But I Smile Anyway…

Today, I am so happy to have a lovely writer friend, Nina Kaye, visit my blog to talk about writing and her newest release, Stand Up Guy!

Hello, and welcome to But I Smile Anyway, Nina! Let’s get you set with a drink, first. Tea,
coffee, hot chocolate, or maybe a masala chai?

Hot chocolate, please.

If we’re going masala tea, I can offer you some homemade samosas, or a fresh batch of shortbread
cookies baked by my daughter this morning.

Ooh, the cookies, please!

Shortbread, it is then! Right, let’s get comfortable.

So, could you tell me a bit about your journey to becoming a published author, Nina?

Of course. I’ve spent most of my life as a ‘frustrated creative’ – someone who wanted to follow a
more creative path but who fell into a ‘safe’ career. I dreamt of being an author from a young age,
when I was devouring the likes of The Babysitter’s Club and Point Horror. At 17 years old, I even
flirted with writing outside the classroom when supposedly studying for my exams.
Fast forward nearly 20 years, and it was a life-changing illness that got me on the path to becoming a
serious writer. In 2014, my body essentially ‘broke’, and I spent months rehabilitating from a raft of
confusing and debilitating neurological symptoms. During this time, I turned to writing to support
my cognitive and physical rehabilitation, and the silver lining to this is that it led to me
achieving my dream of being a published author.

I’ve read all your books, Nina, and loved every one! Do you have a favourite out of the
books you have published so far?

I would say the one that’s closest to my heart is Take A Moment because it was inspired by my own
experience of living with long-term illness. It has the most personal meaning for me. From an
enjoyment perspective, I think Stand Up Guy is probably now my favourite. I got so invested in writing
the love story between Lea and Shep, and Shep (being a stand-up comedian) was such a fun
character to bring to life.

Do you have a special place where you create and write? Somewhere away from
the craziness of family?

Not really. I sometimes used to write in coffee shops, but now I do all my writing at home. I’m
quite good at filtering out background noise and distractions once I’m in the zone with writing or
editing, so I don’t need to take myself away to do it.

Romance is a genre close to my heart. What pulled you towards writing romance?

I think it was the influence of reading so many romance novels in my twenties. I hoovered up books
by Sophie Kinsella, Chrissie Manby, Lucy Robinson and others. They were so relatable and easy to
read, and I just loved the rollercoaster ride the main characters took on their path to their happy
ever after. With these books, I didn’t just find a genre I loved to read. I found one I wanted to write –
and not just for the love stories. As those of us who read and write romance know, there is so much
more to the genre. I also love creating the friendships and the banter that goes with them, the
humour and the more poignant life-defining moments. It’s a genre that sadly doesn’t get the credit it
deserves.

Let’s get back to your latest release, Stand Up Guy. I love stand-up comedy but have never been
to a festival like the Edinburgh one you based this story on. Have you been to many?

No, I haven’t, and to be honest, living on the doorstep of the Edinburgh festival, I haven’t felt the
need to. I have been to quite a number of stand-up comedy shows without the festival, though. A
couple that come to mind would be when my husband and I sat within spitting distance (quite
literally!!) of Nish Kumar, and we also met and got our picture taken with Dave Gorman. I love his
PowerPoint approach to comedy. He’s hilarious.

I really felt for Lea, who is finding life tough, with no close friends around her and a
failed relationship. Even so, inviting a stranger to live with her was quite extreme! Where did you
come up with that idea? Would you/have you ever…?

Ha ha, no, I haven’t! And you’re right, it was quite extreme and a bit of a risk, as Lea herself realised.
But that’s what’s great about fiction. You can stretch the boundaries of reality to build intrigue and a
sense of fun and provide escapism. I’m not really sure how I came up with the idea. I knew I wanted
to write a story set during the Edinburgh festival and I expect it was a light bulb moment that came
from my decision to make the ‘hero’ a stand-up comedian.

Who is your favourite stand-up comedian?
Ooh, that’s a difficult one! I don’t know if I can pick just one. Kevin Bridges is right up there, so
maybe he’s my number one. The fact that he’s Scottish and not that much younger than me means I
can relate to many of the jokes he makes, especially the ones about growing up in Scotland in the
nineties. I also love Russell Howard, Sarah Millican, Romesh Ranganathan, Nish Kumar, Sarah Pascoe,
Dave Gorman and Russell Kane. I could go on but I’ll spare you from that, and you did only ask for
one… 😉

I love to be nosy and ask this. What is next for Nina Kaye? Any sequels or new projects you can
tell us about?
I do have a new project underway, which I can’t say too much about right now, but I can confirm
that it is more Edinburgh-based romance and this time it’s a series. Well, it is for now. We’ll see
where it lands. I’m also working on a non-fiction project related to my long-term health condition,
which I hope will see the light of day within the next couple of years.

Oh, I love a series! That sounds so exciting! Nina, thank you for being here, today for such a lovely chat!

Thank you so much for having me today. 😊

The Blurb

Dumped by Instagram post. Not a whiff of a social life. Can it get any worse?

After a string of failed relationships – romantic and platonic – Lea’s had enough of watching life happen without her. When she bumps into Shep, a comedian at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in need of accommodation, it feels like destiny. And voilá – Lea now has a lodger and some company.

The two get on like a flat on fire, and Lea can’t resist falling for outgoing Shep. But she knows it’s a mistake that will cost her heart – he’s just another guy passing through, after all. And with Shep’s stand up routine edging him closer to his big break, there’s no way he’ll stick around.

Love is no laughing matter as the Fringe draws to a close. Can Lea find the confidence to step up and confess her feelings to Shep? Will he want to stay?

A feel-good, heartwarming romance for anyone desperate to break out of their shell and find their true self. Perfect for fans of Beth O’Leary, Laura Jane Williams and Miranda Dickinson.

Buy Links: 

My Review

Stand Up Guy by Nina Kaye
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have hoovered up all of Nina Kaye’s books so far, and Stand Up Guy was no different.
Lea, the MC, has been dumped rather unceremoniously, and she is finding life hard with no other close friends around her.
It happens to be the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, where she lives, and a chance encounter with another person who looks down on their luck changes the projection of her life.
Shep is a comedian, trying his luck doing free shows to build his experience. But he has no support from his own family, and thanks to an emergency at his accommodation, it looks like this chance might be scuppered too.
Lea offers her spare room to the relative stranger and the developments over a short period cause all sorts of havoc in her life.
I loved this whole story. Lea is a sorry character at the beginning, but you see her develop into a great character as she increases her circle.
The side characters are great too, and bring another layer to the story.
The romance that develops is a brilliant ‘will they/ they?’ story, and I was totally on board.
A wonderful read and highly recommended.
Many thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, NetGalley and Canelo for an ARC.

About the Author

Nina Kaye is a contemporary romance author living in Edinburgh.  She is the author of three other books for Canelo – Take a Moment, One Night in Edinburgh, and Just Like That.  She has previously been a contender for the RNA Joan Hessayson Award.

You can find out news about Nina by following her on social media.

https://twitter.com/canelo_co
https://www.instagram.com/canelo_co/
https://www.facebook.com/canelobooks
https://www.tiktok.com/@canelo_books