Liv Arnold is meeting with me today to discuss her debut novel, Law & Disorder. Liv has worked as a copywriter for several global companies and now runs her own freelance business. She grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and lives with her husband and their spoiled dog, who only eats freshly cooked meals. When she’s not writing, Liv avoids the gym, devouring a cheese platter or marathoning way too much TV. And of course, she’s a massive book addict and often reads until all hours of the night.
SS: Have you always been driven to write? Or did you begin writing in response to a particular stimulus?
LA: I used to write stories at school for fun, but I never thought anything would come of it. So, I did a degree that had nothing to do with writing and started a full-time job in the finance industry. My mum encouraged me to do a creative writing course at RMIT in Melbourne Australia. It was a short course that ran for 8-10 weeks for three hours a week after work. I loved every moment of the class and ended up doing three courses. The teachers were so inspiring, and it was great to speak to like-minded people. I workshopped my stories in class and continued with them after the course finished.
SS: What was your first recognition/success as an author?
LA: Funnily enough, it was through a bad review. The person said, “I don’t know how I keep seeing so many good reviews of this book.” My first reaction was to be quite pleased that reviews were getting out.
SS: What are you working on at the moment?
LA: I have a contemporary rom com called, Etched in Stone. This novel is also contracted with The Wild Rose Press.
SS: When you’re creating a story, do you avoid books in the same vein so as not to be influenced by others, or do you seek out all possible variations for maximum inspiration?
LA: I read a lot of the same genre I write for inspiration. Everyone has their own unique styles, and I love learning from other writers.
SS: What writer would you be most thrilled to hear wants to meet you?
LA: I love how JK Rowling’s writing sounds so comforting and that she’s speaking to a friend. When the Harry Potter books first came out, I used to be so tired at school from reading HP all night. Always had to know what happened next. I would fall off my chair if she ever wanted to meet me.
SS: What advice would you give aspiring writers?
LA: Don’t give up. Sometimes it’s all about getting your manuscript on the right publisher’s desk at the right time. Keep learning your craft. I found online short courses through Savvy authors really helpful.
SS: What role does consent and the #MeToo movement play in your writing?
LA: Not much really. Consent should be a given in romance books. I recently heard of a trope called bully romance. To me this genre doesn’t sound like a romance.
SS: What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters of the opposite sex?
LA: I write better in the female point of view. When I write from a male’s, especially in romance, I have to think of ways to make him sound masculine.
SS: What is the appeal of the bad boy? The alpha male?
LA: The trait where the alpha male fights for the woman he loves and sticks up for her in every way.
SS: Do you believe in real-life happily-ever-afters?
LA: Life is stranger thank fiction. A lot of romances are based on real-life love stories. So the answer is yes. I hate that some people look down on romance genres. Yes, the romance genre does require a happy ever after, but who doesn’t like that? So many other genres also follow certain plot lines, like murder mysteries—someone gets murdered at the beginning, usually someone else dies in the middle, and the investigator figures it out at the end and explains the tell-tale signs. Romance needs its own skill. To be able to make the readers feel something, whether to drool over the lead male, picture themselves in the story, or even be a little hot under the collar.
SS: Do you think political statements belong in romance? Would you write a novel that was a political tract?
LA: I’m not really a political person, but if it’s right for the story go for it.
SS: What more do you think can be done to encourage diversity in romance?
LA: More diverse characters whether it be a different nationality, religion, sexual orientation or even characters with a disability. They’re something you don’t see often.
LIGHTNING ROUND:
Describe your books in 3 words: Sexy, fun and fiery
Favorite thing about your genre? The happily ever after
A genre that you would love to write: Thriller
Are you a night owl or morning person? Night owl
Pantser or Plotter? Panster
Book you’re currently reading: That’s What Frenemies Are For by Sophie Littlefield and Lauren Gershell. It’s so much fun.
Your favorite guilty pleasure: Cheese
Your number one book boyfriend or girlfriend is: Sebastian Stone. He’s in my novel coming up.
Your favorite genre of romance: So many. Contemporary, sweet, erotic, fantasy.
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Law & Disorder is available through:
Amazon AU | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | B&N | Kobo | iTunes
A brief excerpt of Law & Disorder:
His handsome face smirked before he averted his eyes and turned his head, but she could still see the profile of his face. His police uniform stretched across his chest. Wonder if that chest is chiseled underneath all those clothes.
Her ears burned hotter than chili sauce, spreading to her neck and chest. No point in putting on a mask this time, because there was no escaping this. Her fingers found the ends of the towel to cover her naked body, but her legs froze on the spot. “I got locked out of my house.”
“You got locked out of your house…naked?” A grin spread across his face, revealing the dimple on the bottom lip. She wanted to bite it but didn’t know if it was to hurt him or because of the temperature between her legs.
Scowling at his sarcasm, her fingers gripped the bricks of her house and she pulled herself up. “Yes. Why are you even here? Didn’t you have enough of me this morning?
“Never enough.”
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Liv can be followed here on social media:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | BookBub
