From: Rachael Wade
Subject: The charming and witty Ms. E.L. James
Date: JAN 25 2012 08:49
To: Fifty Shades Lovers
E.L. James, author of the adult contemporary romance Fifty Shades Trilogy
Hey everyone, I recently had the chance to sit down with fellow author and my favorite contemporary romance writer, E.L. James, to ask her a few questions. Please give her a warm welcome in the comment section below, or I shall resort to SHOUTY CAPITALS and a twitchy palm.
You can also check out my review for Fifty Shades Freed here and enter to win a free paperback copy below.
Rachael Grey–er, Wade,
Lil Blip lover, Inner Goddess Advocate, and Dr. Flynn’s Most Troubled Case
I think I speak for everyone reading this interview today that one of your most admirable qualities in your writing is your witty sense of humor. What is your favorite comedy—whether in theater or film—and why?
Wow! Thank you for your kind words and for giving me this opportunity. I think one of the best qualities in anyone is a good sense of humour – it does make life a little more fun if you can have a good laugh along the way. I am blessed to be married to a man who can have me rolling on the floor with laughter, he’s so funny – and usually it’s because he’s taking the piss out of 
me. My father and brother both had and have an amazing sense of humour, and my mother has a tremendous sense of mischief, so it’s kind of rubbed off… I think.
With regard to films – I like all kinds of funnies. When Harry Met Sally – I love Nora Ephron’s wit – The Life of Brian – I love the irreverence of Monty Python – Friends with Benefits was a complete surprise – I watched this on a plane to New York in November and chortled all the way through. I thought the chemistry between Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis sparkled off the screen.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you be and why?
I would like to be as brave and skilled as Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games trilogy (I am such a coward and I admire strong, capable, fearless women – though not sure she has a great sense of humour) or maybe Elinor Dashwood from Sense and Sensibility – who shows such restraint and dignity 
and doesn’t tend to over-share like I do.
Katniss is fantastic, but I’d agree–she doesn’t have much of a sense of humor. What movie and book release are you most looking forward to in 2012?
I am really looking forward to Snow White and the Huntsman. The trailer looks incredible. I was recently at Pinewood studios for my real life work and was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Kristen Stewart, who looked determined and beautiful in her costume. With regard to books, I am looking forward to the follow-up to Discovery of Witches by Deb Harkness.
Oh, lucky. Kristen Stewart is a favorite of mine. SWATH is definitely the #1 on my must-see list this year! Which authors inspire you? And out of curiosity, what is your favorite bookstore in West London? (Haven’t been to the UK yet, but always open for recommendations for when I get around to it someday!)
I am inspired by romantic fiction authors like Elizabeth Lowell, Laura Kinsale and Judith McNaught. But the biggest inspiration for me has been Stephenie Meyer. I, like most of the planet, fell in love with Edward Cullen when I escaped into the Twilight saga Christmas 2008. I think I have read and re-read those books five or six times. I don’t have a favourite bookstore in 
London. I used to – there was a store called Murder One in Charing Cross Road that specialised in crime fiction, but also had a huge section of imported (mainly American!) romance novels. This is where I discovered the likes of Elizabeth Lowell, Judith McNaught et al. Unfortunately the shop closed in 2009.
Hmmm. Okay, I will have to hunt for a good shop when I visit. You’ve vaguely mentioned plans for a standalone book and a paranormal series. Do those projects fall in the romance category? Have you considered writing in other genres down the road?
I think I’ll only write romance books. I love a good love story. I have a thriller, three more erotic/adult romances and a YA paranormal thing in the pipeline. To be honest though, I just want to tell stories, and it’s the publishing industry that puts these labels on them. For example, I’d class Fifty as adult contemporary romance, but because the sex in it is a wee bit descriptive it has to go in the ‘erotica’ category.
With the success of the Fifty Shades trilogy and your existing background in television, have you given any thought to writing for film someday or is it something you’d like to see happen—to see one of your novels translated to the big screen?
Yes, I have thought about writing for TV – but it’s what my husband does for a living, so I think I’ll leave that to him, as he’s very good at it. I’d love to see something I’d written transferred to the big or small screen, but I don’t know if that will ever happen. A girl can dream though…
Well, that might be a very real possibility in the near future. 
