AUTHORS INTERVIEWING CHARACTERS: SUSIE TATE
THE OUTLIER by Susie Tate
Vicky is an outlier. An outlier in society, an outlier in the business world; she’s even an outlier in her own family. She knows that people find her weird and annoying, and she’s resigned to her loneliness until she sees him. Having never been attracted to any man before, her new obsession with burly, rough and ready Mike and the fact she can’t breathe when he’s close comes as a shock.
Unfortunately, Vicky’s cold beauty doesn’t appeal to Mike. The woman they call the Ice Princess is the opposite of his type, and her obvious crush irritates him. How many times does he have to make it clear he’s not interested before she gets the message?
But there are things about Vicky, Mike doesn’t know. Reasons she behaves the way she does. Loneliness, vulnerability and kindness, that she keeps hidden. And information her family should have shared with him. So when the fireworks start, and she screams, he acts on instinct, pulling her body into his. And when she buries into his chest, shaking in fear, for some reason he’s not so annoyed by her anymore…
This is a full-length, enemies-to-lovers romance with a neurodiverse heroine and a grumpy but protective hero.
Interview with Victoria Harding for the Buckingham Gazette
The village fete this year was held on the grounds of Buckingham Manor and sponsored by Moretti Harding, a London-based company run by joint CEOs, Felix Moretti and Vicky Harding. I managed to catch Vicky Harding for an interview before the fiercely contested Yorkshire Pudding contest.
“Five minutes,” Oliver Harding, the Duke of Buckingham and Vicky’s brother, clips as he stares down at me. Even in jeans and a t-shirt, the current duke is off the charts intimidating. “And just… don’t upset her, okay?”
“Upset her?”
Victoria Harding, aka the Ice Princess, is well known for being almost as intimidating as His Grace the duke. Blonde and so beautiful it’s almost unreal, but as cold as her nickname would suggest. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen the woman crack a smile.
“Uh, okay. I wasn’t intending to.”
The duke looks away with a frown, grabbing the back of his neck in a much-appreciated gesture that shows off his impressive arm and chest muscles to perfection.
“Vicky is… unique.” He sighs. “Five minutes.” Then, under his breath, he adds. “How much damage can she do in five minutes?”
He turns to the stall. “Vics!” he calls.
“Hello,” Victoria Harding says, walking over, her ice-blue eyes staring straight at me, nothing in her expression giving anything away.
“Darling,” the duke’s voice is softer now. “Remember, you agreed to talk to the Gazette?”
Vicky nods, still staring at me.
“You okay to chat to her now?” he asks.
She nods again as Ollie is called away by his mum.
“Five minutes,” he repeats, pointing at me before he leaves us.
I clear my throat. Vicky is still staring at me. It’s a bit unnerving.
“Lady Harding, I want to ask you if––?”
“I am not Lady Harding,” Vicky cuts me off. “That is incorrect. I am Miss or Ms Harding.”
I stare at her for a moment as an uncomfortable silence ensues. It is to be the first of many in this conversation.
“Oh. Well, I thought you were the late duke’s daughter, so…”
“Illegitimate daughter, and as such, the title does not pass to me. I am very fortunate that the Harding family tolerates me here at the Manor.”
I laugh nervously but stop when she just tilts her head to the side, still staring at me.
“I’m sure they don’t just tolerate you,” I say carefully. “Your brother’s certainly protective of you.”
“Half-brother.”
“Uh… what?”
“He’s my half-brother. It’s a very important distinction.”
My eyebrows go up at this. “Who told you that it was so very important?”
“My half-sister, Lady Claire Harding. I am not a full sibling, and I am supposed to remember that.”
I shift uncomfortably and let out another nervous laugh. “That doesn’t sound very sisterly.”
“My half-sister doesn’t like me very much.”
“Oh.” I pause again. What could I say to that? “I’m sorry?” It comes out as a question. Bloody hell, this might be the most awkward conversation I’ve ever had in my life.
Vicky shrugs. “Not many people like me that much. I am not particularly likeable.”
I blink, at a loss for words again. Right, I need to get this interview back on track.
