You know that old adage of “Write what you know”?

I work in the movie business and people often ask why I don’t set my books on movie sets. The answer is simple – I do it all day, so why would I want to come home at night and write about it?!

With my latest release, The Trouble with Mojitos, published under the name Romy Sommer, I finally succumbed and wrote what I knew. My heroine, Kenzie, is a film location scout. She’s in the Caribbean to scout locations for a big international feature film.

What does a film location scout do?

• Whatever the script requires. Is the scene set beside a waterfall, in a kitchen, or on a factory floor?
• Whatever the director requires. Does the director want a spacious, modern kitchen with a skylight, or an old-fashioned 70s kitchen with linoleum floors?
• Whatever the budget requires. Sadly, all expenses paid trips to the Caribbean are very, very rare!

What does it take to be a location scout?

In addition to understanding camera angles and lenses, film logistics, and the ability to take good pictures, the job requires an adventurous spirit, a large dollop of charm, and the ability to withstand rejection. (Would you open your front door to a complete stranger who says he wants to photograph your kitchen?)

Traditionally, it’s a man’s job, especially in South Africa where I live and work. The kind of locations we usually send scouts out to photograph are townships or the rugged bushveld. And that’s on a good day. Some days it’s just knocking on doors and asking if you can photograph someone’s kitchen.

These days, however, there are an increasing number of women working as location scouts, and Kenzie’s job was largely inspired by one particular scout we often use. (Thanks, Elle!)

As with any job, there are ups and downs. On the down side, there’s little job security. Scouts are freelancers, contracted in on a job by job basis. Their ability to land the next contract (and earn an income) depends very much on the quality of their work and on who they know. On the up side, they get paid to visit amazing places!

With this job, Kenzie’s landed with her butt in the butter – but she also has a major obstacle. She’s been sent to do the impossible. The (fictional) island group she’s been tasked to photograph is wary of foreigners and she gets nowhere fast. Worse, the island that’s perfect for the film she’s scouting is out of bounds. Her only hope is a man she meets in a bar – a tattooed bad boy with a secret.

And that’s where the story begins…

For me, making films (or TV commercials these days) is just a job. I’m hoping that for readers it’s unusual enough to capture interest – especially since my next book will be set during the filming of the movie Kenzie has scouted. Or have there been so many behind-the-scenes shows that it’s all passé now?

What do you think: do books set on film sets interest you, or not?

The Trouble with Mojitos is available from Amazon, Amazon UK, iTunes, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks.

Romy writes contemporary romances published by Harper Impulse, and 1920s historicals as Rae Summers. You can find out more about her at www.romysommer.com.