Author Takeover
Like No Other by C Jaye
Get excited! Author takeover number two!
Super excited for this one! We love a romance author!
About The Author
Introduce yourself, who are you, what do you do for work, what are your current hobbies, and what is your favorite color?
Hi, I am the author, C Jaye. I am a vision-impaired full-time mum, wife, and writer in between.
With favorite colours, I don’t really have one; instead, I am drawn to anything bright that matches my personality.
These are just a few of my favorite things (don’t worry, I won’t break into a Julie Andrews song!)… spending time with my family and friends, baking, doodling, daydreaming, reading, walking, shopping, and music. I love rom-com movies because I love to laugh as well as swoon! It’s also an excellent source of inspiration.
Where were you born, where did you grow up, and where do you live now?
I was born in Surrey, UK but now I reside down on the coast, in a quiet town on the outskirts of sunny Eastbourne, East Sussex. I am lucky to have a woodland walk right on my doorstep that provides hours of fun. Oh, and not forgetting the beach that’s only a few miles away!
What is your favorite book?
I have enjoyed so many books in my adult life that I couldn’t possibly say that a particular one is my favourite. But The Miles High Club series that I mentioned above is high up in the ranking of books I have enjoyed the most.
About the Book
Elevator pitch your book to us in 50 words or less!
Spinsterhood and big knickers; or follow her heart down the road of commitment? Charly has a choice to make when she faces a blast from the past and one of her biggest regrets. Two guys, one choice. Everyone deserves a second chance, don’t they?
“… we all meet a few pricks before we find the rose.” These were the words of wisdom from a mysterious old woman on City Bridge, where one disastrous internet date had ended. Although her words and humour brought a momentary distraction, that night sparked something within me, regret… My best friend Harper is getting married... and the one thing that all singletons dread on a wedding invitation is those two words after your name... ‘and guest’. The mission that I accepted… the ‘plus one’ spot next to me needs to be filled. But despite my best efforts, I still went empty-handed. Witnessing Harper and Alex exchange their wedding vows made me realise that’s what I want… love, commitment, and everything that goes with it. From that moment on, a blast from the past and one of my biggest regrets unknowingly plays duel with my heart. I’m not cut out for spinsterhood and big knickers, so I think I need to listen closely to my heart and follow the path that it lays out for me. I’m CHARLY BAY and this love story of mine really is... Like No Other.
Tell us about your inspiration behind your first novel?
What inspired the characters in your story? (In your email you can provide any images as well so that we can show off your work!) My life, and past relationships were my inspiration for my first novel (for most of the Charly Bay series in fact). Joe is loosely based on my very first boyfriend at school (how Charly and Joe meet back in the day is exactly how me and my first boyfriend met, the rest is fictional). Charly is based on the F.r.i.e.n.d.s character Phoebe Buffay. Back in the day, I was a huge F.r.i.e.n.d.s fan, and I loved Phoebe, for her quirks and crazy personality. Inspiration for Ethan came from the character Massimo from the film ‘365 Days’. Robert Pattinson’s character, Edward Cullen (Twilight), was my inspiration for Charly’s colleague Robert. Betty from Ugly Betty was my inspiration for Charly’s other colleague, Kelly. The other characters pretty much evolved by themselves once I gave them their own individual personality. Initially, ‘Like No Other’ was supposed to be a standalone novel but the more Charly’s world evolved so did the surrounding characters; for instance, Ethan was only supposed to be a ‘flit in and out’ character but further down the line, he’ll be getting his own story, as well as Gareth’s sister Cassie.
How did you come up with the name for your book?
Do you decide names first or do you find that you can’t pick a name until you have finished your story? I wanted to create a crazy, likeable character that truly is ‘Like No Other’ character you have read about before; and someone so ‘Perfectly Imperfect’ that she’s so loveable!
About the Rest
What books inspire you?
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ was my inspiration to add spice into the writing mix; there is no ‘red room’ involved in my stories, but the main characters do, do a little of exploring (shall we say). Books aside, the major inspiration for my books were films, such as Bridget Jones’s Diary and Dirty Dancing. I loved the humour and relationships that Bridget had with her friends, which inspired me to include witty banter in my stories. With Dirty Dancing, I loved the style of dancing that centres on the song ‘Cry to Me’ by Solomon Burke; I loved the sensuality and the way they bonded through the music. Both elements and the song ‘Cry to Me’ feature heavily in my novels.
What prompted you to become a writer? Is it something you’ve always known you would do or was it something you fell into?
Since my teenage years, I have always enjoyed penning short stories (I wish I had kept them!). It wasn’t until the summer of 2019 that I took that hobby to the next level. I started a creative writing course, but I couldn’t get on with the units they set me (magazines, articles etc). The topics just weren’t for me and didn’t produce any creative flare. I quit, but I didn’t give up. I saw an advertisement for a short story competition… that’s when Charly Bay was created. But however, much I tried to get it finished before the deadline, I didn’t meet it. I was gutted, but somewhere in the back of mind, I knew that Charly’s story still had to be told. So, with a lot of help from my close friends, I plotted an outline and just started writing. In the end, I didn’t stick to my plot. The characters took me on their journey, and I happily tagged along. From what was supposed to be a short story, Charly’s world expanded so much that I now have two full novels, and the third is my current work in progress. Still, to this day, I am stunned by how far Charly and I have come, but if you really put your heart and soul into something, anything is achievable.
What does your writing process look like?
My writing session usually begins with coffee in a mug that is as big as my head (well almost, haha!) with a side order of either biscuits or something sweet like chocolate. I am a pantser, which means I don’t plan what I write; I write everything on the page off the cuff. I find this process the most exciting, as everything is a mystery until it comes to me whilst I am sitting at my desk. I enjoy listening to music while I work; sometimes it provides good inspiration, especially if I am stuck on a particular scene.
What books do you think everyone should read, and what is your preferred genre when you read?
T L Swan, has a brilliant series called The Miles High Club: The Stopover, The Takeover, and The Casanova. If you like witty banter and spice, then this a great series for you. I prefer rom com’s, as I love to swoon as well as laugh out loud. I do also enjoy a gritty, angsty romance (preferably not too dark).
Tell us about some of your goals as a writer!
It would be an absolute dream come true if I can achieve ‘best-selling author’ status but for me, if I can get a few readers who love Charly Bay (quirks and all) as much as I do, then that for me is a huge win in itself.
Thanks so much to our readers and check out C Jayes Book!