Meet Amber Fox from The Fashion Police…the fashion business just got deadly!

I think character interviews are so much fun! I lurrrrve creating characters – it’s got to be one of my favourite things about writing a novel. You can create anyone you want – even the perfect man!

Amber Fox from my chicklit mystery series The Fashion Police and Be Careful What You Wish For was a hoot to invent. I wanted a female character who was feisty and larger than life, yet, like many of us, was aware of her flaws. I think that most readers will be able to relate to her in some way or another. She’s got a lot of me in her (not telling you wish bits, though, for fear I might incriminate myself!)

Amber had an interview a while back for Syria Says…, and this is what she said…

Syria Says: How did you first meet your writer?

Amber: She was following me. Can you believe it? Stalking me, for some reason. Not that I didn’t know she was there, though. I’m an ex-cop turned insurance investigator – I could see her tail a mile off. It’s my job to know when someone’s following me.

Syria Says: Did you ever think that your life would end up being in a book?

Amber: Well, let’s just say there’s plenty that could be turned into a book, but that’s for another story!

Syria Says: What are your favorite scenes in your book: action, dialog, romance?

Amber: Don’t get me wrong, I like the romance part. The only thing is that my love life is a bit complicated, to say the least. I work for my ex-fiancé, who thinks that my job description includes sexual favours. My current boyfriend is a cop who wants to take things to the “next level”. I’m in love with two men. What’s a girl to do?

Syria Says: I do love the action scenes. Chasing and bringing down the bad guys gives me a sense of achievement. It’s just that sometimes they chase me too. And not in a good way!

Amber: I’m a bit of a motor-mouth, too, so the dialogue is pretty easy for me. The only time I shut up is when I’m asleep.

Syria Says: Did you have a hard time convincing your author to write any particular scenes for you?

Amber: No. She seems to have my whole life figured out. I just wish I did.

Syria Says: Do you infiltrate your writer’s dreams?

Amber: Big time! If I’m going through something huge, I think it’s only fair that she gets to experience it first-hand through dreams. Plus, I’m a bit of a workaholic. OK, I admit it: I don’t have many friends outside work. I kind of like the writer now. She’s got under my skin in a way. I like to pop in her head when she’s in la-la land and keep her updated about what’s going on in my life.

Syria Says: What do you like to do when you are not being actively read somewhere?

Amber: Sleep. Shop. Spend time with my two men. Have great family dinners. Get cuddles from Marmalade, my ginger cat. Drink wine. I’m still sneakily looking for bad guys – even when no one’s watching!

Syria Says: Are you currently engaged in a relationship?

Amber: Like I said, it’s complicated. I wish the writer would sort it out. Maybe I need to get a crystal ball.

Syria Says: Are you happy with the genre your writer has placed you in?

Amber: I’m pretty happy about it. But I still can’t make my mind up which one describes my life better: Cozy mystery, comedy mystery, romantic suspense, murder mystery. I could go on all day, because I do like to talk, but I’m sure you get the picture.

Syria Says: If you could rewrite anything in your book, what would it be?

Amber: I’d like more control of my love life. Other than that, I’m really happy with it. My book would be the kind I’d like to read (if I ever actually had time off from a case to read).

Syria Says: Do you like the way the book ended?

Amber: I think it’s the only ending my writer could’ve written. She doesn’t want to get rid of me yet and that shows in the ending. You know – if I was a real person, I think we’d be good friends.

Syria Says: Would you be interested in a sequel if your writer was so inclined?

Amber: She’s writing the sequel soon. She won’t give me a sneak preview, though. These writers like to keep things close to their chest. I’m pretty certain that I’m going to be up to my neck in murder mystery and intrigue. Bring it on! I’ve been dying to get stuck into a new case.

Syria Says: Do you believe that you are suitable portrayed in electronic books or would you rather be in paperback only?

Amber: OK, sometimes I can be a bit of a show off. Not annoyingly so, but I wouldn’t like to limit my audience by being in paperback only. My colleague, Hacker, is a techie guy in a BIG way. He thinks new technology like eBooks are the way to go.

Syria Says: Did you have any input into the book cover design?

Amber: Nope. I did ask, but I got a big fat no from the writer.

Syria Says: What is the lamest characteristic your writer has attributed to you?

Amber: Hello, my name is Amber Fox, and I’m scared of commitment. OK, there, I admitted it. Lame, I know. How many other cops or ex-cops out there have relationship problems? It pretty much goes with the territory.

Syria Says: If you could give yourself a superpower, what would you choose?

Amber: My friend, Tia, is psychic. And Hacker can do Voodoo (although he says if you do it to people, you get it back three times worse), so I feel a bit left out on the superpower front. There are quite a few people I’d like to do Voodoo on, believe me. Can I be greedy? Can I have a couple? No? I have to choose one? Damn. OK, I’d like to be able to turn myself invisible. That way I could find stuff out without anyone noticing. I’m a pretty noticeable kind of girl, which sometimes doesn’t work in my favour.

And it’s giveaway time again! One fab person who comments on this post will win a copy of The Fashion Police!

About The Fashion Police…

“I enjoyed the great mixture of action adventure and slapstick. I found myself chuckling out loud and on one occasion snorting water out my nose.” – Coffee Time Romance & More

Amber Fox has been making too many mistakes lately and something’s got to give…

For starters, Amber accidentally shoots Chief Inspector Janice Skipper and gets thrown off the police force. The only one who knows the truth about the incident is Amber, but no one will believe her.

After accepting a job as an insurance investigator from her ex-fiancé, Brad Beckett, it turns out that Brad thinks they’ve still got unfinished business and the job description includes sexual favours that come with a price.

When fashion designer, Umberto Fandango, goes missing, Amber becomes embroiled in a complicated case. But Amber’s arch-enemy, Chief Inspector Skipper, is also investigating his disappearance, and it’s a race against time for Amber to solve the mystery before Skipper does and get her old job back. And just when Amber thinks things can’t get any worse, she’s being stalked by some crazy mobsters.

Who is Umberto Fandango? Is he dead? And can Amber stay one step ahead and stay alive?

All my novels are available in paperback and all ebook formats. For more info, please check out my website.

Good luck! xx