[Year-Round YA and NA Guide: A List of My Most Anticipated 2015 Releases] Q&A with Emma Chase, Author of Overruled

I recently chatted up with the author of the Tangled Series, Ms. Emma Chase, and we talked about her upcoming new novel and series - Overruled, first book from the Legal Briefs series. I think, this may be one of my favorite interviews that I ever did here in my blog. I just had so much fun asking Ms. Emma some questions and learning more about her and her books. Especially now that she's starting this new series, it's really interesting to know how she came up with idea, what were the preparations she did and those pre-writing thoughts. All great stuff. I've also thrown in a couple of questions wherein I mentioned the Tangled series and you definitely might want to know the answers of Ms. Emma to those. *winks*

I'm sure you'll enjoy this quick and short interview that I did with her. So you better start scrolling now, read the interview and check out the treat that she left in this post. You'll certainly be teased with Overruled.

Title: OVERRULED (The Legal Briefs #1)

Author: Emma Chase (Website | Twitter) 

Publication Date: April 28, 2015

Publisher: Gallery Books 

SYNOPSIS 

Emma Chase, New York Times bestselling author of the Tangled Series, returns with the first installment of the Legal Briefs Series. 

As a DC defense attorney, Stanton Shaw keeps his head cool, his questions sharp, and his arguments irrefutable. They don’t call him the Jury Charmer for nothing – with his southern drawl, disarming smile and captivating green eyes – he’s a hard man to say no to. Men want to be him and women want to be thoroughly cross examined by him.

Stanton’s a man with a plan. And for a while, life was going according to that plan.

Until the day he receives an invitation to the wedding of his high school sweetheart and mother of his beloved ten-year old daughter. Jenny is getting married — to someone who isn’t him.

That's definitely not part of the plan.
***

Sofia Santos is a city raised, no-nonsense litigator who plans to become the most revered criminal defense attorney in the country. She doesn’t have time for relationships or distractions.

But when Stanton, her "friend with mind-blowing benefits" begs for help, she finds herself out of her element, out of her depth, and obviously out of her mind. Because she agrees to go with him – to The-Middle-Of-Nowhere, Mississippi – to do all she can to help Stanton win back the woman he loves. 

Her head tells her she's crazy...and her heart says something else entirely.
*** 

What happens when you mix a one stop-light town, two professional arguers, a homecoming queen, four big brothers, some Jimmy Dean sausage and a gun-toting Nana? 

The Bourbon flows, passions rise and even the best laid plans get overruled by the desires of the heart.

Why is this book included on my list? It's a book coming from Emma Chase, so duh! I need it! Fact: I'm waiting for April to come nearer for me to get started in reading the last book of the Tangled series. Yes, I haven't read it yet. I still can't part with Drew so I'm saving it up and waiting for the release of this one. Me and my weird brain. *shrugs* 

GOODREADS

Amanda (A): Hi, Ms. Emma! Thank you so much for granting my request and giving me this opportunity of interviewing you. I’m so thrilled to have you on my blog! Before I proceed in asking questions about your upcoming book, Overruled, I shall ask you first something a little bit about yourself. Who’s your favorite author and what are your favorite books? How did this particular author and these books influence you as a person and as a writer?

Emma Chase (EC): Thank you for having me! I’ve always loved historical romances – Julie Garwood & Johanna Lindsey are two of my favorites. What I like best about their stories, and how they’ve influenced me as a writer, are that there are real emotions – laughter, tears, heartache and swoons – but there’s a lightness too them as well. A security that things won’t get too dark and the happy ending will come through.

A: Have you really dreamt of becoming a writer? Who or what inspired you to become one?

EC:  I’ve wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. It’s something that I’ve always loved doing – writing stories for myself, sharing them with friends. Being a published author is truly a dream come true.

A: When you aren’t writing, where would we most likely find you? What are your hobbies aside from writing?

EC: I do most of my writing at night, curled up on the couch with my dogs or sequestered away in my office. Besides writing, I love to cook and spend time with my children.

A: Since Overruled isn’t out yet, I won’t be asking much about the story and the characters. But can you give me an idea on how you came up with the concept and story line for this book?

EC: Last year, I attended a signing in Washington DC. It was my first visit to the capital and I absolutely loved it. The weather was beautiful and there were a lot of joggers out and about and I remember thinking what a young, vibrant, attractive city it was. From there, the idea came to me to write a story about lawyers (DC has the most per capita). I’ve always thought the legal field was an exciting profession – lots of potential for drama, sexual tension and laughs.

