Author: Cate Ellink
First published with Escape: 2013
Favourite romance trope: friends to lovers
Ideal hero: sexy, funny, respectful
Ideal heroine: independent, nature-loving
Latest book: Secret Confessions Down and Dusty: Lucky
What began your romance writing career? Why do you write romance?
Romance and sex are an important part of life, but in my experience, they are largely not talked about. I wanted to shine a light on this neglected part of our nature. (Sorry, I should have a romantic answer, shouldn’t I? *grin*)
How do you write? What is your process like?
My process isn’t one I’d recommend, but it works for me. I write a very messy first draft where I get to know the characters and have some idea of where the story is going. Even if these words get filed away as a bad idea, I still love this part! Then I spend quite some time making that mess into something like a story. It’s only at this stage that I can ask my early readers for their opinion. Before this point, it’s mine to love. I no longer discuss a story until it’s at this point.
What was your hardest scene to write?
Writing Secret Confessions Sydney Housewives: Lana, I came across a problem it took a while to get over. Lana needed to be an older woman who liked ‘toy boys’. I was excited by this character and began writing the story. Then my ever-helpful husband pointed out that Lana was my age, and the guy was his nephew’s age. Oh boy! Lana froze. It took me quite some time to lose reality and get my head back into the fantasy of Lana. I had to understand Lana, be non-judgemental, and write for my characters (and never talk to my husband about a story before it was done!).
What’s the thing about writing that has surprised you the most?
Sometimes when I read back over what I’ve written, especially if it’s a while later, I can have no recollection of writing the words. There’s no familiarity. It’s as if I’m reading a stranger’s work. That freaks me out—am I writing or am I channelling someone else?
Snacks while writing, yes or no? What kind of snacks?
I drink tea by the bucketload!
From Cate Ellink comes a sun-soaked, sandy, seaside erotic novel about a tropical paradise, two athletes used to getting physical, and a sex-filled, no-strings holiday fling.
Samantha is celebrating her newly retired status from competitive triathlons with a diving holiday in her favourite place in the world: Australia’s Lord Howe Island. But all divers need a buddy, and Sam can’t dive solo. A chance meeting with rugby league superstar Cooper Sterling in the dive shop seems serendipitous. Sam can’t wait to have a partner who might be able to keep up with her.
It soon becomes evident that Cooper and Sam are compatible both in and out of the water, and things gets seriously sexy. But Sam is disinclined to be another football groupie, and Cooper has been burned before. So the rules are clear: a holiday fling, no strings attached, and they part as friends at the end.
But as the final days of their time together come to a close and a life apart becomes a reality, Sam and Cooper start to question their decision. Is this holiday fling really the finish line or can Sam and Cooper turn their friendly competition into more than sizzling sex?
The Escapades 