Interview with Rachel K. Burke
1. Could you tell us the inspiration behind Love Bites?
I’ve always loved stories with love triangles – it started with the old episodes of Beverly Hills 90210 with the Brenda, Dylan and Kelly triangle, and most recently, I loved the book Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin. There’s just something so suspenseful about love triangles, and I find myself dying to know the outcome.
2. What did you enjoy the most about writing Love Bites?
I loved writing the scenes where Justine and David are instantly drawn to each other, and watching their relationship unfold to a place where it was impossible for them to stay away from each other. It’s challenging but incredibly fun to create a situation that’s morally wrong, and then make it realistic to readers.
3. How long did it take you to write?
About a year.
4. What do you think makes a good story?
The page turning element – a story that creates that burning desire to know the outcome. That was why I loved Something Borrowed. It was the only book I ever finished in a day because I was dying to know what happened in the end.
5. Who was your favourite character in Love Bites?
Probably David, from a writer perspective. It was fun creating a character who is so charming that he causes the main character to do things she couldn’t imagine herself doing. He’s also such a strong character that, based on the book reviews, stirs up powerful emotions in readers.
6. What types of books do you like to read?
I more or less read the type of books that I write – new adult, chick lit, contemporary romance. I not only enjoy them, but they’re good inspiration for me for future storylines.
7. What was the hardest bit about writing Love Bites?
I was about halfway done writing Love Bites when I received a phone call from HarperCollins offering me a 3-book publishing contract, because they loved my first novel, Sound Bites (the prequel to Love Bites.) So I had to take a break from Love Bites to rewrite Sound Bites, and then revisit Love Bites 6 months later. I had to read the entire manuscript to get back into the story.
8. Please sum up Love Bites in three words
Suspenseful, controversial, inspirational
(As featured in Laura’s Book Blog: http://lauraslittlebookblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/author-interview-with-rachel-k-burke.html#more)
