Author of: Highland fling @SavvyDunn (real name Emma Baird). #1 in womensfiction

1 what inspired the idea of your story?   

I'd always wanted to write a romcom and take part in NaNoWriMo. For anyone who does not know what that is, NaNoWriMo is an annual mass writing 'sprint' where people are encouraged to write a novel or 50,000 words in 30 days. Highland Fling was the result of that. I started it in November 2018, revised it, put it through beta readers and a proof-reader and had it ready three months later.

2 what is something you struggled constructing with your story?

I move chapters and scenes around a lot. When you start a book, it's tempting to fling everything at it right from the start which means the story's energy fizzles out by the time you get to the two-thirds mark and it starts to limp. So, I had one chapter that ended up here, there and everywhere!

3 what did you enjoy writing most of your story?

I love writing dialogue. And I like to highlight life's absurdities. One of the characters in my book is a 'self' made billionaire at the age of 21 who owns a beauty and skincare company. Some of you might think she sounds like a real person initials KJ. I couldn't possibly comment.

4 what's the overall response of your story from your readers?

I've been overwhelmed by the response to it on Wattpad. Readers have taken the time to tell me how much they love it, and Gaby and Jack my main characters. Just recently, a nurse told me how it made her laugh out loud and that she couldn't stop reading. That comment cheered me particularly because nurses are going through such a tough time just now keeping us all safe and well during the COVID-19 pandemic.

5 is your story a stand alone novel or a piece of a series ?

Highland Fling is the first in my Highland Books series. The next book is Highland Heart, which isn't on Wattpad, but Highland Wedding is, and I've also written a few short stories about some of the other characters – The Night We First Met, The Start of Something Beautiful, Mhari's New Boyfriend, Starlight and Highland Christmas. I've just finished the first draft of Highland Chances and I'll be publishing that on Wattpad very soon.

6 what would you like your readers to take away from your story?

I want them to laugh.

7 what advice would you provide to fellow writers, when it comes to focusing on their own story?

Always plot your story before you start. It makes writing 70,000 words or so much easier. It's also courteous to give readers chapters that are as error-free as possible. If you can, get someone else to proofread your work before you upload it.

8 does your main character share any similarities to yourself?

Oh yes... my heroine is prone to making a fool of herself... Hmm!

9 what is something about your story you believe would draw in new readers?

Hopefully, my story is a good one for the times we're currently living in because it offers light-hearted escapism. (And an extremely attractive Scotsman who bears a resemblance to a certain Jamie Fraser...)

10 do you have any future projects?

I have lots of finished first drafts that need tidying up. I plan a 5th book in the Highland Books series and I'm working on a paranormal romance/urban fantasy series.