A: What’s your favorite and least favorite part in the writing process of Overruled?

EC: My favorite part is the characters themselves. They’re wonderfully layered – funny, sexy, arrogant, sweet and many times misguided. It was really exciting to get to know them and to sink my teeth into their stories. I’ve often thought “Chapter One” is the most thrilling thing to write – because the possibilities are endless.

The most challenging part was saying goodbye to the characters from the Tangled Series – that was difficult, because they have such a special place in my heart and in the hearts of my readers. Although the Legal Briefs Series is different from Tangled, they share many qualities – snappy dialogue, funny and heartfelt moments.  

A: What does it feel like finishing Tangled series last year and immediately diving into the Legal Briefs series?  What should we look forward to in this new series of yours?

EC: I was so happy with how the Tangled Series wrapped up – it was the perfect ending for me, the one I’d always envisioned. At the same time, Drew Evans is one tough act to follow! I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t pressure to create new characters just as mesmerizing. But I think readers will be very happy with Stanton Shaw & his DC crew - they’re every bit as exciting, sexy and hilarious as Drew & the Tangled gang.

A: What were the preparations that you went through before writing Overruled? Considering that Stanton’s an attorney and Sofia’s a litigator, did you go through some researches and constant reading of helpful books? Or was it easy for you being in their world and writing down their story?

EC: Before I started writing, I did a lot of online research on how the court system in DC functions as well as criminal defense attorneys – so I had that information in my head. It was very helpful to have friends who have friends who are lawyers. Also, a good portion of Overruled takes place in Mississippi, so I did some research into southern culture and chatted with my author friend Kim Jones who lives in Mississippi. It was very important to me that those details be authentic.

A: Is there any similarity to the characters between Tangled series and Legal Briefs series? Will Overruled be into the more serious and less humorous side than Tangled? Or will it still be a combination of both?

EC: Definitely a combination of both. So much of Tangled’s humor stemmed from Drew’s complete disregard for what people thought of him. He said/thought anything he pleased, because he was confident (arrogant?) enough to believe that everyone would fall in love with him anyway. Stanton and the other characters of Overruled have a similar arrogance to their humor, as well as sexy chemistry that burns up the page. But also in Overruled, there are many heartfelt moments involving Stanton and his daughter and his hometown. I feel like I’ve really stretched my wings in those scenes – giving my writing a new, emotional depth that I was only able to brush the surface of in Tangled.

A: Most of your books are written in Male POV. Why is that? What inspires you to write books in that particular point of view? And is it hard to switch from a male to female POV?

EC: Growing up I had a few very close guy friends. They were wonderful boys – funny, irreverent, loyal – my friendship with them has definitely influenced the characters in my books.  There’s so much comedy in the different ways men and women view the world and certain situations. Being able to slip into a character’s voice that’s different from my own is very freeing and interesting – it keeps me surprised about what my characters will think or say next.

I spot Jenny and the dark haired man across the grass. From this angle, I’m able to see he’s a few inches shorter than me, thinner, but still in shape. He’s alright looking with a straight nose, deep-set eyes, puffy girly-lips. And he’s got that cleft in his chin like John Travolta.

A hiney-chin.

From this moment on, I’ll forever think of him as Ass Face.

“That him?” Sofia whispers, her eyes trained on the same direction as mine.

“That’s him.” I growl. Like a dog who spots his favorite bone in the jaws of another canine.

“Wow.” She exclaims but quietly. “He’s gorgeous! He looks like he just stepped out of a Calvin Klein ad.”

Frowning I turn to her. “Why would you tell me that?”

She looks back, grinning. “You want me to lie?”

“Shit, yeah I want you to lie.”

She gives Ass Face another once-over. Then covers her eyes. “My God, he’s hideous! I can’t bear to look at him. Move over Quasimodo, Jimmy Dean is in the house.”

I sigh. “Sofia?”

“Yes, Stanton?” She says sweetly.

I lean in, so my lips are just a hair’s breadth from her ear.

“Lie better.”

Emma Chase: There are a few songs that were definitely on repeat while I was writing several pivotal scenes in Overruled. They are: Always on My Mind by Willie Nelson, I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues by Elton John, We’ve Got Tonight by Bob Seger, and Your Song by Elton John.

Yes – to all my readers in the Philippines, thank you for your amazing support, for reading and for loving these characters as much as I do! I’m beyond excited to share my new series with you! xoxo

PS: I miss Drew Evans.

PS: Then you should definitely – definitely – read Overruled ;)