Dating Little Miss Perfect by Cassandra O'Leary
About the Book:
On an anonymous online dating app, LittleMissPerfect meets
HotAussie007 and it’s love at first click. In real life, a smart but spiky
woman in STEM, research scientist, Dr Eden, meets a laid-back Aussie marketing
manager, Finn, at the big pharma company where they both work in California.
They're forced to compete for special projects funding, and both their jobs are
on the line.
Eden just wants to win at science and in life. It's not
happening! She can't stand Finn's too-cool-for-school, nice guy act, or his
delectable forearms that keep invading her space. While Finn is stupidly
attracted to Eden, when she's not telling him off, he isn't free to pursue her.
He's stuck in the worst position in his professional life, and doesn't see a
clear way out. He can't tell her the whole truth about what's going on at work
or in his personal life. . . or it could all blow up in his face.
When they realise the truth about their online alter egos,
dating is off the table. Can they ignore their inconvenient attraction, and
work together to take down their unethical boss? Or will intense rivalry cause
their IRL work lives and online love lives to collide and explode like a
science experiment gone wrong?
Interview with the author:
Tell us your elevator
pitch for Dating Little Miss Perfect.
You've Got Mail
meets The Hating Game in this romcom
novel featuring anonymous online dating, workplace rivals, old movie references
and a dash of science!
Where did the idea
for this story come from?
My head tends to be a crowded place full of old movie quotes
and song lyrics, so there's inspiration from that direction. There are
references to High Society, Roman Holiday
and James Bond films along with romcoms like You've Got Mail in this book. I also visited my scientist sister in
San Diego when she was living there about 15 years ago (before I even attempted
to write a book!) and that setting and job background for a heroine struck me
when I was toying with story ideas.
What is your writing
process?
I often have a flash of a visual scene in my head, such as
my scientist heroine riding a Vespa scooter, in the case of Dating Little Miss
Perfect. Then I try to imagine scenarios around this image and to answer
questions like:
• Who is
this character?
• What do
they do?
• What do
they want or dream about?
• Who would
be their perfect match (in a romance story)? or,
• What plotlines
would cause them trouble?
Sometimes I write a short blurb about what the book may be
about, including any tropes I'd like to explore such as grumpy/sunshine or
second chance romance. This usually changes as I write. I collect images for a
mood board or put together a song list, or watch some movies to get the right
vibe.
I'm a pantser or organic writer, so once I have a few ideas
germinating I start writing at the beginning and see what happens! Often I'll
brainstorm ideas with writer friends. There is a lot of editing, later.
What is your favorite
color?
Light blue, usually! I also love greens and a dash of red.
What is the best
thing about living in Australia for you?
I love Australia for the lifestyle compared to other
countries I've visited. I live in Melbourne, and it's a fabulous city with a
great arts culture. I also live about a 10 minute drive to the beach so I often
go for walks down there. It's a great place to raise kids too.
Are you a plotter or
pantser?
As I mentioned above, I'm a pantser. I do have a few ideas
in progress before I start writing but I've never successfully completed a book
I've tried to outline! I have tried...the outlining process is so boring to me
it kills my creativity.
What is your favorite
part of writing? What is your least favorite?
When I'm in the midst of drafting and I'm in a good flow,
and maybe write a funny line or something that I just know is good, that's my
favourite thing. The seemingly endless editing process is not my favourite!
What advice would you
give an aspiring writer?
Give it a crack. I learned so much about creative writing
simply by finishing a first draft of a story. And I would also suggest (having
been published both through a traditional publisher and now indie) that how you
publish shouldn't be your end goal. Look at the market, study other books, but
once you start writing, just roll with it.
What book are you
reading now?
Come As You Are: A Gen
X Romance by Jess K Hardy. It's great to read a romance with characters
about my age for a change. Next in line is Codename
Charming by Lucy Parker. I love her writing!
About the Author:
Cassandra O’Leary is an Aussie romance, romantic comedy and
women’s fiction author, corporate communications escapee, avid reader, and film
and TV fangirl.
In 2015, Cassandra won the global We Heart New Talent
contest run by HarperCollins UK and her debut novel, Girl on a Plane, was
released in 2016. Cassandra was also a finalist in contests run by AusRom
Today, Romance Writers of America and Romance Writers of Australia. She has
indie published several titles including a romcom story collection, Hot In The
City and standalone novel, Dating Little Miss Perfect.
You'll find Cassandra in Melbourne, Australia, chasing her
two high-energy mini ninjas and drinking excellent coffee with her superhero
husband.
She is a proud member of Romance Writers of Australia, the
Australian Society of Authors and the Melbourne Romance Writers Guild.
Keep in touch on social media:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/cassandraolearyauthor
Twitter – https://twitter.com/cass_oleary
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/cassandissima/
Website – https://cassandraolearyauthor.com/
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