Bettina Hunt | But I Smile Anyway...

Busy week with my Book & A Brew posts!

Today, I am thrilled to welcome a dear friend and romance author, Bettina Hunt, to my blog for a cuppa and a bit of a chat about all things writerly, especially her newest release, A Girl Like Me.

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

Hello Ritu, thank you so much for having me today!

I would love a chai, please 😊

If we’re going with masala tea, I can offer you some homemade pakoras, but I also have some chocolate chip cookies, freshly baked by my daughter! What’s your preference?

Ooh, now pakoras would be lovely, yum! Thank you.

Fantastic! Here we are. I’ve got the chutneys ready, too!

Now, I know you have already published a few books, and your latest comes after a little break. Tell us more about your journey to becoming a published author.

I’ve always wanted to be an author but I’ve always loved to write and so whether it’s been poetry or setting up a school magazine in secondary school, I’ve always been writing in one way or another. At university, I had a website which had restaurant reviews and bizarrely my job application journey, but it disappeared overnight when Geocities was taken over by Yahoo. Years later I started a successful beauty and afternoon tea blog but I still loved creative writing, so on a Friday I would write a poem or a short story to share on what I called The Friday Column. One of those stories became my first published book A Tempting Trio. Since then I’ve written part of a series (2 of the books are out already with another two books planned) and another standalone story set in two locations – High Heels on the Beach.

And, is there a favourite out of all the books you have written, so far?

Isn’t this like asking a parent which is their favourite child?!

It is! I’m sorry! But, I still like to ask… 🫣

Ha ha. But, if I had to choose, I would say my latest A Girl Like Me, because it’s so personal to me and is written from the heart.

I think those are the books that will always have a special place…

I see you making all your home improvements regularly, on Instagram, but is there a special writing space you have in your house, or is there somewhere else you prefer to write?

I write anywhere I can, but my favourite place is the office in our house. I love it because the ambience is perfect, It’s so calming and is a great workspace. I find I’m always so productive when I’m working in there. Unfortunately, I have to share it with my husband so don’t have access to it when he’s working from home.

Boo! But, at least you have a part-time space!

I am a huge lover of romantic novels of all sorts. What pulled you towards that genre?

For me, I love a happy ever after and the idea that out there someone perfect for you exists. I love romantic comedy films. I like to laugh and have that heart-warming feeling when I finish watching them and the same applies to books in that genre. I love romance mixed with comedy so for me romcoms are a natural fit for my character. And I love reading books in the same genre.

Ah, me too! And, what with the way the world is, right now, we could all do with a bit of a warm, fuzzy feeling from our reading, at least!

Now, let’s come back to your new release, A Girl Like Me. First off, I loved it! (Review below!) It’s fiction, but also a very personal book, given what our main character Olivia discovers about herself. What made you want to write about Dyspraxia?

Oh, I’m so pleased you loved it! That makes me so happy!

I wanted to write about a character with Dyspraxia because I have this condition, but I only made this discovery when I turned forty! Now my life makes sense. It has explained a lot!

I thought the basis would make a good fictional story and Olivia would make a great character. I wanted to create a character who was dealing with similar challenges to the ones I faced, but who was able to find her own way and thrive despite them.

I think that comedy can be a really powerful tool for addressing serious topics in a way that’s relatable and engaging for audiences. For me, the key was to strike a balance between the funny moments and the more serious ones – to make sure that the comedy never felt like it was making light of the challenges that the character was facing. I also tried to draw on my own experiences and those of others with dyspraxia to make sure that the humour felt authentic and true to life.

I totally get that. It’s why I write what I do, and why. It’s taking a serious but almost ‘taboo’ subject and bringing it out f hiding, for people to begin talking, and understanding.

I hope that people will come away from the book with a greater understanding of what it’s like to live with dyspraxia, and with a sense of empathy and compassion for those dealing with similar challenges. But I also hope that they’ll see that it’s possible to overcome those challenges and live a fulfilling and happy life.

I hope that the story will be inspiring and uplifting for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t quite fit in, or like they were struggling to find their place in the world.

I think it will. 😊

I loved Caspar, her knight in shining armour. If A Girl Like Me was made into a film, who would play your main characters?

Gosh, that is a hard question because I don’t write with actors in mind although I did imagine the book as a film whilst writing it… So I think Olivia would have to be Emilia Clarke as I saw her in Last Christmas and knew that she would be perfect for the role.

