What genre is your personal favourite?
I’m not sure I can pick one favourite, but if I had to narrow it down I’d say contemporary and historical. The most important thing for me isn’t necessarily the setting, but rather that I’m emotionally connected to the characters and invested in the plot. 

What is your major turn-off in a book?
I think the biggest turn-off is when the characters (and the story) don’t feel authentic – when they don’t feel realistic. No matter how light or heavy the story is, it’s important that I care about the characters and feel invested in their storyline. 

What is likely to really knock your socks off besides an engaging voice and well-written book?
The best thing is when I’m reading a novel and I think I know where the story is going, but then it completely surprises me; or when I think I know what a character to going to say or do and the unexpected happens. That always results in the best reading experience.

Any advice to your potential pitchers?
Know your book! If you can describe the heart of your book in just a couple of lines that will make a big difference – then you can expand on more later. The second piece of advice I’d give is to know the genre – what tropes are in your book? What are some similar titles in the genre?  E.g. if it’s a rom-com, does it sit alongside Emily Henry or Elena Armas? If it’s historical, does it sit alongside Evie Dunmore or Natasha Lester? Knowing the nuances of the genre and where your book sits goes really far.