Peppa Grant’s fellow employees may call their new CEO Mr. McSexy, but she’s also heard that he’s aloof and distant. Cameron McCormac certainly seems cold toward Christmas when she meets him at the company’s annual party…but he’s also the sexiest man Peppa has ever seen. And when he offers to forgive the damage she accidentally caused to his expensive car in exchange for accompanying him to his family’s holiday get-together, she agrees.
Cameron needs a date to the family party to get his matchmaking relatives off his back. Their chemistry is instant and undeniable, leading to an incredible one-night stand. But Peppa wants love and family, while Cameron’s only interested in temporary pleasure. When their relationship takes an unexpectedly serious turn, will he run the other way—or will he give love a second chance?
~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~
Thanks for having me on the fabulous Novel Thoughts. My debut romance ONE PERFECT NIGHT is out today and I’m a wee bit excited. I’d written about six or seven full length novels before ONE PERFECT NIGHT (I’m a slow learner) and I recently got to wondering what was the thing that made this one different from the rest. What made the editors sit up and notice this book? What made them believe it was worthy of revisions and then a sale where the ones that went before had failed to make the cut?
Now, I’m sure the answer lies in the things I’ve learnt about writing throughout my LONG apprenticeship. It’s probably got something to do with developing my voice, creating three-dimensional characters that actually have dreams and goals and even more importantly massive road blocks to these things. There also might have been an element of luck. They say writing a book is 98% Hard Work and 2% Luck. I think this LUCK is probably bigger than this because I know of some awesome writers with brilliant books that are still not sold. But I’m getting off track…
The OTHER element I realised was that this was the first book where I’d been unable to think of a heroine’s name off the top of my head and so I asked my husband to choose it. I can still recall sitting in bed with my laptop and him sitting next to me with his (yes, we are sad) and I said, “Give me a heroine name!”
Without any thought at all, he said “PEPPA.” Well, I had NEVER heard of anyone called Peppa, so I had some questions.
“Is it short for something?”
“Penelope, of course!”
Hmm… I thought about that. “I thought Penny was short for Penelope.”
He shrugged, more interested in his game to be honest J But he’d got me thinking. I wanted a fiery heroine who was passionate about her work, her life, her family and her loves. Maybe Peppa was perfect? Perhaps she got Peppa when she was a child and threw massive tantrums. So, Peppa stuck… and it actually helped me create her character.
Here’s a short extract from ONE PERFECT NIGHT when hero Cameron asks Peppa about her name.
He blamed it on the power cut. “So, tell me more about Penelope Grant.”
She let out a half laugh. “Well, for a start, you’re the only person aside from my dad who calls me Penelope.”
“Really? How’d you get Peppa?”
“My mum started calling me Peppa when I was two years old and apparently threw world-class tantrums. It kinda stuck and grew. I’m known for my temper.”
He couldn’t help it, his hands delved lower as she spoke. “Is that right? I’ll try and remember not to get on the wrong side of you.”
“The side you’re on right now is perfect.” They shared another intoxicating kiss. Strangely the bath water seemed to be getting hotter.
“So what things are you known to get hot-headed over?” he asked when they finally came up for air.
“Hmm.” She pursed her lips, then gushed, “People who drive too slowly. Waiters who don’t know anything about the food they’re serving. Men who say they don’t like cats just because they think it’s cool. Please tell me you’re not one of those?”
“Actually, I quite like cats.” He cleared his throat. “I feed the little old lady’s cats next door whenever she goes to visit her daughter in New York.”
“Really?” The pleasant surprise shone through.
“Really,” he echoed. “So, what else?”
“People who don’t recycle because they can’t be bothered. Women who don’t eat or play sports in front of the men they’re attracted to.”
“Speaking of food, I’m famished. How about you?”
“Now that you mention it…”
So, there’s a wee glimpse of my Peppa, named so because of my gorgeous hubby. I’d love to give away a copy of ONE PERFECT NIGHT to a commenter. But I have a question for those who want to enter. If you’re a writer, what is the most different name you’ve ever used for a character? And if you’re a reader, what is the most unique character name you’ve ever read?
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