Author interview: Alexandra Brown

Today I’m delighted to welcome author Alexandra Brown to One More Page to talk about her debut novel Cupcakes at Carrington’s which is released tomorrow. Welcome Alex!

Your debut novel  Cupcakes at Carrington’s is released on January 17th, please could you tell readers a little about it and your inspiration for the book?

Cupcakes At Carrington’s is the first book of a series set in Carrington’s department store and follows the story of Georgie Hart, who loves her job running the Women’s Accessories section. But when femme fatale, Maxine, arrives, everything changes for Georgie and she’s forced to fight for her job. In addition to this, Georgie is trying to deal with the death of her mum and the difficult relationship she has with her dad, aswell find a date for Valentine’s Day…

I’ve always loved department stores, there’s just something so magical and euphoric about them, so when I met my husband and found out that his family used to own a department store in Ireland, I was beyond excited and my father-in-law was very generous in sharing his childhood memories of visiting the store. The other inspiration was Hanningtons department store in Brighton where I grew up. I have fabulous memories of going there with my Nan, the smell of newness, the bright lights, the cage lift, the polite staff with their receipt pads – I loved everything about it, and of course, nothing bad ever happens inside a department store. Truefact.

If your leading lady, Georgie Hart was on Twitter, what would her bio say?

Well, funnily enough, Georgie loves Twitter and can be found at http://twitter.com/GeorgieHart and her bio says –

Work in Carrington’s department store selling gorg handbags. Love red velvet cupcakes with buttercream icing, and my best friends Sam and Eddie… 

The novel is set in Carrington’s department store; where is your favourite place to shop?

I absolutely love Bluewater shopping centre in Kent, or if I’m in London then it has to be Harrods, I adore the décor as well as the merch of course…

Georgie runs the luxury handbag concession at Carrington’s department store; what’s your favourite bag? 

I have a confession to make – I’m a bagaholic! I have so many bags but my all time favourite has to be this gorgeous rose pink Anya Hindmarch top handle bag. My husband bought it for me to celebrate my first mother’s day after adopting our daughter.

Carrington’s is set in a small seaside town Mulberry-On-Sea which sounds lovely. Please could you tell us a little more about the town and how Georgie came to be there?

Mulberry-On-Sea is a fictitious seaside town on the south coast of England – think white colonnaded walkways and colourful hanging baskets with peppermint green railings that run the length of the promenade. Carrington’s can be found in the centre of the town, just up the cobbled hill from the market square. Georgie grew up in Mulberry-On-Sea and is very attached to it as her mum died when she was just a child. It’s where the memories of her mum are.

Cupcakes At Carrington’s is the first in a series did you always plan to write a series and what can we expect next?

Not at the start, but after reading Cupcakes At Carrington’s my editor asked me to write a synopsis for a further four stories, which I was delighted to do of course, and the series evolved from there. Christmas At Carrington’s is next in the series and will be published on November 7^th 2013.

Thanks Alexandra – I’m so excited that there is going to be a second Carrington’s book this year and it’s a pleasure to meet a fellow bagaholic! 

Cupcakes at Carrington’s is released in paperback and ebook formats on 17th January.

You can find out more about Alexandra Brown and her writing at:  www.alexandrabrown.co.uk