Ten on Tuesday with KT Valentine

I was delighted to be offered the chance to read KT Valentine's debut novel 'Dispatches From The Dating Zone' earlier this year. Although I don't get as much time as I'd like for it I do love reading and can't resist the lure of a good book. 

KT's book is about Fleur Summers, a divorced single Mum, and her quest in finding the perfect man. She has explored all the usual ways of meeting Mr Right but has now turned to her friends and family for help. 

It is described as a British racy rom-com and that's exactly what it is. Some elements of the story can be a tad crude but don't let that put you off. It's a fun read and I could relate to a lot of it after a few dating disasters of my own (many, many years ago I'm happy to say!) 

I loved the short chapters, a downside for some, but for me it worked well to read a few pages when I had 5 minutes spare while waiting to pick the children up from school and easily pick up again where I left off. At other times I whizzed through chapter after chapter, desperate to find out what happened next.

KT has a signed copy of her book for one lucky reader to win. A competition post will go live shortly so watch this space! 

I put 10 questions to KT to find out more about her:

1.  Who are you and what do you do?

My name is KT Valentine and I’m a PA by trade. I actually started out in the Royal Air Force, spent time as an air hostess, moved into recruitment, then banking, before finally settling in PA work about 5 years ago. I really enjoy being a PA and think that as a ‘real job’ it’s the job for me, but my dream job has always been to write.

2. How did you get started?

A friend once told me that some of the best writers are the ones that write about what they know. Whether that was the case or not, it got me thinking about everything I’d been through over the years and how I could draw on it for inspiration. After a traumatic divorce, I found myself on the rocky road as a single mum trying to find love again. You name it, I’ve done it with regards to finding that elusive ‘Mr Right’ and it’s not exactly been plain sailing.

Then, one evening while I was deleting yet another potential ‘shirtless’ match on yet another dating website, I started to wonder what it would be like it I put my love life into the hands of my nearest and dearest and that’s when the idea for ‘Dispatches from the Dating Zone’ was born.

3. What is the most inspiring piece of advice you've ever been given?

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try and don’t stop trying. I’ve been living by that mantra most of my life!

4. What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?

1.      To be a published author

2.      To write a screenplay

3.      To visit Machu Picchu in Peru

5. What was the first record/cd that you owned?

It was actually New Kids on the Block’s debut record (yes I’m showing my age – my son’s never even seen a record!)

6. Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?    

That’s a really hard question to answer as I don’t tend to look to far into the future anymore. However if pressed, I’d love to have another book published or be making a living from writing in some form or another. I’d also love to have re-married, travelled the world and start to grow older disgracefully.

7. Describe yourself in five words.

Mischievous. Creative. Loyal. Passionate. Mother.

8. What is the worst gift you've ever received?

A box of Matchsticks chocolates wrapped in tin foil. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE chocolate, but my brother went through a phase of buying his sisters a box of cheap chocolates  for Christmas ever year for at least five years, whilst his girlfriend of the moment got gorgeous jewellery etc.. By the third year we were so over the Matchsticks and to this day I’ve never eaten one since. However nothing beats the birthday present my brother bought my son when he was six years old – an adult sized boxing bag that was bigger and weighed more than my son! Mmm there’s a bit of a theme beginning to emerge here…

9. Which four people, dead or alive, would you most like to have round for dinner?

Marilyn Monroe, JK Rowling, Nigella Lawson and Adele.  Glamour, intellectual conversation, great food and the perfect sound track for the perfect evening. #GirlPower

10. Any embarrassing moments you'd care to tell us about?  My debut book isn’t my first 15 minutes of fame. I was actually on BBC Newsround when I was 15! I won a journalist competition and flew to Canada to make some news reports on seal culling. I was on Newsround three times, which was really exciting. What wasn’t exciting was the fact my mother had nicked the only scarf we’d taken on the trip and each of my reports featured me wearing a white hotel towel round my neck!! CRINGE!

You can follow KT on twitter and her book is available from Amazon

*I was not paid for this post. I was offered a copy of the book for the purposes of a review. All opinion is honest and based upon my own experience of the product.