Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Interview with Sibel Hodge and book giveaway

**Giveaway is now closed**

Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Sibel Hodge and discussing her debut novel "Fourteen Days Later." Sibel has dual citizenship, both British and Turkish Cypriot, which I think is quite unique, and pretty cool. She divides her time between North Cyprus and Hertfordshire. For ten years she worked for the Hertfordshire Constabulary. (From Amy: I had no idea what "Constabulary" was till I looked it up. It's their police station.) Sibel then moved on and become a sports and massage therapists, and a personal trainer. She has written, and continues to write, freelance feature articles on fitness, health, and a variety of lifestyle topics.

"Fourteen Days Later" was highly praised by the Yeovil Literary Price in 2009. It was also short listed for the Harry Bowling Prize in 2008. She also wrote "My Perfect Wedding" and "How to Dump Your Boyfriend in the Men's Room" (and other short stories).

"Fourteen Days Later" is a combined "read" of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "P.S. I Love You. (or per her answer to if one of your books were to be made into a movie, "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"). Sounds like our kind of book.

Sibel has three e-books of "Fourteen Days Later" to give to some lucky readers anywhere in the world! (The format is the winner's choice.)

You can learn more about Sibel by visiting her on Facebook, Twitter and her website.

MP: What is your usual writing routine?
SH: When I'm working on a novel I usually write about ten hours a day. Half the time I don't even hear my hubby talking to me. He'll say something and about an hour later he gets a "What?" from me.

MP: How do you like to spend your time when you are not writing?
SH: Reading, swimming, doing Yoga, although a lot of the time I've still got my head buried in the laptop promoting, marketing, or generally interacting with readers and other authors.

MP: Do you ever encounter "writer's block?" If so, what do you do to push through it?
SH: It's weird because I've just started on a new novel and for the first time I've had it! I don't normally plot very much in advance because I find that hinders my creativity. Half the time I don't know what I'm going to write until the words tumble onto the page, and it seems to work. But with this one, I started it, but it wasn't flowing very well, and then I decided to start the story earlier in the characters life. So maybe I've written the ending before the beginning this time!


MP: What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a writer?
SH: Getting people to notice your work and want to read it. When you consider there are 900,000 books on Kindle, that's pretty daunting, but so far (fingers and legs crossed), it's going pretty well.

MA: If you could choose one of your books to be made into a movie, which would you pick and who would you cast in the lead roles?
SH: I think my romantic comedy "Fourteen Days Later" would make a great film. It's Bridget Jones's Diary meets My Big Fat Greek Wedding with lots of quirky characters. I'd pick someone like Sandra Bullock for the leading female, Helen, because she plays comedy really well, and for the lead male, I'd pick Tamer Hassan, because he's Turkish Cypriot, just like the character Kalem, and he's pretty hot, too.

MA: What do you do to stay motivated?
SH: Read a lot.

MP: You divide your time between Hertfordshire and North Cyprus, what is your favorite thing about each place?
SH: Well North Cyprus beats the British Weather any day, and the lifestyle is more laid back. It's great for writing because it's peaceful, and I've got a fantastic view from my villa across a ravine to the sea and mountains. My favourite thing about the UK is my friends and family (although I don't miss all of them!).

MA: What was your most recent laugh-out-loud moment?
My sister and co. came out to stay with me in Cyprus recently and, after a few too many wines, we had an impromptu fancy dress party. She ended up as Gloria Estefan, hubby ended up as George Michael, and I ended up as Lady Gaga. I'm still laughing at the pictures.

MA: What is your guilty pleasure?
Red wine.

MA: Who was your celebrity crush when you were growing up?
Paul Weller. I had posters of him all over my bedroom wall. I was convinced I was going to marry him when I got older. Bummer!

Thanks to Sibel for visiting with us and sharing "Fourteen Days Later" with our readers.

How to win "Fourteen Days Later":
Please comment below with your e-mail address.
(Please note: Entries without an e-mail address will NOT be counted. You can use AT and DOT to avoid spam. Or provide a link to your facebook page or blog if you can receive messages there.)

