BooksChatter: ℚ Fiona and the Whale

Today we have the pleasure of meeting up with author Hannah Lynn to talk about Fiona and the Whale (30 September 2019, Hannah Lynn, 344 pages), an Uplifting Romance.

"Funny, realistic, crazy and truly an enjoyable read."

"Quirky, original, made me laugh, made me think - and a great read that I thoroughly enjoyed."

"Fiona has the potential to be the next Bridget Jones I loved her quirky and chaotic take on life and all its events. A perfect read for the weekend."

|| Synopsis || Teaser: KCR Preview || Author Q&A || About the Author || Giveaway & Tour Stops ||

A very warm welcome to Hannah Lynn; thank you for joining us on BooksChatter on a day when we actually do have a humpback whale swimming in the river Thames! (We had a beluga whale last year for a few months, and a bottlenose one in 2006 which did not end well!)

What was the inspiration for Fiona and the Whale?

"It was inspired by me feeling like I could do more about the planet. The idea came to me one morning as I was cutting up cucumber for my daughter’s school snack. After that I just ran with it."

How much of yourself is reflected in this book, and how?

"A lot. You only need to read the opening of the book to know that this is an extremely personal book to me. Obviously it’s complete fiction, and my life is in no way a parallel to Fiona’s, but a lot of her worries and doubts, come from me."

The first thing that draws me to a book is its cover. Can you tell us about your cover for Fiona and the Whale - why you chose that concept and who the artist is.

"Getting the cover right for this one was really tough. Finding that balance between standing out and fitting in with the genre is something every author is striving for. Also, because of the title, we needed to make sure it didn’t look like a children’s cover.

A very patient Cherie at CC Designs and lots of redesigns is how we got there."

Why should we read Fiona and the Whale and what sets it apart from the rest? What makes your book unique?

"It’s a funny book that is also heart wrenching at times too. Lots of books have deeper meanings out there, but I’m not sure you find that many like Fiona and the Whale. I hope that everyone will find a bit of themselves in there."

Can you tell us something quirky about Fiona and the Whale, its story and characters?

"I had initially called the male lead Fin – due to the whale link – but when I decided on Fiona for the protagonist it had to be changed to Rory.

Martha, the whale’s name, was the one I was most set on. I went through a few variations, but only Martha ever felt right."

Who would you recommend Fiona and the Whale to and what should readers be aware of (any warnings or disclaimers)?

"You only need to read the news today, to know that if a whale appears in the headlines, then in today’s climate and condition of the oceans, it’s not going to be there for a positive reason. This book discusses some of the impacts of humans on the planet, and while it’s done in a humorous way, there are still some unhappy realities in there.

Ultimately I think if you enjoy flawed characters, a little romance and something with a bit of depth that will leave you thinking, then Fiona and the Whale is right up your street (or river)."

If you could / wished to turn Fiona and the Whale into a movie, who would be your dream team?

"It’s set in London, so it would have to be there. I guess the dream would be the whale. Seeing the whale break through the water on the big screen would be amazing.

In terms of actors I’m not not sure. Although she’s not English, Renee Zellweger would be great, as there is a touch of the Bridget Jones about Fiona."

What do you like to write and read about? Do you stick to a particular genre or do you like to explore different ones?

"I definitely like to write in the genres I read, and as I read in lots of genres, I also write in them too!

For me it’s all about the story. I want to tell stories that capture people’s hearts and imaginations. The genre comes next."

What is your writing process?

"I will generally do a bullet point plan on paper, before expanding that into rough chapters. Then I get writing.

It always takes me several drafts before I’m happy enough to let anyone read it. Then it’s more editing before it’s good to go."

What is in store next?

"After judging in the Kindle Storyteller Awards next week (there as last year’s winner) I have a book coming out at Christmas, the next in my Peas and Carrots series out early next year and then a retelling of a famous Greek Myth that I am extremely excited about!"

And as a final quirky thing, to get to know you a little bit better... do you have a pet or something that is special to you that you could share with us?

"I have two cats that are incredibly dear to us.

Here is a picture of them coming on a family walk. As cats do! They are also incredibly well travelled. One of them has come from Malaysia to the UK then to Austria by way of a campervan and is now in Jordan. She has quite a few air miles."

Brilliant; they are beautiful. Lot's of head-scratches to both of them from all of us at BooksChatter!

Thank you for sharing them with us, Hannah. I have actually known a few cats who would go on walks with their owners; cats are brighter than people give them credit for! Malaysia, wow, getting her back to the UK must have been an experience... (we brought a cat back from Greece - who unfortunately passed away in June -, and recently eight back from Sardinia in Italy.)

We hope you are having a great tour!

An uplifting romance with a whale sized heart.