Abby Green was born in London, but soon afterwards moved back to her mother's native Dublin. She grew up there, going to boarding school just outside the city.
I've been hooked on romance novels for as long as I can remember, and it all started one day in my grandmother's bedroom in the west of Ireland where I spent all my summer holidays. She had taken one of the distinctive rose emblemed books out of the library, and being a voracious reader, I devoured it in one sitting. It could have been a Penny Jordan, or a Sally Wentworth, I can't remember now. But what I can remember is being swept away into a story that was passionate and romantic and wanting more.
The fact that I am now writing for that company is a dream that still hasn't quite sunk in, although deadlines and readers figures are helping a little!
I've lived in Dublin all my life but was lucky enough to spend a lot of time in Kerry with my grandmother. Ireland is a vibrant, ever changing and growing country, and especially Dublin its capital.
I've been working pretty much since the day I left school in the film industry as an assistant director, getting in on the very lowest rung and working my way up. It's been a fascinating and engrossing career. It also gave me the opportunity to work abroad which was such a gift. But, the hours are long, the work is extremely hard and the situations can be very stressful. Not to mention the weather conditions, especially here in Ireland! I'd often thought of trying to write a Mills and Boon and when a friend lent me a guide to writing one, the idea just wouldn't go away.
Many years of procrastination later, I finally sat down and put pen to paper, or finger to keyboard. My first and second attempts were both rejected, albeit with encouragement, and at that stage I was determined so I didn't give up. I sold my first manuscript to Mills and Boon Modern Romance in March 2006, and have been living my dream since then.
I can honestly say to any aspiring author out there that it really is worth it to keep trying, the only difference between an unpublished author and a published author is persistence, I truly believe that.
Good luck to anyone out there trying to get published and just believe that you will.
Source: Abby Green’s website
Shocking secrets of the sands!
When she gave herself to Sheikh Salman in Paris five years ago, Jamilah Moreau fantasized about wedding dresses and happy endings. But Salman was driven by desire, not diamond solitaires
Now, Sheikh of a desert kingdom, Salman can have anything he wants and, as Jamilah discovers when he spirits her off to a desert oasis, it’s still her! However, time has wrought changes, and their lovemaking is no longer enough
Something happened back in Paris that had everlasting consequences for both of them
Meet Abby Green:
Abby, welcome to Romance Author Buzz. Can you tell us about your latest release Secrets of the Oasis?
Abby: This is the second Sheikh book I’ve written. It’s a story about a woman who has always been in love with the hero ever since she was small when they forged an incredible bond, and it’s about what happens when they have an affair as adults. It’s about the repercussions of that affair.
Does this book have a behind the book story?
Abby: The behind the book story is that it was born out of my first Sheikh book, ‘Breaking the Sheikh’s Rules’. In that story I introduced this beautiful woman Jamilah and also the brother of my hero, and I wondered if they might have a story together. It led to a scene in that book where there is a hint of a past between them and then that grew into a story.
I also see that Breaking the Sheikh's Rules is coming to North America in May. Does this also have a Behind the Book story as this was your first book in the genre which appeared in Summer Sheikhs along with Alexandra Sellers and Marguerite Kaye.
Product Description:
When Sheikh Nadim buys the O'Sullivan stables, Irish virgin Iseult is plunged into a life of glorious sensuality and luxury - for as long as she can obey Nadim's one cast-iron rule: don't fall in love with me...
Abby: I hadn’t set out to write a Sheikh book, I’d always been a bit daunted at the prospect of trying to create that world when so many authors had done such good jobs! But my editor asked if I’d be part of a Sheikh anthology so I gave it a go. I’d always had an idea of a Sheikh coming to Ireland to buy a horse or a stud farm so the idea for the story grew from there. Ireland has a world famous tradition of breeding and racing renowned thoroughbreds and the Aga Khan among others has a stables in here, so it was nice to be able to use that aspect.
Of all of your characters, do you have a favorite you identify with and why?
Abby: I don’t really identify with my characters as such, or perhaps I identify with aspects of all of them – their insecurities and vulnerabilities!
What is the best thing about your job as an author? What is the hardest thing?
Abby: The best thing about being an author is being able to work from home and disappearing into a fantasy world.
The worst thing is working from home and trying to be disciplined when it would be so easy to surf the net, or watch TV or go back to bed!
Describe a day in the life of Abby Green.
Abby: I would get up around 8am, have breakfast and get down to work. At lunchtime I would go for a walk, come back and have lunch. Then work again until about 5pm or 6pm.
Scene in Secrets of the Oasis you like most and would never cut?
Abby: My favourite scene is the one at the very start when Jamilah and Salman are at their parents double funeral and he comes over to her to offer comfort, and tells her to be strong. The inspiration for that was from the film Braveheart when Muireann has a similar moment with Wallace when they’re children. And I also love the scene where Jamilah meets Salman when he returns to the castle in Merkazad to take over. She does something to Salman that I particularly enjoyed writing!
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
Abby: I love money!
Scene in the book that moved you the most as you wrote it, or made you the most happy?
Abby: The last scene when they get together…I’m a sucker for happy endings.
Have you learned or found any bizarre facts while doing research?
Abby: Not that I can think of – I must be doing boring research!
What is one thing in your history that has influenced your writing, whether it’s a character, your work habits, or your favorite plot conflict?
Abby: Definitely the Mills and Boons I devoured as a teenager, they set the template in my head for these stories.
What’s next?
Abby: The next story is about an Emir who was betrayed by the only woman he ever loved and what happens when he meets her again years later.
Before I let you go is there anything I forgot to ask that you want the readers and fans to know?
Abby: I just want them to know that they are such a huge boon and support, especially when writing is challenging and you feel like you’re getting nowhere! So thank you!
In honor of Abby’s first sheikh release, I’m giving away a $10.00 Amazon card. To win, stop over to Abby’s Facebook page and comment on this interview. Come back and post a comment and your email address. Winner will be announced January 24th.
Abby’s website:
Abby on Facebook
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