A Moment With: Ellie Campbell

Pam, one half of the sisterly writing duo who writes under the pseudonym Ellie Campbell, talks about her favourite novel. Over to you, Pam.

My favourite book is Compromising Positions by Susan Isaacs.

I sound like an old record when I talk to people about this novel but it’s always by my bed when I need cheering up.  Written by Susan Isaacs it tells the story of Judith Singer – a Long Island ex-journalist now housewife who turns super-sleuth when she finds out that the local dentist has been murdered.

It’s got such fabulous humour all the way through and yet there’s a believable plot. Susan’s writing is phenomenal, witty, full of twists and turns, funny, insightful.  You can turn to any page and in seconds you’ll find yourself laughing out loud, or identifying with the lead character. As the book goes on, Judith can’t leave the investigation alone and keeps putting herself in dangerous circumstances.

There’s also a good part of the novel that deals with some very real life issues.  Judith’s basically bored in her marriage.  Her husband works long hours.  Their sex is tepid, predictable and routine.  She loves her children, misses her career, and her only emotional support comes from her feisty, clever best friend, Nancy Miller.  Enter the romantic interest – a hunky young lieutenant who’s in charge of the murder investigation.  As her dull self-righteous husband, Bob, gets increasingly annoyed by Judith’s meddling with murder, the marriage threatens to crumble under the strain and Judith is forced to choose between her passionate love affair and her family.

I love that there is danger and excitement in this book without being too graphic (I get queasy), that anyone can read it without being offended, that it has a great romantic story and an unpredictable, yet funny, mystery in there. It is one of those books you can’t put down once you start and one I thoroughly recommend.

About Ellie Campbell:

Ellie Campbell is the pen name of sisters and collaborators, Lorraine Campbell and Pam Burks. One is based in the UK, the other the USA, they write together via e-mail, Skype and phone. Their novels include, Looking for LaLa, To Catch a Creeper and How to Survive Your Sisters. Their latest novel, Million Dollar Question was released in April 2015. For more information, visit Ellie’s website: http://chicklitsisters.com/

To read my interview with Ellie (Pam and Lorraine) click here: https://www.novelkicks.co.uk

Check out Ellie’s books over at The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com

To view Million Dollar Question over on Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk and Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.