In Last Christmas ; eager to banish the ghost of Christmas past - when her boyfriend dumped her on the streets of Paris - Lucy is determined to make this the best Christmas ever. She rallies friends and family for an epic celebration that just happens to fall on the same day as her ex's festive wedding. Furious at how she's been treated, Lucy can't help relishing the party v wedding smackdown. But when the wedding is threatened and only Lucy can help, can she find the spirit inside to save the day, or will this Christmas be even more disastrous than the last?
Talli Roland
The novella was great fun to write and has definitely helped me get in the Christmas spirit!
Why did you feel compelled to write fun romantic fiction when you first started out?
I love to read romantic fiction - it's the perfect escape from the drudgery of the real world. When I began writing, it made sense for me to write what I enjoy as a reader. What can I say - I love happy endings!
You were born and raised in Canada so what brought you to London?
I originally came to London to work as a teacher in a secondary school. Ten years, one husband, and one baby later, I'm still here! London is home now, and I can't imagine anywhere else I'd rather be. I love the mix of cultures and the diversity of activities here.
You are trained as a journalist, so how much has this affected your writing of fiction?
Initially, I found it difficult to let go and make stuff up! Then I remembered how fun it can be to fabricate . . . not that I ever did as a journalist. Writing fiction gives your imagination free rein, and it really is the best job in the world.
At what point did you realise that you wanted to make up your own stories?
Journalism can become a little formulaic after a while, and the medical magazine I worked for was very short on humour. I loved writing and figured there had to be another outlet where I could just let go! Penning my own stories was a way to recapture the fun of words.
Why is a happy ending so important to you?
Real life is so complicated and happy endings are often in short supply. It's lovely to wrap up everything with a nice big bow at the end of a book and leave the reader on a positive note.
Please tell us a bit about your previous publications.
I've written two other Christmas novellas, Mistletoe in Manhattan and Miracle at the Museum of Broken Hearts, along with five novels. I like to mix humour with romance, and my novels usually have quite strong female leads. My most recent book is The Pollyanna Plan, which is being re-released by Amazon Publishing next year.
Who do you like to read in your genre?
I love Sophie Kinsella, but recently I've also enjoyed Kirsty Greenwood, Michele Gorman, and Poppy Dolan. All have fresh, fun voices.
What is next for you?
Apart from The Pollyanna Plan, my next novel The No-Kids Club will be out mid-2014. It features a group of women who form a social network for people who don't have children.