I SEE LONDON Character Interviews

I'm so excited to introduce Chanel Cleeton, new adult author of the newly released I SEE LONDON! I had the pleasure of meeting my agency sister at the RWA conference in Atlanta last summer and we immediately clicked. She is an amazing person and from what excerpts I've read so far, an amazing writer as well--the next in my TBR pile! As soon as I finish a beta read for a friend, I am very anxious to get started on this one--I hear it is HOT! :)

So let's get started and meet these hot guys...I mean characters, from I SEE LONDON...

           "I See London is fun, sexy, and kept me completely absorbed." ~Katie McGarry, author of Crash Into You.

 Maggie Carpenter is ready for a change— and to leave her ordinary life in South Carolina behind. But when she accepts a scholarship to the International School in London, a university attended by the privileged offspring of diplomats and world leaders, Maggie might get more than she bargained for.

When Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the life she always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari, wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only problem? Another guy, the one she can’t seem to keep her hands off of.

Half French, half Lebanese, and ridiculously wealthy, Samir Khouri has made it clear he doesn’t do relationships. He’s the opposite of everything Maggie thought she wanted…and he’s everything she can’t resist. Torn between her dream guy and the boy haunting her dreams, Maggie has to fight for her own happy ending. In a city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in the blink of an eye.

This is a New Adult romance recommended for readers 17 and up.

MAGGIE:

Why did you want to study abroad?

I don’t know…I guess the easy answer would be that when I didn’t get into Harvard, I felt stuck. I’d worked so hard for four years thinking that it would be enough and it wasn’t. And for the first time in my life, I didn’t have a backup. Not a good one, at least.

I didn’t want to stay in South Carolina for the rest of my life, never getting to see the world. It’s silly, right? I have this thing I do—I’ve done it since I was a kid—I read travel books. Silly, I know. I’ve never been outside of the U.S., never been on an airplane, and yet I’m obsessed with travel books. But my dad is in the Air Force—he’s a fighter pilot—and I used to love to read about all the places he lived, all the countries he visited. And I don’t know, I guess I just wanted a chance to go somewhere too.

What is your favorite thing about London so far?

Honestly? Everything. I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s big and overwhelming and it feels like everywhere I turn I’m learning something new and falling more in love. It’s an adventure and I’ve always wanted to have one.

Future plans?

Right now I’m just taking things day by day. I’ve never really done that before. I was always good in high school—boring, even. I just want to let go a bit and have fun.

Favorite workout?

Does reading count?

Are you dating anyone special?

It’s complicated. Really complicated.

SPEED ROUND:

Small town boy, socialite, or world traveler?

World traveler.

Blue jeans or ball gown?

Blue jeans.

Flats or stilettos?

Flats.

Local café or fine dining?

Café.

HUGH:

Are you from London?

Born and bred :) I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.

What’s your favorite way to spend a Saturday night?

At my bar, Cobalt, surrounded by my mates and a pretty girl.

Future plans?

I just got out of a long-term relationship so nothing at the moment. Just want to have fun.

Favorite workout?

I love to run and box.

Are you dating anyone special?

Sure, I’m dating lots of special girls ;)

SPEED ROUND:

Girl next door, socialite, or world traveler?

I’m open-minded ;)

Blue jeans, khakis, or dress slacks?

Dress slacks.

Chucks or loafers?

Loafers.

Golf or football?

Boxing.

SAMIR:

Are you from London?

I was born in Lebanon—in Beirut—but I’ve also spent a lot of time in Paris.

What’s your favorite way to spend a Saturday night?

Out at a club with friends.

Future plans?

Graduate university and go back to Lebanon to help with my father’s political campaign.

Favorite workout?

I’m not much for working out.

Are you dating anyone special?

It’s complicated.

SPEED ROUND:

Girl next door, socialite, or world traveler?

Socialite.

Blue jeans, khakis, or dress slacks?

Blue jeans.

Chucks or loafers?

Loafers.

Golf or football?

Football, but what you Americans refer to as “soccer” ;)

Thanks so much, Chanel for being with us today! More information on Chanel and I SEE LONDON below... 

Originally a Florida girl at seventeen Chanel moved to London to attend an international university.  In the four years that followed, she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, learned how to dance, travelled through Europe, and made lifelong friendships.  Chanel fell in love with London and planned to stay there forever.  But fate intervened on a Caribbean cruise, when an American fighter pilot with smooth dance moves, swept her off her feet. 

Now, a happily ever after later, Chanel is living her next adventure in South Korea.  An avid reader and hopeless romantic, she is happiest curled up with a book.  She has a weakness for handbags, puppy cuddles, and her fighter pilot husband.  Harlequin (HQN) will release Chanel’s New Adult debut, I SEE LONDON, on February 3, 2014, followed by a sequel, LONDON FALLING, later in the year.

Website:   www.chanelcleeton.com

Facebook:   www.facebook.com/authorchanelcleeton

Twitter:   www.twitter.com/chanelcleeton

Goodreads:   www.goodreads.com/chanelcleeton

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1cQXj

Barnes & Noble:  http://bit.ly/1khLGx

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1ewcogY