you’re going

CF: Micky – he has very little patience, except when it comes to his little brother.

*Break wind with the windows rolled up

CF: Micky – but he would never admit it and probably blame one of the others. More than likely he’d blame Ollie.

*Flip incessantly through songs on their music app

CF: Sebastian – and he’d eye roll at anything the others had on theirs.

Lisa: If you could sit down to dinner with any author, past or present, who would you choose, and why? What are some things you’d want to chat about?

CF: Douglas Adams. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy was my first book love. I’ve still got the original book with yellow pages and bent cover. I’ve read it so many times I swear I know it by heart. I’d love to get the chance to talk to him about it and ask how on earth he came up with such hilarious, crazy, characters!

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

CF: The entire back catalogue of Green Day.

Lisa: If you could be any animal in the world, what would you choose? Why?

CF: Penguin. I honestly have no idea why. They just look like they really don’t give a shit about anything and just have fun sliding around on the ice.

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?

CF: Don’t worry, GHD straighteners are just around the corner and you are so lucky that phones can’t take pictures right now.

OK so not so much advice, but two very valuable pearls of wisdom to impart.

Lisa: If you were to sit down and write your autobiography today, what would the title be?

CF: Ignorance Is Bliss

Lisa: Star Trek, Star Wars, both or neither? Explain.

CF: Star Trek. I was a bit of a trekkie as a kid – the Next Generation that was. Riker and Wesley Crusher were probably my first crushes (did I just admit that out loud?). And whilst I absolutely love sci-fi, I actually HATE Star Wars. I even wrote an extra long essay in my Film Studies A Level explaining why. I got an A.

Lisa: If you could be any fictional character in the history of literature, who would you like to be and why?

CF: Jack Reacher. He’s just so bloody awesome.

Lisa: It’s the zombie apocalypse. It’s up to you and 5 other uninfected humans to save what’s left of humanity. Which fictional characters would you want on your team, and why?

CF: Jack Reacher – see above.

Katniss Everdean – she rocks that bow and arrow and can keep the zombies at bay.

Daryl Dixon – it’s a zombie apocalypse, right? So no explanation needed for that one.

Ford Prefect – because he always knows where his towel is.

Dr. Rawlings from Won’t Feel a Thing – he’s a doctor. A heart doctor at that, so he should be handy should there be a few wounds to fix. And, also, he can be the one we all stand behind if push comes to shove.

Lisa: Thanks very much for stopping by, CF, it’s been a pleasure chatting with you!

About the Book

Title: Won’t Feel a Thing
Author: C.F. White
Series: St. Cross #1
Release Date: December 19th 2017
Genre: Contemporary MM Romance
Blurb: It takes more than a doctor to mend a broken heart.

Ollie Warne is fresh out of nursing school and working his dream job as a pediatric cardiology nurse at St Cross Children’s Hospital, London. He wants to start the new year free of personal heartache after his track record of falling for the wrong man–his New Year’s resolution is to live a life of carefree liaisons from now on.

He immediately meets Jacob, father of one of Ollie’s patients and a man harboring more guilt and past demons than even Ollie, which is saying something…

Their growing attraction makes it hard for Ollie to keep his distance, but he has to. Not only do the ethics of his profession demand it, but Ollie is entangled with another man–a predatory doctor who has a huge personal and professional stake in Ollie’s life.

Ollie risks more than his job by getting involved with a patient’s father–and much more than just the success of his New Year’s resolution, something that was supposed to ensure that, this time, he won’t feel a thing.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | Loose ID 

Find Won’t Feel a Thing on Goodreads

About the Author

Brought up in the relatively small town in Hertfordshire, I managed to do what most other residents of the town try and fail. Leave.

Going off to study at a West London University, I realised there was a whole city out there just waiting to be discovered, so much like Dick Whittington before, I never made it back home and still endlessly searches for the streets paved with gold; slowly coming to the realisation that it is mostly paved with chewing gum. And the odd bit of graffiti. And those little circles of yellow spray paint where the council point out the pot holes to someone who is supposedly meant to fix them instead of stare at them endlessly whilst holding a polystyrene foam cup of watered down coffee.

Eventually I moved from West to East along that vast District Line, and settled for pie and mash, cockles and winkles, and a bit of Knees Up Mother Brown to live in the East End of London; securing a job, creating a life, a home, a family.

Having worked in Higher Education for the most proportion of my adult life, a life-altering experience brought pen back to paper, having written stories as a child but never having the confidence to show them to the world. Now embarking on this writing malarkey, I cannot stop. So strap in, it’s a bumpy ride from here on in.

Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter

The Giveaway

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