What is unique about Escape for the Summer?

For me the uniqueness comes from the diverse nature of the girls. They have nothing much in common except the fact that life has swept them together. As the novel progresses, their friendship grows, and as readers, I hope that we see a journey for them all. The beautiful Cornish coastline and landscape is the setting for the novel and also uniquely gorgeous. I really hope that it makes the novel stand out.

Imagine that you’re on a plane to Hawaii. What would you say to the other passengers to convince them to buy Escape for the Summer and read it on the beach?

I was once lucky enough to spend an entire summer in Honolulu, and I spent a great deal of time laying on the beach reading. My book, Escape for the Summer, is brimming full of sunshine and has a real holiday vibe – perfect for your dream getaway! Take it from me, what you really need for Waikiki is a big fat book you can lose yourself in so that you don’t have to worry about anything else except for soaking up the rays (and eyeing up all the gorgeous surfers). Escape for the Summer has more twists and turns than the Grand Prix and characters that you can really root for, too. Just add a cocktail and a dollop of Hawaiian Tropic sun tan oil and you’re away!

Do you have a favorite book that you have written? If so, which one and why?

That’s a hard question! It’s a bit like asking a parent which child they love the most! I am fond of all my books and for different reasons. They were all written at different stages in my life and reflect emotions and situations I was in at the time. Katy Cater Wants a Hero was my breakthrough book and my first with Orion, while Amber Scott is Starting Over was written during my divorce – although totally a work of fiction(!). I think Escape for the Summer is my favourite in terms of allowing me to play with multiple narratives and plot lines, which have taught me so much about the writer’s craft. I know this is an answer worthy of a politician, but I love them all.

Who are your favorite authors?

Jilly Cooper, Sophie Kinsella, Chaucer, Miranda Dickinson, Fiona Walker, Dan Brown, Shakespeare – I have varied tastes!

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why?

I am desperate to visit Egypt and see the pyramids for myself. It is something that I have always longed to do. My psychic granny claimed to have an Egyptian spirit guide so maybe he is with me now? The heroine of my next book is an Egyptologist, and I am really enjoying doing all the research for writing about her. I spent hours in the British Museum looking at the mummies.

Which five words describe you best?

Easily distracted, sensitive, ambitious, emotional, and imaginative. (Is 6 cheating?)

What are your favorite pizza toppings?

Linking back to an earlier question – it has to be Hawaiian! And the more ham and pineapple the better!

If you could take five things to a deserted island, what would you take?

Hmm…my boyfriend because I love being with him, a stack of paper to write on, a pen that has an endless supply of ink, sun cream because I am a red head, and my asthma inhaler.

What is your most memorable vacation and why?

A few years ago, my ex and I went to Mexico, and it truly was the holiday from hell. I learned that you can be in paradise, but if it’s with the wrong person, then it is worse than the deepest pit of Hades. We got snowed in at Gatwick before we left, I had a terrible asthma attack, and he was a million times meaner to me than Tom in Escape for the Summer ever is to Andi. I filed for divorce almost as soon as the plane’s wheels touched down back in the UK. That is one horrible holiday I will never forget and for all the wrong reasons, but it’s all fantastic novel fodder!

What's the funniest movie you've ever seen?

As a teenager I watched Young Einstein over and over again. My friend Pete and I thought it was the most hilarious thing ever. I’m not sure how well that movie would age. I do love Austin Powers, too. The last film I watched which had me snorting with mirth was The Hangover 2. My boyfriend laughed so hard he couldn’t breathe.

What is your favorite quote?

I do love Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing, and my upcoming Kindle Single is based on the play. Writing a story based on a Shakespeare play was an exercise that I gave my A Level students, and I had to try it, too. When Beatrice says, “I would rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear that he loves me,” I always smile, especially as I know she doesn’t mean it!

What are you working on now?

At the moment, I have several projects on the go. I am finishing Dead Romantic, which is due to be released in the autumn, I’m writing my Kindle Single Much Ado About Weddings, and planning my Christmas novella, which will feature Andi, Gemma, and Angel. In the meantime, I still teach full time in a school in the Caribbean, so I also have lots of end of year reports to write!

Thanks, Ruth!

Ruth Saberton always knew she wanted to be a writer. From an early age she was busy filling note books with stories, and rather than hero worshipping Wham and Duran Duran (which ages her!), Ruth's heroes were Jilly Cooper and Jackie Collins. Several attempts at bodice rippers later, Ruth turned her attention to romance and now focuses on writing romantic comedies. Her debut novel, Katy Carter Wants a Hero, was championed by Richard and Judy and nominated for the RNA's Romantic Comedy of the Year Award, as well as being described by Heat Magazine as, “the heir apparent to Bridget Jones.” Ruth writes under her own name, but also has several pen names which include Jessica Fox, Georgie Carter, Holly Cavendish, and Lucy Hepburn. Ruth is published by Orion, Pan Macmillan, Harper Collins and Notting Hill Press. Although she loves the UK, Ruth now lives in the Caribbean where she continues to write. Ruth loves to talk to her readers. Interact with her on her website www.ruthsaberton.co.uk, on Twitter @ruthsaberton, or via Facebook.