Thanks again for stopping by, E.L., and best of luck in 2012.
Thank you too Rachael for giving me the chance to talk to your book club. Happy New Year to you and all the best of luck with your own writing endeavours.
Thanks for the post and giveaway!
Hey, great interview!! I loved Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker, and I can’t, can’t wait to get my hands on Freed!! Oh man, I think EL is also my favourite contemporary romance writer. Haha. Thanks for the giveaway, Rachael!
I’m sure you’ll love the third installment just as much as you loved the first 2 books. Thanks for stopping by, Cyp!
You’re welcome, Rachael! I saw in your review that Christian’s still bossy, and I just about combusted in my seat. Hahaha. I was so afraid that this very panties-combusting quality of his has disappeared or at least waned cause that’s what I hear from a lot of the early reviews, that’s why I am still a little reluctant to pick Freed up. But you have just rekindled my passion for it!! Haha. Double thanks there!
(And I really do hope I win this comp; I want to hold Fifty in my arms…XD)
Awesome interview. Really enjoyed it. Looking forward to more from Ms. James and looking forward to chatting with her on GR.
Regan♥
ALMOST done with Freed XD OMG Im loveing it but im really sad to see it end
and THANK YOU FOR ANOTHER AWESOME GIVEAWAY! You Rock Racheal 
Hi Monica, it’s bittersweet, isn’t it? I tried reading it over a few days just to spread it out because I didn’t want it to end. Enjoy!
Thanks for stopping by.
xo
A wonderful series, I cannot wait to read the final book!
~swooonn~ I loveeeeeeeeee Fifty since the beginning of Mrs. James writing! All her followers now about it! Yes, we all dream with Edward as Mr. mercurial and our Master of the universe!! I’ve read Fifty Shades of Grey and Fifty Shades Darker! Is one of my favorite books ever in my life, me and my sister are the best fans Mrs James has in Latin America. And my inner goddess wants much much more of Fifty! Can’t wait to read the third book! I’m biting my nails for it! And I would love to win this paperback! A girl can dream right!?
P.S: I’m a big fan of Katniss Everdeen too!
Thanks for stopping by, Gisele. We can never get enough Fifty, right? I would love to see more from Christian’s POV. The bonus at the end of Freed was such a tease. Loved it.
Oh, and Katniss is my YA hero.
Awesome interview! I’m soooooo excited for this book! I love this series! I stayed up so late reading through them and I always talk about them. I loved your little intro, Rachel Grey-er Wade, Dr. Flynn’s Most Troubled Case lol I would say having humor, hot sex scenes, and a great romance were all the things I loved about the Fifty trilogy. A sense of humor along the way definitely makes life easier and more enjoyable. I haven’t seen Friends with Benefits but glad to hear it has some laughs. I am also definitely not as brave as Katniss either, but I try to be! Thanks for the giveaway!
Haha thanks, Jennifer! I hope you enjoy Freed. Definitely a fulfilling installment to the series. I’m really bummed it’s over. And I feel the same about what you love about the series–it is the perfect formula for an entertaining romance story.
Thanks for stopping by and good luck.
xo
I can’t wait to read Fifty Shades
I hadn’t even heard of E L James until yesterday and I was rather intrigued to read this series. Such wonderful reviews!
Great interview
Michelle
i love the interview.
I love the fifty shades series.
I love Ms.James.
awesome interview.
Lovely interview. Thanks for the chance to win!!
Wonderful interview! I’ve not had the chance to read any of these books yet – I’m missing out!!
Thank you so much for the giveaway chance!
Thanks for stopping by, Gena! It’s a lovely series. Hope you enjoy it.
Great interview!! I loved the books!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Great interview! Thank you for the giveaway too!
Wow, such a generous giveaway! And international!
Great interview! Is it possible to like E L James even more?
I really enjoyed the interview. Thanks for the giveaway.
Awesome interview, thank you.
My Dearest Rachael…
Great Interview!! I absolutely LOVE E.L. James and can’t wait to see what else she has up her sleeve!
