I love getting readers involved while I’m writing my books. I’m lucky to have a number of readers who get to see all my work before it’s published, who give me lots of great suggestions, plus my husband often comes up with some great ideas!

Another way I like to get readers involved is by asking followers on my social media for suggestions.

Here’s a round-up of what I’ve “asked the audience” recently:

Name for a character in No Love lost and Battle of Wills

Both books feature a character who is a reality TV star on Raised in Richmond, a show about privileged young people growing up in the leafy and affluent suburbs of West London (yes – the inspiration for this may have been Made in Chelsea!)

My Facebook followers provided some fab suggestions for names, including:

• Florence
• Flavia
• Ophelia
• Lettice
• Tallulah
• Portia
• Petra
• Genevieve
• Beatrice
• Allegra
• Arabella
• Cressida
• Penelope

In the end I chose Cressida, but I loved the names Arabella and Portia so much I also used them for other characters in Battle of Wills!

Naming the leading man in my Christmas novella

Recently I was scouting for name suggestions for the hero in my Christmas novella. He’s a moody English actor with amazing cheekbones, dark hair, and stormy eyes, not to mention a load of emotional baggage.

Here’s a few of the brilliant suggestions from my followers:

• Cain
• Troy
• Blake
• Beckett
• Phoenix
• Roan
• Bradley
• Tom Stone
• Christopher Cavendish
• Rudy Gray

I chose Blake – the perfect name for a sexy, intense leading man – but I had so many good suggestions it was a tough decision.

Best love song ever?

For a scene in Falling Again I wanted some slushy songs to reference. Here’s what you came up with:

• I don’t want to miss a thing – Aerosmith
• Only just begun – The Carpenters
• How long will I love you – Ellie Goulding
• Lady – Kenny Rogers
• Endless love – Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie
• I have nothing – Whitney Houston
• Eternal flame – The Bangles
• Think twice – Celine Dion
• One moment in time – Whitney Houston
• A thousand years – Christina Perri
• Your Song – Elton John
• Dance me to the end of love – Leonard Cohen
• I’ll be – Edwin McCain

I’m a sucker for a good love song, so it was hard to pick from these beautiful suggestions. I went for A thousand years by Christina Perri and Endless Love (although I opted for the Mariah Carey version).

No doubt I’ll be asking for more suggestions on my social media in the coming weeks and months. Get involved by following me!

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