For Caspar I would quite like to screen-test Henry Cavill for the role – He’s played Superman and Olivia likens Caspar to Superman so it would be fun to have him playing the part!

Yes! I can picture them in these roles! Perfect casting.

Do you think you would write any sort of follow-up to Olivia and Caspar’s story, as she rides the wave of success in her career, and juggles living with Dyspraxia?

Funny you should say that. I am toying with the idea of a sequel or two. I may or may not have the titles already so watch this space.

And that’s how my series was born, too! I always thought I’d write that story, then I’d be done, but so many thoughts came into play after writing it, and then the questions from reader feedback made me think of the next two books… and if things work out, there might be at least another three books and/or novellas that could come after… but, let me finish writing the third, first!

Betinna, I’m sure my readers would love to know… what do you have in the pipeline? Is there anything up your sleeves already?

Well as mentioned I have the sequels in the Without a Hitch series to write, I did start writing them, but life got in the way, as it tends to do. I also have the framework of an idea for a Christmas story which was shortlisted in a Penguin novel competition and another romance book which I’ve already created the cover for! I have a book that I wrote a few years back that needs editing – so that might be my next one. It’s a fun story with female friendship at its heart.

I know all about life getting in the way, my friend, as you are well aware! 😳

But, wow! Lots of lovely Bettina Hunt books in the pipeline! I am extremely happy to hear that! Peeps, you should really get these downloaded. They are wonderful reads!

Thank you so much for popping over, Bettina! I hope the chai wasn’t too strong, and the pakoras were crispy enough for you! 😊

And thank you for inviting me, Ritu.

My pleasure 😊

Peeps, you can read the blurb for A Girl Like Me and my review below!

Purchase links follow.

The Blurb

Cute and clumsy bumps into train man in a meet-cute that readers have described as ‘brilliant.’

She’s been asking the question, ‘What’s wrong with me?’ He holds the answer, but will knowing the truth change anything?

When perennially clumsy thirty-something, Olivia, falls into the arms of a stranger, she thinks nothing of it, after all, this sort of thing happens to her all the time. You see ordinary, everyday, tasks that other people seem to manage with ease have always been a struggle for Olivia so over the years she’s developed coping strategies. And, if they don’t work, well she can always rely on her friendly support network to help her out, right?

But when a new boss arrives at the advertising agency where she works, Olivia’s forced out of her comfort zone and fighting to prove herself.

And when Caspar, the mysterious and perfectly together stranger who saved her life, begins appearing everywhere she goes, she can’t help wondering, could she also be falling in love?

Not your (neuro) typical boy meets girl story.

A Girl Like Me is a romantic comedy that celebrates the power of love, the beauty of differences and the courage to be yourself, flaws and all.

Find A Girl Like Me HERE and all Bettina’s other books here!

My Review

A Girl Like Me: The most uplifting and heartwarming romantic comedy you’ll read this year by Bettina Hunt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I will start by gushing.
I LOVED this book!
Olivia, the main character, is as clumsy as they come. She is always tripping up, dropping things, missing her mouth… and always at inopportune moments.
Thankfully she has some great friends and colleagues who help get her through some sticky situations, considering there are plenty of people out there, ready to undermine her for the same quirks.
Then a knight in shining armour saves her life after a particularly dramatic clumsy episode.
I don’t want to go into all the details. Otherwise, what is the point of you reading the book? But it’s safe to say that there are characters readers will fall for.
I loved Devinder, her work colleague and one who has known her for a long time. They get along like a house on fire, and he is one of her heroes, too (but not the romantic kind!)
She also has a supportive housemate, Russell, and another warrior of a best friend, Steph, in her corner.
Then there is Caspar. I loved Caspar. He is a breath of fresh air. An honest guy with a heart of gold and genuine feelings.
Bettina Hunt delves into a world of undiagnosed dyspraxia in a sensitive manner, with lightness and humour.

Author Bio

Bettina Hunt lives in the East of England with her husband and two young sons. She writes uplifting romantic comedies and women’s fiction with fun and relatable heroines.

An avid reader from a very young age, she wrote her first story whilst in primary school and was invited to take it into Reception and read it to the class. The positive feedback she received that day made her aspire to be an author and that childhood dream is now a reality.

Bettina loves comedy, cocktails and afternoon tea. She can’t dance but loves to sing. She does all her own stunts but rarely intentionally. She has Dyspraxia and is on a mission to raise awareness of what it’s like to have this condition, starting with her latest fiction novel – A Girl Like Me.

You will find her on all the usual social media channels where she’d love to hear from you.