Bonus entries (can be listed all in one post):
1. Please tell us: If you could have dual citizenship, which other country would you choose and why?
2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).
3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.
4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines, as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)
5. Add a friend to our Facebook group. (Tell us who you added.) Be sure to remind them to edit their settings.

Giveaway ends September 26th at midnight EST.

21 comments:

Sibel Hodge said...

Thanks so much for having me! :)

Anonymous said...

Anything by Sibel Hodge is friggin' AWESOME. Thank you for sharing her.

Jel said...

if i could have a dual citizenship, id choose to be a citizen of london :)

punkme15 at gmail dot com

Jel said...

im a blog follower =)
GFC: Jel

punkme15 at gmail dot com

Jel said...

shared on FB: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=168802659869231&id=100002184952335

punkme15 at gmail dot com

Jel said...

im a member of chicklit central on FB
FB Name: Maggy Diaz Oro

punkme15 at gmail dot com

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this novel...sounds like a great read :)

dual citizenship...usa & canada

i'm a follower, too!

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Mary Preston said...

Sounds just wonderful!!

I'd have dual citizenship with England. I would not need to learn another language. Though that would be kind of cool.

I follow

Joined Chick Lit Central on Facebook

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Unknown said...

Count me in as a super-huge Sibel Hodge fan!!!

Wavin' atchya, Sibel!

And cheers to you, Chick Lit Central! Gosh, I luuuvvv u!!! And luuuvvv sharin' great books with ya too!

Happy Reading, Y'All!

Sibel Hodge said...

Aw, thanks so much, Pj, and DD! Waving right back at ya!

Good luck everyone! Woo hoo :)

L.C. Evans said...

Love the interview and love Sibel's books.

Linda Kish said...

I would love to read this book.

Although I'd have to learn a new language, Italy would be nice because it seems like such a beautiful place.

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

StereoQueenBee said...

queenofcrunk at gmail dot com

1. Please tell us: If you could have dual citizenship, which other country would you choose and why?

Portugal because my love is from there.

2. Follow this blog and post a comment saying you are a follower (if you already follow, that's fine too).

Am a follower.

3. Post this contest on Facebook or Twitter or in your blog, and leave a comment saying where you've posted it.

Facebook - Sabrina-Kate Eryou
Twitter - stereoqueenbee

4. Join Chick Lit Central on Facebook. Edit settings if you don't want to receive a lot of messages at your e-mail account. Please read our posting guidelines, as well. (If you're already a member, let us know that too.)

Am already a member.

Jane said...

If I could have dual citizenship, I would choose US and Costa Rica. I was an exchange student there in high school and loved it!

sk8ersmom57@yahoo.com

Jane

Unknown said...

Sibel, congrats on your work and can't wait to read it. I just read your interview on ChickLit Central and may I say, wow to sunny Cypress and I too had a crush on Paul Weller! Can't decide whether I love the Jam or Style Council more! lol I would LOVE to live in either Mallorca or Venice. Currently, I live in Lausanne, Switzerland by way of Paris and Chicago!

Jeryl M. said...

I would like to read this.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Jeryl M. said...

I would like to have dual citizenship with Canada because it is close and everyone always seems so nice there.

I am a subscriber.

I am a Facebook fan.

jeryl.marcus@gmail.com

Kat said...

1) It's always great to learn more about authors! I love the interview and would love to win!

2) The obvious choice for dual citizenship would be the US because it's close, but where I'd really love to have dual citizenship is Scotland/the UK because that's my ancestry

3) I am a member of CLC

4) I am a follower of the blog through GFC

ladykathryn@rogers.com

Anonymous said...

r.m.haigh:hotmail.co.uk
im joined the group on facebook :) rosie haigh
and if i could dual citizenship im choose canada because its such a beautiful place! :)

Anne R. Allen said...

Sibel is one of the best chick lit writers around. Great interview.

Sibel Hodge said...

Aw, Anne - that is such a lovely compliment, thanks soooo much!

And you, too, LC! That's lovely to hear :)