Laters, Baby
xoxo
Melissa =)
My Dearest Melissa,
We aim to please…
Thanks for stopping by and glad to hear you enjoyed the interview. I can’t wait to read future works by E.L. She has quite the career ahead of her.
Now, BACK TO WORK.
Laters
xo
I love Fifty and I love E.L.James for creating this wonderful trilogy!
Omg,that’s the best giveaway ever! Thank you so much! I’m in love with the books, I’ve already read the first and second one!They’re unique and …just simply amazing.They kept me up at night, I literally had bloody eyes because I couldn’t put them down
It would be awesome to win.
oh thank you so much for doing this giveaway for international people too! i love this book and it would be amazing to have it on paperback!
Luv the giveaway and Thanks for the invite!! Cant wait to read this series!!!
Rachael,
I am SOOOO Jealous! I loved the interview and I love me some *twitchy palms* tehehehe I am truely going to miss Fifty and Ana. Great series and thank you so much for recommending this great read.
Great Interview! And, oh, I love giveaways, especially when they are international.
. Good luck to everyone!
10x a lot Rachael and E.L.James. I want to win so so much
I love your interview with EL James. Your questions were just perfect and she was so casual with her answers. Tahnks for this opportunity!
Laters Baby!!
Great interview! I have been hearing tons of great things about Fifty Shades and would love to read it!
MJB
msmjb65 AT gmail DOT con
Great interview and of course great giveaway thank you!
I love this giveaway… I really hope win
PS: I love the blog too
This triology is fantaastic!!!
I would LOVEEEEE to win Fifty Shades Freed, I am so excited to read it. The interview was great and I hope we hear more news from E.L. James and the next project.
Great interview! Thank you for this chance I would love to win! I am so very excited and cannot wait to read this last one but as much as I want to have it in my hands a small part of me does not at all. I will devour it and then become really sad because the sooner I get my hands on it the faster I will reach the end. To those who have not read I and II yet I recommend them to all ~you will not be disappointed . Thanks again for this wonderful opportunity!
Ohhh…I loved it. I truly hope E. L. James writes Fifty from Christian’s POV one day…after finishing Freed and reading the extra chapters on his POV, I was so excited by the ” the end…for now” that she wrote..lol…
Greatest trilogy ever! Love it!…
Great interview! There are so many great movies coming out this year.
Thank you for the chance to win Fifty Shades
Thank you for the interview/giveaway! It was great to read about Ms. E.L. and the things she loves
I love Twilight(Edward), Hunger Games(still have to read the last book) too
And I agree, humour is important
I loved the first Fifty Shades book, going to get the next one too, so it would be great to win the last one.
Great Interview! Would love a chance to win a paperback copy!! =)
Great interview Rachael! I’m obsessed with 50 shades… everything… the characters… the music…. it HAS (SHOUTY CAPITALS
to become a movie! I’m saving Fifty Shades Freed for my flight to Asia cause this is the only book I can read for 16 hours straight & not get bored. E L, pleeeease write more books like this 
Thanks for the giveaway and for it being international
awesome giveaway!!
I just looooove 50 shades!! Amazing writing loved the interview.
I love this series. So excited to see what she comes out with next. Not sure how she’s going to top Christian though xx
Great interview. I love fifty
Thankyou for the give away. Love it!
I can’t wait to read this final book I HAVE BEEN HOOKED FROM DAY ONE :o)
Loved the interview. Fell head over heels for Fifty & used to look forward to the weekly chapters. Really loved Edward’s pov. So looking forward to reading the 3rd book & any other work that E. L. James decides to write. Am hopeful that we may one day see Fifty on the big screen, but alas can only see Robert Pattinson that role. Thanks for giving people the chance to win a copy of the book.
oh, I clearly remember the day I discovered Master of the Universe and fell in love with Edward’s fucked up-ness lol and now look at it, Icy has become a great author and Edward is now Christian and Motu is a book..such an accomplishment! so long story short, if you have been in love with a ff, the only logical conclusion is you’ll be in love with the book too, even-though fifty will always be Edward for me.
I’d very much love it t get my hands on it and enjoy this masterpiece in this form ♥