Welcome to CentreStage!

CentreStage showcases fantastic authors from around the world. These authors might share with you stories about their lives, their writing, their books, favourite anecdotes or inspiring disasters (yes, we’ve had those too!). Today, it is my greatl pleasure to welcome outstanding novelist and fabulous friend, Sue Moorcroft!

The Attractions of Feet

When I was considering what to write about in this post I thought: feet.

Then I thought: nobody wants to read about feet.

Then I thought: I hope they do! Because I’ve made the heroine of Dream a Little Dreama reflexologist …

Liza Reece has been a reflexologist for a while because she was in All That Mullarkey, the sister of the heroine, Cleo. When I decided to give Liza her own book, because she was just too naughty and fun to leave in Secondary Characterland and readers had asked about what happened to her, I had to choose whether to keep her as a reflexologist or retrain her for a new career. It seemed easiest to do the former but I wondered whether I could make reflexology interesting/fun.

Then I thought about doing the research – i.e. having reflexology treatments – and my mind was made up. Reflexology it was.

I contacted a local reflexologist, Joan Innes of Moulton Therapies, and booked some treatments, during which she would help me with my research. It tested my powers of concentration! I love reflexology treatments and kept finding myself drifting away on passing clouds as Joan worked, having to forcibly remind myself that I was there to learn what Liza needed to know, and how my hero, Dominic Christy would react to having his feet done. Particularly by Liza.

I ended up developing a strategy of going in with a list of questions or emailing them after because during the treatments I really did … just … let … go.

As a footnote – ho ho – after my first treatment, Joan told me that she picked up a reflex in my right eye. I shrugged it off and said I’d had damage in my left eye but she repeated that she’d picked up the right. Months later, it was discovered that I had a haemorrhage in the back of my right eye …

I decided that reflexology could be a very cool career indeed. I gave Liza a practice in the grounds of a posh hotel (which didn’t work out quite as she’d planned), battling to introduce pamper sessions, hen nights and various whizzy ideas that horrify stodgy centre manager, Nicolas. Reflexology suits Liza as she’s a girly girl and likes being in girly environments. She likes seeing people come in looking tense or flustered and float out after their treatment laid back and floaty. Reflexology suits Dominic a lot less, because he doesn’t really care for having his feet touched. Until he meets Liza. Then, suddenly, he’s a regular client.

The other feet-based research I did for Dream a Little Dream was to have a fish pedicure. For anyone who hasn’t tried this, you put your feet in a tank of fish and let them eat the dead skin off. So I booked a session, paid my £10 and put my feet in the water – and it was weird! My instinct was to yank my feet back out and count my toes because the fish (garra rufa) pounced as if they hadn’t been fed for a year. But it wasn’t as if they were piranhas and once I got used to the tingly, tickly, electric shocky feeling, it was quite nice – in a sort of, ‘I don’t think I’ll bother with this again’ way.

For quite how ‘feet fish’ come into Dream a Little Dream … I’ll leave that to you to find out.

Thank you, Nicky, for letting me take Centre Stage.

Thank you, Sue, for visiting CentreStage and for sharing this amazing context around Dream a Little Dream. I am a bit sceptical where reflexology and such like come into play, but your story has me totally intrigued. As for the fishy pedicure… I nearly had one last week but I chickened out at the last minute! I really enjoyed your visit and hope to welcome you back again soon. Meanwhile, best of luck with the launch of Dream a Little Dream!!

Dream a Little Dream

What would you give to make your dreams come true?

Liza Reece has a dream. Working as a reflexologist for a troubled holistic centre isn’t enough. When the opportunity arises to take over the Centre she jumps at it. Problem is, she needs funds, and fast, as she’s not the only one interested.

Dominic Christy has dreams of his own. Diagnosed as suffering from a rare sleep disorder, dumped by his live-in girlfriend and discharged from the job he adored as an Air Traffic Controller, he’s single-minded in his aims. He has money, and plans for the Centre that don’t include Liza and her team.

But dreams have a way of shifting and changing and Dominic’s growing fascination with Liza threatens to reshape his. And then it’s time to wake up to the truth …

Ooh, me again, sorry to interrupt! I have Dream a Little Dream on my Kindle and I am eager to get reading ~ sounds just like my cuppa and I quite often dream a little dream myself.  If you want to have a look-see, find the book here!

About Sue Moorcroft

Sue Moorcroft writes romantic novels of dauntless heroines and irresistible heroes for Choc Lit. Her last book, Love & Freedom, won the Best Romantic Read Award 2011 at the Festival of Romance and her most recent, Dream a Little Dream, is out now. She’s a Katie Fforde Bursary Award winner.

Sue also writes short stories, serials, articles and courses and is the author of Love Writing – How to Make Money From Writing Romantic and Erotic Fiction (Accent Press). She’s the head judge for Writers’ Forum fiction competition.

Check out her website and her blog ~ and you’re welcome to befriend Sue on Facebook or Follow Sue on Twitter.

Now then, folks: hands up (or should that be feet up) who’s had a fishy pedicure?
And what’s your little dream? We’d love to hear it! 🙂 xx