Home » Authors Interviewing Characters: Sophie Sullivan

Authors Interviewing Characters: Sophie Sullivan

January 13, 2022 | By Women Writers Women Books | Reply More

A frothy, effervescent romantic comedy from the author of Ten Rules for Faking It, Sophie Sullivan delivers a slow-burn romance that will have you delighted from start to finish: HOW TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR (St. Martin’s Griffin, January 18, 2022, $16.99).

“Sophie Sullivan’s writing feels like a warm hug.” ―Rachel Lynn Solomon, bestselling author of The Ex Talk

Most Anticipated for 2022 by: PopSugar * Buzzfeed * USA Today

Enemies-to-lovers meets HGTV in this frothy, effervescent romantic comedy from Sophie Sullivan, author of Ten Rules for Faking It.

Interior Design School? Check. Cute house to fix up? Check.

Sexy, grumpy neighbor who is going to get in the way of your plans? Check. Unfortunately.

Grace Travis has it all figured out. In between finishing school and working a million odd jobs, she’ll get her degree and her dream job. Most importantly, she’ll have a place to belong, something her harsh mother could never make. When an opportunity to fix up—and live in—a little house on the beach comes along, Grace is all in. Until her biggest roadblock moves in next door.

Noah Jansen knows how to make a deal. As a real estate developer, he knows when he’s found something special. Something he could even call home. Provided he can expand by taking over the house next door–the house with the combative and beautiful woman living in it.

With the rules for being neighborly going out the window, Grace and Noah are in an all-out feud. But sometimes, your nemesis can show you that home is always where the heart is.

Sophie Sullivan interviews Grace and Noah!

Now that the two of you have appeared in several home and renovation magazines, readers are curious what you’re up to now.

Grace: Should I take this?

Noah: Always (he winks at her).

Grace: (Rolls her eyes—can someone do that lovingly? Feels like it when Grace Travis’ eyes are on Noah Jansen) We’ve recently taken on a remodel job that we’re very excited about. It wasn’t in our plans to be the next Chip and Joanna Gaines but this one was personal. A very dear friend of mine—he’s actually like a grandfather to me—

Noah: Oh, Morty’s not going to like that comparison.

Grace: (laughing) He won’t but it’s true. He just married and as a surprise for his new bride, he wants to completely renovate their home to make it theirs.

That sounds very romantic. Readers of other magazines have learned that you two aren’t just a professional team but a couple as well. Does this make things more difficult in a personal or professional capacity?

Grace: Oh, you’re so answering this one just so I can hear what you say.

Noah: It changes the dynamics for sure. Grace and I fell in love while we worked on what’s now our home together. We were learning each other personally and professionally at the same time. Our areas of expertise are different so that helps us balance things. We enjoy bouncing ideas off of each other, hearing the other person’s opinion in both capacities.

Grace: Well said. I value Noah’s opinion so much and even though I do the design, he’s got a good eye for space. He’s a big picture guy. It’s helpful.

Best quality in the other person?

Grace: His sense of humor.

Noah: Her drive.

Any little habits that bug each other?

Grace: (smiles at Noah) Go ahead, answer honestly.

Noah: No woman needs this many magazines. I’m serious.

(Grace shrugs and leans into Noah—they are adorable, you guys).

We know what you’re up to professionally. What about personally? Anything special coming up on that horizon?

Noah: I’m waiting for Grace to propose.

Grace: (gasps) Noah! He’s not. (Laughing and shaking her head) We know where we’re heading. For now, we’re just enjoying the journey.

Noah: (wraps an arm around Grace’s shoulder) We’re in a good place. It’ll only get better.

Thank you for answering these questions. One final one for both of you: you’ve both alluded to struggles that, at times, blocked your path to success. What advice would you give to readers facing similar struggles?

Noah: Sometimes stepping back and reminding yourself why you started the journey in the first place helps you reset, make sense of things again. It can renew you.

Grace: Oh, that’s a good answer.

Noah: (Points at where I’m taking notes) You wrote that down as me, right? That’s mine.

Grace: (laughing again—she’s got a great laugh you guys) I agree with what Noah said but also surround yourself with people who believe in you. People who will pick you up when you fall. There’s no way to get where you want to be without stumbling a few times. But if the right people are by your side, it doesn’t hurt as much.

BUY THE BOOK HERE

—

SOPHIE SULLIVAN is a Canadian author as well as a cookie-eating, Diet Pepsi-drinking, Disney enthusiast who loves reading and writing romance in almost equal measure. She writes around her day job as a teacher and spends her spare time with her sweet family watching reruns of Friends. Ten Rules For Faking It is her romcom debut novel, but she’s had plenty of practice writing happily ever after as her alter ego, Jody Holford.