I moved to New Zealand, from the UK, several years ago, with my husband and two children. After lecturing at a university for three years I left to work in our motel and devote more time to my writing. I wish I’d done it sooner!

In my spare time I love going to the movies, watching TV, walking, exploring this fabulous country, spending heaps of time on msn with my writer friends, and playing with our gorgeous Labrador.

Okay, so Suzy Green tells one little lie when she starts at her new school. But it is so worth it considering she’s now running with the in-crowd and the hottest guy in school has asked her out. Besides, everyone’s part of the Virginity Club these days, and the fact that she doesn’t exactly qualify is a mere technicality. Well, it is until Ryan, her old flame and the one person who knows about her lie, turns up. But Suzy is determined not to give up her new life. She’s spent the last 17 years living in her beloved sister’s shadow and then when her sister died, things got even worse. Now, for the first time, Suzy’s actually the popular one. However, the price for Ryan’s silence is high. A date! And the more time she spends with Ryan, the more her old life and new life start to overlap until Suzy has to decide if she’s going to be the girl she was or the girl she is. Or perhaps there’s room for a new Suzy. The girl she was always meant to be.

A: You can order my book through Amazon. At the moment I’m not sure which bookstores will be stocking it in the USA. In New Zealand it will definitely be stocked by Barbara’s Books.

A: Now there’s a question. I wish I knew. Because then I could have ideas lining up to be picked. Some writers have so many ideas they’re spoilt for choice. Not me. I only ever have one or two at a time. Usually, something I see on TV or read in the gossip mags gives me the seed of an idea and then it develops from there.

A: Not as such. But when you’re writing you can’t help but draw on past experiences. Not of actual situations, but more the emotions which I can use to help me understand my characters and how they’d react in certain situations.

A: This is my debut book, so I’m learning about marketing at the moment. I have a Myspace page, a website, and belong to many yahoo loops. I will also be doing book signings, once my book is out, and talking to students in schools. I have many writer friends overseas and who have offered their help.

A: Because I target American publishers, I sent my work to agents based in the US. The agent I secured then sent the work out to publishers. There are very few publishers taking unsolicited manuscripts nowadays – especially in the young adult genre – so I’d always advise someone to look for an agent first.

A: Believe in yourself and try not to let the rejections get you down. This is where joining writers’ groups and having crit partners can help, because only a writer really understands what it’s like.

17 year old, Abi Saunders, might be a kick-boxing champion but when it comes to meeting new people, she’s not quite so brave. Which is why when her trainer suggests she audition to become a stunt double for hot teen movie star, Tilly Watson, Abi refuses. No way. Absolutely not. However, it seems her trainer isn’t the only one who thinks she needs to come out of her shell. So does everyone else at the gym - even her training partner Matt and best friend Jody. So she reluctantly goes for the part and, to her surprise, wins it.

At first Abi is terrified but once the wig and make-up are on, she starts to feel like a different person. Tilly Watson to be exact. And when Tilly’s gorgeous boyfriend mistakes Abi for the real star, Abi becomes besotted with him. In fact Abi becomes so besotted with her new life it isn’t long before she doesn’t have time for her old friends or her old life. But when the cameras are turned off Abi painfully discovers her new life is a sham and she realises she hasn’t just had stars in her eyes, but in her head too. What a fool she’s been. Is it too late? Or can Abi make good the damage she’s done?