Today, it is my extreme pleasure to introduce you to Sophia Karlson, fabulous author of The Paris Apartment and Perfect Mistake. Don’t forget to drop by her social media links and show her some love ❤
1. What inspired you to start writing?
Reading inspired me to start writing! At around age 13 I really got into it, and then later at university I loved the creative writing classes we used as part of the languages I studied. Life didn’t quite lead directly to a writing career, but whenever I got bored I found myself plotting books in my head.
2. Plotter or pantser?
Haha, I’ve realized pantsing is not the most economical way of going about this writing business. I have the book plotted out in my head, all the major scenes, and I jot them down in order, but like to leave some thing to chance and to the characters. That way, when they surprise you, and there is a little detour that makes absolute sense, you can take it with them.
3. What is your typical day like?
Sometimes more chaotic than I personally planned. I try to write after I’ve dropped my kids off at school, in the afternoons I am a mommy-taxi. In between there is admin and household stuff, that sometimes takes over my life.
4. Do you need to be in a specific place or room to write, or you can just sit in the middle of a café full of people and write?
I have a desk on the landing of our house. It is sort off in the middle of everything, but I am mobile and have written in all kinds of spaces. Coffee shop writing gets a bit weird if I get knee deep in a sex scene and start wondering if the waiter is going to read over my shoulder.
5. What inspired you to write this novel? Where did the idea come from?
The Paris Apartment was a mental bridge crossing for me, in a way. I wanted to write a book where the characters get into sexy times very early on in the book. We took a trip to Paris some years ago and stayed in the 1st Arrondissement, on Rue St. Honoré, in a very small apartment. We did however have beautiful views across some of the city and other, bigger, more luxurious apartments. One day, whilst ambling through the streets I saw this bland black door with a single plaque on it, saying Club Privé. I just knew then I was going to write a book about an apartment in Paris and a private club. The rest of the story, and the characters, then pitched up of their own accord.
6. Tell us a little about the characters in your book
James – I love this character – is flawed and refuses to love, too afraid of getting hurt. But life has this happy knack of giving you exactly what you need at the time when you are least expecting it and not even looking, or knowing, what you need.
Walks in Mila, a beautiful suppressed virgin, who just wants to live a little. People with a wider experience of life might frown at how Mila had been brought up, but knowing a few Mila’s in my life, it was very real to write her.
7. Do you have a dream cast for your characters? If so, who?
I’ll always cast Richard Armitage in anything a write. Or Ralph Fines. For James we might need someone with a bit more of a rugby built. In this case, Clive Standen will do very nicely, thank you.
And for Mila, Lily James will suit perfectly!
8. Are you working on anything at the present you would like to tell us about?
I’ve started working on the sequel to The Paris Apartment, which at this time is has no title. It is about James’s sister, Stacey, and what happens after her trip to Paris get cut short.
9. Do you write using your computer or notepad? Both? Something else?
I write on my laptop, but will scribble notes everywhere, on my phone and in notebooks.
10. What’s the hardest part about being an author? And the easiest?
Growing a thick skin is a hard part and takes time. The easiest…Is probably to dream up stories and leave them stuck in your head!
11. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve researched for your book?
For this book it might have been the whole swinging thing and swinging clubs. In France people who swing are much younger than elsewhere, where it seems to be an ‘older couple’ thing.
12. When you’re not writing, what do you like to do?
Binge watch something in Netflix, plan family vacations, potter around in the kitchen.
13. Do you have a must-read book you’d like to share with readers?
Too many! I love listening to classics on Audible and can highly recommend Great Expectations narrated by Richard Armitage. Other books that have been phenomenal listens-to are The Power of One and Tandia by Bryce Courtenay. Humphrey Bower is unequalled as narrator. Other amazing reads have been The Fault in our Stars by John Green and Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I can carry on forever here LOL.
14. What’s your favorite movie which was based on a book?
The English Patient. It is such a heart wrenching story, but so artistically beautifully done and the music brought the whole together.
15. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?
If you really want it, and are willing to do the work, it will happen.
AUTHOR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/sophiakarlsonwriter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SophiaKarlson
Website: http://www.sophiakarlson.com
Sharonlee Holder 
Thank you for hosting me!!
Always welcome! ❤