“Okay, so I understand that as well as sponsoring the village events, football team and church hall, Moretti Harding has invested in our beloved pub, the Badger’s Sett.” I smile encouragingly, hoping to salvage the interview. “That’s jolly nice of you and Felix Moretti.”
Vicky shrugs. “Felix spends a lot of time here now that he’s engaged to Lucy.”
“Oh yes! I know Lucy Mayweather very well. Head in the clouds, that girl.”
“Lucy Mayweather is an extremely successful author. Daydreaming is an essential skill in her career.”
“Oh… I hadn’t thought of it that way. You’re friends with Lucy, aren’t you?”
“Lucy is very kind.”
I frown. “Um, yes, I’m sure she is.” What did Lucy’s being kind have to do with anything? “Oh, there’s Lucy,” I say in a slightly desperate voice. Clinging onto anything to dispel the awkwardness. “Isn’t that her brother Mike with her?”
Mike Mayweather is a bearded, rough-around-the-edges giant of a man with a Jason Momoa vibe and a bad attitude. He is currently swinging a hammer up to strike the Test Your Strength machine the village has bought in for the event. The bell goes off as he hits the maximum level.
I turn back to Vicky, expecting to meet her icy blue stare again, but instead, she’s focused on Mike. If I thought her expression was intense before, it’s nothing compared to the look on her face as she stares at Mike Mayweather.
I clear my throat. Vicky’s gaze stays focused on Mike. To my surprise, there’s a twitch at the corner of her left eye, and her cheekbones stain a slight pink as she continues to stare.
“So, I can see why Felix’s invested. But what’s your interest in the pub?”
Silence. It’s like I’m not even there.
“Vicky?” I call. Still nothing.
I reach out and touch her arm lightly. Now that gets a reaction. She flinches away from me so violently that she almost knocks over the table of Yorkshires.
“Oh crikey, I’m sorry,” I say, holding my hands up when she spins to face me. She shakes her head.
“Don’t apologise,” she says, a very slight shake to her voice. “I find physical contact difficult without warning. It is an aberrant response you could not have anticipated.”
“Right,” I say softly, starting to understand Vicky, just a little. “Well, I am sorry. I didn’t realise. I’ll be more careful. Okay?”
“Everything alright here?” Lottie, the duke’s girlfriend, comes up beside Vicky, whose shoulders relaxed as soon as the other woman appears.
“We were just discussing the Moretti Harding investment in the village,” I say. “And I might have overstepped a little.”
Lottie looks between us and nods. “Well, has Vics told you about the hedgerow maintenance program she’s sponsoring herself?”
Vicky’s posture relaxes completely then, and she almost smiles. Almost.
“Hedgerow program?” I ask, clearly on safer ground with this subject.
“Oh yes,” says Vicky, real enthusiasm in her voice now. “For the hedgehogs.”
I can safely say that I am now very well educated about hedgehogs and the importance of Britain’s hedgerows. As far as Victoria Harding herself goes, not so much, but I like her. I like her a lot.
BUY HERE
—
Susie Tate is a #1 Amazon bestselling author with more than 1 million books sold across formats, who writes addictive, feel-good contemporary romance. The true-to-life themes that underpin Susie’s books are often inspired by her experiences working as a doctor in the NHS for the last twenty years. Susie worked in a range of hospital specialities before becoming a GP, during which time she looked after a women’s refuge for victims of domestic violence as well as being a child safeguarding lead for her practice. Susie’s medical career gives her a unique insight and understanding of the social, psychological and physical issues some of her characters face, lending authenticity to her writing.
Susie lives in beautiful Dorset with her wonderful husband, three gorgeous boys and an even more wonderful dog. Her very own romantic hero and husband, Andy, suffers from Motor Neurone Disease (aka ALS). Susie’s career as an author has allowed her to spend more crucial time with Andy and their boys after this devastating diagnosis. Susie and Andy work to raise awareness about MND/ALS and support charities like the MNDA and My Name5 Doddie, who are searching for a cure and supporting sufferers.
Website: susietate.com
TikTok: @susietateauthor
Instagram: @susietateauthor
Category: On Writing
Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
