Frances Paul was born in Accra, Ghana, but she grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and now she lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a banker, wife and mother, who always loved writing and she wrote more short stories before she finished and published her first book in 2016. This novel was 'Life Intertwined' and it already has a sequel, with the title 'Unraveled'. In 2017, she published 'Love in San Francisco', a short story. Her newest novel, 'Clandestine Affaire', was released in July 4, 2018, and was her third romance novel.



Currently, Frances Paul is working on a new story project, and her earlier novels just got a new look.



You can find her here:
https://francespaul.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Francespaulbooks/
https://twitter.com/francespaulbks
https://www.instagram.com/francespaulbooks/
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/frances-paul

The interview

1. I have read somewhere, that writing the first book is the hardest, but after it, is becomes easier.  How difficult was it for you to create and finish your first book?

When I was a young girl, I had an active mind. I could make up stories with ease. I wrote a few very short stories, ‘a page’ and my only audience was my older cousin. With the interference of traditional goals that passion was long forgotten, until just recently in 2016, I decided to revisit my dream. It was as if I never left. The appetite was still there, but the vision, not so much. It was challenging putting myscrambled thoughts on paper. I scratched out lots of sentences, chapters and even an entire book. I was terrified to put myself out there like that. What will people say, what will they think? What if they hate it and I am ridiculed. I can’t survive adverse criticisms. But eventually, I mustered the courage and adopted the phrase, come what may.

I implemented a plan, put all my thoughts down, no matter how ridiculous or trivial it sounded. When it was completedI went back to the top and added more ridiculous contents. I called that stage the skeleton phase. I repeated the process at least more five times before I had the confidence to begin writing the book.

It takes a lot of discipline and patience to complete a novel and I applaud all authors out there, whether big or small, because it’s a pretty tough system.
Once the first book (Life Intertwined) was out, I was eager to jump into the second, a sequel to the first (Unraveled).
It does get easier as you go but each story is unique and comes with its distinctive challenges.

2. Do you like doing anything, like listening music, having a cup of coffee, before writing, to get into the right mood?

I’m more creative with a clear mind accompanied by a serene atmosphere. Once I have that harmony, I find myself in the perfect mood. I do occasionally enjoy a glass of wine after successfully finishing a chapter.

3. When is the best time for you to write and why then?

At dawn when it is quiet. I found that I am more creative and self-motivated, also because, my little munchkins are down.

4. Do you have any strategy against writer's block?

Yes, walk away. Start again in a few days with a clear mind. For me, if that doesn’t work, my trick is to open a new page, take one of the chapters and write, it doesn’t need to make sense in that moment. The more I write, the better shot of digging myself out from the hole.

5. Who is your favourite and less favourite book character ever?

One of my favorite books a thousand Splendid Suns, quite a passionate read. My least favorite character was calledJalil. A man with three wives and about ten children. His daughter Mariam, whom I adored was such an amazing character. Jalil never fully claimed her as his own and treated her differently from how he treated his other kids. He refused to acknowledge her beauty or the wonderful woman she had grown into. He kept her away from his family and only visited once a week when Mariam was a child, in an isolated place he sent Mariam’s mother to live, obviously to hide her from the world. His character was displeasing, the archaic mindset of a man, though he expressed his regrets at the end, I could not bring myself to pardon him.

My favorite character and it’s from my childhood is Huckleberry Finn. A sympathetic and courageous character. His past or where he came from did not deter him. He was a product of his environment, who lets go of all condemnations and judgments to save a friend, do what’s right. The idea of finding the hero in myself lures me to Huck Finn. It’s that characteristic of his character that I desire to discover in myself.

6. When do you plan to release new books?

I am currently working on my forth novel. It involves a very sensitive matter and covers modern relatable issues.I’m so excited about the project but I can’t give anything away now. I am hoping to release it in November 2018.

7. Can you tell a secret about one of your new books?

It’s an emotional read, a little chicken soup for the soul. It’ll most definitely keep readers on their toes from prologue to epilogue.

8. Which character from Clandestine Affaire is your favourite and why?

Each character had a unique quality I loved. We are all nothing but human. We make mistakes and sometimes we learn from them to improve ourselves and sometimes they come back like a bad dream and hurt us when we least expect it to. This story proved that. Certain individuals are placed in our lives for a reason, some temporary, otherspermanent. What part they play and how long the individual remains in your life is completely up to you.

Willow Walsh had her own demons. She battled with her insecurities and desperate desire to be loved. When a woman finds herself in that state, she becomes vulnerable and falls easily for the next predator on the prowl. Unfortunately, she did meet such a man. Handsome, wealthy, mysterious and with a daring silver tongue every girl dreams of. She recognized the warning signs but chose to overlook them, because she desperately wanted to be loved.

Harry Racer wrestled his own demons and flaws and beneath his handsome features and poised façade laid a very lonesome man. A man in need of genuine pure human connection. A connection his wife Ella Racer failed to provide.

Bruno Calderon, my clandestinely favored personality, is the epitome of the perfect man. He keeps you flushed from when his character is introduced till the very end.
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9. Seeing them with your eye, as the author, which novel of yours is your personal favourite, and why?

Though I love all three novels, I believe I am yet to write ‘the novel’ I am definitely not done yet. I am still growing and the best is certainly yet to come. I will say this though, each book has a piece of me in it.

10. If you could live in any fictional universe, where would you live and what would be your profession?

I would be living in an isolated cabin somewhere that looks and feels like Italy with never-ending views and surrounded by numerous dire wolves and a laptop. And of course, would be a writer. I do have a wild soul.

Thank you for the interview, Frances Paul, I wish you a great day! 🙂 And you, my dear readers, what would you ask from Frances Paul? 🙂