Breaking the Rules: Behind the Scenes
As
I celebrate the publication of my debut novel, I can't help but look
back and think about how—if I had ignored the nagging voice at the back
of my mind—I never would have written it.
When people ask me where I got the idea for Breaking the Rules,
I always think back to a conversation I had with a friend a few years
ago. We were discussing the age-old question: can men and women really
be just friends? I don't remember many of the details of that particular
evening—the exact location, whether I was drinking coffee or tea—but I
remember coming home with the idea for a story. Cue writerly existential
crisis. I was extremely annoyed at myself for letting my mind wander;
the last thing I needed at the time was another story idea.
I
was already working on a novel and I needed to focus all of my
attention on the complicated lives of characters that I had already
created and stop dreaming of new people that had no business in that
story. Even though I tried to forget about them, they wouldn't get out
of my head. And then I went ahead and named these characters. The girl
was Roxy and Ollie was her lifelong best friend. Something would happen
to challenge that friendship. I started taking notes and made a quick
outline so I'd be able to write their story when I finished the novel I
was working on. But the more I tried to focus on my current story, the
more I became uninspired and bored. It was going nowhere and it had been
going nowhere for a long time and I just wasn’t ready to admit it. It
was depressing to look at the pile of notes and character profiles and
timelines I’d created and know that I didn’t want to play with these
characters anymore. The plot was too thin and—as hard as I tried—I
couldn’t muster up any sort of passion for these characters and their
story. We were through.
Of
course, by that time, Roxy and Ollie—and their friends and family—had
completely taken over. They were a loud bunch (just as I imagine they
would be in real life) and pretty soon it was clear that they would not
be ignored. So I finally gave in and set aside all other projects and
started working on the manuscript that would eventually—after many
drafts—become Breaking the Rules. And while writing Roxy and
Ollie's story had its own set of struggles, I never felt bored and
uninspired like I did with the previous novel. I always knew that
somehow—even when I was in the throes of complete writer’s block—I was
meant to write this story.
That was really cool. Thank you, Cat!. Now if you all want to hook up with Cat and get to know more about her and her work, you can find her at the following places.
Website
Goodreads
And you can buy Breaking The Rules here
Barnes and Noble Nook
Amazon Kindle
Amazon Print
Kobo
About Cat
Cat Lavoie was born in the small town of Jonquière in Québec, Canada. At the age of nineteen, she packed up her things (mostly books) and moved to the big city of Montreal where she currently lives with her tempestuous cat Abbie—who is both adorable and quite possibly evil.
An incurable Anglophile since her university days where she studied English Literature, she can often be found daydreaming about her next trip to London. Since she’s an expert at the art of procrastination, Cat is easily distracted by cooking and home improvement shows—even though she’s not particularly good at either.
Cat grew up watching soap operas and legal dramas and—had she not decided to be a claims analyst by day and write chick lit by night—she would have probably become a designer suit-wearing lawyer. Or a character on All My Children (which is what she really wanted to be when she was twelve).
Cat is not sure whether she’s a geek or a nerd—and is afraid she might be both. Breaking the Rules is her first novel.
I really enjoy reading, so maybe I'll try this book :)
ReplyDeleteHi Andi! Welcome and thanks for the follow. :) I'm definitely going to try this book, myself.
Deletecongrats to Cat on her book! Geeks and nerds rule!
ReplyDeleteI agree, Dez. Geeks and nerds do rule. :)
DeleteCongratulations to Cat!
ReplyDeleteSo, what's the answer? Can they be just friends?
Thanks, Alex. Should I read and let you know? :)
Deletethanks for featuring Cat and Breaking the Rules!
ReplyDeleteAnytime! It was my pleasure. I wish Cat huge success with her debut. :)
DeleteThank you Cat (and congratulations!) and Melissa - I loved reading about the way the characters were nagging you to write their story. Even though I have several novel ideas, only one of them (and the characters) are shouting at me to get it written!
ReplyDeleteHi Ellie! I'm so glad you enjoyed Cat's post today. I loved that part about the nagging characters, too. My werewolf, Maxie did that to me and she was a pain. LOL
DeleteCongratulations Cat. No they can't just be friends. LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks, Maurice! I'm leaning with your conclusion, but I've got my copy and will be diving in shortly.
DeleteThank you so much for having me, Melissa!! :)
ReplyDeleteYou are most welcome, Cat! Here's to huge successes for Breaking the Rules, the start of a very long and prosperous publishing career. :)
DeleteGreat interview.
ReplyDeletecheers,
mood
Moody Writing
Hi Mood! Thank you so much. :)
DeleteOf course men and women can be just friends!
ReplyDeleteBut sometimes, I'm sure things can get interesting. Great interview!
I agree, Jay. Men and women can be just friends in real life. I'm dying to know what happens in the book because yes, things get very interesting. :)
DeleteYes, men and women can be just friends. I've seen it happen plenty of times. All my friends are women.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Michael. I have lots of male friends and funny enough, I've gotten to be good friends with their wives as well. :)
DeleteCongrats to Cat. Love the premise of your story.
ReplyDeleteI have several men friends.
Hi Mary! Isn't this a great idea for a story? I can't wait to read it.
DeleteI have lots of guy friends, too. :)